Lady Anais
02-13-07, 11:09 PM
Name: Baroness Anais Hieras (Ann-eye-ees He-air-us)
Age: 28
Race: Human
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Green
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 160lb
Nationality: Salvic
Occupation: Noble
Personality:
While she appears cold and malevolent, she can't be considered outright evil; in her twisted mind she believes most of the malign she does is actually warranted or justice. If a slave working a mine under her gets injured, she may kill him, but in her mind it's because he wouldn't be able to work, thus wouldn't be able to bring in money, thus he would have starved; she's showing mercy by ending him quickly. She acts very stately and regal, holding herselves to the standard of titled nobility, giving proper respect to peers and superiors, while looking down on those below her. Adding to what is already seen as a cold and imposing attitude, she remains utterly silent, never speaking to anyone. She is a dedicated worshipper of the Church of the Ethereal Sway, although she is unaware that her greatest ability was granted by a Thayne Deity (and would deny it even to herself if she were to find out.)
Appearance:
Her face would almost suggest a half elven lineage, though she's full blood human. Her face is thin, with very sharp features, a slender nose and high cheekbones. HEr angular features and tall height would make her look comparable to a woman of Nordic or Germanic descent by Earth standards. She has multiple scars on all parts of her body except her face, about half of which are self-inflicted. Her scarring is most notable on her back (none of these are self inflicted), where they crisscross the entire spread of her upper back and are recognizable as lash scars. She has a slightly muscular build for a woman, and has long arms and legs. Both in formal and informal settings, she prefers to wear her armor and travelling gear when in the public eye; very rarely will she be seen in a dress, even during ceremonies. Additionally, if closely observed, it may become apparent that the reason she doesn't speak (nor eat in the presence of others) is because she doesn't have a tongue.
Skills:
Voulge Fighting: Although she is familiar in polearm use, she has refined the techniques of using a Voulge in particular to an average level of proficiency.
Aura of Spite: Tapping into her deepest hatred, Anais' malign feelings manifest itself in a magical aura surrounding her. When it is present, her hair darkens to black, as does her eye color, and her skin pales. This negative energy aura extends 3 feet from her body and has several effects on the environment: Small plants wither and die, stone floors develop hairline cracks, soil dries out- as do small puddles. Any person (PC or NPC) that this field touches has their body tissue fatigue and their muscles atrophy slightly, effectively lowering their strength and physical resistance by 1/4th. The effects of the aura on people fade after a half hour. Also of note, when the Aura of Spite is active, she has truly indiscriminate hatred, and thus will see anyone- even friends and loved ones- as foes. This can only be used once per thread.
Fingertracing: A magical cantrip she sought out after losing her tongue, if she traces her fingertip along a smooth surface, the oils of her skin and her fingerprint will leave a faint, glowing amber trail behind. This only lasts a few seconds before fading away. As she cannot speak, this is her primary means of impromptu communication, "ghost writing" all of her words to others with her fingertracings.
Equipment:
-Vendetta: A voulge with an iron blade-head and a rose chestnut shaft.
-Copper plate armor, however she does not wear a helm, nor any of the arm pieces lower than the spaulders.
-Leather arm bracers.
-Elk-skin cloak (treated to be used as a fur, not leather).
-Leather bag for carrying small travel essentials.
History:
Once an eloquent and proper young lady, Lady Hieras- daughter of now deceased Salvic Marquis Jonas Heiras- grew up with a rich, noble upbringing. She was a pleasant and polite young lady, trained in ettiquette and womanly wares. She married at the age of 16 to Baron Alfred Komfer, a marriage approved of by both her father and the Church of the Ethereal Sway. However, the marriage was controversial among many of the lower citizens, as the Baron was actually her cousin on her mother's side of the family. Among nobility, it was perfectly acceptable; afterall, history has documented that many noble families encouraged inbreeding to "keep within noble blood."
On the third year of her marriage, another baron seeking to expand his fiefdom brought false charges of improper animal husbandry and theft against Anais' husband, claiming he was stealing prized horses from him as well as breeding them with his own without suitably arranging the sirings. The rival baron's men raided the fief and captured the couple, intent on torturing them into a coerced confession. Under Salvic law, the baron had local authority within his fief over such matters, and would be supported in his ruling that confession of the crime would give him claim to the Komfer land. Baron Komfer was murdered during the interrogations as a measure to try to break his wife. Seen as the weaker of the two, Anais was not only witness to her husband's execution, but subjected to some of the most violent and inhuman abuse and torture imaginable. If they could break her- with her husband dead, she held sole claim to the fief- then the land would be the roval baron's for the taking.
