Bride of Unknown @"character player" and Sister Bride of Unknown @"character player" Interacting with: Sorrin @WeepingLiberty
Sorrin was better prepared than she for the cold of this place, it would seem. Though she could certainly understand Adorabella’s impending suffering, apart from potential abuse from their future mates. The girls pleasant and chipper demeanour made Adorabella feel more comfortable. She felt that she had indeed found a friend and she was not about to let that go. The smile widened on her face slightly. Before she could continue the conversation two Drakkan men entered the banquet hall.
Adorabella gracefully rose from her sitting position only to kneel on the ground. She bent forward and rested her forehead against the backs of her hands. Her palms lay flat against the freezing floor. She began to shiver as the cold seeped into her. The fire helped a little though as it warmed one side of her body.
She closed her eyes and prayed harder than she had ever prayed in her life. Was she about to go and meet her doom? The thing that would change her life forever? Was she prepared for this? She had to accept the change, or she could never find happiness here. But as she crouched there, breathing in the scent of the floor, all of her fears began to come alive. What if the man she was to marry was mean? What if he hurt her? What if he forced her to bear children? Round and round the inside of her head these questions spun. And she prayed that the man she would be paired with would at least show her some kindness.
She heard Sorrin speak. She hadn’t moved. Adorabella opened her eyes and looked at the girl’s feet. “Bow, I don’t want them to have an excuse to hurt you. His name matters not. I doubt we will be seeing too much more of him.” She tried to speak quietly enough to not cause a disturbance but loudly enough that her friend could hear her.
Adorabella decides she very much likes Sorrin and is then ordered to bow. Her fears begin to take her over before the fear of her new friend being hurt causes her to risk herself.
Bride of Unknown @"character player" and Sister Bride of Unknown @"character player" Interacting with: Sorrin @WeepingLiberty
One of the Gems, a pretty blonde, sat down across from her and promptly began to shovel food into her mouth. ‘Must be starving,’ she thought, amused by how quickly the girl could demolish and then refill a plate. Nothing stood a chance against her. Adorabella did not spend much time watching the girl across from her eat. She watched many young women come in and start to fill the tables. Some seemed to know each other already and huddled close. Others appeared to be so overwhelmed in their upheaval that they sat alone and silent. Adorabella supposed she had been one of those.
“I’m Sorrin, what’s your name?” This snapped her attention back to the young woman. She had a huge grin on her face. It was an honest, open smile. She looked sweet, someone she might be able to trust. Adorabella enjoyed that she didn’t seem too horribly disturbed by all of this. She was even trying out some of the more exotic dishes that Adorabella could not even bring herself to eat. The only thing that gave away any discomfort in this girl’s face was the redness around her eyes – presumably from crying. Adorabella was sure she had a similar red ringed look. “Isn’t the food tasty?”
She realized she had been merely watching Sorrin and had not yet responded. Her thick lips spread into a warm, small smile as she returned Sorrin’s grin. “My name is Adorabella. Very lovely to meet you,” she said rather formally. She inclined her head in a sort of bow and then extended her hand to shake. “I agree, much of our fare is delicious. Some of it should probably go into the fire behind me,” she joked.
“What part of Gemmenia are you from?” she inquired, shifting into a more open and comfortable position. She wished to be friendly with Sorrin, a friend in these times would be worth more than gold. “I’m from a small village in the south. I’m not really used to all this cold. I sincerely hope whoever my husband will be will keep his home warm.” She rubbed her upper arms and shivered somewhat dramatically to get her point across.
Adorabella meets a potential new friend and after spacing out manages to have a conversation. THen complains about the cold.
Bride of Unknown [@"character player"] and Sister Bride of Unknown [@"character player"] Interacting with: n/a [@"character player"]
She was just beginning to settle into her life. Travelling a long way from the village which had been her childhood home to realize her destiny and become a part of the noble class of Gems. It had been quite rocky at first but she refused to let slips and mistakes stand in her way. After all, if one was going to do something they should do it properly. It was just so difficult to get down the nuances of court life, not that she had been to court, and understand the politics of it. She also had to remember not to use the slang she had grown up within her village, which could be tough.
Her parents’ house was the largest she had ever seen in her life, though it was not the largest in the city by far. It was there she sat, in the beautiful gardens. A large tree supported her back, giving them shade from the warm rays of the sun. In her hands a picture book was open and from it, she read while her sleeping brother rested in her lap. The small child had been her blessing. He was not someone who judged or corrected her. Adorabella could only have felt more peace if she were sitting at the creek which ran through the forest near her home village.
