[center][img]http://static.tumblr.com/4f6aeaea17e9719ece969eb92633113f/zrdpadd/DDonrfhp7/tumblr_static_4v1kxibpbhc0c44osk0w4ksw4.gif[/img][/center][center]((Unlike the image above, Maire has pale blue eyes and a double chin.))[/center]
[b]Name:[/b] Maire Virtanen

[b]Sex:[/b] Female

[b]Age:[/b] 30 years old

[b]Patron:[/b] Yvene the Smiling Goddess, the Pearl-Haired Goddess

[b]Appearance:[/b] Maire stands at a meager height of 5'5" and has short black hair, a prominent gut, and eyes the color of a frozen lake. Her skin is exceptionally pale, and she usually wears brightly dyed tunics, breeches, and robes. Finally, the urlandi woman always seems to radiate an aura of unshakable confidence and grace.

[b]Personality:[/b] There are those who are satisfied with the cards fate deals them. Maire Virtanen is not one of these people. Due to her humble origins, the bloated clanswoman loves glutting herself on life's finer things, and she often lavishes gifts upon the meaningful people in her life. Obviously, the most valuable objects are kept for herself or offered up to Yevene, Aire, or Bodi. In that order. One commodity Maire is happy to share, however, is the knowledge and insight she's gained by studying with learned men and women. A kern wants to encourage his cattle to eat sweet grass so they put on flesh? Maire will not only help the herdsman find where sweet grass grows, but she'll also teach him how to harvest it without damaging the seeds. Soon, the kern's herd will be full of fat, healthy animals, and Maire will undoubtedly ensure that some of the extra meat ends up in her larder. Regardless, the alchemist finds ignorance and stupidity appalling in the utmost. Only by understanding the world around you can you successfully manipulate it. And Maire enjoys twisting things, whether its a quote from Aran the Sage or the opinions of others, to suit her purposes. In addition, the heavyset urlandi enjoys a challenge as long as it doesn't put her or those she cares about at risk. Danger is something to be avoided at all costs unless it absolutely has to be confronted.

Maire also has a soft spot for children, viewing them as worthwhile investments in Clan Aonghus' future. Only by shaping their young minds through hard lessons and firm instruction will they grow into useful members of the group. Only then will they be capable of determining their own destinies. This is the final and most important part of who Maire Virtanen is. She doesn't like being controlled. She prefers to do the controlling. While she knows her gender restricts her in some ways, Maire always looks composed and focused. Even when dealing with tasks typically completed by men. Only when she's indulging her love of rich foods and high-quality garments is her hedonism apparent. In the end, Maire is a willful, formidable clanswoman determined to thrive in a world teeming with danger. No matter the cost.

[b]Background:[/b] Born to Fergus and Idunna Virtanen, Maire grew up in a small yet beautiful house near the center of the clan's original holdings. Many years earlier, Caradoc "The Wolfslayer" Virtanen earned a place among Clan Aonghus' gallocmen by killing a wolf pack that had been harassing their flocks. Before he died of lung rot ten years later, Caradoc built the renowned Blue House out of marble blocks quarried from a nearby mountain. He perished shortly after the structure's completion. Originally, the gorgeous building housed Fergus Virtanen and his wife but, nearly three years after Caradoc's demise, Maire was born into this well-known home. Idunna, a skilled alchemist, was the foremost brewer of potions and elixirs in the entire clan. Other urlandi would travel great distances to visit the Blue House in hopes of obtaining remedies for their ailments, and Idunna was eager to help them. As long as they paid in full and didn't ask for anything dangerous. Idunna wanted her beloved daughter to follow in her footsteps. While other clan children were still struggling to say their names correctly, Maire was learning the properties of numerous plants and alchemical reagents. Idunna even used her considerable influence to introduce her daughter to wise men and women from across the kingdom. These intellectuals taught Maire a great deal, and she grew into an introspective and keenly observant maiden.

