Tessa Macerine Anson
╔ ╗ Stirred by the wind,
let us go alongside the land, the mountains and rivers.
Just gaining victory is attaining nourishment,
so it is not beautiful at all...╚ ╝
KINGDOM THEY HAIL FROM
Roune, and loyal to her king for the time being.
S T A T U S
Knight of Roune
A G E
29
G E N D E R
Female
S E X U A L I T Y
Heterosexual
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
Tessa is not exactly what one would call a beauty. Her forehead is high and round, Her nose is large and crooked besides from a couple breaks over the years. Her hair is stringy, straight, and somewhat coarse. Her brows are strong, and her eyes somewhat deep set. These features create a strong, more masculine face. Yet, she was gifted with her mother's delicate, rosebud lips and slight, pointed chin. These features lend her little in the way of beauty, instead, creating an odd juxtaposition with the rest of her features.
Her features often bear a blank, though observant expression. She may seem almost innocent at times, but one look in her eyes shows a foxlike, cunning intelligence. Even when she seems otherwise still and uninvolved, her eyes are always roving, keeping her aware of her surroundings. Her lips, with their slight cupid's bow, so often stay straight, hiding the emotions beneath. Still, those same lips often quirk into a wry smile, revealing an air of mischief that sits just below the surface. Her dark hair wafts to her shoulders, and her eyes are a light golden brown.
Standing at a 5'6, Tess is not especially tall, but she is stockily built, with wide shoulders and hips and large feet. She is one that many would say was built for hard labor, and her hard-earned, athletic physique emphasizes this fact. Her calloused hands are hardly those of a noble lady, but she has earned those calluses over years of trial. She moves with the dangerous, wolf-like grace of one who has trained with weapons for years. Tess is consistently steady on her feet, as if always prepared to brace for attack on a moment's notice.
PERSONALITY
First impressions rarely prove true when it comes to Tessa. At a glance, she seems to be rather tight-lipped, stoic, undemanding, and unimpressive. It is easy to simply forget her presence, and discount her as unimportant. For many, this is the only side of her they will ever notice. While it is true that Tess is a woman of few words, she is a natural leader. When necessary, she can be as intimidating as a hungry bear, and as dangerous. Her words are full of confidence and well thought out. While she is not talkative by any means, she is not too timid to speak her mind. It hardly matters who is present or how appropriate it is to speak at that moment, she will get to the point, with or without tact if necessary. This trait can make her rather unpopular, but her goal is not popularity.
Tess has an odd quirk of talking to herself when alone or in company she trusts. She will often make rather quick-witted, sarcastic comments, or merely make some observation on the situation. These observations often seem to come from nowhere, and just as often appear without context. From these, though, a person who knows her can often pick out the direction of her thoughts and the color of her mood. When questioned, she will sometimes explain what she is thinking. Other times, if she has decided to keep something secret, no matter how insignificant it is, she will not budge until she is ready. Tess is not one who needs to immediately spill all her gossip and secrets to the first listening ear.
This secret keeping is definitely augmented by a wide stubborn streak. Tessa has always put the utmost importance on keeping her word. Once she has firmly decided on a course of action, she will stick to it like a burr. There is little that can change her mind. She is also rarely content to let a challenge pass by unmet. It is not that she is worried about her honor, but simply that she enjoys fighting and proving herself in combat, or even in a simple spar. However, especially when her passions are aroused, it is easy to see a fierceness bordering on bloodlust. It is a qualty that had given many pause, including Tess herself. She is by no means a gentle woman, but over the years she has realized that it is all too easy to slip into the shoes of a killer. Still, this is a side only few see, and those who invoke it rarely livelong. Still, she is too stubborn a woman to let many provoke her, and this remains one of her deep secrets.
Beyond her stubbornness, however, is a definite sense of mischief. Few see this side of Tess, and some who do think themselves mistaken. If a point needs to be made, or someone needs to be reminded of his or her place, Tess is fully willing to use embarrassment to teach a lesson. This is also used when she wishes to stir up some kind of trouble. However, she never does this out of boredom, but only on a calculated risk to get information or respect. She is not afraid to get her hands dirty to achieve her aims.
Nevertheless, in her fighting, she is honorable. She is not one to take the first strike, nor is she one to play around. When possible, she will end things in one blow without ever drawing her sword. She prefers to avoid dealing needless wounds, but is by no means squeamish about doing so. Though she will allow her opponent the first blow, she uses all the speed and force available to her with her first blow. In this way, she catches many of her opponents off guard and the fight is often over before it even really begins. She is much stronger and more forceful than most would assume, both physically and mentally. When her opponents do underestimate her, her actions usually right their misunderstandings rather quickly.
