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 Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:51 pm
Welcome
Herein lies my approval journal for Karina, whom I would like to propose as an heir for the old nobility. I am open to anything that you feel needs to be changed. If you feel that she simply will not fit in such a position, I understand and am willing to remake her into either new nobility or a commoner. Her station is less important than her career choice, as it were, I just fancy her as a noble.
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:55 pm
Karina Savona
Meaning: Her given name is Russian and though the actual meaning has been lost, it is thought to mean “pure”. Her surname is Italian and simply refers to the town whence her family originates.
Nickname: Rina
Proper Address: Miss Savona
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 22
Appearance: Karina’s pert nose, slightly upturned at the end, sits in the center of her pointed, almost feline face. Beneath finely arched brows lie her honey-brown eyes which are so light that they are often mistaken for gold. Her hair is darkest brown and falls in loose waves down to her hips. Her body is slender and only modestly curved, and it does not help that she stands rather tall for a woman at just under 5’11”.
Powers: She only utilizes Magefire, as can all humans who were born on the isle.
Talents/Skills: Fearing for her safety, Karina’s father commanded that she learn to defend herself beyond the archery that most daughters of nobility were taught. Thus, she became quite proficient in both knife throwing and staff work. However, at her mother’s insistence, Karina also learned the typical feminine arts; and so, she discovered her talent in dancing.
Specialization: Karina is particularly adept at wielding the written word, and has taken it upon herself to chronicle the Isle’s history, even as it happens.
Station: She is the only daughter and heir of the Savona Viscountcy.
Origin: Karina grew up in Blackthorne Manor, which is located in Savona, her family’s holding.
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:00 pm
History
Born to Lord and Lady Savona, Karina was privileged enough to have any material thing that her heart could dream of desiring. However, growing up aware of the duties and responsibilities that she would inherit and learning of the lives of most of the people of Azreth, those material things seemed largely trivial. At an early age, she learned how to appreciate more basic and elusive things, things like the freedom to while away a few hours playing or daydreaming. Her appreciation came from the simple fact that such luxuries were very rare in her life.
After Karina was born, it was pronounced that Lady Savona was unlikely to ever conceive again. Karina would be the only heir to the title. Thus, her rigorous training began as soon as her parents thought she was able. She was tutored in the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics. Then, her studies expanded to history, philosophy, government, etiquette, and the arts. As she grew older, she learned all the details of how to run a household, and then a holding: everything from the intricacies of the staff to the logistics of keeping the people fed to the requirements of maintaining an efficient and effective guard. She learned of the politics behind maintaining positive relations with neighboring nobility and the devious, backhanded games that were sometimes played. In short, Karina learned how to become a proper heir for a wealthy, if small, Viscounty.
Her relatively simple, albeit demanding, life was not to last forever, however. Rebel factions were beginning to come out of the shadows once more and they were not pleased with the current government. The aristocrats, no matter how influential or involved they may or may not be, were being targeted. The queen had been assassinated the last time they surfaced. No one could guess knew who would be lost this time. Lord Savona feared for his daughter’s safety and soon, he learned just how justified his fears were. One evening, an evening that began not so very different from any other, ended in a near-fatal disaster.
The family had enjoyed a quiet dinner together and retired to the gardens to enjoy the view of a famously spectacular sunset – one of the few frivolities that Lady Savona permitted herself. There might be turmoil in the Isle at large and they might have to be wary when leaving the safe confines of their home, but here, they were safe. Here, they could relax and enjoy the serenity of the minutes between day and night. The Lord and his wife sat before their pond while Karina, still so young and full of energy, decided to take a little stroll. The guards were about and no one in their hold wished them harm, anyway, so the couple was not concerned when their daughter disappeared farther into the gardens. Or at least, they were not worried until the captain of the guard and a handful of his best came racing toward them to usher them to safety. A man on border duty had been found dead. There was an intruder on the premises.
Karina, unaware of this looming threat, had wandered farther than was perhaps wise given the political climate. The dangers of the outside world, however, seemed so very distant and removed. What harm could whispered rumors do here? As though she had issued a challenge to fate, Karina’s careless thoughts were swiftly and violently disproved. The intruder had found an easy target, whether by accident or some power he held, and he intended to take full advantage of his luck.
A quiet rustle was all the warning she had before a strong arm wrapped itself around her neck. A burning-hot pain shot through her before her body went icy-cold and soon, all she knew was darkness.
