Character Avatar: Aiyana A. Lewis
Player: Janet
Character Name: Persephone Éliane Deschanel
Age: 28
Birthday: May 26th 1997
Height: 5'6
Rank/Title: lady
Race: D'Angeline
Country/Province: Eisande
Townhome Request:
Country Home Request:
Appearance: Persephone is, by her own admission, cute. From her button nose, with its scattering of freckles (exacerbated by her frequent sun-worshipping), to her cupid-bow plump lips and her wide almond-shaped eyes - it can be argued that she is right. With her mop of curls, her thick eyelashes and heart-shaped face with its features all in proportion, she's certainly pretty and definitely D'Angeline.
She is of middling height - neither too tall or short - and curvaceous with it. Ample breasts and wide hips give her an hour-glass figure - which she dresses to accentuate as best as she can.
Personality: Persephone is a mixture of opposites. Part of her seems a bit innocent and naive, the other quite bold, spoiled and worldly wise. When at home, in her familiar surroundings, she's the latter - she's well educated, seeing as her mother's a scholar - and has seen the harsher side of life due to her father's job as a physician (with experience of wartime surgery). All the family doted on her, being the only daughter in a family of four which has made her rather spoiled and a little vain.
However, in the new world of nobility she's found herself in, she's definitely naive and innocent. Unused to navigating the courts and the large city - Persephone is finding behaviour she'd employ back at home holds no sway here. Or at least, does not have the effect she intends.
Additional Information
Marital Status: Single
Known Languages: fluent D'Angeline, conversational Caerdicci, smattering of Hellene
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths: Level-headed and practical. Bold and worldly-wise.
Weaknesses: A little spoiled, naive and vain.
Family Members/Important NPCs:
Mother: Éliane Deschanel
Father: Hamlin Deschanel
Eldest Brother: Paean Deschanel - 3 years older than Persephone
Middle brother: Crios Deschanel - 2 years younger
Youngest brother: Aristaeus Deschanel - 3 years younger
History: Éliane met and fell in love with Hamlin Deschanel when she was travelling and had stopped for a few day's rest in the town he lived in. They first met at the local inn and Hamlin was enamoured with Éliane's intelligent discourse, whilst Éliane in turn was taken by Hamlin's practical nature. She left the town to continue her travels but soon had to pass through the same town on her return. A swift romance and a few ceremonies later and she was married and swelling with their first child, settling with Hamlin in the town where he lived and learning to assist him with his job as the local physician, though she still travelled on occasion, leaving first Paean with his father, and then subsequently her other children once they were old enough. Never for too long, of course - a few months here and there whilst she travelled to visit that library, or this city, and so on.
Their mother was not terribly maternal - especially not in the early years of each child. She found more interest once her children could walk and talk and make their own observations and form their own opinions. All her children were given the names of Hellene deities, since that was one of Éliane's scholastic passions and Hamlin didn't have the heart to object. As the children grew older, they were educated as well as they could afford. They were by no means poor, but were not overly wealthy either - Comfortable is the best term to describe how they lived. Éliane did her best to educate her children in addition to the lessons they received at the local schoolhouse. Hamlin, too, did his best to educate his children. A patient and thoughtful man, he did much to teach his children stability and practicalities both in regards to his job - ensuring each child could perform basic first aid at the very least, and taking them on his rounds - and in life itself.
Persephone, as their only daughter and the second child in their family, grew up rather spoiled and doted upon, by both her brothers and, indeed, by all that knew her. It could have quite turned her head if it hadn't been balanced by the work her father did - showing her the uglier side of life and tempering the tendency to act like a spoiled brat - though she still had her moments.
Their lives changed in Persephone's fourteenth year. War had broken out and Hamlin left home, with seventeen year old Paean, to help with the war effort. Both of them tending to the soldiers on the front-lines. When they returned, both of them seemed considerably older than the time spent away allowed for. Shortly thereafter Hamlin was summoned to visit the Comte of their region - he'd supplied arms and soldiers to the war and had been impressed with the way Hamlin had taken charge of the medical care of the men and women that had fought. Working hard to save many a life, with his son by his side - often putting himself in danger to treat others. To reward that selfless and dedicated behaviour, the Comte awarded the Deschanel family some land. Nothing too extravagant, but a house and several acres, along with a decent gift of coin to show his gratitude.
Thus began a serious adjustment for them all; packing up their old home and moving into the new one. Deciding whether, in the case of Hamlin, to continue his role as Physician for the local township or to pass the reins over to his son. Ultimately he decided not to give up that role, for all that the ownership of the land made him minor nobility. He loved helping the local populace and wished to continue. Éliane treated the move and change in status as a scholastic endeavour more than anything - the most passion she showed was when she realised she could have a proper library.
It took a few years for them to settle properly and get used to their new status in life. Persephone came of age as a member of the nobility - she helped her mother manage the, now increased, household - indeed, for a while at the beginning, she found herself needed to sew furnishings and help organise and clean, whilst the family were getting around to hire the staff they found they now needed, having previously managed with only a maid and a cook. They also had to find ways of making their new land pay, as Hamlin's wages as a physician wouldn't be enough to maintain the house and grounds alone. That, too, took some years to manage. Supplemented by a small orchard, a farm and both Hamlin's and Paean's income, they eventually managed to find a balance.
Though she tried to keep the majority of her friends from her former life, it was difficult. For one, she'd moved out of the town she'd lived in all her life, though not too far away, and for another her status had changed somewhat. It took a little while for Persephone to adjust, but soon she made a few new friends.
At a party one year, the daughter of the hostess fell down the stairs, managing to sprain her ankle, and rip her dress both. Ever her father's daughter, Persephone's immediate level-headed assistance and guidance earned her the friendship and gratitude of both daughter and mother. So, in time, they invited Persephone to accompany them when they next visited the city of Elua, a place Persephone was most curious about. Of course, she jumped at the chance though it was some months before the trip was arranged.
Now Persephone is finally in the City of Elua and is eagerly anticipating all the parties and experiencing all the things she's heard about the city. Especially Midwinter.
Updates:
