I am Amras Ancilime' Elfwine, The 3rd Lord Elfwine, Ranger, Half-elf and The Lord of the Squirrrels...I was born in the Ocalan Forests to the east of Glenlivet, and live with Lady Elfwine in our manor home there...I am charged with defending the Eastern Border Ridings...A soldier of long service, I am skilled with bow, axe, hammer and sword. I headed the Queen's Intelligence Division for some twenty years before retiring,and now lead the Special Squirrel Operations Group...You will recognise me by my staff with the sqirrel riding on it. I am 6-feet tall, and weigh around 75 kilograms. I have brown hair, with just a few flecks of silver at the temples. I am normally clad in earth-toned ranger garb and cloak. For formal assemblies, parties and affairs of state, I am kilt-clad, proudly wearing the Black Watch tartan. I usually sport henna artwork featuring Pagan symbology somewhere on my upper arms.
I speak several languages (Common, Qualinesti, Silvestri, Russian, and Wag). My favorite foods are good bread, cheese, and red, red wine.
I do enjoy fine, hand-rolled cigars, and can sometimes be seen smoking a clay pipe as well. I enjoy music and singing, and play the recorder, bodhran and sachbut. I have done time on sailing ships, and am quite capable of handling most any-sized craft.
I am 100% loyal to my friends, and am total, suffocating darkness to my few enemies.
When not with my friends and family, I am happiest when trekkng in the forest, comingling with the flora and fauna of the Ocala.
My personal philosphy can be summed up this way:
"The one true rule of any civilised society is this: Let people be different."
I am Lady Jan, "Lady Of The Rein" from the Northern Laurel Woods. Daughter of Ribble Ray- my father whom I know little of except that he spoke a strange language. And my mother Von, of Welch decent claimed witch by the locals. I am breeder and caretaker of the noble horse on my land in the Laurels. I am Peace Keeper, Counselor as well as Gentler of the Beasts. I walk among the beasts in the moonlight.
I am a traveler and may be found in Faires from Washington to California.
I am never seen without my reins.
My Faire Home will forever be in Northern California.
I am Lady Nicolette, for I find it difficult to be anyone else. My gypsy family adopted me when I was 15, my father was rumored to be a thief and my mother was a gifted writer who tragically died very young. My adopted family is one of musicians, so even though they are gypsys from Eastern Europe, I often have access to the finest courts in the land. I am a hobby harper and don't play to the public. I leave that to my family, who are extraordinarily gifted players and singers. At their performances, I'm mostly in the backstage and keep track of whatever needs to be kept track of for them, a tour manager of sorts. When not performing, I prepare meals for the lot of them, take care of the dogs and horses that travel with us and generally make sure everyone shows up on time for the next performance (which can be taxing, I assure you). I can read the Tarot and will do so from time to time, but never for money. I am called "Lady" as an honorific only, a title bestowed upon me for my fine manners due to so much time among the titled, for I boast no noble blood.
I am Escarlata Cisneros, the Cinammon Succubus, beloved of Leinad Thornwolf, mistress of Shadow's Hold. My parents were Cardinal Jiminez Cisneros, confessor to Queen Isabella I of Castile, and a succubus who came to him while he campaigned for the Holy Roman Church in Granada. When he discovered the bundle left on his doorstep, he delivered it to the nuns at the local convent, charging them with my care and education. He monitored my progress, sent me presents, and made decisions for my future. When it was noticed that I was developing much faster than a normal human child, the Cardinal arranged for me to be transferred to a convent in England. I traveled in the party which accompanied Princess Catherine of Aragon to England for her marriage to King Henry VIII.
The convent in England was under the direction of a Bishop known to keep company with the fae and, upon my arrival, spells and incantations were worked over me to keep my body from developing and my mind like that of a child. The Bishop was later lost to intrigue and, when my father died, the Bishop in charge felt no need to honor the original commitment. He put me out on to the streets to fend for myself. Separated by distance from the convent, the protection spells faded and I developed a woman's rounded shape but with a legacy from my mother also. In true succubi fashion, I am what the watcher expects to see, always a little different to each person. Only I, and those I chose to reveal myself to, ever see the large copper colored wings and coiled tail. A kindly nun from the convent saw to getting me a job with the local blacksmith where I learned to work with metal and drive carts when needed. It became apparent that I was adept at herding cats and this became my task in the later years. I now receive a small stipend, a result of my years at the forge, and can come and go as I please.
I love live music, driving, cinammon, all types of fruit (especially cherries in any form), latte, Buttershots, Drambuie, mead, snuggling, puppy piles, and seafood. I attend faires and festivals where such things are found, sometimes undercover as a wench; other times, in full succubus mode and patrons beware. Quick with physical affection, I offer hugs, nuzzles, nibbles, kisses, squeezes, and more to friends, fairemily, and perfect strangers on the street. Descretion is not my strong suit. Things considered blatant flirting by the general populace are part of my nature and personality, given not even a thought as they occur. Self control is the only thing I attempt these days, and then only in avoiding the seduction of those heart-bound to another. This has been a lesson hard learned, and is still troubling from time to time. 'Tis the best I can do to avoid harming myself and others. I travel frequently, write about the adventures, and share the stories. You never know who might turn up in one of my tales.
I`am sorry I tryed to put my charcter here but somethign went wrong so it is listed under chatcter above your post would you please read it and tell me what you think sorry for placing it in the wrong place
Charlotte Rowan is a pirate. She was born in 1537 in Weymouth, Dorset, England to Charlot, a French pirate, and Cecily, the daughter of relatively wealthy English merchants. Cecily was betrothed to one Edmund Strangewayes, Lord Hautreeve, but fell in love with Charlot. They conceived a child, but her parents were less than enthused about the idea of their daughter marrying a pirate, so she went ahead with her marriage to Lord Hautreeve. He wasn't too enthused about his wife having someone else's baby, but he was even less enthused about people being aware of this fact, so he claimed Charlotte as his own, but never loved her or treated her with any kindness.
Cecily and Lord Hautreeve had three other children, Edmund, Stephen and Isabel, and then Cecily died when Charlotte was 14 years old. A couple of years later, Charlotte heard that her father's ship, the Scurvy Dog, was in port in Weymouth, and ran away to find her father and beg him to let her join the crew. She found him, he agreed, and the Scurvy Dog became her new home. A couple years later, Charlot was killed in a bar fight, and his quartermaster/first mate, Jan Ruyteres, replaced him as captain. Baltesar Ferreiro, who had been the ship's sailing master, was promoted to quartermaster, which left an opening for a sailing master. The post went to Charlotte.
Every few years, when the Scruvy Dog goes on a short tour to Spain or Ireland, Charlotte returns to Weymouth to visit her sister, Isabel. She stays at a local pub, the Happy Crickett (run by the brother and sister-in-law of Simon Crickett, the kennel master at Hautreeve Manor who befriended Charlotte during her childhood), and earns her keep by working as a barmaid during her visit.
Michael Gallagher (aka Bodharan). Second son of Sean Gallagher, Chieftain and landholder in Donegal Ireland. On his father's death, Michael inherited a modest income but none of the land or responsibility of his elder brother. Attended university in England. While he was away, his brother married his childhood sweetheart. On finishing school, Michael chose not to return home, embarking instead on the life of a wanderer. He is often found at faires and in pubs - telling stories, enjoying debates, and flirting with girls. Some men say that he spends his days doing deeds for the disadvantaged. Some women say that he is wandering in search of the love of his life. Michael laughs at such rumors and readily reveals the true nature of his quest - basically he is just looking for a good hat.
Lady Annatoli Noelie Lebon Iram. Named for her grandmother, a celebrated courtesan of the french courts. The only daughter of a successful silk merchant. Her father was granted a noble title for his services to the throne thus ensuring a place for the family at the courts and amongst nobilty. Anna was schooled at the School of the Humanists in Italy and as a young woman was sent to the Courts of France and of England to polish her social skills. When not raiding her fathers ships of choice yards of silk and cloth of gold (well, she can't be seen in the same gown twice can she?) she travels about taking in all the wonders of the world and writing and publishing her tales.
You know me as Sir Ironhead, but my real name is Lionardo de Norberto, also known as Lionardo de Spadaccino. I was born a in a small village just outside Venice, where my father worked with the butchers guild keeping their implements in order. In return, the guild ensured that my brother and I received an education beyond that of a normal peasant. My father despaired that I would follow in his footsteps but I had other ideas. At the age of 17 I presented myself to the Barone who accepted me in his service and sent to Milan to learn swordsmanship from Maestro Salvatore Fabris. Upon my return, I became a member of his household cavalry.
I served my liege in the Italian Wars of 1542-1546 and 1551-1559 and many other smaller conflicts in between. His Excellency released me from his service and I became a condottiero. Eventually I entered the service of the King of Spain on an ill-fated adventure in 1588. I was ship-wrecked and made it to shore with nothing but the clothes on my back, a sword, and a helmet and was immediately surrounded by a dozen english soldiers. Of course I demanded their surrender. After a stand off of over an hour we surrendered to each other. I eventually entered the service of Queen Elizabeth I.
While I was away in Persia, Her Majesty, using a bottle of sand, knighted me in abstentia. The following year during faire at Covington Glen, Her Majesty knighted me in person and I became Sir Ironhead.
My name is Lady Charlotte O'Mally a.k.a. The Red Char, I am captain of the Pirate ship The Red Sword. Searching for the Murderer of my true love.
My story is a sad one. I am the only daughter of Lord Patrick William O'Mally. I was born in the spring of 1621.
At the tender age of 13 while sailing with my father to the West Indies, I was used as incentive by the captain of this merchant ship to stop a pirate from taking what little cargo he had. Aboard the pirate ship I met a man named Jackson who became my hero, my protector, and my friend ... and ... more?
To hear more go to:
http://canadianrennies.renspace.com/
Wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for others :P
I am Princess Edit Corvinus of Hungary, daughter of King Matyas (Matthias)...officially second in line to the throne, but unofficially next in line...and cousin to King Philip of Spain (yes, we fudged history a bit for the sake of fun). I am also wife of the Duke of Cardiff and therefore now also a loyal subject of HM Queen Elizabeth Glorianna.
While I wear court gowns to Faire as is proper, I would always much prefer to wear riding clothes with a sword at my side for, as a Magyar, I grew up on horseback.
At Faire (MIRF), the Duke and I can often be found enjoying the antics of the Zucchini Brothers, or else watching the joust or visiting at court. On occasion, you may also find me in the vicinity of the Guinness. :D
The Right Honourable Lord Sir Angus McHatton, Earl of Bute.
Keeper of the Faith, Holder of the Power, Son of James, Son of Earnest who fell at the Battle of Flodden defending the King, James IV.
Born on the Isle of Bute, Scotland. December 20th in the year of our Lord 1551
Second Son to the Earl of Bute.
Educated in Edinburg as a Medical Doctor, however served with the Military as a Soldier and Bodyguard to the Earl, distinguished in Battle at St. Bartholomew and awarded ancestral lands on the Isle of Bute after the death of his elder brother.
With Royal permission, married Lady Paige Matthews of Oleander, Lady in waiting to Elizabeth I.
Fathered 6 sons and 1 daughter with Lady Jean, Grandfather to 3 Grandsons, and 1 Granddaughter.
I am Kevan La Vender, commonly known as the Keeper of the Bar, the youngest son of a minor noble who shall remain nameless. As the youngest I had a choce of joining the clergy or the military. I chose the latter and went with King Henry's forces to France. I fought in the Battle of the Spurs in Aug. 1513 where I was badly wounded. After retiring from the army I took my pension and bought a pub/inn just south of London. Because of the wounds I received, I generally remain mounted on my stallion, StudMuffin.
