#swynrosasbio

[halfawitch-willow]

NAME: Willow Beristhorne HOMETOWN: Selva Hollow, the Enchanted Forest OCCUPATION: Garden-talent, currently a prisoner (Thanks, MATT) LOYALIST/REBEL/OTHER: Rebel

Willow has always existed in opposites.

Her mother the garden-talent on one side, her father the city oracle on the other. The enchanted forest and her Hollow on one side, la Ciudad de Rosas on the other.

Fairy on one side, sorcerer on the other.

She spent most of her childhood in the forest, helping her mother forage and grow mushrooms and berries for the Hollow. It was hard getting around as a half-fairy without wings, but with her pet bat Pinecone and bumblebee Clover to help her, she made do. Her father would visit them occasionally in the forest, bringing gifts and news from the kingdom, but despite Willow’s curiosity would never take her with him to visit. At least, he didn’t until she was older.

Disguising herself as her father’s visiting niece, Willow began to explore Ciudad de Rosas as a young teen. While she hadn’t inherited her father’s gift for telling the future, she did inherit his talent for seeing Reagents, and used that talent to talk her way into spaces for sorcerers so she could learn more about this other side of her heritage. The city fascinated her, and soon she had a life for herself within the walls of Ciudad. One foot in both worlds.

(She’d considered making her wish at eighteen, like some of the other fairies had, but it felt too permanent. Like she would be severing herself from the forest if she took that last step. She didn’t attend the ceremony.)

Her ease at moving between both spaces caught the attention of the rebellion, and soon she was acting as a courier; bringing supplies and letters between the city and forest. It was during one of these runs, accompanied by another half-fairy that had joined the rebellion more recently, that Willow found herself being captured and sent to the dungeons to await execution.

Will the rebels make it to her in time?

[bullseye-stoddard]

NAME: William "Bullseye" Stoddard HOMETOWN: Originally from a faraway land, currently living in La Ciudad de Rosas OCCUPATION: Royal Stablemaster for King Magnifico YOUR WISH: N/A LOYALIST/REBEL/OTHER: Loyalist BIOGRAPHY:

William Stoddard was born and raised in a faraway land, living a peaceful life with his parents and helping to tend the family farm. His father taught him all he needed to know about caring for animals, and he also taught him the finer points of archery. His skill with the latter led to his father nicknaming him "Bullseye," which quickly stuck. Things went well until the day brigands came, destroying their farm and killing his parents. Bullseye was able to escape, but had nowhere to go, and he spent several long years doing anything he could to make a living.

Eventually, he was able to earn enough to buy a small plot of land of his own, and he married and started a family. Again things went well until the day brigands came. Only this time, they were not human brigands. They were vampires. Again Bullseye found his farm destroyed and his family taken from him, despite his best efforts to fight off the vampires. They could have killed him as easily as they had done to his wife and child, but his determination impressed the vampires, and they chose to turn him instead. But that was a fate worse than death for Bullseye, especially as the vampires forced him to become part of their outlaw gang, making him commit many awful acts as they embarked on a reign of terror.

Bullseye felt horrible for being party to this, and one day, he finally managed to escape from the vampires. He knew that they would never stop hunting him if he remained his homeland, nevermind the fact that he was ashamed to stay there knowing how many peoples' lives he had damaged or destroyed. So he took passage on a ship and eventually arrived in Rosas to start a new life, one in which no one knew what he really was or the terrible things he had done. In time, his skills with horses were noticed and he became the royal stablemaster for King Magnifico, and so he has been ever since, keeping his true nature secret and sticking to his vow never to hurt anyone again if he can help it.

[dr-drckken]

NAME: Drakken HOMETOWN: La Ciudad de Rosas OCCUPATION: Former servant in the castle, now full time prisoner YOUR WISH: Not Granted but he asked for Intellectus Magic (allows instant knowledge of anything by merely thinking about it) WHAT YOU GAVE UP: Offered his ability to read and write YOUR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE: Got thrown in prison LOYALIST/REBEL/OTHER: Prisoner

BIOGRAPHY: The story of Andrew Lipsky is one long forgotten due to how unremarkable it is. There is no hero or action or quest to speak of. It was not worth repeating and has been lost to time. But it may take up a few seconds of entertainment in times of great boredom.

