Marcella Bychan

21 (twenty-one) years old, July 9 Human, Female, Noble, Mage​

“This is my conviction!”

Pouring rain, coming down. Greed and sorrow, all been sown. Courage of heroes, all ignored. Cast aside just like the ...

Just like ... (c) 2013​

Appearance

Standing on 5’4 Marcella is considered to be of average height for a human of the female sex. Slender is her build, possessing long limbs that carry her around in grace, however her cleavage is unfortunately not that richly endowed. A shame, for round figures are certainly considered within the selection of marriage. Framing her face are her long locks of hair, light brown with streaks of gold waved through them, reaching for mid-back. A slight wave in her hair makes it appear fuller than it is, but unlike her eyelashes her hair doesn’t grow out from her scalp as rich. Perhaps she is in luck with that, as her hair doesn’t weigh quite as heavy as it does with these who are endowed with thick hair. As for her sight she possesses almond shaped eyes, circled with long and thick eyelashes, making them appear bigger than they actually are. Chestnut brown they are, looking forward gently as the white surrounding it signs of a good health. So does her skin, fair and pale, just like it is in fashion with the ladies of noble bloods and a dash of colour to accentuate her cheekbones. She looks like a porcelain doll, another trait in fashion with the aristocrats. Frail looking and in need of protection, though that is often a mistake for Marcella is perfectly capable of carrying herself and keeping herself out of trouble.

As for her clothes, as a noble and as a female member of the council at the court, there are expectations chained at her. So can’t she afford herself to be shown around in ‘old’ fashion or in a careless appearance. Though it would make her live easier. Fortunately she doesn’t have to worry quite as much about what she wears, letting herself be advised by the best tailors of the land and just having to pick out a pattern and fabric she likes. Carefully dressed from head to toe by the help of the chambermaids and make up applied to accentuate her strong points in her face, it is rare of Marcella to go out unprepared, knowing that she has a name to prove.

Personality

Pacifistic “We’ve a voice to negotiate, not to declare war.” It is not uncommon for young souls to wish for peace, after all the innocent of a child always wishes for the best of the world and believes that there is such thing as 'worldly' peace. That wars are just silly conflicts they encounter on the playgrounds. Pointing the fingers at each other and declaring that it was the other the liar.-'No I'm not, you're!'- It sort of is, war is the cause of a silly dispute between the differences of opinion between beings. That is the believe that Marcella has always hold herself up to and up till now it has always proven itself to be true. War caused by the religion, war over land, war over healthy and clear water for irrigation and survival, Marcella is a faithful follower that everyone could be solved by speech. If people were just willing to speak and talk to each other properly then swords and soldiers were unneeded. However she is aware that there are souls unable to do so, unable to speak up and rather see blood flow, a painful realization, but that is the reason why she believes that she has to work hard to earn her place. If she could show the example of how it is supposed to be done, if she could prove others that a good conversation could avoid a war and settle a good relationship, then perhaps others will follow that lead. Ambitious and perhaps almost unattainable, but she is willing to work herself to death as long as she can resolve herself never to agree to war or a fight. As anyone can see a youthful soul who still believes in her childhood dreams of peace. Dreaming of a world were no one has to fight as they can speak, talk and resolve, for war is unneeded as long as one has a voice in any form or way to express themselves.

Rational “Answer a fool with their own folly…” A thinker she is, it is rare for Marcella to act at all on emotions, it is a trait that has been considered to be very valuable inside of the line of Bychan, for emotions cloud ones judgement. Though she hadn't always been someone who would think her actions and decisions through and through with an objective mind. At a young age she had always been biased towards the 'kinder' souls. These who had treated her well would earn her grace, but she soon learned that this provoked anger with others, slowly learning from her mistakes as she learnt through the scandal of her aunt that she can't say whatever she wants either. When in anger she can't yell out her frustrations, for words formed by emotions are always thoughtlessly cast out and if wrongly said will return as a boomerang. Her teachers had lectured her upon it, but as with al experiences one has to face it themselves before they learn the meaning of a valuable life lesson. And that came specially with the death of her dearest fiancé. Upon the news of the ambush and later on the realization that he had been ripped apart from her forever she had to bite on her tongue, feeling for the first time in her life challenged in her resolve as a pacifist. She could have send out the family guards to chase after the assassins, but as she had been spoken strictly by her mother, then she would have betrayed herself and her love. Then she would have turned her back at her fairest trait and that she couldn't have. She had to be rational and have the soldiers do their job, accept that her fiancé was another one of the troops despite his high rank and still prone to attacks. That he was merely mortal and perhaps that experience had been the greatest lesson as to how she was to shut out her emotions into objective observations and to a rational mind unclouded by prejudices and opinionated feelings.

