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Background
Raelyn Cassomir fame grew within Rivana as her time as Mistress of the Hunt for her successes with her Huntresses in important battles, including Goldhollow and Sunsreach and is famed as one of the countries best archers. Her family has suffered much at the hands of the Thorns, and it is them she fights the most for. Now, with her brother Jaren weded to the Rose Queen, she has role she never wanted: Viscountess of Ironhold.
Raelyn Renee Cassomir was the first daughter of Baron Aric and Baroness Mathilda Cassomir, born just a few months before Kingdom of Couviere gave land away and the Pacitta was formed. Much of her childhood was during the tail end of the Thirty Year war. Despite the fact, she was the first daughter and thereby heiress to a title even if she'd never inherit; she would be the Mistress of the Hunt. As her father, and eldest of brothers were away to war, she clung to those of her family who were near.And mostly, these were her two older brothers who were too young then to have gone off to war, and her mother.
She was, being the first daughter born to the family, somewhat spoiled. And, she was bright enough to take advantage of this, when and where she could, using her charm, her wits, and beguilement to weave favors mostly of her older brother Jaren, and certainly her mother. Thus, she was permitted, or forgiven, certain freedoms in the house, such as stealing away to watch her brothers train in physical combat and attempt to emulate them in toddler fashion. It was from them that she grew a fondness for fighting, the sublime artistry in swordplay, and physical combat. It was from her mother that she learned the more refined arts. Of how not to be heard, when walking in the woods, how to climb trees quickly. How to focus one's mind, to concentrate - the lessons starting young that would later be transferred into archery and swordplay. Yet these were not her only studies; music, history, and politics, among others were also a part of her regiment. But she counted herself lucky, and the few moments she had with her father, her eldest brothers she counted as special.
As Jaren was her favorite sibling, she felt both joy, and jealousy when he went off to be a Squire to the Royal Lancers, an emotion that only increased significantly when he was placed as guard of Lady Alysande Tracano. This, she hid away from most of her family - but her mother was too perceptive, knowing why her daughter fled into the woods for a full day, though sometimes taking (for good, or ill) her younger siblings with her. She was especially fond of ‘teasing’ her younger brother in the fashion only a big sister can. It was a good distraction. Only the knowledge that the Huntress' kept her daughter safe in silent vigilant watch gave her mother any peace, though. And it was at this time that Raelyn really began to form a bond with the outdoors, the woods. It was not just another avenue to play in, or a place to hunt. It, to her, every bit as her mother, her father, her siblings, became a part of her family. It would listen, accept, and not rebuke her. And it would teach her it's secrets, just as her family did and would, if she but listened, and remained attentive.
As an additional distraction to help her eldest daughter deal with the departure of her favorite sibling, Mathilda spoke to Renee to begin her training. Renee, Raelyn's Aunt and Mistress of the Hunt then began to teach intimately to Raelyn the subtle artistry of the bow and gave additional lessons beyond those she was already getting into dagger play; how to sneak and use the woods to her advantage in ways the young girl had not thought of. Renee had her spend time with the Huntresses that Raelyn would someday command as was her right so as to get to know them, their ways, and how to move among them and become accepted by them. The art and legacy of falconing was handed down to her, and the secrets of taming, and utilizing such wonderful birds. And, she grew to love them, not only for their beauty, their flight, their ability to hunt, but found a 'friend', as much as one can, in such an creature. Something not shared, but was hers, and hers alone.
When she was not overly busy with these things, Raelyn would oft play with her younger brother, oft teasing him or beating him in combat as is an elder sister's duty (or, so she would so often say). She would also often play with and attend to her younger sister whom she quickly grew fond of. She would allow her younger sister when the other wished to follow her to go with her on her explorations. Raelyn would watch out for her through the travels through the woods. She would also play music for entertainment for Emilila's pleasure. It was a fine time, and Emilia was the only other young girl in the House that Raelyn had an immediate bond with.
Still, she attended faithfully, all of Jaren's competitions, cheering for him, and spending time with him when she could and his duty allowed and time from her own intense training allowed. She trained with her slightly older brother, and took note of the way the winds were shifted. And, when Jaren took two crossbolts for Alysande, it was she who was at his bedside most, sometimes bringing her little sister, or her younger brother with her.
When her eldest brother, Matias fell along with Lord Arturo, it changed her. Something in her hardened, or perhaps the girl who was becoming the young woman realized the dangers and the seriousness in the war along with the nefarious politics her family had been invested in. It was no longer something that merely took her father and older brothers away. It was something real. Something viseral. It was something that her family had committed to; thus, was she so bound as well. The fact that her Aunt, the Mistress of the Hunt fell only a short time after the Battle of the Betrayer only solidified this in her; she had duty. To her people. And, to her family. To the Huntresses that she grew up with, who helped train her, and who looked upon her fondly.
