[center][h1]Vélaneah T'Aldannin[/h1][/center] [center][h3][I]The Flower of the Snows, the Lady of the T'Aldanai[/I][/h3][/center] [hr][hr] [hider=Character Sheet] [center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/iuIsZXm.jpg [/img] [sub]"...at such times you need to ask yourself; what precisely are you willing to kill for? To die for?"[/sub][/center] [b][u]Age:[/u][/b] 34 years [b][u]Race:[/u][/b] Elven Highblood [b][u]Origin:[/u][/b] Ashae Imperium (north east) [b][u]Appearance:[/u][/b] A carefully nurtured snowdrop sheathed in polished silver filigree, Vélaneah's fine features and diminutive stature (less than five feet in all) make her a rare sight in rough open-collared shirt, hooded green cloak and riding trous. Gone are the days when she wore a leafy silver tiara or star-patterned earrings about her daily business, instead her dark chestnut hair is bound back by a simple yet elegant double-strung length of auron leather. Rapier and parrying dagger hang from opposite sides of her waist, with a simple belt pouch on her right hip that holds a number of her personal effects and... certain components. She also keeps a shoulder bag which she is rarely seen to carry, either because it is under her cloak or (more commonly) someone or something else is carrying it for her. [b][u]Personality:[/u][/b] Vélaneah is the child of a thousand years of highblood elven aristocracy, which means she (or her kin at least) have raised the fine art of social assassination to an art form. When any given day in court could lead to a House's social (or literal) demise, one becomes accustomed to choosing one's words very carefully. The kind and the romantic called her graceful, thoughtful and elegant. Those less well disposed call her scheming, close-mouthed and languid. Since taking the leadership of House T'Aldanai, she has shown signs of radicalism, consorting with the less well favoured elements of the court who openly advocate normalising relationships with the humans. Still she continues her careful ways and keeps up face, rarely willing to admit defeat even in the face of apparent total disaster for herself and those who owe her fealty. She reads frequently given the opportunity; Vél's laziness (if laziness it is) is purely physical in nature. [b][u]History:[/u][/b] Vélaneah T'Aldannin is the eldest child of her generation, daughter to Cháuntilly and Erathe T'Aldannin and older sister to Marcos and Délilah. At her birth the T'Aldanai was one of the most powerful in the Imperium beneath the Eight Houses themselves but under Cháuntilly's benign suzerainty it began to lose power and prestige at an accelerating pace. Vél's childhood at court was filled with slights from those who once called her friend until at last her parents took their family back to their estates in the north east of the Imperium. Since her father's murder Vélaneah ascended to the ruler's mantle but not to his policies. Through slow and careful moves and two successive betrothals, the Flower of the Snows has worked to rebuild her family's fortunes, returning to court only for visits and formal court events. Through a mixture of bluff, persuasion and occasional courteous threats she succeeded in rebuilding most of her family's former fortunes, but has at last been caught red-handed conspiring against the Eight. Stripped of her rank, her House chastised and placed under her brother's aegis, Vélaneah was on her way to the executioner's block when an agent from the Order of the Sacred Flame arrived to save her by sheer chance. At least, that was the official story. The road to the Ghenna Mountains was arduous and (in some areas) infested by bandits, so Vél's party waited for a second to travel in more company. That was how she met Georgia Chandler and her taller shadow, establishing a casual friendship with the human woman before they reached Farron Peak. [b][u]Relationships:[/u][/b] Georgia Chandler: New Friend Marcos T'Aldannin: Younger Brother Délilah T'Aldannin: Younger Sister (7) Erathe T'Aldannin: Mother and former Lady Consort of the T'Aldanai Iseult Ascia: Former Lady in Waiting and mistress to Vélaneah before her downfall. [b][u]Skills:[/u][/b] Herbalism Aether Studies Riding Literature Sketching Negotiation Etiquette Fencing Carving [b][u]Magic:[/u][/b] Attuned to Cryomancy, Adept. Attuned to Geomancy, Novice. [b][u]Equipment:[/u][/b] Bedroll Water Canteen 4" Parrying Dagger (sheathed at right hip) 28" Rapier (sheathed at left hip) Writing Papers, ink and quill Simple silver pendant (topaz) Basic Potions Good Rations (enough for deployment?)[/hider]