–– i believe that is philippa bartek , the lady of iilryia . they are 30 years old and are known to be very capable & kind, though they can also be very fretful & secretive . they remind me of the crackle of a hearth fire , flowers that dare to bloom admidst the snow , and sorrows hidden behind bright smiles & enduring kindness .
CHARACTER BASICS
NAME : lady philippa bartek NICKNAMES : pippa OCCUPATION / TITLE : lady of illyria , lady - in - waiting to queen anja ryback GENDER : cis female AGE: 30 BIRTHPLACE: illryia , the dukedom of baden CURRENT RESIDENCE : the royal palace , illyria MORAL ALIGNMENT: true good MYER’S BRIGGS TYPE: the defender , isfj-t
a defender (isfj) is someone with the introverted, observant, feeling, and judging personality traits. these people tend to be warm and unassuming in their own steady way. they’re efficient and responsible, giving careful attention to practical details in their daily lives.the defender personality type is quite unique, as many of their qualities defy the definition of their individual traits.
though sensitive, defenders have excellent analytical abilities; though reserved, they have well-developed people skills and robust social relationships; and though they are generally a conservative type, defenders are often receptive to change and new ideas. as with so many things, people with the defender personality type are more than the sum of their parts, and it is the way they use these strengths that defines who they are.
PERSONALITY: compassionate , supportive, bold , stubborn , outspoken, patient , reliable, observant , loyal , pragmatic , reticent , highly-emotional , repressive , struggles in silence , reluctant , altruistic .
AFFILIATIONS
FAMILY: FATHER : leopold bartek ( father ) MOTHER : eleonora bartek ( mother ) SIBLINGS : leopold bartek ii ( older brother ) karolina bartek ( older sister ) PARTNER : n / a “widowed” CHILDREN: daughter , karolina - 6 years old ( secretly a bastard ) LOYALTIES: queen anja ryback ( best friend )
PHYSICAL DETAILS
PREFERRED HAND: right handed EYE COLOR: blue HAIR COLOR: dark brown SKIN TONE: fair COMPLEXION: clear BUILD: petite HEIGHT: 5′1
PERSONAL / MISCELLANEOUS DETAIL / TIDBITS
honestly , she’s pretty fearless. she’s developed a strong backbone & an ability to act under pressure . she speaks her mind regardless of the consequences.
she leads with kindness above all things. compassion is at her very core.
she has a knack for learning and disseminating information - she’s very clever.
TBA
HEADCANONS & DEVELOPMENTS - BIO
tw for preganancy and childbirth
philippa was born the youngest daughter to lord & lady bartek , of middling means and nobility , their greatest claims to fame were related to the services they provided to the duke & duchess of baden . be it in the position of advisor to his grace , or a companion to her grace , the bartek name was secured by association . when the duchess fell pregnant only a few months after lady bartek , it was clear that their daughters would follow in their footsteps . and so , philippa grew up side by side to the lady anja denholm . she received the finest education a lady could , and found a friend and companion in the lady she would one day serve . her childhood was pleasant enough , spent at anja’s side .
her parents , while dedicated to their positions , also had high expectations for the futures of their children . from a young age , they were trying to scope out prospective marriages for their children . by the time pippa’s turn came around , fate changed unexpectedly . war struck , and a union was struck between the denholms and the rybacks. anja was to be queen of illyria , and pippa would not leave her side . instead, she traveled with her friend , vowing her service as a lady - in - waiting to the queen to be . fully devoted to anja , philippa did not think twice about what her life could have been.
until she did . a visiting noble made way for a flirtation , that sparked into a romance. sheltered as philippa had been , she thought she knew what love was when she felt it . and she did . she loved the man , terribly . so terribly , in fact that she found her way into his bed . the following month , she realized her courses had stopped & her very reputation was in peril.
anja , whom she had served for so long , was the first to her rescue . together , they told no one of her amorous affair . in the throes of war , they were able to concoct a cover story . a quick , orchestrated , and false marriage was sold amongst the court. it was a farce - a private ceremony between a non-existent soldier & his love before he was sent to the battlefield , the hopes that he would return to a lady wife and a child. it was a LIE , but her reputation was in tact . as the death toll increased , pippa played the part of a grieving widow ( with extreme guilt ), and gave birth to a ‘legitimate’ daughter.
the two swore secrecy about the entire event , though the weight hangs heavily on pippa’s shoulders. she is eager now , more than ever , to be a loyal and dutiful lady to her queen . ( MORE TBA )
WANTED CONNECTIONS
friends & allies - self explanatory
potential love interest : though phllippa believes her sole duty is to her daughter and her queen , the thought of a great love has not been lost on her. she tries to put it out of her mind , knowing her secrets are too great.
former love interest / father of karolina : this character would have been the true father of philippa’s daughter , and is a nobleman of some rank. pippa was ( and perhaps is still ) in love with him. whether he knows about the child & their current dynamic is up to plotting
frenemies
colleagues & associates
someone who knows philippa has been keeping the secret of karolina’s parentage for years , it would be interesting to have a character who figured it out. perhaps they would want to use that information against her?