She would not have that long to mourn. The Thorn invaded, and she was given word of it. With her Aunt perished only a short time before, she was now the Mistress of the Hunt - and those women who'd helped raise her, teach her, protect her, and those she'd trained with now looked to House Cassomir for leadership. It took all her effort and focus from her previous training to do so. She led well, though - the training provided the method to lead, to move forward, to fight. And at sixteen, she was bloodied, far earlier than what she should've been. She knew if she and the Huntresses did not hold the forces of the Thorn off, Ironhold would fall, or move into ruin. She managed to do so long enough through trickery, guile, subterfuge, and stealth - they using the woods and terrain they knew so well to their advantage to hold their ground without a full confrontation of the forces. They managed to do this long enough for Jaren to join her and together they managed to corral the invaders through pure strategy where her younger brother, newly-knighted, could lead his troops in and together the family joined together to put an end to the enemy forces.
The loss of her mother, someone so important to her, and the loss of their home, and even the loss of her falcon that she'd grown up with and learned to hunt with - all these losses in such a short time hit Raelyn quite hard. But, she kept this to herself, and instead internalized this to focus on becoming the best Mistress of the Hunt she could to honor those of her family she’d already lost, and to be the rock for Emilia that she felt she should be in her younger sister’s eyes, that Emilia needed. The warmth and friendship of the Archbishop Sirrah Lancella to the family helped diminish that some by helping her to realize that she was not alone.
When she was not spending time with her younger sister, exploring and pointing the way the new castle was taking shape that was being built for Ironhold, she would lead her Huntresses through the woods to route the lingering forces of the Thorn, working with Jaren on this or work with her new falcon that Jaren had gifted her with, recognizing the distance his sister had taken after the tragedy. She would spend time with the Huntresses as well to bring in new recruits on occassion, to hone her own skills and keep her sisters skills sharp as she transformed from a girl into a woman. And sometimes, Jaren or her younger brother would find her alone, in some quiet part of the castle, simply playing a soft melody on her recorder, sad, and quiet, her eyes focused on the unfinished ceiling of the castle-to-be, and the stars that shone down upon them.
As, too, was her wont, she helped her brother prepare for the Tournament celebrating the Rose Queen's coronation, and cheered for him along with the rest of her family. This would be the start of the next chapter of her life, and it certainly would not be a quiet one.
Raelyn supported her brother, offering advice, a sounding board for the man who wasn't prepared to be Baron, but was now. And, with Emilia, and her younger brother, Raelyn willingly took it upon herself to be the pillar, the figure that kept the glue of the family working and stuck together less what little she have left drift apart. One might say, even, she became overprotective, especially of Emilia.
Raelyn participated in a few tournaments of her own, winning one archery contest and nearly winning several others of the course of the next year, but these would be only drops of water in the bucket compared to other things that happened to her. When the Duke's sister was captured and taken to a foreign country, Raelyn was asked by the Rose Queen herself to attend, and it was Raelyn and her Huntresses that proved to be the winning edge, taking out the archers that would've otherwise exploded the bridge with fire and gunpowder and killed a goodly number of Knights. This would be her first excursion outside the boundaries of Ironhold.
In Pacitta, Raelyn was there for the Barbarian attack after the Tournament had ended. She'd shown up, surprising all, with her sister, Emilia, as her date to the Court and presentation of trophies and had been visiting Clara Tracano when the attack happened. Raelyn nearly lost her life in trying to protect the Duke from a Beserker. It would be the first, but not the last foul creature of unnatural creation she would come to know. A barbarian archer stuck her through the next, and somehow managed yet to miss her vitals. It took Raelyn a long while, but with care, and with healers she survived.
After much pestering, Raelyn finally consented to Jaren and Emilia's wishes, to allow a man from the Church to speak with Emilia to try an heal her mind. The man had little knowledge of what truly plagued Emilia (and while Raelyn knew more, she certainly didn't know all either) and using relaxation and hypnotic techniques, awoke the darkness inside Emilia that had been placed there by the Banshee. She manged to stop Emilia from killing the man, but much discussion happened afterwards. And Raelyn only would grow more concerned for her sister, not fearing her, but fearing for her while being in awe of the sheer amount of strength Emilia had shown in keeping such a thing at bay for so long.
