Group RP Corda Imperii; Sanguis Imperii — Character Thread

[JamesMartin]

The sons and daughters of the Eternal Empire

(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.​

Horse

A large black stallion named Nikos ​

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.
​

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".
​

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.
​

@firefly @Ipsie @Jumbled

 

[firefly]

​

The Zourian Princess

ignore this. :)

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.

 

[Jumbled]

​

Setiah ă’Raneb

ignore this. :)

Basic Info

Name

Setiah ă’Raneb​

Age

22​

Pronouns

She/Her
​

Sexuality

Lesbian​

Body Type

An average height in Numia... she's called short anywhere else. She is petite, with a waist measurement that is a little less than both her shoulder and hip measurements. She has a small bust and gentle curves if you sort of squint and tilt your head to the side... ​

Height

5'2"​

Skin Tone

A tawny-brown, mixed complexion​

Hair

Worn short, her hair is black, straight, silky, and fine—just like her father's hair.​

Eyes

Brown​

Facial Features & Scars

She enjoys wearing black kohl around her eyes. ​

Piercings & Tattoos

Tattoos of geometrically arranged dots and dashes going down her legs (❖) and a wide band of many smaller dots (⬩) spanning from hip-to-hip shaped as an inverted arch. Note: In her culture, tattoos are used for protection, as a sign of fertility, or to denote high status and religious devotion. She has standard pierced ears but doesn't wear a lot of jewelry. ​

Strengths

Born the daughter of the chief of an ancient and storied clan, Setiah was raised with a deliberate hand once her father realized the direction their world was going, and what he intended to do to remain relevant in Numia.

She can speak the necessary languages needed to fit in with Imperial company as well as her native tongue. Read, write, sing and other trivial things expected of a lady.

While their forms of art and fitness sometimes differ due to cultural contrasts, Setiah can weave both ground and vertical looms, ballroom dance, play the harp and shoot a target while riding horseback. Her aim is said to be divine, as if blessed by the goddess, she is always sure to hit her mark. She can swim, but tends to sink more than stay afloat, so she's not fond of anything deeper than the baths.

Her true passion lies in her practice of Smai Tawi, a form of yoga that is practiced by the Daughters of Anet.

Personality

Setiah is a free spirit, confident and tends to know what she wants. Under the right circumstances, she’ll even voice what’s on her mind. She is obedient to a point, and tends to do what is asked of her, so long as it is in some service to her family or her own standing. She loves her sister dearly, and would be far less confident and comfortable if she was not around. She is eager to learn new cultures and explore the idea of many gods.

Setiah aims to be well spoken, approachable, and helpful over all. She’s the type to always try to share her food, even if that means hand feeding someone—they can’t miss out on something that she thinks tastes so good!

The closer she is to someone, the more playful she tends to be.

Likes:

yoga, lemons, fish, horses, women, jewelry, flirting, mornings, reading, warm days, sunshine, fire, chess, fine clothing and accessories ​

Dislikes:

feeling confined, losing, being told “no,” arguing with her sister, disrespect, overly handsy men ​

Background

Born and raised in Numia, she is a female descendant of their priestess class, referred to as a Daughter of Anet. Rising to her father's expectations, Setiah hit her marks as if her arrows were kissed by the Goddess herself. She is flexible, agile, and small enough to move with a horse without hindering it. Given time, she could even be trained in stealth and spycraft—but her father had other plans for her.

Setiah was the perfect stock to breed with Imperial blood. The children raised there would be blessed and clearly form an alliance between their two families once such a truth was realized.

Relations:

Father: Khalid ă'Abbas
Mother: Gamila ă’Raneb
Sister: Meryt ă'Sasobe
​

Meryt ă'Sasobe

ignore this. :)

Basic Info

Name

Meryt ă'Sasobe​

Age

26​

Pronouns

She/Her​

Sexuality

Bisexual​

Body Type

Taller than the average height in her land, she's also considered short anywhere else. Meryt has a more shapely form than her sibling, from an hourglass figure with hips made for birthing and a slightly larger bust. ​

Height

5'4"​

Skin Tone

A tawny-brown, mixed complexion​

Hair

Her hair is dark brown, thick and a frustrating tangle of both soft yet coarse, with unruly curls she got from her mother. She wears her hair pinned back constantly, but if it was undone, those curls would drop down to her mid-back.​

