[h3][center]From “[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/155458-a-land-of-wonder-and-nightmare/ic]A Land of Wonder and Nightmare.[/url]”[/center][/h3]

[hider=Elayra Heart][center][img]http://i.imgur.com/p2QepEV.png[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/l6rFjCu.jpg?1[/img][/center]


[B]Full Name:[/b] Elayra (ee-LAY-ruh) Alane Heart

[b]Age:[/b] 16

[b]Heritage:[/b] The daughter of the late White Queen, Alyce Heart, named after another ancestor somewhere down the line. Her father died a couple months before she was born, making him one of the firsts murdered by the Red Sorceress before anyone realized war was at hand. 

[b]Appearance:[/b] Elayra stands at about 5’6”, is of a small build, and has a light skin tone. She has gray eyes, her mother’s eyes, that often have a haunted look in them, and is often told by those few who remember the White Queen that she looks like her mother. She wears her platinum hair with its loose curls down most of the time, and her fingernails are almost always chewed short. 

[b]Distinguishing Marks:[/b] She has many scars on her body from both training and battle with the creatures of Wonderland. From blade wounds and burn marks from spells, to claw and bite marks, the scars are all in various stages of healing, some now only faint silvery lines. Of easiest notice is the still healing scar stretching vertically over her left eye from just above her eyebrow down to her cheek the length of her nose. She’s fairly proud of this one, having gained it just before killing one of the Red Sorceress’ scouts.

[b]Clothes Wear:[/b] Though it is the standard of the common female in the land to wear a dress, Elayra loathes the things and refuses to wear one unless absolutely necessary. She prefers a pair of trousers and a form-fitting top in colors that help her blend in with her surroundings. She wears tall leather boots with a slight heel, and a pair of matching bracers. She also has a belt that holds her trusty sword and favored dagger, as well as a pouch in which she keeps what little amount of the stones that are the land’s currency she has managed to collect, along with a few other small odds and ends. However, she does have a dress in her wardrobe for those rare occasions when it would help her to better fit in with the world around her.

[b]Abilities:[/b] Magic-wise, she is capable of only a few simple spells, since she has spent honing her ability to access the magic that flows through the world. On the other hand, she has been learning how to fight since she was capable of holding a weapon. She is rather extraordinary at wielding polearms, hand-to-hand combat, shooting a bow, and various types of swords. However, she tends to favor the sword, and is fairly quick on her feet.

[b]Weapons:[/b] Ever since Drust deemed her worthy and able enough to have her own, good weapons, she's used two particular weapons: a saber, and a kris dagger. Both of these, according to Drust, were gifts from her mother. While the White Queen never used the sword, the dagger itself was once a favored side weapon by her mother.  [url=https://i.imgur.com/IhEV28k.png][u]Sword:[/u][/url] It resembles a long, double-edged saber, the blade curving slightly. The blade has a blue hue to it, and the rather plane hilt is a dull silver color with a black leather-wrapped handle. [url=https://i.imgur.com/oHyUDak.png][u]Kris Dagger:[/u][/url] Essentially the same in appearance as her sword, only with a wavy blade. [u]Bow and Arrows:[/u] A simple recurve bow made of a strong, sturdy wood. She has added random small carvings onto it. The arrows are of a matching wood with brilliant blue fletching that changes shades and even adds a bit of purple and green in different lighting. She often has the bow slung over her back, and the quiver of arrows hanging at her hip. Unless, of course, she feels she has no eminent need for them, in which case she stores them away in her pack. The quiver is enchanted to keep the arrows from falling out, no matter how violently shaken, but allows for its owner to easily pull them out. Unlike her bladed weapons, this was "borrowed" from one of the Forsaken.
[b]Weapon Update:[/b] As of page 16 in IC, she no longer has her kris dagger. Instead, courtesy of unforeseen events, she's using one of her guardian's, Drust's, spare [url=https://i.imgur.com/I8iqGke.jpg?1]stiletto daggers[/url]. It's a rather simple affair. The silvery metal forms a spiral at the the hilt, topped by an elegant round pummel. Its needle-pointed, triangular blade’s length is around nine inches. Unlike your common Earth stilettos, each of the three thin sides are forged and sharpened in a way that lets it be used for cutting and slashing, not just thrusting. 

