Aerana Dantay
From RavenholdtWiki
| Aerana Dantay | |
|---|---|
Empress of the Twilight Empire | |
| Guild | Twilight Empire |
| Race | Human |
| Class | Mage |
| Faction | Alliance |
| Profession(s) | Tailoring/Enchanting |
| Age | 23 |
| Player | |
Contents |
[edit] Description
[edit] Physical Description
The basics:
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 130lbs.
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Dark Brown
Hair Length: Falls to her shoulders
In Depth: Aerana's stance is one of grace, though not the inherent grace of one born to nobility. Instead it is the grace that comes with years of leadership, years of making mistakes and learning from them. She is neither short nor tall, but rather average in both her height and her weight. Her deep sapphire eyes often exude a calmness, an inner tranquility that comes with an unshakable conviction in one's values and vision. Falling to her shoulders, her deep brown hair is lustrous enough to be attractive, but not immaculate enough to suggest that she spends much time paying attention to it.
She can often be found in a long robe, elegant in its simplicity. During formal ceremonies, her robes are often of much higher quality, more elegant and befitting someone of her station. Her sapphire battle robes are spotted with gems to augment her power. The gems are highlighted by golden threads, woven in an intricate tapestry of runes.
Her voice is quiet, carrying with it a hint of authority when the situation calls for it.
Overall, Aerana's appearance is a balance between the young woman she is and the leader she is expected to be.
[edit] Personality
Aerana's personality is as versatile as her many roles in life. She is able to adapt to numerous situations, usually in an attempt to put those around her at ease.
As Empress: Empress Aerana Dantay commands easily with an air of authority. Her voice projects a confidence throughout the guildhall, even if she may not feel such complete confidence. She understands that as a leader, she must be a person that others have faith in and respect for. Thus she maintains a professional air at all times, slow to anger and quick to mediate. As head of the Twilight Empire, her vocation is her passion.
As an ArchMage: As a mage of the highest order, Aerana is confident in her powers and continually seeks to learn more and delve deeper into the Arcane. In the rare moments of spare time that she has, she can often be found sitting in the Park, an old tome resting on her lap as she sits and contemplates the words she just read. She is more than willing to share what she has learned in her travels and during her long with her younger Magi brethren.
She's progressed rather quickly through her training, which can be attributed to her voracious appetite for learning combined with her passion to do what is best for the Empire. Knowing that the Empire deserved an Empress knowledgable in her field of study, she devoted herself to the arts of the Magi with a single-mindedness that surprised many.
As a Friend: Despite her many duties, Aerana strives to maintain the many friendships that she's made over the years. She can often be found sitting outside the Blue Recluse, catching up with an old acquaintance. Being very understanding and empathic, she finds herself a friend to many. As such, she bears their burdens on her shoulders, which, added to her other duties, can be quite tiring.
Because of her role as a leader and caretaker of the Empire, she often assumes this same role in her many friendships. She rarely complains to those she speaks to, instead keeping her emotions largely to herself. Perhaps this stems from her perception that she should always be seen as a leader, as the stronger person. But the listening ear that she provides to other's, along with the willing advice and offers to do what is necessary to help them nevertheless make her what many would term as "a good friend."
As an Enemy: Though Aerana can claim few enemies, being a leader it is inevitable that many will stand against her. Those who stand against her vision or harm those who stand under the banner of Twilight will find Aerana an implacable foe, capable of many harsh and stinging assessments. But words are not all that Aerana has against her enemies; she also has power and the willingness and intelligence to employ it wisely. She is not easily swayed by pretty words or false pretenses, though there are times that she has fallen prey to such tactics. However, much as she attained her power, she can hunt her foes with a single-mindedness that astonishes those around her.
[edit] Philosophy
"It is all a balance."
Aerana's philosophy is truly one of balance. She continually seeks to understand the psychological mechanisms behind a person's behavior. She is a leader who believes that all people make mistakes and thus deserve the chance to redeem themselves. Some might call her soft or weak, but she would ask of them why they allow the harshness of the world to warp their perceptions. There is a balance to maintain in all things: Peace and war, love and hate, compassion and strength, mercy and discipline.
[edit] Roleplay
Because Aerana is the Guild Master of a roleplay guild, it is very rare that you will find her acting Out of Character (OOC). She roleplays in most channels and endeavors to interact with others in such a manner (though it can be challenging when group with people who don't roleplay).
Her roleplay, much like her personality, changes with the situation. Most often, however, she wears the mantle of Empress and thus greets others with a small incline of her head. She does not look down on others, but neither does she stand for others looking down on her. In her eyes, titles must be earned, along with the respect that such titles carry with them.
