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 Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 2:06 pm
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 2:42 pm
The Chosen  Thomas Avery
Meaning: His given name is derived from a name meaning "twin". His surname is derived from Germanic elements "elf", "power", and "counsel".
Nicknames: Thom
Proper Address: Lord Thomas Avery or Lord Thomas
Gender: Male
Age: 20?
Appearance: Tall and lean, Thomas has sharp features. His nose is straight and his lips are thin. His deep-set eyes are a vibrant shade of emerald green, standing out dramatically against his pale skin. The tangled waves of his hair brush his shoulders and seem so dark as to absorb light entirely. When in good spirits, his laughter is infectious; however, of late, Thomas is more given to mockery than joy.
Designation: Chosen
Guardian: Sigyn
Companion(s): Gertrude
Origin: A blueblood of one of Sunderland's oldest families, Thomas grew up in the southern reaches of the country, at his family's primary manor. However, rather than remaining in his father's home, he now keeps residence in his own estate, Ravensgate.
Station: He is the second son of the Duke of Tyneworth. Though Thom has a considerable inheritance to call upon, he is also cultivating the neglected vineyard at Ravensgate.
Spouse: n/a
Likes: Books - they have imparted more knowledge upon him than any tutor has yet proven capable.
Dislikes: Wolves - though perhaps unreasoning hatred might be more accurate.
History:
Second son of the Duke of Tyneworth, Thomas’s early childhood was fairly happy. Only a year younger than his elder brother, Thomas was always following along behind him. They played, they laughed, they squabbled, but they loved each other well. When the boys grew old enough to really merit their father’s attention, however, it became clear that Mathew was the more loved. His mistakes were more easily forgiven. His whims were most often indulged. His triumphs were most loudly applauded. Thomas, meanwhile, was brushed aside. Aside from the censure he received for whatever trouble – real or imagined – that he got up to, he was largely overlooked. Because Mathew was heir, his time was spent much in the company of their father, training for his future duties. The brothers grew apart.
It was his mother who paid Thomas attention, gave him the love and praise that he so desperately craved. But her days were numbered. But a few short years after the birth of her third and youngest child – the only daughter of the Duke – Jacqueline passed away, her health having steadily deteriorated in that time. She gave Thomas a charge: protect his sister. He took his responsibility seriously. It was not difficult to love the sweet girl. Victoria held all of their mother’s charm, and had clearly inherited Jacqueline’s beauty, even if it was disguised by the awkwardness of too-large eyes, too-sharp bones, and the too-clumsy movements of childhood.
During these bittersweet years, Thomas felt the call of the Wood. He was wont to wander off, sometimes for days at a time, but he always told little Tori when he was leaving so that she would not worry. This time, he did not tell her anything. He was too overcome with the call. She was inconsolable. When at last Thomas did return, perhaps a bit more battered than usual but hale enough, she was beside herself with joy. She was also enamored with the totem. From the moment she was born, Sigyn had an admirer.
For a while, all was well. Thomas indulged his sister, letting her dress Sigyn in an old wolf pelt and play Wolf and Wolf Hunter – somehow, Thomas always seemed to be cast as the Wolf. Tori was enchanted by the glory and romance of the Wardens of old. It was her greatest dream to have a Guardian of her own, like her brother. Her governess managed to instill ladylike qualities into the girl, but her wild spirit could not be subdued. Certainly, Thomas did not do much to help it, though he was the only one who could convince her to be a good girl and get back to her studies...when he was willing to exercise that power.
The news of the return of the wolves was impossible to miss, as was Gwyn’s dramatic return. The latter, however, went largely ignored by the Avery household at the time of its occurrence. They were a little preoccupied by events closer to home.
Though she had been warned time and again of the dangers, Victoria could not resist venturing into the wilds to seek out a little adventure of her own. Maybe she could find the Ward Tree and get her own Guardian. Or maybe she could find a Spirit and be granted a boon. Or maybe she would find a Wolf and defeat it. She found adventure, sure enough, but it was not quite how she imagined it. A low, rumbling growl sounded behind her. Tori froze. Perhaps she should have listened when everyone said it was too dangerous, after all.
Thomas had been on a trip to survey his residence – a piece of property that had been left out of the entailment and, at the wishes of his mother, was being willed to him. He was puzzled when Tori did not rush out to greet him, mildly concerned when he found that she had been missing for hours, and frantic when he could not find her in any of the usual haunts. Suddenly, he knew just where to look. Equally worried, Sigyn took off for the forest without being asked.
“Thomas!”
The shrill scream spurred them on, guiding them to the horrifying sight of an enormous, black beast sinking its fangs into the young girl. All of their games Wolf and Wolf Hunter took on a sickening twist. This time the Wolf was real, and Tori was no hunter. With a bellow of desperate rage – one echoed by Sigyn’s trumpet of challenge – Chosen and Guardian charged the Wolf.
The doe’s sharp hooves flailed at the beast, but the Wolf spun away before they could do any real damage. Thomas lashed out with his sword and together, the man and doe tried to drive the beast away from the prone girl – mustn’t think of the blood, spirits, there’s so much blood. At first, it seemed to be working, but the Wolf was fast. So fast. And so very strong. They never seemed able to strike it. Clearly, it was not going anywhere anytime soon.
Thomas knew that he had to get his sister home if there was to be any chance of saving her. Desperate, he sheathed his sword and, clinging to Sigyn’s neck with one arm, swooped down and grabbed Tori with the other, pulling her up. Whether the awkward movement unbalanced the doe, the loss of Thomas’s sword weakened their defenses too much, or the Wolf grew tired of its game once it was clear he was going to be deprived of his prey, it was enough. The beast flew past Sigyn’s defenses and struck the doe. She was fast enough to rear back, but not fast enough to avoid the attack entirely. The Wolf’s fangs caught her across the eye. She screamed, the agony near-unbearable. Thomas screamed with her.
She spun and flailed, wild with the pain, before racing off full-tilt. Any direction would do so long as it was away. Perhaps the Wolf pursued. Perhaps it did not. Thomas was too busy trying to make sure they did not run into any trees or trip over fallen timber or jump into a ravine to pay much mind to anything else. He was too busy keeping pressure on the wounds of his too-still sister, trying to get her home where the physician could see to her, stop the bleeding, there’s so much blood, save her.
Tori was unconscious for two hours. On the third she woke, and cried, and apologized. On the fourth, she died.
The Duke blamed Thomas. Mathew blamed Thomas.
That was fine. He blamed himself, too.
He had failed in his vow to protect his sister. He made a new vow. He would avenge Victoria or he would die trying and this time, he would not fail.
About:
Thomas is a very complex individual. It is difficult to put together the many factors that contribute to the sardonic, embittered man he is today. As a boy he craved affection and approval – especially from his father who only seemed to have time for Mathew. As it became clear that he was not liable to live up to his brother’s magnificence, he came to terms with it – at least on the surface. Beneath it all, he was still a lonely little boy looking for love.
Intelligence has never been in short supply where he is concerned. Just as well, since his brother kept the tutors more than busy enough. Of course, Thomas was already wicked enough as a child to cause his own share of trouble for his teachers and caretakers. Between his nimble mind and borderline cruel sense of humor, he was every adult’s worst nightmare. Though his mischievous ways lessened somewhat, little else changed as he grew.
After he took responsibility for Victoria, a new side of Thomas emerged. More and more often, his kindness shone through, as did his indulgence and patience for the little girl. He was, in a word, gentle. At least for his sister. Tori so strongly impacted his life. She was his light. When she was taken from him, when he was too late to protect her, the softer side of his personality was all but wiped out.
Guilt and rage took root in his heart and grew and twisted into unreasoning anger. He lashed out with sharp sarcasm and poisonous barbs, using his rank as a weapon against those below him in society and his wit against his so-called superiors. Why should he not? The world had taken from him the only two people who had given him love unconditional. The only family he had left could scarcely stand the sight of him. And everyone else? What did they know of his suffering. What did they matter. Better to drive them away before they could consider getting any closer. Easier to scorn than sympathize. Easier to mock than respect. Easier not to hope for a love that might be taken from him yet again.
Instead, Thomas has thrown himself into preparation. When next he meets a wolf, he will be ready. The wolf will not survive. By the time he meets the black beast that took his sister from him? Well. Sigyn will have a new fur coat. If there is a life beyond the hunt, Thomas has not allowed himself to imagine it. But perhaps, somewhere, there exists one who might uncover the gentleness once more.
Important People:
• Victoria: His most beloved little sister, the one whose safety his mother charged him with on her dying breath. She was taken from him. He failed her and he will have his revenge.
• Kathryn (Katrana) Prestor: One of his oldest friends, and perhaps the only person alive who can make a claim at understanding him, she has only recently become reacquainted with him.
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 2:52 pm
The Guardian
 Sigyn
Meaning: Her name is derived from elements meaning "friend" and "girl".
Nicknames: n/a
Gender: Female
Stage: Adult
Appearance: She is a pale grey doe with a few darker spots and hints of pink on her nose and ear tips. Her feet are feathered and her tail is fluffy. Her left eye retains a scar from the wound that blinded it. She wears a wolf pelt as her prize. Rather large for a doe, she is sturdily built and swift on her feet.
Bonded: Thomas Avery
Mate: None
Obtained: The Wolf and the Wolf Hunter Story Contest, Samhain 2013
About:
Sigyn is a unique cross between a gruff soldier and a benevolent lady. She is stern and unyielding, ready to face any comer - face them, and put them down. She is not to be trifled with. There is no fear in her, only a quiet, steady readiness. A self-assurance born of experience rather than arrogance. The air of someone who has experienced many trials and come out the stronger for it lingers about her. That same poise makes her very difficult to impress.
Conversely, Sigyn retains the gentleness that Thomas has thrust from his being. Though she cannot be called kind, precisely, there is something about her that says she is fair and no stranger to compassion. Her morals remain uncompromised, though she herself is uncompromising. This doe is a noble Guardian and a proud one, though not one eaten by arrogance. Her presence exudes the kind of safety that one might associate with a well-armed knight.