[b]Personality:[/b] Having grown up in the perilous world of Wonderland, Elayra tends to be suspicious of everyone and everything, since you can’t even trust what you see in the world anymore. She is careful and watchful, and always on the move, always secretly hoping to encounter one of the Red Queen’s followers so she could bring about their demise. When around people she knows, or in a situation where emotions are heightened or heated, she is not afraid to speak her mind, often not thinking through her words before they leave her tongue, which has often ended poorly and resulted in a couple of her scars. She is not one to hesitate to defend what she believes is right, or to fight for those hurting from the Sorceress’ rule. She is the brutal, fearless sort, and even when she does feel fear, sorrow, or any other ‘weak’ feelings, she refuses to show it, either her bitter, angry side emerging with more potency, or putting on a cocky, self-assured grin and spouting off a few smart comments. Though she often fantasizes about what Wonderland was like before the curse, the weight of reality is always a crushing one, and she fears to dwell on the dreams for long for fear the world may never be restored. After all, if the fate of the world really would rest on the shoulders of her and someone she knew nothing about, she dares not hope for the best. Life had taught her all too well that hope did little besides bring about painful disappointment.

[b]Major Positive Traits:[/b] Active. Dedicated. Adaptable. Curious. Brave. Alert. Compassionate toward those suffering from the Red Queen’s rule. Fierce.

[b]Major Negative Traits:[/b] Stubborn. A bit sadistic when it comes to her enemies. Bitter. Overly serious. Untrusting. Harsh. Hot-tempered.

[b]Weaknesses:[/b] She often acts too fast and without thinking things completely through, letting her emotions get the best of her. Though it often works for her, she can be too fierce, often getting carried away and taking it from a heartfelt intensity to an almost scary ferocity. 

[b]Ticks and Tags:[/b] [u]Ticks:[/u] Chews on her fingernails. Twirls or chews a strand of hair when thinking.  [u]Tags:[/u] “I’m nobody.” “It’s a living nightmare.” She always speaks with a serious, and authoritative tone.

[b]Fears:[/b] Extremely small spaces, and otherwise being locked up. Complete darkness—or, rather, not being capable of seeing what might be lurking in it. Failing to dethrone the Red Sorceress. Of [i]facing[/i] the Red Sorceress. Of not being capable of living up to the shadow cast by her mother.

[b]Other:[/b] [u]Cherished Object:[/u] A necklace the White Knight gave to her. It is a family heirloom in the shape of the royal coat-of-arms that the queen ordered him to give Elayra once she turned thirteen. About an inch large, a red stone creates a heart with a curved bottom and a point that curls up into a spiral. Atop it is a small blue rose in bloom. Two swords of tarnished silver weave through part of the heart on either side to create an X, the tiny metal pieces visible through the red stone. The pendant hangs by the swords from a chain that is shockingly sturdy, and she always keeps it hidden beneath her shirt to prevent it from possibly giving her identity away. It’s said to glow when the thing the wearer seeks is near, and has proven that rumor to be truth.

[b]Short Bio:[/b] Elayra remembers little, if anything, of how life was before the Sorceress’ curse ravaged the land. She has been told the story of how they escaped: the White Knight took the two children through a hidden passage in the palace, and they made their way over the land to Harrow Hollow Hill, where it is said portals to many worlds reside. With the opening of a couple of them eminent, they jumped on the opportunity. With the portal entrance too small for the three to fit through together, the boy went first. Before the other two could follow, they were ambushed by a few of the Sorceress’ creatures and forced to flee or be killed. 
	When the queen’s curse took effect, it did no harm to Elayra, but it changed the White Knight. Though he remained mostly in control of himself, never forgot the task he had been charged with, the kindness and genteelness that once ruled him was all but abolished. In its place was an almost crazed brutality kept at bay by only the little of who he once was that remained. 
	So, Elayra grew up knowing only the nightmarish side of Wonderland and with a surrogate parent who was firm and harsh, always unrelenting in his training. He taught her how to wield various types of weapons, as well as educated her about everything he could to aid her in succeeding in bringing down the Red “Queen.” Though he showed a restraint that all others affected by the curse lacked, his methods were just shy of barbaric on the field. However, the Knight did have moments where his true self shone through, showing a kindness befitting a doting father. But, on the other side of the coin, there were times when the curse took almost full control, sending him into a terrifying rage. 
	The two occasionally stayed with a few other survivors and supporters of the White Queen, all living underground and hoping they would not be found. She kept who she was a secret, by order of the Knight, and for knowing that if anyone knew who she was, it could very well mean her death.
	She learned quickly, as one must when living in a world where even the grass could try to tear you apart, and your mentor, when more consumed by the curse, lived by the philosophy that “pain is the greatest teacher.” Even so, the Knight was the only family she had, and she cherished every moment when the curse was subdued long enough for her to see a small glimpse into the gentle, caring people Wonderland was once filled with.
	At long last the Knight, who watched the skies diligently, told her it was finally nearly time for the portal to Earth to open and for her to seek out the Hatter’s son. The two set out on the journey once more to Harrow Hallow Hill in the dismal hope that she would succeed and be capable of bringing him home to Wonderland and putting an end to the evil Red Queen’s reign, and the rule would once more belong to the Heart family.