I am Lady Christina de Pond
I'm from the Land of Glory I am Lady of Pond Castle and well being the only child of my parents born at my fathers holding of Pond my dad thought it would be proper that pond be mine
Being the Daughter of a Marquess i am titled and hold a high enough possition in the court that i'm treated with great respect but i'm low enough and far enough from court that i can go about as i wish. I'm often seen running around Garf with either a gypsy or two a Lady a Pirate wench and the pirate Wench's children. I'm quite a swordswoman and Love my sword when it came to the choice of carrying a sword or wearing i hoop i left the hoop at home. which even my mother is appalled at but when i show up at court the king doesn't seem to notice or pay attention and i'm welcomed greatly. The king recently decided that i needed a husband yet he has yet to decide which gentleman in his kingdom would do well as my husband i know he isn't done looking over his nobles but when he does I'll be marriaged
Lickspittle La Folle, at your service.
I am an unsanctioned representative of the Cathedral of Charlatan (In the Faux valley, for those of you who have not made a pilgrimage there)
I am a humble seller of Indulgences, holy relics, and administer a therapeutic leeching or two, on occasion.
Several years ago, I had the great good fortune to be allowed to amuse her majesty Queen Ariana of Silverleaf, but due to the malicious will of a most heartless and avaricious apothecary, I lost my my position, and was forced to flee southward for sustenance.
There I found gainful employ with the most accomplished of blood letters.
Then I was abandoned by my handfasted, and cursed with a most terrible affliction.
Only the most clever of far eastern physics could remedy the affliction, but, alas, no such remedy could be found to assuage the terrible wrath of my former beloved.
Now I find myself at the lovely grounds of Fairhaven in the south.
While I am still feeling the side effects of the of the remedy, I am petitioning the lords of this fair land that I may again ply my wares here, so that I may once again feel the divine joy that comes from tending to the good gentles at faire, and, perhaps, distract myself from the tribulations I still am going through.
Sir William James Sargent
Her Most Royal Majesty's Sergeant at Arms
Sergeant Major of Her Majesty's Royal Guard
Knight of the Royal Order of the Garter
Royal Order of the Hound, Second Class
Church Warder of Hollygrove
Sir William Sargent is a career military man who comes from a family that has faithfully served the Crown for three generations. His Grandfather, Sir James Noah Sargent, was Sergeant of the Guard during the reigns of Richard III, Henry VII, & Henry VIII. His father, Sir John Everett Sargent, was Sergeant of the Guard under the past four monarchs – Henry VIII, Edward VI, Jane Grey, and Mary I.
Sir William began his service to the Crown as a Yeoman Guard and Scribe during the reign of Mary I. Upon his father's retirement at the end of Queen Mary's reign, Sir William, at the age of 18 years, was appointed Sergeant of the Guard for Her Most Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth Glorianna, thus becoming the youngest ever to hold this position. He quickly proved himself most capable and, after but a few years of loyal and competent service, Her Majesty bestowed upon Sir William the title of Sergeant Major. He further proved himself on the Field of Honour with many victories in Jousts and Royal Tournaments with swords and archery, thus earning the additional title of Sergeant at Arms from Her Majesty.
While on progress at Hollygrove in the 26th year of Her reign, Queen Elizabeth granted Sir William his highest honour yet, the Royal Order of the Garter, thus elevating his status from Knight of the Realm to Knight of the Garter. Now more than ever Her Majesty's words ring true, "The Crown wilst always safe be if thou hath a Sergeant Sargent at hand to thee!"
During the 27th year of Her reign, Queen Elizabeth bestowed upon Sir William the honour of Royal Order of the Hound, Second Class, during Her annual progress to Hollygrove. This makes him one of Her faithful Royal Hounds, an honour held by only a handful of other men loyaly devoted to the Queen.
Sir William's Grandfather (on his Mother's side) was Sir Lord Esero Owen, former Lord Bishop of the Church of England. Because of this, Sir William was appointed Church Warder of Hollygrove where he renders assistance to the Church of England in matters both secular and legal regarding the Shire.
Sir William is married to Lady Caroline Harwell Sargent, daughter of Lord William Earnest "Ernie" Harwell. Lord Harwell is a great and legendary orator, writer, and minstrel who resides with his wife, the gracious Lady Lulu, in the village of NoVI to the South and West of Hollygrove.
Ok, I've got a long one, so bear with me....
Mistress Brimstone Blue, Warrior Pyrate Empress of the NORTH
Brimstone Blue began her life as the Warrior Empress hailing from Luxor, Egypt, land of the ancient kings. She was trained to defend and protect her empire, leading them into battle and into countless victories. By the age of 17, she had conquered 7 surrounding kingdoms, adding to the vastness of all she oversaw. One night, while resting after a particularly bloody battle, she was drugged by the notorious Pyrate, Erik the Green, neighboring ruler, warrior, and Horse Lord.
While she slept, something primal and dark crept into her dreams. A vision of blood and fire, and of a deadly beast she could control at will. Hades himself appeared to her, and bestowed upon her the power to reign over the great Hydra, the seven headed beast known to carry death and destruction in its wake. And he spoke unto her, "You shall be known to all as the mighty Babylon the Great, the mother of all whores, the great mystery. You shall usher in the beginning of the end. This gift I have bestowed upon you shall remain dormant for many years. When the time comes, your power shall awaken, and you shall split the earth wide open with your screams of destruction, and set it ablaze with your rage. Your Hydra shall be your steed, snarling and snapping at all that stand in your way. You will come to know the Four Horsemen of the RenPocalypse, and they shall be the trigger for your awakening. Take this brand now and forever, and remember- take everything from them, give nothing back. The charred bodies left behind shall be a tribute to me, and you will be Hell's finest champion..."
She awoke to find the brand of Hades himself upon her breast, and, feeling something ancient stirring inside her, set on her way to find these Four Horsemen. She came to love her captor, Erik the Green, and they soon became husband and wife at sea. Blue made one last trip back to her homeland, to decree that the empire shall be ruled from sea, forever more.
Six long years went by, and she pillaged and plundered in the name of her Empire. During one of her raids in a desolate area near some sea cliffs, the brand upon her breast began to burn. Blue felt the urge to come ashore, and perch herself upon those cliffs, as if she were waiting for something. She rode to the cliffs and waited there, for 3 sleepless days and nights. At the end of the 4th day, the earth opened up and swallowed her, only to spit her back out, astride the glorious Hydra. Upon her return to the surface, there stood the Four Horsemen of the RenPocalypse. They had known of her arrival, and were there to welcome her. Her soul screamed, and her body burned with an unquenchable rage. She was now known as Babylon the Great, and she had a job to do. With one mighty earth trembling scream, she sounded the beginning of the end, and led the way for the Horsemen, burning and scorching the land as she rode.
When not in the presence of the Four Horsemen, Brimstone Blue is still the Warrior Pyrate Empress. But, when sensing them near, the earth will swallow her whole and give unto the Universe the most deadly woman to ever grace the face of the planet, Babylon the Great.
Name: Mateo the Privateer
Occupation: Privateer (semi-retired)
Background: Born in the bay of Naples, Italy, Mateo spent his early years stealing bits of gold and jewels to sell in the black market. His parents, having a modest education, taught Mateo to read and write, but he preferred to carry on his own adventures rather than continue on in his studies. One day, just as he was embarking on his teen years, he managed to sneak on board a ship from Corsica and decided to snoop around. As ill fortune would have it, he was caught by the captain. Perhaps seeing something of himself in the stowaway, the captain put Mateo to work as a deckhand.
During his tenure upon the ship he became good friends with the cabin boy, Porthos. Mateo followed in Porthos' footsteps and sailed with him around the world. Within a few years the captain was ready to retire and Porthos, saving much of his plunder over the years, bought the ship. He renamed her Lady Fortune and kept on those of her crew that would stay, including Mateo. It was then that he made the stowaway turned sailor his first mate.
Soon, Lady Fortune had a reputation that preceded her. Many good days were spent boarding and looting other ships off the coast of Spain.
However, one fateful day, while patrolling the high seas they spotted the ship The Squall. Being a payroll ship, Mateo noticed it was riding low and thought it full of gold. Porthos agreed and they proceeded to chase the ship into a small cove and began to board her.
Unfortunately, it was a trap and soon after they boarded, they discovered the belly of The Squall was full of armored men, not gold. Retreating back into the ship, the crew shoved off and attempted to flee. As they were heading toward the exit of the cove, several reinforcement ships entered the cove from behind. It was capture.
The captain of the English flagship had a simple proposition for the crew of Lady Fortune. They could renounce their pirating ways, and instead become privateers in the service of the English crown. Accepting, Mateo bought his own ship and crew.
To his surprise Mateo found privateering was considerably more profitable than piracy ever was! He didn't have to run from the English pigdogs, and could repair anywhere he liked on the English coast with no fear of discovery.
After a couple of years of sailing and profiting, Mateo had a small fortune and decided to sell his ship and find other adventures. Seeking out his friend in arms, he was pleased to discover that Porthos had bought his favorite watering hole, The Hound's Haven. Mateo joined the motley crew for some drinks and adventures and he hasn't left since.
There's two personas for the two main faires I attend... just warning ya.
Livia "Scout" Woodstone: Her father was an Irish nobleman, who, when the English came to the North, lost his lands and titles. For some time, Oisin (named after the legend) managed to keep his ailing father and aging mother comfortable, but quickly ran out of money. To remedy this unfortunate problem, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. He quickly rose through the ranks allowed to an Irishman, but his quick rise didn't stop his need nor his greed for money. Oisin turned to pillaging and general lawlessness and at one port, deserted his ship and became crew to a pirate ship. Pirating suited Oisin better and he soon became known as Bloody Oshea, mainly for his skill with a cutlass. Oshea sailed around England until a close call with a Navy ship with a warrant for his demise scared him off to the Caribbean and the Americas.
It was a good career move and Bloody Oshea became captain of the Red Baron, a midsized frigate. In Port Royale, a favorite port for pirates, he met the prostitute, Sindy Woodstone. In the short time they spent together, Sindy became pregnant and never told Oshea. He went off to sea and she gave birth to Livia.
Livia inherited her mother's independent and fiery streak. She was also a bit mischievous and often sat in at the pubs listening to the pirates tell their tales and even the Navy men who came in for a drink. As her mother's health took a turn for the worse, Livia took up small paying jobs in the port, helping load ships, or clean ships that were in the dock, all under the guise of 'Scout,' a young boy. When her mother passed, she was wallowing in a pub when she heard the advertisement for crew for the Red Baron. A good friend of Oshea who had known her mother, recognized her and ensured that she was hired aboard the ship.
The father and daughter were introduced and at first, didn't get along. She had to prove herself to be a decent addition. Scout's guise became a nickname. Livia was a great navigator and her observant eye was an asset to the crew. However, Oshea wouldn't let her rob, fight, or anything. So, she's the 'nice pirate,' kept protected from the crew and the one that's allowed into ports for supplies.
Mistress Anne Stewart: Her mother was Katherine Clifton, 2nd Baroness of Clifton who inherited the title from her father who passed without a male heir. She married, Esme Stewart, 3rd Duke of Lennox. Her father was a patron of Ben Jonson who lived in their household for five years. Anne enjoyed the prestige of the playwright staying in their home, particularly since there was eleven total children: Elizabeth, James (who would succeed her father), Henry, Francis (died within a year), Frances, Margaret (who died and was a tragedy for Anne who looked after her), George, Ludovic, John and Bernard.
Anne was the third child and was particularly close to her two older siblings, Elizabeth and James. Henry was born two years after her and the two didn't get along. There was a fight for attention. His twin, Francis, died within the year of his birth. Part of Anne's dislike for Henry came from the tragedy. In her childishness, she blamed him for making her parents sad.