Unfortunately, Fergus, son of Caradoc the Wolfslayer, was a constant blight on this otherwise wonderful childhood. His excessive drinking ensured the Virtanens always lacked coin and supplies. Despite their well-constructed and charming home, Idunna and Maire lived in constant fear of the family's inebriated patriarch. Perhaps the one decent thing Fergus did for Maire was to teach her how to wield a dagger and quarterstaff, though she never mastered the skill. It was the only time Maire saw her father smile. When he was laughing at her for failing to execute a particular strike correctly. A humorless man tormented by his ancestor's legacy and his wife's prominence, Fergus was viewed as little more than a piss poor woodsman by the rest of the clan. If it wasn't for Idunna's extensive knowledge of herbs and poultices, the clan chief would've likely banished the drunken fool. Of course, Idunna's eventual appointment to the Council prevented this from ever coming to pass. Whenever someone asked why she stayed with such a despicable man, the alchemist simply smiled and said she loved him. Unfortunately, the sounds of Fergus drunkenly sharing his "love" with his family became commonplace after his wife's ascension. It was actually surprising to see Maire or Idunna without bruises on their faces.

And then, during the Season of Ash, brigands attacked Clan Aonghus. 

After the clanless were driven back, Idunna was found with a bloody gash carved into her back, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open in an expression of shock. Maire, who was more educated than most women twice her age, found this curious. Her mother had been killed from behind, and the blow had come as a surprise. Furthermore, the injury looked like it was made by single, razor-sharp edge. The bandits had fought with saw-edged blades and daggers pitted with rust. Her father fought with a two-headed axe, which he loved more than anything else. Except alcohol. In the wake of this horrific tragedy, the Council was one person short and, bizarrely, Fergus offered himself as a replacement. His proposal was greeted with mockery and outright scorn. Furious, the woodsman returned to the Blue House in disgrace. Nobody is entirely sure what happened next. At some point, however, Maire ran out of her family's home, screaming that her father had been attacked and killed by bandits. The Council ordered the gallocmen to seek out the remaining miscreants, though they found no sign of them. Only the corpses of the bandits killed earlier that day remained. Considering the clan's opinion of him, Fergus' death wasn't investigated very thoroughly. Especially when, four weeks later, Maire suggested she might be old enough to assume her mother's duties as a member of the Council and Clan Aonghus' foremost alchemist. To distract her from losing her beloved parents, of course.

The orphaned woman, who was now in her early twenties, joined the Council and quickly proved her worth. While she did develop a reputation as a glutton and a hoarder, Maire always ensured the clan never wanted for herbs or vital tinctures. She also reached out to her mother's former patrons and became quite wealthy through her dealings with them. She also did something Idunna refused to. Maire made poisons for those willing to pay her exorbitant fees. Without Fergus holding her back, the young urlandi transformed from a scrawny girl into an immense woman who regularly stuffed herself with rich foods and dressed in only the finest garments. Life seemed to be taking a turn for the better until High King Harlaus issued his decree roughly four seasons ago. Maire believed it might be worth trying to reason with the man, but this wasn't a popular opinion. Like the rest of her clan, the alchemist was forced to move into the so-called "Hidden Valley." Regardless, Maire has done everything possible to ensure the group thrives in their new home. It would be difficult to enjoy her precious luxuries without a clan to support her greedy ways. Despite having lived in the valley for four seasons, however, Maire is always looking for ways to return home. Possibly as a member of the most fearsome clan in all of Urland.

[b]Personal Goals:[/b] Maire is more concerned with her own survival than anything else. She does, however, hope to become one of the most knowledgeable and respected alchemists in the kingdom. In truth, what she actually wants is the wealth and prestige such a position would bring.

[b]Clan Goals:[/b] Outwardly, Maire claims she wants her clan to grow in power and become a force to be reckoned with. A force to make even the high king tremble. In truth, she longs to return home despite the unpleasantness of her childhood.

