Suncrown

Suncrown Character
Approved as of Wensday April 22, 2010 - Analeia



Name: Lady Regent Agho‘Linn Nerel‘thos Greenbriar Andilien

Profession 1: Herbalism
Profession 2: Alchemy

Affiliation:

House Nerel'Thos, by Blood, Cousin to Cyndesta
House Andilien, by Marriage, Wife to Theradiel Andilien

Age: 54 (Birthday, August 12th)

Short Bio:

Born to a middling powerful branch of the Nerel’Thos family, Agho’Linn was the first and only child born to Bareas Nerel’Thos, a distant relation to Lord Balanor Nerel’Thos. Advantageously married before the Scourge, Agho'Linn lived in the lap of luxury where her praises were sung daily. Arthas’ Scourge has left Agho'Linn paupered, and without a compass with which to navigate the society Arthas’ Scourge left in its wake.

Raised in older traditions, Agho'Linn finds the new social landscape of Silvermoon fascinating. While she outwardly seems to have immersed herself in tradition and ettiquette of many years past, she secretly revels in the confused role of women, the commoner, and the noble and the opportunity it presents for all.

Her recent marriage to the unlikely Lord of Andilien, Theradiel, has raised some eyebrows, but most view her match to the stalwart huntsman as a calming and guiding influence.

Physical Description:

Agho'Linn is a middle-aged elf who has managed to retain a shapely figure despite her years. She bears no sign of ever having had to work for a living, but her posture is very business like. Agho'Linn sports her Nerel'Thos red hair long, and her bisque colored skin bears no blemish. Her light eyes have the look of someone constantly thinking, constantly calculating, though the rest of her face betrays no threatening level of intelligence.

Through time and adventures, Agho’Linn has garnered a various array of scars. Due to her healing arts and a rigorous beauty regimen the majority of these scars are either faded or fading. A set of scars, however, hasn’t faded entirely, though. A clean scar across her chest, her abdomen, and one down each arm remain no matter how much time has passed.

Personality:

Agho'Linn is well known for her impeccable etiquette, having been raised in older traditions than most would have been. She outwardly appears to be the loving, much-older, sister, almost motherly. Her marriage and the events of the last year have not changed this in the least.

Character History:

Born to a middling powerful branch of the Nerel’Thos family, Agho’Linn was the first and only child born to Bareas Nerel’Thos, a distant relation to Lord Balanor Nerel’Thos.

Bareas was distant in relation to Lord Balanor, but not so much so that he did not have his choice of pretty brides. Pretty was not, however, the major trait Bareas’ mother was seeking in a bride for her boy. She fancied that he would make a match that would add stature to her husband’s branch of the Nerel’Thos family. Nevertheless, Bareas was lucky enough to find a woman well connected enough for his mother’s tastes, attractive enough for his tastes, and with a compatible enough personality to make the marriage desirable for all parties involved.

The girl’s name was Ayslyn, and she was the eldest daughter of a wealthy merchant family that ran trading outposts all through the Eversong Woods. Bareas, with his red hair and finely boned features, and Ayslyn, with her alabaster skin, light eyes, and light hair, created a handsome pair, and both families celebrated the match widely. Bareas’ mother was well pleased with her new daughter-in-law’s looks and familial connections, and she eagerly anticipated the younger woman’s blossoming into motherhood.

Festivities faded away as more and more time went by without a child from the pairing. Bareas’ mother was keen to see her grandchild, and began to wonder if Nerel’Thos had been given a bad deal in Ayslyn. It was not all-important that Bareas had an heir to pass his name to, there were brothers and cousins to continue the line, but Bareas’ mother’s opinion had always been that while parenting was fulfilling, grand parenting was divine.

It was with much rejoicing that Bareas and Ayslyn announced their impending parenthood a full five years after their marriage. Agho’Linn was born in the usual time and in the usual way, but most anyone that encountered the babe would agree that she was an unusual beauty. Somehow, the child had managed to master the best of both mother and father, leaving the few unattractive traits between dam and sire behind.

Agho’Linn turned out to be the only child of Bareas and Ayslyn, and it would have been only the most uncharitable of either side of the family to mention that their only child was a daughter, not a son. Both families loved the little girl, though Bareas’ mother took her affection to extremes, spoiling Agho’Linn with a constant stream of treats and gifts. Bareas and Ayslyn both worried that Bareas’ mother would permanently ruin Agho’Linn, but year after year the child’s sunny disposition and good nature remained.

All too soon, Agho’Linn was in school and receiving the lessons that all well-bred young ladies should. Keeping true to her Nerel’Thos genes, Agho’Linn breezed through initial training as a priestess. Her favorite classes, however, were the classes centered on dancing, etiquette, music, fashion, and all other feminine arts.