[edit] Her Past
Part I: The book sat on her desk, solitary in its eloquent glory amidst the stack of mundane reports. The cover was bound by precious metals, accented with sapphires and other precious gems, making it one of the most valuable artifacts in her possession. Yet she had never contemplated getting is appraised. To her, it was more than a book...much more.
Runes danced in the open spaces of the cover, pulsing with a soft blue light that was reflected in her own eyes. Her pale finger softly touched a rune on the front of the tome, causing it to flare brightly for a moment before dimming to its customary soft glow. The finger moved softly across the cover, touching each rune in turn, forming an intricate pattern of glowing auras. A trail of frost followed the finger, delicate ice crystals creating their own rune on the cover. As the intricate ritual completed, the book flared brightly, bathing the room in a sapphire light.
Empress Aerana Dantay smiled softly as she felt the light encompass her, resonating with the power that dwelled within her. Picking the book up, she cradled it in her arms and she flipped the cover open.
Elegant golden runes flowed across the page, flaring brightly as her eyes passed over them. She walked over to the large window in her room, her shadow passing through the last rays of the sunlight as they illuminated her chambers. Standing there, the tome open in her arms, Aerana sighed softly, a wisp of frost exhaling from her mouth with the breath.
The Empress stood there for a while, bathed in the fading sunlight, the gems ornamenting her robes sparkling brightly with each subtle movement. Her hair, curling slightly at her shoulders and framing her young face, almost seemed to move as she stood there, as if some errant breeze danced among the strands. Her expression, usually calm with an undertone of warmth, seemed curiously devoid of emotion. For once, her facade dropped, the mantle of Empress falling to the floor, leaving only a young woman in its wake.
And the young woman, Aer to those who knew her best, began to cry. It was not a storm of sobs and wailing, but rather the soft trickle of tears leaving rivulets down her cheeks. Even bereft of all that made her a leader, the girl was dignified and graceful. And very much alone. Her life had been a straight path, leaving her little choice but to follow those orders she had been given. They were not tangible orders, but rather orders written upon her heart, leading her to a destiny she had never before imagined. From a young girl, to a Mage, and finally...to an Empress. All within the span of a few years.
Such a path left her little chance to pursue personal relationships. Even friendships became part of a the game that had enveloped her life. She closed her eyes, remembering the night in Stormwind...It seemed like forever ago.'''''''''
We sat in a circle, the hard wooden chairs causing us to continually shift our weight in search for comfort. There were ten of us that night, gathered in the dimly lit room in Old Town. Rosamunde, a traveler I had met on my journey to Northshire to attend the small funeral of her mother, stood up to speak. My eyes were dry now, whereas earlier that day they had been wet with tears. But they were not bitter tears, for my mother deserved peace, even if it was peace in death. Since the death of my father in a lumbering accident, she had been a lost soul, walking the plane of reality only for my sake. And even then, she didn't walk it well. Her mind was often elsewhere during those years, lost in the past. Some days she would talk to my father, as if he sat at the dinner table with us. And on others, she would wail and moan, crying for days on end. During those times, the Brothers of the Abbey cared for me, ensuring that I was safe while she was incapacitated. Her death was truly her release, one she allowed for herself as soon as she knew that I would be able to make my way in the world. Having recently completed my studies at the Magi Enclave in Stormwind, I finally had a future. The day of my success was the day I traveled to Northshire, to her funeral.
My train of thought was broken by Rosamunde's voice.She was a talkative woman, boisterous and somewhat eccentric, seeing enemies in every shadow. Her voice was fierce as she gave her speech, decrying the failure of the governments across Azeroth to protect their citizens.
"The governments across Azeroth are failing in their service to the people. Beset on all sides,they do not have the resources to protect those who look to them for safety. Innocents are dying, their cries for help going unanswered. And yet, the soldiers only prepare for war. The march of war drums are heard throughout the land. So blind! So blind are we! Can we not see that peace is the way to bring about healing for the land?" Her bright eyes scan the gathered crowd, looking in turn at each of the individuals gathered there.
"But we see! We are not blinded by hatred, by greed, by malice! We see and we will change it. We will gather together, form our own society. We will prevail. But we must have one to leave us - one untouched by greed, pure from the trappings of power, willing to devote everything to those who follow. I cannot and I will not. I am the gatekeeper of the power, to ensure that our leader doesn't become corrupt. But, who among you will lead us?"