Eyes

Brown​

Facial Features & Scars

She does not apply kohl to her face like her sister does, and doesn't tend to fuss with such applications unless she's complained at for long enough. She wears fashionable neck cuffs that create the illusion of having physically stretched her neck due to the placements of the lower cuff that is wider and sits by her clavicles. When they are removed, the illusion fades. ​

Piercings & Tattoos

Much like her sister, she wears the same fashion of tattooed markings down her legs and across her lower abdomen, but she has both an arch and inverted arch of dots that connect at both of her hips, forming the illusion of a ring circling around her pelvis.​

Strengths

Born the daughter of the chief of an ancient and storied clan, Meryt helped raise her younger sister. The two of them were close despite having different mothers, and most of Setiah’s talents are thanks to Meryt teaching her.

Physically, Meryt is decent with a bow, but she cannot—will not—fire while riding a horse. But she can ride. She is an advanced swimmer and enjoys spending time in the water.

Meryt favors a small flute but tends to play when she's all alone and relaxing. She sometimes hums to herself, and has a lovely singing voice she never intends to share with the world. Another thing she plans to keep secret is her afinity for healing magic.

Personality

Meryt is reserved and soft spoken. Stubborn and grounded. She acts out of kindness, smiles and watches after her sister, which she feels is her duty. She enjoys solitude, finding small moments to herself, a book in hand by daylight, or her flute after hours as she sits to look at the stars or water, playing her music for only her Goddess to hear.

Under the surface, Meryt is heartbroken, healing from the loss of her betrothed. And angry. While she has no evidence that Alexios killed him, she resents him for the last campaign and his death.

She has an affinity for healing, something she hasn't shared with anyone other than her sister, as she is fearful regarding that knowledge and what men might do if they knew she was capable of such magic.

Likes:

swimming, garden strolls, flowers, honey, wine, rainfall, seasonal changes, music, stones (an Imperial game) ​

Dislikes:

combat, beef (believing cattle is sacred), Alexios (shh), arguing with her sister ​

Background

Born and raised in Numia, she is a female descendant of their priestess class, referred to as a Daughter of Anet. However, while her father expected natural gifts in combat, marksmanship and riding, Meryt was perhaps average at best, finding comfort more in the water than on land. Supposing not all women with divine blood were going to have marks high enough to offer as an Imperial consort, he made Meryt groom her sister for the life she otherwise might have had, leaving Meryt to stay home and marry the son of another chief that she’d fallen for.

Having received word that Ramesses died in combat, her plans drastically shifted. Now meant to travel with her sister, Meryt must oversee Setiah's bonding with Alexios, and ensure that they not only consummate their relationship, but create an heir that would potentially shine a light on her family back in Numia.

Relations:

Father: Khalid ă'Abbas
Mother: Amina ă'Sasobe
Sister: Setiah ă’Raneb

Bethrothed (deceased): Ramesses ă'Badawi ​

 

[Jumbled]

Lady Diana Medici

ignore this. :)

Basic Info

Name

Diana Medici​

Age

24​

Pronouns

She/Her
​

Sexuality

Bisexual​

Body Type

A comfortable, medium height, Diana is best described as soft, natural and feminine, with balanced measurements and supple curves. As such, her breasts, thighs, hips and buttocks are pleasantly well-rounded, and not visibly muscular. ​

Height

5'6"​

Skin Tone

A medium, creamy complexion with a subtle warmth displayed as rosy undertones. "Kissed by the sun" she has light freckles over most of her body, but they're not noticeable from afar. Come a little closer. ​

Hair

Long wavy hair, a warm, woody brown color that is soft to the touch. She washes it with imported products, a combination of rose, frankincense, and myrrh so that it always smells enticing.​

Eyes

She has green eyes. Her right eye, specifically, has a splash of amber-brown in it, a partial heterochromia. She tends to call it a birthmark. ​

Facial Features & Scars

Her skin is easy to become flushed, and if she blushes, it's incredibly obvious. ​

Piercings & Tattoos

Diana struggled getting her ears pierced and couldn't imagine having to sit still for long enough to even get a speck of a tattoo. ​

Strengths

Women in her uncle’s family often serve as political leaders, and Diana was raised as a working member of their royal court. She studied under political advisors, mediators, and ambassadors. She learned about military strategy and defensive warfare alongside her cousins. Diana absorbed the information fed to her, but did not imagine needing to know strategic mountainous positions and naval blockade tactics to the degree that the boys should.