Agho’Linn’s studies and good looks came easy to her, and as she developed in both talent and beauty, she began to catch the eyes of more and more young gentlemen. Soon, Bareas found himself setting night guards around his modest home in order to set his mind at ease. To Bareas, Agho’Linn was barely ready for her debut, and certainly not ready to be seriously courted! Like most fathers, Bareas had trouble seeing past his little girl and realizing that Agho’Linn had turned into a beautiful and talented young woman, ready for her debut into the wider world.

Ayslyn and Bareas’ mother did not spare any expense when it came to Agho’Linn’s debut. Agho’Linn was dressed in the finest silks and brocades, with jewels dripping off her ears, neck and wrists. The grand banquet that was held in Agho’Linn’s honor was mouth-wateringly delicious, and the music and dancing that followed dinner were unforgettable. Bareas’ mother insisted that every noble house in Silvermoon be afforded an invitation, and as it was a Nerel’Thos lady being debuted it was no surprise that most houses attended.

What was a surprise was that the wealthy merchant princes of House Greenbriar attended. This affluent family was firmly entrenched in the middle of Silvermoon, keeping company with only the most important of persons. House Greenbriar had a promising son, Khavdon, who seemed to be making a career of bachelorhood. It was no small secret that his mother, Lady Greenbriar, desperately sought to remedy this issue, as Khavdon was likely to succeed as Lord Greenbriar.

Later, the minstrels of Silvermoon would sing of Agho’Linn’s shining beauty, and how she instantly enchanted Khavdon. Bards would describe, in humorous tales, how Khavdon seemed as though he had been possessed by some demon and was unable to speak or dance, that he was only able to stare at Agho’Linn. The debutante’s luminous beauty had captured Khavdon, and her quick wit and easy manner only served to ensnare him further.

Negotiations for Agho’Linn’s hand in marriage began the next morning.

Khavdon and Agho’Linn were married at the next full moon and all of Silvermoon celebrated. Nerel’Thos was well pleased with this advantageous match, and Greenbriar was merely relieved to see their future lord married. Both families dug deeply into their coffers to make sure that this marriage was deftly marked in the annals of Silvermoon.

After the whirlwind of courtship and marriage calmed, Lady Greenbriar was relieved to find Agho’Linn easily taking up the role she now held. Agho’Linn’s advanced education began at this time, as Lady Greenbriar took extra care to show her daughter-in-law all aspects of household management, and all duties and privileges that came with the title of “Lady Greenbriar”.

Agho’Linn and Khavdon genuinely cared for the other, but Ayslyn’s issues with fertility seemed to plaque her daughter as well. Try as they might, Agho’Linn could not conceive and bring an heir to Khavdon. Lady Greenbriar was displeased with this development, but Agho’Linn’s constant fretting about the situation eased the older woman’s unhappiness.

If anyone was impolite enough to enquire as to the lack of a little one at Agho’Linn and Khavdon’s feet, Lady Greenbriar was quick to remind the offender that Agho’Linn was still but a young woman and that motherhood was a daunting task for even the ripest of ladies. Agho’Linn was relieved to have her mother-in-law’s support during this difficult time, but was all too aware that her lack of fertility could be reasoning for Khavdon to set her aside and take another to wife. Desperate to retain her place in the glamorous Greenbriar bloodline, and all of the benefits her station commanded, Agho’Linn launched herself into a tireless campaign to awaken her fertility.

After spending a small fortune and some years seeking out and speaking to every possible apothecary, midwife, and priest in Silvermoon City, Agho’Linn resolved to take matters into her own hands. She pored over books and tomes, some too faded to read clearly, absorbing every bit of knowledge available to her. Agho’Linn would spend extended trips from Silvermoon and the Greenbriar home shopping for the plants that she hoped would solve her problem. Soon, Agho’Linn had an exotic garden within the Greenbriar walls, and she would spend much of her time tending the garden, harvesting the plants, and mixing and infusing them in order to make potions. These potions did not taste very good, but Agho’Linn drank them all with a smile, hoping that one would do the trick.

Finally, Agho’Linn was able to beam with success, and she proudly announced to all of the Greenbriar blood that she was carrying Khavdon’s child. Her various studies over the years had also led her to be reasonably confident that she was carrying a son for Khavdon, but she did not announce that to the family. To count one’s chickens before they hatch would be folly.

House Greenbriar erupted into celebration shortly thereafter. The old Lord Greenbriar was rapidly failing in health and Khavdon’s succession would have been in contention without a child in his line. No other son of old Lord Greenbriar had been groomed to take hold of the house, and to have one of Khavdon’s brothers as Lord would have been disastrous.

Agho’Linn lived in pampered bliss after her announcement. Lady Greenbriar would not be taking any chances with her daughter-in-law at this stage, not after all of the hard work and money already put into this child. It was because of her fragile condition that Agho’Linn was able to escape the horror that was Arthas’ Scourge.

