Name: Gavrosa Pulex
Age: Appears to be mid-twenties
Race: Human (Chelish, Chelaxian)
Origin: Golarion (Pathfinder), (Avistan, Inner-Sea region, Cheliax)
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
The woman stood tall around 5,8”. She had fair, almost pale complexion, a sign of her Chelish origins and family roots. Midnight black hair, strong emerald hue'd eyes.
Her general build was impressive in physique, trained throughout years of rigorous training by the militant regime she and her family were part of. She covered much of her skin and form either by the plating of her dark armouring or clothing of rigid, militant fashion, decorated by whatever foreign symbols and rank. Additionally, to her impressive physical form, she appeared as a picturesque depiction of a noble-blood, from the sharp angular shape of her jawline, perfectly proportioned eyes, ears and nose. As if some unholy machine had created a human out of a painting, beautiful, yet so unnerving and intimidating.
She wore her noble, albeit outlandish standing and station proudly. She was precise, clear and concise in her tone of speech and approach. When confronted, doubted or challenged, one could sense the sheer force of will emanating from this woman. Albeit she was not openly confrontational, yet she was stern and unyielding, rarely giving an inch from her position unless deemed advantageous for her in some way. Like Cogs of machinery, slowly turning in her mind as she calculated her steps, her words.
Kindness, warmth or even empathy. These didin’t fit the the encounter when interacting with her, rather: Efficiency, ambition and cold, ruthless logic. Underneath this cold veneer, at times, a hint of smoldering emotion slipped through. Eyes a-blaze in unfiltered hatred and despise, a sharpening of her expression as her trained patience was running short.
GENERAL BACKGROUND:
Born of noble origin around the year 4665 AR (Absalom Reckoning), to house of Pulex at Ostenso, south-eastern shore of the empire. Her family was a loyal supporter of Royal Thrune regime of Chelaxian empire, since when, was difficult to track. The state-sanctioned history is renewed every now and often and older publications, copies and books were collected by the Hellknight Order of the Rack, burnt in the clarity pyres. However, the house allegiance can be assumed to be traced all the way back to the era of Civil-War which begun as the Cheliaxian Patron diety, Aroden died in 4606 AR, tossing the empire in chaos and fractioning the noble houses and allegiances apart. As house Thrune stepped up as one of the first noble houses for the imperial position, inciting feud at 4608 AR, new allegiances began to form, many who rallied behind house Thrune’s banner. House Pulex likely, either a fractioned section of once larger house of different name, or an already allied one of Thrune, finding opportunity and strength under Thrune’s dominating stance.
The turmoil’s of civil-war and eventual rise and dominance of house Thrune restoring the fragmented empire, shaped house Pulex in adherence to the new regime and order. The rise of house Thrune brought Diabolism, reverence of the now new patron deity of Cheliax: Asmodeus .. Some, who dared, questioned the new diabolical power that was now a state-power and alignment of new Cheliax, but such dissidence was quickly dealt with the steadfast orders of Hellknight, born of Cheliaxian origins a century before the civil-war and some say, had prior infernal influences already, readily supporting the new found rule of house Thrune under the guidance of Asmodeus, the king of Hells. It was during the reconstruction of the war-torn empire, when dissidence was still stirring trouble, outside forces beyond the empire borders ever present, twins were born, daughter and son.
Baron Gaudianus, now elated father of twins, a supporter of the royal regime, a house of some meager military competence but mostly by trade in Ostenso, the city having strong ties to the Order of Hellknights stationed therein: The order of Pyre, holding order and infernal law in the region, greatly supported by the nobles of the region for the stability and order, fear the name of Hellknights invoke.
The two twins, his offspring: Gavrus & Gavrosa
The father’s expectations high for his firstborn son, Gavrus. Years of difficulties to conceive an heir to his name, stillborns a curse and point of ill rumour and ridicule to his house. The baroness had grown weary and despondent for not bringing new noble blood to her Baron, so much so that the Baron himself growing evermore disappointed of her wife, despise and loathing brewing under the noble composure. At last, an heir was born, to bear his noble name to future grandeur. No matter the whispers and rumours that circled in the dark, by the lips of those jealous of his house and position he was assured, of claims of dealings in the dark by otherworldly beings, Fiends. To find solution to the wife’s lack of child-bearing capability, vitriolic accuse of the twins being a result of some sorcery, diabolism .. Rather than true heirs of Cheliax, noble of blood, of Aroden.
