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Background
Born healthy and robust, Tiadora Gerrell was always plump but oftentimes very hungry; she took to sneaking food out of the kitchen and wheedling her older siblings into sharing their food with her. She became adept at swiping food off plates without being seen. But soon enough, her weight was something her mother felt could not be ignored. Alyanna would crack down hard on the virtue of Moderation and Temperance and the sin of Gluttony and Willfulness and often set Tiadora on penance starvation fasts, giving her only bread and water while locking her in her rooms. She was only allowed to work on her studies then, doing transcription of the holy word from the library's many tomes or painting images of the saints. It was through her work as an artist and scribe that she picked up the skill of duplicating works of art or handwriting styles that she saw; simply coping what she was looking at and reproducing it faithfully. It pleased her that her art could at least be of some note in the styles of the masters. On the worst occasions, Symon would sneak food in for her to ensure she wouldn't die of hunger.
Like most nobles, she was trained in martial combat, learning the hunting bow and how to defend herself with a small jeweled knife. She learned only the barest minimum of politics and courtly graces as most of her studies were influenced by the One Faith. Prayer, doctrine, holy works, scripture; these she focused on and excelled in. She has little experience with the outdoors as Duchess Alyanna did not want her large little girl out in the world to shame her. She grew up fully indoctrinated in the Church and the superstitions of Normont's past.
When in 1865 the Gerrells began to shelter and support the Thorn Uprising, Tiadora was often called upon to make copies of letters and write coded messages to help with communications. She didn't like what she read and became uneasy with it. But taking her cues from her beloved big brother, she continued to serve as her mother wished. She was always very meek and obedient to what was wished of her.
Her parents fully intended to use her as a bargaining tool to secure marriages within the Holy Empire they were planning, but Tiadora found the idea blasphemy. Had the One intended for faith and politics to be one and the same, he would have called himself a king instead of a leader. He did not set himself above men but guided and united them. He was no King or Emperor to rule over men, but a teacher and a leader - as the church SHOULD be. That lust for power over all nations of the Edge did not come from the One, but from the Dark One. That desire for wealth and conquest did not from from the Sun, oh no. She was certain her parents had somehow been corrupted by the Cardinal. If he was corrupt, how many others in the Faith were? Turning away from the sun and moon and staring into the darkness of night. Although only a young girl, she became convinced of this.
When Symon brought her the letters seized in their mother's chambers, she quickly translated the code for him about the siege of Sunsreach. His actions following that resulted in the death of their father and capture of their mother but ultimately in his securing their ducal seat and having the Queen's support.
With her mother's ruling hand out of the picture, Tia was able to actually enjoy food and not follow the austere scant diets set for her. She's put on weight - more than most noble girls carry, and still holds guilt over this. She will indulge her passion for delicious food and then, struck with religious misery, go on a penance diet for several weeks at a time. Then she resumes her eating habits with gusto. Had she been given a more moderate diet as a young girl, she would likely not have developed the binge and purge mentality she has. She, like most Gerrells, is chaste until her marriage. She would happily devote herself and her time to the Church; doing scribal work, preaching, painting altar pieces- but she knows she will be a political match to gain her family power and so she keeps that in mind.
In the wake of Baron Robert Hogan nee Cassomir's murder in Juin 1866, Symon asked his sister if she would go to Sunsreach as his representative. She suspected in part he wanted her to be exposed to more of the outside world, but also knew it would help prove their loyalties to the Queen. Although her knowledge of the Church and skills as a scribe were of little to no use, it gave her an excuse to visit the Cathedral and to try seafood, both of which she found delightful.
Slowly, the girl is starting to make friends and acquaintances at Court but her shyness and doubt over her family's misguided past makes it very difficult. She is slowly adopting secularism but her devotion of the One is still without question.
Eduard Farrant convinced Tiadora to go to the Circuit Tourneys in Pacitta, and she went through a Faegate for the first time with little ill effect. Lots of shopping as done to ensure she had a proper wardrobe befitting a ducal house. She and the Tracanos met up with Symon there, and she delighted in telling her brother all the exciting things she had done. He was truly pleased to see his sister starting to come out of her shell and make friends.
The constant string of losses for Rivana's contestants first struck Tiadora as a sign; an omen that there was something wrong with their tentative peace with Couviere and their being in Pacitta was a mistake. But soon religious devotion fell way to more secular suspicion. Someone was throwing the games Couviere's way. It seemed to right itself, and the rest of the games went more smoothly with Raimond Girardi doing very well for Rivana's glory. It was here that Tia first noticed Emilia's handsome brother Devlin and started to develop a crush on him.