Observant “I can’t dully wait for the answers to come.” To watch and to follow, to observe and to decide. The young female has naturally been born with a keen eye for detail and thus learning how to observe wasn't hard. It had already been part of her before she had realized it and that was a great trait considered within the walls of her family. That she was willing to patiently watch and listen, that she was capable of picking out the details she needed to know what was happening around her. It was of importance that Marcella knew what she had to watch in order to blend in with the rest, to know who was a friend and who an opponent, cause even though Marcella is a pacifist unwilling to engage in any kind of conflict the Bychan family has made its enemies in their previous generations as well as by her own act. After all not everyone is to accept her believes and the decisions she makes out of it. A very good talent to be born with, but at times it could also be an disadvantage as she may be too stubborn or oversee the complete picture by all of the details she has gathered, unable to work towards the core of the subject because she is so busy observing and taking in all details.

Conservative “I’m comfortable with the way things are now.” She has no reason to disagree with the way the country has been ruled now. No reason to wish for change in her current position unless it would bring her higher. Being born inside of an old fashion family with believes carried on from their ancestors Marcella isn't one to vote for change. In fact, the female has a slight dislike for change as she fears that change may lead to a future problem, a knit that she won't be able to untangle, or perhaps be a catalyst to a future conflict. Change means that she has to lose something in order to gain something and Marcella isn't all too sure whether she is able to accept that loss. Truth is; the female is afraid of change and therefore unable to accept change. She knows that as she grows she is changing, from a child to a teen and then to an adult, maturing in character, but these are minor changes she can take. The change in her position, the change in taxes and perhaps even in the decisions of the council and their believes, that is what makes her fear the most cause it could mean that everything she believed to have could crumble away in a second by the slightest change within the court.

Well-spoken "The greatest impression is given by speech.” Well articulated and clear, well sought words and polite. These are the words to describe her manner of speech. Though Marcella may be well known to be soft in tune and nimble in voice she is well respected when she speaks, catching the attention of these around her and earning a well deserved silence to give her the time to speak. She isn't slow, but calm in her pace, taking her time to explain without being rushed as there is no need to hasten time. A well explained opinion is much more valued than words spoken without any thought for they carry more power and conviction and invites the other to discuss within the content instead of placidly staying within the surface and heating up with disagreements created by chains of annoyed answers. It can be deduced that Marcella doesn't speak all too much, rather listening and taking her time to let others finish before she will give her input when a silence falls. It may be slow paced for the more impatient, but certainly worthwhile in the opinion of Marcella.

Determined "Some could also describe it as stubborn." She isn't one to back off when told, or to give up when feeling dejected. Rather, the more negative response she receives in her believes the more determined she feels to prove herself and tell the other wrong. Of course she wouldn't respond in words in such cases, as they will hold ground, but she shall show them how wrong they are, that her believe is right and that she can be successful in her ways. Stubbornness some would call it as she is unable to face that she is wrong, but stubborn they may call her as Marcella would feel more dejected were she to betray her beliefs and follow the crowd's opinion what isn't hers. However, she isn't hard headed, a trait that is often confused with stubbornness. No, she will give up once she has been proven wrong, but unless otherwise has been proven she shall fight to prove her point, making sure that she won't leave the stage beforehand and not lowering her head unless she knows that she has been defeated, so that she can say that she at least had tried everything she had in power. At least she had tried to fight for her beliefs until the bitter end where she can hold her head up high and congratulate the other on their win. Because that is the kind of person she is, convinced of her own until the other had managed to completely convince her.