Next to Elizabeth, Anne took responsibility to help raise the little ones, or at least, play with them. She was much too excitable and enjoyed an adventure too much to be a mother figure. Anne, when she could, escaped her brother's watchful eye (she was brought up in their country home and knew nothing of court or city life) to visit the nearby Hollygrove. Of course, Anne's desire to see something new and exciting, ensures that she makes the trip into Hollygrove when the Queen is on progress to the village. A single maid however, Anne is watched carefully.
Though I've not really "played" with either character at Faire, I have two to choose from. xD Both are known by the same name, both are essentially the same person...or...rather, they started out that way. I promise this will make sense. ...Maybe. xD
In the beginning...
Caitlin Isabella O'Dalaigh was born to two English transplants. Her father, Rordan, was an Irishman by birth, but was moved to England as a young boy. He grew up to be a fairly well-off merchant sailor. By no means was he fabulously wealthy, but certainly not poor, either. While on business in Florence, he met the beautiful Vittoria Bianchi. Vittoria was of a quite wealthy family who had high aspirations for their daughter, and they quite disapproved of the correspondence between Vittoria and Rordan. Eventually, she consented to marry him, despite her parents wishes, but with their grudgingly given blessing, she moved to England.
(And here's where it splits off...)
The Pirate:
Vittoria soon became pregnant with her first (and only) child. It was a difficult pregnancy and a nearly-fatal birth that caused the first rift between mother and daughter. Seeing her daughter so close to her husband bred jealousy and hate. Being as close to her father as she was, Caitlin grew up with a love of the sea, and constantly begged to be allowed to sail with her father's small crew. When she was 14, her father mysteriously disappeared while on a short trip to France and was assumed dead. Shortly before his alleged death, two things had happened. First, he had refused her mother's wish to have her marry a very wealthy, but MUCH older, man. Second, Caitlin had met a pirate named Jacob and spoken with him at great length about his profession. Upon speaking to a few of her fathers most trusted crew members, Caitlin discovered there was something amiss...and her mother was behind it. Soon after, her mother announced that she would be marrying the much older man, despite her protests. Pretending to be resigned, Caitlin slowly pilfered some of her fathers clothes and altered them with the help of a faithful servant. Two nights before her wedding was supposed to take place, she cut her hair as short as she could bear, bound her chest, dressed in her fathers clothes, and made her escape. Barely 15 and disguised as a boy, she boarded her first pirate ship, hoping to find Jacob in her travels. By the time she was 18, she was working on her second ship as Navigator, and had shed her disguise, but after some unwanted advances by the Captain and First Mate, she made her escape in southern France (taking along a bit of "payment" in the true pirate fashion). For the next two years, she worked in coastal inns, and eventually found her father and discovered the truth. Two men had accosted him in France, under order of her mother (and paid by Caitlin's former fiance), and held him captive for over a year. When they let him go, it was under the guarantee that he and Caitlin would both be killed if he returned to England or sought out his daughter in any manner. Caitlin, however, had grown accustomed to life at sea, and yearned for it constantly. She finally stumbled upon a battered and abandoned ship...unfortunately, a young man named Train Vollfied came across it at the very same moment. A lengthy (and somewhat bloody) scuffle ensued, and, in the end, Train won. However, he was impressed by both her fiery nature and her cunning skill (she did keep daggers in the -strangest- places). After they had both been patched up by Train's former captain (Donegal), he asked her to be his First Mate. They picked up a crew, occasionally including both Rordan and Donegal, and went about their happy, piratey way. On a brief trip to Florence, Caitlin (by then Train's best friend and affectionately known as Caity) discovered that her mother had died. Joyfully, she returned to England and a small village known as Willy-Nilly on the Wash, married a fellow pirate (who moonlighted as a wizard, but that's a different story), and can commonly be found wreaking general havoc around said village with her husband or various friends (though, Train has never joined).
But if the story were a bit different, you ask?
The Not-so-much-a-Lady Cait:
Vittoria grew to love the child she carried more with each passing day. Though the labor was hard, and she never able to carry another child, she was over-joyed with her daughter. Doted upon by both parents, Caitlin grew into a fine (if somewhat free-spirited, sharp-tongued, and bawdy) young woman. She still married the same pirate/wizard, and can still be found gallivanting about Willy-Nilly on the Wash with previously mentioned cohorts.
I know, the pirate is more fleshed out, but I've spent a lot more time with -that- character, as a lot of her story comes from a role-play I'm involved in...when my friends and I actually get around to playing. xD Plus, the less piratey one, well, she doesn't so much need the back story, I don't think.
I came from The Stair, in the mountains far north in search of the Well of Ur which is a portal to the nine worlds. Spirit healer, fortune teller, explorer, mercenary, diplomat for Huldrefolk - I am a jack of all trades but master of none, with one foot in the metaphysical and the other in the empirical.
In my travels, I came to Morelandshire, left on my way, but I return every year for the men... Human men are so pretty and fragile compared to trolls, and much more sociable.
Quirks
- though female, I prefer to be spoken of as a gender-neutral
- I dislike turkey legs and being wet
- I go by many names
Good 'morrow my lords and ladies. I am Alyssa de Laney
Let me start with some of my past ancestors. My grandmother was Lady Siobhan McQuaid who was married off to Sir Robert Beaufort of Shropshire England. The two stayed in Ireland for a number of years before my grandfather was recalled back to King Henry the VII's court. My grandfather had been a close friend and allie to King Henry in his days before he held the throne and fought with him at the Battle of Bosworth It was while they were in King Henry the VII's court that my mother was born and became a lady to Elizabeth of York.
In time my grandafter was sent over to Calais to help govern this part of England. It was while they where in France they secured a marriage for thier daughter, my mother Elizabeth Beaufort to Marquis Charles de Laney a French noble under Louis XII king of France. This was done to try and bring England and France closer together and to assist Mary Tudor and her marriage to King Henry XII.
It was while my mother was in Queen Mary's service that my mother gave birth to 5 children. The first being male heirs the 2nd of the two dieing in child birth. The third child was my sister who is married to Duke Ulrich von Württemberg of Germany. My youngest brother who is was just a year older than I was killed while jousting. To this day I abhor the sport as I was there to see him killed or any man killed for this pleasure.
I being the youngest was sent to England to server as a lady to Queen Katherine of Aragon. Being the queen Katherine detested Frech, I learned very quickly to drop my French tounge and accent and to serve the Queen. I was lucky to be to young to catch the eye of King Henry for many years. and when the day came that I did catch his eye we headed to Calais for the Cloth of Gold and I was spared his touch
When King Henry went back to Calais for the Cloth of Gold I went with him and his court. After the Cloth of Gold was over I stayed back home with my parents who had secured a wedding for me to a French Count or Comte Phillip La Rochelle. He was an old man and I detested this marriage to him. Luck was with me as he died the night before we were to be married. i guess the excitement for him was to much. But my freedom did not last long as I was sent to Scotland to marry the Earl of Kincardineshire Amish MacDugan. Amish was a brutal big man and before our marriage beat me one night. A young Lord serving under the Earl of Kincardineshire grew angery as he to had fallen in love with me in a short time did not like how I was being treated and killed the Earl. Fearing for out lives we fled south into England where we are tring to make a home and gain service to King Henry the VIII's court I as a lady to Queen Anne and my escourt as a Master of the Horse.
Well I have several characters that I play depending on my mood, what I'm wearing or whether I'm working or playing at the faire. I'll start with my original character and name sake on this forum.
Master James is a master mercer (fabric merchant) in London where he lives with his lovely wife Lady Sharon. He works exclusively for the Queen and her court providing them with the finest fabrics from all over the known world. Most fabrics are brought in from Italy and France. He travels extensively in his quest for the best and most unique fabrics and as a result if fluent in French, Spanish and Italian. He is extremely wealthy and although he holds no titles, he does own several small manors in and around London.
Sir Thomas Sackville, first Baron of Buckhurst, Knight of the Garter, privvy councilor to Her Grace Queen Elizabeth, Lord Lieutent of Sussex, Great Swanherd and Master of the Game of Swannes is my noble character. He was an actual person and the background and story on him is VERY long so I'll give the short version. He started his career as a poet and playwright writing the first English blank verse tragedy call Gorbourdoc with an associate Thomas Norton. This work and his other poems are what Shakespeare and other famous poets/playwrights of the time based all their works. He then graduated with a law degree and went into politics. He was made a Baron by the hand of Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk by the request of Her Grace. He then later sat on the trial board that condemed the Duke and ordered his execution for treason. The Queen then bequeathed on him most of the Duke's lands. He continued to work behind the scenes by secretly negotiating with Catherine d'Medici for the marriage contract between Henri duc d'Anjou and Elizebeth that is often credited to Burleigh and Walsingham. When Burliegh dies he assumes the mantle of Lord High Treasurer, a position which he maintains until his death. He was also the High Lord Steward in the trial of Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex and his fellow conspiritors and pronounced judgement. He was intrumental in bringing James to power when Elizabeth dies and is made Earl of Dorset as a reward. He was also the main negotiator in the Summerset House Conference that brought peace between Great Britain and Spain.
Sam "Slickhead" Corwin is the First Officer and Master Gunner on the pirate ship Lusty Lady. I'm orignally from Cornwall where I was raised as an orphan running the streets and making money as I could since my parents were killed in a fire and only I survived when I was a babe. I have been told that my parents were local nobles but I don't know that for sure and since I grew up on the streets I never knew them. I was shanghaied onto a ship when I was 12 and learned my way up as a powder monkey. I know me cannons very well and can handle a sword better than most men.
As Prod'n M'Crack I am a proud member of the Irish Clan M'Crack and clan chieftain of the Clan White of the Clan M'Crack. As the cheitain of Clan White I am also part of the leadership for the clan east of the Mississippi. For more information on what the M'Cracks are, look at this thread: http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=719.0
I was never really any good at this, even when I was in cast at TNRN. I always played Irish, because I am. I can recall, it seems everytime it would come around, they wanted me to play a Spainard, because of my dark hair and eyes.; but always Irish because I was a constant,and could really fool the crowd with my accent. ;D
Come to find out, in reality, with all the research of my real last name, dates back to the 1500's, from Spain. I can't remember the correct spelling, because, over the centuries, as with any surname, the spelling is always changed.; but, when I type in my exact last name, Spain, and the same man, from 1536, comes up(I'll find him later and may just use him, and work it into my persona.)
Soooo, I can be creative, but no wonderful brainstorm swirling right now.
Quote from: Lady Nicolette on May 10, 2008, 06:45:15 AM
I am called "Lady" as an honorific only, a title bestowed upon me for my fine manners due to so much time among the titled, for I boast no noble blood.
I get to read these every now and then so this comes a bit late.
M'Lady I will have to take grave exception to that last statement, for I have known many a lady of "noble blood" who could not hold a candle to thee and will stand to battle any who gainsay otherwise. Now if I know my ettiquette, it takes two monarchs of standing royalty to pronounce thee noble, as King Allyn the Only(aka. The Blakduke) I point my finger at thee and declare that thou art noble. Now it may take some time but if a relative of mine( a young lady here in this board who also happens to rule here-abouts) will chime in likewise fashion then the deed shall be done. So let it be written, so let it be done!!!!!!!!!
*curtsies* You are far too kind to me, good King Allyn. I would of course most gratefully accept your offer should your female relative also come into agreement, for who could deny either one of you any wish you would have, least of all one such as myself. I am touched by the mere consideration of such an honor. *curtsies*
I do agree whole heartedly with King Allyn the Only. With the greatest appreciation for all that you have done in service to the Crown (s) and to your fellow members I do also declare, to one and all, that you shall be raised to a noble status and be called a Lady, here after. If any here have a dispute or wish to add to this, do so now or for ever with hold your piece.
