Rohese (prime)
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Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree is an elven High Priestess of Lumnis from Ta'Illistim.
Rohese is currently Loremaster of Mist Harbor, Chatelaine of both House Sylvanfair and Elanthian Elegance, a non-official Board Member of The Looking Glass, and Editor-in-Chief of Elanthian Vogue. She is also a Master in the Order of Voln and a Grandmaster Alchemist in the Cleric Guild.
Appearance
You see Loremaster Rohese Bayvel Illistim.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is taller than average with a slender willowy form. She appears to be of a tender age. She has silver-lashed misty grey eyes and preternaturally pale skin. She has lustrous, cool silver hair streaming over her shoulders and down her back like a moonlit waterfall. She has slender ears peeking through her hair that taper to fine points. Her composed expression has a sense of scholarly authority despite her youthful, fey-like appearance. She has constellations of iridescent shimmer traced along her right cheekbone.
She has a cascade of tiny silver stars tattooed over her right eyebrow that fades into her hairline, and an inking of a faint star constellation on her neck.
She has occasional faint traces of text flowing beneath her visible skin.
She is wearing a moon-filled eonake pendant, a vaalin-shot moon grey silk robe trailing silver star-caught pendant sleeves, a wedding band of midnight-tinted glaes trailing across the left ring finger, an adularescent pale opal ring, some lattice-fronted white silk robes trailing sleeves of ombred grey chiffon, and some conjoined ring footflower sandals.
Rohese's appearance is influenced by the full Liabo moon.
Through a shimmering silvery grey haze, you see a Lunar Arcanist of Cysaegir with faintly luminous misty grey eyes. Fading in and out of sight, pale moonbeams fancifully float to and fro around her illuminated figure, which is covered in a wash of silvery white moonlight.
Constellation: Five tiny stars configured in the shape of a W have been discreetly tattooed on the side of her neck with faintly shimmering silver ink, the pattern barely visible against her pale skin. One star however appears slightly brighter than the rest and cleverly conceals a small crescent-shaped scar on her throat.
Background
Born in Ta'Illistim in the spring of 5012, Rohese is the second daughter to Lord Tymian and Lady Aenor Bayvel. Her formative years were spent studying with her sister, Poladra, and books continue to be constant companion and means of escape. She can usually be found in the library or her research conservatory in the Royal Arboretum.
The best things in life are those that are nearest: breath in your body, light in your eyes, love in your heart, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand and the path of right before you.
Friends and family are everything to Rohese. She is very proud of her culture and lineage and will often disappear for days to study. When she doesn't have her nose in a book, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Mirkk, or honing her skills as an alchemist and artist. Her outdoor pursuits extend to horse riding and falconry, with occasional forays into woodlands and forests as part of her research into the sentience of trees.
A recent discovery about her paternal grandmother's book (see treasured possessions) has seen her renew her relationship with her grandfather, Eairion Bayvel II, and cousins on both sides of her family, Lorestel Bayvel and Vincien Illithien.
Rohese's official residence is the Bayvel family home in Highpark, Ta'Illistim but she spends most of her time in her marital home, the Arboreal Refuge in Cysaegir.
Recent Influences
Rohese was awarded the title of Patron of the Displaced in 5116 for her work in helping exiled half-elves find comfort, shelter, food and protection in the Elven Nations. She continues to seek ways to help those in need whenever she can.
In 5117, she undertook several journeys around the Turamzzyrian Empire at the request of the Argent Mirror, with a view to extending further aid. Her experiences were documented in a journal entitled, A Difficult Journey.
Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.
Early in 5118, Rohese went missing on one of those diplomatic missions. The Argent Mirror held a Meeting on Day 9 Phoenatos, 5118 to discuss her disappearance and the continuance of the original delegation's goals. The efforts to find her and bring her home were documented in a second journal, entitled, A Healing Process.
The diplomatic work culminated in an historic event at the Valley of Gold in Lumnea 5119, where the Emperor and Mirror signed a treaty between their people that would declare mutual respect and friendship between the nations. Rohese was subsequently awarded an elven jewel for leadership (a white diamond rimmed in gold) in recognition of her service to House Illistim.
During the events known as The Nazhor Chronicles on the Isle of Four Winds, Rohese discovered an interest in witchcraft and bibliomancy. Her experiences were recorded in a third journal entitled, Eternal Knowledge. She has since been offered the position of Loremaster to the Mist Harbor Library and completed a fourth journal documenting her Search for the Truth behind her grandmother's book and ring.
"Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic"
More recently, Rohese and Mirkk joined the annual Bayvel Hunt in the fall of 5122 and, later in the same year, following the revocation of Chaston's Edict and establishment of the new Barony of Darkstone, they both found themselves increasingly drawn into imperial matters on both sides of the Dragonspine Mountains. Rohese documented her own personal struggle in a journal she entitled, Catharsis.
