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Crusade
This Character Has Met Her Final Crusade
Background
Alina: heir to the Duchy of Alasce, trendsetter, great beauty. The light of the house of al'Morena, the designer that keeps ladies everywhere spending their clothing allowance. But who is she, really?
Alina al'Morena was born the first trueborn child of the Duke of Alasce, and thus his heir. From birth, she was remarked as a great beauty and a blessing to his house.
Spoiled and wanting for nothing, Alina learned from an young age how to twist others to her whims. This was good— it showed a natural inclination to command— but poor as well, as her first instincts were to serve her own childish wants. As soon as she was old enough to understand what her role would be in the house, her training began in earnest.
She was a eager learner in many things, but would balk and throw tantrums over the simplest of tasks if they meant getting herself dirty— she refused to enter stables or mews. By the age of twelve, she was wearing elbow-length gloves everywhere so she did not have to touch anything 'unclean'. There were rumors among the servants that muck or grime would send the girl into a fit, and if it touched her skin, she would scrub herself bloody to remove it.
Those rumors were quickly put to a stop; though the household of the al'Morena's was always impeccable in appearance, that was certainly as befit their rank, not because their heir would be set to fits by anything out of place.
Those gloves set the first of many fashion trends… Alina may not often deign to do what she called menial tasks herself, but she knew what she liked as far as dresses and gowns and shoes were concerned, and her father indulged her whims. She would sketch out her desires and set seamstresses and cobblers to work. Her eye for clothing and her blossoming beauty garnered much attention, first in Aequor, but by the time she was sixteen, ladies in Four Corners (and rumored even in Galenthia) were wearing designs first set by the young heir to Al'Sylenthar. Whenever she was seen in public, others took note and followed her lead quickly, lest they seem too far behind the fashion times.
While her public face was one of a bubbly, vapid fashionista only concerned with when the next shipment of brocades and pearls would be due, in private, she was a young woman obsessed with perfection and, in darker moments, immortality. She began to dabble with herbs and berries to enhance her already gorgeous appearance even moreso; eventually beginning to learn the alchemical arts as well. That which can preserve can also destroy, and she was all too eager to learn both beauty and poison from the same instructors. She learned to defend herself when needed, though she showed great distaste for the art of combat on a personal level… not for any sense of moral or emotional weakness (to be frank, in private, her family often wondered if she had any real emotion at all) but on a pragmatic one: she did not like getting her hands dirty, neither literally nor figuratively.
She was easily bored, when not struck with inspiration for new gowns or accessories, and the only true 'hobby' the girl had besides her pursuit of physical perfection was that of mental perfection: she read voraciously, and played games of strategy such as chess and go as often as she could find worthwhile opponents. It suited her needs and the needs of the house to present a less than intellectual face to the public— a public she found vastly inferior and unworthy of her time, for the most part, anyway. She could play at kindness and friendship when she must, but in private she was cold and focused entirely on things she felt were beyond the capacity of all that she came in contact with.
Her need for order and perfection was bordering on pathological. Though she could hold her mask of 'normalcy' near-perfectly with those outside the family, even for extended periods of time, in private she would retreat to her rooms and hide where things were as perfect as she was; where chaos was trained into law. She took no lovers, she spurned (though politely) most suitors. On the surface, she claimed chastity and piety. The truth was that she found none worthy enough.
She serves her house well, with cold, calm rationalism and fierce pragmatism. Those outside the house would never believe the truth of who the girl really is: to the rest of the world she is fun-loving, cheerful, and piously chaste. In reality, she is emotionless, cold, and self-important.
On the Grid
"We all wear masks, and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin." ? André Berthiaume
Just a touch taller than average, with long, perfectly-coiffed blonde hair and stormy blue-grey eyes, Alina Al'Sylenthar is a work of art— from the top of her head to her toes, not a strand of hair out of place, everything perfectly matched, following, if not setting, fashion trends.
Silk and brocade of rich royal blue wefted with violet and thread-of-gold wrap her form. Her dress is low-cut in the front, bodice bound tightly at her waist and around her torso, the skirt— layers of royal blue and white silks underneath the brocade overskirt— sweeping out widely and majestically, almost but not quite touching the floor. Fine white lace trim on her underskirt can be seen over white kid boots on her feet. Gloves of royal blue silk and lace cover her hands and arms to the elbow beneath dagged sleeves. Simple jewelry adorns her ears and neck, almost a statement itself in the simplicity of the pieces: Alina does not need jewels, she shines enough without additional baubles.
Her expression and moods seem to shift as quickly as a summer's afternoon, one moment sunnily pleased with the world, the next a dark tempest of boiling frustration… that is easily, it seems, blown away back to bright smiles and laughter again.
Scarring
- Long, thin, almost invisible scar along her left temple, small divot in her skull just at the hairline. Critical arrow wound; Counterattack, Great Raid of 1865
- Puncture wound, top of left breast. Critical arrow wound; Battle for the Blade, Kentaire Tourney 1865
- Short jagged scar, low on her sternum. Serious spear wound; Battle for the Blade, Kentaire Tourney 1865
General Personality: Publicly, Alina is vapid and many wonder when her younger brother is going to be announced as heir instead, since she doesn't show any glimmer of intelligence or usefulness, only concerned with fashion, new dresses, or idle gossip: and she's quick to share juicy tidbits in exchange for other such information. She is often everything to everyone, and quite capable of pretending to be exactly what others expect her to be so that she is dismissed easily as a silly useless girl.
She can alternate between charming and commanding, at least, and her underlings seem quick to jump to her whims.
