<center>
The Characters</center>
The Main Characters
Alessandra
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-ale.jpg" align="left">
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 135
Hair: Ash blonde, waist-length, usually done in pin curls.
Eyes: Pale blue-violet
Age: 20 at the start of the saga, 24 at the end.
Background: Main heroine of the story and one of the quintet it centers on. She is a young noble woman, second cousin to the heirs of House Mercat, the noble house that holds sway over the Duchy of Mercat, part of the Kingdom of Ailvess.
She is the daughter of Viscount Stefan Evanesca and his wife Viscountess Genevra Mercat Evanesca who reside in the southern part of Mercat in the city of Haldane on the shores of Mercat Bay. After her brother disinherits himself by running off to wed a scullery maid, she is sent for four years to train under the tutelage of a Contessa in the ways of the courtier. There she becomes close to Lady Juliana Kale, the daughter of Baron Kale of House Noihn.
During her time in the capital city she is visited by her brother Esteban, who reveals himself to be a member of an underground guild of thieves, assassins, and other malcontents, and the heart of an Ailvessan rebellion. He tells her of the treachery of members of their own House, Mercat, how they plan to stir war between Ailvess and the hostile land of Saalih Tariq across the sea, in an effort to overthrow House Iolaine and assume rulership of Ailvess. He begins to secretly train her as a court spy. At the age of 20 summers, Alessandra is assigned as the advisor to her second cousin, Arturo Mercat, the youngest son of Adamo Mercat, Archduke of Mercat.
Over the course of 4 books, she spies on her cousin and his father and uncovers diabolical plans to cause political upheaval and war. With the aid of Juliana, Lord Ian Noihn (son of the Duke of Noihn), her brother, the illegitimate son of the ArchDuke (Malcolm Bane), and eventually Prince Andres Iolaine, the plots and plans of Archduke Adamo Mercat and the sinister Grand Vizier of Saalih Tariq are brought to light and foiled. She rises from simple Lady of the Court, to Princess, eventually to Queen. Alessandra gives birth to her only child, Hadrian, 8 months after King Andres' death and rules as widowed Queen of Ailvess until Hadrian's 20th birthday, when he assumes the throne. At that time, she becomes Queen Mother and lives to the age of 84.
She is also a hidden Oracle and receives visions in the form of riddles foretelling future events. At birth, Oracles are taken from their families and trained in the use of their foretellings to be forcibly placed at the use of royalty and political groups. They are mated to other Oracles in the hopes of producing more of them. A full Oracle can cause a trance and focus their foretelling on a specific time or event. Alessandra is not a full Oracle, and instead she receives occasional visions in the form of riddles which appear in bodies of water when she looks into them (a cup of wine, a pool of water, etc.) She is struck by a migraine-level headache and sometimes nosebleeds in the wake of a vision. She keeps it a closely guarded secret, even occasionally feigning that her after effects are the result of a hangover.
After Alessandra ascends to the throne, she releases the Oracles to live their lives freely. The Queen's Oracle, Niomah Verde, remains in her service voluntarily the rest of Alessandra's life.
Appearance: Alessandra is a lady of the court ( Lady Alessandra), and when she is doing her everyday duties she would be garbed in courtly gowns. The best references for such gowns would be Italian Renaissance gowns. You may add a fantasy flare to them of course. The one in the main page graphic is a heavily modified IR dress. She would not wear anything overly revealing as she is a courtier (Courtier NOT Courtesan. Former = noble member of the court. Latter = high priced Harlot who entertains the nobility). She wears a pearl headpiece with an amethyst stone in it held in place by silver hairsticks, and a pearl necklace with a silver, amethyst, diamond, and pearl pendant, both of which are family treasures. She is not against wearing modest makeup but nothing garish or harloty.
When she is performing her functions as a spy, she tends to wear a grey cloak and either a peasantly dress or men's breeches, boots and a blouse in an effort to disguise who she is.