5123 culminated in a reunion with her estranged sister, Poladra, and a reckoning that ended tragically. Despite Rohese now being free of her sister's tyranny, however, the final warning Poladra had given her soon came true; Mirkk returned to Bourth and Rohese found herself alone. During that time, she continued to write in her journal.
Treasured Possessions
an avian-crested signet ring
Rohese's crest has been amended to reflect her status as a widow; the flourish of ink-black curlicues adopted from her paternal grandmother. It has also been honored with an elven jewel recognising her acts of leadership.
Engraved with a crest, the face of the signet ring has been depressed slightly, leaving a raised but unbroken gold circle encompassing a field of sky blue enamel and honored with a gold-rimmed flawless white diamond. Beneath the arch is a peacock, set over a white dove rising on the vale, both birds accented by a flourish of three ink-black curlicues. Flanking on both sides are a curling acantha leaf and a trio of silver stars. Small engraved elven letters cross through the center of the crest.
There appears to be something written on it.
In the Elven language, it reads: She conquers, who endures.
a pavonated leather-bound book
Rohese is never without her grandmother's special book (Codex Ista):
A quire of creamy vellum has been neatly bound in faded blue leather and embossed with a stargazer lily on the front. Thin bookmarks and slips of annotated parchment protrude from the top of the well-thumbed pages, marking passages of significant relevance to the reader. The title, “Deportment and Decorum,” can still be made out on the distressed spine in gold leaf along with the name of the author, “Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim.”
Whilst many copies have been made for public libraries and private collections, the book in her possession is essentially the original text as written by her grandmother. The book is a palimpsest; beneath the innocuous rhetoric on etiquette and protocol is a far more potent source of wisdom. Sahese Bayvel was in fact a powerful white witch who bequeathed her knowledge to Rohese in two layers. Initially, she passed on her insights into deportment and decorum through the basic text within the book but wished her granddaughter to also gain a wider understanding of the arcane power she was capable of.
a pavonated leather-bound book
raise 1st Person: Holding the book up to your face, you attempt to ignore the goings-on around you. Curiosity gets the better of you and you can't resist a quick peek. 3rd Person: Rohese holds her book up close to her face, pretending to ignore the goings-on around her. Occasionally, she sneaks a quick peek over the top. flip 1st Person: You thumb carefully through the pages of your book until you find the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with your finger as you read it, you ponder the content for a moment before giving a nod of approval. 3rd Person: Rohese thumbs carefully through the pages of her book until she finds the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with her finger as she reads it, she looks deep in thought for a moment before giving a nod of approval. push 1st Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on your head, you stand with practiced poise and take a few graceful steps forward. Feeling the book wobble slightly, you remove it before it has a chance to fall. 3rd Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on her head, Rohese stands with practiced poise and takes a few graceful steps forward. Just as the book begins to wobble, she removes it before it has a chance to fall. tap 1st Person: Pursing your lips in disapproval and drawing yourself up to full height, you tap the cover of your leather-bound book hoping to draw attention to its title. 3rd Person: Pursing her lips and drawing herself up to full height, Rohese's fingernails tap agitatedly on the cover of her leather-bound book. With a steely glint in her eye, she glances pointedly at the title and tightens her grip on the spine. tilt 1st Person: Gazing intently at your book, you contemplate the importance of etiquette and education... of fancy gowns and fairies. Lost in thought, you notice that you seem to be eating your hair again! 3rd Person: Rohese looks totally engrossed in her book as she absently nibbles on the end of a lock of hair. turn 1st Person: Lost for words, you frantically turn the pages of your book in search of an appropriate response. All you can manage is an indignant, "Foof!" 3rd Person: Rohese frantically turns the pages of her book in search of an appropriate response but all she can manage are barely audible squeaks and an indignant, "Foof!" wave 1st Person: In a fit of pique, you lift your book as if about to swipe at someone. Quickly realizing the error of your ways, you flush with embarrassment and lower your arm. 3rd Person: In a momentary fit of pique, Rohese lifts her book as if to take a swipe at someone. She quickly lowers her arm, however, with an abashed look on her face. touch 1st Person: Removing a thin stylus from the spine of your book, you make a small annotation in the page margin, then carefully replace it. 3rd Person: Poised and calm, Rohese removes a thin stylus from the spine of her book and makes a small annotation in the page margin, then replaces it. lace 1st Person: Lacing your fingers together, you cradle the book in your hands and murmur a short prayer of remembrance. Whispers of familiar spoken passages fill your ears and faint lines of text seem to run just under your skin, rising to the surface like bubbles on a pond, only to dissolve. 3rd Person: Lacing her fingers, Rohese cradles her book reverently in her hands and murmurs a few words under her breath. Faint lines of text appear to swirl beneath her pale skin for a moment, only to dissolve again just as quickly. kiss 1st Person: Bringing your book to your lips, you whisper the word "wisdom" into its pages. Faint letters rise to the surface of your exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away. 3rd Person: Rohese lifts her book to her lips and whispers something. Faint letters rise to the surface of her exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
an adularescent pale opal ring
With the discovery of her grandmother's ring, Rohese has since learned how to access the effaced writing of the Codex Ista.