Privately, however, with her family and few trusted household members, as well as certain Syndicate 'underlings', the story is quite different. Alina has a razor-keen intellect, enjoys games of strategy and has a sharp mind for both stewardship and deception alike. Her mostly genial public face is put to lie with those few she trusts, as she is far colder, pragmatic, and borders on near-emotionless in private, with the occasional fit of pique when things are not perfectly in place— including her her underlings. She is a schemer, capable of proverbially keeping many balls in the air.
It suits her to wear a mask of seeming uselessness in public, and for now, it suits her family as well. There will come a time when the mask will be removed entirely, and when that happens, that she is in truth her father's heir will be something that is undeniable.
Assumed Quirk: Ruthless — Amoral - She may be able to play at what's socially acceptable, but Alina has no real concern for right, wrong, or indifferent. For her, there is only power, and those too weak to reach for it. She regards the lives of others as coin to spend or save as suits her needs best. Often this means she will invest in those lives, because she believes a living, functional follower is far more useful to her than a dead one.
Unless, of course, they aren't.
Assumed Quirk: Agnostic - Alina is content to pay lip service to the One Faith, but she doubts that God (or the Many Gods) even bother themselves with what people do. If they did, then the world would be a far more orderly place.
Assumed Quirk: Loyal - Her family, and the Royal family of Aequor, have her fanatical, undying loyalty. She pushes for her own power and her own desires, but she will unfailingly give up those or even her own life in an instant if that was what was required to ensure that the al'Morena line continued in strength or the al'Ramars have their needs served. There is nothing she would shirk from if asked by either her Father or her King or Queen; or even to a lesser extent Crown Prince Jean-Paul in his position as heir to the throne. That runs from the mundane but distasteful tasks of being eventually forced to marry (even if she doesn't wish to do so) to darker, more disturbing tasks of torture, assassination, and of course, spying and double-dealing. That she has vastly enjoyed the service she has done for crown and country so far does not change that even if she had not, she would have done so without question or hesitation.
Fastidious - Everything has a place it belongs in, and it should remain there. Her mind is logical and well-ordered, and she expects everything around her to be so as well. Her rooms are in perfect order at all times. Her clothing and hair and jewelry always matches perfectly. She bathes more often than the average person, and abhors clutter, dirt, and mess; and she seems to always be able to notice even the smallest amounts of them, from tapestries not hanging exactly straight to a single button undone on a man's doublet to a smudge of dirt on a bench. And they all irk her, sometimes to a point of distraction.
She generally wears well-tailored gloves of silk with lace overlay when in public to keep her hands clean as much as possible, leading to several rumors that her hands might be scarred or disfigured in some way— not the case, of course.
She expects her people to follow her example, though she's often disappointed in their lack of order.
Renown - Alina is well-known throughout Aequor, the Four Corners, and even much of Galenthia as a trendsetter and designer of her own garb; as well as being a great beauty. She's had many noblemen seeking her hand— the idea of being the next Duke is quite appealing.
Justified Quirk: Perceptive - Perhaps it is her need for perfection that drives her perception, or perhaps her natural perception is what drives her need for perfection. Whichever the case, she notices everything around her— though she may not always mention it.
Assumed Quirk: Ruthless - Subtle but Brutal - Outward shows of force are messy and disorganized, prone to inflicting more damage than needed. Alina prefers strikes, be they martial or diplomatic in nature, to be more surgical: a knife in the dark or a few drops of poison in the drink of a single target is always preferable to a pitched battle.
But surgical doesn't mean gentle.
Alina has a bit of a sadistic streak, and believes that when lessons must be taught, they should always be painful to drive home the point. And sometimes, in order to feel the pain of punishment, one must survive their lesson. At least the first time. So perhaps that knife's target isn't for the one learning the lesson, but for a spouse, or a lover, or a child. Perhaps the poison is meant to debilitate, not kill. If she feels this is the more appropriate move, she will do so without hesitation every time.
Vain - Alina is gorgeous, that can't be denied. But her beauty has become an obsession for her: she has no desire to age any more than she has already, she insists on never being seen by anyone in less than 'perfect' condition, and, though she is usually good at hiding it, has seething jealousy towards any woman who might even be hinted at being as beautiful (or worse, moreso) than Alina.
To preemptively stave off any aging, she has already begun to dabble in first apothecary arts: herbs and berries to enhance her visage; then alchemy, looking for a magical fountain of perpetual youth, vigor, and beauty.