At one point during the story, she travels to a wintery mountain region as part of a diplomatic convoy, and for that she would be wearing cold weather garments with fur trim, and a dress split for riding a horse. She has a horse, a dapple grey Mercati mare (Think Arabian slimness meets Andalusian mane/tail).
During the story she weds the heir to the throne and becomes Princess (Her Royal Highness, Princess Alessandra). Her garb would be more elaborate and of pricer materials than at first. At this time her pearl headpiece would be replaced by a tiara-like crown of diamonds.
By the end of the story she is the Queen (Her Majesty, Majestrix Alessandra) and should be attired in appropriately elaborate gowns. The tiara is replaced by a golden crown studded with diamonds and other gems, with silver filigree scrollwork engraved on it.
Her hair is usually done up in pincurls with loose strands, held in place with pearl-topped hair pins and strands of pearls. On occasion it is worn down or in other elaborate Renaissance-period hair styles with various trinkets adorning it. When in disguise it is usually braided and wound in a bun to keep it from peeking out from beneath her cloak.
Reference Images: Character Stylesheet | Full Color CG Image (Old Piccie) | Image by Sonny (Overall Reference) | Image by moo moo chan (Costuming Reference) | Image by Neithan (Hair Reference) | Image by Aeon Goddess (Hair & Costuming Reference) | All Fan Art Images
Andres
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-andres.jpg" align="left">
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 200
Hair: Black, waist-length, straight.
Eyes: Grey
Age: 23 at the start of the saga, 27 at the time of his death.
Background: The youngest son of Queen Iolaine, Prince Andres was never meant to be heir. He was a scholarly young man, thin and wiry, but handsome in a quiet, brooding way (Very Bishouen in appearance). His love was ancient history, and the study of the Oracles. He becomes captivated by Alessandra's beauty at court, but is too fearful of rejection to ever admit to it. His mother, instead, arranges their betrothal after his brother, Laurent, tells her of his sibling's confessed ardor for the courtier. Over the course of the books he quietly courts and weds Alessandra, though for a long time she believes he cares nothing for her, due to his pensieve demeanor. She also at first suspects him of being involved in the corruption of the court.
In the third book they truly fall in love, after the death of the Queen and the couple's ascension to the throne. Alessandra's secret of being an Oracle is revealed to him, and he proves to be protective and compassionate about it. She wakes up to the fact he actually loves her, and realizes she loves him in turn. Some months later their only child, Hadrian, is conceived after Alessandra has a divination of Andres dying. She confesses the vision to him, and he believes her. They spend the rest of their time together, expressing their love so that the parting when he is murdered by Arturo Mercat at the end of the 4th book, is sad, but without regrets for their time together.
Appearance: Andres is a Prince. By the end of the first book he is heir to the throne (His Royal Highness, Prince Andres). When his mother is murdered he ascends the throne briefly as King (His Majesty, King Andres) He should be attired appropriate in Renaissance-era meets fantasy style men's garments. Tunics, doublets, and half capes should be part and parcel of his wardrobe and all should be fancily adorned. Blacks and purples are the colors of royalty.
During the story he escorts a diplomatic envoy to a wintery region during which time he would be wearing partial plate armor (chest, shoulders, forearms, thighs, and shins would have heavily ornate plate armor, with a surcoat beneath covering chain mail). He would also have a fur lined cloak. He has a horse, a black Ailvessan Warhorse (Think almost a Clydesdale in size and musculature with an Andalusian's mane/tail).
The arms of the Kingdom of Ailvess would be on his surcoat and shield. For those actual heraldy buffs out there, it is "Sable, on a bezant, a phoenix Sable, a dovetailed Tierce Or." In layman's terms, a shield shape is straight across the top, tapering to a point at the bottom. On a black background, on the left size is a gold bar about 1/3 the width of the shield which has a dovetailed cutout pattern facing to the right. In the middle of the right 2/3 of the shield is a gold circle which has a black heraldic phoenix on it. I'll provide an image soon.
