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 Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 9:39 pm
i. introduction.............................. ❀ii. chosen....................................❀ iii. guardian.................................❀ iv. worldbuilding..........................❀ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
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Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 9:48 pm
chosen  name: Lady Chrysanthemum Fitzpercy
age: 19
occupation: Idle
personality: Vivacious and well bred, Chrysanthemum Fitzpercy is an energetic young woman who seems never to rest. Chrysanthemum is highly skilled at fending off boredom, and takes entertainment wherever she might find it, sometimes at the expense of others. More often, her attention is taken up by the Cause which she has adopted, that is to say, the plight of her kin in Airelund, which she has read about voraciously with little discernment or understanding of the reality of the situation. She is intelligent and passionate, with the capacity to understand, but ultimately still a nineteen year old girl who has never received direction in her studies apart from the sort which young ladies are expected to know, nor correction from her loved ones, who are quite blind to her flaws. Her naivete shows, though she has no awareness of it, and thinks herself to be much more astute and knowledgable than her female peers who are less preoccupied by serious matters. While it may be the case with many of her acquaintance, she is far less socially aware than many of the girls she acquaints herself with who do not subscribe to political causes as she does, and she is far less traveled than many of them as well, having never left the Sunderlandian estates that her family owns. Chrysanthemum's egocentricity is not vanity, but simply due to the fact that she has never had cause to believe that she is not a perfect individual, and now that she is out in society amongst people who might give her doubt, she is far too blithely unaware to pick up on their social cues.
Chrysanthemum is a fantasist, aided by the many books her brother has brought her as gifts since childhood, and her love of novels has influenced her study of history, causing her to have quite a romanticized view of the world. She is an escapist by nature, and largely interested in the Airish cause because she has ties to it, but it feels far away enough to be divertingly exotic. Nevertheless, she is sincere about every diversion which she distracts herself with, and her love of Airelund and its people is real and passionate, if not based upon some weighty misapprehensions. Her frustration at not being able to do as much in this regard as Larkspur, who is in Government, is extreme, but her continual taking up of Causes is also a reflection upon her inability to feel useful in general. Having had her expectations built up by novels, Chrysanthemum is satisfied by nothing. She does not want to merely become a well-married wife, but at some level knows that to leave her family would force her to be an authoress or schoolmistress, positions to which very little dignity may be attached. She wants to be both free to do as she pleases and free to avoid the consequences, which results in her passionate speeches usually being just so much eloquent talk, rather than leading to actions. This is another reason why Airish history appeals to her so immensely, with its stories of wild, noble, and free clans roaming across the land all immensely exciting, but safely in the past. Being amused by but dissatisfied with her life so far, her Airish heritage gives her a claim to something which she feels must be better, but does not really have to worry about the details of actually attaining. She feels strongly convinced that if she were to visit Airelund, she must come upon a great self-realization, but her family will not take her, so she has secretly settled upon marrying an Airish lord at the earliest time that one might be procured. Of his, or indeed, of anybody's wanting to marry her, there can be no doubt.
However, many of her whimsical idiosyncrasies are the result of heady youth and a careless indulgence on behalf of her family. With more levelheaded and modest counsel, taken with a strong dose of reality, she may very well grow to be an admirable woman in time. Her virtues, compassion, the sincere desire to be useful, a hunger for knowledge, and boundless energy all speak well to her character. She simply requires maturity, direction, and purpose, but in her current environment, is unlikely to find much of it.
history: The second child and only daughter of the Earl of Ranelagh, Cathal Fitzpercy VIII, Chrysanthemum Patience Fitzpercy was born from no particular urgency, an heir having been acquired already, but rather from her mother Lily's own desire for a younger child which she could more readily call her own. Chrysanthemum did not disappoint, being widely exclaimed as the charmingest baby that any body did see at Foxglove Meadows. Best of all, she was a girl, and so her every passing hour must be unclaimed by any body apart from the occasional (sadly necessary governess) and her own mother, making her the perfect companion and comfort to the dear Lady Lily.