Flanked by a vaalin crescent and a trio of tiny silver stars, a notably large oval-cut opal sits atop a band of white gold. Flaunting a milky white body, the remarkable stone is semi-opaque and shows a play of iridescent color with flashes of silver and blue across its glassy surface. The engraving on the inside of the band has worn away somewhat but is still legible. Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic.
a moon-filled eonake pendant
Long strands of silver and eonake have been twisted together in a double rope pattern to create a sturdy, but elegant, neckchain. Four unembellished rings situated side-by-side dangle from the centermost point of the metal strands. All four rings contain a small glowing sphere that appears to spin slowly. A bloodrune rests atop the four moons, secured by a luminescent, crimson-hued thread.
a glass peacock eye pendant
She also wears her mother's pendant which has a loresong related to her background:
Strung on tangled electrum threads, this large oval-shaped pendant is crafted from brilliant emerald green glass. A spherical dark-hued lapis lazuli stone flecked with gold has been fused in the center of the glass, creating the illusion of a peacock eye.
a glass peacock eye pendant
Gold motes stir within the pendant's eye as your song evokes memories of an elven childhood. Beneath a cloudless lapis blue sky, two young girls chase each other around a cottonwood tree laden with fluffy white catkins. A gentle breeze ruffles their silvery blonde hair and sends a flurry of seeds around them as they laugh and play. Their glee is interrupted only by the entrance of an elegant woman, her glass pendant glinting in the sunlight. She extends her arms and both children rush into her embrace. [Cappyn's eyes turn a dazzling lapis blue as she sings to her peacock eye pendant. A sudden warm breeze brings with it a flurry of fluffy white cottonwood seeds and the faint echo of children's laughter.] Your song falters as the gold motes flicker and fade like a dying candle flame. Images of harmonious family life flood your mind until one scene lingers. Decades have passed and the joyous sounds of laughter have been replaced by a somber mood. Clad in black, an elven cleric stares dolefully out of a library window, his fingers locked around a glass pendant. With a mournful sigh, he settles his gaze on his two teary eyed daughters and hands the pendant to the eldest before walking away without a word. [A solitary tear rolls down Cappyn's cheek as she struggles to sing to her peacock eye pendant. The coo of a nearby mourning dove adds a doleful counterpoint to her melody.] The pendant's eye darkens with your new refrain but pulsates with a ghostly blue radiance. With each waning pulse, a velvety shroud of darkness shifts to reveal a towering glowbark tree. A willowy young elf is kneeling before her black-robed sister, who clutches a glass pendant tightly in her clawed hand. The elf lifts her head as if to accompany the eerie ballad of the nearby sirenflowers, but all she can manage is a grief-stricken silence. The incandescence fades and with it the heart wrenching image [Cappyn's eyes cloud over with a ghostly blue haze as she continues to sing to her peacock eye pendant. For a brief moment, she is accompanied by the eerie whispering lilt of sirenflowers.] At first it seems your song may fail, but your phrasing subtly transforms into a dirge and lifts the shroud again to reveal a mausoleum. A black-robed elf with ashen hair stands over a linden casket. Her expression shows no emotion as she places a glass pendant onto the lid and leaves. Moments later, a willowy elf steps from the shadows to retrieve it. Tucking it carefully it into her white robes, she replaces it with a purple mournbloom. A distant peacock's scream startles you back to present day. [The peacock eye pendant in Cappyn's hand flashes with a sapphire blue radiance as her song subtly transforms into a dirge and ends abruptly with a distant peacock scream. An unexpected breeze brings with it the melancholy fragrance of mournblooms.]
Written Works
A collection of philosophical essays, books and publications written by members of the Bayvel family.
Deportment and Decorum: The Essential Etiquette Handbook by Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim
A Brief History of Horology by Eairion Bayvel Illistim II
Elanthian Viniculture by Tymian Bayvel Illistim
An abstract of "The Palurin Fea: A spiritual alchemist's perspective of the world's soul" by Rohese Bayvel
Effective Altruism: A discourse on our moral obligation to help others by Rohese Bayvel
The Unfinished Lullaby by Rohese Bayvel
The Isle of Graces by Rohese Bayvel
Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity by Rohese Bayvel
The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta by Rohese Bayvel
Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society by Rohese Bayvel
The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the Festival of Lumnea Symposium, 5120
Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the Ilyan Syndicate's Autumn on the Mountain Cultural Talk, 5122
The Five Sisters (short story) by Rohese Bayvel
The Sentience of Trees by Rohese Bayvel
Elanthian Vogue ~ articles written and edited by Rohese Bayvel
The Corpse Bird (poetry) by Rohese Bayvel