Dubhaine Family/Ciarghuala

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Dubhaine Family
Fame 40
Wealth 17535
Home Region Ashforth
Home World East Continent

Etymology

A name in the archaic Fontanese tongue Ciarghuala is a pun which can variously mean either "friend shouldered" or "dark (hair and eyes) shouldered". When Ciarghuala was born she had a shock of fine black hair, and during her infancy she was fostered by family friends in the then independent citadel of Via.

Background

Ciarghuala is the daughter of Lady Moira Dubhaine, former Supreme Justice of Fontan and latterly an adventurer of Western Dwilight and Northern Beluaterra. Born in the free city of Via and raised on the borders of the Zuma Coalition, some have speculated that her father may himself have been a Lord of the Zuma, though such fanciful tales have little place in modern genealogy they're popular with the bards who sing of her many accomplishments.

She began her military career as a knight of Niselur and fought with the First Edreun when the monster menace became manifest. It was during this time that she discovered the Forgotten Crown of the Austere Star. When Niselur was abandoned by the other SA realms and reduced to a coastal rump, Ciarghuala led the bodyguard of King Fulco as he travelled to exile in Luria and personally presented the Crown to Emperor Seamus before returning north to coordinate the last desperate attempt to save Gelene.

Later she would lead the last defence of Golden Farrow as the final haven on the Western Continent fell, harrying the monstrous foe across the Inner Sea and raiding their settlement ashore, eventually seeking asylum in Luria Boreal. Unusually amongst the nobility of Dwilight Ciarghuala is a skilled and confident sailor and with her dragon ship Waveburner has made many voyages across both the Inner Sea and the Outer Ocean.

A period of retirement followed before the fall of Shinnen prompted her to take up arms again, fighting hard to defend the people of Luria Nova. In time she'd become Grand Panetier of the Empire and Queen of Earth's Hall with her seat in the fortress of Poryatu on the northern borders, reforming the office along military lines and acting as close advisor to a succession of Suzerains before eventually accepting the throne of Luria Nova in her own right as Suzerain Queen.

Ciarghuala's reign saw the reinvigoration of the Lurian Empire with successive campaigns in defence of Swordfell's most northerly outpost of Unterstrom and came to a natural end after she introduced regular elections. She retired back to her Ducal seat of Poryatu where she continues her role in government as Grand Pantier and leads the defence of the northern borders.

Appearance

Lady Ciarghuala inherits her mother's powerful, sinewy frame which combined with her raven tresses and the smoky cast framing her midnight blue eyes give her an unsettling, primal beauty which remains untouched by age, ripe in the first bloom of womanhood. First and foremost a warrior, she rarely adopts the finery her rank allows and is most often seen in the green drab brigandine doublet and grey kidskin britches and boots of the Free Fontanese Guard. The basket hilt and scabbarded blade of Shieldbane slaps against her left hip, the silver clasp of her worn leather baldric chased with the famed Dubhaine armorial, a heavy-bladed seax running flat across her back, the flintlock pistols Barker and Spitfire thrust through her belt.

Ciarghuala is a renowned archer and huntress, closely associated in popular folk tales with her distinctive longbow Whisperer. According to the bards Whisperer's slender bow-stave is cut from a single length of ancient yew harvested at midnight from a grove in the Zuma-haunted forest of Gonophor, treated with tallow rendered from an Ogre chieftain's flesh, and strung with silk from the spider-pits of the Volcano Nightscree. Setting aside its fanciful mythtoricity, what's certain is that its draw-weight is unmatched and only those trained since early childhood to lay their body into the bow could hope to bend it. Whisperer is accompanied by a grey drawstring bag containing long-shafted bodkins and a slender poignard.

The Queen is also well known for her love of all things nautical and can often be seen pacing the command deck of her Dragon Barge The Sea Wyrm when opportunity allows. The Barge is a might vessel with a sleek hull crafted from Lurian oak, its forest of masts rigged with white canvas sails augmented by three banks of oars. Two mighty ballista are mounted for and aft and the prow boasts a cruel iron ram, whilst below decks there's space for a full company of marines and their gear along with the ship's company of rowers and sailors.

At court she usually wears dress uniform, a maroon broadcloth tunic with gold buttons, white kidskin britches, and oxblood leather baldric and boots. Her complicated relationship with formal attire means she never looks comfortable in the frocks and gowns expected of her rank and rarely do her clothes make as much impression as the sense of irritation she feels at wearing them.

Ciarghuala.png

Personality

Raised in the wilderness of Western Dwilight in the borderlands between the dread Zuma and the free city of Via, Ciarghuala is tough and self-reliant even by the standards of the Dubhaine matriarchs. Whilst she shares her mother's deep-seated hatred of injustice and tyranny, it more often finds expression in compassion for the poor unfortunates who toil under its yoke than in the punishment of those who perpetrate it. A well-read and thoughtful woman, she's as comfortable planning against a harsh winter as wielding bow and blade in battle.

In her youth Ciarghuala was more at ease in the wilderness than she ever was in the densely-packed cities of the Inner Sea, however the devastation of recent years has forced her to reassess her views on civilisation and its importance to the human condition. Though still far from courtly in her inclinations she's come to appreciate the company of her fellow nobles - at least those of Luria - and in the right company can seem positively gregarious. However her private life is closely guarded and few outside her immediate military circle know anything of Ciarghuala's loves and passions.

Stats

The following scores are based on anecdotal evidence.