However, as she grew, Lady Lily was not the only one who doted upon her. While her father thought little on his daughter, too preoccupied with the task of raising up his son, the son, Larkspur Fitzpercy, found that he doted upon dear Chrysanthemum excessively. So delicately and charmingly was she formed, so eagerly did she chase after him begging for sport and gifts and affection, that for him to see her as anything other than a cherub was quite impossible. He spoiled her excessively, when he was young, he would tell her stories, those of their mighty Airish ancestors suiting her best, and as she grew older, he showered her in flowers, history books, novels, music, and anything which might bring her even the briefest pleasure. Chiefly, Chrysanthemum loved books, which everyone took to be the sign of a keen mind, and soon she would expect one from Larkspur every time he parted from her company for more than two days at a time.
Her mighty hunger for literature arose from a mighty boredom with her life, for though Chrysanthemum was universally loved in her family, considered the pinnacle of perfection, and etc. she had actually become terribly and perhaps unavoidably spoiled. Even her governesses, though they had taught her diligently, dared not scold an earl's daughter too harshly, and they could little get her to pay attention to any subject other than those she showed interest in, history and literature. She embroidered well, but hardly used this gift at all, played music but little, having grown impatient with the practicing and, really wishing to learn the harp or violin, was dissatisfied with the pianoforte anyway. She sang, but only Airish ballads when she had the choice, and though her manners could be charming, they were undoubtedly more whimsical and mercurial than a lady of nineteen years' should be.
In truth, though she was spoiled by many people, in many different ways, it was Larkspur's particular spoiling which had ruined her. Feeling frustrated with her purposeless life, so starkly contrasted with the pride that Lord Ranelagh felt in sending Larkspur to Government where he would actually make a difference, which was the one thing that she could not have, Chrysanthemum affected to adopt Causes very dear to her. Naturally, her chief cause was that of the Airish, which she had so often been told stories of, and thus felt a very personal connection to. All of her idle time went to researching their plight, making pamphlets, organizing petitions, and studying their history, but in a way so as to be quite convenient to her own idea of what Airelund must be like.
In this way, Chrysanthemum's flaws, at first so hidden by her family's doting, began to become painfully obvious, though no one was quite ready to admit them. Chrysanthemum is now out in society at last, of age to attend parties and balls, but making no close friends due to her strongly held convictions and strange ways. What the family had allowed as harmless quirks of character have become genuinely damaging in the elite social world which she was born to enter, and though Chrysanthemum by far is not the silliest of her nineteen year old peers, the vulgarity of her cause quite estranges potential suitors and her conviction that she is not at all silly eliminates any chance of correcting her behaviour discreetly.
choosing: Chrysanthemum found her totem after persuading her brother, Larkspur, to take her into the Wardwood. She had begun to fancy it as of late, thinking that the wood would be an excellent place to read books on Airish history, so as to evoke the proper mood. While visiting their Oldcastle estate, she begged him to take her, and within the woods, they both found their totems together, much to Larkspur's dismay and Chrysanthemum's delight.
relationship with guardian: Marigold is a confidence-boost to Chrysanthemum, and she sees the deer as a good sign for her strong belief that she and her brother must take a more active role in the fate of Airelund. Despite that, she still finds it hard to act upon her ambitions, and easily strays into pampering Marigold as much as she was pampered as a child, perhaps projecting her own distracting techniques onto her Guardian without realizing it. She loves Marigold sincerely, however, and is inordinately proud of being her Chosen, sketching her and riding about on her frequently. In many ways, Marigold is Chrysanthemum's foil, and the mild-tempered deer provides a calm and level-headed influence to temper Chrysanthemum's own heady youthful energy, though at this stage, Marigold's temperance is very easy for Chrysanthemum to ignore when it pleases her.
