So Ice had reached out about having connected characters, but I haven't heard back, so I'm just going to go ahead and post what I came up with. I don't know if there will be an opportunity to change it later if Ice does respond, but this is what I'm going with for now. If the character is approved, Alia would want to be at the hanging in order to watch the faces of those in the crowd and see if she might spot any anti-government sympathizers--those who appear most unsettled or angry about the hanging of a magic user.
Name
Alia
Age
25
Gender
Female
Appearance
Alia is has dark, chocolate brown hair just past shoulder length, dark eyes, and an intense, intelligent, and judging stare. She is 5'5" and on the thinner side. Her skin is fair, and though it was once tanned from spending much time outside, it has lightened after a few years of work in the library. She is almost always garbed in a long (knee-length) hooded coat made of soft dark brown fabric, a dark scarf around her neck, a cream-colored tunic, and dark leggings and boots. Nothing about her appearance makes her particularly stand out, and she likes it that way.
Personality
Alia is mute—while not a personality trait, this experience has influenced much of her personality. She is constantly underestimated because she's so quiet, but she is always watching and listening, and as a result is often the most aware person in the room. She does have a bit of a disdainful streak, and also deep-rooted anger at the world that often passes her over, though she is fiercely loyal to those who have spent the time to get close enough to understand and communicate with her (a very small number). Despite the lack of attention she draws, she is very capable in many ways, particularly at assessing the motivations and character of others. She has a strong interest in the political workings of Ivesburg, and is secretly rather powerhungry; she would love to someday pull strings to cause the downfall of Donol/Dimeris (please let me know if she would be aware of Dimeris playing puppeteer or if he has hidden it well). Her internal passion is masked by a cool, calculating exterior that she presents to all except those who know her best. She can be quite manipulative when she wants to, but can also get in trouble for her recklessness, be it with her political meddlings, petty mischief she may engage in to blow off steam or teach a lesson she thinks is deserved, or her willingness to play games with attractive others (she is particularly drawn to the kind of people who are bad news). [This last part was originally aimed at Vel, but it seems that there is mutual interest between him and Caroline, and I see no need to get in the middle of that. I do think it would be great fun to see how much trouble she could get herself into with Dimeris, but idk if you intended to leave him as more of a background NPC rather than interacting with PCs.]
Background
As a child, Alia lived in the Outfields with her family. Her best friend, Samira, was an orange-haired ball of energy, positivity, and mischief, and she was often content to play a supporting role in her best friend's mischievous or genuine endeavors. When Samira developed minor magical abilities, Alia was the first to know, and she spent countless hours watching the latest incremental advancements her friend had made. Any jealousy she may have had was quelled by her pride in her friend, and it was extinguished altogether when officers from Ivesburg found the two girls playing in a barn one day when they were fourteen, flame dancing on Samira's fingers. The officers slaughtered Samira where she stood for practicing magic, and Alia sustained an injury to her neck that left a jagged, noticeable scar across the front of her throat and destroyed her voice box. She has been mute ever since, and though she developed a form of sign language to use with her family that is her preferred means of communication, she is also carries a small leather-covered book with her in her coat to write messages in case she needs to convey messages to others. She and her family moved to the Hive district not long after Samira's death, and Alia has been learning all she can about the politics of the city and the people responsible for the loss of her best friend. She is currently employed in the general studies section of the library.
Magic
None
Weapon
A dagger. She has some proficiency with it from learning how to fend off wild animals living in the Outfields as a child, and has made a point of keeping her skills sharp in case she ever gets the chance for revenge against Samira's killers.
Other
It might be fun for her to have a pet of some sort but it's not an idea I've fleshed out yet—let me know if that sounds doable.
Her name is pronounced with the first and last syllable equally stressed, but she doesn't ever correct anyone who mispronounces it (they never ask, anyway), and finds it interesting to see which syllable they put the accent on.
check out this list of terms RP Terminology