[b]Estate:[/b] Prior to Clan Aonghus' exile, the Virtanen family dwelled in a hut, which would come to be known as the Blue House, made of blue marble bricks. Maire left her childhood home behind during the clan's forced migration, though she's tried to make do with the resources available to her. She currently lives in a well-constructed, if somewhat rustic, shack on the outskirts of the clan's territory. This structure, which is filled with luxuries most people have never seen before, is jokingly called Maire's Mansion. A young thrall by the name of Gwendolen Maddox is the only other person living in the building. On a more ominous note, a weathered quarterstaff can be found leaning against Maire's bedroom door, and there are rumors of a knife collection hidden somewhere on the premises. Many of the clansfolk also believe there's an extensive cellar, containing perishable items as well as an alchemical laboratory, beneath Maire's Mansion. Whether or not this is true is up for debate.

[b]Traits:[/b]
[list][*][i]Affluent[/i]-You belong to the (very thin) upper crust of society, and have the wealth to prove it. +3
[*][i]Alchemist[/i]-You have an impressive knowledge of herbs, salves, and even poisons, and know how to identify and create them. +3
[*][i]Learned[/i]-You are literate and have a relatively advanced education, in comparison to the common man. +2
[*][i]Basic Weapons[/i]-You are skilled with the usage of less specialized weapons, such as knives, clubs and staffs. +1
[*][i]Chef[/i]-You can prepare and preserve food better than most. +1
[*][i]Observant[/i]-You are better at noticing traps, as well as your enemies' weaknesses. +1
[*][i]Light Sleeper[/i]-You wake easily at the first sign of danger. +1
[*][i]Slow[/i]-You cannot move quickly. -2
[*][i]Loud[/i]-Your movements are particularly noticeable. -1
[*][i]Heavy Eater[/i]-You have a big belly. -1
[*][i]Greedy[/i]-All of the riches are yours, and nobody else's! -1
[/list]

[b]Dramatis Personae[/b]
-[i]Caradoc "The Wolfslayer" Virtanen[/i]-A mighty warrior that earned his family a place in Clan Aonghus by killing a pack of ravenous wolves, built the Blue House and died shortly thereafter [Deceased]

-[i]Fergus Virtanen[/i]-A mediocre woodcarver and son of Caradoc, felt overshadowed by his father's reputation and drank to alleviate the pain, a sadistic and abusive brute, husband of Idunna Virtanen and Maire's father, supposedly died during a bandit attack several years ago [Deceased]

-[i]Idunna Virtanen[/i]-A gifted alchemist who taught Maire everything she knows, renowned throughout Urland as a fair and honest woman, was a member of Clan Aonghus' Council for several years, died under mysterious circumstances during the same bandit attack that took her husband [Deceased]

-[i]Gwendolen Maddox[/i]-A mute, red-haired thrall that can wield a spear as well as any man, the only other occupant of Maire's Mansion and a loyal servant [Alive]

-[i]Albran "Longshanks" Brennus[/i]-A kind and devoted master herdsman, husband of Fiona Brennus and father of five daughters, perished trying to protect Maire from the beast lurking in the Barrows [Deceased]

-[i]Cathair Doyle[/i]-A portly kern with an impressive blonde mustache, distrustful yet surprisingly selfless, recently entered into a tentative alliance with Maire against Eliz [Alive]

-[i]Uric Myrost[/i]-A hulking gallocman that was slain during Maire's sweetgrass expedition [Deceased]

-[i]Tristan Jory[/i]-A young, impulsive warrior who believes Maire is incredibly brave, one of the councilwoman's few allies among the gallocman, survived the sweetgrass expedition and is dedicated to helping Maire [Alive]

-[i]Fiona Brennus[/i]-A talented craftswoman and wife of Alban Brennus, loathes Maire and blames her for the death of her husband, mother of five daughters [Alive]

-[i]Jaina, Marta, Hope, Cerys and Serena Brennus[/i]-The five children of Fiona and Alban Brennus, all but the youngest are of a marriageable age [Alive]

-[i]Garrick Derval[/i]-A grim kern and father of four sons, one of his children was killed in Eliz's counter-attack against Clan Greenfeather, detests Eliz and has thrown his full support behind Maire [Alive]