Andres hair is long and straight, very bishie. As prince he wears a silver circlet. When he becomes heir to the throne it becomes a gold circlet with a diamond in the center. When he becomes king it becomes an elaborate gold crown set with diamonds and other gems, and with silver scrollwork engraved on it.
Reference Images: Character Style Sheet | Image by Meiharu (Excellent Reference) | Image by Sahira (Bishie Reference) | Image by dysfunctional kyou (Bishie Reference)
The Relationship
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-ana.jpg" align="left">
Alessandra and Andres begin their journey in these stories at odds with one another. Alessandra wrongfully suspects him of being as corrupt as her cousin, and being rude and aloof. Andres in truth finds her fascinating, but he is under a great deal of strain from his own suspicions about the loyalty of House Mercat and is by nature a quiet, pensieve man.
At the end of Book 1, Alessandra is engaged to Prince Andres Iolaine at the request of the Queen. Alessandra is not pleased at this, but accepts it as her duty to her family and a means to deeper investigate the corruption in the Kingdom. At the beginning of Book 3 she is wed to him, and over the course of the book, realizes that in spite of her own protests she has fallen in love with him. She unearths his gentle and good-natured inner self when her secret, that of being a hidden Oracle, is discovered by him. By the end of book 4, he is dead, something she has forseen in her visions, as is Queen Emeranthe. Alessandra, pregnant with last heir of Iolaine, Andres' son, ascends the throne.
Reference Images: Image by Meiharu (Excellent Reference) | Image by Artoki (In left side background - Small but awesome!) | Image by Aeralea (Good Emotional Reference)
The Rest of the Quintet
Besides Alessandra, there are 4 other "heroes" who instigate the foiling of the plans of Archduke Adamo and Grand Vizier Ravinde.
Esteban Evanesca
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-esteban.jpg" align="left">
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 210
Hair: Dark Auburn (naturally ash blond) with a grey streak at the left temple, short at back but long on top, wavy.
Eyes: Green
Age: 23 at the start of the saga, 29 at end of last book.
Background: Alessandra's disinherited brother and a member of a thieves guild that serves as an underground rebel movement in Ailvess. He trains his sister in subterfuge secretly while she is in the capital enduring courtier training. He brings her into the movement as an informant. Brilliant, handsome, dexterously skilled, he is a master information gatherer. At the end of the saga he will be leading the underground and will do so for 21 years longer til he retires. He is married to Daniella, his parents' former scullery maid.
At the saga's start they have a daughter, Serriah. By the end they will also have a son, Ian. He is part of a quintet of young heroes who try to stop evil plans to subvert the Ailvessan government.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from childhood to death. With Andres during the diplomatic envoy to the mountains or after Andres becomes aware of the underground organization and lends his aid.
Reference Images: Sketch
Lady Juliana Kale
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-juliana.jpg" align="left">
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 120
Hair: Dark Brown, shoulder length, full.
Eyes: Gold
Age: 19 at the start of the saga, 23 at end of last book.
Background: Juliana is Alessandra's best friend and the daughter of Baron Kale, a Court Baron of House Noihn. Her mother is a 2nd cousin to the Noihn Line. They trained together in High Ailvess as young girls. Juliana will eventually wed Ian Noihn and become the Duchess of Noihn. They will have 4 sons and one daughter, Liliana, who will wed Alessandra's son Hadrian and become queen. One of the quintet of heroes of the stories.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from her teen years to death. With Andres from teen years to his being brought in on the movement in a formal manner, after in a friendship manner.
Reference Images: Pencil Image | Image by Aeon Goddess (Costuming Reference) | Image by Mivaelianyn (Hair & Attitude Reference)
Duke Ian Noihn
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-ian.jpg" align="left">
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 250
Hair: Light Brown, long, worn in a tail
Eyes: Brown
Age: 26 at the start of the saga, 30 at end of last book.