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/ktmz2rA.png?2[/img][/center][/hider]

[hider=Drust]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Ade4gvF.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/3tpCckc.png?1[/img]
A rough reference photo. He'd look a bit older than that.
Image edits courtesy of [@ImagineBaggins] and myself.[/center]

[b]A.K.A.[/b] the White Knight. Like all the White (and Black) Knights of the old Heart Palace, he has his own name.

[b]Appearance:[/b] Like most of the Knights, he is quite tall, standing at nearly 6’10. His skin, including his lips, are alabaster white (thanks to effects of the curse, shifting from a solid white), making him look almost as if he was made of stone. Only a series of onyx lines branching out from the corners of his eyes shows color on his flesh. 
	His eyes themselves are a decent way to tell when the Curse is fighting against him, and winning. The Curse turned his irises red, veins of black streaking outward through them and over heir whites to meet up with those that streak from the outside corners of his eyes. But normally, this effects only his irises. When the Curse pushes against his control and resolve, that black-webbed red will consume the solid black of his pupils. The smaller his pupils, the more in control the Curse is.
	He looks to be in his mid twenties, but Knights age differently, so it’s difficult to tell his true age. He has sharp features, and his irises are a glazed dark red webbed with black—a sign of the effects of the Curse. His hair, which he keeps short and usually a bit messy, is a contrasting blackish-brown.

[b]Race:[/b] The Knights were never really given an official race name. So, he is simply one of the White Knights.

[b]Actual Age:[/b] 35. Or 52, depending on how you look at it.

[b]Appeared/Physical Age:[/b] Roughly 26. The Knights age significantly slower than most humans, physically aging approximately one year to every four that passes. HOWEVER, they don't start out as infants. When first born by magic, Drust was, technically speaking, created to be about seventeen. So, in a way, he's 52. But not.

[b]Weapons:[/b] A katana. It’s blade is extra-long, tailored to better suit his height. It’s blade is kept sharper than most would think possible, and its handle is wrapped in white leather. The crossguard, made of a black metal, sports a pattern of ornate white hearts. It is a relic from when he still served the White Queen. When he is mostly in his right mind, you will never find him without it in quick reach. You'd pretty much have to pry it from his cold, dead hands.

[b]Other/Notes:[/b] Despite the years and having the need to dispose of the heftier pieces of it, of his old armor, he still has his gauntlets. The metal a bit discolored from improper care, but he still has them.

[b]A Snippet of History:[/b] While Drust was created in the same way as all the rest of his brothers (and sisters) in arms, he was always a tad bit different. While he loved training his body, just like the rest of his ilk, when all the other White and Black Knights would finish their training for the day and take the opportunity to relax, he was training his mind. He had a desire for knowledge that exceeded all his fellows. He could never get enough, delving into one book or scroll after the other on various forms of sciences and magics. Though he was not the best at magic, he learned enough of it for his knowledge to impress even Hatter.
	This difference set him apart from the others. Hatter took a notice to him, and began teaching Drust what he knew. Soon, by Hatter's suggestion, Drust became the White Queen's personal guard. Wherever she went, he was likely close behind.
	When the Red Sorceress attacked, he was there, fighting alongside the White Queen and Hatter. At least, until he was entrusted with the most important task of his life: to protect and train the young Ghent and Elayra. The children of two of the most powerful inhabitants of the world at the time. To secure Wonderland's future.[/hider]