Post by Jess on Sept 12, 2022 15:01:03 GMT -5
Clara Clemens
Other Names:– Clarissa
Epithet:–
Height:– 5’9”
Build:– Petite
Age:– 18
Gender:– Female
Race:– Human
Occupation:– Traveller, Navigator
Bounty/Rank:–
Total X-Poinz:– 1042
Used X-Poinz:– 200
Total Rebate:– 125
Used Rebate:– 125
Earned X-Poinz Record:–
+300 (Starting XPz)
+328 A Long Lunch
+414 Stairway to Heaven
-200 R2 Weapon – Dawnbringer
Rebate X-Poinz Record:–
+125 R2 Weapon – Dawnbringer
-125 Flash Dial
Personality
Upbeat
A girl who has seen more hardship than most who came from her station, though some see it as a sign of naivete Clara maintains an energetic bearing and a positive outlook, as well as a strong sense of warmth. Loving to laugh and smile and feel the people around her doing the same, she is happiest when she is in company she loves but that doesn’t stop her trying to brighten a room, or see a silver lining in a cloud either.
Kind
Responsible and caring, Clara has a strong sense of empathy and charity, as well as a sense of idealism and integrity that he isn’t going to let other people dictate. Emphasizing the importance of ones values and the compassion that one shows to the people around them, some might scoff at such high minded notions when placed in the face of adversity, but this young woman is stubborn enough to both believe in her principles and stick by them as well, and calls to others to do the same.
Adventurous
Seeming to have inherited her father’s passion for discovery, Clara can often yearn for the horizon and has a strong sense of curiosity, as well as a feeling of satisfaction garnered from meeting and matching a challenge. Free spirited and fun loving, she believes in expression of one’s interests so long as they do not impose upon the wellbeing of others and is just as encouraging of her friends to seek fulfilment as she is herself.
Loyal
Letting actions speak louder than words, though Clara tends to be warm and welcoming to almost all she is more discerning when it comes to intimacy, though just as generous toward those who deserve it. A dependable and emotionally driven friend, the girl is protective and supportive of the people she cares about, treasuring each far more than she would money or status, and willing to risk herself in order to defend them and what is important to them.
Brave
The type to look before she leaps at times, Clara isn’t afraid to tell or show the world who she is, and is far less fearful of harm than one might assume given where she has come from. Knowing all too well that guilt and worry cause her more pain than injury to her body, she puts herself forward on account of those who aren’t so assured or simply to stand up for her beliefs, and has a cool nerve that can make her seem almost dauntless.
Thoughtful
A clever girl who often shows a maturity and wisdom beyond her years, Clara is considerate and sensitive toward those around her, and happy to put the happiness of others ahead of herself. Never wanting the people she cares about to feel they need to hide things from her but understanding that some things are more difficult to express than others, she is encouraging and observant, often taking subtle steps to prompt or push people in the direction she thinks they need, even if they aren’t aware of it.
Appearance
A pretty young woman with long and blonde hair, Clara is an attractive young woman whose prettiness and gorgeous green eyes are sure to draw attention from almost anyone, and a sense of modesty and elegance which only enhances these facts. Slim in terms of her physique but not lacking for a few developing curves, she is long legged and through an active lifestyle she has developed dancer’s frame, her loose clothing often concealing a somewhat toned physique.
The face of the girl possessing a pleasing, refined set of features, Miss Clemens has refined and attractive features which appear innocent and somewhat angelic ordinarily, with large eyes and a narrow and delicate looking overall shape to her face. Emerald eyed, Clara possesses irises of a rich and glittering green colour which can look quite dazzling when caught by the light, and are framed by a set of long, dark lashes which can make a wink or flutter seem to hold such promise.
Keeping her vibrant golden locks rather long, she is a natural brunette who dyes her hair this bright colour for disguise, and frankly enjoys it. More often than not wearing her hair with a centre parting at the front, she often tends to emphasize the natural roll of the waves in her hair, and for functionality will usually wear an alice band in order to keep her looks tidy and the majory clear from her face. This, however, merely her typical style, Miss Clemens will alter her do on whims and to fit circumstances, and has a subtle sense of pride and vanity in her hair since she likes making it look good.