| Shadowmirror | |
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Forged by Lord Sir Ramius d'Arran to replace the daggers lost when she fell in the Battle for the Blade in Kentaire; this perfectly matched pair of lightsilver stiletto daggers are her preferred weapons. She usually wears them in concealed sheathes on her arms under her sleeves, and wields them in a Florentine fighting style. One is named Shadow and the other Mirror, though it's not entirely clear which is which (as they are identical). As they are used together and not separated, they are simply referred to as 'Shadowmirror' as if they were a single weapon. They are beautifully crafted, approximately ten inches from end to end, the hilts meticulously worked into a pattern that is not only beautiful but functional, as it provides a firmer grip on them. A single small polished moonstone is set in the end of the hilt on each. |
| Other Weapons | |
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When fully armed, Alina also carries a brace of throwing daggers made of solid, lightweight steel; a short sword (a gladius); and a pair of regular, slightly heavier daggers (the latter strapped to her thighs in concealed sheathes there under her skirts). She also has access to the al'Morena armory if needed, and she's near enough to take advantage of it. |
| Armored Corset | |
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Fashionable, stylish, and better protection than nothing, if you ask her. It is black and purple, and heavy, articulated leather over a padded linen interior. |
| Other Armor | |
| …to come… | …to come… |
| Clothing Collection | |
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Alina's collection of dresses, gowns, and clothing is ridiculous, even for a noblewoman of her standing (between Alasce, Lyionnesse, and Four Corners, likely close to 100 different gowns). Many of her dresses are somewhat experimental styles that range from 'stuffy' to quite scandalous. She has clothing in many color combinations, and can easily match (or not) an escort's choice in his own garb. She had more clothing in blues, blacks, and pruples than any other color. She also has a collection of slippers and shoes to match. Beyond just the gowns, she also has 'work' clothing, skirts, cinchers, and blouses more suited for commoner or merchant class to wear; as well as three pairs of well-tooled boots, all made with softer, quieter leather soles (instead of wood) to make movement more stealthy. And, of course, she has at least a dozen pairs of gloves, most of them long (elbow-length); and is almost never seen without a pair on her hands. |
| Song | Lyrics | Who |
|---|---|---|
| You're Gonna Go Far Kid, The Offspring | Show me how to lie, you’re getting better all the time, and turning all against the one is an art that’s hard to teach. Another clever word sets off an unsuspecting herd and as you step back into line a mob jumps to their feet. Now dance, fucker, dance, man, he never had a chance; and no one even knew it was really only you… And now you steal away, take him out today. Nice work you did! You’re gonna go far, kid… With a thousand lies and a good disguise: hit ‘em right between the eyes, hit ‘em right between the eyes. When you walk away, nothing more to say, see the lightning in your eyes, see ‘em running for their lives… |
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| ?? | ?? | Marcus |
| The Way, Ariana Grande feat. Mac Miller | You give me that kind of something: want it all the time, need it everyday. On a scale of one to ten I'm at a hundred, never get enough, I can’t stay away… And I ain’t going nowhere 'cause you’re a keeper. So don’t you worry, baby, you got me. I got a bad boy, I must admit it. You got my heart, don’t know how you did it. And I don’t care who sees it, babe, I don’t wanna hide the way I feel when you're next to me |
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| Dear Future Husband, Meghan Trainor | You got that 9 to 5? But, baby, so do I, so don't be thinking I'll be home and baking apple pies… You gotta know how to treat me like a lady, even when I'm acting crazy, tell me everything's alright. Dear future husband, here's a few things you'll need to know if you wanna be my one and only all my life. Dear future husband, if you wanna get that special lovin', tell me I'm beautiful each and every night. After every fight just apologize, and maybe then I'll let you try and rock my body right. Even if I was wrong— You know I'm never wrong, why disagree? Why, why disagree? |
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| ?? | ?? | Myrana |
| ?? | ?? | Tavi |
| Song | Lyrics |
|---|---|
| Fashion, Lady Gaga | I am, I'm too fabulous. I'm so, fierce that it's so nuts. I live, to be model thin. Dress me, I'm your mannequin. j'adore vivienne habillez-moi Gucci, Fendi et Prada. valentino, Armani too. Merde I love them Jimmy Choo… Fashion! Put it all on me; don't you want to see these clothes on me. Fashion! Put it all on me; I am anyone you want me to be |
| When I Grow Up, Pussycat Dolls | Be careful what you wish for 'cause you just might get it You just might get it You just might get it… I see them staring at me, oh I'm a trendsetter. Yes this is true 'cause what I do, no one can do it better! You can talk about me 'cause I'm a hot topic. I see you watching me, watching me, and I know you want it… |
| Shake It Off, Taylor Swift | I'm dancing on my own (dancing on my own) I make the moves up as I go (moves up as I go) And that's what they don't know, mmm-mmm that's what they don't know, mmm-mmm. …. It's like I got this music in my mind saying, "It's gonna be alright." 'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play and the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake; I shake it off, I shake it off. Heart-breakers gonna break, break, break, break, break and the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake. Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake… I shake it off, I shake it off. |
True, not true? Who knows? But with someone that's rather renowned for a few reasons, rumors abound. Some of them are blatantly contradictory, of course… that is the nature of rumors.
- Her hands are scarred from a brutal accident involving fire when she was young; that's why she always wears gloves.
- Her father, the Duke of Alasce, will soon announce her younger brother as heir, for anyone is more fit to rule than she.
- She has monstrous fits like one possessed by dark forces when she does not get her way.
- Her beauty is unnatural; you know those al'Slyenthars… evil as sin. They made pacts, I'm telling you! In fact, she's not natural at all, her gloves disguise poisonous claws!
- She's such a pious young woman; and the One God graces those who serve him well. Unlike most of the decadent nobility, she has taken no lovers and refuses to shame herself or her family.
- Not a single bit of sense in her head, that one. The poor Duke— what good is having a pretty daughter if she is… ah, well, dumb as a post?
- The problem with foolish girls is they are easy to toy with— she's been too much in the company of the Lord of Fools Romante, and everyone knows his lecherous habits.
- She is seeking a master tailor for more additions to her personal wardrobe.
