Group RP Corda Imperii; Sanguis Imperii — Character Thread

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Group RP Corda Imperii; Sanguis Imperii — Character Thread

JamesMartin

Sa souvraya niende misain ye
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Inner Sanctum Nobility
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Age
30
Location
Toronto, Ontario
Pronouns
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The sons and daughters of the Eternal Empire. Their chronicles may be found within.

(Code stolen from @Jumbled)

Alexios Nicolaides

ignore this. :)
Basic Info

Name
Alexios Nicolaides

Age
35

Pronouns
He/Him

Sexuality
Straight

Body Type
Broad, with toned muscle from years of swordsmanship training

Height
6'6"

Skin Tone
Olive skin with a noticeable tan

Hair
Black and grown down around his ears his ears, in a military cut. Curls at the ends

Eyes
Amber

Facial hair & Scars
Black beard, grown out to a point. Sometimes worn with silver beads at the end.

Piercings & Tattoos
Imperial Eagle on his chest. This can only be given to a member of the imperial family who has led men in battle. Numerous rings around his biceps, each in the local style of an Imperial province. A laurel leaf wraps his right forearm.

Other
Bears a handful of pale scars on his chest and arms.

Abilities

Abilities

Trained since youth as the Emperor's only son and for much of it as his only child, he was the first Imperial heir in generations to know beyond any doubt he would one day sit the throne and raised with the expectation. He trained with sword and bow, rode horses and commanded mock battles, serving a time in the infantry, the cavalry and the foreign auxiliaries so as to gain military experience. He was also made to read poetry, philosophy, political theory and even to play the lyre.

He is broadly considered his father's best commander, having served with distinction as an officer in crushing an uprising by one of his cousins in the west, in the reconquest of northern provinces as a general and, most recently, as overall commander in the largest war with the Empire's eastern rival in almost two centuries.

Personality

Disposition
Levelheaded and slow to anger, the Imperial heir and co-emperor is broadly admired within the court. He is also known to be utterly ruthless when the need arises, ordering acts of violence without sign of either passion or malice. He is known and regarded for his loyalty, yet has killed friends and enemies alike, whether out of need or at the command of his father.
Background

Alexios was born to rule

His father was the first Emperor in three hundred years to marry only a single woman and take no concubines. His mother, a beautiful but often sickly princess of one of the Northern vassals, was married to a son considered far down the line of succession on her 21st birthday. Within five years, that son would be Emperor, picked from his dozen siblings because, his father reasoned, a time of peace and prosperity needed a steady hand more than an ambitious conqueror. Though it was rumoured long that other machinations had been behind the ascension and the old Emperor did not live six months beyond his abdication.

Alexios was born only a year after his father's ascension, an unexpected child from a woman who most believed would never fall pregnant. She would do so again, ten years later, with the twin girls whose birth would kill her.

He has spent most of the last 20 years out of the capital, never staying for more than a few months between campaigns abroad and tours designed to ensure that local nobility do not contest his rise to power.





Anastasia Nicolaides

ignore this. :)
Basic Info

Name
Anastasia Nicolaides

Age
25

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Bisxual, Aromantic

Body Type
Fit with an hourglass figure, though appearing somewhat lean due to her height

Height
5'11"

Skin Tone
Pale Olive

Hair
Black, typically straight.

Eyes
Amber

Facial Features
An almost perpetual look of deep thought

Piercings & Tattoos
Songbird on her stomach, a reference to a mocking nickname.

Other
At any given time, carries at least one more concealed dagger than you expect

Abilities

Abilities

Anastasia possesses what her sister described as "an infuriating inability to be bad at anything." She consumes a steady diet of books on any topic she has a passing interest in and took up both riding and falconry entirely because she believed better health would allow her to focus more on her work. She is known to be both one of three people Alexios trusts implicitly and one of only two who is capable of reasoning with Alexandra when she is emotional.
Personality

Disposition
Unflappable to an almost comical degree since childhood, to the extent that her brother and sister have an ongoing bet regarding which will manage to get her to show an expression of surprise. Unambitious in the realm of politics, her bookishness, curiosity and general distrust in the capability of others lead to her meddling in almost everything.
Background

A Born Mistress of Mysteries

An Imperial Princess whose mother died in childbirth and whose father did not know how to raise daughters, she decided at at early age to raise herself by way of the library. It was in this pursuit that she learned the value of information and even moreso the value of secrets. She was only 15 when she exposed her first palace plot and by the time she was 20, she was all but officially her father's spymaster, having ousted the previous one when she exposed him for embezzlement. For all that she is the least dangerous fighter in the family and the only one no one knows to have killed someone personally, she is by far the most feared. Her beauty, ability and apparent ruthlessness led to the saying "when the songbird sings at twilight, a man dies by dawn."

The body of the man who first said it has not been found.





Alexandra Nicolaide

ignore this. :)
Basic Info

Name
Alexandra Nicolaides

Age
25

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Lesbian

Body Type
Muscular, with an hourglass figure and full chest.

Height
5'11"

Skin Tone
Pale Olive, with a slight tan

Hair
Black, almost always extremely wavy if not confined in a braid

Eyes
Amber

Facial Features
A few minor scars and frequent bruising

Piercings & Tattoos
Numerous scars. Has a raven tattooed across her back

Other
Extremely beautiful. Can and has killed men who said so.

Abilities

Abilities

Extremely accomplished with the sword and on a horse, she has few other interests. She has commanded soldiers, but found the responsibility of formal military grating and has instead spend her time with the Imperial Guard, though she refused all formal positions.
Personality

Disposition
The opposite of her sister in most respects, Alexandra is wild and emotional, often turning between them in quick flashes. In one respect, they are the same—an unbreakable loyalty between themselves and their elder brother. She is particularly protective of her sister and has killed at least three men for "disrespect."
Background

An Imperial Amazon

An Imperial Princess whose mother died in childbirth and whose father did not know how to raise daughters, she found her calling when, while watching her elder brother spar, he playfully asked if she wanted to join him. It turned out that, in fact, she had and, when he next left the capital, he left behind firm words as to the fate of any man who told his father that she was training in the practice yard. He learned eventually, by which time she was good enough that none dared suggest she leave. She did well in her studies and is capable when given other tasks, but is quick to boredom and tends to find her way back to what she desires to do. She has taken advantage of her position to travel, in particular to the outer fringes of the Empire, taking great joy in the fact that few know how to treat an Imperial Princess in a military uniform.