The sounds of terror told her something was amiss. In the distance, she could hear sobbing and crying. Screaming. Begging. It came so soon. She prayed she would have more time to spend with her family. She prayed she would not be taken from them.
Slowly she moved the sleeping child from her lap, laying him gently in the grass amongst the beautiful flowers which grew around them. She crept toward the front of her family’s property cautiously, wondering if she would see the Drakken. Adorabella knew them only by their name and the terrible visage described to her by the townsfolk. Even her parents told her the horror stories. They had all seemed as just that, stories to her.
Alas, it was the Drakken. She could see the cart moving down the cobbled road toward the estates. Their features were harsh and they seemed so much larger than had ever been described to her. She fled, scooping Drasyl into her arms and rushing toward the house as quickly as she could. “Mmm… What…?” he mumbled, sleepily opening his eyes as he clung to his sister.
“Sssssh,” she murmured back. “We’re going inside.” Once behind the safety of her family’s walls she gave the boy to one of the servants. Her mother came down the stairs, finely dressed as always.
“It’s happening,” her mother said in a panic.
“I know.” Adorabella fell into her mother’s embrace. Olynna appeared from a side door, tears streaming down her face. She also hugged Adorabella tightly.
The door burst open and there stood a Drakken man. His face was grim and stoic. “Come,” he said simply. The deepness of his voice reverberated through her chest and made her heart skip in terror. Adorabella began to feel the tears rush down her own face. She felt she had only just gotten here. She didn’t have enough time! This simply wasn’t fair.
“Please,” she begged him. “Please, let me stay.”
“No, go pack yourself a small trunk of belongings. You have five minutes.”
She sighed tearfully and hurried up the stairs. Olynna rushed after her to help her pack. Her mother had crumpled onto the ground and stayed still. The two women rushed about, picking fine dresses, jewelry, and toiletries. In the trunk she also placed the picture book. It was Drasyl’s favorite and she wanted it to always have to remember him by.
The two women carried down the trunk. Her mother was being worried over by servants but she did not awake. A bit of anger crept into the pit of her stomach. The woman who had given her away at birth to protect her from this could not even find the strength to give her a proper goodbye. Adorabella felt two tiny arms around her legs. “Don’t go,” Drasyl managed to get out through heavy sobs. The anger she felt dissolved into a deep hopelessness. Drasyl, the dearest love of her life. She would not see him again.
“I have to. I do not have a choice.” In an effort to comfort him she found she could speak through her tears. She set the trunk down and knelt to envelop Drasyl in her arms. She hugged him tightly. “Know I love you very much and I hope that one day we will meet again.” She kissed his forehead. When she stood she scooped up her brother and turned to Olynna and said, “Take care of him please.” She handed Drasyl over though he tried desperately to cling to his sister.
“We haven’t got all day. Get going,” the Drakken growled. She heaved up her trunk, and without turning back followed the Drakken out of the house.
The shock of her situation dried her tears. She had no room left to feel an emotion and stared blankly out at her Gem sisters being forced away from their families. So many different expressions of grief sat around her. She couldn’t look at them. Normally she would have wanted to offer comfort but she could not think.
After a day of travel, she began to come out of her stupor. She spent the rest of the ride studying the landscape and searching the horizon for animals. What could she hunt? What plants did she recognize? Could she live off of this land? As they drew closer and closer to the castle she began to feel more despair. The place was so barren. There was no chance for her to survive here. She would have to rely on the monsters who had taken her. Bitterly, she thought of her naivete in thinking they were naught but fairytales. How could she have been so stupid? She felt anger at herself. Then anger at the Drakken. Then she resigned to her fate. This was to be her life now. She had always known this could happen. She closed her eyes and prayed.
When she opened her eyes again they had made it to the palace. It was daunting, macabre, and beautiful in a way. The mountains towered around it all snowcapped and steadfast. They even made the castle feel small. That was until they approached the soaring spires and massive wall. Could she bring herself to enjoy her life here? She supposed all it would take was a positive attitude. She had to find things she liked. Try new things. This world could be just as much of a home…. Couldn’t it?
In a tired blur, she listened to the speech. She allowed herself to be ushered into her room. She went over the directions she had been given over and over until even the words existed behind her eyelids. She just had to find some normalcy. Adorabella began to explore the room. It was very simple. There were a bed and an old vanity with a faded mirror in which it was hard to see her reflection. The single slit of a window showed the town, the wall ramparts, and the staring mountains. Behind a partition, she found a small basin with cold water.