H O B B I E S
+ Hunting and Tracking: Tessa has long enjoyed moving silently after her prey. Though she finds the hunt itself thrilling, she is more apt to hunt for need than for sport.
+ Archery:Though she is no master and her skills aren't good enough for combat, she can often hit what she is aiming for. This skill is useful when she hunts smaller game. After all, it is not very practical to kill a ptarmigan with a lance, is it?
+ Stories and Folktales: There is little that pleases Tess more than being able to sit and listen to a story or learn about old folklore. Even just hearing about someone's life can be entertaining. At times, she will also tell some of the stories she has heard.
+ Sparring and unarmed combat: As stated before, Tess enjoys proving herself. Not only that, but the occasional spar is perfect to hone a warrior's skills.
Father: Tecer 60(alive)
Mother: Athelia, 53(alive)
Brother: Veris, would be 34(dead)
Sister: Bethel Grenville 33(alive, married)
BIOGRAPHY
||....As if I were running away from the suffering
and I was just set on protecting myself,
I ran and fled away.
Yielding myself to anxiety,
I lost everything....||
Tessa's family had long been involved in the military of Roune. Both her father and grandfather served as knights for many years. Tess's brother, Veris, soon followed in their father's footsteps. Though her sister followed the role of a traditional 'Lady' more closely and Tessa was encouraged to take after her, it was soon evident that was not what Tess was suited for. She would attend lessons in etiquette and other such duties only when forced. Otherwise, she would be out with the men-at-arms, watching them spar, and as she got older, sparring herself. Her mother heartily disapproved, as did her father until he saw her fight. It was he who finally convinced his wife to allow Tess to become a squire when she came of age. Until then, however, she often learned from her brother. Whenever he would come home, he would teach her what he had learned, and Tess took to it like a fish to water. She was very close to her brother, even when his duties took him far from her, along with her father.
When Tess was 13, just a year too young to be a squire, there was a major battle not far from their home near the border of Roune and Valein. Both her father and her brother, who was a knight in his own right by then, were called to assist. Tessa begged to join them, but was vehemently denied the privilege, especially by her mother. Her father and brother left without her. That night, she slipped out, stealing a horse from the family stables, and rode after them before anyone noticed. In her head were visions of glory and victories, some of which she would no doubt help bring about with the trusty short sword at her belt. When she neared the battlefield, however, she quickly realized how far her visions were from reality. As the sun rose, anguished screams of men rung out. Horrid smells drifted with the wind. Bloodshed and gore filled her vision. She watched from a distance, unable to approach the horrors happening before her as she lay hidden in a thicket. At sundown, an eternity later, the battle halted. The groans of men wounded and dying still drifted over the battle ground.
Dazed and only half-aware of what she was doing, Tess led her horse around to the Roune camp. She was, of course, immediately stopped by a guard, who took her horse and her sword. Still, when she mumbled her father's name, she was taken to an empty tent and told to wait. Her father entered and gave a terse nod to the guard that came with him, verifying that she was who she said she was. He immediately dismissed the guard and strode over to her. Instead of the scolding she expected, he gathered her into his arms and held her tightly. Tess was taken aback at first. There was no way he had heard of her disappearance from the estate so quickly, so he could not have been worried about her. Though she tried to ask what was wrong, her father ignored her question at first. She was startled when she realized he was crying. Just a moment later, he pulled away, turning slightly so his daughter would not see his tears. He started out hoarsely, but gained strength as he went, "Your brother-- your brother was killed in battle today."
It is amazing how one sentence can so shake a person's life. That is exactly what it did for Tessa, who, at that point, made her first major transition from a child to a woman. She was forced to rethink many things, and the grief hit her hard, along with the horror she had witnessed. The poor girl suffered from horrible nightmares for weeks, and gained large dark circles under her eyes. It was at that point that her childhood officially ended. If it weren't for a vital conversation with her father at her lowest point, Tess may have never become a knight. However, when her father asked her what it was she really wanted out of life, she realized afresh that becoming a knight still was and always would be her calling.
She went on to become a squire on schedule, and trained harder than even most of the knights, a fiery determination in her eyes. Still, there was a secret she held in her heart, and still holds, truth be told. She does not blame Valein for her brother's death, so much as she questions the need for such constant conflict with them. She has spent the years trying to solve this riddle, and still, it festers deep within her heart. So, for now, she remains steadfastly loyal to her homeland, but that very loyalty is unsteady at its core.
W E A P O N
When mounted, she usually bears a heavy, steel-tipped lance. Otherwise, she relies on a broadsword with a hand and an half gip. It has a griffin in flight as the crossguard, which is her family emblem. She also has a concealed dagger hidden at the top of her boot, and a small recurve bow used for hunting.
WHAT DO THEY WANT THE SWORD? WHY DO THEY WANT IT?