As long as she lived, Agho’Linn would nightly promise herself, she would remember Khavdon’s face the last day she saw him, she would always remember that last kiss as he packed herself, a handmaiden, a few personal belongings, and enough gold to last her into a carriage, and the view from the back window of the carriage as Silvermoon City faded from view. The carriage master had strict orders to bring Agho’Linn as far as he could, as fast as he could, before the horses spent themselves. No matter how she screamed at him to turn around, the carriage master obeyed Khavdon, and ignored Agho’Linn’s enraged ravings. By the end of that awful day, Agho’Linn found herself as far north of Silvermoon as one could get by carriage, basically alone, and without any of the comforts of home.

It wasn’t long after that Agho’Linn and her handmaiden started to hear hopeful words. The news that traveled to Agho’Linn’s ears was that the scourge had been pushed back, and that while Silvermoon was not the city it once was, it was safe enough to return to. Agho’Linn packed up and left the inn that she had been staying in as soon as she could, and made her way back to Silvermoon as quickly as she could. She had not heard word from Khavdon yet, and hoped to surprise him with her return. No doubt he was valiantly piecing back together the lands and properties of the Greenbriar blood, she fancied.

The truth that Agho’Linn found was vastly different from her hopes and daydreams. The once proud house of Greenbriar had been completely devastated. There had been no survivors, save herself and her unborn child. Her beloved Khavdon had fought valiantly, she was told, but ultimately fell in battle. Agho’Linn did not bother to try and piece together the events of those horrible days, as she did not want to think of kind Lady Greenbriar and her various in-laws befalling their individual fates. Anguished, Agho’Linn closed herself into one of Silvermoon’s reopened inns and immersed herself in grief.

Agho’Linn’s grief was only to be compounded, as she lost the pregnancy she’d fought so hard for to miscarriage.

Left with nothing else of Khavdon to cling to, Agho’Linn resolved to reclaim his lands as her own. She would use her influence and every bit of her charm and guile to piece back together Greenbriar. In this, she would not fail to honor her Khavdon.

Try as she did, however, Greenbriar land and title was chopped up and parceled out amongst wealthy survivors of the Scourge. She was, after all, Greenbriar by marriage only and she did not have an heir to the blood to take the part of. Agho’Linn fought for any piece of Greenbriar property with tooth and nail, and when the last acre was denied to her, she found herself exhausted and impoverished. Worst of all, she had failed Khavdon, and was unable to preserve his memory in even the simplest of ways.

Unsure of what her next step should be Agho’Linn began to seek out her mother and father’s family. Her mother’s family had also succumbed completely to the Scourge, but her father’s family was slowly rebuilding itself. Cyndesta, Balanor’s daughter, had survived the Scourge under the protection of House Suncrown, her in-laws, and she was slowly gathering the surviving Nerel’Thos. Only a few of the Nerel’Thos women had turned up thus far, but that was not what caught Agho’Linn’s attention.

What outraged Agho’Linn beyond comprehension was that Cyndesta had been allowed to reclaim Nerel’Thos title and land for her own, effectively becoming Lord Nerel’Thos. This younger woman had achieved most of what Agho’Linn failed at. To add insult to injury, Agho’Linn was finding herself forced to go to Cyndesta with palms up, or leave behind any hope of reclaiming her former role on Silvermoon’s City social stage.

Unwilling to go to Cyndesta as the pauper she'd now become, Agho'Linn began gathering the herbs and plants she knew so well and turning them into marketable potions. In her travels collecting herbs and the like, she discovered that Arthas' Scourge had left many long-lasting problems, not just long-lasting problems of her own. Many were looking for the help of well-trained Priests and Priestesses. In this way, Agho'Linn began to, as the common folk call it, "work for a living" and making a tidy profit.

Her less-than-noble activities and occupations also gave Agho'Linn the opportunity to learn more about her many-times-removed In-Laws, House Suncrown, from afar. By using her married name of Greenbriar, a name that afforded no respect these days, Agho'Linn was able to move about with a freedom she had not previously known. Her quasi-subterfuge amused her greatly, but she knew that it would not be long before someone matched her features, especially her hair, with her cousins.

As luck would have it, Agho'Linn began to hear of a ball, hosted by House Suncrown, which would take place shortly. This setting was meat and cheese for Agho'Linn, and she knew that she must secure an invitation to the festivities. It was time to reveal herself to Cyndesta.

Carefully choosing her wardrobe, Agho'Linn dressed and waited outside what she knew to be Lord Velurian's home. Once sure that both Velurian and Cyndesta were at home, Agho'Linn marched up their stairs and made her introduction. Swallowing a certain amount of pride, Agho'Linn set aside her married name, took up her maiden name again, and pledged herself to House Suncrown.

Relationships with other characters:

Ask her and you might find out.

Opinion of various horde races:

Why, oh why, did we have to align ourselves with the smellier, dirtier part of the world? Granted, Dwarves and Gnomes can't match Blood Elven beauty, either, but Tauren and Orcs? At least Orcs seem to be good dancers… Of course, the Blacktooth Grin are an interesting band of brothers… with a few sisters mixed in.

Agho'Linn's Song:

"Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" by Smashing Pumpkins