Normalcy. She began to undress and using her skill with water allowed it to flow over her body. It danced away the dirt from her long travel and cooled her body. She normally hated the cold but it was fitting. It was a sensation. It was something she recognized.
She washed her hair, removing days’ worth of dirt. The water she deposited back into the bowl was nearly black. With her fingers began to brush the water out of her hair, drying it. Finally, she turned toward the bed where she pulled back the covers and buried herself in the warmth. She did not turn out the lights. She was much too tired. Too afraid.
Force of habit caused her to awaken before the sun. She brushed her fingers through her amethyst curls, arranging them neatly in the mirror as well as she could. The clothing left on her bed was as dull and lifeless as the landscape. She loathed the blandness of them. From her clothes from the day before she retrieved a bright coloured sash. It was dyed with floral patterns and from tassels at its ends hung small beads of sapphire and silver bells. She wrapped It around her waist to fit her curvaceous form. The outfit now gave her shape and some colour.
Adorabella stood by the window and watched for the sun to rise. Over the mountains, a burst of colour came. Sunrise here was the same as sunrise at home. Each delicate colour blended into each other. It brought life to the rocks. Her heart fluttered with hope. Here, she could love the sunrise just as much. She prayed and promised to greet its splendour every morning.
She was dashed from her reverie when the door burst open with a Drakken man barking orders at her. She would not allow his words to frighten her. Obediently she followed other Gems as they made their way to the breakfast hall. She recognized some food and so many she did not. Taking a spot as near to the warmth of a fire as she could, she began to place some of the delicious fruits and odd delicacies on her plate. If she were to grow accustomed to life here she would have to begin somewhere small. She had the sunrise. Perhaps she could find delicious new foods she could enjoy.
Slowly she made her way through the small portions on her plate. Adorabella did not waste food so she did not take more than she was willing to try of the new things. That which she liked she took a little more and that which she did not she forced down her throat before memorizing what the dish looked like.
Adorabella is relaxing with her little brother before being reaped. She tearfully says goodbye to her family but feels anger at her mother having fainted. She begins the process of understanding what happens to her. Inher room she bathes and when she awakens she begins her new life with hope and optimisim. She also eats some weird food.
Race:e Geminite Age: 20 Element(s): Water Height: 4'10"
Bio: When Adorabella was born a girl the noble Honara family they did not wish for her to be taken away by the Drakken. Her parents wished to protect her from the possibility of this and gave her to the midwife to hide away from the eyes of the world. The midwife, named Olynna, was an old friend of her mothers and ran away with her in the night. They travelled until she found a small town. They settled in the forest where Olynna raised her as her own daughter and kept her away from the people.
As she grew she learned the tricks and traits of being a medicine woman and midwife. She learned herbal remedies and the abilities of stone. She learned to birth children and to mend broken bones. She learned trapping and hunting. Olynna was also religious and taught Adorabella the ways of the gods. As she got older she got more curious about the people who came to Olynna's cottage in the woods asking for help. Olynna would make her hide so that she would not be seen.
When she was sixteen she decided she was going to go into town and told Olynna as much. After a long fight Olynna finally gave in to her. The two women went to purchase goods there and Adorabella began making friends. She became well known among the town for her optimistic view on life and her gentle speech. She was a calm and lovely girl. She even dated a few times but the relationships were brief.
Despite Olynna's best intentions, Adorabella was recognized as a member of the Honara family. The tell-tale hair opalescent color, eyes, and skin like a tiger's eye stone made her stand out. He was after all a part of the family. It was her Uncle Sunclad that found her, being a merchant he had initially been searching for new goods and sources for trade. He stopped her in town and questioned her. Adorabella had no idea what he was talking about. Sunclad offered to take her back home and to re-unite her with her parents and brother. She refused, believing this man insane. Adorabella confronted Olynna later and after a few attempts to change the subject Olynna finally told her the story.
When her Uncle returned to the city they told the Honara family that there was a girl located in a far-off town that looked just like them. This cause them to travel to find their daughter and bring her home. They were, of course, disappointed that she had been recognized but so happy to see her. She and Olynna stayed with the Honara family, traveling back to her original hometown. Adorabella learned from her mother she had two other sisters who had been given away in the same style that she had been. Of them all, she was the eldest.
Her family began to teach her the ways of nobility and to make her a proper lady. She is not sure about this life of nobility and often finds herself failing in the social graces she should have been taught. The clothing and lifestyle are so very different. Adorabella got along very well with her younger brother, being two peas in a pod. Once they met it was almost impossible for them to be seen apart. His name was Drasyl and he was three years old. Though she was glad to be getting to know her family, she longed for the days in which she could run wild through the trees and taste freshly picked fruit.
When it came time to give the women to the Drakken, Adorabella was chosen. She is not so bothered by this, though her family were devastated. She knows next to nothing about the Drakken. True, she had heard so many stories about them but to her they sounded like fairy tales. She had never met another member of that race and found it hard to believe they should be so gruesome. Her go with the flow personality also allowed her to calmly accept her position. What saddens her about her predicament is that she will never see her brother or Olynna again.
Other: n/a for now Adult Content Preference: PMs I guess...?
Bio: When Hestia was born it was a sad day. The sun was shining and birds chirping. Harvest had been fantastic and the people rejoiced in their plenty. However, Hestia was born with pale skin that was completely covered in freckles which glittered gold in the sunlight. Her hair was mouse brown and her eyes would soon become the colour of jade. The issue with this was that she looked nothing like her mother's husband. In fact, she looked exactly like the merchant from the town over who came to sell earthen pots now and again.
Oldrin, her mother's husband, was enraged. This bastard child was not his and he refused to care for her. Hestia's mother died shortly after birthing her due to complications and bleeding out. Rather than abandon the child, Oldin decided to keep her. The more she grew the more he worked her. She was his servant - laundry, mending socks, cooking, and cleaning were all apart of her childhood. If he was to keep his wife's mistake she may as well be useful.
He also became a heavy drinker and when he drank he became mean. He would beat her and his usually harsh words pierced like knives. When she was eight she began to discover that she had an affinity with the earth. In addition to all of her other chores, he had her control the stone his mill used to grind the grain for the local farmers. She was more adept and quick than the traditional mule. She spent her life in shadow, small despite her abnormally tall height and broken. Hestia was shy, hesitant, and fearful of the world. Kids tended to call her "Flour Mouse" or "Curdled Milk" for her dirty and strange appearance.
When the Drakken came for the Gems, Oldin practically pushed her onto them and asked she be taken. He did not want to have her under his feet any longer. She had to wonder if living with the Drakken would be more kind than the monster who would have been her father. Other: n/a Adult Content Preference: pms... I suppose. If the need is felt.
{Tempest the Traveler}
Race: Gem Age: 24 Element(s): Air Height: 5'3"
Bio: Tempe was born to a travelling group of rogues and performers. They moved from town to town with the weather patterns. Where it was warm they followed to make their coin. She had never known a home beyond a wagon. She had never worn shoes and never had rules. She could stay up as late as she wished and spoke with adults as an equal. She learned to dance and sing and play a multitude of musical instruments from a young age. Her life was the same and yet always different. There were new people to meet and friends to make. With her family, she travelled wherever it was the wind took them. Sometimes she would go hungry. Sometimes she had enough to eat she could barely move. Sometimes she got to wear beautiful jewellery and sometimes it had to be sold in order to obtain necessities. But one thing that was always constant was her parents, her siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and runaways.
Tempe could ride horseback and be very adept at speaking. She could haggle a merchant down like an old crone. Sometimes she could come across as sharp and blunt. She had never been one to bite back her words. This got her into fights occasionally. She would often get beat if she couldn't run away in time. Tempe was quick on her feet. The only thing she could ever cook well was stew. Everything else tended to burn.
While they were visiting a large city, the Drakken came to collect their prize. Unfortunately, Tempe couldn't run fast enough and got caught along with the village girls. Other: n/a Adult Content Preference: *giggles and blushes* oh gawsh, I ain't never learned none of that... I'm a proper lady you see.
Race:e Geminite Age: 20 Element(s): Water Height: 4'10"
Bio: When Adorabella was born a girl the noble Honara family they did not wish for her to be taken away by the Drakken. Her parents wished to protect her from the possibility of this and gave her to the midwife to hide away from the eyes of the world. The midwife, named Olynna, was an old friend of her mothers and ran away with her in the night. They travelled until she found a small town. They settled in the forest where Olynna raised her as her own daughter and kept her away from the people.