The room was silent as each of us look around. I had known nothing of this gathering before Northshire. It was there that Rosamunde had watched me at my mother's funeral, taking my arm afterwards and telling me of her ideas. I had agreed to come here tonight, if only to see what this group of people had in mind. Their vision was one that resonated with me, a vision that I had cultivated during my time in Stormwind amidst my studies.
Silence continued to reign in the room. All expressions were solemn, pensive. Finally, a Kal'dorei stood, his long emerald hair falling past his shoulders. His eyes, glowing a soft amber, swept across the room. When he spoke, his voice deep voice carried with it an overpowering sense of power that comes only from lifetimes of experience.
"I have sat among you, listening to your wishes for the future. My spirit resonates with the sentiments expressed, for I sense that we are guided by something beyond ourselves. I have observed all of you, studied and watched your habits upon entering this room. There is one who has stood out. Her demeanor is unassuming, yet holds within in a penchant for grace and authority. Her voice, the little she's spoken, has been soft and reasoned. Her fervor is dim, unlikely to incite chaos yet more than able to softly convince others of what she believes." The Kal'dorei paused, taking in a deep breath.
"The path of this Order will not be easy. We call ourselves an Empire for the vision we share, yet we are but ten individuals. Nevertheless, we must have a strong leader, one who can carry the vision forth. She is that leader."
I looked up, my eyes betraying my shock when I saw that long finger pointed at me, his amber eyes affixed on my own hazel eyes.
The others looked at me and nodded. The room began to fill with the soft sound of "Aye."
Rosamunde's expression bore a quirky smile as she looked at me. Her eyes glimmered, though I couldn't fathom with what emotion. Not then...
Before I knew what was happening, each of the individuals had fallen to their knees, their heads bowed before me.
"Aerana, you are now our leader. We are the Twilight Empire. And you are our Empress."
The Empress looked up from the book, watching the last of the golden runes form itself in the book, forming the final words. She nodded to herself as her eyes briefly scanned the text that was absent only a moment before. She had said that she would write the history of Twilight. And so, it had begun.
Part II:
She sighed softly as she stared out over the courtyard, unconsciously biting her lower lip as she tried to formulate the words that would come next. So much had happened that it would be difficult to remember it all, to faithfully dictate the history of the Empire into this tome. But nevertheless, all that could be remembered must be written down. And so she would. For to write it within the Tome was to submit it into the annals of history, to be remembered forever. Her sapphire gaze returned to the ornate book and her fingers once again lightly touched its supple pages. Closing her eyes, she envisioned the next chapter of the Empire, the formulation of the foundation upon which Twilight would stand.
The light breeze brought the sweet smell of the flowers growing not too far away. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply and relaxing my shoulders. Rosamunde was always telling me that my shoulders looked so tense. “It’s not befitting of a leader to appear so anxious. You must pretend that you are in complete control of everything. There are people that are jealous of what you are amassing. It will not be long before they start to send spies, you know….”
And she would continue in this vein for hours, talking about the dangers of other Orders and how she knew that they were planning to test us. I sighed, shaking my head. Rosamunde seemed to know so much about the world, about the machinations of the political game, about the leaders of other orders…And yet her foretelling always seemed so dark and full of deception.
“Aerana, are you listening to me?” Rosamunde asked, giving me a despairing look.
“Yes, my dear Advisor, of course I am listening,” I replied softly, using her title. The subtle reminder of her power within the Empire seemed to please her and she nodded.
“Good. The other Founders will soon arrive. This is an important evening. Tonight we will write the official charter of the Empire!” She smiled brightly then, her eyes once again gleaming with a strange light.
“Of course,” I replied, looking down at my notes. It would indeed be a momentous evening, for there was much to discuss, much t o solidify. Many small movements had surfaced in these tumultuous times. Most had failed, their members falling away. I remember wondering if the Empire was doomed to such a fate. I bit my lower lip, tapping the tip of my pen against my chin.
The evening hour approached and slowly the other Founders began to gather, each one bowing before me before seating themselves. Even now I remember the blush that rose in my cheeks to be accorded such an honor. For I was nothing but a girl – a naïve girl at that. But when I had spoken of it, Rosamunde had remonstrated me, reminding me that if order were not kept when the Empire was small, there would be no hope of creating order once the Empire had grown.
“You must make them respect you Aerana. Perhaps even fear your power,” she said, nodding slowly to herself. Though I did not tell her at that time, I knew that I was not one to rule through such tactics. After all, there was little that was intimidating about me. I ran my fingers self-consciously through my hair as Rosamunde began speaking.