Background: This middle son of the Baron of Noihn watches his father rise to become Duke of Noihn. He is a member of the underground Esteban is a part of at the start of the saga, and an expert swordsman. When his father and brothers are killed in the war with Saalih Tariq he returns home to take the mantle of Duke. He makes Lady Juliana Kale his wife and maintains his secret ties to the underground, much as Alessandra does, during his reign. He fathers 4 sons and a daughter, Liliana, who becomes Queen of Ailvess when she weds Hadrian Iolaine, Alessandra and Andres' only child. One of the quintet of heroes of the stories.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from her court years to death. With Andres from his early childhood to his introduction to the underground in formality, after in friendship.
Reference Images: Pencil Sketch | Image by Sabin Duvert (Costuming Reference)
Malcolm Bane
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-malcolm.jpg" align="left">
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 170
Hair: Strawberry Blond
Eyes: Blue
Age: 30 at the start of the saga, 31 at time of death in Book 2.
Background: Malcolm is the b*****d son of ArchDuke Adamo Mercat and a serving wench from Beggar's Banquet tavern in Haldane. His mother died during the birth, and he was raised by the tavern owner, Ryland Bane, who was also a member of the underground, smuggling arms and other supplies to the movement through his tavern. Malcolm is an elite assassin for the underground and one of Alessandra's contacts. He dies at his real father's hands while trying to assassinate Adamo Mercat on the battlefield during the diplomatic envoy to the mountains, off-balancing the man long enough for Alessandra to force the treacherous Grand Duke into his own trap, killing him. One of the quintet of heroes of the stories.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from her court years through the diplomatic envoy, especially when she is in disguise as a spy passing info back to the underground. With Andres during the diplomatic envoy.
Reference Images: Pencil Sketch
The Villains
ArchDuke Adamo Mercat
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-adamo.jpg" align="left">
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 200
Hair: Salt & Pepper, greying at temples, beard and moustache
Eyes: Blue
Age: 50 at the start of the saga, 51 at the time of his death in Book 2.
Background: The corrupt Archduke of House Mercat, he wishes the downfall of the Iolaine line so his line can assume the throne. He conspires with the exiled heir of House Denvari, now the Grand Vizier (Ravinde) to Sultan Lucius al Jihaar, sending messages through Major Domo Simon Vinear. He incites the invasion of Ailvess by Saalih Tariq as a cover to slay the heirs of the Queen, preying on the prejudice of his own land against the desert people. He is caught and killed in his own trap by Alessandra after he is distracted by slaying his b*****d son, Malcolm Bane.
His plans continue on before word of his death reaches High Ailvess, as his daughter, Inari, murders Prince Laurent and Princess Viviane Iolaine who is carrying Laurent's child.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from her court years to his death. With Andres from his early childhood to his his death. Was directing the battle truce and setting up a trap to kill the diplomatic envoy including Andres and Laurent and the emmisaries sent by Saalih Tariq after a hard fought stalemate in the mountains. However. when the diplomatic envoy arrives he faces and kills his son, only to be crushed in the landslide he had intended to kill the Princes and emmisaries with.
Reference Images: Pencil Sketch
Marquis Arturo Mercat
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-arturo.jpg" align="left">
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 190
Hair: Chestnut brown, mid-back length, in a tail. Goatee.
Eyes: Blue
Age: 25 at the start of the saga, 29 at time of death in Book 4.
Background: The corrupt, warmongering youngest son of Duke Adamo Mercat, Arturo is hell-bent on declaring war on Saalih Tariq and taking control of the desert lands at the bidding of his father over the rumor of there being riches amid the dunes. He is promised control of the foreign land by Adamo should he succeed, although Adamo has other plans entirely and is merely using his son to distract others from the truth. Arturo's plans are foiled by Alessandra and company in book 1. He is imprisoned, but escapes in the third book with the help of the corrupt Major Domo of Queen Emeranthe and is slain in book 4 by Alessandra after he murders King Andres.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from her court years through her slaying him after he murders Andres. With Andres from youth through their deaths.
Reference Images: My crappy scribble | OMFG Perfect Image by Artoki
Lady Inari Mercat
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-inari.jpg" align="left">
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 140
Hair: Light Brown, usually done up in braids and other elaborate styles.
