Post by Ophelia Harrington on Aug 7, 2013 23:55:58 GMT -5
Eighteen winters have come and gone since the day Ophelia was brought into the world by Marjorie and Kailen Harrington. The eldest of three children, she had the most difficult childhood out of her siblings; that is to say, she was a babe while their parents were struggling with the first years of their business. Both Marjorie and Kailen were mage’s of the Shrine, in the Mageocracy of Bryony, but neither of them had an amazing amount of ability… what they were good at though was enchanting items, wands specifically. Their reputation grew with every commission they were presented with and eventually, they became premier wand makers, renowned throughout the lands.
Their commissions grew in size and quantity and eventually, the family were comfortable and never left wanting for the things they needed. They weren’t rich by any stretch of the imagination but Marjorie and Kailen were able to afford the best education for their children. It was here that Ophelia was subject to the riches of the more powerful Magi families and the children of the Council of Wands. In her first selfish act, she grew jealous of those around and wanted more than anything to be one of the children of the wealthy, she was discontent with her lot in life and secretly ashamed of her parents.
Ophelia made a name for herself during her time in lessons, not for her magical ability (which was strong in its own right) but for her ability to play any instrument after only hearing it played once and her fantastical singing voice. These gifts and her almost haunting innocent beauty made her the talk of the school, her parents were proud but she used her gifts to get what she wanted, from whoever had it. There wasn’t a situation she couldn’t talk herself out of in the school and soon, she had everyone in the school wrapped around her finger.
It is not clear how Karel Nistrum, a disgraced and discarded Mage of the Council of Wands knew of Ophelia’s abilities. The Black Mage, now the leader of an underground circuit of thieves, assassins and the very dregs of Bryony society, sought out Ophelia himself, intent on drawing her into the Hallowed Death to do his bidding. The feykin girl was, despite her gifts, still gullible and very innocent to the ways of the world and the charmer had no difficulty using her own jealousies and selfish desires to bring her into the fold.
Nistrum promised her riches and fame, both things she had expressed an inner desire for and no soon after the promises were made, she started to work for the organization. Karel was so possessive of Ophelia that she was dressed in the most luxurious white costumes to dance, to sing and to regale potential customers with promises. No one was allowed to touch her and her purity remained intact, for without it Nistrum feared that she would lose her childlike innocence.
He was right but it was not the dancing or a stray hand that turned Ophelia away from Nistrum and the Hallowed Death. It was on one fateful night, while she was sat in an inne after working for him…that a travelling bard entertained the guests. She was so enamoured by his stories that the young Ophelia realized exactly what she wanted to do with her life; she wanted to write and tell stories, to sing songs and to find her own adventures. Every penny she earned thereafter was squirrelled away until Ophelia Harrington had enough money to travel from Shard to Navahla where the Obsidian Heart Adventure Company was based.
