Post by Grace de Beaumont on Nov 12, 2009 5:48:44 GMT
Name: Grace de Beaumont
Age: 18
Sex: female
Class: Nobility (sorta...see history below)
Appearance:
Grace is of normal womanly appearance. Height 5'4", weight average, her bone structure and skin denote high blood and good nutrition. Hair blonde, eyes grey, her movement is normally graceful for Grace was raised a lady, but months on the road and hard traveling in disguise have her movements now quieter, subtle, and non-assuming. Grace wears commoner's clothing now, homespun plain garments, and will usually have a cloaked hood or scarf drawn over her head no matter what the weather.
Character:
Grace was once a happy young woman with a lively imagination, delighting in music, nature, her family and community. Known for her conversation skills, she was comfortable with many dignataries of her father's court, be they knight, cleric, marketeer or commoner. Now she is serious and reserved (see story below); when she speaks with strangers, her voice is slow, purposefully slurred with a low-born accent. She slumps when in public, head often turned down or away. Grace goes to great lengths to keep her high-born identity and mannerisms a secret.
Grace will be traveling in disquise for the forseeable future. Only her traveling companion, Richard Cabal, knows her true identity and birth. For now, she answers to just 'Lass'.
OOC NOTE: Admins, if you think it best she should be classified as 'peasant' instead, I'm super-fine with this!
[character face -- Sophia Myles]
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths
Weaknesses
Magic:
Unknown. There was some magic in her family past, but if she has talent, it has not manifested.
Weaponry Skills:
None.
Character History:
Grace de Beaumont was born the third child and only daughter of Gilbert de Beaumont (Ealdormen of Hwicce, Justiciar of Mercia) and Isabel de Clare, a noblewoman of the Franks. Hwicce was a moderately-sized sub-kingdom on the northeastern border of Mercia. Gilbert was known far and wide as a fair leader of the shires under his command, and just man as well, acting as a magistrate for community and commerce disagreements thought too low for King Bayard's attention. Gilbert and Isabel's sons, Coenred, the heir, and his younger brother, Edwin, were ten and eight years older respectively than Grace. Just as the sons were involved in all manner of arms training and governing as was their due as male heirs, mother Isobel tutored Grace in the intricacies of court life, singing, embroidery and dance. Arrangements had just begun to find Grace a suitable match with a neighboring nobleman.
When Grace was just turned seventeen, the small castle at Hwicce was besieged one night by stealth, a large band of unmarked fighters and assassins infiltrating its defenses, setting fire to the structure, methodically killing the inhabitants. In the midst of the confusing battle, Gilbert bade his senior man-at-arms, Richard Cabal, to take Grace into the hills for protection. Isabel had already been killed. Though it tested the will of the older man to leave his liege, Richard did commanded. Horror-stricken, Grace watched from a distance as her world burned, and vowed to find out who ordered such an attack.
Grace has been traveling every since (nearly a year), searching for clues to those who had ordered the obliteration of her family. Still accompanied by the faithful, protective presence of Richard, she no longer laughs, but dresses herself in simple peasant's clothes, quietly taking the part of Richard's servant and slave. They move from village to village, surviving on a small dwindling coffer of family gold and the profits from mercenary work Richard can pick up.
Clues along the way turned away from King Bayard's court, and to that of Camelot, though Grace knows precious little else. Determined to find solid proof against the perpetrators, whomever they are, she hopes for reinstatement of her family name and birthright.
Additional Information:
The handler of Richard Cabal is someone I've been RPing with for years; they have my full permission to power-play my character at any time.
Sample Roleplay:
Lady Grace de Beaumont had always been a sound sleeper, ever since childhood when the loud antics of her brothers echoed off the castle walls with the roar of pretend-dragons and the whack! of practice swords. A baby sister learned to adapt if she was to ever get any rest.
The baby sister, now seventeen, was rocked from one of those sound sleeps when Berta, wife of her father's steward, rushed into Grace's bedchamber, screeching like a banshee. "My lady! Lady Grace! We are attacked! Make haste and away... we are attacked!" The portly woman stood in the center of the room, crying and wringing her hands.