Somewhat modest and rather feminine in her sense of style, it is very rare to see Clara wearing pants and on the whole, she tends to favour dresses or skirts when dressing casually, and seems to favour items that are a little old fashioned and somewhat stuffy. Not really liking overly short skirts and preferring a long hem with more freedom, Miss Clemens likes summer dresses and flowing gowns over all other forms of clothing, and on the whole seems to enjoy items and styles with a heavily girly emphasis.
Somewhat modest in terms of her adornment at the moment compared the flair she sported when living in palaces, she tends to present herself in a somewhat understated fashion, though still has a fondness for more vibrant colours and luxurious materials which would set her apart from the clade she tries to pose as. Really able to make herself look stunning when given the chance, while her taste isn’t for everyone, she has an elegant if expensive eye for clothing which she can use to make herself or others look good but given her frame and looks can appear truly divine when adorned with delicate dalliances. Though with looks like hers, she could probably turn heads wearing a soiled potato bag, right?
Traits
Graceful – Starter Trait
Possessing an inhuman degree of poise and agility, Clara is an able acrobat and capable swimmer, as well as a fantastic dancer.
Observant – Starter Trait
Keen eyed and perceptive, Clara is more sensitive than most and can pick up and process small details about the people and things in her environment to near-inhuman level, allowing her to quickly note the change in the weather through small clues, or realise things about a persons demeanour most would overlook.
Enduring – Starter Trait
Though some might be fooled into thinking her slim figure and regal upbringing has left her frail or fragile, in truth Clara has the kind of energy and stubbornness that means she can hang in there longer than most would expect, be it in heavy work or when she finds herself in the thick of a fight.
Fighting Styles
Name:– Princess Guard
Focus:– Versatile Weaponry
Class:– E
Description:– A dab hand with a broomstick as a child, Clara has never lacked the courage or commitment to lash out with something to protect herself or others. Polishing this skill in recent years, while some might see the art of fighting with a blunt polearm as a little lacking for flash, her choice of weapon and the improvements made to it make for something quite remarkable, which can astound onlookers and overwhelm her enemies.
Equipment
Name:– Dawnbringer
Fighting Style:– Princess Guard
Rank:– 2
Description:– A specially developed staff which Clara can use to protect herself, or stored in a collapsed manner. Forged out of metal to be simple yet adaptable, it offers more in the way of options than a simple stave can provide, and by some observation can be seen almost as a ‘magical’ weapon.
Wapolmetal:- Crafted from a cutting edge shape-memory allow, this allows the weapon to remain sturdy as it switches configurations, combining this with simple interlocking mechanisms to make the following combinations;
Longstaff:- A long metal staff, useful for all around combat.
Batons:- Separating the staff into two by their base connection, Clara can use these independently like batons.
Mace:- Using the Wapolmetal Element to reconfigure the staff entirely, it takes the form of a mace, transforming the weapons potential.
Dial Modification:- Built with the expressed purpose of housing dials, this weapons more magical properties can be altered depending on the dial inserted into it;
Flash Dial:- Equipped with Flash dials for trick functions, these can be used to unleash a dazzling wake of light into her vicinity, allowing her to stun and blind her enemies as needed.
Lamp Dial:- Equipped with Lamp Dials, Clara can activate these to let her weapon(s) act as lamps where she needs to.
Background
The eldest child of a royal family, her father was a rambunctious prince in his youth, setting out to sea to see the world, he forged a legend as a warrior and adventurer, forging friendships and alliances with important figures around the world.
Falling in love with a woman from a foreign land, he opted to marry her ahead of the bride who was intended for him upon his return. This causing a stir, many who did not know the woman seemed to resent the foreigner as some form of usurper who had snared the prince for the position he would gain, though those who did treasured and cherished her for her quick wit and dedication to the good of the people she showed.
Sadly the woman suffering terrible complications during childbirth, she weakened and became susceptible to illness, and was bedridden for much of her young life. Feeling a measure of responsibility for this fact, mama always told Clara that she would have given everything she had and more to bring her sweet and loving daughter into the world and thanked the stars for however much time they were given to be together.