She has yet to decide. At the moment, Tessa is merely following orders.
let us go alongside the land, the mountains and rivers.
Just gaining victory is attaining nourishment,
so it is not beautiful at all...
KINGDOM THEY HAIL FROM
Roune, and loyal to her king for the time being.
S T A T U S
Knight of Roune
A G E
29
G E N D E R
Female
S E X U A L I T Y
Heterosexual
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
Tessa is not exactly what one would call a beauty. Her forehead is high and round, Her nose is large and crooked besides from a couple breaks over the years. Her hair is stringy, straight, and somewhat coarse. Her brows are strong, and her eyes somewhat deep set. These features create a strong, more masculine face. Yet, she was gifted with her mother's delicate, rosebud lips and slight, pointed chin. These features lend her little in the way of beauty, instead, creating an odd juxtaposition with the rest of her features.
Her features often bear a blank, though observant expression. She may seem almost innocent at times, but one look in her eyes shows a foxlike, cunning intelligence. Even when she seems otherwise still and uninvolved, her eyes are always roving, keeping her aware of her surroundings. Her lips, with their slight cupid's bow, so often stay straight, hiding the emotions beneath. Still, those same lips often quirk into a wry smile, revealing an air of mischief that sits just below the surface. Her dark hair wafts to her shoulders, and her eyes are a light golden brown.
Standing at a 5'6, Tess is not especially tall, but she is stockily built, with wide shoulders and hips and large feet. She is one that many would say was built for hard labor, and her hard-earned, athletic physique emphasizes this fact. Her calloused hands are hardly those of a noble lady, but she has earned those calluses over years of trial. She moves with the dangerous, wolf-like grace of one who has trained with weapons for years. Tess is consistently steady on her feet, as if always prepared to brace for attack on a moment's notice.
PERSONALITY
First impressions rarely prove true when it comes to Tessa. At a glance, she seems to be rather tight-lipped, stoic, undemanding, and unimpressive. It is easy to simply forget her presence, and discount her as unimportant. For many, this is the only side of her they will ever notice. While it is true that Tess is a woman of few words, she is a natural leader. When necessary, she can be as intimidating as a hungry bear, and as dangerous. Her words are full of confidence and well thought out. While she is not talkative by any means, she is not too timid to speak her mind. It hardly matters who is present or how appropriate it is to speak at that moment, she will get to the point, with or without tact if necessary. This trait can make her rather unpopular, but her goal is not popularity.
Tess has an odd quirk of talking to herself when alone or in company she trusts. She will often make rather quick-witted, sarcastic comments, or merely make some observation on the situation. These observations often seem to come from nowhere, and just as often appear without context. From these, though, a person who knows her can often pick out the direction of her thoughts and the color of her mood. When questioned, she will sometimes explain what she is thinking. Other times, if she has decided to keep something secret, no matter how insignificant it is, she will not budge until she is ready. Tess is not one who needs to immediately spill all her gossip and secrets to the first listening ear.
This secret keeping is definitely augmented by a wide stubborn streak. Tessa has always put the utmost importance on keeping her word. Once she has firmly decided on a course of action, she will stick to it like a burr. There is little that can change her mind. She is also rarely content to let a challenge pass by unmet. It is not that she is worried about her honor, but simply that she enjoys fighting and proving herself in combat, or even in a simple spar. However, especially when her passions are aroused, it is easy to see a fierceness bordering on bloodlust. It is a qualty that had given many pause, including Tess herself. She is by no means a gentle woman, but over the years she has realized that it is all too easy to slip into the shoes of a killer. Still, this is a side only few see, and those who invoke it rarely live
Beyond her stubbornness, however, is a definite sense of mischief. Few see this side of Tess, and some who do think themselves mistaken. If a point needs to be made, or someone needs to be reminded of his or her place, Tess is fully willing to use embarrassment to teach a lesson. This is also used when she wishes to stir up some kind of trouble. However, she never does this out of boredom, but only on a calculated risk to get information or respect. She is not afraid to get her hands dirty to achieve her aims.
Nevertheless, in her fighting, she is honorable. She is not one to take the first strike, nor is she one to play around. When possible, she will end things in one blow without ever drawing her sword. She prefers to avoid dealing needless wounds, but is by no means squeamish about doing so. Though she will allow her opponent the first blow, she uses all the speed and force available to her with her first blow. In this way, she catches many of her opponents off guard and the fight is often over before it even really begins. She is much stronger and more forceful than most would assume, both physically and mentally. When her opponents do underestimate her, her actions usually right their misunderstandings rather quickly.
H O B B I E S
+ Hunting and Tracking: Tessa has long enjoyed moving silently after her prey. Though she finds the hunt itself thrilling, she is more apt to hunt for need than for sport.
