Character Sketch #2: The Duchess

Arch-Duchess Serah Avan-ad'Hemar
No one would call the Duchess timid, for she once stood faced down her then rival (now husband) Vandeil ad'Hemar across the bargaining table during the Avano-Mieren cold war. Her support and subsequent marriage has given her control of the largest part of the Anuirean Empire, the Arch-Duchy of Avanil-Mieres. She rules with the wisdom and intellect that guided her through the tumultuous days following the death of her father. A convert to Vandeil's governmental reforms, she has come to a certain peace with her role behind the desk, for she now possesses much more power than she could have ever dreamed. Her marriage is unique for a royal one in that it is based not only on power and practicality, but true love, devotion, and dedication. She finds in Vandeil someone who matches her desire to govern in a manner that benefits their subjects and curbs the excesses of nobility. Her chief concern remains the welfare of the people, and her efforts have gained her an almost fanatical following, particularly amongst the Avanese. As chief-spymaster, she also has an unprecedented amount of power in her hands, a fact that she herself regards with a healthy amount of fear.

(Author's Note: This character developed as an NPC in the BR game we ran. While her marriage and relationship with the character played by me, Vandeil, is canon, it's important to note that initially, it was a marriage of convenience and a may of consolidating power. This is where the relationship effectively ended, as the marriage itself became a non-issue with regards to game-play. Her cooperation, which did serve to benefit her Realm, was taken to mean that their relationship was indeed a good one. The relationship was subsequently expanded on in discussions and idea-hashing with my friends as we planned future campaigns. I imagined, as much of my BR "career" ended up democratizing the ever expanding Mieres, that Vandeil and Serah were essentially the President and First Lady. The addition of Serah as effectively the head of a sort of CIA/NSA super-spy organization with intentional Stasi over-tones was and is designed to add moral conflict.)