Biography

A line of… The line of the Bychan family is long and infamous. Powerful figures had carried their blood and a fair share of scandalous names as well. Once the name had started out as merchants, gaining their bread by exotic looking fabrics, goods and other wants. By expanding their business they quickly climbed up the stairs, rising up in their social status and eventually gaining the title of a noble. Though, ‘new blood’ as how nobles were called who had gained their titles by the use of money and not by the passing of rights through birth, were often looked down upon by the ‘original’ nobles. Scum who had worked their ass off on the streets and collected enough gold to buy themselves a name. However that what streamed through their veins was what mattered, though when cut all bled a liquid of red theirs was considered to be ‘filthy’. Not that it had mattered, for the Bychan were passionate, determined to prove them all that them the filthy blooded were as much worth, if not more as these who were born with the title of an aristocrat.

From such a line Marcella was born, the fourth generation after they had gained their title and by now everyone had grown to respect them. Commoners and nobles alike. Her great-grandparents had been the merchants who opened their path to nobility, her grandfather the first man to set foot in the court quarters, gaining himself a place at the table of the councillors. To that her father had taken over once he held the age, proving himself to have inherited the blood and talents from his predecessors. Now the third in line was to take their seat at the table, Marcella, born and raised between all these councillors who judged for the good of the country.

Carefully Marcella had been grown, taught the classes that a lady needed to fill her head with and given the lessons of etiquette as of how a lady was ought to behave. She was taught how to drink tea, while studying several languages, walked with books on her head for a good posture, while she had to recite poems and discuss literature, she had to interest herself in geography, economy and history. Besides from that also dance and music. Everything that she was ought to learn as a lady to be perceived as ‘cultivated’ and everything which was needed to steam her up for her ‘future’ as a Bychan. Everything had a reason and Marcella knew no better than to follow. She knew the weight she carried on her shoulders.

At fourteen Marcella was introduced to the public, open for marriage requests and ready to prove herself worthy of her family. Of course she had been out before, but never so officially. Never with the organisation running behind it that worried how she would be received. Before she was perceived as a ‘child’, she still was a child, but now she couldn’t run around anymore, or curse under her breath. All by all she was ‘ready’ for society, to carry on the legacy of her family and expected to carry it on with grace and if possible bring more fame to them. If not she should at the very least avoid a scandal for the consequences were great.

Marcella had been fifteen when she first entered the court. Not because she had committed a crime, but because of the involvement of her aunt and thus also her family. A good time to teach Marcella exactly what would happen if she were to disgrace the name of Bychan. As she sat there on the wooden bench and listened to the list of crimes that the older woman supposedly had committed Marcella felt herself tense up as the name of Bychan pass by a several times. Never too positive as she understood that this was to leave a slash on their name, a taint that they couldn’t wash away easily and made to forget. Found in bed with a man she had not wed, a child out of wedlock, all small crimes that could have been covered with the wealth of her family. However as they continued the biggest crime of all had been revealed: Being involved in a cult that held ill intentions towards Sythus. Ridiculous as her aunt was a heartfelt patriarch, proud of their bloodline and of the country they lived in. However, though her father knew the truth, though he had known about the scheme that had caused her aunt to stand there about to be convicted the man had done nothing at all to save her. Having proceeded to wash of the shame of their name by declaring that it had been all her doing. By giving out a declaration that rendered her aunt and her family alone on the accusations that rambled from all sides, but to which a scapegoat was needed to be branded.

After that Marcella had never seen or heard a mention of her aunt again. Paintings that were made of her, records that ever had her connected to the family, all of them were destroyed. A cruel sign of goodbye to someone who was already gone from the world. Branded away and pretended as to never have existed at all. A most disgraceful manner as to render out the scandals from their names and Marcella had learned to fear her name for the first time ever.

