I'll just begin by making a character sheet.
Name: Darran
Age: 27
Appearance:
History: A servant of Highprince Sadeas, a lord of the kingdom of Alethkar, Darran is a born killer. All Alethi feel a Thrill when they enter battle, increasing their focus, making them revel in killing, and Darran is no exception. He has distinguished himself greatly in wars and skirmishes, quickly clawing his way up the ranks. Although he comes from a minor royal house, he has a set of Shard Plate, but no Blade.
Okay, can my character potentially be an artisan, or is a woman not abke to have that role?
Only women are allowed to be artisans, as a matter of fact. Basically, anything not to do with hard labor or fighting is considered a feminine activity.
Ah, ok. I will make my character tomorrow, okay?
Sure thing. I have to go to bed. G'night.
Goodnight
Name: Lilo (pronounced lie-low)
Age: 19
Appearance:
[img width=224 height=510]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pini…9b4dc55d2a9ff3377fa66.jpg[/img]
History: born and raised in a family of artisans. She lives with her mother and little brother. Though her education level is around average, she is skilled in her craft and has a way of negotiating for a high price.
Cool character. How about we begin the plot by having them meet up, perhaps at a gala or because their families arrange a betrothal between them?
Okay. Also, question out of curiosity, can the glove that women must wear on their left hands be fingerless?
Yes. Who should start? You can, unless you want me to.
Can you? I kind of need a feel on how this will operate.
Sure thing.
"Darran, are you paying attention?" The young man snapped out of his thoughts and turned his attention to his mother, sitting across from him in the carriage.
"Of course I am," he replied, thanking the Almighty that he had heard what his mother had been saying about a hundred times these past few weeks. "This is a very important gala, where I'll be introduced to my betrothed. I must be courteous, gentle, and reverent as befits an engaged man." Storms, but he'd had this drilled into his head. He could practically recite his mother's speeches by memory.
The older woman nodded approvingly. With a mostly unlined face and dark hair just beginning to show streaks of gray, his mother had a mature beauty and elegance about her that gave her a commanding presence. "Good. Remember, this house is of a higher dahn than us," she said, referencing the rank system used among lighteyes. "So you must be respectful. None of your usual antics." When Darran didn't reply, she leaned across the space between them and put her freehand over his right hand. "I know this isn't ideal, but it will help increase our standing. I know you'll do your duty."
Darran rolled his eyes. His duty. Wasting time at a gala, when he could be out fighting in the war against the Parshendi, the tribe on the Shattered Plains that had assassinated the king of Alethkar three years ago. He wanted to do battle, not dance with some woman eight years younger than him that he had never met. The carriage came to a halt, and with a final look of encouragement from his mother, Darran opened the door and stepped out into the courtyard of his betrothed's family manor.
The courtyard was small, but in flourish. Cobblestone paths weaved around flowers and berry bushes in bloom. Vining plants crawled around the pillars and walls of the house, the small, well trimmed trees lining the courtyard. At the center was a small pool, where a flock of bantam ducks dwelled. The flew away at Darran's arrival.
"Lilo!" The crooked middle-age woman screamed up the steps. She gives her daughter alone time to prepare, and this is what she gets in return. Hobbling up the steps, she was nearly bowled over by Lilo as she came running down the stairs.
"Mother!" She grabbed her arms to steady the woman. "Mother, it's alright. I just saw him arrive." Her mother seemed all the more angry, but her voice dropped to a murmur, a hiss. "I wanted to see you before you went, but you cannot be late. Go now."
With a numb smile and nod, Lilo padded down the remaining steps. Pulling on her soft leather sandals and adjusting the thin cotton glove over her left hand, she opened the door to her courtyard.
He loomed over everything like a pillar; a shadow of an enigma. The courtyard was devoid of its birdsong and chatter of bantams. The few steps Lilo took from her home were weightless ones. She struggled to compose herself, put some kind of maturity in her appearance, but she ended up just staring at the man, her future husband, in silence.
Darran stood at the door awaiting his betrothed's response to the announcement that he had arrived. The girl who opened the door seemed like little more than a child to him at first, given their heigh difference; Darran was unusually tall, even for an Alethi. He looked down at the young woman--Lilo was her name, he reminded himself--and took in her appearance.
Not bad looking by any stretch, but not the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen. The glove on her safehand intrigued him, as noble women tended to prefer a long sleeve. Perhaps because she was a sculptor she needed her hand unobstructed. Darran filed away those thoughts for later reflection and bowed.
"Brightness," he said, using the title given to female lighteyes. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Darran Corays. May I take it that you are my betrothed?" he righted himself and waited for her to respond. She would, of course, refer to him with the title Brightlord, as befitted a male of his standing.
His voice spurred her into action. "If that betrothed is Lilo Seymour, then you're correct, Brightlord." She made a shallow, sweeping bow. Her heart thundered in her thoughts. He was taller as he grew near her, towering over her like a looming force. His eyes smoldered with a such a passion, a life for action and bloodshed. Perhaps she was only prey.
Well, the girl knew her courtesies at least. Perhaps this engagement wouldn't be unbearable after all. Although the little thing seemed terrified of him. Was he really so imposing? His last three engagements, all to women of a higher dahn, had been called off. His mother said that they found him too intimidating. With that in mind, he asked, "May I enter?"in his most respectful tone.
Lilo straightened, forcing a light smile. "Of course. We have a meal prepared for your arrival." Hiding her trembling movements, she reached for the door as it clicked open. "After you."
Darran stepped past the girl and into the house, hiding his apprehension. Timid or not, this girl technically outranked him, as did anyone in her family. Stepping into their opulent home for the first time made him incredibly nervous. His family had nothing near this amount of wealth, unless you included his Plate. Turning, he indicated for Lilo to lead the way to the dining room.
The house itself was similar to the courtyard: an organized chaos. Plants and pottery and all sorts of works clung to the walls or hung from the ceiling. It did not look messy by any means, but for the average, it may be a bit overwhelming.
Only Lilo's mother accompanied them with their dinner, and she barraged Darran with question after question. Very gently, of course, and with a flash of a smile. Lilo hardly spoke the entire time, staring at her plate.
Darran answered the questions posed to him as best he could while he ate, making sure to be respectful and polite the entire time. His mother had demanded that he cement an alliance with this house, and that was what he would do. "Yes I inherited my shard plate from my father," he was saying to Lilo's mother. "As to how it came into the possession of such a minor house...well, I would not want to bore you with the details, Brightness." The reluctance was, of course, feigned. Brightness Seymour would have to encourage him to tell the tale, a demand to which he would 'reluctantly' agree. It was all part of the intricate dance of lighteye custom and tradition.