O'Ways/Siobhan
Died at the battle of Irneas in a charge against Sartanian defenders, 15/09/'08
Arcachon, Far East
Countess of Itomazh
Cullen was never able to track Siobhan's steps beyond Calis harbour, where she had been sold, but no clues where left what had become of her. Word from her came years later, when the sea captain she had been sold to years before disclosed her true origins to her as he lay dying, asking her to forgive him. He had always led the girl to believe she was his own daughter. It is very unlikely she did forgive him, as unlikely as him dying of natural causes.
She grew up at sea, which has naturally had it's impact on her personality. It was a hard life in the merchant fleet, surrounded by not always the most sophisticated company, most of the men she met in her young life were naturally sailors and merchants. She was taught to read by the ship’s cook, a former scribe to a noble of Ash Sea Islands who had fallen from grace. He was her best friend during her younger years and was eventually killed in a bar fight in Wayburg by a sailor from Fontan. This motivated Siobhan to learn how to handle a knife, in order to defend herself against those with less ‘honourable’ intentions. Due to her good looks, sharp wit and – knife she became known, or rather, notorious, in the maritime community. She loves the sea and the freedom it provided but her interests in spirituality were always bound to lead her to a life of religious service, but she found monastery walls way too limiting for her.
She got in touch with Megistos from Light of Fountain, where the ship had landed on the eve of the Captain’s death. After a while Megistos sent her some gold for her upkeep and explained the family values of Honour, Service and Truth.
Dark, curly hair and blue eyes, a face one who has laid eyes on it will never forget. Like her cousin Deirdre, in bond her sister, she has a striking appearance and astonishes many that a young woman of this elegance could be such a hard worker. She became a troopleader of Light of Fountain for a short while after she recieved her letters of nobility, she soon found more fulfilment in serving the people by preaching and comfort. After political disagreement, she and her best friend Kara Dairinn, also of Atamaran descent, both emigrated to Beluaterra. Siobhan then ventured off overseas to the Land Of The Standing Stones to study at the mystery-school led by Guillaume, where she studied the Arcane Arts, the Sciences Of The Skies, the Book Of The Gods and the ancient lore of Magic, shape-shifting and energetic domination. When she felt ready, she travelled to Avalon and after a brief period commanding infantry she decided to join the Order Of The Druids and carry on her mission of spreading the words of the Gods. Her main focus is therefore Service.
She has contempt for politics, although she often gets caught up in the middle of it as one of the voices of the Order of the Druids. Her convictions tend to lead her into conflict with politicians, because of her non-compromising nature. To her, doctrine is and ever-moving thing, subject to constant re-evaluation but immune to the needs of diplomacy.
Recently, the Order of the Druids was advised to change its' views on the evil servants of Hastur, a deamon, to 'neutral', because Avalon's high command thought it would buy them time and even get out of being destroyed by the deamon hordes. Siobhan refused on several occasions, as one of the only remaining and ranking Priestesses. A formerly appointed Cardinal Druid named jelpot, who had never showed interest in the workings of the Druids or their faith, stepped up and pulled rank on her. He changed the documents without considering the opinion of the real clergy. For Siobhan, this was the last straw. She refused to remain a part of a religious Order that is just a political tool, without any sovereignty whatsoever, not in thought nor in beliefs. She left Priesthood and the Order, formed a heavily armoured infantry unit and for a while considered founding a new Order of the Druids, one that is true to its' fundamental beliefs: That Truth is above all other things and that realms and their politics should be kept entirely separated from religious matters and vice versa. She intends to divide this new Order in a Spiritual and a Military wing, only fighting against threats of an evil source as undead and monsters, never against other humans. She gave up these considerations after some time, she had a long magical session at some point and decided to leave Beluaterra. She placed her Druidguards at Cteduul as militia, and was seen boarding the 'Flying Fish' in Fwuvoghor harbour. The Flying Fish, a clipper now sailed by her brother C'Mor is actually hers by inheritance. She chose for the island called Arcachon and vowed her oaths to Karl, Lord of Mnalor. Arcachon performed several raids on the mainland in recapturing the lands they had lost to Sartania, during which she has really changed, making it hard for anyone to believe this Lady was once a High Priestess of the Druid Order or a student of Guillaume.
