Arenglae (prime)
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- Arenglae was what the gods had in mind when they created porcelain. Songbirds fall silent when she speaks. Her thoughts turn to winter as flowers turn toward the sun. Mirrors beg forgiveness when reflecting her image, for they know they are insufficient to the task. - as described by Alosaka
- Arenglae is the constant drip of icicles from an overhang, a small innocuous sound that serves as a warning of eventual calamity. A silver-swept winter's landscape, a mix of yearning and apprehension as it welcomes new tracks in the snow. The distant light of a fire-lit room, where you can see the heat but you can't feel it. - as described by Uniana
Lady Arenglae Amalathia Illistim is an academic of Ta'Illistim.
Arenglae was born the only child of Aduialdis Amalathia and Donnion En'i'sul. Her father was a humble peacock breeder with no true accomplishments to his name, while she knows little about her mother, who died in childbirth.
Raised in isolation by her father, Arenglae's main focus throughout her childhood was her studies, with little effort made to encourage leisurely activities to ensure no distractions, save for reading. She was not allowed friends, and any companions she may have had were more more in the form of protective guards to ensure she maintained her focus to accomplish the goals set before her. While expected to excel in the elemental arts, specifically fire, it was noted that she had an affinity for water and ice, with her temperment often mirroring that of her favored specialty. Due to the belief that her concentration on water was less potent compared to the other options, she was forced to learn how to wield a weapon from a young age, that she may prove more useful in the future.
At the behest of her father, she traveled to Solhaven with the delegation from Ta'Illistim, both in search of Lady Rohese, who had gone there before to aid after Talador's destruction, as well as to build peaceful relations. She will admit that she was present, but will often downplay her role as she believes she did not properly contribute in a meaningful way. It was also during this time, she met her cousins, Amalexia and Aasterinian, who revealed her relation to them, and the circumstances of her mother's marriage to her father. As a result, she gained the strength to leave her father's influence, remove his name, and adopt her new identity with her family, the Amalathias.
With her participation in the events leading up to the Valley of Gold, she was awarded a blue-rimmed diamond which was added to her personal crest in recognition of her achievements in foreign relations.
The death of Aduialdis appears to have been natural causes to those who would not investigate further, however Arenglae has her own thoughts on the matter due to piecing together what little information was shared with her by the servants. Long before she was conceived (approximate dates and times still unknown), her mother fell ill with no known cause. Physicians were baffled and unable to aid, leaving her father distraught and desperate. It was at this point, Donnion was approached by a member of a Luukosian faction. A deal was offered and agreed upon, the trade-off being Arenglae herself. In a Rumplestiltskin-esque plot, the promise of life for Aduialdis was traded for Donnion's complicit aid in ensuring Arenglae was raised to be a pawn of the cult, with the expectation that she would eventually gain the throne as Argent Mirror to ensure the cult's influence grew widespread. The contract, however, was meant for a one-time salvation, and with the birth of Arenglae, considered complete. Due to unknown complications, Aduialdis passed shortly after. Donnion realized the truth behind the pact made too late, causing his own downward spiral into depression. As such, he left the general care of Arenglae to the servants, with specific instructions. He did not wish to be disturbed with the minutiae of her life, she was not to be coddled, she was not allowed leisurely pursuits save for reading. Her birthday remains a mystery, as it was never told to her, nor celebrated. Instead, she marks her age with the passing of a new year. The result of Arenglae's upbringing was her difficulty in navigating interpersonal relationships, often paranoid that any who may hold a genuine interest was another spy sent by her father to ensure she kept to her strict regimen. Travel was limited without a guard in place to not only ensure her safety, but keep others away entirely. She learned early on to remain quiet in most situations, as she believed her opinions would hold no sway, nor that they mattered. She often still struggles to speak up on things, relying on others to speak while she merely sits in silence until directly addressed. She has noted to some that she does not have a problem speaking in more private scenarios, but many do not ask her to. She also struggles with severe social anxiety which will see her finding more comfort being invisible in a crowd than being present for all to see. Recently, she has questioned what makes someone good versus bad, and whether a truly evil person can present themselves as virtuous to maintain the lie for all to see, asking "Where does the lie end, and the truth begin?" Of late, she has found herself becoming more open to having a circle of friends, as opposed to viewing those who wish to be close to her as distanced and calling themselves her friends. For many, she still remains guarded, afraid that if the truth of who she is were revealed to them, it would result in forced isolation once again. She projects an outward persona to those whose opinions she values highest, only dropping pretenses when she feels comfortable enough to not care anymore.