She speaks many languages, has studied philosophy and dabbled with art, but those weren’t necessarily her passions. She was more interested in disciplines like alchemy, medicine, and botany—and how those three subjects were often intertwined. But seeing as she is only one woman, Diana focused heavily on what she knew best. Plants, soils, with a harder focus on vineyard management and trades overseas.

Personality

Diana is bold, assertive, and ambitious, be it sexually or not. She is cool-headed but schemes. She was raised around royal boys that were little brats, so of course, she’s very much the same. She is passionate and charming, and while she can be creative with her seductions, sometimes she simply drops her gown to the floor and waits for her guest(s) to catch up.

She’s never been in love before, no man or woman has managed to do things for her that her family could not provide—aside from the sex. She knows what love looks like, her parents have that. Her uncle, too… well, kind of.

She is materialistic and vain, but not ill-mannered. Impatient, perhaps.

Likes:

Exotic foods, clothes, shoes, perfumes, adoration, body worship, plants, getting spoiled, grapes, wine, alchemy (it's more of a respect than a practice), being challenged​

Dislikes:

clingy lovers, pears, beer, being in last year's fashion (she doesn't care what others wear but might still judge their taste)

​

Background

Vinem Colles, far to the west of the map, is where Diana was raised. She is the beloved niece of a foreign monarch, Sisigmund II, who often dotes on her as a daughter because he has none of his own, only two (legitimate) sons. Their relationship is through her mother, who is happy and healthy, living in their villae rusticae, or simply put, country manor with her father.

Of course, they also have a fine estate house in the capital city where her uncle rules, but her parents enjoy the country life and their wine. Diana loved the freedom she found while roaming the country less attended. The working men were so yummy when they got all sweaty, and what her parents didn’t know wouldn’t hurt anyone.

On and off, Diana visited her uncle in his palazzo. Her parents insisted she focus more on her academic studies and less on the vineyard fields, stating she was more likely to succeed if she was provided the proper environment for a lady. To her credit, Diana kept her nose in the books and worked hard to gain her uncle’s approval—which was usually shown through extravagant gifts and foreign delicacies, like oysters, snow from the mountain tops, and ostrich meat. But that wouldn’t keep her away from farm life entirely.

Her uncle’s health is questionable now, and one of her cousins died three years ago in a tragic hunting accident, leaving him with only a single heir. If something happened to him, or someone attempted to assassinate her family in this time of weakness, Diana would lose her status. But news of her uncle’s health was a well kept secret as her aunt knew how to rule without discrepancies between herself and her husband.

Diana was asked to travel to the Imperial city to handle the trades for her parent’s vineyard, and was nudged toward the direction of finding a man to marry—one in the emperor’s high esteem—in case Sisigmund II died and his heir also met some tragic accident.

Word that the vineyard of all vineyards was in need of new oversight was like dangling a new string of pearls in front of Diana.

Relations:

Father: Cassius (Sulla) Medici
Mother: Vittoria Medici

Uncle: Sisigmund II
Cousin 1 (deceased): Sisigmund III (Sig)
Cousin 2: Luca

​

 

[Ipsie]

Lai'iyth Blayne

ignore this. :)

Basic Info

Name

Lai'iyth Blayne​

ALIASES
Intimate: Lai (Pronounced Lei like the flower necklace)
Her Royal Title(s): The Scale Princess & Her Divine Eminence; The Dragon Mistress of Draconis

Age

27​

Pronouns

She/Her​

Sexuality

Experimental​

Body Type

Lithe. Quite agile. Mildly toned due to training not only for the sword but dragons.​

Height

5'8"​

Skin Tone

Olive​

Hair&Style

​

Eyes

​

Features & Scars

A jagged scar that covers the length of her face. Received from her drakeling Xaldin​

Piercings & Tattoos

​

Other

She has a male, adolescent drakeling that 15 years of age. She also has a dragon egg in her possession.​

Abilities

Dragon taming.