The boy had been born to a servant in the castle and became one, too. As a Mundus he endured ridicule and teasing by not only the nobles he worked for, but also by the Magicks that worked in the castle. He was not special in that regard. He was not special in any regard, which makes him a rather dull protagonist and why many do not enjoy this story. Like so many others, the boy was waiting for when his time would come to go before the King and ask for his wish.

Only the boy had not gone with the intention to ask for something that would help his lot in life, he had gone with the desire to outwit and outsmart everyone, including the King himself. Instead all he showed was outrage when his wish was denied. After his display he was dragged away never to be seen or thought about again. A boring ending for a boring boy.

No one cared to know that the story did not end there. That the boy was placed in the dungeons and has resided there for years. That the boy grew into a man. A man who has known and lost many in the dark depths below the castle, and who will welcome those that have been thrown in alongside him. He has forgotten most of his own story, but is always eager to ask his fellow prisoner for their own.

[mar-mar-marbles]

NAME: Marcy HOMETOWN: Selva Hollow OCCUPATION: Storyteller LOYALIST/REBEL/OTHER: Rebel BIOGRAPHY: Marcy was born with a Mundus mother. Her mother, who had no idea of the identity of Marcy’s father. She knew his name and what he looked like, but she didn’t know he was a fairy. Not until her daughter was born with pointed ears and sockets for wings. 

Already feeling shame for being a Mundus, her mother took her to Selva Hollow and left her on a tree stump, hoping the fairies would care for her. And they did. 

Marcy grew up always feeling a little different than the other fairies, but it didn’t bother her. She was always a little bundle of energy, loving to entertain wanderers in the woods with stories. 

Now that there are rebels around, marcy isn’t sure if she wants to be involved, but she tells them stories, and tells stories of the rebels to others who could be swayed to their cause, so maybe she is one of them. Oh well!

Lately as tensions have risen further, and Marcy has learned of her family outside of the hollow, she feels a little more inclined to help out the rebels. She’s not much of a fighter—though she’s pretty good with a bow and arrow—but she does her best to tell inspiring tales to keep spirits high and maybe use her Talent to infuse the rebels with a little bit of the strength of warriors past.

[starring-daisy]

NAME: Queen Daisy of Sanguisina HOMETOWN: Sanctus Sanguis, Sanguisina OCCUPATION: Queen YOUR WISH: N/A LOYALIST/REBEL/OTHER: Neutral

BIOGRAPHY: Being a queen suits Daisy O'Doogle well. Or at least, she likes to think so. If you ask her, Sanguisina has never been better off than it has been under the rule of herself and her wife. Not that she would say it whilst they're away for a state visit, but queens really are so much better than kings - so much more level-headed, so much more fair, and just. Less egotistical too, she's sure.

Although, perhaps some of that is due to their nature, too. The two queens of Sanguisina hold a dark secret, their sharp teeth and thirst for blood known only to each other. As far as Daisy is concerned, there's no reason for that to change. What their subjects don't know won't hurt them, after all.

And now she finds herself in Rosas with her wife, a state visit to assure the country of their alliance. Whether or not Daisy really believes in that... well, what does it matter? As long as they can keep up appearances and keep playing nice, everything will carry on without a hitch.

[copper-russell]

NAME: Copper Russell HOMETOWN: originally from the Riverlands, now lives in la Ciudad OCCUPATION: Healer YOUR WISH: To be able to heal people WHAT YOU GAVE UP: His father’s silver ring YOUR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE: Healing takes a physical toll on him, the scale of which depends on the scale of the injury/condition. He’s also become a bit of a hypochondriac LOYALIST/REBEL/OTHER: Neither – he isn’t particularly a rebel but he isn’t particularly a loyalist, but he could be tipped towards the rebels possibly

BIOGRAPHY: Copper grew up in the house that everyone in the village knew. They would knock on his door at all times of day or night, looking for his mother, for her potions and her poultices. She had no magic herself, but had studied a long time to make herself into a proper healer. Her remedies always worked, and she only ever charged what she knew they could afford. A good thing, then, that his father's work kept their family decently comfortable.