Appearance
You see Lady Arenglae Amalathia Illistim. She appears to be an Elf. She is average height and has a lithesome, nimble build. She appears to be of a tender age. She has subtly tilted argent-sheened celestial blue eyes and impeccably radiant lotus white skin. She has very long, silvered white hair that falls down her back in an austere style, save for two gathered locks pulled forward to drape over each shoulder. She has a gently sloped aquiline nose and elongated outwardly curved ears. A subtly strong chin offsets the smooth, soft features gently rounding out her face.
- Hunting Attire
A layer of water surrounds Arenglae and ripples with each movement. You see Lady Arenglae Amalathia Illistim. She appears to be an Elf. Resting elegantly on her head is a glacial blue mithglin crown, the metal surface suffused with snow white undertones. Set along the upper edge of the crown is a line of crystal spikes, the glassy surface of each one carved to appear like an icicle. She is average height and has a lithesome, nimble build. She appears to be of a tender age. She has subtly tilted argent-sheened celestial blue eyes and impeccably radiant lotus white skin. She has very long, silvered white hair teased and twisted into a high bun stabbed by a trio of miniature lacquered sephwir arrows capped by pewter crescent moons, with several stray strands casually framing her face. She has a gently sloped aquiline nose and elongated outwardly curved ears. A subtly strong chin offsets the smooth, soft features gently rounding out her face. Razor-thin shards of solid ice hang still in the air around her form, each piece glinting in the ambient light. She is wearing a vair-lined cloak of muted azure-on-grey brocatelle, a narrow basket of interwoven glowbark, an eburnean chamois underbust harness over some stark white chamois armor accented with foiled mithglin wisps with an adumbral white falding jupon underneath, some etched mithglin arm greaves, some courtly white silk gloves, a twisted blue vaalin signet ring bearing an elven crest, a front-split alabaster cire silk overskirt featuring snowflake embroidery along the hem with a thigh-length caliginous blue suede underskirt underneath, a cylindrical mithglin quiver containing a bundle of faewood arrows, and a pair of white cotton over-the-knee socks under some sapphire black moulded leather knee-high boots. Flickering near Arenglae is an arctic fox, its luminous figure composed of niveous energy. Ears perked forward and eyes agleam, it sniffs cautiously at the air.
Crest
Arenglae's crest is broken down into the below parts:
- Frame: aureate - denotes female
- Field: deep azure - denotes being of House Illistim
- Designator: a nine-tailed fox
- Signifier: an Elanthian snow rose twisted with a dog rose atop a closed silver tome
- Statement: none
- Flourish: intertwined grey and white
- Maternal flank: a cratered eahnor sphere eclipsing an argent moon
- Paternal flank: bare
- Flanking Flourish: grey and white wisps
- Jewel: blue-rimmed white diamond - denotes recognition for achievement in diplomacy by the Argent Mirror
Familiars & Other Animals
Kori (kō-ri): a sapphire-eyed silvered arctic fox
Arenglae considers Kori her closest companion. When traveling across the Dragonspine during a particularly cold winter, Arenglae managed to spot the kit huddled beside its deceased mother near several snow-covered bushes. Noting that its mother appeared to have been hunting for her fur only and the remains left, she took pity on the kit, and was allowed to keep her, much to her father's chagrin. Due to her otherwise isolated life, Arenglae doted on the fox heavily, treating it almost as a child, and causing it to gain a not-so-subtle level of spoiledness. Due to their magical bond, Kori has managed to survive over a century with Arenglae, and continues to travel by her side, all the while begging for food, regardless of hunger.
OOC: Kori's name means "ice" in Japanese.