Theodora Kallistos

ignore this. :)
Basic Info

Name
Theodora Kallistos

Age
29

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Bisexual

Body Type
Slender, though wide-hipped, with small breasts and little in the way of muscular definition.

Height
5'9"

Skin Tone
Pale Ivory with a smattering of freckles.

Hair
Auburn and long, usually worked to match the local style.

Eyes
Pale Blue

Facial Features
A scar below her right eye

Piercings & Tattoos
A blue rose on her shoulder

Other
Extremely beautiful. Can and has killed men who said so.

Abilities

Abilities

Wears a jewelled dagger at her belt and knows how to use it.
Personality

Disposition
Outgoing and with an easy manner that disarms most people, she is something of a social chameleon, seeming to effortlessly fit in with any group.
Background

The Right Hand of an Emperor

The daughter of a prominent country noble and an officer well below her station, she was raised in the social graces in the hope that she could make up in pedigree and charm what she lacked in dowry. She was successful in most regards, but retained an outspoken disregard for social propriety that stubbornly resisted all tutors.

This combination proved successful beyond all expectations when her grandfather's household played host to a then 24-year-old Alexios for a handful of weeks during military preparations. Despite repeated threats from her family to keep her and her outspokenness away from and unable to offend a man whose rank so far exceeded her own, she snuck her way into the house and, from there, into his bedchambers. When he left, she went with him, telling no one, with a pouch of silver left on the bed and a note that said "You will find greater joy in this than in a daughter."

She has, in the years since, not left his side. When he went on campaign, she served as a secretary and when he visited nobility, she remained at his side. At 23, she bore him a daughter, Lydia, but no others have followed and rumour says that is deliberate. Despite a deep bond, she cares little for the politics of court and has refused all efforts to have her daughter treated as heir, preferring to preserve her own streak of independence and contempt for the formalities of court.

Possibly related rumours claim that the fall of an imperial tutor from an eighth story window came after he had called Lydia "the very picture of an Empress".




@Mikaela Corvid @Firefly @OrganicIntelligence
 
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The Zourian Princess

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Name: Yasmine Mithridates
Age: 21
Pronouns: She/Her
Sexuality: To be discovered...
Height: 5'1"
Eyes: Deep Brown
Build: Petite but with moderate muscle tone from dancing, riding, and swimming.
Skin Tone: Olive skinned with warm undertones, tans easily.
Hair: Long, black, thick tresses worn open in waves, or in a single braid.
Features: Dark, arched brows and thick lashes. Fine featured. Often wearing dark kohl around her eyes and adorned with cultural jewellery. Has all hair removed from her body except from her head and eyebrows as a part of cultural and religious importance.
Piercings & Tattoos: Flawless, apart from a small scar on her inner thigh. No tattoos, and finds the concept utterly shocking.

Abilities
Yasmine is a highly trained dancer in the classical and performing arts. The high-society of the Zourian Empire would regularly enjoy exclusive performances, featuring their princess. She enjoys watching the performances of other artists, particularly opera, folksong, and music. While failing miserably at every instrument placed in front of her as a child, Yasmine has a lovely singing voice herself and is regularly humming to herself.
The princess is also an avid horse and camel rider. Despite her sweet appearance, Yasmine is fiercely competitive and enjoys adrenaline-fueled activities, much to the dismay of any assigned personal guards. She has several racing wins under her belt, but nobody can be sure if the competition were truly giving it their all, or operating under duress from the hard and overprotective eye of her father.


Disposition
Yasmine has a sweet and sunny disposition, and it is not an uncommon sight to see the young woman smiling, laughing, or engaging in conversation. She is known for her spirited nature which fuels both her passion, and her temper.
Yasmine is quick to trust and to befriend, but is quite sensitive and easy to work-up. In fact, this particularly quality was one her brothers liked to take advantage of well into their adulthood, and will surely place her at a disadvantage in the highly political and contentious environment of the Emperor's harem.
Her carefree and fun-loving attitude combined with a general naivety has led many to believe she is woefully ill-prepared for life as a concubine of the conquering Empire's heir.

Unawares and Unprepared
Yasmine is the sole daughter of King Faraz, ruler of the Zourian Empire. As the youngest child of four, the Princess has lived a highly privileged and sheltered life inside the expansive palace walls.
A long history of strength and stability in the Eastern Empire, as well as living under the shadow of four older, ambitious brothers, had nurtured a lax approach to the girl's preparation for the eventuality of a life without her family, and far from home.
A distractable student and thoroughly disinterested in being courted, Yasmine had been looking forward to many years of leisure and freedom in Zouria. As such, nobody is more surprised and devastated than the Princess who has been whisked away by the foreign Imperial Heir; a man who has just unseated her father, home, and entire way of life.



The Daughter of Nobility

ignore this. :)

Name: Costantia Phoca
Age: 25
Pronouns: She/Her
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Height: 5'7"
Eyes: Pale Blue
Build: Slender and statuesque with little muscle tone. Perfect posture.
Skin Tone: Fair, light olive.
Hair: Blonde and so vibrant that some say the High Priestess once attributed it to dark sorcery. Often worn in a braid or arrangement that is most fashionable at the time.
Features: Symmetrical features with high cheekbones and a sculpted chin. Strikingly beautiful in the same way that rare and highly coveted species of vipers are.
Piercings & Tattoos: None.

Abilities
Costantia's proclivity for cunning and strategy can be described as "formidable" and "scary". Intelligent and quick-witted, the young noblewoman need not rely on her looks alone to gain admiration, and more importantly the upper hand, amongst any company in the upper echelons of society. She is an engaging conversationalist and master of manipulation.
Skilled in embroidery, but utterly despises it.
Frequenting the communal pools and busy waterfronts was not only done for the social aspect, and Costantia has become a very strong swimmer.


Disposition
When Costantia and her mother walk through town, the crowds part; unknowingly, instinctively, because they know what is good for them.
She is confident, daring, stubborn, and has more ambition than can be found in the entirety of the Imperial courts. Often the centre of attention and the one leading discussions at any dinner party, Costantia is quick-witted and sharp of mind, and can't remember the last time anybody has ever left her speechless. She is sure to charm and sway the collective opinion of any room you deposit her in.
While the noblewoman may seem extremely sociable, she despises most people, if they don't bore her more. Costantia craves intellectual stimulation, relishes a challenge, and is desperately lonely. She is thick-skinned and impossible to read, however, her wrath is often uncontrollable and her ruthless streak causes most of her peers to keep their distance.