M'Lady I will have to take grave exception to that last statement, for I have known many a lady of "noble blood" who could not hold a candle to thee and will stand to battle any who gainsay otherwise. Now if I know my ettiquette, it takes two monarchs of standing royalty to pronounce thee noble, as King Allyn the Only(aka. The Blakduke) I point my finger at thee and declare that thou art noble. Now it may take some time but if a relative of mine( a young lady here in this board who also happens to rule here-abouts) will chime in likewise fashion then the deed shall be done. So let it be written, so let it be done!!!!!!!!!
*advances, curseying deeply* Although I indeed feel unworthy, I would wholeheartedly accept anything that both you and King Allyn should agree upon which should be done. My heartfelt acceptance of your combined wishes is my command. *curtseys deeply again*
It's good to be the King or the Queen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, I don't really have much of one yet, but I have decided on a name: Valentine Oliver of Crippengate.
My last name is Oliver, and I have an ancestor, Valentine Sevier, who was christened in St. James Parish, Crippengate, London, thus the name.
So far, I think my character is an upper-middle-class merchant, wealthy enough for some finer things, like some velvet for his wife and daughter, but not part of the nobility by any stretch. He was born in 1565 in London, and began working in his father's successful carpentry shop at a young age, and helped his two older brothers operate the business when their father, Harold, died of consumption in 1574. His two older brothers, Dennis and Timothy, have sold Valentine their shares of the business, and left London. Dennis, always the troublemaker of the family, travels the seas as a first mate on a privateer ship, and Timothy has become a successful trader, with a shop right on the docks in Liverpool. Valentine kept up the business, proved himself to the carpenters' guild, and was able to take three apprentices, of which one, Gregory, has become a master carpenter who runs the shop while Valentine is away. The other two, William and John, have made journeyman and assist in the day-to-day operations. Valentine has a wife, Diane, and two children, Rose and Nathaniel. They sometimes travel with him on his leisure excursions. Valentine has become friends with a certain William Shakespeare, born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, and sometimes does repairs at at the Globe Theatre in exchange for a love poem to impress his wife.
Wow...I just made that up as I went. I think it seems okay, any opinions? Now I doubt I'll actually use this until I've started going to more faires and possibly gotten into a cast, but I think it's decent for a start...
((I tried to shrink it down, but just couldn't do it))
Part 1:
The year was 1220, it was early summer and the weather was exceedingly warm. The clutch of eggs was not due to hatch for another two cycles of the moon, and yet because of the weather they were beginning to do so. Of the 3 eggs in the clutch, only one survived, the name given in the tongue of Dragons would be impossible to spell out here and you would not understand it anyway. This one we call Vandor, his scales are purple, and he stands proud and strong. Over the next two centuries, he continued to grow and eventually become a leader among the Dragons, they were fierce creatures and tales of their lives are still told today in the villages of Romania. This was all of course, before man discovered science.
It was with that discovery that creatures began to disappear as man slowly began to lose his belief in magic and thusly in the creatures born of magic as well. During this time the Dragons called a truce between their breeds and the High Council met to decide what would be done to ensure their survival. The meeting went on for many days and nights when finally the idea was proposed. "We shall take Human form, blending ourselves into their world knowing that one day the magic will return to this world and we may once again take our place at the top."
With the decision of the council being made, the Dragons began to make the necessary arrangements for the changes to come. They would take their treasures and hide them in places they could find soon enough and be able to set themselves up nicely in the human world. Vandor did this as well; he took his treasures and spread them across the lands and across the seas, hiding them in many places that only he knows. He anticipated that he would not settle down in one place and build a home like the others; he would travel the world in his human form, learning and discovering things for himself. This would also keep people from being able to spend too much time around him as he knew that some humans would see through their disguises and eventually they would be destroyed. By keeping himself on the move, he would at least survive for the race.
Once his treasure was spread across the world, he made the transformation to Human form. This was a long and painful process that took many days before the change was complete and then took many more days to recover from the pain and get used to his new look. Once this was finished, he was ready to begin his travels.
Part 2:
He headed out across the land through the mountains to the first village near which he had hidden some of his treasures. There he would pick up some supplies, clothing, a weapon or two and continue to his destination on this leg of the journey, the sea. Once he arrived at the coastal town, he found himself quickly hired on to The Nautilus, a large triple mast ship that was headed out for a journey that some of the crew was unsure they would return from. Their Captain, Igor Romanov, was taking them to what he thought would be the end of the world. Vandor knew the world did not end at the horizon, but he could not tell them this as they would wonder how he knew such information. He must not draw undue attention to himself.
He spent his time aboard the ship performing the normal duties as any member of the crew. While he had no experience, he did manage to catch on to how to do things rather quickly so there little was questioning that the Captain had made a good choice in this man. He was strong, and worked hard, it was also discovered one night that he was quite skilled with a blade as well. It was roughly a week after they had left port and one of the other new members apparently did not like the fact that the older members of the crew were impressed by Vandors abilities. A punch was thrown and the sound of steel clearing leather was heard. He shook off the blow and reached for his own steel. The attacker thrust his blade; Vandor parried the blow, landed a punch of his own square on the nose which appeared to explode in a shower of blood and mucus. Vandor thrust, the blow is parried and the attacker attempted to cleave down on Vandors skull, a duck and quick turn to the right and the surely fatal blow was avoided. The crew had formed a circle around them and watched the fray with sadistic glee, even the Captain watched intently. Vandor blocked another thrust from his attacker and another, then with a quick parry of his own blade he spied his opening, as the attacker drew back for another attempt for a downward hack on Vandor's skull, he moved in raising his blade and thrust it through his attackers' throat. The sound of a blade hitting the deck is heard and then the sound of the blood as it flowed out of the front and back of the neck and hits the deck. The fight is over, Vandor is victorious and the crew has some extra room in the barracks below decks. The journey was pretty much uneventful after this night for the next cycle of the moon.
A sail appeared on the horizon, moving fast in their direction. "Hard to Starboard" came the call, as the captain made orders to turn the ship into a firing position. At the rate of travel that other ship was coming at them, he knew they were pirates. The crew stood ready, the cannons were manned, and loaded. Silently they waited for the order to fire. A muffled sound is heard in the distance, that unmistakable sound of a four inch ball clearing the barrel. "Incoming" was the yell heard. "Return Fire" came another shout. The battle was on. The pirates' ship pulled closer, the crew prepared to repel the boarders. Vandor stood ready at the gunwale, cutlass in his right hand, dagger in his left. The first boarder cleared the distance between the two vessels with a single leap, landing on the deck to stand before him. Immediately the fight was on, these two men began their battle, only one would survive and Vandor knew that it would be him. He was not going to let his life end at the hands of some pirate. There was no audience this time, all other members of the crew were too busy with their own battles, this was not for winning favor among the crew, and this was a fight for his very life.
The sounds of battle could be heard over everything else, crew members from both sides were falling overboard or being pushed overboard once they had been slain, Vandor continued his battle with the pirate captain. His own captain locked in battle with two members of the other crew and appeared to be holding his own. Back and forth the fight was going, thrust, parry, thrust, slice, block, and thrust again. Biding his time, he waited for his opportunity, realizing this victory was not going to be as easy as the last; he fought and watched his opponent closely. There it was his answer, after each thrust, his opponent turned to the right waiting for the counter attack, leaving his left side essentially unprotected. Vandor fingered the hilt of his dagger, watching and waiting, using his sword to keep his opponent off balance and focused on that right hand. Here was his chance to find that spot between the ribs to thrust that dagger into the heart. Raising his blade from waist level in a backhand motion causing the Captain to block with his own blade he spins quickly to the left bringing his left hand swiftly around before him and drives the blade home into the mans ribs, the sharp blades easily driven through the flesh and between the ribs to find the pumping heart, the blood flows dark and crimson from the wound as he adds a slight twist to the blade as he draws it back. Their captain has fallen, the pirates are finished, and quickly they begin their own surrender in the hopes that their new captors will be merciful.
"Captain" Vandor called out, "I claim their vessel as my prize for killing their captain, and I claim what's left of their crew as mine as well, what say ye"?
"Agreed" the Captain replied, "Take them now and may you find fair winds in your own journeys". That being said, the other crew was only too happy to follow their new Captain as they knew that death would be what would be waiting for them at the next port for this ship. Quickly they made their departure from the area, now flying the flag of Romania where the Jolly Roger once flew. "What do you want with this one" asked a crewmen holding up the Jolly Roger, "Save it for later" called Vandor, "We might need it should supplies run low".
Part 3:
The vessel continued on its journey moving swiftly ahead of The Nautilus. They would continue on this tract until they were out of site of the other vessel and then turn sharply south for a fortnight. "What is our heading Captain?" asked a crew member "Head for the Islands where the women are tan, and the water is blue, I have business there." Was the reply Vandor gave. This journey continued somewhat uneventful for a week or so then the islands came into view. Longboats were launched and the crew was on shore leave at these islands, trading goods with the locals for rum and food, and finding some women to have some fun with. One man stayed at Vandors side, when the two were alone, he stated that he was hearing whispers among the men and that this stop had come just in time as there were murmurs of mutiny about. The Captain told the man not to worry, as he would not give his men a reason to mutiny and in fact would arrange for any that chose to stay here to do so should they not wish to continue on the journey. He continued by stating that those that did continue would be well taken care of upon reaching the sixth and final stop of this journey. The subject was dropped and that lone crewman sauntered off to find the rest of the crew to spread the word.
Vandor departed the village by himself that night and wandered, appeared to wander anyway, off toward the volcano in the center of the island. This was the first stop for him to regain his treasures on his journey forward. He had hidden the treasures on this island in a cave that has a floor of molten lava which no mortal man could possibly enter without being burned alive. He walked in and found the spot where his treasures were hidden and began unloading the hiding spot and hauling the treasures to the ship throughout the night, storing them on the vessel. He placed ten large gems, roughly the size of his balled up fist, into a chest on his desk. The rest of the gems and gold were hidden inside furniture in his cabin and throughout the ship in various inconspicuous locations not to be found easily by someone else.
This process went on for the next three days while his crew was enjoying the real food and recreation offered to them by the locals of the island. He continued until the fourth day and made the announcement that they would sail with the tide on the next morning. His crew agreed and since word had spread how generous he would be should they remain on board, all ten crew members were back on board ship preparing to set sail. Once they were under way, he called the crew to the center of the deck. He called for his first mate, Lars Gunter, to bring forth the chest from upon his desk. He placed the chest on the deck and placed his foot on top of that chest.
"Inside this chest, I have each of your payments for your services to me aboard this vessel. I add to the contents with each stop we shall make and once we reach our final destination, I shall divide up the contents among you all".
There were murmurs and mumblings heard, and one voice Lars' asked "Captain, I mean no disrespect, but how do we know there is even anything in that chest"? Nodding, the Captain replies "You carried it out here, did you not feel the weight of it? Did you not hear the sounds of movement inside of it?" With that he reached down and opened up the chest for the men to see the ten stones contained therein. "You see men, I am a very generous man, and each time we stop, more shall be added to this chest and each of you shall have an equal share of its contents, so I'll have no more talk of mutiny aboard this vessel. You just had one week of time on shore with some of the most beautiful women in the world, and you were fed well by that tribe. You elected to return to this vessel and this journey and for that loyalty I shall pay you handsomely upon our voyages end." With that, he closed the chest, locked it and ordered Lars to replace it in his cabin where it belongs. "Set course for the sunset and steady as she goes for three days, we shall be stopping again for another week once we reach that island as well". He then went to his cabin to be alone.