It would not be long after this that Raelyn would find the truth out about Jaren, about her family - about a great many things, including the Vigilant. And her brother's role with them. Learning of these events at the same time as Emilia, Raelyn was tasked to research the recent 'wolf murders' that'd happened in remote areas, and find the truth out about such shapeshifters that Jaren himself had helped dispatch years ago. Raelyn would track these clues down to an old hut to find two such entities. The younger ran and two Huntresses were killed; Raelyn, and another one of her friends also were nearly put down, but "Lon the Elder", the older of the shapeshifters saved her and healed her, then offered her his life. Instead, Raelyn spared it seeing the honor in the man, and the wisdom in him. Believing it not only ought to be preserved, not only that Lon was a worthy man and should not be killed, but Raelyn also saw a chance for salvation for her sister.
After another visit to Lon later on and arranging for he and Emilia to meet, Raelyn headed off to Goldhollow having heard it had been sieged. Not only seiged, but sieged by the Thorn. Here, Raelyn would take part of her first real command of a group of people beyond those of her Huntresses. After rescuing some prisoners and a successful interrogation and intimidation technique, she and those with her managed to learn of unguarded way in and out of the town. Sneaking in under the cover of night, they killed the few guards that were about, managed to secure several scorpions, and raise the gates to allow the army in. She also managed to capture their leader alive in the heat of battle.
It would have been in this battle, and the interrogation that Raelyn would meet both Tristan and Stephen, the latter whom later she would meet more often, and find a growing affection for. In Goldhollow, Tristan had alerted Raelyn to the fact of disappearing merchant caravans and wagons, hinting that two of the families who later were revealed to be Syndicate were fighting. It was also here that one of the first confirmations that The Grey Prince, the son of the Thorn was behind the recent military efforts against Rivana. At first it was believed that the Thorns might again be hiring the Syndicate, later it was determined they were trying to lock up trade and create the infighting to stifle Rivana and make it easier for them to win their war. And, while Stephen, Emilia, and Raelyn did meet with one such family and no real headway was gained it seemed, soon after trade began to lighten up again.
It would not be until the Battle of Sunsreach that Raelyn would have satisfaction. Spurned there not only to end the threat of the Thorn but also to save her sister who was being held captive by Victor Tracano, the Grey Prince, Raelyn wasted no time going into action. There, with her cousin Adrienne and some other Huntresses, Raelyn again managed to duplicate their success from Goldhollow and get the gates up for the forces of Rivana to take out the Thorn, and one of Raelyn's own arrows would find it's way into the Grey Prince before the man would fall. But she would not have long to celebrate.
Only a few months later, utilizing a Faegate, Raelyn along with Jaren, Lucas l'Saigner, and several others would face one of the greatest horrors upon the face of the world. The Vigilants had been given Sidhe Steel by Sirrah and given the locale of the site. What she discovered there chilled her to the bone, the very stone and earth becoming flesh. They managed to kill and fend off the Beserkers that guarded the cavern, and then after a brief encounter with the tentacles from the pit of blood and with Lucas' help, burn it to cinders and barely make it out with their sanity in tact.
Now with the realm at peace, Raelyn is readying herself for the role of Viscountess that she must soon take over. Unready, much as Jaren was for the role of Baron. With her sister's help, as well as the Master Steward of Ironhold she is determined to do as best she can while continuing to hold her family together through all the trials and turmoils that are around the corner.
On the Grid
The young woman is a mere 5'4" tall, and she's long since gotten used to being rather small in stature. Her face is smooth-skinned, and lightly rounded, a small nose and mouth set just below a pair of amber colored eyes that seem to be alert and more often than not, warm. That warmth in her eyes is conveyed by the touch of sun upon her skin, someone who spends far more time out of doors, than in. Dark brown tresses with some curls to them hanging only a little past her shoulder, her bangs swept back, leaving her features open and unhidden. Hers is a face capable and easily lending itself to a myraid of expressions from laughter, to intensity, to vitriol.
She often prefers simple colors, and today's outfit is no exception. A shirt of pale green is draped over her covering most of her body and her arms in full, only leaving open her neck and just the top of the curves of her breasts open to view. Over this, a flexible hard-leather brown corset provides some sturdier protection, as well as fashion, it's weave that of gold thread. Over her left wrist, a rather intricate work of art is displayed in that of a gold bracer upon which is detailed a falcon on the outer side, and a wolf upon the inner and opposite side. A pair of flat brown pants, belted with an intricately woven brown leather belt with dark red, and deep green patterns within it cinches close upon her hips. Two sheathes, on either side that belt hold twin daggers. Her footwear, too, seems plain, but it's more expensive than it might appear by simple sight, made for comfort, durability, and manuvering quietly, and over many types of terrain as best a cobbler in this day and age can.