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Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 9:49 pm
guardian name: Marigold
personality: A shy and sensitive doe, Marigold cares too much about others and finds it difficult to hold grudges, or stand firm even against people she dislikes. She's very impressionable and easily swayed by people who are eloquent or seem to know what they're doing. She has very little regard for her own abilities, but a very high regard for people who she admires, to the point where she's often blind to their faults. Marigold hates disruptions of any kind and does her best to soothe them, often acting as the compromiser when a situation becomes tense.
Marigold gets distressed when she feels that people that she cares about are being led astray, but can do very little to correct their behaviour. She has a great aversion to doing anything that might anybody dislike her, regardless of how she feels about them, and is made uncomfortable by the thought that she could be causing anybody discomfort or inconvenience. She wants very much to do something about the threat of wolves and to serve some useful purpose, but, aware of her shortcomings, feels that she can do nothing at all aggressive or productive on her own.
Despite her own self doubts, Marigold has never shied away from doing what she feels that she can do, no matter whether it might be difficult or not. She is nervous and frightened, but not cowardly or idle. She may have to go about accomplishing things in roundabout ways, and she may have to depend on others more than she likes, but she never shies away from trying to do things because they seem difficult or scary.
relationship with chosen: Marigold admires Chrysanthemum because of the strength of her ideals, and her very vocal discussions of things that she believes in. Marigold feels that Chrysanthemum is a doer, where she is too frightened to do much, but is coming to realise that Chrysanthemum is also terrified of acting, and lives vicariously through her words and daydreams. The steady realisation of this fact makes Marigold more nervous than ever, and she feels frustrated, but finds that it's easier to grow complacent and let Chrysanthemum pamper and dress her than it is to speak out and do something. Marigold is beginning to feel like a fat pet, but fears that she cannot bring herself to stand up to her Chosen after all.
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Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 9:50 pm
worldbuilding house fitzpercy: House Fitzpercy is a Sunderlandian noble house that gained estates in Airelund during the First Noble Incursion of Airelund in 1175 CE. After the First Incursion, Fitzpercy and its sister-house Fitzthomas both stayed in southwestern Airelund for several generations, and then during the 16th century Reclamation Wars in which Sunderland sought to regain its defected noble houses, Fitzpercy married back into Sunderlandian nobility and left Airelund, while Fitzthomas remained. Fitzpercy's bet proved best, as while many older Sunderlandian nobles returned from Airelund, Sunderlandian fortune hunters and younger noble sons remained, largely supplanting the older nobles in terms of influence and wealth. Fitzpercy's lands grew, and they were able to exert enough power to maintain their lands and position in Airelund through their Sunderlandian influence, while Fitzthomas's lands declined. Now, two centuries after the Reclamation War, the Fitzpercies are still a highly influential family in both Airelund and Sunderland, while the Fitzthomases are attempting to recoup their considerable losses.
current patriarch: Cathal Fitzpercy VIII, Earl of Ranelagh. Though a Sunderlandian lord, Cathal also still has claim to Airish nobility, and his Airish title, the Earl of Ranelagh, is of higher prestige than his Sunderlandian title, thus many address him by the former, even amongst Sunderlandian nobility. In the Sunderlandian House of Lords, he has less standing than an Earl, however, and it is only in the Airish House of Lords that he carries the due deference of his highest title. He chooses to sit on the Sunderlandian House of Lords regardless, and sends a representative to the Airish Parliament.
heir apparent: Sir Larkspur Fitzpercy, Chrysanthemum's brother.
lands: In Sunderland, the Fitzpercys control the Fitzpercy Estate, Amaranthus Fields, Foxglove Meadows, Freesia's Landing, and Aster's Landing. In Airelund, they control Rosslee and Dun Conleth. While their Airish title is more prestigious, the lands they control in Sunderland are more extensive, giving Sunderland the greater preference in their affairs.
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 12:07 pm
Chrysanthemum Fitzpercy awoke with a stomachache, and, unused to enduring even the slightest discomfort, rang the bell. Mere moments later, she had water, cool cloths, fresh pillows and linens, a dainty bucket (in case), and potpourri to make the room smell pleasing. Her Mama made her excuses to everybody, and Chrysanthemum was allowed to stay in her room for the day.