As she grew she learned the tricks and traits of being a medicine woman and midwife. She learned herbal remedies and the abilities of stone. She learned to birth children and to mend broken bones. She learned trapping and hunting. Olynna was also religious and taught Adorabella the ways of the gods. As she got older she got more curious about the people who came to Olynna's cottage in the woods asking for help. Olynna would make her hide so that she would not be seen.
When she was sixteen she decided she was going to go into town and told Olynna as much. After a long fight Olynna finally gave in to her. The two women went to purchase goods there and Adorabella began making friends. She became well known among the town for her optimistic view on life and her gentle speech. She was a calm and lovely girl. She even dated a few times but the relationships were brief.
Despite Olynna's best intentions, Adorabella was recognized as a member of the Honara family. The tell-tale hair opalescent color, eyes, and skin like a tiger's eye stone made her stand out. He was after all a part of the family. It was her Uncle Sunclad that found her, being a merchant he had initially been searching for new goods and sources for trade. He stopped her in town and questioned her. Adorabella had no idea what he was talking about. Sunclad offered to take her back home and to re-unite her with her parents and brother. She refused, believing this man insane. Adorabella confronted Olynna later and after a few attempts to change the subject Olynna finally told her the story.
When her Uncle returned to the city they told the Honara family that there was a girl located in a far-off town that looked just like them. This cause them to travel to find their daughter and bring her home. They were, of course, disappointed that she had been recognized but so happy to see her. She and Olynna stayed with the Honara family, traveling back to her original hometown. Adorabella learned from her mother she had two other sisters who had been given away in the same style that she had been. Of them all, she was the eldest.
Her family began to teach her the ways of nobility and to make her a proper lady. She is not sure about this life of nobility and often finds herself failing in the social graces she should have been taught. The clothing and lifestyle are so very different. Adorabella got along very well with her younger brother, being two peas in a pod. Once they met it was almost impossible for them to be seen apart. His name was Drasyl and he was three years old. Though she was glad to be getting to know her family, she longed for the days in which she could run wild through the trees and taste freshly picked fruit.
When it came time to give the women to the Drakken, Adorabella was chosen. She is not so bothered by this, though her family were devastated. She knows next to nothing about the Drakken. True, she had heard so many stories about them but to her they sounded like fairy tales. She had never met another member of that race and found it hard to believe they should be so gruesome. Her go with the flow personality also allowed her to calmly accept her position. What saddens her about her predicament is that she will never see her brother or Olynna again.
Other: n/a for now Adult Content Preference: None. I enjoy myself a well-timed blackout.
Race: Geminite Age: 23 Element(s): Water Height: 4'10"
Bio: When Adorabella was born a girl the noble Honara family they did not wish for her to be taken away by the Drakken. They had never been okay with the giving away of their noble women as brides. Her parents wished to protect her from the possibility of this and gave her to the midwife to hide away from the eyes of the world. The midwife, named Olynna, ran away with her in the night and travelled until she found a small town. They settled in the forest where Olynna raised her as her own daughter and kept her away from the people.
As she grew she learned the tricks and traits of being a medicine woman and midwife. She learned herbal remedies and the abilities of stone. She learned to birth children and to mend broken bones. She learned trapping and hunting. Olynna was also religious and taught Adorabella the ways of the gods. As she got older she got more curious about the people who came to Olynna's cottage in the woods asking for help. Olynna would make her hide so that she would not be seen.
When she was twenty she decided she was going to go into town and told Olynna as much. After a long fight Olynna finally gave in to her. The two women went to purchase goods there and Adorabella began making friends. She became well known among the town for her optimistic view on life and her gentle speech. She was a calm and lovely girl. She even dated a few times but the relationships were brief.
Despite Olynna's best intentions when it came time to give the women to the Drakken, Adorabella was chosen. It was soon after she learned of her true heritage and with Olynna went to visit her parents. They were, of course, disappointed that she had been chosen but so happy to see her. She and Olynna stayed with the Honara family. Adorabella learned she had a couple of other sisters who had been given away in the same style that she had been.
Her family began to teach her the ways of nobility and to make her a proper lady. She is not sure about this life of nobility and often finds herself failing in the social graces she should have been taught. The clothing and lifestyle are so very different. She longs for the days in which she could run wild through the trees and taste freshly picked fruit. Other: n/a for now Adult Content Preference: None. I enjoy myself a well-timed blackout.
@Ellion if it makes it easier to post, you can always post it in forum, I don't mind. :) I just want to start editing. I have plenty of ideas for additions but don't want to go down that path without an idea of what the great mods desire.
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