After a particularly violent episode of torture- one which had seen her lose her tongue- she was at the brink of death, and in fact, prayed for it. But her prayer was answered in the most unexpected of ways. The Thayne deity Hromagh the Strong had watched over the events, and impressed with both the woman's willpower and physical fortitude to withstand as long as she had. His celestial presence reached into her spirit and planted a seed there: the Seed of Vengeance. Fed off her own hate, it fortified her, giving her a dark aura (the Aura of Spite) and sending her into one of the most vicious furies imaginable. She killed one of her captors with her bare hands, then took his weapon and began systematically murdering the rest in her blind rage. While the men were better trained, they were caught off guard as they had never expected her to survive the ordeal, much less mount an attack. After killing a total of seven guards, she cornered the rival baron himself, taking a voulge from his private weapons collection stand and executing him with it. She left his keep with the weapon, and returned home, having lost much more from the ordeal.
Returning to her maiden name, she was allowed to keep her married title of Baroness after the truth regarding her husband's death was revealed. She additionally was the sole heir to his fief, and managed it as a mining and logging post. Having lost the last part of her family, the man she loved, and been subjected to such horrible torture, the baroness grew cold-hearted and stern. As most nobles came from military service, she travelled out of Salvar to refine her combat prowess, determined to prove that she could hold her own with her male counterparts in all aspects.
Last year, her fief was overtaken by bandits- with her out of the country and nothing but slave workers tending to it, it was a wide open target- who now occupy it. As they have not interfered with the Church's business on the fief, they have met no resistance from them. Since they set the slave workers free at a time when the Entente of Light had laid seige to the government, they met no official governing resistance either; in fact they were seen as doing a noble act. Lady Hieras has heard word of her land being overtaken on her travels, but has not yet returned to Salvar to try and reclaim it from the occupying brigands.
Age: 28
Race: Human
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Green
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 160lb
Nationality: Salvic
Occupation: Noble
Personality:
While she appears cold and malevolent, she can't be considered outright evil; in her twisted mind she believes most of the malign she does is actually warranted or justice. If a slave working a mine under her gets injured, she may kill him, but in her mind it's because he wouldn't be able to work, thus wouldn't be able to bring in money, thus he would have starved; she's showing mercy by ending him quickly. She acts very stately and regal, holding herselves to the standard of titled nobility, giving proper respect to peers and superiors, while looking down on those below her. Adding to what is already seen as a cold and imposing attitude, she remains utterly silent, never speaking to anyone. She is a dedicated worshipper of the Church of the Ethereal Sway, although she is unaware that her greatest ability was granted by a Thayne Deity (and would deny it even to herself if she were to find out.)
Appearance:
Her face would almost suggest a half elven lineage, though she's full blood human. Her face is thin, with very sharp features, a slender nose and high cheekbones. HEr angular features and tall height would make her look comparable to a woman of Nordic or Germanic descent by Earth standards. She has multiple scars on all parts of her body except her face, about half of which are self-inflicted. Her scarring is most notable on her back (none of these are self inflicted), where they crisscross the entire spread of her upper back and are recognizable as lash scars. She has a slightly muscular build for a woman, and has long arms and legs. Both in formal and informal settings, she prefers to wear her armor and travelling gear when in the public eye; very rarely will she be seen in a dress, even during ceremonies. Additionally, if closely observed, it may become apparent that the reason she doesn't speak (nor eat in the presence of others) is because she doesn't have a tongue.
Skills:
Voulge Fighting: Although she is familiar in polearm use, she has refined the techniques of using a Voulge in particular to an average level of proficiency.