+ Archery:Though she is no master and her skills aren't good enough for combat, she can often hit what she is aiming for. This skill is useful when she hunts smaller game. After all, it is not very practical to kill a ptarmigan with a lance, is it?
+ Stories and Folktales: There is little that pleases Tess more than being able to sit and listen to a story or learn about old folklore. Even just hearing about someone's life can be entertaining. At times, she will also tell some of the stories she has heard.
+ Sparring and unarmed combat: As stated before, Tess enjoys proving herself. Not only that, but the occasional spar is perfect to hone a warrior's skills.
Father: Tecer 60(alive)
Mother: Athelia, 53(alive)
Brother: Veris, would be 34(dead)
Sister: Bethel Grenville 33(alive, married)
BIOGRAPHY
||....As if I were running away from the suffering
and I was just set on protecting myself,
I ran and fled away.
Yielding myself to anxiety,
I lost everything....||
Tessa's family had long been involved in the military of Roune. Both her father and grandfather served as knights for many years. Tess's brother, Veris, soon followed in their father's footsteps. Though her sister followed the role of a traditional 'Lady' more closely and Tessa was encouraged to take after her, it was soon evident that was not what Tess was suited for. She would attend lessons in etiquette and other such duties only when forced. Otherwise, she would be out with the men-at-arms, watching them spar, and as she got older, sparring herself. Her mother heartily disapproved, as did her father until he saw her fight. It was he who finally convinced his wife to allow Tess to become a squire when she came of age. Until then, however, she often learned from her brother. Whenever he would come home, he would teach her what he had learned, and Tess took to it like a fish to water. She was very close to her brother, even when his duties took him far from her, along with her father.
When Tess was 13, just a year too young to be a squire, there was a major battle not far from their home near the border of Roune and Valein. Both her father and her brother, who was a knight in his own right by then, were called to assist. Tessa begged to join them, but was vehemently denied the privilege, especially by her mother. Her father and brother left without her. That night, she slipped out, stealing a horse from the family stables, and rode after them before anyone noticed. In her head were visions of glory and victories, some of which she would no doubt help bring about with the trusty short sword at her belt. When she neared the battlefield, however, she quickly realized how far her visions were from reality. As the sun rose, anguished screams of men rung out. Horrid smells drifted with the wind. Bloodshed and gore filled her vision. She watched from a distance, unable to approach the horrors happening before her as she lay hidden in a thicket. At sundown, an eternity later, the battle halted. The groans of men wounded and dying still drifted over the battle ground.
Dazed and only half-aware of what she was doing, Tess led her horse around to the Roune camp. She was, of course, immediately stopped by a guard, who took her horse and her sword. Still, when she mumbled her father's name, she was taken to an empty tent and told to wait. Her father entered and gave a terse nod to the guard that came with him, verifying that she was who she said she was. He immediately dismissed the guard and strode over to her. Instead of the scolding she expected, he gathered her into his arms and held her tightly. Tess was taken aback at first. There was no way he had heard of her disappearance from the estate so quickly, so he could not have been worried about her. Though she tried to ask what was wrong, her father ignored her question at first. She was startled when she realized he was crying. Just a moment later, he pulled away, turning slightly so his daughter would not see his tears. He started out hoarsely, but gained strength as he went, "Your brother-- your brother was killed in battle today."
It is amazing how one sentence can so shake a person's life. That is exactly what it did for Tessa, who, at that point, made her first major transition from a child to a woman. She was forced to rethink many things, and the grief hit her hard, along with the horror she had witnessed. The poor girl suffered from horrible nightmares for weeks, and gained large dark circles under her eyes. It was at that point that her childhood officially ended. If it weren't for a vital conversation with her father at her lowest point, Tess may have never become a knight. However, when her father asked her what it was she really wanted out of life, she realized afresh that becoming a knight still was and always would be her calling.
She went on to become a squire on schedule, and trained harder than even most of the knights, a fiery determination in her eyes. Still, there was a secret she held in her heart, and still holds, truth be told. She does not blame Valein for her brother's death, so much as she questions the need for such constant conflict with them. She has spent the years trying to solve this riddle, and still, it festers deep within her heart. So, for now, she remains steadfastly loyal to her homeland, but that very loyalty is unsteady at its core.
W E A P O N
When mounted, she usually bears a heavy, steel-tipped lance. Otherwise, she relies on a broadsword with a hand and an half gip. It has a griffin in flight as the crossguard, which is her family emblem. She also has a concealed dagger hidden at the top of her boot, and a small recurve bow used for hunting.
WHAT DO THEY WANT THE SWORD? WHY DO THEY WANT IT?
She has yet to decide. At the moment, Tessa is merely following orders.