Background
Greater and more creatively expanded upon than even the account of the creation of the Square of Divines, is a tale of rivalry between two noble families in Imperatori. If you were to ask the average citizen just why the Phocas and Vasilios' despise each other so much, they would all give you a different answer. One thing they will all agree on, however, is that the tensions and drama have never been higher in the Empire's high society; the eldest daughters of the warring noble families are both reported to be competing for the same prize. One can only pray that the fierce and powerful Nemar, God of War, Battles and Soldiers, has prepared his most celebrated servant yet, the Heir, for what he'll be put between very soon.
The Phoca family's pride and joy, Costantia is the oldest child of a prominent noble family. She has led a life of purposeful and targeted education, consistent grooming, and attentive nurturing, all in service of one purpose; to make herself as appealing as humanly possible to the eye of the Empire's Heir.
Costantia knows what she wants, and will not let anything get in her way. Especially a certain holy daughter and her meddling mother.

 
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Arcturia Vasilios

ignore this. :)
Basic Info

Name
Arcturia Vasilios

Age
24

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Closeted lesbian (fronts as heterosexual)

Body Type
Thin, hourglass-shaped, moderately busty, little to no muscle tone

Height
5'6"

Skin Tone
Pale skin

Hair
Brown, chin length

Eyes
Light Brown

Facial hair & Scars
None

Piercings & Tattoos
Ear piercings

Other
Keeps herself fully shaven (and I mean fully).

Abilities

As the daughter of the high priestess and heir to a sacred bloodline, she was technically anointed into the priesthood from birth and has the authority to perform religious rites such as consecrations, blessings, baptisms and the driving out of evil spirits. Also a skilled calligrapher, painter, singer and dancer, and quite fond of poetry and philosophy.
Personality

Torn between her duty to her family and to her own desires. Loyal to her mother but also harbours a growing grudge against her for treating her like a pawn. A bit of a doormat, has difficulty in sticking up for herself unless her mother directly orders her to and has confidence issues when speaking in public. Nonetheless, tries her best to put herself forward in order to carry out her mother's grand plans for the future of the family. Tends to come across as stoic due to clamping down on her social anxieties.

Despite her reservedness and dislike to open conflict with others, her habit of bottling up her emotions can come to a head whenever she looses her temper - and when that snapping point comes, woe be anyone within speaking distance.

Due to her mother's strict orders to 'save' herself for the heir she is a virgin, and so far untested in bed.

Background

The third child and only daughter of Themetia Vasilios, the High Priestess of the Cult of Opila. Whilst her two older brothers, Demetus and Troy, both joined the Imperial army and ended up becoming highly talented and decorated officers despite both still being under thirty (with an eye on one day becoming generals), Arcturia was groomed from birth for one simple purpose; to be her mother's tool of gaining influence at the Imperial court - and eventually, the throne.

One day, her mother told her when she was still young and watching her brothers train in the arts of swordmanship, she would sit next to the future emperor and wear the crowns of both the empress and of the high priestess, making their family one of the most powerful in the empire. The babies that she would bear for the emperor would be of the sacred bloodline, cementing their ascendancy over their rivals in the capital. To this end, she was given an education aimed at making her be as appealing a wife as possible, teaching her how to be a refined, learned woman with an eye for artistic expression and a willingness to serve her husband.

The only problem, she found, was that as she spent more time around over women for her studies, be it learning from slave-girls how to dance or watching them disrobe for her to paint, was that Arcturia increasingly has found her urgings leading her in a wildly different direction...





Tabbati Fahirr

ignore this. :)
Basic Info

Name
Tabbati Fahirr

Age
22

Pronouns
She/Her/They

Sexuality
Bisexual

Body Type
Athletic build, with good muscle tone. Lithe figure with small, perky breasts

Height
5'7"

Skin Tone
Light brown

Hair
Black, shoulder length, usually kept braided

Eyes
Dark Brown

Facial hair & Scars
Several scars on her right arm and leg from once having been attacked by a large wildcat she got too close to

Piercings & Tattoos
Ear piercings, nipple barbells

Other
Does not shave her armpits - or down below.

Abilities

Highly knowledgeable in alchemy, astronomy, languages, history, and the natural sciences. Also an excellent horse-rider and decent with an bow, the only two physical activities she has much interest in (although she is finding her archery is suffering due to increasing short-sightedness)..
Personality

Friendly and very curious about everything and everyone around her. Sometimes has some trouble reading and understanding others (partly due to differing cultural norms). Has no trouble reading books though, ever since her arrival in the capital she has spent much of her time with tutors devouring as much as she can from its great libraries. Has a crush on the heir, but is not sure yet if she even has a chance with him. Despite this, her culture teaches the importance of not waiting for what you want to come to you - and she will do what she must to get what she wants.

Her culture also has no nudity taboo.

Background

Tabbati comes from Numia, one of the empire's most distant southern provinces and an arid land that was once home to a legendary culture of nomadic pastoral horse-archers. Over time they have become increasingly sedentary and settled, abandoning many of their old ways as a result of the influence of their imperial overlords although they still highly value horsemanship and skill with a bow. The Fahirr family is a former line of nomadic chieftains who decided to embrace the new order and integrated into the imperial nobility, with Tabbati's grandfather having been a personal friend and ally of the emperor before his own death.

It was thanks to that friendship that his son, Tabbati's father, was able to secure her a place as the emperor's ward, allowing her to travel to the capital and receive the education she had been so craving. From the day she was born Tabbati showed an interest in learning as much as she could about everything around her, hungry for knowledge and to understand the wonders of the world. Sometimes this lead her down unsafe paths, such as when she once wandered off from her family's home into the wilderness and was attacked by a wild cat she got too close to.

Despite this traumatic event she still wished to learn, hoping to become a renowned scholar one day. As her homeland was lacking in terms of great libraries or schools, her father wrote to the emperor to take her on as a ward and to arrange for her formal education in the capital. Despite knowing she would spend many years - possibly her entire life - away from Numia and her family, she was overjoyed when the ship finally arrived at Numia's northern shore to take her across the sea to the capital. Her father wept to see her depart, but was was glad to know she would be kept safely out of the way as their people become increasingly restless against imperial rule and their noble lackies...