Aura of Spite: Tapping into her deepest hatred, Anais' malign feelings manifest itself in a magical aura surrounding her. When it is present, her hair darkens to black, as does her eye color, and her skin pales. This negative energy aura extends 3 feet from her body and has several effects on the environment: Small plants wither and die, stone floors develop hairline cracks, soil dries out- as do small puddles. Any person (PC or NPC) that this field touches has their body tissue fatigue and their muscles atrophy slightly, effectively lowering their strength and physical resistance by 1/4th. The effects of the aura on people fade after a half hour. Also of note, when the Aura of Spite is active, she has truly indiscriminate hatred, and thus will see anyone- even friends and loved ones- as foes. This can only be used once per thread.
Fingertracing: A magical cantrip she sought out after losing her tongue, if she traces her fingertip along a smooth surface, the oils of her skin and her fingerprint will leave a faint, glowing amber trail behind. This only lasts a few seconds before fading away. As she cannot speak, this is her primary means of impromptu communication, "ghost writing" all of her words to others with her fingertracings.
Equipment:
-Vendetta: A voulge with an iron blade-head and a rose chestnut shaft.
-Copper plate armor, however she does not wear a helm, nor any of the arm pieces lower than the spaulders.
-Leather arm bracers.
-Elk-skin cloak (treated to be used as a fur, not leather).
-Leather bag for carrying small travel essentials.
History:
Once an eloquent and proper young lady, Lady Hieras- daughter of now deceased Salvic Marquis Jonas Heiras- grew up with a rich, noble upbringing. She was a pleasant and polite young lady, trained in ettiquette and womanly wares. She married at the age of 16 to Baron Alfred Komfer, a marriage approved of by both her father and the Church of the Ethereal Sway. However, the marriage was controversial among many of the lower citizens, as the Baron was actually her cousin on her mother's side of the family. Among nobility, it was perfectly acceptable; afterall, history has documented that many noble families encouraged inbreeding to "keep within noble blood."
On the third year of her marriage, another baron seeking to expand his fiefdom brought false charges of improper animal husbandry and theft against Anais' husband, claiming he was stealing prized horses from him as well as breeding them with his own without suitably arranging the sirings. The rival baron's men raided the fief and captured the couple, intent on torturing them into a coerced confession. Under Salvic law, the baron had local authority within his fief over such matters, and would be supported in his ruling that confession of the crime would give him claim to the Komfer land. Baron Komfer was murdered during the interrogations as a measure to try to break his wife. Seen as the weaker of the two, Anais was not only witness to her husband's execution, but subjected to some of the most violent and inhuman abuse and torture imaginable. If they could break her- with her husband dead, she held sole claim to the fief- then the land would be the roval baron's for the taking.
After a particularly violent episode of torture- one which had seen her lose her tongue- she was at the brink of death, and in fact, prayed for it. But her prayer was answered in the most unexpected of ways. The Thayne deity Hromagh the Strong had watched over the events, and impressed with both the woman's willpower and physical fortitude to withstand as long as she had. His celestial presence reached into her spirit and planted a seed there: the Seed of Vengeance. Fed off her own hate, it fortified her, giving her a dark aura (the Aura of Spite) and sending her into one of the most vicious furies imaginable. She killed one of her captors with her bare hands, then took his weapon and began systematically murdering the rest in her blind rage. While the men were better trained, they were caught off guard as they had never expected her to survive the ordeal, much less mount an attack. After killing a total of seven guards, she cornered the rival baron himself, taking a voulge from his private weapons collection stand and executing him with it. She left his keep with the weapon, and returned home, having lost much more from the ordeal.
Returning to her maiden name, she was allowed to keep her married title of Baroness after the truth regarding her husband's death was revealed. She additionally was the sole heir to his fief, and managed it as a mining and logging post. Having lost the last part of her family, the man she loved, and been subjected to such horrible torture, the baroness grew cold-hearted and stern. As most nobles came from military service, she travelled out of Salvar to refine her combat prowess, determined to prove that she could hold her own with her male counterparts in all aspects.
Last year, her fief was overtaken by bandits- with her out of the country and nothing but slave workers tending to it, it was a wide open target- who now occupy it. As they have not interfered with the Church's business on the fief, they have met no resistance from them. Since they set the slave workers free at a time when the Entente of Light had laid seige to the government, they met no official governing resistance either; in fact they were seen as doing a noble act. Lady Hieras has heard word of her land being overtaken on her travels, but has not yet returned to Salvar to try and reclaim it from the occupying brigands.