Any such claims, were contested, and at times, if necessary, fervently fought by skirmishes and force if the question of honor was at stake. Silencing any slithering snake-tongue. Baron Gaudianus asserted himself with steadfast station, in defense of his noble name and house.
Yet, throughout the years, under the Baron’s watchful guide and lecture: The heir to his seat, Gavrus was meek and frail, soft of tongue and demeanor. Unskilled in both blade and mired in difficulties to focus on studies of anysort. Moreover, the son was prone to sickness. Fever ,rash and delirium a normal torment already. The Baron watched as his son was not growing, but withering and weakening every year. Each year, a loss of potential, to ail and suffering. The Baroness could not bear see her son, shutting herself from her weakly son leaving his care to the household servants and his sister.
The sister ...
It could not have been a starker difference between Brother and Sister, as the sun and the moon. Gavrosa grew taller than her brother, even that of most boys of her age. Not only was she physically stronger, she had inherited the fairest image of a noble-born Chelian appearance, many would liken her appearance to the Thrune themselves, so much was her fairness to the depicted paintings of Abrogail the First in her younger years. Young Gavrosa learnt the art of melee with terrifying ease from the house instructors, wherein her brother was unable to focus in study, Gavrosa was intelligent and logical, albeit her interest was readily distracted in the favour of more physical endeavors. This would again, incite ill rumours again, questioning the fidelity of the Baron and the legitimacy of his daughter. So different were the brother and sister in appearance and bearing.
One time, at a play and a social occasion, where children played by their peers as the noble parents conducted affair and business, faux pleasantries. Children knowing no better of their manners, chose and pick a target for their malevolent tease: Gavrus, weak of body and mind an easy target for ridicule and rough play for the pampered children of noble. Tormented and laughed upon. The father could only bear the humiliation, his weak son unable to stand for himself, bear proudly the name of house Pulex. The heir to his greatness pushed and played, like a dirty pup or a cornered rat. Much to the surprise of the father, and the nobles present. A young girl took stance by her brother, demanding for her brother and his house, price to be paid for the insult and assault.
Giggle and laughter ensued midst the noble sons and daughters, their peers. Ridiculing the laughable son who could not fend for his own honour, finding his own sister to pamper and fight for him.
.. The laughter and tease ended abruptly however .. It was the last time, anyone, child or man both insulted house Pulex in the public eye ..
Where public jest were no longer practiced, it turned into more whispers and avoidance of the family. And the daughter. Many years later, the father reminisced in silence by the fireplace, leaning deep into the old seat and soft linens, as age began to pay toll on his mind and body. He recalled vividly the day:
The shrieking sound, like an animal was being peeled alive, gurgling. Panicked groups of children and their caregivers shielding their young from the scene, stepping away. Young girl mounting a lifeless body of a boy her age, or even year or two older, a firm hold onto the throat while in the right hand she held a lump of crimson flesh.
Her daughter approached then, her Baron, father, presenting the price paid for insult to his name and house. A true performance of overbearing power, the crimson blood covering her daughter like a draped linen and a cloak, her eyes staring directly to his father’s .. Smoldering in red and fire, unyielding and uncompromising.
.. He remembered again, why he didn't like this look from the girl, barely half his height .. This child .. This creature of his own design and curse ..
.. It was fear, utter and unavoidable terror ..
The Baron took a long, inaudible breath, and a hopeless stare into the hearth and fireplace. Stirring only as he heard the footsteps of heavy, armoured boots, as the double-doors to his chambers were pushed open. The man shriveled on spot, declining deeper into the false comfort of his seat .The heavy footsteps encroaching, before settling by the side of the Baron’s seat, in moment of silence before breaking into a familiar voice:
“Father, I have returned” - ...
Cold and terrible sound reached from the towering, imposing woman of dark and edged armouring. She was beautiful, incredibly so. But the cold stare from those same eyes, and the echoing “gurgles” kept him apprehensive .. Finding himself, again, avoiding the coldness of his daughter's stare.
“A-Ah .. Welcome home, Gavrosa .. “
DEPARTURE/MIST-CAUGHT:
WIP