The crew could not believe what they had just seen, those gems were the size of the captains own fist and if he kept adding to it with each stop, each one of these former pirates were going to be very wealthy men. They liked the idea of having a large amount of money once this voyage was completed, and they all swore their loyalty to one another and to the Captain and his vessel with a blood oath in the name of Thor. The Captain overheard these ramblings from his cabin and a smile came across his face, he knew that each of these men would put themselves between him and a blade were it to come necessary. They made the next four stops and each time all members were ready willing and able to sail again when the Captain ordered them to do so. Each time, after setting sail, he would have Lars bring the chest out and he would open it so that the crew could see he was a man of his word and their eyes widened more with each view inside that chest. There was almost no more room in there for anything else and the gems appeared to be getting larger as they went along their journey. Finally, they were at their last stop and the Captain made a strange order; All crew are to stay inside the inn at the docks, no member is allowed to leave that location under penalty of all of them forfeiting their shares in that chest. He gave this order knowing that Lars above all would ensure that all the crew followed this order, Lars was getting older and his time aboard ship was growing short. He needed that treasure to live out his days on land, he would be sure that nobody disobeyed this order.
This freed up the Captain to collect the last of his treasures and prepare for his journey inland once he has sold off the vessel and unloaded the rest of his goods. For three days he took care of this and nobody knew what he had in all those crates and barrels he was loading up on the carriages. On the fourth day he entered the Inn, the chest upon his shoulder, tossing the owner a small leather pouch he declared "I am renting this inn for a private crew party for the next two nights, you and your other guests will not be allowed here". The innkeeper opened the pouch and immediately began ushering all the other guests out offering himself for anything the Captain needed.
"Men, you served me well aboard ship, and you followed my orders to the letter. That is honorable and for that I reward you. Lars, you will now divide up the contents of this chest equally among the men. There is one extra gem in there, that one is yours for your services to me. Take your treasures and do as you will men, the bar is yours for the next two days, drink up, eat and enjoy. Then if you choose to go back to sea, there's a new owner of our ship and he shall be looking for a good crew, for those that don't wish to go back to sea, I shall be heading inland to find my land and build my home." With that he turned and exited the Inn to begin his journey. Passing the innkeeper, he tossed him another small pouch "to help in repairs" he smiled and continued on his way.
It was at this point that Vandor would have a chance meeting with the first woman whom he would truly know love from. Her name was Amalphia, and she was truly a vision of loveliness in his eyes, and he knew in an instant that the two of them belonged together. Little did he know she too had fallen for him alas she was spoken for by another and he would not dishonor himself by stepping into that land. On the night they met, she was still with child and because of his own honor, he told her of his feelings and made ready to leave her behind as he would not stay to become the reason she would disrespect her current Lord. He would move on and carry her in his heart should they meet again someday.
Mounting up on the first wagon, he flicked the reigns and the horses began slowly pulling the wagon, each of the three successive wagons being pulled by two more horses slowly creaked their way forward under their heavy loads. Moving inland over the next few days his journey takes him to a small village. He is met at the gates to the village by guards with weapons drawn ordering him to stop. Pulling the reigns his wagon stops and he steps down to speak with the guards. They ask him what his business is in the village of Drachen. He advises he is passing through and needs a place to rest for the night and perhaps a meet with the cities leaders while he is here to offer his services if needed. The guards laugh at that last statement, saying that the city leader needs help from no man, let alone some vagabond the likes of him, but they would be glad to take him to the man himself.
As he enters the city, a scent comes to him. He recognizes the scent and is sure that the cause of it knows he is here. Following the guards he realizes they are taking him directly to the owner of that scent. Entering the hall they open to him, he sees a man standing at the other end. He looks up and sees Vandor, his orders come swift and loudly "Close the doors and give us privacy, nobody comes in and NOBODY is to disturb us under any circumstances". The guards quickly close the two large wooden doors and post themselves in front of the building but in the middle of the street calling for one other to face away from the building to ensure nobody can get to the doors they had just closed.
"Greetings Brother" said the man "I am Paul..." Vandor raises his hand interrupting him, "I know who you are brother, I caught your scent the moment I arrived, as I am sure you caught mine. It appears that there are fewer of us left than most thought would be. It is good to see you again; Paul was it? I have taken the name Vandor among men. Tell me brother, what is that symbol upon your chest?"
"It is CHAOS; I am CHAOS, as are all who live here."
"Interesting choice of a name considering what happened to our own kind. It is from CHAOS that we were born, and it is CHAOS which brought about our kinds fall from the skies with mans disbelief. It is CHAOS that shall see us through this, and it will be CHAOS that once again raises us to soar among the clouds again. I am seeking a place to build my home and live out my life, would you suggest this area or do you feel that we might draw too much attention to ourselves?"
"Here would be good for you, there is plenty of land, plenty of women, and plenty of ale to go around."
Part 4:
They sat, talked, ate and drank for many hours together, remembering the days of their youth when they were still in their natural form, flying the skies, taking what they wanted and living their lives as their parents and their parents before them had. It was the next morning when Vandor moved onward to begin building his home on a plot of land just a few miles from the center of town, workers came from town to help and the work went quickly, his home was modest, and yet it was more a castle in comparison to the others in the area. He was declared Lord Vandor by those that built the home, and he did not argue about it. He spent many of the following years traveling and fighting for one cause or another, making a name for himself as a warrior in these lands. The stories of his feats became legend, and then myth as the years past.
Time passed and Vandor had taken another bride whom he thought he could love, and did love for a time. She however felt otherwise and during one of his trips to the South, she would pack her things and ride off to the North to be with a man she had met as he was passing through the city. He received word from Amalphia that she wished to speak with him so he summoned her to his castle, she advised him that she was now free to act upon the feelings she had hidden those years before. He knew he must take advantage of this as this was the one true love he had desired all this time lest he lose the only chance of being truly happy he ever had. She consented to be his wife they were married within six months. She, and her children, moved to the castle to live, and their lives together continued on their journey.
It was in this time after their marriage that life would begin changing for Vandor, his work would improve as would his own fortunes. His old friend Paul had passed away the year before. He spent time in mourning until there was a knock on the door. "Vandor, your presence is requested by the Avatar, (the name the king now used), "Very well, I shall be there shortly".
He made his way to the Avatar and upon his arrival, he is told to take a knee, the Avatar placed his sword upon his shoulder and asked him to repeat the oath,
"Woe to thee of Earth and Sea
As Chaos comes to abolish thee.
The people scream and run from fate,
But soon they see there's no escape.
The soldiers come to pillage and loot,
As mankind is ground under Chaos' boot.
And on that day there'll be such a sight,
As with it comes eternal night.
I swear upon my Honor
To uphold the traditions of Chaos
And to support and defend
my Brothers and Sisters.
Three Kingdoms,
One Banner,
One Cause!
Stand and join the Family.
He was now a member of the Clan Of CHAOS, His duties would be to honor the family, defend the weak, defend the women. He would spend his time as a brother to the other members of the clan, he would be known as "Lord Vandor, The Purple Dragon of CHAOS". He would watch his Avatar Lord Carnage fall and his place would be taken by Lord Talon of Thornwall, Vandor would stand proudly beside Talon and offer his blade in honor. Talon would serve as Warlord for a few years until he chose to step down from that position and appointed Lord Tazz as his successor, Tazz would call forth Lord Vandor, the proclamation was made stating that he would be known as the "Royal Harbinger of CHAOS". His duty would be to be the mouthpiece when there were gatherings to ensure all could hear, and would listen to his words. He stands today before you as an example of the brothers of CHAOS.
The time of Lord Tazz and his reign have come to an end, Vandor finds himself as a member of the council of CHAOS along with Lord Cyric, Chameleon, Akt, Savol Stormshadow, the decision to not have one single leader has been made to try and keep the drama of the past at a minimum. In his travels about the land, he met up with Kilber K'Zar, Dragonlord of Castle K'Zar, in him he has found a kindred spirit and their friendship has built strongly as they have worked side by side in the building of another kingdom. Many others have joined them in this quest such as Countess of Phoenix, Greybear, Fergus, Taarna, Lady Pepper, Valt and that strange Scottish lad named MacLaren. He finds himself in service to Queen Elizabeth, albeit some strange circumstance to find himself serving nobility but alas, his sword has been requested to serve her, and he does not deny the request of one seeking his aid, as long as their cause is just in accordance with his following of the old code. This mismatch of travelers, while odd at first glance, each has their special talents that makes them all invaluable to this groups quest. They work as a single unit and their tasks move along well without outside interference and management. While some instances of management tend to cause roadblocks they must endure, they shall press forward to complete their task. I shall not divulge their talents that make them special, as I hope they too will soon follow suit and tell you their stories themselves. As to Lord Vandor? Well, his saga continues through today... Who knows what adventures the future holds for Lord Vandor, The Purple Dragon of CHAOS.
I am the poorest of the poor. I'm a follow of St. Arnulf the patron of brewing. I ask for very little, I need very little. Everything I have has be given to me in return for prayer and brewing theory. I live off the goodness in others and I take confesion but only from the ladies.
Mainly I am Conte Carlos Guiseppi Valla of Turino My wife is the Contessa Gabriella Maria Valla and we are the true heirs of the Duchy of Savoy.Our lands have been taken over and we are now in exile.I sometimes travel to France to raise armies for our return then my alter ego Charles de Montcalm a Captain of the Musketeers escorts the Contessa through the faire. He is a typical Musketeer and guards the Contessa jealously.
I am Lady Morna...I have sometimes been called Morna the Red-Haired for obvious reasons!
My mother was from Irish nobility, and grew up in the Mountains of Mourne. My father was a Scottish sea captain and privateer. My parents met when my maternal grandfather hired my father to help him with some business dealings. He agreed to let my mother marry my father because although my father wasn't of noble blood, he did have money, which my mother's parents didn't have a lot of. (He did later inherit my grandfather's title, though, since my mother's only brother turned pirate and ran away from home at a young age.) I grew up in Scotland, but spent a good deal of time visiting my mother's people in Ireland as a child. My mother chose my name because it reminded her of the mountains she had come from back in Ireland.
My husband, Marcus the Left-Handed, of the clan MacLaren, grew up in the Scottish Highlands. He had become quite a war hero as a young man, and had been knighted for his service to the Crown. However, his warrior days were cut short when he sustained an injury to his left arm. He then apprenticed to a stained glass artist briefly, and soon news of his great talent gained him entrance into the homes of influential noblemen, where he was frequently commissioned to make beautiful windows for them. This is how I met him, when he was creating stained glass windows for my parents' home. I was not your typical young woman for my time and social class; I loved to read and I studied more than was considered proper for a young lady. For that reason, it had been somewhat difficult for my father to come up with a proper suitor for me. I tended to intimidate men who wanted a quiet little wife with no opinions of her own. Sir Marcus was not intimidated by my scholarly ways, and I loved to find excuses to talk to him as he worked, since he had experienced the outside world in ways that I had only known through books. My parents' dilemma was solved, and I was married off to Sir Marcus by the time he finished his work on my family's home. When my father died, since I was his only child, he named my husband as heir to his title, so Marcus became noble by marriage. Although he no longer must work for a living, my husband continues to do some stained glass work, just for the enjoyment of it. I continue to spend much of my leisure time with my nose in a book, and also I love to sing and play an odd sort of harp that was given to me by my father many years ago, which he had come across in his travels.
(Dona Catalina, does this story pass muster, or are there some things I still need to tweak? I greatly respect your opinion.)
Lady Morna
Quote from: LadyMorna on December 29, 2008, 08:55:06 PM
I am Lady Morna...I have sometimes been called Morna the Red-Haired for obvious reasons!