Eyes: Blue
Age: 23 at the start of the saga, 27 at the end of Book 4.
Background: Daughter of Archduke Adamo Mercat, she was expected to wed Prince Laurent Iolaine and become Queen of Ailvess. Instead, he wed the daughter of Duke Noihn, dashing Adamo's plans to assume control of Ailvess. In revenge, as part of her father's plotting, she murders Princess Viviane and her unborn son on the night of Laurent's return from the battlefield, then takes her place in the bedchamber and murders Laurent. She is imprisoned and freed by Simon Vinear along with her brother Arturo. She escapes to Saalih Tariq, where she is enslaved by the Grand Vizier after he learns her father failed in his plans. She is not heard from again.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from her court years through her escape to Saalih Tariq. With Andres from teen years through her escape.
Reference Images: Sketch | Image by Tanyquil (Excellent Reference)
Major Domo Simon Vinear
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/noimage.gif" align="left">
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 150
Hair: White, short and neatly kept. Goatee.
Eyes: Brown
Age: 45 at the start of the saga,491 at the end of the last book.
Background: The high advisor to Queen Emeranthe, he is working covertly with his uncle, Grand Vizier Ravinde of Saalih Tariq, and Archduke Adamo. His uncle was one of the banished of House Denvari, who insinuated himself into the royal courts of Saalih Tariq and began to plot revenge against the Queen and her line. The first plan was to get the Archduke's daughter wed to the heir apparent, then murder the Queen, let them assume the throne, then see that Laurent had an 'accident'. After that, Denvari would be welcomed back and made the Grand House beneath the royal house.
When Duke Noihn's daughter wed Laurent instead, the plan shifted to destroying the line by force, then have Adamo assume Kingship as the next House in the line of succession. Adamo's plan to kill Andres and Laurent on the battlefield failed, but his daughter was the backup, slaying the Princess and her unborn child the murdering Laurent in Viviane's guise. It was Simon who whispered into the Queen's ear to have the Oracles imprisoned, using her grief as poison to protect their plans from foreknowledge. He did not take into account the hidden gift of Alessandra Evanesca. He begins poisoning the Queen slowly, making her health deteriorate, until it is uncovered by Alessandra. Unfortunately Ravinde finishes what the poison started. Vinear is imprisoned to await execution after the war is ended.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from her court years to his death. With Andres from his early childhood to his his death (Especially with Queen Emeranthe).
Reference Images: None Available
Grand Vizier Ravinde
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/noimage.gif" align="left">
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 180
Hair: Bald
Eyes: Black
Age: 55 at the start of the saga, 59 at the end of Book 4.
Once the Duke of House Denvari, Ranier Denvari's House was banished in shame from Ailvess. Denvari and his family fled to Saalih Tariq, where they sold secrets of the sovereign nation to the Sultan in trade for sanctuary in the desert land. His grandson, Edmund, became obsessed with returning the Household to power in their homeland, and exacting revenge on the ruling house that banished them. After taking on the name Ravinde and assuming the role of Grand Vizier to the Sultan, Edmund worked out vile plans with Archduke Adamo Mercat through a network of spies claiming to be traders and diplomats, after the Duke's daughter was denied marriage to Prince Laurent Iolaine.
When Adamo's attempts to have Ailvess declare war on Saalih Tariq and make them appear the aggressors failed, one of his minions used a poisoned Ailvessan dagger to kill the Sultan's head wife, and the Sultan invaded Ailvess in revenge. Adamo's trap on the battlefield for both heirs failed, but his daughter succeeded in ending Laurent's line. When Simon Vinear freed her and Arturo from the dungeons of the Argent Palace, she fled to his shelter. He punished her for her father and brother's failures by enslaving her. He plots with Major Domo Simon Vinear to slowly kill the queen, and then take out the remaining heirs, but Simon fails in this as well. He captures Esteban and Ian who witness his gloating to the Sultan, then murdering him and lying to his daughter as he prepares to take her with him for peace negotiations in Ailvess. His assassin mistakes Genevra Evanesca for Princess Alessandra and he kills the queen himself during the negotiation and is imprisoned to await execution. He is freed by the fugitive, Arturo Mercat and escapes to parts unknown.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra and/or Andres during the diplomatic discussions between Queen Emeranthe and Princess Sajhiri Jihaar.