Age Class Honour Prestige Swordfighting Jousting Leadership Spellcasting
55 W/C 479 52 67 8 102 11
FAME
Reputation 31
Prestige 91
Honour 22
Notoriety 7
Reaver 28
Skills 36
Swordfighting 74
Jousting 12
Leadership 79
Trading 100
Bureaucracy 5
Oratory 5
Infiltration 15
Adventuring 5
Spellcasting 30
Legacy 42
Rulership 72
Dukedom 44
Lordship 21
Knighthood 32
Wealth 55
Possessions 10
Trader 100

Career

1013
Knight of Niselur, August
Countess of K'dira, August
1014
Watchmaster of Niselur, April
Margravine of Golden Farrow, April
Coffermaster of Niselur, May
Lawmaster of Niselur, May
Knight of Astrum, May
1015
Knight of Luria Nova, July
Margravine of Shinnen Purlieus, December
1016
Judge of Luria Boreal, January
1017
Knight of Shinnen, June
Knight of Askileon, July
Grand Panetier of Luria Nova, July
Countess of Poryatu, August
Vice-Marshal of The Emperor's Will, November
1018
Dean of Economics of University of Dwilight, April
Queen of Earth's Hall, August
1019
Suzerain Queen of Luria Nova, November

Household

Em, Lady Emily D'Arcy
Ciarghuala's mysterious lover
Synne
Royal Equerry
Septinia
Captain General of the Lurian Marine Corps
Former Captain of the Free Fontanese Guard
Aelfmona
Captain of the Free Fontanese Marine Company
Luvna
Sergeant of the Second Platoon of the Free Fontanese Marine Company
Heath
A warrior of the Second Platoon of the Free Fontanese Marine Company
Audley
Lieutenant of the 1st Poryatu Heavy Infantry Militia Company
Kimball
Lieutenant of the Free Fontanese Guard Militia Company
Kristof
A Sergeant of the Free Fontanese Guard Militia Company

Commands

Name Description Army Captain Men Type T R W A D M C CS Provisions Entertainment Designation Pay Service
The Silver Lancers The First Edreun of Niselur 0 + 1 C 31 49 49 6 84 30 0 60 14.08.1013
15.08.1013
K'dira Rangers The First Edreun of Niselur Hildemund
+11
40 MI 72 3 60 60 15 92 100 635 0 +Brewery 16.08.1013
27.01.1014
Free Fontanese Guard The First Edreun of Niselur Wolfgang
+7
29 SF 85 5 80 75 15 85 100 801 0 -Dance Hall 27.01.1014
07.05.1014
Free Fontanese Guard Golden Trout Roderic
+5
65 SF 81 4 95 85 24 84 81 1357 100 +rough quayside 22.07.1015
Free Fontanese Guard Erkenbrand
+6
71 SF 96 4 95 85 13 91 100 1677 100 18.11.1015
Free Fontanese Guard The Defenders of the Empire Septinia
+16
82 SF 99 5 100 100 0 96 50 2003 100 +rough quayside army 259 21.06.1017
28.04.1019
Free Fontanese Marine Corps The Novan Wrath Septinia
+16
60 SF 100 5 100 100 8 87 55 1522 100 +rough quayside army 161 28.04.1019
20.05.1019
Free Fontanese Marines The Novan Wrath Aelfmona
+17
91 SF 92 5 100 100 0 100 96 2182
939
70 -whores army 238 28.04.1019
20.10.1020
Fontanese Freebooters The Novan Wrath Floronia
+18
146 + 1 SF 96 5 100 100 64 100 98 2241
965
60 -rough quayside
+whores
army 448 03.11.1020

Battles

1013
August

Personal Journal

1014
April, The Long March Home -- With Niselur overwhelmed by monstrous hordes, Ciarghuala and her faithful Fontanese Guard escort King Falco to exile in Luria Nova at great personal cost before commencing the long journey home to defend their adopted people.
1017
July, All is Confusion -- Monstrous hordes roam the east with impunity.
September, The Siege of Luria Nova
December, The Slumbering Giant Stirs
1018
The Slumbering Giant Stirs -- January, February, March, April
The Northern Kingdom -- May June
July, When an Emperor Falls... -- The unexpected disappearance of Suzerain Emperor Aldrakar leads to a struggle for the throne, complicated by the Lawful Rebellion clause of Luria's constitution. First Imperial Marshal Isabella Pavus seizes the throne in a bloodless coup, then as she is protested from office Lord Aylwin follows in her footsteps only to himself be protested from office.
August, ...an Emperor Rises -- Under the newly elected Emperor Nicholas Archival the long-planned division of Luria into northern Luria Nova and southern Luria Ferrata is finally enacted. Following the division King Matthew Coffey is taken ill and when it becomes apparent that he'll need a long convalescence the Crown of Earth's Hall is passed to Ciarghuala as his nominated successor.
September, The Glorious Summer of Luria
Two Hearts Beating, One Beats the Other -- October, November
December, Westward Ho!
1019
The North Aroused! -- January, February, March
April, Winter Blows Cold in the West!
May, Who Does Death Serve?
June, To Stand United?
July, To The West Once More
August, The Golden Shores of Dusk
September, Regulators and Collectors
October, The Last Days of the Reign of King Bennet
First Amongst Equals -- Following his retirement Suzerain King Bennet is succeeded by Ciarghuala -- November, December
1020
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August
1021
The Faith of Shinnen - July, August