This amounting to a mere five years until the woman passed because of her condition, the family was cast into mourning as a daughter lost her matriarch, and Clara was devastated by the loss. Dad sticking by her and only strengthening their bond, he focused on her over his duties as a king and even intended to not only remain unwed but also name his little girl his heir in the aftermath to honour her mother.
Politics intervening however, pressure mounted especially so in the supposedly ‘tainted’ nature of his first union to remarry and provide a male heir, and so begrudgingly he did, with the bride he had originally jilted. This not a great combination since it was apparent early on that their union lacked more than a little for love, the woman had been humiliated by the slight and role as ‘second best’, while father knew in his heart his first bride had been his true love.
This lack of love not hurting her stepmother’s ambition however, Clara was seven when her father was remarried and had a sibling on the way, which the country rejoiced to see was a son to the king and a brother to her. Her adopted matriarch surviving through the event in good health as well, all too quickly was she back at court making friends and enemies and was celebrated for the rightful monarch she had ‘always’ meant to be.
Clara not loving how this this seemed to make her own mother feel like a bump in the road, the scheming woman was quick to ensure her son became the heir apparent thanks to his male birth right and set about pushing Clara out of the picture. Seeming to take it as an insult to the future king that a girl was placed ahead of him at anything, she would take efforts to exclude the girl where she could, while bullying and belittling her in private as well.
Perhaps this making for a melting pot of discontent between sister and brother, contrary to expectation Clara loved her baby brother dearly, and so too did he her. For his early years acting almost as his mother would in fact, with the queen busy politicking and enjoying her position it seemed that his big sister took a far stronger interest in the lad and was the first to realize that he was worlds apart from either of his parents.
Certainly not lacking for intellect but very sheltered and even more shy and sensitive, he seemed to cry easily and delighted in the company of his father and sister, seeming to be nervous without them. Some laughing at the lad for this but Clara quick to bend their ear when they did so, she cherished him for his softness and sweetness, and covered for him when it came to his timidity and anxiousness, soothing the lad when dad wasn’t around and forging an inseparable bond because of that.
Loving to take care of him and truly treasuring this wimpy but sweet young soul, even though he was clumsy she loved patching up his skinned knees when they went exploring together or icing a bump on his head when he lost focus in a fencing lesson. Usually, the one to sit with him when he caught a cold or ate something that disagreed with him, perhaps feeling haunted by how she had lost her matriarch she would not rest until she knew he was well and spent her time thinking about ways to make him happy. After all, she knew what a pressure was being placed on him being the heir and all.
For a time the queen not even realizing the misstep she had taken here but intervening when she realized the influence that Clara had over her precious heir, even as she entered her early teens Clara knew that her stepmother valued her son more for the boon he offered her position than she did as a child, and became increasingly resentful of that, and protective of him. This creating a clash between them, while the girl had tried to bear with the mistreatment, she had received from the woman she could not stand seeing her brother used or manipulated as the self-centred woman tried to dig her claws into him.
This proving a stressful time for all, especially father and son, as the women in their lives set to once other, the two would bicker and battle and Clara held her own well enough in this regard. Seeming to have a talent for calling out the woman’s hypocrisy and seeing through her lies, she humiliated her in front of father and other officials with well-placed quips, earning ire and more. The woman taking her revenge through more practiced methods, she undermined the image of the sweet princess through vicious rumours which painted her as a wild child who took after her father’s youth a little too much for a lady of royal blood, making pointed accusations about the time she spent with stable boys and other less than wholesome habits unbecoming a young woman of high-born birth. Ultimately seeming to win out as her persistance and viciousness bested the more altruistic daughter, the queen gradually seemed to learn which pressure points to poke at and where and exploited this fact spectacularly.
Working on her stepdaughter’s nerve and countenance over a period and then drawing all that pent up stress and frustration to a head at one of the lasses first balls, a comment about her real mother seemed to make Clara snap, and was provoked into physical confrontation. Pouncing on the razor tongued bitch and pulling at her hair, the queen was left with claw marks and a bunch of locks ripped from the roots as Clara lost her temper, which felt great in the moment, but soon amounted to disaster.
