aiysha hart, 30, vasilisa constantinovna. ❝ ⤚⟶ ENGLAND, 1458… can’t you see VASILISA CONSTANTINOVNA, the GRAND DUCHESS from RUSSIA coming this way? they are at best CHARITABLE, and at their worst OBSTINATE. whilst residing in england, their ambition is to PROMOTE THE INTERESTS OF THE TSARDOM. SHE seems to remind everyone of AIYSHA HART & NEAT STACKS OF LONG LETTERS, RICH JEWELRY TONES. ❞
hello everyone! i am riina (she/her) and i will be playing vasilisa! i would love to plot with each and every one of you so don’t hesitate to message me here or on discord @ riina#8669!
name: vasilisa constantinovna.
age: thirty.
birthday: february 4th.
place of birth: kazan, the golden horde, later the khanate of kazan. modern day tatarstan, the russian federation.
vasilisa was born in the golden horde and grew up in the khanate of kazan after the khanate was founded by its first khan. the daughter of a russian mother whose wealthy and influential family had converted to islam & relocated to the golden horde generations before, and an arab father, she was given the name fatima in birth and was brought up in her parents’ muslim faith.
while her early years were a far cry from the glitz and glamour of her current life, she didn’t have to go without as a child as her father was the khan’s religious instructor and a trusted member of the cabinet council, thus enjoying all the things that come with a high rank and the ability to influence the ruler. there were even talks that vasilisa would be married to the khan’s son. that obviously did not happen.
she was fortunate enough to be blessed with a fairly good education. as kazan had trade relations with moscow, crimea, the ottoman empire and numerous other regions, vasilisa was brought up with a decent understanding of different cultures and customs. she was a curious child and grew up learning a handful of different languages. her russian is absolutely immaculate but she still misses being able to express herself in tatar and arabic.
she left kazan during her teens, first for novgorod, followed by moscow where she received further education. she was accompanying a high-ranking member of the russian aristocracy as a lady-in-waiting when she met andrei constantinovich, a grand duke of russia and her now husband. she converted to russian orthodoxy and received the name vasilisa before their marriage took place.
vasilisa enjoys writing long, winding letters and is constantly writing to at least two to three people. she’s also a big fan of religious literature and owns quite the collection. her personal beliefs have been influenced by both her muslim upbringing and her conversion to orthodox christianity.
while she misses her family and homeland, vasilisa has come to embrace the russian way of life and is incredibly loyal to her adopted country. she’s careful not to praise the khanate in polite company.
while far from cold or emotionless, vasilisa can appear quite stoic and prefers not to discuss anything even remotely private with anyone outside of her family or close group of friends. that being said, she’s warm and loving with those she trusts. she’s glad to talk about big concepts and matters of the world with most people as long as she doesn’t feel pressured to open up about her emotions or personal matters.
chris hemsworth, 35, alexander rurikids. ❝ ⤚⟶ ENGLAND, 1458… can’t you see ALEXANDER RURIKIDS, the TSAR OF RUSSIA from RUSSIA coming this way? they are at best PROUD, and at their worst BRUTAL. whilst residing in england, their ambition is to STRENGTHEN RUSSIA’S INFLUENCE IN ENGLAND - THROUGH DIPLOMACY OR OTHERWISE. HE seems to remind everyone of CHRIS HEMSWORTH & A LION WITH THE TEMPER OF A THUNDERSTORM❞ penned by CAIT
Tsar Alexander was born the oldest son into a dynasty wrought with iron, steel, might, power, threaded carefully into the seams of Russia. Born as a lion, with the ability to roar enough to command the masses, the short temper of a wild animal, the hardness his ancestors before him had worked so hard to instil, Alexander’s main purpose in life has always been to bring glory to Russia. Be it fortune, luxury, intrigue, intimidating strength, he is tireless in his attempts to establish Russia as a superpower amongst - even above - the world’s most influential kingdoms.
Brutal, and calculating, he can be charming if need be, for beneficial gain. Thus, he was wed to England’s princess, Eleanor, at only sixteen years of age. There has always been disproval of such a union between the two countries within Russia’s people, the tsar detested the idea initially when the English flower came to court - but eventually he fell into a deep love with his bride. Although, he is a man of passion and still delves in affairs of the flesh, he currently has four children with her, his pride and joy the Tsarevich Alexei. The court is full of wealth, beauty, luxury. The tsar’s unyielding hubris can, at times, be suffocating.
Still, he grows weary of the English, and his people show no love for the country. Now that the Plantagenet matron has passed, he comes to England with two outcomes in mind. Highlight how truly vulnerable the country is without an heir, and how much they will depend on Russia, or eliminate them as a threat. Show them who to be subservient to.
❝ ⤚⟶ ENGLAND, 1458… can’t you see JANE ROCHFORD, the DUCHESS OF SUSSEX from ENGLAND coming this way? they are at best POLITICALLY SAVVY, and at their worst JEALOUS. whilst residing in england, their ambition is to PUSH HER HUSBAND TO GAIN MORE LANDS, TITLES AND WEALTH. SHE seems to remind everyone of LILY JAMES & RARE JEWELS, TEMPTING DANCES AND HARDENED MARZIPAN. ❞
The Rochford family were moderately popular in English society and around the court. Their wealth was ever-growing, but their power was limited. Her father was a well-respected individual, even-tempered and intellectual, and her mother had been a French noblewoman with a bounty of money. Their marriage was forged on love, a rare commodity for the time. Her father had been visiting friends in France and met her mother, a woman who certainly knew how to use her words. From their love, they bore seven children, six boys and one very precious jewel - Jane.