Grace pushed her way to sitting, hastily wiping the miasma of sleep from her eyes. "Wha'... Berta, calm down. What is happening?" Then the girl heard it.... the distinctive ring of sword-on-sword, the shouts, the screams. A glow of yellow from the window, and Grace was a blur as she flew to the sill, her white chemise swirling around her. Below, their outbuildings and part of the village was on fire. Pupils contracting in horror, Grace froze.
"Tis murder! And in our beds! Hurry child.... your father orders you to the back entrance...." The older woman's chest heaved with emotion as she ripped out traveling clothes for the young lady. "Dress quickly.... no, not the slippers. Your riding boots... good and sturdy...."
Minutes later, Grace rushed down the back stairs, nearly carried by several of her father's men in their haste. Battle had already been this way -- bodies lay on the floor and Grace stifled a small shriek as she beheld her father, his hair array, face pale, a bloody sword in his fist. He grabbed her with a free hand. "Grace.... listen carefully. Richard will take you through the woods into the hills. Go as silently and as swiftly as you can. There is no time...."
"Father, what are you.... where's mother? Coenred and Edwin?" The older mans's eyes steeled even as they swam, his lips pressed together. Heart slamming in her chest, Grace pushed fingers over her mouth in horror.
"You must leave now," Gilbert, Ealdormen of Hwicce gripped the arm of his only remaining child. His heart was in his eyes. "For my sake, Grace, for our family name.... you must be safe! Promise me, child.... promise me you will live!"
Without waiting for an answer, Gilbert gestured behind, and Grace felt a strong arm turn her away. "NO!" she screamed, trying to wrest free. "No.... Father! FATHER!" Strength overpowered emotion and Grace cried as she was pulled out into the night. The air was smokey, embers floating through the air, and Grace's eyes traveled upward; the roof was on fire. Shouting and dark figures rounded the corners, swords and torches in their hands. Hands like steel gripped her shoulders, shaking her to awareness. "Lady!" hissed Richard, pulling her into the darkness. "We must run.... now!"
[Optional] OOC Section:-----------------
Name: Meg
Location: USA
How long have you been RPing for: online rping for 3 years; table/dice playing for....many years.
Any other characters on the site?: no
Age: 18
Sex: female
Class: Nobility (sorta...see history below)
Appearance:
Grace is of normal womanly appearance. Height 5'4", weight average, her bone structure and skin denote high blood and good nutrition. Hair blonde, eyes grey, her movement is normally graceful for Grace was raised a lady, but months on the road and hard traveling in disguise have her movements now quieter, subtle, and non-assuming. Grace wears commoner's clothing now, homespun plain garments, and will usually have a cloaked hood or scarf drawn over her head no matter what the weather.
Character:
Grace was once a happy young woman with a lively imagination, delighting in music, nature, her family and community. Known for her conversation skills, she was comfortable with many dignataries of her father's court, be they knight, cleric, marketeer or commoner. Now she is serious and reserved (see story below); when she speaks with strangers, her voice is slow, purposefully slurred with a low-born accent. She slumps when in public, head often turned down or away. Grace goes to great lengths to keep her high-born identity and mannerisms a secret.
Grace will be traveling in disquise for the forseeable future. Only her traveling companion, Richard Cabal, knows her true identity and birth. For now, she answers to just 'Lass'.
OOC NOTE: Admins, if you think it best she should be classified as 'peasant' instead, I'm super-fine with this!
[character face -- Sophia Myles]
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths
- intelligent with a passion for learning
- determined to solve the mystery and see justice done
- resourcefulness to do what is necessary to achieve this goal
Weaknesses
- naive to the ways of the world
- willfull/stubborn
- weak; a non-fighter
- given to sadness due to her situation
Magic:
Unknown. There was some magic in her family past, but if she has talent, it has not manifested.
Weaponry Skills:
None.
Character History:
Grace de Beaumont was born the third child and only daughter of Gilbert de Beaumont (Ealdormen of Hwicce, Justiciar of Mercia) and Isabel de Clare, a noblewoman of the Franks. Hwicce was a moderately-sized sub-kingdom on the northeastern border of Mercia. Gilbert was known far and wide as a fair leader of the shires under his command, and just man as well, acting as a magistrate for community and commerce disagreements thought too low for King Bayard's attention. Gilbert and Isabel's sons, Coenred, the heir, and his younger brother, Edwin, were ten and eight years older respectively than Grace. Just as the sons were involved in all manner of arms training and governing as was their due as male heirs, mother Isobel tutored Grace in the intricacies of court life, singing, embroidery and dance. Arrangements had just begun to find Grace a suitable match with a neighboring nobleman.