Logs and Sundry
"From infancy on, we are all spies; the shame is not this but that the secrets to be discovered are so paltry and few." — John Updike
"I love the idea of spies in love. How would it work between two people who were so programmed to lie and be suspicious, who have a whole life based on pretense?" —Tony Gilroy
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- 1866-03-17: Two Letters
- 1866-03-09: A Return Letter
- 1866-03-07: Letters from Alasce
- 1866-03-07: Letters to Alasce
- 1866-03-06: The Truth Comes Out
- 1865-11-06: A Letter to Firen
- 1865-11-04: Letters Home
- 1865-11-04: Two Letters
- 1865-11-03: Letter to Alasce
- 1865-11-02: Letters Home and Elsewhere
- 1865-11-03: Letters to the Front
- 1865-10-24: Cold Nights
- 1865-10-26: Chastisement
- 1865-10-10: On Healing Wounds
- 1865-09-23: I Am Father's Blade
- 1865-09-22: A New Turn
- 1865-09-15: A Flurry of Messages
- 1865-09-17: A Chess Piece Reset
- 1865-09-15: So Many Letters
- 1865-09-10: A Pawn Taken
Description
Just a touch taller than average, the masked woman in view can only be defined as a work of art. Rich chocolate hair, shimmering with what light is available, falls to her shoulders…the medium-length hair curling gently around her neck. The shine of the dark brown locks are only rivaled by that of the mask that graces her face. Crafted in the finest silver, the thin sweeping curves of the mask resemble lace. Twin rows of deep purple amethysts arch over the eyes, providing perfectly contoured eyebrows for the stormy blue-grey eyes that peer out from within. The rest of the woman's expression seems as turbulent as the storm within those eyes, shifting from pleasure to perhaps frustration, only to clear to laughter.
The ensemble that graces the figure only further reinforce that sense of artistic perfection that only few possess. A deep purple gown accentuates the young woman's stately form, crafted from chiffon over what appears to be silk satin. The dress is a halter top with the dark purple fabric clinging about her neck, leaving the arms and shoulders quite bare. The depths in which the neckline falls to does little for the sake of modesty, however remaining just on the verge of risque without crossing over. The hands, unlike the arms, are covered with a pair of matching dark purple gloves, the edges reaching just shy of the elbow. Upon the waist, royal purple chiffon has been gathered on both sides, forming side draping. The chiffon is held in place with a fine beaded decoration, each bead painstakingly added, with the design flaring from the hips, tapering to a point in the middle of the front and back of the waist. From there, the satin and chiffon flow in a straight smooth line all the way to the base of her feet. The length of chemise along the back lengthens out, forming a short puddle train that extends about two feet behind her. With the floor-length gown, her feet are mostly hidden from view. However, the truly observant may spot silk satin slippers, the same deep purple as the gown, peeking out from under the gown upon occasion.
Relationships
The Ice Bear: A dance and flirtation, though my Lyonal felt he must 'slay' you. I took that to mean he knew who you were and did not wish me to tarry overlong in your company. Alas.
The Centurion: It was fun, to explore where things could have gone once. I knew who you were the moment I saw you, something about a certain smirk and dark eyes behind your Vir Sidus mask. Be careful, easterner, play is one thing, but I fear in some ways you may be all too serious.
The Red Knight: I had thought you to be your twin, and now won't things be interesting in years to come when we both take our places? I do hope you forgive my mentioning of names as I was a bit… distracted.
The Black Knight: You dance marvelously, and I only wish we could have spent longer in each other's company. There were things I wanted from you tonight that, for all my teasing, I will not stoop to asking for any other.
Lyonal: My beloved, handsome rogue. Every other flirtation and dalliance was only to pass the time until I could be with you. We knew what the end of the night would bring, and even my own expectations, driven high by long anticipation, did not come close to what actually was. Being parted from each other will be another trial we must bear.
TIMELINE
1844-03-02: Alina al'Morena is born to then-heir Lord James al'Morena and his wife Mina
1848-06-17: Alina is taken to Alain's Rest for the first time by her grandmother, Lenore. Though only four years old, Lenore tells Alina the story of what she did, and why.
1851-12-06: Duchess Lenore al'Morena passes away. Alina is distraught, though her father advances to becoming the Duke.
1852-01-12: Alina begins training under her father to take her place not only as Duchess one day, but as Royal Spymaster. She begins to learn ciphers, politics, intrigue, and bladesmanship under her father; and stewardship and other such mundane tasks under her mother; and apothecary and alchemical studies under masters of such belonging to their house.
1854-05-02: While playing in Alain's rest with her brother Marcus, Alina slips and falls into a basement pit filled with murky, mold-and-slime filled water. Marcus is able to help pull her out, but she claims she never feels clean again after that, sparking a sort of obsession that follows her for the rest of her life with cleanliness.
1855-07-08: Alina designs her first bit of garb: satin gloves with contrasting lace overlay. They become a staple of her outfits in the future.
1857-12-29: Queen Cynthia al'Ramar and her daughters all wear gowns of Alina's personal design to the Lyioness Tourney/Circuit Championship Ball for 1857.
1860-09-27: Alina wears a gown specifically to catch the eye of Prince Mikel's family at the tourney banquet in Kentaire this year. She manages to catch the attention of his wife and young daughters, the former of which begins exclusively wearing designs of Alina's making. She is only 16.
1860-10-16: At her first masque, Alina meets her older half-brother Corvin Fremont for the first time since she was still in the cradle. He deems himself her unofficial protector and enforcer after the masque.
1862-03-17: Master Sebastian Carne, then Commander of the Wraiths, attempts to kidnap her under the order of unknown persons. He is thwarted by her half-brother, Corvin Fremont.
1865-07-28: Alina meets Tristan Romante for the first time.
1865-08-24: Alina helps to thwart an attempt on Princess Alessa al'Ramar's life with Viscount Jaren Cassomir and Blue Cavalier Octavian Deverot
1865-08-25: Alina travels south to Four Corners in the company of Alaric al'Mordran, who she is weighing as a potential husband at her father's request. She finds him lacking.
1865-08-27: Alina and Tristan discover they are both spies and figure out, by exchange of information, that there is a single force behind the issues plaguing both realms. They dub this force 'The Chessmaster'.