Reference Images: None Available
The Royal Court
Majestrix Emeranthe Iolaine, Regina Ailvessa, Queen of Ailvess
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-emeranthe.jpg" align="left">
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 140
Hair: Dark Blonde/Light Brown, long, straight but wound in curls, always styled regally.
Eyes: Pale Blue
Age: 45 at start of saga, dies at 49 in the 4th book.
Background: The Queen of Ailvess for the last 30 years at the start of the saga, her husband, King Tristam, died 10 years prior from a fevered wound he received from the tusks of a boar on a hunt. She is a brilliant, compassionate, regal and peaceful woman who has spent the last decade ruling her country with a firm and even hand, trying to keep the machinations of Archduke Adamo Mercat at bay. Her eldest son, Prince Laurent, was wed to Princess Viviane of House Noihn and expecting their first child.
He was to assume the throne the day after his child's birth, but it never happened. Instead, the queen's daughter-in-law and the child she carried were murdered by the Archduke's daughter, who then took her place and killed Laurent upon his return from the battlefield. This made a prophesy by the True Oracles of her court come to pass, that Laurent would never be King, and angry over their lack of providing her more information, she had all Oracles in the land imprisoned, and those of her court executed, never knowing Alessandra Evanesca was a hidden oracle who had been concealing her gift since childhood. Her youngest son, Andres was betrothed to Alessandra, and they were hastily wed the summer after Laurent's death, setting up the right of succession for the younger son. The Queen was assassinated by the Grand Vizier of Saalih Tariq during a peace treaty debate 2 years later. Andres died not long after his mother's death made him King, at the hands of the fugitive Arturo Mercat, who was then slain by the hand of Queen Alessandra, a month pregnant with his only child and heir, Prince Hadrian Iolaine.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from her court years through her murder. With Andres from birth through her death.
Reference Images: My Thetis Image (Not her, but looks close enough to her face/hair wise)
Prince Laurent Iolaine
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-laurent.jpg" align="left">
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 250
Hair: Dark Blond, long, pulled back.
Eyes: Pale Blue.
Age: 30 at start of saga, dies at 31 in the 2nd book.
Background:Prince Laurent was the first born son and heir of Queen Emeranthe and her husband King Tristam, who died some years later after his younger brother, Andres, was born. Raised to take over the throne upon his parent's demise, he wed the daughter of Duke Noihn over the daughter of Archduke Mercat, causing a ripple of anger through Adamo's House. The Oracles came forth with a portent that Laurent would never be King and a shadow was cast over the Prince. After conceiving what the True Oracles proclaimed to be a son, the Queen declared she would turn over the rule of Ailvess to Laurent the day after his son's birth, believing the foretelling to be false.
A month later Inari, the vengeful daughter of Archduke Mercat, murdered his wife and unborn child the disguised herself in the dark of their bedchamber and murdered Laurent. The prophesy came to pass, and Queen Emeranthe had all known Oracles in the land imprisoned, and those of her court who foretold Laurent's fate but not the details were executed with the exception of Niomah Verde. Andres becomes heir.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from her court years through his murder. With Andres from birth through his death. He was present on the diplomatic envoy to the mountainous battlefield where Adamo Mercat had set a trap to kill him.
Reference Images: Sketch
Princess Viviane Iolaine
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-viviane.jpg" align="left">
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 140
Hair: Blonde, long, curly.
Eyes: Green.
Age: 30 at start of saga, dies at 31 in the 2nd book.