Had she been a different, more reticent girl, the prospect of a day in her room, alone with her books, which she loved, would have been pleasing, but Chrysanthemum also loved the outdoors, and loved people, and furthermore, her stomachache was not abating, so she was in the depths of misery. She tried to think of several things to distract herself from her misfortune, having heard once at a party that if she thought of six things at once, whatever had been occupying her mind beforehand would quite vanish from her thoughts. She considered:
Firstly, she thought of her Airish ancestors, who were strong and stouthearted, and would not have thought twice about a stomachache, and who, in fact, ate nothing but beef, so hardy were their constitutions. If she had to blame any body for her affliction, it was certainly the fault of her deplorable yet undeniable Sunderlandian heritage, and she cursed it- although, of course, she loved her dear Sunderlandian mama excessively.
Secondly, she thought of dearest Marigold, her guardian, who came chief in her affections, yet was currently cruelly disallowed from sleeping in her room on account of being a deer and having done horrible things to the very expensive drapery. What was Marigold doing whilst her Warden was wasting away? Chrysanthemum hoped that she was pining dutifully outside of the bedroom door, regretting the abomination inflicted upon the curtains that now barred her from comforting the human who she loved best in this world.
Thirdly, she thought of her beloved brother, Larkspur, who was probably right now totally unaware of the sufferings of his little sister, off being preoccupied with Government and other such important matters. If he but knew of her suffering, she was certain he would drop the affairs of state and fly at once to her bedside. She must not let petty spite make her think that his absence made him coldhearted, even if his absences as of late had been more and more frequent, and in fact, were now seemingly merging into one continual and interminable absence. No, she might diminish from his thoughts as he grew from a devoted elder brother into a political and absentminded man, but she would forever think of him as the paragon of virtue and kindness. She must, for she was a well-bred lady, and he was her closest kin, and she could never ever think ill of him, no matter how great her suffering. She prided herself on her magnanimity in this respect, which was perhaps almost saintly.
Fourthly, she thought of the fete which she was to attend this evening, now sadly impossible. She had been looking forward to it about as much as a girl living in Palisade could be expected to. Unlike in the countryside, there were a great number of nobles all concentrated in the city, and they very frequently threw balls. Now that Chrysanthemum was old enough to attend, the excitement had diminished with each invitation, and at this point had abated to the acceptable average level that an unmarried lady with all the prospects in the world ought to feel, and perhaps a certain twinge of dread, for the point was undeniably to make a marriage, and she had other plans, oh yes! But a great number of her dear friends were to be there, including dear Honoria, who was so terribly boring, but so deeply devoted. She would pine for them dreadfully while confined to her room, and would have to demand of them all the particulars as soon as she possibly could. To miss a party was perhaps not so great a tragedy, but to be ignorant of what had transpired at the party was a hell which no young woman should be reasonably expected to endure.
Fifthly, she thought of her plans for marriage, those being to find an Airish lord and attach herself to him. She was not quite sure which, or even which in particular might be available, merely that she wanted one, and, with all the confidence of a sunny and unclouded youth, was sure that the tides of fate and fortune would provide her one as expediently as possible. After having found one, she would merely have to convince her parents and Larkspur of her undying ardor for him so that they might bless the union, this, at least, did not seem difficult at all. While her father was less charmed by his daughter than the rest of her family, Chrysanthemum could count the number of times that any of them had said "no" to her on two hands.
Sixthly, she thought of the Wardwood, dark and deep, so far flung from the urbane world of Palisade, separating Sunderland from Airelund and full of the soft and loamy secrets of a hundred vanished travelers from every age of Man. She thought of the whispers of its branches in the wind, and of fanciful histories she had imagined, and Chrysanthemum was only slightly perturbed when the shadowy branches seemed to hide faces, for she heard Marigold's hoofsteps beside her.
And lastly, exhausted by mental effort and soothed by the fresh linens, the cloying, strong smell of the potpourri, she let herself drift once more to sleep.
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