1865-08-31: Alina and Corvin turn over the Lady Angelina Romante and her daughter Clara to Viscount Letholdus Romante along with a significant amount of 'ransom' money as an apology for her being held on their lands so long.
Alina allows Tristan to bed her for the first time.
1865-09-09: The beginning of the Great Raid of 1865. Alina is separated from her half-brother in their attempt to quit the city.
1865-09-12: In the counter-attack to retake the city, Alina takes a grievous headwound. It is ultimately healed with minimal scarring, but leaving her with a series of recurring headaches that will last months.
1865-09-28: Alina is caught up in the Battle for the Blade as she tries to take out Robar without killing him. She takes two blows to her unarmored chest: one from a spear and the other from an arrow, the latter being nearly-fatal.
1865-10-02: After two nearly-mortal wounds in less than a month, Alina is taken back to Alasce swiftly by boat to heal. (Once she arrives, she is given fleshknit, though that is not something that's openly advertised.)
1865-10-09: Alina realizes the possibility she may be with child, and shares the news with Tristan and Adelaide.
1865-10-10: Alina, along with Gabriel al'Callenta, Ramius d'Arran, and Varian Reine, seek out, find, and kill the Syndicate members who had kidnapped and injured Myrana d'Armaz; rescuing her.
Alina finds out that her father and the al'Callenta duke are in negotiations for her to wed Sir Gabriel, Duke Cesare's second son.
1865-10-18: Alina recieves Shadow and Mirror, a mated pair of lightsilver daggers, forged by Ramius d'Arran.
1865-10-20: Alina and Tristan go missing the day after the masque. Unknown to anyone, they have been trapped in the ruins of Alain's Rest by a monstrous creature similar and yet not to the Banshee. They are rescued the following day.
1865-10-24: Alina meets with Archbishop Sirrah Cantire along with the others involved with the strange creature in Alain's Rest. She decides that to monitor and handle supernatural issues within the West is a natural outgrowth of her current duties. Secrecy doesn't bother her.
1865-11-22: While traveling north to Murnord for the al'Callenta-Viscarin wedding, the caravan Alina is traveling with is beset by barbarians. They are killed by a combined force of Lord Michael, Lord Gabriel, Prince Mikel, and her half-brother Corvin.
1865-12-06: Alina attends the wedding of Lord Sir Michael al'Callenta, heir to Murnord, and his bride Princess Bella Viscarin, in Murnord.
1865-12-10: Just before the Lyionesse tournament, the betrothal contract for Alina to wed Lord Gabriel al'Callenta is signed.
1865-12-14: After the banquet naming Lord Gabriel Tourney Champion, Aequor Champion, and Circuit Champion, Alina and Gabriel depart the banquet and he spends the night with his future wife at the al'Morena manse in Lyionesse.
1865-12-15: A ride in the countryside goes sour…
1866-01-06: Alina attends the wedding or Lord Sir Thaddeus Sokar, heir to Dalcen, and his bride Princess Odette al'Ramar, in Four Corners.
1866-03-06: The truth of her pregnancy comes out to her father.
Relationships
Aequor
- Cover
- House al'Morena
- House al'Ramar
- House al'Callenta
- House al'Mordran
- House d'Armaz
- House d'Geroux
- House d'Augustino
- House d'Acuto
- House d'Arran
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Father, Duke James : Father, it is from you that I learned to be the iron fist hidden within the silken glove. I only hope that I am the heir you deserve. I obey you without hesitation or question, unless I feel you are making a misjudgment from not having all the information. I trust you, because you are family, and the man who made me the woman I am today. I try my best not to lie to you… I have to lie to so many other people, it makes me feel comfortable to have the ability to tell you things truly. I understand the choices you've made are for the best of the house, even if I disagree with them; I know you feel that the path you have set me on is the right one. |
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Mother, Duchess Mina : Mother is an interesting woman… I do not think she has been fond of me since it became very clear that I was going to be Father's daughter in truth. She is strong enough to handle the rigors of being wed to an al'Morena, but she always seems aloof and apart; as if what we do is entirely out of her liking. I respect her strength, but I wonder if her weakness may have passed to me in some way. If I find an ounce of it, I will stamp it out. |
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Corvin Fremont; Beloved Bastard Brother : Oh, my more favorite of my two brothers. You may not always adhere to my need for order, but you are only a bastard, so you can't really help it, can you? Still, you do manage to help keep most of my life mess-free and clean up those things I shouldn't be bothered with myself. If only I could convince you to wear something more suitable more often… Still. The wonderful game you play with people rather inspires me to do much the same. Can you tell I have tried to be like you? Well, other than the whole messiness. That's more than I could handle. I do wish the situations had not changed things between us, but perhaps it was for the best. What we had both wanted wouldn't have been feasible, after all. It does not change how deeply I care for you, and I still trust you with my entire soul. |
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Marcus al'Morena; the Ranger Baby Brother : Little brother, what will I do with you? You content yourself with dirt and the woods, when you could reach for so much more. I know you've resented our birth order, but really, you make no signs that you truly want the duchy or that you could rule it well. I love you as my brother, and I respect your abilities in the art of killing… but I wonder sometimes if you ever intend to make a study of the art of living. Also? Whomever Father ends up arranging for your wife, I hope she is far more tolerant of dirt and leaves than I. |
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Conner Lyavon; Wraith : One of my favorites among the Wraiths Corvin has assigned to my entourage. If Marcus is a reluctant killer, then you are certainly a cheerful one. I look forward to seeing your rise within that company of murderers and sneaks, from what I've seen, you may eventually stand at Corvin's right hand… or his left. |
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My Liege, His Grace and Majesty the King : I serve now as best I can, and in time will serve him or his heir. There is nothing that I can be asked to do that I will not; we will always serve our lieges in the ways their other vassals find too distasteful. |
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Her Grace the Queen : I have met her only a couple of times in my lifetime, and I get the feeling that she does not approve of what we do, though perhaps she sees us as a necessary evil. I will endeavor to keep things she may not like from her view, lest she be too upset. |