Oftentimes, though not always, a recorder is with her, slung over one shoulder, a bow over the other, and a quiver at her side.
Personality:
Lady of House Cassomir, Mistress of the Hunt, Eldest Daughter of Baron Aaric - she has many roles to fill. There is still youthful vibrancy within her, and a fierceness in her that can sometimes cause the wrong impression. She is unafraid of much, including speaking her mind. And unlike the generality that is laid upon House Cassomir, she seems to be able to quip with a barbed tongue at her leisure when she feels the need. Yet, those who take the time to get to know her know how much love Raelyn is truly capable of; almost to a fault, and caging herself within those gilded bars of her own making. She loathes idle time, and always seems to be keeping herself busy with either her family, her Huntresses, hunting, practicing, or playing. Her wit is sharp, and she can be just as playful and spontaneous as she can be severe and cold. Her experience in the battles at a younger age, the loss of so many of her family has caused her to have a rather hardened outlook on death, pain, and war. She hasn't been the same, since.
Quirks:
Devout: Raelyn owes the Church much. Her life. Those of her family who remain, their lives as well. She doesn't blame The One for taking her family from her, she blames The Thorn for that. But what she does have, she thanks The One for. She believes wholeheartedly that her gift with the bow came from The One, and that her prayers, more often than not, are heard - some of them even granted. Her belief is unshakable as she has seen too much, been involved with too much as being raised as a child and more recent events, to ever doubt the truth as she believes it to be.
Down To Earth: While a noble, Raelyn does not find solace or even comfort in Court or Courtly affairs and social gatherings. She can, indeed, socialize well in these situations but she is far more comfortable relaxed and with people she is familiar with or out in the woods and she believes it is her role, as a noble, not to just rule for the commoners but see to their well being also. Her work with helping to train, organize and command her Huntresses has also helped in this regard, giving her a more 'grounded' mindset to have an open mind in regards to life around her, and the people around her. While she still expects to be treated as a noble woman she is also far more likely to forgive simple errors of etiquette on behalf of common folk in many situations and might not always fully act the part just to seem noble.
Tight-Knit: Raelyn has lost several brothers, and her parents. Her sister is 'Touched'. Her elder brother has almost died, and she, herself, might have perished if her younger brother hadn't come when he had. Their home was lost. So much loss, in so little a time. She is very protective of what she has, and whom she has left of her family. And she will fight, tooth and nail to keep it, and burn both ends of the candle to do so, including foregoing her own health and safety if need be. She is most protective, however, of Emilia than anyone else.
Talented: Bows When Raelyn was young, she first found true peace in the forest. And her aunt taught her how to focus that peace, that inner stillness into concentration. Her natural lithe form makes it easy for her to move, and it seems to her that the bow, and arrow both, are part of her. And she can feel where the arrow ought to go. It's as simple as that, to her. It could be female Cassomir blessings, being passed down to the first daughter. It may be a blessing from The One, a small gift knowing that she would need to find that talent, and use it. Or, it simply could be that all the pieces fell together in just the right way by luck and fate. Either way, there are few that could best her with a bow.
Unbreakable: When you watch your family die, it changes you. When you watch half your family die in what seems a few days, your sister become nearly irrepressibly changed forever from who she was or could have been, and many other friends and associates die, you either fall or you move forward. Raelyn's internal strength of will has been forged from what she's been through in order to survive and not lose her own self in the process. While it does not mean she is entirely fearless or might on rare occasion have moments of self-doubt, she will fight instead of flight and she will push herself to always move forward. There is no turning back, there is no shame, and there is nothing (she feels) that she cannot overcome if she puts her mind to it. She has faced many wars, she has faced inhuman opponents in Werewolves, Bezerkers, and the terror of an Abomination.
Well-Equipped: Having recently been let into the family's true secret, that they are part of the Vigilant, Raelyn also was made aware that the new castle that was built for them and the 'extra' work that the Church did was to support these efforts. Raelyn has access to a rather large quantity and variety of Lightsilver weapons (including arrows), and other implements to help fight against the supernatural threats that would otherwise threaten the people of the Edge. In extreme situations, she can even have access to Sidhe Steel weapons, though these are usually on loan from the Church and need be returned when the assignment completed and the threat neutralized.
Raelyn has peregrine falcon named Zeus, a few horses, a set of Brigadine armor for more direct skirmishes as well as a set of Leather Armor fit for more infiltration or Huntress-type warfare. She has the best longbow that money can buy, and a Lightsilver longsword she keeps on her person. She also carries with her a well worn, and well loved recorder to play on.
Logs and Sundry
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