There was a dangerous sparkle to Jane’s eyes and despite her demure appearance, there were many thorns which were concealed by the soft petals of her porcelain skin. As a child most found her sweet and endearing, her mother made certain of that. Throughout the years, Cosette de Ghent gave her only daughter many lessons on how to navigate the world. Her mother demanded her father to grant Jane to attend the same lessons as her brothers, while still learning feminine skills which were expected of her.
Jane had a talent for languages, she spoke French as though she had lived them, the lilt of her mother’s voice making it all the easier. She moved with the grace of a swan and learned when it was appropriate to hold her tongue. Jane found the perfect balance between being a charming woman, and using what was considered to be a man’s mind - but she believed she was far more clever than many of them. Cosette sent her daughter to court when she entered her teenage years, to be a part of one of the Princess’ household.
Her beauty was often remarked upon, and many dances were offered to her as feasts. Cosette would often send her letters informing her of the requests which had been sent to her father for her hand. He declined them all. John wanted the best for his only daughter, and he knew that while he was only a Baron, she could do much better for their family.
It would have been a lie to say that she was surprised when George Plantagenet started to show her attention. For a while, she had been subtly watching him, smiling coyly and learning all she could about the Royal Duke of Sussex. They were close in age and she believed that he was in need of a wife. He felt like security, and she had always had her eye on a prize ever since she was a little girl.
On her wedding day, Jane felt like a queen. It was a resplendent affair, her gown was gilded and sapphires shone from her swan-like neck, she laughed as her husband danced with her and subtly smirked at the courtiers who scowled at her fortune. She was once warned that once she had a taste of power, she would naturally only crave more. Her fingers had reached out to touch the heavens, and she desired to push her husband even closer.
Her marriage was first and foremost a partnership. However, she had always felt things deeply and much to her mother’s chagrin, found herself falling for her husband. Which made her eyes grown furious with envy, when she heard other’s speak of her husband’s attractiveness. She would rain down hell if he even dared to shame her.
Giving her husband an heir felt like security like she was fixing her position as a Royal Duchess and proved that the seed of the Plantagenet was still strong. She had thought to name her son Edward, but she could know if the King would feel honoured by his nephew having the same namesake, or bitter that he did not have a son of his own. Instead, her son was named Arthur.
After performing her duty as a wife and woman, Jane turned her attention back towards her family’s power. She wanted to make sure that George began to push his brother for more land, and prestige within England. Especially since it is expected that the Infanta of Aragon shall marry William, and be ahead of her in the English court, for the only woman to currently outrank her is Queen Catherine.
❝ ⤚⟶ ENGLAND, 1458… can’t you see ISABEL NEVILLE, the DUCHESS OF BEDFORD from ENGLAND coming this way? they are at best LOYAL, and at their worst HAUGHTY. whilst residing in england, their ambition is to GAIN MORE FAVOUR AND HAVE A CHILD. SHE seems to remind everyone of ELEANOR TOMLINSON & THE COLD OF THE FIRST SPRING DAY, HIDDEN TEARS AND STEEl GAZES. ❞
The Nevilles were always a proud, noble and ambitious family, her father in particular courted the favour of the King and stretched his fingers too close to the crown. He always considered himself invincible, believing that a royal friendship would keep him safe. When his first daughter was born, he promised her that the world would one day be her own. She was his favourite and snatched the spot in his heart, which left very little room for her sister.
Isabel was always the perfect lady, often to a fault. She stuck her nose up at others, especially those who were newly ennobled. The Neville’s had held titles for hundreds of years, and her father always impressed upon her the importance of a family name. Behind her back, people whispered that she was forged from ice and she had no warmth in her heart for anyone who didn’t have the Neville name. It was an unfair judgement, she thought. Despite appearances, Isabel was a loyal friend to those whom she liked and she always treated them well.
When she reached nine years, her father was tried for treason. Isabel always thought his enemies conjured falsehoods to bring down her beloved father. When her father was found guilty, the shame of his treachery was branded upon her - but she never left another see it. Isabel concealed her pain and put on a brave face, especially when her mother was requested to marry a lord loyal to the crown - likely to keep her in line.
In the years which followed her father’s execution, the Neville family regrouped and found their pride once more. Her mother’s marriage offered them a slight reprieve from the judgemental glances of others, who still condemned them for her father’s actions. Her step-father was a shield which they could find strength behind and while she offered him no daughterly love, she was always courteous enough.
It came as a surprise that a betrothal was arranged between her and the Duke of Bedford, even though she was a member of the old nobility. Isabel hoped that her marriage would grant her the freedom to be her own woman and to make a name for herself. She was always loyal to the memory of her father, and it was his strength and determination which ran through her veins.
Her marriage to Charles was disappointing. Perhaps, she was too cold towards him and was considered vapid, but she found herself unhappy in her marriage. A temporary peace came when she found herself with child - it was the promise that she had something to look forward to. But her pains came to early and she was left with nothing more than an empty bassinette.
In the months which followed her miscarriage, Isabel grew more distant from her husband and blamed him for it, even if it was not his fault - but she had wanted to blame someone.
Isabel is desperate to become pregnant again, to feel the sense of fulfilment and value which she derived from that experience. She also wants to be respected at court, to be coveted as others are. Secretly, she also hopes that she can make her marriage work, but that seems to be the most challenging task of them all.