Giving the queen all the evidence in the world to support her claim of the girl being too unruly to be kept around the palace safely, but worse still affecting her father horrendously, the man’s health had been suffering due to over drinking and other indulgence and he was pushed over the edge by the scene. In fact, the fight only stopping when Clara realized that her father had collapsed, the king was left weakened and her stepmother used this chance to assume power as wife and regent.
Stepping forward to lead while her husband recovered since her son was too young for any real responsibility, one of the first things that the queen did was act to effectively exile Clara through the use of an arranged marriage and licked her lips at the prospect of sending her to one of her scummy allies. Fortunately, even the wearied and weakened king not about to allow his darling daughter be sent to some slobbering retch, instead he arranged to have her sent to a neighbouring principality of Douro, insisting she be given the chance to be moulded as a ward by a trusted friend from his adventures in order to blossom properly into a lady, and winning out with the power he had left in his position.
This little comfort for the girl however who was heartbroken to be torn from her home, her brother, and her father, she left home with a heavy heart and did not take very well to this new land despite the loveliness it offered. Wanting for nothing, the duke who she knew as an uncle rolling out the red carpet and doting on her as much as he did any of his sons or daughters, yet for her early time it was hard for her to smile or feel much joy, instead spending much of her time looking out to sea and wishing she was elsewhere with tears often in her eyes.
Weeks and even months proceeding this way, though the man and his family tried to welcome the girl all she seemed to want to do was look to the horizon, often slipping away when she had a chance to be alone with her thoughts and drown in her discontent because of her ill feeling. Perhaps it ironic that it took a near drowning to shake her back to life a little, it was on an occasion where she lingered near the harbour that something happened which shook Clara, and seemed to rattle her out of her routine of unhappiness.
Glumly taking in the horizon as she often did one particularly busy evening, Clara seemed to be idly watching the ships which came and left the bay in an idle effort to see something which reminded her of home, but caught sight of another distraction. Spotting a lad around her own age seeming to spill from a ship and sink under the water, she felt a chill fill her belly when it looked like he didn’t rise back up from the deep, and called out to the people on the ships and on the docks to help him.
Sadly, the hustle and bustle meaning that the accident had been overlooked by all and so too was her calls for aid, frustrated the femme opted to act herself, so she kicked off her shoes stripped down to her underdress as she threw herself into the water after the lad. Diving deep and finding him unconscious, she did her best to pull him back up to the water and semeed to succeed when the stir she had created with her dive others into the deep with her.
Dragged out of the ocean along with him and rather shaken for that fact, many on the dockside didn’t know whether the lad was still alive given how long it had taken to pull him up, but Clara wasn’t about to give up because of that. Remembering her lessons in medicine and finding his pulse, she used her knowledge and breath to revive him, and was delighted to find those eyes opening up for her afterward.
One of her servants throwing a coat around her given her soaked state soon after but the green-eyed girl more focused on this fallen soul, while some said he would be ‘fine’ now he was awake Clara would take no chances and insisted on having him brought to her doctor to make sure. Thankfully it seeming there was no lasting harm done, and she went on her way feeling a little better about herself, though not without getting the boy’s name and address.
Feeling at least a sense of purpose in checking up on him afterward, even if it seemed unnecessary, she found strength in making a friendship on her terms and a feeling of goodness in looking after him. Often sneaking food from her dinner plate and even the kitchen where she could, it was interesting finding out about him and his day, and even fussing over him a bit, like she had her brother. Both of them hailing from lands other than the one they found themselves in, they could bond a little over not mutual misunderstanding of culture, even if the differences in station made things a little awkward at times.
Perhaps some not approving of a girl of her status spending her time with a common boy however, though her ‘uncle’ seemed a little more relaxed in this ultimately the canny Clara opted to find a cover for her activity, study. Sharing at least a dash of her father’s fondness for the sea and skies and that which was found within them and seeing a good way to put it to use, she began to study navigation and mapmaking, as well as how to operate ships and found a passion for it.