When Karina woke over a week later, it was to find her normally dignified mother collapsed and unconscious at her bedside, skin nearly grey with exhaustion and stress. It was only after tears that would never be admitted to had been shed and a great deal of worried and relieved scolding and bluster had been expressed that Rina would learn just what had transpired. An assassin had infiltrated Blackthorne Manor. His true target was unclear; perhaps he was after the Lord, or the heir, or the entire family. Regardless, he had found Karina and he had struck. The knife in her ribs had luckily missed her heart – perhaps due to the inexperience of the assassin – but it was hardly a minor injury. Even if that alone would not have proven fatal, the blade was coated in poison. It had been all that their best healer could do to keep the poison at bay until a more skilled physician could arrive. Karina had spent the better part of a week at death’s door before there was any hope at all that she would survive…if she woke up.
Needless to say, the Lord and Lady had not taken the attack well. Karina was less than pleased about it, herself, but her reasons were different. While they fretted about security and training and loyalty, she was sickened and admittedly afraid at how easily her life could have ended. She had not even had time to struggle, assuming that she would even have been able to put up a fight. At about the same time she was realizing that there had to be something she could do herself to prevent any such future occurrences, Lord Savona reached a decision: Karina was to begin training with weapons as soon as she was recovered. Well, that solved that problem.
So, life carried on and Karina grew in confidence and experience where before she had only taken things for granted. As the years went on, she began to feel a pull. An indescribable something had taken hold of her and was calling out to her, telling her to go into the world, explore the country, see the people that she had heard so much about, yet had hardly ever seen save around her family’s lands and at in certain social functions.
A large part of that calling was surely simple curiosity. She wanted to meet the people of the Isle, hear their history firsthand and perhaps compile that history in a book for posterity to enjoy. Another part of that calling was that she had been getting a feeling, just a hint like an itch in the back of her mind, that said something huge was coming and she should be there to witness it, perhaps even take part in it. But the most important part of that calling was the song in her soul. It was a song of longing and promise and hope. It was terribly beautiful and heartbreakingly painful. It was a song that, if asked, others could identify for her as the sound of an Azrein’s soul seeking her own.
Karina told no one of this last, expressing only her first two reasons when informing her parents that she would be going on a pilgrimage through the Isle and that she loved them, but there was nothing they could do to stop her. She told them nothing, but as her mother expressed her displeasure most vocally, there was a knowing glint in her father’s eyes. When at last the Lady had exhausted her arsenal of protest, the Lord spoke. His voice was calm and firm and supportive as he said only two words: be safe.
So, Karina disguised herself as an inconsequential peasant and set out to see the world and more importantly, to find the other half of her soul. Perhaps, after she found what she sought, she would present herself at court and offer her services as a chronicler to the king. It was considered a suitable pursuit for a noblewoman, after all, and it was something she intended to do with or without any official notice. It seemed the least she could do to offer to share her skills.
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:01 pm
Personality
Given her decisions in life, it should come as no surprise that Karina Savona is a very independent woman. Single-minded as she is, there is absolutely no holding her back when it comes to her inquisitive nature. Her sharp intellect gives her a distinctive advantage whenever she pursues her latest object of study – and she is never without something that has caught her interest. Of course, she can rarely be bothered with subtlety and usually cuts straight to the chase unless tact is absolutely essential to get what she is after. However, there is more to this unusual noblewoman than that.
Although she might appear at first to be a bold creature, Karina hides a very shy and innocent heart beneath that outgoing exterior. Indeed, she is full of curious contradictions: she appears confident, but can be very uncertain until she grows used to her surroundings. She is terribly daring, hardly caring to whom she speaks her mind or whom she challenges, but at the same time, she is exceedingly bashful when the conversation turns toward herself. Karina is especially embarrassed by anything bordering on serious intimacy, be it of the heart or simple confidence. Perhaps because of this, she is surprisingly modest and does her best to keep any good deeds she does anonymous. But none of these things are as double-edged as Rina’s last contradiction.
Even while she does her best to look at the world through realistic eyes and tries to hold cynicism close to her heart in order to protect herself from the dangers she knows are there, she cannot help but be filled with idealism. Despite her mind knowing that all is not good in the world, she sees the best in everyone. There is really no helping it: in Karina’s eyes, there is always hope.
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:03 pm
Important People
• Bonded: She has not yet found the one she seeks, though she has had dreams of a shadowy, grey mare with brilliant red eyes...
• Spouse: A suitable match has yet to be found.
• Father: Lord Roderick Savona seems at first to be a stern man; however, that is simply his intense sense of duty showing through. He takes his responsibilities as Viscount very seriously, placing them above all other concerns. Beyond that, he cares for his family very much and though he sometimes utilizes “tough love”, he always has their best intentions at heart. Between her parents, Karina finds that she can speak more freely with her father.
• Mother: Lady Genevieve Savona is a most traditional, demure woman who frowns upon violence and especially women performing the violent arts. She is also a very delicately unyielding lady who is quite stubborn and proud. Do not let this fool you. She is clever and not completely against change, especially if a persuasive and logical argument is made. If you are not wary, you will doubtless be caught unawares by her seemingly uncharacteristic convictions.
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