Personality

Lai'iyth is strong-willed and independent. She is regal and ladylike in nature but rejects the idea and overall duty of a lady of her standing. Regardless of her absence in the court, she is well aware of it's affairs and handles problems when they become a pressing issue she can no longer avoid. She is fiercely loyal to her role as a dragon tamer/trainer and devotes her time to such.​

Background

Lai'iyth comes from a long line of dragon taming. The Blayne bloodline passed down three generational matured dragons(100± years of age) which were exterminated by a rival house. The only dragons to survive were Xaldin; an adolescent drakeling (15 years of age) and a single egg that is due to hatch anytime. Not just anyone can tame a dragon. Must be a family member of House of Blayne or trusted companions to those in House of Blayne. For centuries, the wild dragons that roam in Draconis are loyal to that area only. Very rarely are they seen outside of it. Lai'iyth is aware of her duties as the future queen of Draconis but devotes what time she could be spending in politics to the rearing and training of the last remaining dragons instead. Xaldin and the not yet hatched hatchling are essentially her children.​

 

[Ipsie]

Lena Svendottir

ignore this. :)

Basic Info

Name
Lena Svendottir

Age
25

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Experimental

Body Type
Her physique gives the impression of someone strong and capable, but still graceful. A lithe, warrior-like build.

Height
5'5"

Skin Tone
Fair, peachy warm-toned porcelain skin

Hair
Red, and long that falls in loose, heavy waves.

Eyes
Green

Features
She has a birthmark on the left side that flows from her collarbone up the side of her neck, like spilled wine.

Piercings & Tattoos
Starting from the center of chest where her neck meets a thin, winding vine extends toward the right shoulder which ends with a detailed bloom of a stylized wildflower. On her deltoid are knotwork patterns that gives "Old Norse" vibes which are woven tight and symmetrical. The knots have no beginning and no end — a symbol of lineage and oath.

Other
Lena can speak but chooses not too. Most people assume she is mute. She and her twin brother; Freyr have sibling ESP.

Abilities

Abilities
She practices a ritualized form of fire dancing that blends combat footwork with movement.
Spy craft that she learned from Anastasia

Personality

Disposition
Reserved and observant, she speaks only when necessary and prefers silence over idle words. Her quiet is by choice. She listens. She studies. In unfamiliar company she will appear shy or lost in dance and will keep her thoughts guarded behind her steady eyes. Emotion will show subtly in posture rather than speech.

Background

Background
Lena was always more attuned to the unseen rhythms of the world than to the clash of sword and shield unlike her brother, Freyr, whom was fierce and restless, destined for battle. She found her calling in fire and dance. From a young age, she devoted her time to the village elder who walked the thin line between the mortal and spirit world. There, she learned patience, silence, and the art of listening—not just to words, but to the whispers of the unspoken around her.

She trained her body as a vessel for performance and ritual. She became a fire dancer, moving in hypnotic patterns that mirrored the ebb and flow of the elements.

Her silence is both a discipline and a gift. She rarely speaks, letting her movements and the fire speak for her. Her presence alone can calm disputes, inspire courage, or mesmerize. She carries the duality of flame within her: destructive and fierce, yet illuminating and life-giving.

Despite her mystical focus, she has the resilience of a Viking.

Freyr Svenson

ignore this. :)

Basic Info

Name

Freyr Svenson ​

Age

25​

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
.​

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 Lena 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 Lena as one of his consorts was motivated, in part, to bind them as brothers. ​

 

[JamesMartin]

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

ignore this. :)

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.
.

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

ignore this. :)

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.

Gregori Koschi

ignore this. :)

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.
.

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.

Semere

ignore this. :)

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.

 

[JamesMartin]

The Slaves​

Farihtah Mithridates

ignore this. :)

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.
.

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

ignore this. :)

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

ignore this. :)

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

ignore this. :)

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.

Nassira

ignore this. :)

Basic Info

Name
Nassira

Age
25

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Sapphic

Body Type
Tall and thin, with a full chest and hourglass figure

Height
5'10"

Skin Tone
Ebony skin, covered almost entirely in tattoos below the neck and on top of her head

Hair
Completely bald

Eyes
Light brown

Facial hair & Scars
None

Piercings & Tattoos
Virtually her entire body except her face is covered in ornate black tattoos. Her nose and ears are pierced.