“As the Royal Advisor to Empress Aerana, I have undertaken it as my duty to teach her those things that she must know if this is to succeed. She will face many trials, confront many tests,” here she smiled before continuing, “But before those things, we must decide upon the course of Empire.”
The others gathered nodded. And so the conversation began, timidly at first growing quickly into a proper political discourse, complete with raised voices and red faces. I sat back, listening carefully to the diverse opinions presented, the reasoning behind them all the while keep in mind the vision of the Empire. As the night progressed, the lines were clearly drawn. Half of the group wished for the Empire to be a peaceful organization, eschewing all weapons and battles in favor of bringing peace with their words. The others wished for a militant Empire with a highly trained military that would quell all opposition and defend the vision most ardently.
I frowned, looking at the two roads. Looking up, I noticed that Rosamunde was watching me closely. I returned the look for a moment before standing. The chatter died slowly and finally silence reigned as they waited for me to speak. I cleared my throat nervously, wondering if I were being too idealistic with my next words.
“I know little of the machinations of the world and whether this course of action or another will crush our vision,” I said, my voice tentative and soft. “But I do know this. When we gathered last night, we talked of peace. We spoke of something better than what is present now. And I say that we can not so easily give up on that vision merely because it would be difficult to follow it.” Their eyes watched me as I continued to talk and slowly, miraculously, they began to nod, agreeing with me. As the night progressed, the shape of the Empire truly took place and our words were written upon a Declaration of the Empire.
Aerana looked up from the Tome, the last of the golden runes fading softly into the parchment. Her attention was captured by another piece of parchment, one that hung behind her desk, elegant in its simplicty. Written on plain parchment in her familiar graceful handwriting, it outlined the Empire as the Founders had envisioned.
The Order of the Twilight Empire, is hereby gathered as a coalition for peace in the world and a community in which all may thrive while following their vocation and the Tenets of Twilight. Said Tenets are set forth so that all may know them and understand the vision of the Empire. To write herein the essence of the Empire is nigh impossible, and yet we shall endeavor to do just that.
The Twilight Empire is not an order of one land, one race, and one creed. For to limit ourselves by such constraints would deny the inherent value and beauty that is an integral facet of the Empire. We hail from all corners of Azeroth, standing together under the banner of Twiligh and the vision that unites us all.
Thus, the banner for Twilight shall be a banner that declares peace to all who approach in a peaceful manner. The wanton slaughter and cycle of hatred that so fiercely grips society is a sad condition that we shall seek to rectify. While hostilities rage across the land, decimating and destroying all in its path, the Empire shall work to heal old wounds and better the individuals who have been wounded by battles. To this end the Empire strives to promote diplomacy in all possible situations.
Yet we are not naïve of the realities of the world and it would be the utmost foolishness to eschew all methods of defense or protection. Therefore the Empire shall also stand as a bastion of hope to those who flee violence. Our forces will stand strong in order to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
To these difficult ends, the Empire shall create within itself two branches in order to better maintain the balance required between diplomacy and battle.
One branch shall promote the diplomacy of the Empire and endeavor to engender the soft spoken words of the diplomat within those that follow its path. This branch shall strive to create within the Empire a strong community of individuals who promote and support the bonds that hold the Empire together.
The other branch shall consist of those who swear their lives to the defense of the Empire. They shall be lead by a General who will enforce discipline upon them. This force shall protect the citizens of the Empire and ensure that the Empire is not overcome through violence.
These two branches shall culminate in a council that leads and guides the Empire. This Senate shall advise the Empress in matters concerning policy and war. The Senators of the Empire shall be the mediators of all disputes and ensure order within the Empire.
The Advisor (*later changed to Chancellor*) of the Empire shall serve at the sole discretion of the Empress and aid her in those tasks that she must undertake.
The Empress shall oversee the Twilight Empire and be the caretaker of the vision for the Empire. Her life belongs to the Empire and the care of the Empire falls upon her shoulders.
Thus the Twilight Empire is created with a vision and a structure. It shall serve hereafter as a bastion of hope for those who weary of the destruction of the world. Its path ts difficult but its vision is bright. The enduring vision of Twilight shall spread throughout the land and grow into a thriving order that will hereafter change the face of the world as it is known.
As her eyes read over the words, she couldn’t help the soft smile that came to her lips. If only the Founders could see the path of the Empire now, to see how the vision thrived within the hearts of its citizens. ‘It shall not be forgotten,’ she murmured quietly to herself, her hand resting upon the Tome.
Tomorrow…tomorrow she would begin again.