When Grace was just turned seventeen, the small castle at Hwicce was besieged one night by stealth, a large band of unmarked fighters and assassins infiltrating its defenses, setting fire to the structure, methodically killing the inhabitants. In the midst of the confusing battle, Gilbert bade his senior man-at-arms, Richard Cabal, to take Grace into the hills for protection. Isabel had already been killed. Though it tested the will of the older man to leave his liege, Richard did commanded. Horror-stricken, Grace watched from a distance as her world burned, and vowed to find out who ordered such an attack.
Grace has been traveling every since (nearly a year), searching for clues to those who had ordered the obliteration of her family. Still accompanied by the faithful, protective presence of Richard, she no longer laughs, but dresses herself in simple peasant's clothes, quietly taking the part of Richard's servant and slave. They move from village to village, surviving on a small dwindling coffer of family gold and the profits from mercenary work Richard can pick up.
Clues along the way turned away from King Bayard's court, and to that of Camelot, though Grace knows precious little else. Determined to find solid proof against the perpetrators, whomever they are, she hopes for reinstatement of her family name and birthright.
Additional Information:
The handler of Richard Cabal is someone I've been RPing with for years; they have my full permission to power-play my character at any time.
Sample Roleplay:
Lady Grace de Beaumont had always been a sound sleeper, ever since childhood when the loud antics of her brothers echoed off the castle walls with the roar of pretend-dragons and the whack! of practice swords. A baby sister learned to adapt if she was to ever get any rest.
The baby sister, now seventeen, was rocked from one of those sound sleeps when Berta, wife of her father's steward, rushed into Grace's bedchamber, screeching like a banshee. "My lady! Lady Grace! We are attacked! Make haste and away... we are attacked!" The portly woman stood in the center of the room, crying and wringing her hands.
Grace pushed her way to sitting, hastily wiping the miasma of sleep from her eyes. "Wha'... Berta, calm down. What is happening?" Then the girl heard it.... the distinctive ring of sword-on-sword, the shouts, the screams. A glow of yellow from the window, and Grace was a blur as she flew to the sill, her white chemise swirling around her. Below, their outbuildings and part of the village was on fire. Pupils contracting in horror, Grace froze.
"Tis murder! And in our beds! Hurry child.... your father orders you to the back entrance...." The older woman's chest heaved with emotion as she ripped out traveling clothes for the young lady. "Dress quickly.... no, not the slippers. Your riding boots... good and sturdy...."
Minutes later, Grace rushed down the back stairs, nearly carried by several of her father's men in their haste. Battle had already been this way -- bodies lay on the floor and Grace stifled a small shriek as she beheld her father, his hair array, face pale, a bloody sword in his fist. He grabbed her with a free hand. "Grace.... listen carefully. Richard will take you through the woods into the hills. Go as silently and as swiftly as you can. There is no time...."
"Father, what are you.... where's mother? Coenred and Edwin?" The older mans's eyes steeled even as they swam, his lips pressed together. Heart slamming in her chest, Grace pushed fingers over her mouth in horror.
"You must leave now," Gilbert, Ealdormen of Hwicce gripped the arm of his only remaining child. His heart was in his eyes. "For my sake, Grace, for our family name.... you must be safe! Promise me, child.... promise me you will live!"
Without waiting for an answer, Gilbert gestured behind, and Grace felt a strong arm turn her away. "NO!" she screamed, trying to wrest free. "No.... Father! FATHER!" Strength overpowered emotion and Grace cried as she was pulled out into the night. The air was smokey, embers floating through the air, and Grace's eyes traveled upward; the roof was on fire. Shouting and dark figures rounded the corners, swords and torches in their hands. Hands like steel gripped her shoulders, shaking her to awareness. "Lady!" hissed Richard, pulling her into the darkness. "We must run.... now!"
[Optional] OOC Section:-----------------
Name: Meg
Location: USA
How long have you been RPing for: online rping for 3 years; table/dice playing for....many years.
Any other characters on the site?: no