The Art and Archery contests were dominated by Rivana, with first place in Painting going to Emilia (And second to Tiadora, whose painting was bought with the intent of giving to Tristan and Elaida for a wedding gift). Tiadora was paralyzed with fear during most of the art contest, but her friends and cousins made sure she got through it. Symon even told her how proud he was. Aidric also won for his writing, and Emilia won the Archery the next day- where the Huntress' of Rivana displayed their true talent.
It was the first time Tiadora could actually say she has had FUN, especially with her friendship with Clara and Emilia giving her a chance to be around other girls of proper age and rank. Their return to Sunsreach was hasted by news of murders of women connected to Tristan being committed while they were away.
For the wedding of the Rose Queen and her beloved knight, Tia illuminated the story of their romance as written by Aidric. The work was lovely and she was asked by the t'Acuto family of Couviere to make a copy of it for the Grand Library of their kingdom. Tiadora was quite pleased to be able to contribute something of cultural significance. The story also won best prize of writing in the Circuit Games, which was accounted by many to have been tipped over the edge by her illustrations.
With the faegates to Falconholme being opened soon, Tiadora has made it her mission to help her people embrace the foods and cooking techniques of other lands. She is fond of seafood and will miss it back in her land-locked home.
A quick trip to Ironholm to hunt with the Cassomirs had Tia horseback riding in a hunt for the first time since before Uncle Paul died. She managed not to embarrass herself in front of her girlfriends OR the handsome Devlin Cassomir - whom she has a not-so-secret crush on which Princess Clara seems to delight in.
Symon's betrothal to a Venderosi Princess meant travelling to that land for both their engagement celebration and the Circuit games. Once again Tia attended events to help showcase Normont as a progressive land able to cohabitate well, and also to cheer on the Rivanan nobes; like Devlin and Raimond. She noticed that those she cheered for seemed to do poorly and wondered if she was bad luck for them. Once more, she entered the art contest with a new painting - a beautiful Greathawk - part because she was so familiar with them and part propaganda to help Symon's plan to breed them out into the world for profit. Her future sister-in-law bought the painting although once more Emilia's took first prize.
It was here that Clara prodded Tia into actually -talking- to Devlin. It was a disaster which resulted in much study of Tiadora's shoes.
Her dear friend Elaida was poisoned shortly before her marriage to Tristan was to take place - someone did something to the wedding presents. Tia was devastated and did the only thing she could really do; pray. She fasted for weeks and spent most of her time in the Cathedral offering her own faith and love to the One God. It seemed to help- at least in Tia's own mind. She presented bride and groom with silver lockets with golden sunbursts- inside was miniatures she painted herself of the pair and the inscription: 'Together We Are Strong'. They recovered and those to blame were eventually brought to justice.
As more and more of the Tourney Circuits passed, Tiadora started to believe she was cursed. People she cheered for and cared for were losing; or worse, getting injured. She came to the conclusion it was her mother's spirit - angry at being excommunicated from the church and lashing out. But Tiadora's faith and prayer served as a shield so the anger deflected to others. Emilia and Clara try constantly to break her out of this mentality but it always seems to come back. Tia even discussed it with the foreign Prophet of the Alhazred. Emilia even suggested it could be someone -else- who was cursed.
Tiadora turned seventeen and held her first ever birthday party in which her friends presented lovely gifts and Clara even arranged for her to dance with Devlin. It broke Tia's heart to finally get to be close to her crush and knowing full well they could never be together; he deserving someone better than her and her needing to marry someone into the Gerrells for politics.
She went on several hunts in Ironhold with Emilia and impressed the courtiers with her archery skills- the girls pressuring her to enter the next Tourney along with them. She also went to the Twin Moons Masque held by the l'Sangiers with Symon and his new wife Dora; Tia was upset by the people in supernatural costumes - Em and Clara among them. It led to a minor squabble between her and Emilia. Tiadora felt such things invited disaster and supernatural entities to plague them. And plague there was.
Shortly after the masque a plague broke out of Pacitta and many of the attendees at the ball fell ill; Dora among them. Tiadora only briefly felt sick but it passed- her robust health being a likely counter or her devotion and prayer. She started to oversee the import of silver willow from Normont into Sunsreach to ensure that none 'fell off the wagon'.
On the Grid
Torn between her religious upbringing past and her brother's iconoclast views of the future, Tiadora is finally free of the yoke she has strained under through the years of her parents' madness. Painfully shy, awkward, and guilt struck over all the damage the Gerrells have caused, Tia tries to find her place in the brave new world outside Normont and to move her family back into the good graces of the rest of the world. She fears the damages done and hopes to make amends, as best a girl of 16 can.
While most noblewomen strive to be sleek and slender, Tiadora is quite the opposite. The most noticeable thing of her is her curves. She is heavily rounded, top and bottom, and squeezed in the middle like an hourglass due to the nature of her fashion. Her face is equally round, with full cheeks that dimple when she smiles and a slight secondary chin settled below the first. Her eyes are kind and shaded a bright blue. There's an awkward shyness in her smile and presence, as if she is trying to not be there at all.