Until his father was gone, lost in an accident that his wife's healing couldn't fix. Copper swore then that one day, he too would be a healer, powerful enough to heal almost anything.

Hence, the wish. Hence handing over his father's silver ring, one of the few keepsakes Copper had. It was worth it, though. Nowadays, with merely a touch, he can heal just about anything. The toll it takes on him, the weakness, and lethargy... those are unfortunate side effects. But still, worth it. Worth it if no one has to go through what he went through, before.

He stayed in la Ciudad after his wish was granted, working to keep a roof over his mother's head whilst she continues her own work. He has his regular customers now, those who come to him at the slightest sniffle or cough. He knows certain secrets, too, things people confess on what they think is their deathbed, or things he learns through offering his services. But Copper is good at keeping all that to his chest; after all, he's really only interested in healing. Most of the time, anyway.

[santa--mozzarella]

NAME: Giulia Marcovaldo HOMETOWN: la Ciudad, originally from the coast of the Stargazing Plains OCCUPATION: Shop girl at Starbird Bread & Bake shop YOUR WISH: To always have good luck WHAT YOU GAVE UP: The pearl necklace she was given as a child YOUR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE: Her good fortune seems to cause others around her to have bad luck, or to at least have worse luck than she does LOYALIST/REBEL/OTHER: Neutral

BIOGRAPHY: On the day she was born, Giulia's mother presented the little girl with a string of pearls. Too big for her now, of course, but it was tradition to give them - pearls collected by herself, and by other selkies in the deep seas off the coast of the Stargazing Plains. Giulia had never ventured out that far before, and still hasn't to this day. Spending too long in her seal-skin is a risk. The life of a selkie isn't quite as bad as that of the mer-folk, but it's still better to keep it a secret, her mother used to say.

So when it was time to make her wish, Giulia was torn. She had magick already, but she was reluctant to share that with anyone. So what did you wish for, so that people didn't begin to wonder? Life in the Stargazing Plains was not always easy. But with some good fortune, things might be a little easier for herself and her parents.

And so Giulia gave away that pearl necklace. She returned home. And that was when the disasters started.

Small things at first - her mother burning the supper, her father not catching much when he went out fishing. But when an accident on the boat cost her father his hand, Giulia knew her own good fortune was dragging down those around her. Without very many other options, she decided to leave for la Ciudad. She found herself a job, and she sends back as much money as she can to her parents whilst still making ends meet. She likes life in the city, but she misses home, and she misses the sea even more. If, perhaps, there was a way to reverse her wish, then maybe she could go home. But surely to do so would be an act of treason...

[trackedbymaximus]

NAME: Captain Maximus Keaton HOMETOWN: la Ciudad de Rosas OCCUPATION: Captain of the Kingsguard YOUR WISH: Always alert to danger, incapable of being surprised WHAT YOU GAVE UP: Sense of taste YOUR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE: Increasing loss of appetite over the years, he’s had to create a lot of structures to guarantee he has enough nutrients to do his job well LOYALIST/REBEL/OTHER: Loyalist

BIOGRAPHY:

Maximus Keaton always knew that he would take his place in defense of the palace. Both of his parents had prestigious roles in the palace guard, but he dreamed even higher. He didn’t have the nobility to be a knight, but he didn’t need to be. He didn’t want to travel elsewhere to solve problems. The king was right here, and he needed defending for everything he had given to Rosas. Even better, his childhood sweetheart would be able to make her wish at the same time as him, and they would be able to live their dreams together. 

Except her dreams took her far away from town. Far away from him. Bitter and hurt, Maximus refocused all his attention on being the best at his job he could be. He made sure his wish would give him what he needed to rise to the top. What was a little sacrifice in the face of that?

Sure enough, his new gifts and his own dedication meant that he rose through the ranks. There are very few who can match his skill with a blade, and his ability to catch rebels and assassins is starting to reach the borderline mythical. Now the safety of the King himself is Maximus’s responsibility, and he takes it seriously. He has little else in his life, few friends and no hint of romance after the one he’d lost, but it didn’t matter. His senses tell him the danger is rising and he needs to be ready.