After long months of continuing raids, looting and at times commiting atrocities, she gained respect among the more established members of the Arcachon Tribes. They offered her a position as Countess when one became available. She took command of Itomazh, the northernmost region of the Far East, consisting of mostly mossy grasslands, rocks and isolated, small villages. Her dwellings are at the north-eastern point of the island, in a castle conveniently named 'Itomazh Keep'. The rugged, utilitarian and a-social nature of the people there immediately agreed with her and she was greeted with much respect from day one.
People who know her say she has a tortured heart; Because of all the treason she has been a victim off, she hates people who lack the capacity to think for themselves and who are weak, as she blames these negative qualities to be responsible for all the bad things that have befallen her. Her actions and mentality are considered misanthropic and cruel by some, but to her they make perfect sense as she only attempts to do what is right for the whole, not the individual. Her long years of academic training help her to analyse situations to the fullest.
September 15th of the year 8 A.T.
Added to the Family's Pages by High King Hamish of Cathay;
It was a sad day in mid-september of the year 8 A.T. when I recieved this letter from my ally and friend Divine Soul Hyrus Kartak of Sartania:
My friend,
It has been long since we last made contact, and I wished it would be on better occurances. However, I must inform you of a terribly unfortunate event that happened in Irneas.
While the Arcachon forces attacked my men, your sister Siobhan has been killed by my forces.
I know you may not have trusted or liked your sister, I believe she was, but I am still regretful to have reduced your family.
Hyrus Kartak Divine Soul of Sartania
There had been a battle in the north-east coastal region named Irneas on the 15th of September. As is my duty, I traveled there to conduct our Sisters' funeral rite per Dragoneer custom. Due to the Ethialan/Arcaean war, in which our friends of Greater Aenilia are also involved, I had to cross several frontlines to get there. Thankfully, King Jenred Of Arcaea, who I wish to thank for his kindness, saw the honour in my quest and happily granted me and my men passage. In return, we dealt with two monster hordes in Saex. Unfortunately, even though all rulers involved had been notified and I had not been making any effort to conceal our presence, right after our Sister's funeral was concluded, the Arcachonians stormed the camp and slaughtered most of my men. Nevertheless, we were victorious, which probably prompted their leaders' slighting attitude. One can not even begin discussing concepts as 'Honour' and 'Duty' with people who order an attack on the burial ceremony of one of their own Countesses, so I will not bother. There now stands a memorial monument to the men of the 19th Itomazh Dragonriders and the 13th Royal Dragoneers who fell on these rocky shores, not far from the cliffs' edge where Countess Siobhan O'Ways, our sister, found her final resting place.
Oderint Dum Metuant. Nunc Aut Nunquam.
Coniunctus Viribus.
Fare well, my Sister.
High King Hamish O'Ways of Cathay,
Commander of the 13th Royal Dragoneers
Commands O'Ways/Dragoneer units
Siobhan commanded the "3rd Alatol Dragonclaws", an infantry unit, in Light of Fountain but after she left the East Continent she wanted to start on a new slate and renamed the unit "7th Alatol Dragonclaws". After a couple of skirmishes and a foreign mission in aide of Avalon's allies she ended her military career. As the first unit of the Druid Knights, she formed the "15th Druid Dragonguards", who were nearly all killed in the defense of Cteduul. She recruited new men into the unit, patrolled the Avalonian lands for a while and left them as militia in the Avalonian Capital Cteduul before she left for the Far East. There, she commanded the "16th Mnalor Dragonclaws", a medium-infantry unit. The Arcachonians have made it a habit to perform raids on the mainland, for which she has recruited a Cavalry unit, the "17th Mnalor Dragonriders", rough horsemen who follow her out of respect and a healthy dose of fear. To her family, her whereabouts are not confirmed, but they know there have been sightings of her at less-than honourable scenes. She went on to recruit the "19th Itomazh Dragonriders", after another raid on the mainland as she was installed as the Countess of Itomazh.
Many tales are told about her, usually not very flattering and reminiscent of acts of cruelty. She shunned contact with her family ever since she joined Arcachon. Only after a while, Hamish found out she was alive because she was mentioned in a battle report from Niel.
She fell with the 19th on 15/09/'08.