Themetia Vasilios

ignore this. :)
Basic Info

Name
Themetia Vasilios

Age
48

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Pansexual

Body Type
Slim, slightly voluptuous

Height
5'10"

Skin Tone
Light brown

Hair
Long, waist length, usually worn in a ponytail

Eyes
Blue

Facial hair & Scars
None

Piercings & Tattoos
Rumoured to have a clitoral ring. Nobody wishes to verify

Other
Does not shave her armpits - or down below.

Abilities

As the High Priestess of Opila, speaks with the authority of the deity. Carries out blessing, consecrations, exorcisms, and also claims to possess the power to speak directly to their goddess for guidance and portents of the future. Extremely intelligent, a skilled manipulator and also possesses the loyalty of an elite cadre of eunuch-guards who act as her personal protection.
Personality

Shrewd, controlling, political highly dominate and does not tolerate any kind of disobedience from her underlings (which includes, in her mind, her daughter). Excellent at putting on a facade of motherly care when in public, especially towards the plebeians of the City who flock to her temple for alms and blessings. Will not let anything stand in the way of her schemes.
Background

Having ascended to the position of the high priestess from a very young age following the sudden death of her own mother, Themetia's tenure has been marked by her advancing a very ambitious agenda of increasing both the cult's influence but also that of her own personal family.From her campaign of attempting to sway the other high priests and priestesses to name her as the next Primus, to sending her two sons into the army to rise up the ranks and use it as a means of influence, she has been focused on one thing and one thing only, and that was power. Her latest play is to send her daughter to woo the emperor and earn a place next to him on the throne - her own wants be damned
 
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Lena Koschi


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Basic Info


Name

Lena Koschi
Age

19
Pronouns

She/Her
Sexuality

Straight
Body Type

Slim with an ample chest
Height

5'2"
Skin Tone

Fair, pale even
Hair

Red, and long
Eyes

Green
Features

Freckles
Piercings & Tattoos

None
Other

Lena lacks the ability to speak in a normal tone, and thus can only sing.


Abilities


Abilities


Goddess like voice- She bears the voice of which there is no equal.
Spy craft- She uses her demeanor to relay information to Anastasia. A delicate art.

Personality


Disposition

She's been typecast as the "quiet" girl, due to her inability to speak. Some guess that she's dumb or simple minded, while die-hard fans believe she is so dedicated to her craft that she saves her voice only for singing. Despite her inability to speak directly, she is fiery despite her short coming. She does speak her mind, but in song. Lena uses her platform to speak great truths in her songs.
Background


Background


Lena grew up watching her father practice the art of war, and grew quite sick of her father never being around as a child. She found herself much suited for gentler pursuits. Something her mother had allowed to blossom in Lena as a young child. Her voice was strong and lilting, though she didn't quite have the exceptional quality she now has. However, after her mother's untimely passing, she found herself drawn more to singing as a way to cope with the loss.

Soon, she was of age, and with her father hard at her heels to be married off, she rebelled in an unusual fashion. Magic.

Lena took what courage she could and found a powerful Mage, and traded something valuable for her ability to sing people to tears, sex, or war. She didn't know it had been her ability to speak until her father had demanded to know where she had been.

It was then that she found herself unable to answer his question. Unable to give voice to her inner most thoughts. Unable to lash out at him for his pushing and prodding.

Lena took to singing in taverns and inns, for extra gold. And found herself the center point of many fans. Enough so, her father brought her out to several Imperial outings, hoping to wed her off to whatever noble he could. Putting Lena in the crosshairs of a rather ambitious Princess Anastasia. As such, Lena found herself being taught the Imperial Sign Language, and was gifted with the ability to at least communicate with someone! Now, without her voice, she was seen as slow or mentally impaired, and had been utilized for this particular skill of being unseen. Now she reports to Anastasia the mutterings of dignitaries and peasants alike, using her voice to bespell them in song at strategic events, parties, and gatherings. Every where she goes, it is at the behest of Anastasia wishing a keen ear on a specific target.




Frigga Astridrsdottir


ignore this. :)
Basic Info


Name

Frigga Astridrsdottir
Age

27
Pronouns

She/Her
Sexuality

Straight
Body Type

Muscled and toned, yet feminine
Height

6'1"
Skin Tone

Ruddy, fair in a certain light
Hair

Long and blonde
Eyes

Grey
Features

Tribal nordic tattoos across her arms, chest and shoulders, including several scars where she had beaten death, including a series of 4 scars across her rib cage where she barely managed to kill a bear.
Piercings & Tattoos

None
Other





Abilities


Abilities


Combat- Honed from an early age, Frigga was trained in several combat styles and stances. She is deadly with a spoon if given the chance.
Tactics- Her eye for warfare is nearly unparalleled, bested by her brother Freyr.
Resourcefulness- She has the ingenuity for clever tricks and cheats, using her head more where her brother uses his fists.


Personality


Disposition

Stubborn and hard headed, very domineering and straight forward. There is little Frigga cares about
Background


Background


Frigga grew up in a small community that held Oaths to their local Jarl. It was frequently raided by other Norse, and thus Frigga and Freyr, the Jarl's only kin, learned to fight side by side early on. It took years before the two could really fight in tandem, but when they do, the names of gods and goddesses are invoked for safety. Their ferocity and tenacity is rarely seen. The two, twins, found themselves called to arms with their father for battle against a rival tribe, driven to seek vengeance by some slight

Frigga and Freyr had pressed the right flank in an attempt to roll the opposing line upon itself, however Frigga found a worthy adversary preventing their attack, and was brought low with a swift and merciless strike. If the strike had been any deeper, she knew she would have bled out.
It took several weeks to heal, and several more to work out the tightness in her shoulder and neck before she was back to prime fighting shape. By then, their home had already fallen and their father had bent the knee to avoid further bloodshed. With Frigga healing, a disgusted Freyr took ship south, using their pedigree to negotiate transport to the capital and a position for both in Imperial service. The details of which were not given to Frigga.

Frigga did not recover in time to accompany Alexios West, but instead found herself the unlikely sparring partner of Princess Alexandra. During her rehabilitation, Alexandra assisted Frigga in her physical therapy and the two became fast friends on the field whilst Freyr and Alexios were away on other business. Alexandra, always obsessed with tales of powerful northern shieldmaidens, finally had one of her own and was smitten. Alexios were away on other business.

 
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The Side Characters

Phoibos "The Just" Nicolaides

ignore this. :)
Basic Info

Name
Phoibos Nicolaides

Age
68

Pronouns
He/Him

Sexuality
Straight

Body Type
Thin, but far from frail, with the gait and posture of a man who was strong in his youth

Height
6'2"

Skin Tone
Olive skin wrinkled but with a tan

Hair
Wavy, iron grey hair

Eyes
Amber

Facial hair & Scars
Well-maintained beard, grown out to a modest length

Piercings & Tattoos
Faded vine tattoos on his arms. The name of his dead wife and his three children encircle his wrist in runes

Other
Never allows himself to be seen without the imperial diadem, considering the weight a needed reminder of his duty.

Abilities

Abilities

Once a capable, if unexceptional warrior, he has always found his greatest calling in the bureaucracy. His public works projects helped revitalize the outer provinces, his tax reforms have funded the restoration of the imperial army and navy. Most celebrated of all, his legal reforms have brought a measure of legal consistency not seen in the empire since before the great collapse. The Imperial Senate, long toothless, has been reformed to ensure that the outer provinces are better able to petition their Emperor. This has centralized administration, but brought immense resentment from the old city nobility who view these newcomers as upstarts and the Emperor as weak.
Personality

Disposition
Contemplative in a way perhaps better suited to a scholar than an Emperor, he has nonetheless proven capable of swift, decisive and even ruthless action when it was needed. Solemn by nature, he has always taken delight in his children and has found renewed joy in his young granddaughter, who he dotes upon and has taken to spending long hours with now that his son has returned to participate in imperial duties,
.
Background

An Unlikely Emperor

Born the fourth son and twelfth child of the long-reigning Emperor Haraclian the Old, none expected Phoibos to inherit the throne, least of all Phoibos himself. Expecting his whole life that he would see him serving as a distant governor or perhaps, as an advisor to one of his more militarily inclined brothers. He married for love, a young foreign Princess who most assumed, from her frailty, would never give him a child.

His ascension, unlikely as it seemed, was precipitated by three events.

First, the signing of a treaty that, for the first time in two centuries, saw the empire at peace on every frontier.

Second, the arrangement to seal this peace by the marriage of the eight Imperial Princesses to prominent nobility in the provinces, removing them one by one from the line of succession as they were taken into their husband's family. The mass wedding was the largest celebration seen in the capitol in two generations.

The third, a murder, committed by his elder three brothers. It is unknown who struck first, but it is known that a diplomat from the North spoke ill of their father while all four brothers were attending a celebratory chariot race in honour of the collective marriage of their sisters, calling his treaty a sign of cowardice and the Imperial Princes who had allowed it a pack of Eunuchs. The man, brutally beaten, stabbed and mutilated, was thrown from the imperial box and the eldest brother, the drunkest, stood on the balcony and urinated after him.

While such events had happened before in Imperial history, their father realized the deeper underlying risk. His sons lacked the temperament to rule. One by one, they were exiled to serve in posts in the outer provinces, while their youngest brother was named co-emperor to his already 80-year-old father. Within two years, he had gone into retirement, leaving his son to run the Empire. Within twenty, his brothers joined in a collective rebellion which would, in time, see the young co-Emperor Alexios kill one of his uncles in single combat, several of his cousins in battle and bring the other two in chains before their brother, whereupon, with a heavy heart, Phoibos ordered their castration and confinement to a rural estate, with firm warnings they would die if they ever set foot outside of it.





Lydia "The People's Princess" Nicolaides

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Basic Info

Name
Lydia Nicolaides

Age
6

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
"Not until you're a grownup"

Body Type
Petite, though with some signs she is starting a growth spurt to match her parents

Height
3'6"

Skin Tone
Porcelain skin, with heavy freckling

Hair
Dark Copper Hair kept shoulder length (in the style of young children)

Eyes
Amber

Facial Features
Prominent dimples and a nearly constant look of mischief

Piercings & Tattoos
Wears Amethyst stud earrings, a birthday gift from her father.

Other
Skips instead of walking.

Abilities

Abilities

Has learned how to get teary-eyed on demand. Has a natural magnetism and enjoyment for attention. Frequently plays pranks, has learned how to lie with a straight face (everyone blames Anastasia)
Personality

Disposition
Cheerful and kind-hearted, if spoiled, Lydia takes full advantage of the privileges she was born into, spending hours playing in the gardens with other children, feeding the animals in the menagerie and curled up on her grandfather's lap in the library, learning to read in three languages. With her father's stubbornness and her mother's cleverness, she has the potential to grow into a formidable young woman now that she is of age for formal education.
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Background

The People's Princess

Born six years ago in the Griffen's Roost, the sacred bedroom where all imperial children in the city are born, the first child of Alexios Nicolaides by his longtime consort Theodora.

Her birth, the first new Imperial child in twenty years, set off a fortnight of nonstop celebrations in the street of the city. From that day, to her public presentation and naming a month later, to her regular appearances at public games, riding through the city with her mother or even walking among the people and playing with their children, at the insistence of Alexios.

Her presence has become, more than just celebrated, a talisman of all good fortune for the empire. A good luck charm and a sign from the Divines that the Empire's prosperity will not end





Velia Phoca

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Basic Info

Name
Velia Phoca

Age
44

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Bisexual

Body Type
Slender figure but exceptionally well-endowed, a legendary beauty in her youth only ripened with age.

Height
5'5"

Skin Tone
Exceptionally pale, incapable of tanning despite three decades in the capital

Hair
Vibrant golden hair typically worn in a braid past her shoulder blades.

Eyes
Ice blue, almost white

Facial Features
A sculpted face of dignified lines and a petulant mouth

Piercings & Tattoos
Claims to have a sunflower tattoo when speaking to men, but the size and exact location varies with the telling

Typically wears aquamarine earrings from her home, a last gift from her mother before she travelled to the capital.

Other
Her Western accent has never left her and she compensates by over pronouncing most words


Abilities

Abilities

A shrewd merchant and exceptional accountant, she has guided her family from being one among many wealthy noble families in the capital to the undisputed wealthiest in the capital, though still far behind the Imperial family itself. Her skill is such that she is regularly consulted by the crown for large investments and public works projects and has organized multiple major celebrations on the Emperor's behalf. Despite this, she refuses all formal title, unwilling to commit time she would rather spend on her business.