Important People:
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 2:54 pm
The Choosing
 Thomas Avery was often given to whims. He was not ashamed of it, but neither did he appreciate being a slave of anything – least of all compulsions that other forces thrust upon him. Forces like the siren-call of the Ward Tree whispering in his dreams. Occasionally contrary for the sake of being contrary, he was adamant not to give in. Of course, this had as much to do with the fact that Guardians had been all but unheard of for centuries and his new responsibility for Victoria as his need to control his own fate.
Eventually, however, as all Chosen know, the call became impossible to resist.
Without a word to anyone, he left the manor and ventured forth to find its source. The only one who was at all concerned by this particular jaunt was his sister, who was not accustomed to him leaving without saying a word to her.
The call did not leave him completely without his senses, but he spent so much energy resisting it every step of the way that the journey lasted rather longer than perhaps it should have and he was greatly unconcerned with anyone that might have crossed his path.
And the Tree itself? He was not so arrogant as to say he was unaffected by its majesty and power. However, he was considerably more resentful than awed.
“Well, here I am,” he told it. “Your newest servant, come at your bidding. Am I all that you hoped for? I would so hate to disappoint. After all, they tell such legends of your warriors. Your heroes. I can scarcely imagine myself as one of them.” The only reply he received was an increased urge to seek out a very specific fruit from amongst the Tree’s many branches. He scoffed, then gave a sardonic bow. “As you will it.”
The climb did not take terribly long. Thomas was long of limb and plenty athletic. When he found the little doe and held her in his hand, he tried his very best to be standoffish. However, he could not find it in his heart to truly reject her. The Tree, however, earned only a mocking salute on his way out of the clearing.
It seemed there would be a new member in his little family.
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 3:05 pm
The Companion  Gertrude
Meaning: It is a derived from Germanic elements and means "spear of strength".
Nicknames: n/a
Gender: Female
Age: Adult
Appearance: Her feathers are white and dark grey. Her beak and talons are black. Her eyes are golden.
Mate: None
Obtained: Gift
History:
Hatched in the family mews, Gertrude was originally intended to be Mathew's raptor. However, he mishandled her and grew angry when she lashed out at him. Though he wanted to have her killed, Thomas intervened. With a great deal of time and patience, he succeeded in gentling her to his hand. She is a fine hunter.
About:
After being nearly broken by mishandling, Gertrude is not a gentle bird. She is fierce and vicious, only tolerating Thomas's touch. She is not the least bit trusting of other humans, and is only marginally more tolerant of some animals. She does, however, like Sigyn well enough.
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Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 3:11 pm
Ravensgate
A proud, grey stone manor, Ravensgate is less artful than some homes but it has a quiet, if somewhat forbidding, elegance. It stands upon the slightly elevated ground at the crest of a modest hill and overlooks wide, gently rolling plains. It is bordered, however, by a forest to the east. To the rear of the manor is the stable, the mews, and the carriage house. To the west lies the cook's herb garden, and a lovely English flower garden. Sprawled out upon the plains in front of the manor is a large, if somewhat neglected, vineyard. One must use the path carefully carved through them to reach the manor at all.
The Key Staff:
• Silvester Slade: The Steward. As the manager of Ravensgate, Mister Slade has a heavy burden on his shoulders. However, a clever man of middling age, he is more than up to the task of managing the servants and working to bring the vineyard back to life.
• Nial Walmsley: The Butler. As chief of the household staff, Niall holds a no-nonsense attitude and often appears aloof, looking down his nose at any comer. His hair is sprinkled with grey and he looks rather hawkish.
• Beatrice McClellan: The Cook. A plump, older woman, she can make a mouthwatering dish out of even the simplest ingredients. However, she is also a persnickety thing and will allow no one in her kitchen save her staff. Though she never smiles or appears in good humor, anyone with eyes to see can tell that she does care for Thomas like her own kin.
• Patience Yates: The Housekeeper. A tall, severe-looking woman, the maids jump at her slightest command. She takes her duties most seriously.
• Stephen Webb: The Valet. Only a few scant years older than Lord Thomas, Mister Webb is an easygoing man who has nonetheless earned a position of as much trust as any servant could boast with the lord. Perhaps his attitude, which is rather relaxed in comparison, is what drew the lord to him in the first place. More than capable of fulfilling his duties, he can sometimes even blunt Thomas's sharp edges.
• Walther Vann: Head Gardener. Though it is true that Ravensgate possesses a modest English garden, his chief duty is working closely with Mister Slade and Lord Thomas himself to bring the vineyard back to life.
• Ramsey Brown: Head Groom. Perhaps because of his Lord Thomas's Guardian, the estate does not possess many horses. However, there are a few on hand that need tending, and the lord's kingshawk also needs care - though the lord most often sees to that himself. Mister Brown has care of the animals and those that help him tend them.
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Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 2:53 pm
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