Devout - Raised by the Duke and Duchess's fanatical take on the True Faith, Tiadora is very much a devout member of the Church and deeply religious, like most Normont citizens are known to be.
Enigma - Often kept sequestered by her parents, Tiadora is not too well known outside her immediate family. Adding the Gerrell's traitorous past to the mix, she is quite the mystery.
Fastidious - Cleanliness is a virtue and she cannot abide being poorly dressed or groomed. She's hardly vain but sometimes prissy.
Hedonist - Free from the controlling grip of her parents, Tiadora has her weaknesses, specifically for food - this unfortunately shows in her weight.
Religious Education - This comes as little surprise, but she is also versed enough in scripture and verse to quote as eloquently as any priest. She also has her own copies of most major religious texts and a few more obscure ones she found personally interesting.
Silver Tongued - Although horribly shy and awkward around strangers, Tia can turn on the charm once she gets comfortable enough around a person and knows them well enough to say what they want to hear. A defense mechanism she's yet to fully adapt to use outside her immediate circle.
Superstitious - Like most of Normont, she is beholden to old beliefs and superstitions. It's a habit her brother hopes to break her.
While 'armor' isn't appropriate a term, a blade would have trouble piercing the heavily girded corsetry that the Gerrell woman often wears under her austere gowns. While as a lady of Normont she has less access to arms and weapons training, she has a small jeweled dagger often on her person with a sunburst pommel and a sapphire laid within. She can get to a good quality longbow if she has the desire to shoot. She has her own horse for when she decides to ride, and riding leathers for hunting; not that she is prone to go hunting.
As Duke Gerrell's sister, she has access to just about any jewels or clothes she desires, but she keeps to very simple yet rich fabrics in dark colors to show her humilty. She wears minimal levels of makeup but nonetheless cares very much for her appeance without being vain. Unlike most, she has access to holy tomes through the Cathedral of St Sandoval and has made her own copies of them. She has many different paints, inks, supplies, and types of parchments for her art projects.
Logs and Sundry
I don't care if it hurts, I want to have control, I want a perfect body, I want a perfect soul…
-Creep, by Radiohead
(adrienne aidric alaric alexandra alina amara antonia ariane artos clara clarke conrad corvin devlin dora elaida emilia esyld evelyn event gabriel james jonathan leander log lorelei lucas philippe quentyn raimond symon thaddeus the-last tiadora tristan vorian)
(clara elaida emilia event jonathan log odilia raelyn stephen thaddeus tiadora tristan)
(alexandra alina amara antonia darren devlin elrick emilia evelyn event gabriel gawain joffrey jonathan leander liam log manfred odilia quentyn raimond thaddeus tiadora vorian)
(alexandra alina alivia amara ariane cesare clarke cynthia darren dawn devlin drusilla elaida elrick emilia esyld evelyn event gabriel gastogne joffrey jonathan leander lero log manfred mina orion quentyn raelyn raimond samuel thaddeus tiadora tristan vorian)
(alexandra clarke event jonathan log odilia talia tiadora)
(alexandra devlin dora eleanor emilia evelyn event jonathan leander log martyn raimond symon thaddeus tiadora)
(clara clarke emilia event gastogne log miranda odilia philippe raimond thaddeus tiadora)
(amara clara clarke dora eleanor emilia evelyn event leander liam log odilia raimond symon thaddeus tiadora)
(alexandra clarke devlin emilia evelyn event jonathan leander liam log martyn raelyn raimond symon thaddeus tiadora)
(adrienne aidric alexandra amara clara clarke devlin dora eleanor emilia evelyn event gastogne jasper jonathan leander log lucas malcolm martyn raelyn raimond samuel symon thaddeus tiadora)
(amara clara clarke devlin dora eleanor emilia evelyn event gastogne jasper log malcolm martyn odilia philippe raelyn raimond samuel symon thaddeus tiadora)
- 1866-10-21: For Sister, For Brother
- 1868-04-16: Different kind of Birthday Suit
- 1867-10-31: A Sober Celebration
- 1867-10-28: But I Got Better
- 1867-10-19: One year later...
- 1867-09-10:To the Duke and Duchess...
- 1867-08-31: Post-Script
- 1867-08-31: A Strongly Worded Letter Home
- 1867-04-17: It's my party...
- 1867-04-13: Unprecedented
- 1867-03-16: Presents and Prayers
- 1867-01-26: Packing
- 1866-11-10: From Brother, From Sister
- 1866-10-31: Three Empty Plates
- 1866-10-20: A Letter Between Sisters
- 1866-10-01: Instructions for the Kitchen Staff
- 1866-09-03: Indulgence
- 1866-08-07:Letter to Falconholme