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the Crown Prince : I will serve him in time as my Father served his. That is all that matters. The rumors of his continued ill-behavior do not seem truthful, and I wonder if this not another ploy to weaken my nation. Perhaps soon I will talk with Father about find the root of them. |
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The flighty foolish Princess : In our family, she would have been the victim of a tragic… accident. Foolishness and weakness is not tolerated by our house, and it is lucky for her she was born into the house she was. Still, if she serves to weaken the kingdom as a whole, I will have no qualms about doing my duty to our people and removing her. It seems the al'Ramar decided to get rid of her to the south. Perhaps she will flourish better there than Lyionesse, who is to say? I only regret that she got the honor I had wanted for myself. |
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Her Highness the Knight : I think she might fancy me— her and half the kingdom, truth to tell. I just do not find the dirt, blood, and othersuch things she revels in to be something I could tolerate. |
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The Pretty Princess : I wonder if it is cruel of me to say that though I have been fond of her, I think she might be an idiot at times. Seeking a fairytale knight to sweep her off her feet when she was already betrothed to one? This comes, not of reading too many books— for there is no such thing as that— but from reading entirely the wrong sorts of books and in too great a quantity. She would benefit from being taken away from her flights of fantasy and given the same sorts of reality my family inflicts upon their children from a young age. One's Mercy, I expected better of her. |
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The Scoundrel Cavalier : He's an idiot. Amended: He's the Queen's idiot, so I may need to revise my opinion of him slightly. I may name him my champion for the tourney in Alasce. He fared well in Kentaire, and without him, it's quite likely Tristan would have bled to death before a healer could have seen him. He's an idiot, but he's a loyal idiot— loyal to the crown as I; and I wonder… …no, he's a pirate. |
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Duke Cesare al'Callenta : The Duke may dismiss me as being a silly little girl from time to time, but I have respect for him and how he handles his household. |
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Lord Michael al'Callenta : I've dealt with him at court a time or two, and he's quite tolerable for an al'Callenta. He has a sense of fun, at least, where most seem to have that frozen out of them at birth. There was a… rather interesting mistake made during the last masque, though I find it more amusing than mortifying. He seems happy with his new wife, and I look forward to working side by side with him in years to come when we both run our respective duchies. |
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Lady Bella Viscarin : A rather exuberant lady with excellent taste in clothing. |
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Lord Sir Gabriel al'Callenta, my Betrothed : At first, I despised him. He was everything typical of a boring, staid al'Callenta knight. But the longer I've spent time with him, the less sure I am that he is anything at all like a typical boring knight. Of course, he thinks too often with his sword, and One knows we'll likely never get him to stop wearing that loud clanking armor; but I sense a sort of dark humor in him that makes me think he may be capable of understanding what we do and why. He is kind and gentle, as expected of an al'Callenta, and something that I find that makes me hopeful for our eventual marriage to be more than just an affair of state and politics. I do not love him, not as I love Tristan; and I do not know if he will ever spark the passion that my Lyonal can do with a glance or a touch. But perhaps instead of the leaping flames of a harvest bonfire, I should look more to the steady warmth of the hearth. Perhaps love will come in time, though I suspect it will be a love of a different sort. |
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Archduchess Jasmina : She is close to my own age, intelligent, and her merchants are utterly useful in keeping me with fabrics, trims, and laces. I do not get to spend time with her often enough, but I suspect in the future when it is my hand that guides my duchy rather than Father's, she and I will work very well together. |
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Lord Alaric : He's an interesting one. I cannot decide if he's spying for Jasmina (not that I hold that against her if he is, I rather respect that sort of thing) or trying to court me. Or both. To be fair, both might gain him some small stature in considerations of the latter. He's fairly handsome to look upon, and capable of polite, intelligent conversation. He insisted that he was ethical, yet later engaged me in an interesting conversation regarding acting in whatever manner is most pragmatic. I had dismissed him entirely from considerations due to his professed ethical nature, but if he is, as he seems to hint, the knife of the al'Mordrans… well. I may have to watch him more closely. |
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Lord Nicolo d'Armaz : Despite… or maybe because of… his ruthlessness, I find him to be one of my more favored allies. I look forward to the day when we both rule our respective houses— he will be one of the most useful vassals I have. |
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Lady Myrana d'Armaz : The Queen's personal eyes-and-ears. I give the girl some credit, though she may need better training. I may need to take her under my wing, so to speak, and let her learn from Father and our house… she seems to have a knack for getting into situations she really should otherwise be able to foresee and avoid. She's young. She'll learn. |
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Viscountess Talia : Corvin is mine, and somehow its seems as though she forgets this. Her family may have trained him, and she may bed him from time to time, but she does not own him in any sense… she serves my family well, for now, but it is long since time since she should be wed and breeding instead of indulging in her dubious pleasures. I often wonder if she would still serve us if those pleasures were taken away— well. No matter. She will recall her place, and if she oversteps, I am quite willing to put her back in it. |
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Lord Eisen d'Geroux; The Trainer : Unlike my previous combat instructors, this man seems completely unmoved by my rank and stature. The one concession he seems to make is that he isn't going to try and kill me… but with his rather indelicate training, perhaps if someone else decides otherwise in the future I will be a rather formidable opponent. After our first training session, I think I hurt in more places than I have ever in my lifetime. No wonder Corvin does not speak of his training with the d'Geroux. |