Background:Prince Laurent's wife was the daughter of the Duke of Noihn and cousin to Lady Juliana Kale, a marriage which created great unrest in Ailvess' House Mercat. Archduke Adamo Mercat's daughter was to have wed Laurent and become Queen, but word of Adamo's desires for power reached Queen Emeranthe and she instead made contract with Duke Noihn's daughter to wed her heir. She was carrying Laurent's child when the Archduke's daughter poisoned her, hid her body, and assumed her place the night of Laurent's return from the battlefield. She and the child died, as did Laurent, all murdered by the scorned woman.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from her court years through her murder. With Andres from his late teen years through his death.
Reference Images: Old CG Pic (Decent Reference)
Niomah Verde
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-niomah.jpg" align="left">
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 135
Hair: Auburn
Eyes: Brown
Age: 30 at the start of the saga, 34 at the end of Book 4.
Background: Niomah is one of the True Oracles, and the leader of the sect. The Oracles are given visions of the future and once their ability manifests, usually in early childhood, they are taken from their families and raised amid the order, trained to serve Ailvess by advising the Royal family and nobility.
Not everyone wishes to leave their family for a gift they did not ask for, and to have a marriage decreed for them among the other gifted, but Niomah came from a poor farming family and gladly entered into the order when they came for her.
She is highly skilled, able to invoke visions through meditation occasionally, and was elevated to Queen's Oracle at the age of 25. She was mated to another Seer without ever seeing his face or knowing his name. Her daughter, Lunari, is too young yet (4) to know if she will manifest oracular ability. It is Niomah who repeatedly receives the vision of Laurent's death and warns the Queen that her son will not ascend to the throne. She is locked away with the other True Oracles after the Prince is murdered, and aids Alessandra as best she can from her prison, realizing Evanesca has the gift somewhat, if not fully. She is released with the others when Alessandra and Andres take the throne, and released from forced service to the kingdom, permitted to stay on if they truly wish to. She remains as Alessandra's Oracle by choice.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from her court years through her death. With Andres from teen years through his death.
Reference Images: Sketch | Image by Clarion (Excellent Reference) | Image by Dolphingirl (Excellent Reference)
Countess Genevra Mercat Evanesca
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-genevra.jpg" align="left">
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 140
Hair: Greying Blonde, long, always bound up in braid.
Eyes: Violet.
Age: 40 at start of saga, dies at 44 in the 4th book.
Background:Alessandra's mother, a strong woman pained by the betrayal of family honor by her son and resting her family's future upon her daughter's shoulders. She dies when she is mistaken for her daughter from behind by a Saalih Tariq assassin while conferring with the Queen during Ravinde and Sajhiri's diplomatic mission. She is a proud woman, beautiful, regal, kind and loving, although awkward in motherly duties. Mother of Alessandra and Esteban, wife of Count Stefan, youngest sister of Duke Adamo Mercat.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from birth through her murder. With Andres Alessandra's court years through her death.
Reference Images: None Available
Earl Stefan Evanesca
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/noimage.gif" align="left">
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 250
Hair: Greying Auburn, trimmed Short. Beard and moustache.
Eyes: Blue.
Age: 50 at start of saga, dies at 54 at the end of the series.
Background:Stefan is Alessandra and Esteban's father. He is overly proud, and disinherits his son for following his heart and marrying Daniella against his wishes. He is disdainful of his daughter's chances at elevating the family, and is proven sorely wrong when she is wed to Prince Andres. After his wife is assassinated, having been mistaken for his daughter, he enters into a monastery in mourning.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra anywhere from birth through his death from old age in a monastery. With Andres from Alessandra's court years through Andres' death.
Reference Images: None Available
Saalih Tariq
Sultana Sajhiri al Jihaar
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-sajhiri.jpg" align="left">
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 100
Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Dark Brown
Age: 16 at the start of the saga, 20 at the end of Book 4.