My mother was from Irish nobility, and grew up in the Mountains of Mourne. My father was a Scottish sea captain and privateer. My parents met when my maternal grandfather hired my father to help him with some business dealings. He agreed to let my mother marry my father because although my father wasn't of noble blood, he did have money, which my mother's parents didn't have a lot of. (He did later inherit my grandfather's title, though, since my mother's only brother turned pirate and ran away from home at a young age.) I grew up in Scotland, but spent a good deal of time visiting my mother's people in Ireland as a child. My mother chose my name because it reminded her of the mountains she had come from back in Ireland.
My husband, Marcus the Left-Handed, of the clan MacLaren, grew up in the Scottish Highlands. He had become quite a war hero as a young man, and had been knighted for his service to the Crown. However, his warrior days were cut short when he sustained an injury to his left arm. He then apprenticed to a stained glass artist briefly, and soon news of his great talent gained him entrance into the homes of influential noblemen, where he was frequently commissioned to make beautiful windows for them. This is how I met him, when he was creating stained glass windows for my parents' home. I was not your typical young woman for my time and social class; I loved to read and I studied more than was considered proper for a young lady. For that reason, it had been somewhat difficult for my father to come up with a proper suitor for me. I tended to intimidate men who wanted a quiet little wife with no opinions of her own. Sir Marcus was not intimidated by my scholarly ways, and I loved to find excuses to talk to him as he worked, since he had experienced the outside world in ways that I had only known through books. My parents' dilemma was solved, and I was married off to Sir Marcus by the time he finished his work on my family's home. When my father died, since I was his only child, he named my husband as heir to his title, so Marcus became noble by marriage. Although he no longer must work for a living, my husband continues to do some stained glass work, just for the enjoyment of it. I continue to spend much of my leisure time with my nose in a book, and also I love to sing and play an odd sort of harp that was given to me by my father many years ago, which he had come across in his travels.
(Dona Catalina, does this story pass muster, or are there some things I still need to tweak? I greatly respect your opinion.)
Lady Morna
Sounds good to me :)
Gramercy, Dona Catalina! Marcus also approves the story.
Lady Morna
Ahoy there matey's i'm Captain Black Shadow of the pirate dread ship Katie Marie I've sailed on this ship ssince I was born i'd say bout 20 years ago unfortunately my crew always are no where to be found and it makes me paranoid plus its no good I get sea sick..Urp....excuse me sorry boutthat the thought of me ship swaying back andd forth makes me Urrrp...sick again pardon me.. but when my crew is around they can be rather helpful but mostly annoying. Aye they are annoying but we do have some beatuiful wenches around somewhere. Argh me matey's hoist the colours high we sail for the channels of old england to plunder some british ships.
I was born to the mortal world as Tammy. In this life I've been known by several names, Emma (a brief trial), Tamarisk (My Lady Goddess knows me as this), and some call me simply Faery.
I am Faery, I am Human, and I am the Protector of Raccoons.
I lived with my parents for 16 winters, before I knew I was of the Fae. Since that time I have learned of my kin, and now cross over to their "world" as I will.
At 28 summers I found my calling as Protector to a beautiful orphaned Raccoon (it wasn't easy, but I've found a way for it to be legal). She is my life now. Her name is Dixie.
If you would like to meet my daughter, you may check her myspace profile here... http://www.myspace.com/dixieraccoon (http://www.myspace.com/dixieraccoon)
**This is mostly true, I'm sure you can figure the parts that are mere fantasy.**
Mine's a bit long I guess and is written like a story. I put alot of myself into my character, so it was easy to keep writing and writing.
Part 1
In here marks the story of a man named Giles of Suffolk. A musician he was and a pretty good too if I might add. Giles was always sort of different than the rest who lived in his village and even in the whole county of Suffolk. He didn't farm, raise animals, brew ale, smith, or anything a person would consider a normal folk to do. He loved music.
You see when Giles was just a boy he met a merchant who had just sailed in. The merchant took kindly to the boy as he just felt that he was different than all the other children he had met. When in Spain, the merchant had acquired a guitar and learned how to play, but now that he was older and hadn't the time to play he passed it on to Giles and taught him all he could while he was in port. The boy had spent his whole life learning how to play the guitar and as many instruments as he could pick up. Now though at the age of nineteen he felt an urging to leave home and use his talents elsewhere. He didn't know where, but he knew he wanted to use them for God.
His friends and family (I won't get into them as this his story and not theirs') all supported his dream of playing somewhere else and earning a living, but they always doubted him too though. Some thought less of Giles for wanting to do something different, but he never let that get to him. He had dreams that he didn't let die out or give up on and he wouldn't let them go.
One day cloudy April day he was sitting down with his guitar and felt that it was the time to leave. He sat there thinking and thinking and knew it was the right time. He didn't want to spend his life doing something he didn't love doing. He went back home, packed his bag, grabbed his guitar, and went to say his goodbyes (much to the dismay of some and the joy of others). He then headed off to London with a spring in his step. As he kept walking across the grass he kept wondering if it was a good decision to leave, but continued walking even though he was afraid he might regret it.
After a long day's walk Giles said trying to keep himself company, "I might want to set up camp for tonight and this spot is as good as any." as he rolled out a blanket he had in his bag and drank some water from his flask. After his camp was set up he sat and watched the sun westward- his trail to a new life. Then underneath the stars a few hours later he fell asleep thinking of the day's journey and the next's.
Part 2
As Giles awoke the next morning he felt an eagerness overtake him. He packed up his camp (it was so small you could hardly call it a camp) and started out his day strong. After a week or so of uneventful traveling at a quiet pace he left his beloved county of Suffolk and entered the county of Essex. He remembered hearing about the village Blackmore and an inn called The Bull and decided to stop there to rest and socialize as he met few people between the villages he stopped in. When Giles arrived at the outskirts of the village he came upon a blacksmith and his shoppe.
"Oy" yelled the blacksmith at Giles. "Whats your name an business around these parts an why have you a guitar slung around yourself?"
"My names Giles, Giles of Suffolk, I'm just passing through, and I happen to play the guitar."
"Well I figured that much out about the guitar, lad. Its just you came walking 'ere looking like- well I don't know what. But I do see your traveling with no weapons or 'nything an that can be mighty dangerous when by yourself. Come into my shop 'ere an I'll get you somethin. "
" I don't really 'ave enough"-Giles started to say as the blacksmith interrupted him.
"Play me a few songs on that guitar of yours an we'll call it even. No one round 'ere can play anything good anyway. He said as he headed for his shoppe. He then turned around, "Oh, by the way my names Allen."
Giles played song after song on his guitar while Allen sang (the ones he knew of course) for hours until it was late in the day. Allen stopped Giles from starting another song and disappeared into a room Giles had never noticed. Allen came out a few moments later with a dagger and a sword. They were nothing to fancy, but were fine pieces none the less. The dagger had a dark green hilt and the sword a deep blue color to the hilt's wrapping.
"I can't accept these." Giles said eying the beautiful workmanship. "They are much too nice."
"Nonsense they are already yours my friend an won't take no fer an answer. Now you should be heading on with your trip. Have fair travels my friend."
"Thank you." said Giles still astonished with Allen's kindness.
The two nodded heads and parted ways while Giles set off further into Blackmore towards The Bull for some rest. While he was walking he grew to appreciate the skill God had given him and how it brought others joy and new friendships.
Part 3
The next day Giles set out for London on his own path. As he did so he began to wonder really what he wanted to do. Did he really want to go to London to play music and receive attention from the king and others of high class? After meeting Allen the day before and seeing how much fun both had by music, Giles decided what he really wanted- to use his talent from God to bring people joy. So he continued his journey to London, but in a different approach than before. He wanted to play for everyone all over England and perhaps in the world and please his Lord and Savior through his gift of music.
Nowadays Giles still travels around England playing for people and even trying to make others laugh (he is quite good at that too, but sometimes when not even trying). He tends to pop up everywhere so keep an eye out for him, you never know where he might show up.
Mine is still being worked on.
First name Keno, don't have a last name cause I don't need roots to define me.
I travel most of the time alone living off the land staying away from towns unless I need to resupply. Dressed in earth toned colors I can be wearing my armour to a handmade dress of my style. I have a few daggers hidden on me with two small swords and a bow and arrows, most of the time I hide bow, arrows and swords in the forest when I walk into town. I carry a bag with me all the time, torn, tattered, and hand sewed with alot of patches. I have little training with swords, smithery, crafting, sewing.
That's all I can remember right now.. I need to get back to that when I have time.
I be Harry Tudor, the boy who maketh the tea, otherwise known as King Henry VIII
(http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo347/fathal8/60516451PICT1993.jpg)
But I also be Captain Cuthbert "Cut-throat" Marooney at ScreamS
(http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo347/fathal8/105407628egLVpUKpScreams1.jpg)
I am MacMuircheartaigh, of the lovely Scot Isle of Bute-son of sea navigators, and merchant mariners (and, rumors persist-pirates). I am the family brewmaster-in my brewery you are likely to find Scot Ales, Irish Stouts, and German or Vienna Lagers. Like many Scots, I am quick to anger-however I am a true friend to my friends, and a thorn in the side of my enemies. Dogs love me. Especially Australian ones.
I'm really just starting to get into the whole faire thing, so I guess my character still needs some work. That is actually the oldest form of my last name that I have been able to dig up from the genealogy sites, and my people did actually come from the Isle of Bute, off the Scot coast. By the way, they wont let you take a barrel of home brew into the Michigan Ren Fest. Trust me on this. ;)
Introducing K'ith and Edit
Benden Weyrleaders.
this is part 1
Keith is born "and the Angels Rejoiced" in Southern Boll son of a Sea Holder and like all good sea holders could swim before his 1st turn
At about his 3rd turn he was noted for singing by the local Harper (a journeyman at that point) who took him under his wing and taught him. He still learned the sea and had a great love of Ship Fish. Keith sailed on several fishing trips with his father (even ones he was not supposed to) until one day during his 10th turn a Master Harper noticed his singing and begged the boy's father to allow him to come to the Harper Hall and learn. This Harper, the Mastersinger would later be turned to tears by this same boy.
While at the Harper Hall, he learned the craft well enough to be placed in the 2nd year apprentice program. All this happened before his 12th turn.
One day during his 12th turn, a Blue Dragon, named Moreth, and his rider T'flar came bearing a gift from the Benden Weyr Leaders to the Masterharper. While walking across the courtyard, Keith bowed (as is appropriate) to the dragon who spoke to him. The dragon insisted this boy stand as a candidate on the Hatching Grounds for the clutch that was hardening. Being as this is the primary Search Dragon for Benden, there was no need to double check. Keith was given the option and less than a sevenday later, he was a dragonback heading to Benden. This is the event that brought the Mastersinger to tears. During his stay at Benden he was still able to study with the Weyr Singer to become a journeyman harper.
On a bright midsummer morning Keith wearing his white robe entered the Hatching Grounds with the other candidates. It wasn't long before the clutch began to shell. There was a whirl of activity, even he is not sure how long it took or who impressed first. All that he remembered was the most beautiful set of whirling blue green eyes as they locked with his. In his mind he heard the Bronze dragon, his dragon, speak to him and tell him his name was Gamenth. It was then Keith became K'ith.
During Gamenth's 1st turn he began to grow much faster than the other dragons. So large was he that many people mistook him for a Golden Queen until they got close enough to see he was Bronze. He is on record as the largest Bronze on Pern to date. After his 1st turn and training going Between he began his conveyance duty like all good Weyrlings. Due to his young age he was not placed in a fighting wing for 4 turns. It is during this period that Gamenth gets the name "the Benden Bronze" and the counting song is written about him.