Personality

Disposition
A doting if occasionally stern mother, she sees her daughter as the one who will complete the rise of their family that she began.

A great beauty in her youth and far from diminished in her middle years, she is flirty, upbeat and easygoing as a rule, though capable of deep and abiding resentment. In particular, she rarely makes it very long after an encounter with Themetia Vasilios without smashing something very expensive into a lot of pieces.

Background

A Foreign Beauty

Velia was not born in poverty—no noble, whatever their condition, was ever truly impoverished—but on the western fringes of the Empire, few were anything that would be anything envied by even a modestly successful craftsman of the Imperial capital. Little education was offered and what marriage prospects there were would have little bettered her circumstances

Losing her father young to raids from the west, Velia possessed two great advantages. First, a family name that, whatever it lacked in wealth, it made up for in pedigree, claiming kings and even the last Western emperor in its history. Second, a beauty that turned heads and word of which spread far and wide. It was enough to get her to the Capital and an education. When she was arrived, it was enough to turn the head of the son of the heir of the Phoca family, attending the Imperial Naval Academy.

The two were wed and within weeks, she was pregnant with their daughter. Yet worthwhile. The girl was her mother's spitting image and was to be raised as a perfect tool to complete their family's rise.






Verina Corus

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Basic Info

Name
Verina Corus

Age
27

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Heteroflexible

Body Type
Slim, very toned

Height
5'7"

Skin Tone
Light Brown

Hair
Light brown

Eyes
Amber

Facial hair & Scars
None

Piercings & Tattoos
None

Abilities

Abilities

As well as being a well trained handmaid, she is also quite adept at listening, observing, and being her mistress's main means of keeping an eye on her daughter and keeping her focused on her duties. Also quite good with a knife, and is willing to use one if need be.
Personality

Disposition
Extremely loyal to Themetia, will carry out any of her orders. Keeps a close eye on Arcturia, following her everywhere - and making sure to report back to his mistress. Is stuck to Arcturia like glue.
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Background

An Obedient Servant

A young woman who was taken in and raised by the temple of Opila, she has been molded over the years into a loyal servant, spy and extension of Themetia's will.




Gregori Koschi

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Basic Info

Name
Gregori Koschi

Age
47

Pronouns
He/Him

Sexuality
Straight

Body Type
A massive man, broad and muscular, with no sign of loss with age

Height
6'2"

Skin Tone
Ivory skin

Hair
Rust coloured hair, with some traces of white appearing

Eyes
Ice blue

Facial hair & Scars
Full beard, well-maintained

Piercings & Tattoos
A large fox across the back. A series of runic patterns running up both arms, each one marking a victory

Abilities

Abilities

A brutal and effective warrior with decades of battle experience, he has proven an even more effective commander, participating in the rejuvenation of the Imperial army, first as an officer, then as a general. He was considered so naturally gifted that he was given the responsibility of instructing Alexios.
Personality

Disposition
A serious man in regards to his duties, he is otherwise considered jovial and easgygoing, as well as doting upon his daughter.
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Background

A Foreigner of Exceptional Talents

Born son of the then matriarch of the High City of Lyniv, Gregori was not yet a man when he was sent to the capital for his education. His talents recognized early, he was commissioned as an officer in the Imperial army. While serving in an administrative role, he fell in love with the daughter of an Imperial house and, in recognition for his service, he was granted leave to marry and to establish his own house.

He has served alongside Alexios in his numerous wars for two decades, rising to be his second in command and regularly given independent command of large segments of the army. When not on campaign, he has an estate in the country, gifted as reward for his service and oversees a profitable vineyard received as dowry for his imperial bride.





Freyr Svenson

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Basic Info

Name
Freyr Svenson

Age
27

Pronouns
He/Him

Sexuality
Bisexual

Body Type
Broad and tall, covered in carefully toned muscle that he takes great pride in cultivating

Height
6'5"

Skin Tone
Typically Pale, he currently bears a tan from his service in the eastern provinces

Hair
Exceptionally long and a blond nearly as pale as northern ice, it is typically worn loose, thought he binds it for formal occasions

Eyes
Steel Grey

Facial hair & Scars
Blond, his beard is kept neatly trimmed in the Imperial style. His body bears a lifetime of warrior's scars

Piercings & Tattoos
Both arms are covered in a repeating, knotted pattern that is worn by all men of the Fratres Gladii who have been blooded. He has a bear in the same place Alexios has an eagle, received at the same time in a symbolic bond.


Abilities

Abilities

A man of almost unmatched strength and, on the battlefield, brutality, he is Alexios' best soldier and a capable frontline commander, almost always to be found leading his vanguard. He has neither the mind nor the patience for greater strategy, yet makes up for it in his ability to inspire his men.

He is also an able drinker and one of the few men with whom Alexios will willingly over-imbibe.

Personality

Disposition
A man who takes nothing seriously and prefers it that way, he is the type to face death with a laugh in the face and a song on his lips. His loyalty is unmatched, as is his sense of honour, both of which have in turn fostered the same in the men around him
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Background

Joyful Warrior, Joyful Lover

Born far to the north, in lands which had never known the light of the empire, Freyr desired nothing more from a young age than to see the world. Yet, son of a Jarl and responsible for his twin sister, he was chained to his home as surely as any thrall and sought joy in drinking, fighting and fucking, sometimes more than one at once.

Yet his father, after provoking a war with another tribe, accidentally created the opportunity. Freyr fought his best and, against all odds, was able to keep both himself and Frigga alive—yet their father knelt and, unable to stomach doing the same, the two of them left that very night.

They made their way south, their pedigree ensuring that admission into the Fratres Gladii was assured. Freyr himself, a seasoned warrior though barely in his 20s, was granted a modest command. In this capacity, assigned to Alexios' personal guard, the two men found that, background aside, they understood and respected each other at a deep level.

It was in this time that he began what he believed was a torrid and secret affair with Princess Anastasia. Convinced theirs was a romance ballad for the ages and as much in love with the intrigue as the 19 year old princess, he was devastated when she casually mentioned his carnal abilities to Alexios while they dined together and Alexios, far from furious, only warned him that if he got her pregnant, he'd be made a lord and be given no choice in the matter.

