Raelyn Renee Cassomir was the first daughter of Baron Aric and Baroness Mathilda Cassomir, born just a few months before Kingdom of Aequor gave land away and the Four Corners was formed. Much of her childhood was during the tail end of the Thirty Year war.Despite the fact, she was the first daughter and thereby heiress to a prestigous title even if she'd never inherit; she would be the Mistress of the Hunt. As her father, and eldest of brothers were away to war, she clung to those of her family who were near.And mostly, these were her two older brothers who were too young then to have gone off to war, and her mother.
She was, being the first daughter born to the family, somewhat spoiled. And, she was bright enough to take advantage of this, when and where she could, using her charm, her wits, and beguilment to weave favors mostly of her older brother Jaren, and certainly her mother. Thus, she was permitted, or forgiven, certain freedoms in the house, such as stealing away to watch her brothers train in physical combat and attempt to emulate them in toddler fashion. It was from them that she grew a fondness for fighting, the sublime artistry in swordplay, and physical combat. It was from her mother that she learned the more refined arts. Of how not to be heard, when walking in the woods, how to climb trees quickly. How to focus one's mind, to concentrate - the lessons starting young that would later be transferred into archery and swordplay. Yet these were not her only studies; music, history, and politics, among others were also a part of her regiment. But she counted herself lucky, and the few moments she had with her father, her eldest brothers she counted as special.
As Jaren was her favorite sibling, she felt both joy, and jealousy when he went off to be a Squire to the Royal Lancers, an emotion that only increased significantly when he was placed as guard of Lady Melisande Romante. This, she hid away from most of her family - but her mother was too perceptive, knowing why her daughter fled into the woods for a full day, though sometimes taking (for good, or ill) her younger siblings with her. She was especially fond of ‘teasing’ Henric in the fashion only a big sister can. It was a good distraction. Only the knowledge that the Huntress' kept her daughter safe in silent vigilant watch gave her mother any peace, though. And it was at this time that Raelyn really began to form a bond with the outdoors, the woods. It was not just another avenue to play in, or a place to hunt. It, to her, every bit as her mother, her father, her siblings, became a part of her family. It would listen, accept, and not rebuke her. And it would teach her it's secrets, just as her family did and would, if she but listened, and remained attentive.
As an additional distraction to help her eldest daughter deal with the departure of her favorite sibling, Mathilda spoke to Renee, the Mistress of the Hunt and sister to the Baron. Renee then began to teach intimately to Raelyn the subtle artistry of the bow, and gave additional lessons beyond those she was already getting into dagger play; how to sneak and use the woods to her advantage in ways the young girl had not thought of. Renee had her spend time with the Huntresses that Raelyn would someday command as was her right. The art and legacy of falconing was handed down to her, and the secrets of taming, and utilizing such wonderful birds. And, she grew to love them, not only for their beauty, their flight, their ability to hunt, but found a 'friend', as much as one can, in such an creature. Something not shared, but was hers, and hers alone.
When she was not overly busy with these things, Raelyn would oft play with Henric, oft teasing him or beating him in combat as is an elder sister's duty (or, so she would so often say), and inespecial play and attend now to her younger sister whom she quickly grew fond of. She would allow her younger sister when the other wished to follow her, taking care to watch out for her through the travels through the woods or play music for entertainment for Emilila's pleasure. It was a fine time, and Emilia was the only other girl in the house Raelyn had an immediate bond with her.
Still, she attended faithfully, all of Jaren's competitions, cheering for him, and spending time with him when she could and his duty allowed and time from her own intense training allowed. She trained with her slightly older brother, and took note of the way the winds were shifted. And, when Jaren took two crossbolts for Melisande, it was she who was at his bedside most, sometimes bringing her little sister, or her younger brother with her.
When her eldest brother, Matias fell along with Lord Arturo, it changed her. Something in her hardened, or perhaps the girl who was becoming the young woman realized the fratility, and the seriousness in the war, and in the dangerous politics her family had been invested in. It was no longer something that merely took her father and older brothers away. It was something real. Something viscearl. And something that her family had committed to; thus, was she so bound as well. The fact that her Aunt, the Mistress of the Hunt fell only a short time after the Battle of the Betrayer only solidified this in her; she had duty. To her people. And, to her family. To the Huntresses that she grew up with, who helped train her, and who looked upon her fondly.
She would not have that long to mourn. The Thorn invaded, and she was given word of it. With her Aunt perished only a short time before, she was now the Mistress of the Hunt - and those women who'd helped raise her, teach her, protect her, and those she'd trained with now looked to House Cassomir for leadership. It took all her effort and focus from her previous training to do so. She led well, though - the training provided the method to lead, to move forward, to fight. And at sixteen, she was bloodied, far earlier than what she should've been. She knew if she and the Huntresses did not hold the forces of the Thorn off, Ironhold would fall, or move into ruin. She managed to do so long enough through trickery, guile, subterfuge, and stealth - they using the woods and terrain they knew so well to their advantage to hold their ground without a full confrontation of the forces. They managed to do this long enough for Jaren to join her and together they managed to corral the invaders through pure strategy where her other brother Henric, newly-knighted, could lead his troops in and together the family joined together to put an end to the enemy forces.
The loss of her mother, someone so important to her, and the loss of their home, and even the loss of her falcon that she'd grown up with and learned to hunt with - all these losses in such a short time hit Raelyn quite hard. But, she kept this to herself, and instead internalized this to focus on becoming the best Mistress of the Hunt she could to honor those of her family she’d already lost, and to be the rock for Emilia that she felt she should be in her younger sister’s eyes, that Emilia needed. The warmth and friendship of the Archbishop Sirrah Cantire to the family helped diminish that some by helping her to realize that she was not alone.
When she was not spending time with her younger sister, exploring and pointing the way the new castle was taking shape that was being built for Ironhold, she would lead her Huntresses through the woods to route the lingering forces of the Thorn, working with Jaren on this or work with her new falcon that Jaren had gifted her with, recognizing the distance his sister had taken after the tragedy. She would spend time with the Huntresses as well to bring in new recruits on occassion, to hone her own skills and keep her sisters skills sharp as she transformed from a girl into a woman. And sometimes, Jaren or Henric would find her alone, in some quiet part of the castle, simply playing a soft melody on her recorder, sad, and quiet, her eyes focused on the unfinished ceiling of the castle-to-be, and the stars that shone down upon them.
As, too, was her wont, she helped her brother prepare for the Tournament celebrating the Rose Queen's coronation, and cheered for him along with the rest of her family. And, as Roseguard Castle was completed, much has changed in Raelyn's life. While Jaren oversees the Barony, she has taken well to the position of the Mistress of the Hunt, and is unafraid to speak her mind to any of her family in the same way that her mother once did - protecting her family, watching over them and feeling it her responsibility now, and making sure that her Huntresses are well tended to. She may not ever inherit, but she is unlikely to ever leave the Barony either. Instead, she looks to the future with much taken onto her shoulders by either fate, or her own desire. And it's a burden she is bearing well.