It is during his 16th turn that K'ith returns to the Harper Hall to take his journeyman exams. Nearing the end of these an emergency rush of medicine is needed to quell an outbreak of illness in Ruatha. Considering it would take him merely three heartbeats between to get to Ruatha, whereas the best runnerbeast would take days, K'ith volunteered to take the medical supplies. Upon his arrival, a young girl of about 15 turns was trying to quell the frightened runnerbeasts with a young friend, but all the 5 turn old young boy could think of was seeing the big bronze up close. After their duties were attended to and the runnerbeasts were once again settled, the girl finally relented and escorted the little boy to see the "Benden Bronze".
Edit was born to the Master Breeder at Ruatha Hold. This made her second cousin to the Lord Holder of Ruatha. Although her mother tried her best to teach her lady-like skills, Edit was almost always found with her father in the beasthold. She was so absorbed in helping her father care for the runnerbeasts, that she had little time for anything else, including boys, although they did notice her. During her 15th turn, her father kept her in and around the beasthold more, to keep her isolated from any who might have the illness. It was on one such day that the "Benden Bronze" arrived with medical supplies from the Healer Hall.
I will tell you a little of my life for your diversión. My father was the first cousin to Don Alvaro Pérez Osorio, Conde de Trastámara y Marques de Astorga.
I was born in the Convento de Religiosas Madre de Dios in 1501. It was actually an accident that I was not born in Sevilla in the house of my Mother's sister. My father, Don Hernan Osorio de Moscoso, was due to embark on a voyage to Nueva Espana and it was intended for my mother stay with her older sister. But my mother, Dona Ana Lopez de Xerez, started her labor two months early while they were traveling from Cadiz to Sevilla.
I have two older Brothers and one younger. My beloved mother died when I was about five years old giving birth to my youngest brother. My father was with the Court of the King at Santiago when this event occurred. Ever after he was convinced that my mother might have lived if he had been there to insist on a physician. But in consequence he resolved that my youngest brother and I would travel with him wherever he went. It was about this same time that my father arranged a contract for my betrothal to the son of the Marques de Villafranca. At that time the boy was the heir apparent to the Marquisate as well as the Duchy of Alva. Alas, he died the year afterwards and the contract was let lapse.
Since I traveled with my father from an early age, my education and upbringing were quite different than most girls from noble families. I shared the tutor and confessor of my younger brother. So I learned languages, literature, mathematics and poetry as well as other subjects not usually considered appropriate for women. My poor aunt worried herself continuously that my father would let me become so educated that I would be unmarriageable.
My father did spoil me shamelessly, though he had some help from my older brothers who were much older than I. I rode horses considered too spirited for a lady and kept my own kennel of dogs. By the time my youngest brother was sent to foster with the Viceroy of Naples, I was almost as wild as he was. Briefly my father brought Dona Osanna to live with us in hopes of settling me down. We became closer than sisters, but all too soon her family sent for her return. My own family entertained the hope that one day I would marry the heir to a duchy. On my late mother's side I had blood ties to the Catholic Queen Ysabel, which drew some offers for my hand. I dashed my father's hope to have a duke for a grandson when I chose the man who became my husband.
I fell in love with this tall, dark and handsome man at a blessing of the grape harvest. He asked me to dance with him at the ball that evening. He was heir to the Marques de Trives, a small politically unimportant region in Galicia near the Portuguese border. His family bloodline was impeccable since he was related to the oldest ruling families in Cordoba and Zaragoza. But most important to me, he seemed the perfect courtier; educated, polite and romantic. (It was only much later that I discovered he was romantic mostly by accident.) I think my eldest brother was most bothered by the fact that my intended's immediate family had no connection to any of the great orders of knights. At first my father tried to resist my pleas, but he relented when I threatened to take matters into my own hands. I have always wondered if my parent's marriage was a love match also since my father never remarried. When my father was satisfied that I would be truly happy with my choice, he graciously surrendered my hand to Don Juan de Cordoba.
Well, my pirate character is very loosely based on the Immortals off of Highlander.
I am Cairn MacBane, born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1698. Sadly, though I died in 1725 during a bar fight. Upon coming back to life, I thought I had just been knocked out and went on with my life. Finally around 1735, I was found by another Immortal known as John Willard a student of Methos who informed me of what I was. After training me for almost a decade, I ignored his advice and joined in the Jacobite Rebellion following Bonnie Prince Charlie off to war.
After the fateful battle and aftermath of Culloden in 1746, dis-enchanted and angry at the world, I stole a ship and currently prey the seas picking off any English ship I can find under the name Capt. Jack Benson. I am known as the "Scourge of the English Channel"
I am Katherine Remington, Dutchess of Lyfeld, affectionately called Kitty. I am short, well fed and as stubborn as a natural red head, though I have dark hair.
Generally speaking, I am the youngest Duchess at court and naturally this inspires a lot of jealousy.
I was an only child, but as a child I overheard my nurse talking once about a twin that I had. My father adored me, and still does, but my mother never liked me much, or at least, she never acted like she did. When I was 16 years old she took me, under the guise of a holiday in France with only her, to a convent and left me. My father came to my rescue, but only after they had shorn my hair. Shortly after my return, again to the credit to my loving mother, I was married to Nicholas Remington the Duke of Lyfeld. I was 16. My Father, James Havershom was the 5th Earl of Essex and my mother, Ann Havershom was herself a duchess by inheritance before she married my father. The Duchess of Kent, and also the cousin of Jane Seymour. All other relatives are unknown to me. However, Nicholas' mother is still living. Amelia Remington Duchess of Bath.
I am known as the court brat. I am loud and outspoken, but know how to be demure and coy when the occasion calls for it. I have no desire to sit in poorly lit rooms bent over needle point when there are horses to be ridden, fox to be hunted and dogs to be trained, bred and played with. My dearest friends are Princess Beatrice of England (CoRF) and Prince Demitri Polokovski of Russia. And I suppose Nicholas, my husband.
I have a terrible gambling habit that I indulge late nights in local pubs dressed as a commoner. I generally do very well, but unbeknownst to my husband I have lost several thousand pounds of my allowance in bad wagers.
I am generally good natured but have a quick temper and am hideously jealous. I love children and want several, but not with Nicholas.
I carry a solid gold rose brooch on my person at all times. It was the last gift given to me by my lover who mysteriously disappeared from London the night before my wedding to Nicholas. I to this day have spies trying to find him. Its been nearly four years since his disappearance.
I am Ryan Leask, of the Leask Clan of Aberdeenshire. No title, as I be no one of import, just a simple wayfarer that looks to travel the land as I like. Quiet when I'm idle, oft blended to the background, lest raised in song or engaged in good conversation.
Born to Craig Leask and Caroleen O'Baley (me Da had a thing for the lasses from Ireland, for some reason), I left me birthplace when I were a young lad, barely over a dozen years of age. Barely anything but a dagger, a hunting bow, and the clothes on my back when I did, I lived off the land. I did the occasional odd job when I came to any village or town, often times as trade for a warm bed for the night... or at least a haypile in a stable.
As happens to young travelers or those ill-suited to defend themselves, I was waylaid a year after I started out. Easy pickings for the bandits, though they didn't find much and nearly took it out of me hide. They did learn me a lesson, and after too long, I were able to "acquire" a sword. Took to it like a fish to water, and soon, knew me way in life: help those that help themselves to others' workings to find an early grave. After learning to use it (often by mimicking what I'd seen from the shadowed outskirts of camps with sparring soldiers or knights), I began to do that. Nothing too big, mind you, and certainly nothing organized, but a couple highwaymen be easy when you drop one with an arrow. It made for a good living, at least, though never much more than a couple small coins and a meal I didn't have to catch and cook meself. Unless it were some unlucky merchant or the like, when it became a bit more from their purse. Or for the right coin, a "wronged lover" might find themselves avenged of the "wrong-doer". But that be a story for another time.
This I've done for a dozen and some years. I've not the thought of stopping, at least just yet. But then, what need have I to stop, as I still love to wander the lands. And as long as the lands call, there be work to be had along the way.
Good Morrow, all!
My name is Eleanor Moorley, (and if my sisters tell you my name is Nelle, pay them no mind! I have a proper, court-worthy name, after all!), and I am a young, unmarried maiden in search of a husband! (So in sooth, if you do meet a young, handsome, wealthy, preferably titled and landed gentleman or noble who is single yet, please send him in my general direction). My father is a merchant of cloth, although since he's gone quite batty my mother runs the shop in his name. I have quite a dowry to my name in fine cloth and gold, and would be a fitting bride for anyone of high Gentry or Noble blood!
Having three younger sisters, my parents did think it wise to send me away to a young ladys' polishing academy, where I earn my keep by singing with the other maidens who board there. You can find us on the streets of Larkspurshire (or even at the royal pavillion when the court is visiting!) entertaining with our harmonies. Singing has indeed become my favorite passtime of all, and I do hope that in my married life I will be given leave to do so often. With our vocal talents and the entrance this gains us at court as the King and Queen's entertainment, we all do hope to marry quite well, and quite soon.
Also please stop by and say hello, we're working on our courtly manners and sociability!
Yours Truely,
Eleanore Moorley.
Greetings,
I am Sir Michael of Mentor. Knight Commander of the military order of Jerusalem Knights. I am very skilled in the Art of War and have taken an oath to protect the weak, defenseless, helpless and fight for the general welfare of All. Of the people, for the people, God save our King. The past eight years, I have been on a quest from the King of Fayetteville. I serve as protector, escort and advisor to Princess Emma of Fayetteville who is now 8 years old. Each year she desires to attend the Great Lakes Medieval Faire, and I see that she is safe and happy.
Sir Michael of Mentor
Knight Commander
Jerusalem Knights
Krisstina Trow is a young girl hailing from Aberayron, a coastal village in Cardiganshire, Wales. As a lass, she helped her mother make nets and other fisher's gear for her father, and havin' cut her eyetooth on the spar so to speak, was always eager to hear the sailor's stories and songs of life and land o'er the sea. By no means a weakminded or meek wench, Krisstina found her place amongst the sailors as a close friend and companion and until leavin' the shire at 16, she scrounged fair livelihood by entertainin' sailors in the pub with song. Although all manner of tunes have found their way into her repertoire, Krisstina's heart will always be the closest bound to ballads of love lost in the waves and songs of sailors who yearn to return home.
I was born Knil Bloodmoon, the son of a simple folk on a river plain, long long ago. By my people I was called Knil the Many Colored, for my then black mane was often colored various hues and corpsepaint covered my face. Raised to be a warrior of the tribe, I fought and won many battles against fellow man, fae creatures, and foul beasts. At a young age I was blessed by She Who Thirsts, an eldritch being of unfathomable power, and I began to change. Struck with what my tribe deemed "shaman sickness", I traveled into the North to seek out my enigmatic patron, but found only death and ruin. The power that had been granted to me had also corrupted me, many dark deeds did I commit, and I gave myself over totally to the shadows. In my travels I came across Magnus the Wanderer, a mighty, ageless being, and Mormegil Silverfist, a paragon of the Eldar race, and with their help I was saved from the Greater Darkness. Now I hone my mystical power, keep the library of the Black Tower, and wander the occasional Faire.
I am Knil, Keeper of Secrets, Chronicler, Teller of Tales, and Mystic. I am no longer human, but I long to be so. I enjoy a good story (and there have been many here!), playing the ocarina (which I'm dreadful at), a pipe every now and then, jokes and jests of all kinds, beautiful things, and, again, a good story.
Bonjour. Je me pel Pomponne l'Honnete. Pomponne l'Honnete de Calais. My life is that of a simple mariner. I serve aboard HMS Flirt.