Finding the perfect reason to bother a boy who worked at the harbour with her fondness for ships, Clara would ask about ships and as her studies grew, go out on short journeys to practice her skill in handling the weather and drafting her course. Often taking a small sailing boat out to explore the features of the coast and surrounding islets, she found discreet little coves in which she could anchor and read or bring the lad along to talk and even enjoy some wine. Gifted with a pet bird by her father for her birthday, she used this to send messages to and from her homeland, or to her a friend from the harbour when she needed to as well.
Reading often when she was away from the water, Clara seemed happy to spend her quieter time in the warm gardens of the land looking over manuals and log books with tomes like ‘brag men’ and the like drawing a particular fondness, and steadily seeming to soften and mature from a girl into a young woman. This fondness she had for horizons and distant challenges even extending to stargazing, the girl developed a fondness for astronomy and even some of the superstitions which came with it as well, and found a sense of wonder and hope in thinking that every once in a while she was looking up at the same stars and constellations as the people she loved, even if they were a world away from her.
Harbouring a little intention to go out and find a few adventures of her own but at the same time not wanting to spurn the hospitality and affection the duke had shown her, the life of the lass was happy and peaceful as she enjoyed the warmth of her new home, but eventually even that would come to an end.
Approaching her eighteenth birthday and womanhood which came with it, Clara had almost forgotten the reason for her being in this place of protection and peace, but her stepmother hadn’t. Still possessing considerable power and wanting to both use the girl as a pawn for her ambitions and give her the punishment she had escaped earlier, the woman once more arranged a political marriage that her still ailing father struggled to refuse.
The duke finding out about this through personal correspondence, his affection for Clara won out and he opted to warn her about the proposal, as well as the fleets coming from her homeland to claim her and bring her home for the wedding. Torn because of this fact, though the girl longed to return to her home and see her father and brother again she did not relish the idea of marrying a stranger, especially when they had been hand picked by a woman who hated her.
Because of this opting to depart her new home, though the duke offered to refuse the entourage entry to the nation they both knew that would only be too easy to make it look like she was being held here against her will, only further enhancing the righteousness in her stepmothers cause. Hatching a plan to flee instead and not wanting to get her uncle in trouble she asked the assistance of her shipyard friend and left the land with what supplies and valuables she could gather.
Fleeing the land in a small schooner only days before the arrival of her stepmother’s agents, she left behind a sealed letter for the duke to explain her absence and to apologise for the position she put him in, and then once more found herself being pushed from a land she had grown to love by the hand of her stepmother. Heading into the wind, Clara cut her hair shoulder to more of a sensible shoulder length and coloured it golden blonde from the original brunette colour she possessed, in order to disguise herself in her new role.
Once more this leaving Clara feeling a little glum, while it had taken time for her to love her little ‘home away from home’ she had truly come to relish it, but she took solace in travelling. Making their own way as they went along, though Clara offered to sell some of the jewellery she had brought they realized it might draw too much attention to them, so kept that secret and safe as they found what work they could in order find food and lodge where they needed it.
Waiting tables or even helping doctors in clinics to earn money where she could, when times were tough Clara didn’t mind earning a little coin by dancing in the street or in bars as well, which her partner did not exactly approve of, the pair posed as a eloped newlyweds sometimes or siblings on others. Perhaps glad that she had learned to protect in Douro in part as a method of exercise as well as self-defence, Clara had developed skills to protect herself and wielded a special and adaptive weapon which she dubbed her silver sceptre, both of these proved invaluable when faced with seas rolling with pirates and roads rife with bandits who were only too happy to find a pretty girl and what she carried in her purse.
Gaining experience as a fighter, albeit a reluctant one, she pushed herself to improve so as not to burden her loyal guardian further and showed skill and deftness in how she used her weapon. Guilty enough that she had dragged him along with her, especially when she realized that a lifetime of being a ‘spoiled princess’ had left her with little skill in kitchen and cleaning, she hoped to lighten the load as much as she could and prayed he was enjoying their wandering lifestyle as much as she was.
Initially concerned about the idea but realizing she enjoyed engaging with cultures and helping people who needed it, while her thoughts often lingered on the people she had left behind, the beryl beauty was glad to have grown into something more than a pretty girl in a fancy cage. For these reasons perhaps her ills soothed a little by her experience, Clara savours the feeling of freedom and discovery her days have, for she knows all too well that good things will eventually come to an end…