Background: (Yes, this is where my username comes from) Sultan Lucius al Jihaar's only child (due to an injury in his youth), Sajhiri is a beautiful and graceful desert flower, sweet, compassionate, and wise for her tender years. Betrothed at this young age to her lifelong protector, Trajid, she is sent to distant parts of the land on diplomatic excursions by Ravinde to keep her away from her ailing father. She travels to Ailvess with Ravinde for peace negotiations after her father's death, and she and Alessandra puzzle out the whole plot, or most of it. After Alessandra and Andres take the throne, they sign a peace treaty, she weds Trajid, and they return to Saalih Tariq to rule.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra and/or Andres during peace negotiations with Emeranthe. Alessandra through her death.
Reference Images: Image by Ebony Dragon (Excellent Reference) | Image by Centauri (Costuming Reference)
Trajid
<img src="http://www.planet-krypton.com/gaia/contest2/mini-trajid.jpg" align="left">
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 280
Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Dark Brown
Age: 28 at the start of the saga, 32 at the end of Book 4.
Background: The sworn protector of Princess Sajhiri since he was 12 years old, Trajid was raised from birth to learn the arts of combat. He is of noble blood in the Sultanate, but his surname was set aside upon his assumption as Protector, as this would mean his betrothal to she whom he was protected. He deeply loves Sajhiri, and patiently waits for her to come of age. After the peace treaty is signed between Saalih Tariq and Ailvess, he returns to their desert homeland for their wedding and to rule.
Can be Pictured With: Alessandra and/or Andres during peace negotiations with Emeranthe.
Reference Images: Image by Centauri (Costuming Reference)
Sample Chapters
Niomah's Vision: The foretelling of the death of Prince Laurent.
Alessandra's Vision: Alessandra has a portent of the future at her 12th birthday celebration.
The Challenge: Reeling in the wake of a vision and pawning it off as a hangover, Alessandra witnesses a confrontation between Arturo and Prince Andres.
Scenes I'd Like to See Drawn
Andres and Arturo's sparring match from "The Challenge".
Alessandra and Andres dancing at a ball while still suspicious of each other.
Andres finding out about Alessandra's Oracular ability.
Alessandra confessing her portent of Andres' death to him.
The Wedding of Alessandra and Andres.
Scenes from the diplomatic envoy to the mountains (especially scenes on horseback, and of the confrontation with Archduke Adamo)
Alessandra in disguise giving info to Malcolm or Esteban.
Andres and his brother Laurent in concern of the prophecy of Laurent not becoming King.
Andres at the bedside of the ailing Queen Emeranthe during her poisoning by Simon.
Alessandra avenging her husband by killing Arturo with Andres' sword.
Scene Description
Andres is run through from behind by Arturo Mercat in early night after he is released from the castle dungeons by the corrupt High Advisor to the Court (Simon Vinear). Arturo would be in disheveled, torn and dirty clothing, certainly not finery, his hair and goatee overgrown from months incarcerated, his face dirty. (Think Sirius Black level of disheveledness after escaping Azkaban.) Andres would be in relaxed garb (Loose shirt, breeches, boots) after returning from a hunt (He hunts with falcons btw). The murder happens in the bedchambers of Andres and Alessandra, where Arturo steals in. Andres, thinking it's just Alessandra, casually converses with the silent entrant with his back to him. Arturo then runs him through with the sword he took from an unconscious guard during his escape.
Alessandra walks in just as it happens, in her nightgown. She holds Andres as he dies and Arturo runs off. In the liquid covering Andres' tear filled eyes after he bids her a last farewell and dies, she sees a vision of where Arturo is hiding in the catacombs under the castle waiting for Simon to bring him a boat to escape in. This is the only vision she ever receives that is an actual true vision, and not a riddle in the form of words.
She takes the sword off Andres' hip, and in her dressing gown, in a state of purest rage, she descends to the catacombs and fights a brutal fencing duel with Arturo. (The catacombs would be something like the ones in the Disney (Keifer/Oliver/Charlie) 3 Musketeers movie where Cardinal Richelieu tries to escape In the end), when she confesses she is the "Grey Queen", rumored elite spy of En Passant (The underground)and an Oracle and that's how she found him, it offbalances him, as it sinks in she was spying on him all along. In that moment she spins and thrust the sword blade through his throat.
[