Yuki: a sleek silver fox with oversized paws
Small in stature and delicately boned, the fox has keen eyes that are wide windows into her mischievous nature. Glistening slightly, her nose frequently twitches as she lifts her face to investigate and identify all scents, and when her mouth drops open, she displays the sharpened teeth that are a reminder that she is a predator. She has lustrous silver fur that appears well-groomed and incredibly soft.
Yuki joined Arenglae and Kori in the summer of 5120. The mischievous runt, free-spirited as she is, ran up to Kori one day to play, and continues to do so to this day. Though she is free to roam and embrace her more feral nature, the presence of Arenglae and Kori offer her security, and she is only a bugle call away.
OOC: Yuki's name means "snow" in Japanese.
Tosho (tō-shō): a silver-horned raven-sheened black unicorn
From muzzle to tail, the unicorn is an uncompromising shade of black with a blue-violet sheen resembling that found on a raven's wing. His eyes are onyx-hued, flecked with bits of silver so delicate they seem little more than curls of metallic leafing. His mane and tail are long and silky, and the tufts on his fetlocks bear the same lustrous coloring common to corvids. A subtle shimmer of silver glints in the natural keratinous formation of his hooves, and his horn is a matte-finished argent spiral.
Tosho is one of the unicorns that was released from the dream world after Caligos Isle met with calamity in late 5121, however Arenglae did not acquire him until Lumnea of 5122. Their bond was immediate, and it did not take long for the unicorn to share the dreams of others with her, often placing her into a gentle and peaceful slumber. Much like Kori, it is uncommon for her to be without him as she wanders about.
OOC: Tosho's name means "frostbite" in Japanese.
Vignettes
Treasured Possessions
- a twisted blue vaalin signet ring bearing an elven crest
The ring, exquisite in its simplicity, bears an Elven crest set upon a field of deep azure encircled by an aureate frame. Centered upon the crest is a nine-tailed fox crowned by a blue-rimmed white diamond. A flourish of intertwined grey and white surround the fox, beneath which rests an Elanthian snow rose twisted with a dog rose atop a closed silver tome flanked by a cratered eahnor sphere eclipsing an argent moon. The right flank remains bare, save for an additional flourish of grey and white wisps. The ring is made of vaalin and has a design of a sitting arctic fox with nine tails haloed behind it engraved into its face.
- a waterfall relief-carved glowbark codex dry-brushed a black sapphire hue
Carved into the cover of this codex is the image of a waterfall flowing from within a melting glacier, the image itself projected outwards from the glowbark in a high-relief fashion. A border of blue diamond flecks frames the scene, their pattern against the black sapphire hue of the wood reminiscent of a snowstorm illuminated by the moons. Alabaster kidskin binds the front cover to the back, and a hinged frosted steel clasp serves to secure it closed. Bound into the codex are some pages of snow white vellum.
In-Game Artwork
- Absonant
- Sketched in shades of grey and black, the drawing's bleak design is enhanced by the charcoal medium. A leafless mistwood tree serves as the focal point, though within its trunk two skeletal lovers are entwined, their arms blending with the tree's bare branches and their bodies disappearing into the rotted bark. Hashed lines along the bottom of the drawing depict dodder vine choking the life from the tree. Fingerprints and smudges at the top threaten a storm upon the unfortunate pair.
- Perspective
- The scene is framed within an cage-framed window surrounded by bricks shaded with cross-hatched markings. Beyond the window, two angled lines meet at a single point in the distance, indicating perspective from a tall tower. The landscape appears carefully cultivated, though it is clear mounds of snow and ice cover much of the open ground. Additional walls of ice-covered bricks surround what may be frozen gardens, extending in the distance to that single point.
- Woven Web
- Surrounding the page are tangled ropes creating a border-like effect while framing a figure centered within it. Though the figure's features have been shaded by smudged charcoal, it is clear its body had fallen victim to the web of ropes now binding it, its limbs now contorted into unnatural positions and its head twisted at an odd angle. Some ropes hang down from the top of the page, their fibers curled into sinuous patterns, reminiscent of snakes hanging from trees.