When Alexios left the city to fight in the west, Freyr, only 22, went with him, serving directly as his right hand and personal guard in the heat of battle. More than one man fell beneath his blade and he and Alexios received their tattoos, eagle and bear, as a mark of their great victory. Before the Eastern campaign was half won, Freyr was commander of the Fratres Gladii and none doubted the wisdom of the choice.

The entire time, he wrote of Anastasia, proposing marriage at least once a month and, after his great victory, composing her a ten page ballad of how his love for her had fueled his deeds. Her response was a three-paragraph letter which told him he should write his sister, asked after his conquests of beautiful Zourian women "to help me not sleep at night" and called his poem "Well structured, well written, somewhat trite, dry in the middle. A good start."

Freyr's response was, of course, a 20-page ballad.

Charismatic and fanatically loyal, Alexios trusts no one outside of his family more and his selection of Frigga as one of his consorts was motivated, in part, to bind them as brothers.



Semere

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Basic Info

Name
Semere

Age
38

Pronouns
He/Him

Sexuality
Asexual

Body Type
Tall and lithe, with little in the way of muscle and unusually long limbs

Height
6'3"

Skin Tone
Ebony skin

Hair
Bald

Eyes
Dark brown

Facial hair & Scars
No facial hair of any kind. A Eunuch, his genitals have been entirely removed.

Piercings & Tattoos
Wears a number of gold earrings


Abilities

Abilities

Semere is a longstanding imperial advisor with a devious mind and one of the few men both the Emperor and the heir trust implicitly. While officially an advisor, his true title is master of assassins, the man tasked with ensuring threats to the Empire are removed quietly and with the Emperor able to deny involvement His particular talent is for finding the weak links in any organization and turning them against their compatriots.

He was assigned to train Anastasia in the arts of information extraction and torture. He considers her his finest student/

Personality

Disposition
A cunning man with a clinical mind and little emotional investment, Semere is coldly competent but unemotional. He has never given any emotional reaction anyone has detected, aside from occasional detached sarcasm.
Background

A Man Thriving in Shadows

Born on an island in the Southern seas, Semere was acquired as an infant by Imperial traders and brought back to the Capital. Castrated and raised in the ranks of the Imperial Bureaucracy. Noted young for his competence, by his teens, he was serving in the palace and by his 20s, he was directly serving the Emperor. It was he who identified the unified conspiracy of the Emperor's brothers and, acting quickly, disrupted it, forcing an early uprising that allowed for the effective destruction of the rebels before they were able to form a unified army. When two of the sons attempted to flee abroad to rally support, he arranged for a fire to be started on their ship while at sea and that none would ever think it anything but the wrath of the storm god.
 
The Slaves

Farihtah Mithridates

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Basic Info

Name
Farihtah Mithridates (formerly)

Age
24

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Bisexual

Body Type
Hourglass figure, with seemingly perfect proportions, full breasts and wide hips

Height
5'4"

Skin Tone
Light brown skin, covered almost entirely in black tattoos below the neck

Hair
Thigh-length chestnut brown hair, that turns to a light cinnamon by the time it reaches the base. Worn in a braid decorated with ornate silver bands.

Eyes
Hazel

Facial hair & Scars
None

Piercings & Tattoos
Virtually her entire body below her throat is covered in ornate black tattoos. Most prominent are a lotus flower on her throat and the imperial griffen, with its body stretching from her underbreast to her abdomen, its tail wrapping down one thigh and its wings wrapped around her ribs to her shoulder blades. Most of the rest consist of flowers from the far east of the Empire, with some formed into runes

Other
Almost unnaturally beautiful since her ritual

Abilities

Abilities

Immensely graceful and granted slow aging since the binding rituals, it has come at a cost. She is constitutionally incapable of violence, even an attempt to squash an insect would leave her wracked with agonizing nausea. Magically bound to the Imperial family, she finds it nearly impossible to lie to them or to refuse to answer a direct question, with the same applying to anyone they command her to serve. Like all
Personality

Disposition
Flirty, flighty and spoiled in her youth, since her enslavement, she has undergone the binding rituals and intense training. These have left her meek and timid as a rule. though elements of her former playfulness and assertiveness can peak through. Like all Imperial Bound slaves, she is ritually loyal to the Emperor and compulsively views those of imperial blood as almost divine entities.
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Background

Flower in a Gilded Cage

The first and only child of a distant cousin of the Shanenshah, Farihtah would have lived a privileged if unexceptional life had her father not, by long years of service, proven himself one of the most able commanders in the Empire and been placed in command of the western armies when the word came that Alexios was marching west to reestablish a military presence in the territories his grandfather had granted autonomy in exchange for a lasting peace.

She was in her father's camp, only 19 years old, when his army was smashed against the sea and when he and his men were annihilated and watched his banner fall from the hilltop. She watched her mother, seeing the same sight, walk out into the sea rather than be taken by the fearsome enemy from the west.

As a woman of quality and high birth, she was taken hostage. Unwilling to put a woman of high birth in chains or under the guard of soldiers, he offered her a promise. No harm would come to her and she would be treated as an honoured guest, including keeping her own horse., so long as she swore by sacred oath to harm none of his men and make no attempt to escape.

The best morning, the body of a high officer from an Imperial client kingdom was found in her tent. She was caught four leagues from the camp, her horse ridden to near exhaustion and brought back in golden chains. She refused to explain her actions or speak a word to the furious Alexios

Unwilling to spill noble blood. yet unable to spare her, he commanded she be sent, in chains, back to the Capitol, where she would be made imperial property. Her family name was taken from her and she would never see her homeland again.

Upon reaching the capital, she was made to undergo the binding ritual. Carried out by multiple priestesses, it saw her womb and ovaries removed and ritually burned, the magic used to bestow both boons and curses, before she was tattooed as property. Her next three years were spent in a strict and brutal training regime, designed to turn her into a perfect servant. She was placed into the personal service of Anastasia, who made use of her knowledge of the Zourian language to decrypt communications and her beauty for... recreational pursuits.

Upon the arrival of Yasmine, her distant cousin, in the capital, she was put into the entourage to greet her and given as a gift as translator, lady in waiting and body servant, commanded to obey her utterly.