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Viscount Oscar d'Augustino; the King's Healer : A kind man, who not only took the time to stitch the assassin's cut on my arm but also gave it a touch of Lady's Blessing to keep it from scarring. He has always been so mindful of my needs whenever I've had cause to meet with him. And he's often sent his daughter to Alasce to spend time with me, as proper young ladies should always have companions of suitable rank. A wonderful man. I only wish their family was vassal to ours. |
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Lady Adelaide d'Augustino : I adore her. It's rare I can find someone who can speak of things that entertain me, though her interests lie in slightly other realms than mine. Still, I find her to be an excellent companion for all sorts of trouble— courtly and otherwise. She's one of the few people I can count as a friend, but even despite that, I cannot trust her with everything. She knows that I interfere in Syndicate work for my father (of course, given her who and what her father is, she'd know); but the whole crown-and-country bit? If she knew, I suspect she'd laugh first, then look at me like I'd lost my mind, then probably kill me for being far more dangerous to her than she originally thought. It's what I'd do in her place, after all. |
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Lady Sir Odessa d'Augustino : Rude, uncouth, and decidedly unbecoming in her conduct. I don't expect much from knights in general, but she is a terrible example of even their boring sort. She's apparently taken great offense at my half-brother and Addie's trysts… and where I can certainly understand protectiveness to a degree, Addie is a grown woman and has bedded more men than I could rightly count, and women as well (including myself). I do hope she understands if she threatens me or my family in any way… and does not recall her place enough to keep a civil tongue in her mouth besides… I will cut the damned thing out and use it to scrub my bathtub. |
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Baron Artos d'Acuto; Uncle Artos : I positively adore my uncle. He has no idea what I really am, but he tends to treat me more like he does his own daughters than the daughter of a duke and his niece. He is always willing to spend time with me, with or without my Auntie Lucia around; and his presence often is quite enough to keep me from going mad during boring affairs of state or tournaments. He does know that I enjoy to read on occasion, and doesn't seem to find anything discongruent in that fact with my public mask… sometimes he'll even bring books to exchange with Father from his own library for a time, and he seems to have a knack for bringing ones he knows I'll enjoy. It's a pity he's such a good man, sometimes. He has no idea how deep and dark our roots go, and I don't think he cares to. |
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Baroness Lucia d'Acuto; Auntie Lucia : My father's sister and wife to my favorite uncle. I have a great fondness for her and her husband and their children. |
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Lord Sir Ramius d'Arran, the Stormson : Myrana obviously fancies him, and if her taste is bulky knights in shining armor, I cannot help but tease her for it. He's a far more amusing knight than most, so I do not mind his company. |
Galenthia
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Tristan Romante; My Lyonal : The moments I thought he would die brought such an agony to my heart I could not imagine feeling that sort of pain again. He is my equal in intrigue, and my partner in seeking the person or persons who seek to weaken the West. If I were a religious woman, or a superstitious one, I would believe he truly is my soul mate, and that the One intended for us to know and love each other. I may be carrying his child, and that frightens me. How can I do my work and keep myself safe, much less a bastard, noble as they may be? It pains me that Father did not see things my way, and that it is not Tristan that I will wed. I can only hope that when news of my betrothal reaches him, he does not fall into the despair I saw in him so clearly at the Alasce tournament. He will ever hold my heart, and for him to lose himself would be for me to lose a part of me as well. |
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Viscount Letholdus Romante : I suspect he dislikes me and my family very much, and I could not blame him. Though I am aware my Father and Corvin knew of Lord d'Myrin's treachery for at least a couple of years, I knew nothing of it until Corvin came to me in Lyioness to inform me of their plans to destroy that house. I feel pity for him and his family, but wonder if it may not have just been better to have killed them both with the rest of the d'Myrins and be done with it. Father has some gambit, I am sure, but what it may be eludes me. Still, I doubt this man will think very fondly of me, and I wonder how he will react if he found out about the intimacies I share with his cousin. |
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The Rose Queen : I do not know the woman in more than rumors and what I've heard through my business with Father. She seems at times weak, and at times steel. I do not know what to think of her, save that I would rather her eye not turn to me. Though I mean her and hers no harm; should things go differently between our kingdoms, I would do whatever was asked of me. It would be nothing personal, after all. Just business. That she refused to open negotiations with my father is telling enough that she has little trust for me and my family. I cannot fault her for it, even if I hold bitterness towards her for denying both her cousin and myself any chance at happiness with each other. But she is a Queen, and Queens do as they wish— she has her storybook ending, a betrothal to the man she loves (and it was obvious at the wedding of Lord Sokar… how plain her feelings were worn!), and eventually him sitting at her side as king. I cannot fault her for it, though I can curse her in private for taking in selfishness what she would not grant to others, though it was in her power to do so. |
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Viscount Jaren Cassomir : His reputation precedes him. He seems to be rather… boring, really. Unfortunately, I feel like I owe him for his protection of the princess, and that puts me in a tiresome dilemma. He seems the handsome, duty-bound, boring staid knight of stories, especially after how he fought against the monster in the ruins. That he is the head of the Vigilant in Galenthia is no surprise… is there no end to how deep his heroism goes? He is the opposite of everything my family is, everything I was raised to do and to value. I am glad that there is someone in the world, however, that can live as he does and gain the happiness I am sure he will have with his beloved queen by doing the things that earn such praise and glory. He wears it well, and though he is Galenthian, if ever a time comes to call him ally, I will do so without hesitation. He seems to understand sacrifice and duty much as we do, even if in a different path. |