My family lives in the English city of Calais. I have two children who have lived to adulthood: my son of 18, Michel, who is seeking his fortune as a herring merchant, and my daughter of 15, who works at a tavern in town.
I work hard as a sailor, and I spend much time away from home. I used to think that I have been all over the world serving His Majesty, except now they have found a new route to the Indies. I have not been there.
I take tobacco in seegar and pipe. When not on duty, I have been known to drink almost anything. I prefer mead and ale. I tasted a bitter hot drink called kavve from the Ottomans, and always look for it now.
Both my knife and cup are decorated with knotwork that I tied. I am very skilled at throwing axes. It is a skill I learned while repelling boarders.
I have no use for murderous, treacherous pirates. I do not believe in fairies. I have seen monsters in the sea.
I have two characters. I'll post one now and the other later (I'm too tired to do both right now!)
Friar Cody McManus
How now and well met!
'Tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Me name is Friar Cody McManus, Cody being given to me by my mother, the bloody English wench that she is, and McManus being me proper Irish name, of course descendin' from me da'. For whatever reason, me da' and me mother fell in some spell of love and had themselves a baby, much to the chagrin of both families. As it was not proper for an Irish lord like me da' an' and English wench to be marryin', I was born a bastard. Needless t'say, neither family fought for the right t'keep me. I was given over t'the monks over on Lindisfarne, where I was raised and whatnot. Naturally, I joined their ranks and took the tonsure when I was but a boy. Oh, I learned me English and I learned me Latin, but I never once touched Greek and I have no straight intention of it. I looked at it once, I did, an' it gave me the hurlyburlies in me tummy for the next few hours. In any case, since I wouldn't touch the Greek, I was never sent t'the seminary, which is just fine in my books anyhow.
I took t'traveling when I was a boy. As a Friar, that was possible for me--unlike those bloody Benedictine snoots who stay locked away in their monasteries. Bunch o' pansies in my mind! In any case, I travel about, doin' what I can whene'er I can. I teach. I preach. I write. I sing. Those sorts o' things. While I was off in Germany, I heard the teachin's of a little German professor over in Wittenburg. He was off talkin' about the grandeur o' the church. He right pissed the Holy Father off, he did. At first, I thought it nothin' to consider--some little German priest with a corncob stuck up his arse. Then I sat down and started readin' what this monk had t'say. The funny thing? I liked it! Never ye fear! I'm still a friar in good standin' wit' me order and wit' the Holy Father, but I do like the things that that Luter had t' say. As a matter o' fact, I think I'll start preachin' those sorts of messages--y'know, the whole God loves ye kind of thing, the y'don't need the church for salvation, the pope's got 'is crucifix shoved too far up his--oh! I might wait off on the last of those.
In any case, I'm a simple man with a simple life. I live t'serve God and God's people. I'm no scholar and I certainly ain't no theologian. I'm just a dirty soul from Ireland, tryin' t'make this world a little happier. I leave with a quote from me old friend, Brother Billy: "I'd rather laugh with the sinners, than cry with the saints--the sinners have much more fun, darlin', only the good die young!" Although he didn't call me darling. Let's get that straight! (No pun intended, har har har!)
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I am Sir Brian Fitz-Matthais FitzGerald, the oldest illegitimate son of Matthias Fitz-Maurice FitzGerald who was himself an illegitimate son of Maurice Fitz-Thomas FitzGerald, the 2nd Baron of Kerry. Matthias had usurped the title 'Baron of Kerry' from his half-brother Nicolas (the legitimate heir) for two years shortly after the death of their father Maurice in 1305. The family name of FitzGerald was the only legacy Matthias provided to me his bastard son when I was born in 1301 until the year 1309 when he petitioned Donough O'Brien, the King of Thomond at the time, to accept me as a page in his court at Cahir Castle. In 1311 Murtough O'Brien became the King of Thomond after slaying Donough in treason. I became a squire in 1313 and earned my spurs during the Irish Bruce Wars on May 10, 1318 at the battle of Dysert O'Dea after slaying three of the personal guards to Richard De Clare, who commanded the Anglo-Norman forces, thereby enabling King Murtough O'Brien to slay Richard De Clare and win the battle. I continued to serve King Murtough O'Brien until 1322 where upon I left his service in good standing to travel as a knight-errant throughout northern and central Europe competing in tournaments and serving various nobles in numerous border skirmishes and minor wars.
In the spring of 1326 I returned from the continent and came into the service of Henry Plantagenet, 3rd Earl of Lancaster whom I served throughout the deposition of King Edward II and had been both companion and protector for Edward of Windsor when the Earl of Lancaster was assigned guardianship over the newly crowned and underage king in 1327. On October 19, 1330 I joined a group of loyal followers to King Edward III in a nighttime raid of Nottingham castle and the subsequent capture of the king's regents, his mother Queen Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer the Earl of March. I was one of the knights who escorted Roger Mortimer to the Tower of London and also bore witness to his hanging on November 29, 1330. In that same year I took up service to my king and liege lord after my former lord released me from his service. In the year 1333 I had accompanied my king into Scotland when he broke the Scots ability to resist further subjugation at the battle of Halidon Hill on July 19th.
Over the next several years I served my liege well as a lieutenant of the garrisons for several of his castles throughout England, Ireland and Gascony. In the year 1340 I sailed with my king's fleet and fought in the battle of Sluys on June 24th, where I was badly wounded and had to spend the remainder of the year mending at Castle Rising in Norfolk.
In the year 1346 I accompanied my king and his heir the Prince of Wales, Edward of Woodstock into France and participated in several raids throughout the region and stood by my King as we watched the prince win his spurs of knighthood at the battle of Crécy on August 26th when his position came under attack.
On October 2, 1346 a month after the start of the siege of Calais, my king commissioned me to make due haste to Ireland and present his writ of summons to his vassals and my distant kinsmen, the Earl of Kildare and the Earl of Desmond to provide men at arms for the siege of Calais. Upon arrival to castle Kinsale I delivered my king's writ of summons to the Earl of Desmond and he bestowed upon me the title Knight of Kerry since the previous lord and Knight of Kerry (my half-uncle Nicolas) had died while imprisoned several years previously after he rebelled against the crown.
Upon my return journey to my king at the siege of Calais, I took a sentimental diversion and spent an evening camped by the shores of Loch Gair where I had fished and swam in my youth. Upon the rising of the moon I was visited by a beautiful lady who beguiled me to escort her back to her domain under an earthen mound not far from the stone circle that was on the western shore of the loch. My lady's domain was a gateway to the wondrous realm of the Tuatha de Danann and she was no less than a cousin to the goddess Áine!
My lady is an immortal and frolicsome spirit who has a fondness for the ways of mortals and their merry making and I am forever her enthralled knight and escort whenever she makes her frequent excursions into the mortal realm.
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I am in a group portraying gentry level privateers so my character is one based from actual history.
Sir Michael was born into a rich, well-to-do family in Bristol England. The second son of Francis Geare, a merchant in the spice trade and Jane Pollard, a rich heiress originally from Stafford-Upon-Avon. Brought up spoilt, rambunctious and always eager to pick fights, Michael was finally sent to school in Cambridge. While he did well academically he never finished school, instead he was smitten by the adventure bug. Fame, fortune and ambition called and he left Eaton with a few friends to Plymouth to try out their fortunes. When his father threatened to cut him out of his inheritance, he reluctantly returned to school only to leave again when his father died 11 months later. He sold the house his doting mother had bought for him in Cambridge, and with the money he again went to Plymouth to search for fame and adventure. Records indicate from 1575 till 1584, Michael worked on many different trade vessels, mostly they were trade ships going to Antwerp, Venice and around the Mediterranean sea working his way up from a boatswain's mate to master.
England and Spain engaged in a privateering war between 1586 though 1603, which is when Geare was active in the West Indies. Geare's first voyages were under Sir George Carey. He then worked for John Watts from 1588 through 1591. In 1590 Michael was the Master of the Little John captained by Christopher Newport with a fleet of six additional ships which attempted to relieve the Roanoke Colonists by Governor John White. No record is available whether the relief effort was successful or not.
In 1591, he was made captain of the Little John, which was one of five ships under the command of William Lane that raided the Spanish ports in the Carribeans. According to Lane's accounts, Geare was in the forefront of most of the fighting, gaining for himself a rather large booty plus extra loot by smuggling goods into England. Geare bought a share in the Little John and renamed her the "Michael and John". From 1592 to 1595, Geare had four successful versions in the ship. In 1595, Geare encountered a Spanish warship near Havana. The battle cost the lives of 50 of his crew as well as a pinnace, the Spanish prize he had captured. Geare fled the action in the ''Michael and John'' and was able to recoup some of his losses with the taking of another Spanish prize, after which he returned to England.
In 1596, Geare command of the Neptune and it's pinnace with John Rilesden and Christopher Newport. Towards the end of the year, Geare along with 15 men stole the pinnace plus several more prizes before setting anchor at Jamaica where he joined Sir Anthony Sherley. Geare, Sherley, and William Parker sailed to Honduras. In 1601, Geare was in command of the warship Archangel and captured three valuable ships. Geare was able to get two of the ships back to England but was separated from the third in a storm. The crew of the third ship sailed her to Morocco where she was sold.
Geare was instrumental in the capture of two Spanish warships as well as several other ships during 1602 when his ship was part of a three-ship consort led by Christopher Newton. In 1603, Geare at the age of 45 retired to a large home in Stepney, a suburb of London. He was quite wealthy and had been bestowed the honor of knighthood the year before.
I was born as Lady Melissa to a prosperous merchant family. My parents had contracted a betrothal for me to a local baron, a very good match politically. However, I did not care for him as he saw no need for romance.
My father hired a young man named Dereck to fix several things around the estate. I was smitten rather quickly with his stories of places I had never seen much less heard of. He won me with roses and chocolates. He showed me romance. We fell in love. He asked my father for permission to marry me, but my parents refused. I was already betrothed and marrying him was below my station. So we did what any young couple in love would do. We ran away. I changed my name to Lissame Rhosyn. He is now Greggory Thomas.
We ended up in a small port town known as Eminence. There, we met Captain Vechs and joined the crew of the Bloody Compass, I as purser and he as First Mate.
I'm part of the Court at Bristol and my character is based on a real person as well (with much personal interpretation).
The following is a short bio prepared for Guilde purposes:
Mistress Mary Radclyffe was the daughter of a love match between Sir Humphrey Radclyff and Isabel Harvey. She is first cousin to Thomas Radcliff, the Earl of Sussex. In 1561 she was laughingly presented to the Queen as a New Yeare's Gift by her father and became a Maid of Honor. She then became a Mistress of the Privy Chamber and was later one of the keepers of Her Majesty's jewels. Though reportedly quite comely, she never married and stayed in Elizabeth's service her whole life.
Oh verily I do revel in being at court! Where passion and desire be the life-force of this throbbing sphere. Where love is always false and deception is an art. My true loyalty is only for Her Majesty and we do share some great wisdom and soundness of mind in that we neither of us shall ever forfeit ourselves to the tethers of Marriage. Nay indeed for to be a wife is to be owned by one man, and it is best for women such as we to be shared by the hearts and minds of all. Her Majesty for her people's sake, and I for my nature's. I care little, however, for the conflicts of religion and politics that are the plague upon our pleasures at court. I would rather pursue the delights of dancing, riding, and being in the company of pleasing persons. I have also taken up an interest in collecting curious verses and putting them down in a small journal I do keep with me. But let me not prate on. Take with you the assurance that I do desire in all ways to be of service in matters of leisure and entertainment and therefore, dear friend, should you wish any want satisfied, simply cry 'Radclyffe'.