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Name: Alexandra (no given last name)

Archetype: Former Illegal Prostitute

Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian (unknown origin)

Religion/Culture:

Being born into poverty and having no formal education, Alexandra knows little about the world, let alone what could be beyond it. As a result, her perspective on the supernatural is limited to what she can see, and what she can't.

Background:

Alexandra was born an orphan on the streets of New York around 1851. No one really knows exactly when and where, but it probably smelled of booze and tobacco. Like many of the other orphans, Alex quickly learned that only the strongest survived; if you wanted something, you had to fight for it. No one was going to hand it to you on a silver platter. Between her and the rest of the homeless, stealing and scamming was a common practice. They often hatched elaborate plans to break into storehouses in the cover of night. Alex was always the "doorkeeper"; her nimble fingers could open almost any lock. The other children counted on that, which in turn put a lot of pressure on Alex. However, scamming and thieving wasn't always enough. Ofttimes they would go days without food or water. Alex watched many, both friends and strangers, die on sidewalks and alleyways. Sometimes from simple cuts that had been infected due to neglect.

The years of fending for herself on the street made Alexandra hardy and conniving. More than once had she been taken advantage off, and she wasn't about to let it stop her from surviving. Not many girls like her made it in the big city.

Ironically, one of Alexandra's closest friends during her time in New York was a homeless black boy by the name of Alexander. They would often work jobs together; one would be the lookout while the other would break in. Even in their seemingly bleak lives, they both managed to develop a strong friendship that helped keep each other alive throughout the years.

This wouldn't last forever though.

During the siege of New York in 1864, both Alexandra and Alexander found themselves in the midst of chaos. Black men, women, and children were being dragged of the streets, shackled and shipped away. It was only a matter of time before Alexander was bound, and shoved into a cramped wagon full of other soon to be slaves. Any attempt by Alexandra to get close to the caged cart was brushed aside by the Confederate soldiers.

Alexandra was alone among dead soldiers and even more dead civilians. Her best friend was gone, she'd probably never see him again. She had almost given up all hope when a man by the name of Zacharias Colston arrived in the city. After seeing young Alexandra hiding in an alleyway, he promised her a safe home in exchange for her "help" in his business; an indentured servant. Eagerly, Alex accepted, wanting nothing more than to get away from the chaos and death. Zacharias brought her to Richmond where he owned and operated an illegal brothel. The girls working in the brothel, both black and white, serviced dozens, if not hundreds of men (and women alike) a night. As an indentured servant, Alex had signed away ten years of unconditional service under Zacharias. If she tried to run she would be hunted down with dire consequences, there was nothing she could do but to oblige Zacharias.

Initially, it was difficult. Letting go of the survival instinct she had invested into all her life was traumatic. Many times the thought of ending it and the allure of death overwhelmed her, but every attempt at escape or suicide was thwarted through Zacharia's watchful eye; every attempt adding consequent years to her service. Eventually, he had Alex shackled to her room. She still serviced patrons, and even Zacharias at times, but there was no escape. Many of the other girls came from similar backgrounds. If they weren't slaves shipped in from all parts of the world, they were stuck in a vicious cycle of paying off debt while gathering debt.

One of these girls was Aminata. Aminata was a black slave from west Africa. She'd been sold into slavery at an early age, and had been a slave of Zacharias for over a decade. She loathed Zacharias, and took pity on Alexandra.

Alexandra was broken, everything she had been through and fought for, taken away from her. She was cold, naked, and perpetually hungry. What little food she got was often half rotten with maggots and other assorted living things. Aminata would share her food with Alex and tend to her bruises or cuts from that night's patrons.

As Alexandra settled into her new life, the thoughts and memories of her old life, of Alexander would haunt her dreams. Fueled by the shared hatred for Zacharias, Alexandra grew a bond with the other girls, and especially Aminata. Aminata taught her things; ways of making the day easier, to make the men finish faster. She taught her how to act and react to requests, how to turn down requests without getting hurt.

Alexandra grew in ability and as much as she didn't want to, she got good at it. She knew her way around both men and women, often being the dominant one in their encounters. Soon, the shackles were removed and she was free to move around the brothel. She was never allowed to leave though. The little sunlight she got came from a small crack of a window in the kitchen.

The years go by and Alexandra's life stays mostly the same. Until one fateful night in January 1874, when a few particularly drunk off-duty soldiers walked into the parlor. One thing lead to another, and they eventually had knives drawn and held against two of the girls. Instinctively, Alexandra ended up killing one of the men with a wine bottle. Aminata followed suit and used a shard of broken glass to stab another man. The drunkards left, but not without leaving many of the girls wounded, if not dead.

When Zacharias found out about the incident, he threw a fit and swore to sell both Alexandra and Aminata. Most likely into an even more oppressive situation. Since Zacharia's operation was mostly illegal, he arranged for the girls to me sold in an unsanctioned underground auction.

On the day of their auction, Alex and Aminata hatched a plan to escape during transit. The plan was solid, and it was working. Until everything fell apart ...

Skills:

Her years of work in the brothel from an early age make Alexandra quite the charmer. So to speak. She's nimble and can handle herself in a fight due to her years on the street. Not to mention the occasional guy who crosses the line in bed.

Talent:

Lock picking. Picked up during her days in New York.

Flaw:

Alex's first impression of people she meets is negative more often than not. As a result, she has trouble putting her trust in male leadership, and especially companionship. This is also a problem when dealing with others due to her abrasive nature. She only works with people she trusts, and trusting is not something she does easily.

Motivation:

Alex fights for the ones incapable of fighting for themselves. Every human has the right to choose their own future.

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