Unaware of... At the age of sixteen Marcella set foot inside of what would be her future. To serve the empress as one of the councillors of the country, like her grandfather and father had done before her and as to carry on with that honour. For the first time she was formally introduced to the empress, the leader of their country. Marcella had remembered their first encounter well, having admired the woman and respected her as she should. She had been entirely impressed by the woman in front of her when she bowed down, feeling in awe as she wondered in what way she should serve her as to prove her worth. She as well was of female gender, however had to face many discrimination because of her sex. Something that had bothered her, but with the knowledge that the Empress she had met was the same as she was; a woman gave her the confidence she needed.

This was one year after the scandal of her aunt, but it wasn’t forgotten in the small time that had lapsed as they were giving Marcella a hard time to cope around inside of court. She had to earn her place, however being a woman and unmarried gave her twice the pressure and the hardships she had to face then when everything had been different. Gossips flew around, trying to break the young female. However just like her father had done a year ago she as well had banned her aunt from her mind. Her fear to suffer the same fate being bigger than the wish to protect the innocent blood that had spilled.

It was three years after, when she was nineteen that she finally had gained enough respect to gain a seat at the table. Though she was to sit at the back of the table and had to practically lean over the table to hear the discussion she had been awarded a place in the debates of the council, receiving a voice to speak for the people, for herself and she was proud. Though her grandparents had warned her that she should keep up her work and strive farther if she wished to stay, for competition was fierce and she remained an unmarried woman.

In her twentieth year of her life she finally had a betrothed, a noble man who served as one of the generals of the army. Though he was a brash man with muscles and Marcella being of the kind who refused to fight they had somehow connected to each other. Getting along as both came from nobility that had pressured them into the position they were now. She had truly loved him, had given her heart for the first time in her life to a man and suddenly he had been ripped away from her side.

Though the country may be in peace the army was still needed and so were generals. When his troops were send out on a patrol mission around the borders her fiancé had come to say his goodbyes, promising to return soon. “And soon after…” he had said while kissing her hand, leaving a promise that he was never to fulfil as he got attacked by a group of assassins, having jumped in front of their sword as to protect a few travellers on the road. Or so the story of his death had been told to her. Devastated Marcella had mourned with silent tears that never seemed to end. However after a month she had picked herself up, straightened her back and threw herself into her work, fully immersing herself in her role as a councillor, thinking that all would be right. However she never returned to her old self.

She would have longed greatly to see him again, her lover, however she knew it was quite impossible to meet again with the death. Of course she could have tried to revive him with necromancy, but she knew that it wasn't appreciated by him or by her family. They wanted her to move on, but she felt unable to do so. Somehow, something inside of her had convinced her that perhaps he was still out patrolling, taking a detour to make sure that surrounding places all were safe after having encountered something suspicious. She was only fooling herself, but the lie was so much easier to swallow than having to accept the truth. After all it had been in his character to selflessly to give himself extra work and keep himself longer away from home, because he was just that much of a hero, just as much as he was loyal to his country and to her and she to him.

Weapon of Choice

None, unless one would count in her gems in for weapons. No, she doesn’t throw them, but she channels her magic through it, letting it flow through the core of her stones and gems as to draw out their hidden power. For example; an Agate is used for defensive use of magic while an Aquamarine helps Marcella to perform water based spells. She has all kind of them in possession, all with different meanings and uses. They do most of the job when one encounters Marcella in battle, which is rarely.