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Henric Cassomir. I suppose there's a 'sir' there. : I cannot decide if he is a child or simply an idiot. Perhaps he's taken one too many hits to the head on the tourney grounds. Or perhaps he is a pawn, wittingly or unwittingly, of the Chessmaster, and his actions designed to weaken the West further. Even if it is not so, what he has set into motion may cause a rift between Aequor and Galenthia, and I cannot allow it: my King and Queen want peace, and peace they will have, even if it comes at the cost of this man's life. |
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Lancer Naomh Sir Cassomir or something like that : Just as boring as her brother… or cousin… or… however they are related. She's a knight, and she constantly looks at me as if I'm a poisoned adder about to strike Tristan. I suppose that is her job, but how is it that Galenthians, who call my countrymen stuffy, are the ones who have the most intractably boring bodyguards? At least the Wraiths that serve my house have a sense of humor. |
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the Archduchess : I trust this woman as far as I can throw Highwater Castle. Still, I am capable of playing as nicely as I must. Until a time presents itself when I can nicely slide a dagger into the woman's ribs. |
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The Knight of… Lilies? I think. : Only further proof that the rampant inbreeding among the Arkanins produces substandard intelligence among its scions. Really? Chasing a squire? I'm not even a knight and I know that's distasteful. If he wants to kiss squires, do it at a masque like everyone else does. Then at least it doesn't count. |
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Duke Gauvain Tarris : He seems rather boring, for a man known as the Betrayer. I should likely keep my eye on him though… treacherous cats never change their stripes, after all, and it could be he will be the next pawn I may have to set myself against. The One help me if so; I will not look forward to it. |
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Lady Claire Tarris; the Viscount Romante's betrothed : A healer, I understand, and I know she helped to work on my as well as Tristan, though I remember little of it. She does not seem overly pleased with Tristan's attachment to me, but I really cannot blame her. I'm grateful that she assisted to heal me, and suspect that without it… well. |
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Sir Lady Bethany Ashedown : She seems interesting enough. Though in retrospect, she made a few rather bawdy references to Tristan… though that's not entirely unexpected. The man's entire false persona is a bad tavern song. They were amusing, if nothing else, though I suspect she was not as interested in my designs as I had hoped. Pity. She would look rather pretty to dress up. |
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Viscount Varian Reine : Hohoho!, here's another Galenthian certainly worth spending time with. I mean, he did behead Lord Robar, which was a bit of a tragedy since I couldn't pump him for information, being dead and all; but such grace and form in battle! He may be a knight, but he looks like a knight with the same sorts of training my brothers have, as easily as he scales walls and glides through chaos. He's a friend of Lady Myrana, as well, and she generally (*coughcoughGABRIEL*) has good taste in friends. That he, too, came to her aid is quite telling. He has merit. We like people with actual merit, not sheer happenstance of birth. |
Four Corners
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Councilman Fredrick Tyres : I look forward to the day you step far enough out of line that I can send Corvin to kill you slowly and painfully, you lecherous pig. |
Elsewhere
"Girls have an unfair advantage over men: if they can't get what they want by being smart, they can get it by being dumb." —Yul Brynner
"Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn." —C. S. Lewis
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His Grace Cardinal Lucien Ramius; The Corrupt Cardinal— my favorite kind : We've long enjoyed a 'special' relationship with Father Lucien. Oh, I don't doubt the man is pious, in his own way. But as the al'Ramars have used our family for years to do their dirty work; sometimes there's need for the Church to do so as well. For the more faith-minded in my house (the few that there are), we take great comfort in knowing that by serving the Church in matters less savory from time to time, we ensure our forgiveness and acceptance into the next life eternal. Personally, I take this all to mean that my suspicions that God… or all the Gods… don't actually concern themselves with our doings for the most part; but I could be wrong. I trust the man about as much as I trust any priest or Inquisitor. He could, with what he knows of us, send the Inquisition to our doorsteps (and wouldn't that be droll, having to explain why we casually overlook worship of dark gods and blasphemy in our lands), and the lot of us tried and convicted of more murders and fouler crimes than I care to think about. He doesn't, because we're useful to him. Conversely, I am quite sure more… clean elements of the Church would be dearly interested in knowing how many tortures, deaths, and worse have been slipped to me or others in my family as assignments for penance after confession… |
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Archbishop Sirrah Cantire : For once, the Church does something useful, and this woman is the head of it. What knowledge does she have behind that grandmotherly gaze, built up over years of experience? She reminds me of Grandmother Leonore after a fashion; oh, there is love there for her children and grandchildren, but that will not stop her from burning them all, and herself too, if that is what she felt best for the West. I can respect that. |
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Prince Mikel Viscarin : A brilliant man, and one I am grateful to, for offering his healers to both myself and Tristan. Before I leave, I hope to have time to speak with him. I had suspected he was perhaps our Chessmaster, but now I am sure he is not. That does not mean that he does not have pawns amongst his people; though I see this man as no more likely to be a pawn than Father. |
…tbd…
…tbd…
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The Chessmaster; The Powerful Man : I see his hand in everything that has plagued the West of late. He puts my family, my country, my people, and my lieges at risk, and this is something I cannot abide. It is our responsibility to defend the realm however we must. Because of this manor woman?'s reach I can trust few, if anyone entire. I set myself against him and will do whatever I must to end his manipulations and keep those I have sworn to protect whole… whatever the cost to myself or my soul. |