Other
Almost unnaturally beautiful since her ritualShe and her sister are genuinely identical since it, down to their markings and occasionally make use of the fact

Abilities

Abilities

Immensely graceful and granted slow aging since the binding rituals, it has come at a cost. Her strength and stamina are enhanced, while her ability to feel pain is diminished. 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
Eager and outgoing, particularly with her mistress, with whom she maintains a sisterly bond despite their difference in station

Background

Raised to Serve

Born the daughters of a clan chief in the lands south of Numia, Nassira and her twin sister Nasima had their lives changed forever when, barely out of the cradle, their entire clan was consumed by a raid from a Numian clan.

Taken north all the way to the flesh markets of Heraclia over the course of three years, their age and status were immediately noted and they were purchased without haggling. The omen of well-born twins of the right age was not to be denied.

For centuries, it had been the tradition that Imperial Princesses be gifted an Ancillae in their youth, a personal slave who acted as a right hand, a constant companion and, secretly, a last line of defence. Gifted to Alexandra on her eighth nameday, Nassira was never far from her mistress' side and as she aged, she was trained to serve the woman in everything. Unlike other imperial slaves, however, the choice to undergo the rituals was hers to make and upon reaching womanhood, she accepted it to remain with her mistress. Unlike others of the Stigmata Servi, however, the ritual to remove her capacity for violence was never performed. Acting as a meek, helpless servant, she was trained in unarmed combat and the use of poisoned weapons. Any threat her mistress might encounter would instead find the helpless, disregarded slave girl a capable and ruthless assassin, utterly devoted to her charge, to the point she can even lie to the Emperor himself if Alexandra commands it. And of course, should the need for an assassin who could not possibly be blamed arise, the dagger cuts both ways.

Nasima

ignore this. :)

Basic Info

Name
Nasima

Age
25

Pronouns
She/Her

Sexuality
Bisexual

Body Type
Tall and thin, with a full chest and hourglass figure

Height
5'10"

Skin Tone
Ebony skin, covered almost entirely in tattoos below the neck and on top of her head

Hair
Completely bald

Eyes
Light brown

Facial hair & Scars
None

Piercings & Tattoos
Virtually her entire body except her face is covered in ornate black tattoos. Her nose and ears are pierced

Other
Almost unnaturally beautiful since her ritual. She and her sister are genuinely identical since it, down to their markings and occasionally make use of the fact

Abilities

Abilities

Immensely graceful and granted slow aging since the binding rituals, it has come at a cost. Her strength and stamina are enhanced, while her ability to feel pain is diminished. 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

Reserved, though often sardonic, she rarely speaks to anyone except Anastasia, Alexandra and her own sister, communicating even with other servants by sign. In private, she is affable and almost playful, speaking her mind openly to her mistress in a way few others dare.

Background

Raised to Serve

Born the daughters of a clan chief in the lands south of Numia, Nasima and her twin sister Nassira had their lives changed forever when, barely out of the cradle, their entire clan was consumed by a raid from a Numian clan.

Taken north all the way to the flesh markets of Heraclia over the course of three years, their age and status were immediately noted and they were purchased without haggling. The omen of well-born twins of the right age was not to be denied.

For centuries, it had been the tradition that Imperial Princesses be gifted an Ancillae in their youth, a personal slave who acted as a right hand, a constant companion and, secretly, a last line of defence. Gifted to Anastasia on her eighth nameday, Nasima was never far from her mistress' side and as she aged, she was trained to serve the woman in everything. Unlike other imperial slaves, however, the choice to undergo the rituals was hers to make and upon reaching womanhood, she accepted it to remain with her mistress. Unlike others of the Stigmata Servi, however, the ritual to remove her capacity for violence was never performed. Acting as a meek, helpless servant, she was trained in unarmed combat and the use of poisoned weapons. Any threat her mistress might encounter would instead find the helpless, disregarded slave girl a capable and ruthless assassin, utterly devoted to her charge, to the point she can even lie to the Emperor himself if Anastasia commands it. And of course, should the need for an assassin who could not possibly be blamed arise, the dagger cuts both ways.

The fact that people who speak ill of Anastasia where she can hear sometimes meet terrible ends is, of course, coincidence.