Powers & Abilities

Magic

A human mage of considerable level. Marcella had been trained since young until her fifteenth year by her mentor who had chosen her for 'certain' qualities. Though she had never quite known her mentor and only interacted with them inside of their lessons Marcella has been trusted upon their form of magic and trained on her own after they had left. Experimenting and regulating her powers and slowly rising up as a respected mage and member of the council. Though Marcella has taught to use spells her greatest speciality and that what makes her unique as a mage is the fact that she draws most of her powers out of stones and gems. So will she use the jade stones for honesty and will jet be used to ease the pain and or to cast a barrier against evil thoughts. Or a lepidolite that should wash away the negative emotions such as anger and hatred, perfect for someone as pacific as Marcella as she dislikes to fight. Of course she also has stones and gems in possession that could be used in an attack, but Marcella rather channels her energy into avoiding combat and only resolves herself forward when she is pushed and forced to.​

Agile

Light on the feet and easy to move, Marcella has no problem in sneaking around as she is quick on the feet and light to carry around, snooping around silently. However, she often enough doesn't use it for the purpose of sneaking around at the court. Finding it impolite to eavesdrop on others. It is an useful trait though, for she has no problem escaping a situation she rather not be found inside of. Or if she wishes to sneak up to others and give them a scare, like she often would do when she was young. Anyway, she had much fun with this ability when she was still a child, but nowadays it is just naturally part of her, finding that grace comes along with a silence that announces a lady's entrance inside of the room from which only her the silent whispers of her skirt are supposed to give her away along with the small taps of her heels.

Dexterous

Lean and agile, much like her figure so are her hands and so is her mind. Easy to adapt and very capable of creating an idea, a plan or crafting something. All that Marcella needs is to observe for a while before she picks up on the details and tries her own hand to it. She always has been a quick leaner, specially if she gets to do it herself in the fields, the more she trains the better her skill becomes in a rapid way. Because Marcella is just the kind of person who puts her mind into everything she does, but is always unwilling to hurt or to fight, which might be her greatest barrier as of why she never developed any other skill but artistic.​

Relationships

Ancestors

Family History - As mentioned before it all started with her great-grandfather Bychan who bought them the title of nobles. Merchants they had been before, travelling with exotic goods to sell, carrying stories with them from unknown tales and cultures yet to discover. Some of them were myths, some of them mere nonsense told when one had drank too much liquid. However it had been hard work, expanding grounds and money that had brought them to were they were today. Later on her grandfather followed in these footsteps, expanding over the water as to stimulate the economics and not soon later interesting himself with politics as well. One ought to be concerned with the welfare of the country when standing on top. Wondering what changes would be made this time that could possible affect them or be played to their hand as an advantage. To gain more weight inside of the system they thus decided to throw themselves into the council, every step taken was thought out on a greater board, hoping to have fate bend over to their will. However no one possessed the will of fate, but such was the arrogance of Bychan after generations of success.

• Father Alive - Alive and well. His appearance is fierce, large and tall, undeniable when he enters a room. Confidence he doesn't miss and neither does he lack the brains. A very stoic man who rather follows the rules on the foot and strict upon manners and specially reputation. As the head of the family the man is very aware what exactly is at stake when a scandal comes up and often enough he has a very clear answer towards these who dare to threaten the name of Bychan. Obstacles are faded away, whether it is by brute force or a calculative plot to bring them down. Merciless in a way, for he was the one who erased the name of his own sister, Marcella's aunty from their tree, abandoning her to the crowd when she was to be judged. Though that is often a display to the outside and when he is inside of his role of a council member. Strong and merciless, without a cringe of empathy. However, to Marcella her father is a leader, a wise man who is only fighting for the Bychan to survive, his way to survive in this world filled with prejudices.
  

• Mother Alive - She came from a family of scholars, a lover of books and stories. However instead of dreaming away her time Marcella's mother was and still is a very serious and uptight person. Rarely has Marcella seen her mother make one other expression but the placid emotion that seems to be glued on her for entirety. Just like many women of her age she has been concerned with her appearance as well and specially on her youthfulness. As she ages the woman smiles and frowns less, afraid of wrinkling her aging face. It makes her look distant and reserved from the rest, but Marcella knows better than to judge her mother as superficial and cold, knowing that she is a loving woman who just like her father vowed to protect the name of Bychan.