Eleuia

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Basic Info

Name
Eleuia

Age
30

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Heteroflexible

Body Type
Slender, with small breasts and a narrow waist with wide hips

Height
5'8"

Skin Tone
Tanned skin, covered almost entirely in tattoos below the neck. Most prominent are large dahlias on her chest and stomach

Hair
Short light brown hair, framing the face.

Eyes
Light brown

Facial hair & Scars
Scar on her nose

Piercings & Tattoos
Virtually her entire body below her throat is covered in ornate tattoos. Most prominent is a dahlia on her chest and stomach. Her sear are pierced, as is her septum

Other
Almost unnaturally beautiful since her ritual

Abilities

Abilities

Immensely graceful and granted slow aging since the binding rituals, it has come at a cost. She is constitutionally incapable of violence, even an attempt to squash an insect would leave her wracked with agonizing nausea. Magically bound to the Imperial family, she finds it nearly impossible to lie to them or to refuse to answer a direct question, with the same applying to anyone they command her to serve.
Personality

Disposition
Haughty and arrogant despite her new conditions, she is charming and enjoys the company of others. All pretense of arrogance falls in the presence of members of the Imperial Family, who she has come to quite literally worship.
Background

The Princess Brought Low

In a land so distant no Imperial has ever set foot, the Princess of a minor kingdom was taken in a skirmish.

Sold up the coast until she was bought by traders from the far northeast, her beauty and proven pedigree saw her purchased for an immense sum by the Imperial Family and set through the conditioning. Though she retained her arrogance throughout the training, even as it became increasingly painful, it all fell apart when she was deemed trained and gifted to a then-young Alexios as his concubine.

In her eyes mistreated and humiliated early on, she increasingly came to believe that she was, in fact, in the presence of the divine. Exactly how she came to this conclusion is unclear, but her growing fanaticism has led her to become increasingly devoted to the Imperial family.

She still sees herself as above other slaves, though they have thus far proven willing to defer to her owing to her age and Alexios' willingness to have her manage his household for him so long as when he calls for her himself, she still bends.




Jalbala

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Basic Info

Name
Jalbala

Age
23

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Bisexual

Body Type
Lithe figure, with modest breasts and narrow hips

Height
5'6"

Skin Tone
Caramel skin, covered almost entirely in black tattoos of Lotus Flowers below the neck

Hair
Shoulder-length black hair, typically worn flowing and loose behind the ears.

Eyes
Dark brown

Facial hair & Scars
None

Piercings & Tattoos
Virtually her entire body below her throat is covered in ornate black tattoos. Most prominent is a lotus flower on her chest. Her septum is pierced and she has multiple golden rings in her upper ears

Other
Almost unnaturally beautiful since her ritual

Abilities

Abilities

Immensely graceful and granted slow aging since the binding rituals, it has come at a cost. She is constitutionally incapable of violence, even an attempt to squash an insect would leave her wracked with agonizing nausea. Magically bound to the Imperial family, she finds it nearly impossible to lie to them or to refuse to answer a direct question, with the same applying to anyone they command her to serve. She has developed a particular devotion to Alexios and proactively seeks to enact his will.

A capable musician, she often spends long hours playing for Alexios while he works.

Personality

Disposition
Upbeat and lacking any of the quiet, demure nature of most Imperial slaves, she takes great pride in her service and performs all her duties with eagerness and a cheerful attitude.
Background

A Happy Slave

The capture of Farihtah Mithridates was the worst day of her life and the best in the life of Jalbala, her Lady-in-Waiting.

Daughter of minor nobility from the far east of the Zourian Empire, she found herself serving a distant cousin of the Shanenshah's family a thankless task. However, when her mistress found herself captured, Jalbala found herself intrigued by the tall dark conqueror. Alexios was perceptive of this and when he invited her to his tent, she came eagerly and needed little enticement to offer herself to him and his Consort.

When he made preparations to leave, she asked to go with him and when he refused her, she asked after the beautiful slaves she had seen in his service. Told their purpose and the cost they had paid, she agreed to it eagerly, having never desired children and seeing only advantages, Her sole condition that when her training was complete, she would serve Alexios directly. And when her time was complete and she was marked, she returned to the east, serving him for the remainder of his campaign.




Hua

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Basic Info

Name
Hua

Age
27

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Sapphic

Body Type
Petite, with small breasts, though her hips are wide

Height
4'11"

Skin Tone
Beige skin, covered almost entirely in tattoos below the neck. A Peony sits in the centre of her chest.

Hair
Waist-length ash brown hair, typically worn flowing though sometimes put up in pins

Eyes
Dark brown

Facial hair & Scars
None

Piercings & Tattoos
Virtually her entire body below her throat is covered in ornate black tattoos. Most prominent is a peony flower on her chest. She wears multiple earrings and has a piercing below her lip.

Other
Almost unnaturally beautiful since her ritual

Abilities

Abilities

Immensely graceful and granted slow aging since the binding rituals, it has come at a cost. She is constitutionally incapable of violence, even an attempt to squash an insect would leave her wracked with agonizing nausea. Magically bound to the Imperial family, she finds it nearly impossible to lie to them or to refuse to answer a direct question, with the same applying to anyone they command her to serve.

Personality

Disposition
Quiet even before her ritual and shy, she rarely speaks and prefers not to be noticed. This all falls away with Theodora, particularly when alone, with whom she is eager, playful and desperate for affection.
Background

A Beautiful Gift

Few Imperials even know the name of the land she hails from, east beyond the bounds of the Zourian Empire. Yet traders for spice, porcelain and other fine goods sail there, selling fine Imperial craftsmanship and returning home to be laden with wealth.

The traders who purchased Hua, knowing that the Imperial Family paid well for exotic foreign beauties that emphasized the reach of their power, claimed that she had been purchased from her impoverished noble family—yet lying would be trivial and Hua, the only one who could contradict them, seemingly feels no desire to do so. Passed through Imperial training, she was gifted directly to Theodora, her mistress, by Alexios, the day she informed him of her pregnancy.

Though in theory a servant only out of need to remove some of her burdens, in truth, she was Alexios' way of deliberately snubbing those who chafed at Theodora's high position. For her part, Hua took to her new mistress at first with trepidation, then with increasing comfort. She took to sleeping in Theodora's bed on nights she was alone and eagerly allowed her hair to be stroked. Even without Imperial conditioning, her near unbreakable devotion to Theodora has made her a perfect servant—and the only unrelated woman trusted to care for the infant Lydia.

 
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