Other

• Mentor Unknown - Of course she had to learn from somewhere her magic. Her parents and neither her grandparents did that, just like many other classes she was taught by a mentor carefully selected from the outside. However this mage that had been chosen to be her mentor had been a special case. Whereas most of her teachers had been chosen by her family this one had chosen their students itself. What their identity was had to be kept a secret, Marcella only met the figure in the nights and covered with a big cloak to hide themselves. At first her parents had been against it, a lady was to rest at night and not meet up with some mysterious figure who claimed to teach magic. However the person had been persistent, somehow managing to convince them and the rest of her family into teaching her. It was from there on that she was taught how to draw out the powers from within stones and gems, that she was taught to understand the meaning and uses of the solid minerals pushed into hands, what they were composed of and how to reach for their core. The mentor had been a capable teacher, powerful and knowledgeable, passing down their wisdom and legacy onto the young girl. One day the mentor suddenly said that she had learnt enough, that she had grown to their liking and that there was nothing more to teach but experience. She had been fifteen then, a year before she was introduced to the court. It was odd as they never said their goodbyes. Somehow Marcella thought that her mentor would forever stick to her side, never leaving, believing that somewhere in the corners they were still watching them. She never got to know who they exactly were, never got to see a glimpse of their face or any bare skin at all. Even their hands had been covered by silk, the only clue she had was their voice. However she was aware that it could have been forged.
  

• Fiancé Deceased - They had met through their families, when they both were introduced to the court, having reached the respectable age to be treated as an 'adult'. He came from a long line of generals and officials, trained in combat and broad in the shoulders. She had been the opposite, never having felt much towards having to resort herself to physical ways. However they got along, were able to speak to each other wasn't it for the same pressure that they received from family. To perform they both were, to prove themselves and to prove themselves worthy of their names. It had brought them closer to each other as they tried to encourage and court the other down the path that was set out for them. They had nothing to lose other than pride and despite their differences they seemed to liken each other. However they never realised how precious they were to each other until they finally set off on their paths. At sixteen they had met, at eighteen they parted, him being sent out for his first patrolling mission that would take on a longer while. They had missed each other, but dismissed it as not being used to be without each other's presence. They did promise to exchange letters every now and then, when he reached a camp, telling Marcella about his experiences with the troops and what his next destination was predicted to be. She would send the letter forward to the camps he mentioned, hoping that it would reach him in time or at all and before they knew it they were nineteen. The age that Marcella was elevated to the seats of the council and she became busy. Both of them were busy until he had finally completed his training and became a general, just like his family wished him to be, like they had been before and Marcella just starting out on her road. As they met with each other after the years apart relief washed over them. Having finally realised that they did think of each other as more than precious. However it wasn't meant to be as he died by the hands of the assassins out patrolling. Heroic he had always been, having jumped in front of the assassins who had seemingly came out of nowhere to attack and he tried to protect the innocent lives about to be harmed. Unfortunate and heartbreaking for Marcella as she had looked forward for him to fulfil the promise he had made before leaving. He was the first person she had learnt to love and supposedly also the last person. It is by the cause of his death that Marcella has thrown herself so much into her job as she does now, rarely taking a break for every passing moment she isn't moving around she will think of him.​

Other

Nimble voice

One wouldn't hear her scream, nor would they hear her very well in a large crowd. Her voice is soft, gentle, but hard to hear when not giving her all of the attention. She has no reason to raise her voice, doesn't mind it for being so nimble, after all it is only good manners to turn your whole attention when someone speaks. Though some may mistake her for being shy because of it volume, she is definitely not. Others may take her for being tired, which might be true mentally. However there is no reason as of why she speaks in a soft tune, just that it is part of her being.​

Marital status

Unmarried and no betrothed, currently Marcella is considered to be 'single', young and free to take. However ever since the death of her fiancé a year ago the female has completely immersed herself with work. Following a routine of sleeping, eating, working and so on. Of course she had been proposed by other men after she was available again, but she always refused. Still in pain about her former love and still unable to open up. She believes that she is unable to any more, after having her former lover taken away from her so cruelly. Her family does try to encourage her into meeting potential partners, but know that what they actually should do was leave her to mourn. However there is a name she has to uphold and thus work is in the way, trying to mend her heart away from the sadness she actually feels.