Catriona and Finley Argrave

[Catriona and Finley]

CHARACTER PROFILE

for

Catriona and Finley

[Joint image WIP; for references of the individual twins see their respective profiles on DA:RT and Reckoning]

GENERAL

Full Name: Catriona Tamsin Argrave and Finley Tomas Argrave
Age: 30
Gender: Female and Male (respectively)
Sexual Orientation: Bisexual

Birthplace: Ironsedge, Starkhaven, Free Marches
Residence: Starkhaven
Affiliation: Starkhaven
Occupation:Assassin and Apostate
Religion: Atheist and Andrastian

COMBAT

Class: Rogue and Mage
Specialization: Shadow/Assassin and Spirit Healer/Battlemage
Gear: Leather armour and armoured robes

CHARACTERISTICS

Appearance: Light tanned skin, bright emerald eyes and midnight black hair, the twins are clearly brother and sister. Finley stands at around 6 feet, a few inches taller than his sister, and both of them are slim and fit, all wiry muscle and lean strength (with Catriona being particularly flexible.) Finley’s hair is cut short and haphazard, and Catriona’s is long, but bound in a practical plaited up-do to keep it out of her face. Catriona has a number of piercings in each ear, as well as obvious scarring, including a slim dagger line on her cheek from the edge of her face halfway to her nose.

Personality: Where once used to be a fun-loving, sarcastic and sassy young woman, the massacre at Starkhaven and the resulting years leading a resistance has tempered Catriona into a shrewd and calculating tactician, not to mention making her very suspicious to most people. Only Finley, her more reasonable and diplomatic older brother, helps her feel a little more human, bringing out the girl she used to be that has been almost crushed under her icy pragmatism and steel determination. Aside from Finley (who she can forgive anything) and some of the more dedicated members of their resistance, Cat has little trust to share with others.

By contrast, Finley retained his compassionate nature. Even though he has been apostate for years, Catriona is more than suspicious enough for the both of them, so he keeps his energies geared towards trying to cool her fire, a counterpoint to her fierce exterior, a rock and support for her. He is still very much a “people” person, and, despite Catriona’s concerns, actively engages with the people of Ironsedge and Starkhaven on a personal level, not just a business one.

HISTORY

Catriona and her (older) twin brother Finley were born in 9:08 Dragon to Lennox (shortly after he inherited the holdings) and Lady Aileen (nee Orrick, a noble house in Markham). Those early years were typical for children of a noble family, their futures already defined: Catriona was to be brought up for an alliance creating marriage, and Finley was to take over the Argrave family. Things started to go wrong for the Argraves in 9:14 Dragon when Lady Aileen gave birth to a stillborn son. She never quite recovered from the experience, and died some months later. Distraught, Lennox became withdrawn and the twins became even more inseparable, weathering the grief together.

In 9:17, the worst nightmare for any noble family occurred: Finley started showing signs of magic. When Finley was taken away to the Circle, Catriona endeavoured to follow her twin, running away to the city four times. On one of these attempts, she was found by her uncle who, in becoming more dedicated to fighting the slavers and their Magister masters, was based in the city of Starkhaven itself at the order of Prince Vael. Ramsay got permission from Lennox for Catriona to move to Starkhaven with him to become an apprentice of sorts, and (through Prince Vael) arranged for Catriona to have privileged visiting time with Finley in the Circle.

Catriona was then trained in many a shadow art, and eventually become a personal guard to the Vael Royal Family... at least that was her official title. Behind the scenes, her skills in subterfuge were put to a much more practical use against the Vael’s enemies. Finley, meanwhile, was training to be a battlemage in the Starkhaven Circle.

Eventually the twins excelled in their individual fields, but over the years they only got closer, Catriona exerting some influence to get Finley out of the Circle on occassion to use his fighting magic for the good of Starkhaven and using her own skills to sneak in and out of the Circle with frightening ease.

Their lives were forever changed at the Vael massacre of 9:31. As the Circle was subject to an arson attack, he had the horrible sensation of a phantom wound. Knowing that Catriona was in trouble, he used the commotion to flee the Circle and headed towards the Vael castle.

His twintuition served them both well that day. With the help of one of the few surviving guardsmen, Finley managed to gain access to the Vael castle where he found Catriona in the royal nursery, cut down and on the brink of death from where she had tried to defend the young Vael children. In desperation, Finley made a connection with a spirit (Loyalty) and managed to heal his twin in his first (but by no means last) act of spirit healing.

Finley took a recuperating Catriona back to their childhood home of Ironsedge, where their stepmother welcomed them and offered one of the outlying estates for their use. Catriona had intended to go to Kirkwall to seek out Sebastian, the last remaining Vael (of the immediate family) but after discussions with Finley and her stepmother, opted to stay in Starkhaven – once Sebastian knew of the situation, he would come, and Starkhaven would have to be ready. The Argraves began running a secret resistance together, thwarting what plans of Goren’s that they could and gathering allies against Goren.

The resistance, although strong, could never seem to make much headway into the city, as if some unknown force was pulling the strings. Then, suddenly, around three years later, whatever the force was had vanished, and Goren was suddenly left to rule alone with the nobles of Starkhaven squabbling in his wake. The resistance largely dispersed, with Catriona continuing her work out of principle (Finley at her side), ensuring that the nobles kept their deals and decisions in the best interests of the people of Starkhaven.

Following the destruction of the Kirkwall Chantry and Sebastian’s return, Catriona was eventually convinced by Finley to give the exiled Prince her aid – better a strong leader for Starkhaven than a weak one, he reasoned. No matter Sebastian’s motives and reasons, Starkhaven needed to be united – not the squabbling mess it currently was.

Catriona did help Sebastian – under sufferance. The dark determination in him unsettled her, especially with his vehement prejudice against mages, but he was the rightful heir – and given the amount of blood she had shed in the name of vengeance for the Vaels, she was in no position to judge. Finley was of a similar mind regarding Sebastian’s suitability, but he wanted to get Catriona away from Starkhaven before Starkhaven killed his twin. He endeavoured to keep his magic hidden, and succeeded – to a point.

Shortly after Sebastian took the throne, an assassin was sent after him. Sebastian was badly wounded, and, faced with the prospect of losing all their hard work in one fell swoop, Finley healed his prince. Sebastian was enraged at the Argraves’ deceit, but Catriona was quick to offer him a death at her hand - and indeed, happy to leave Starkhaven to ruin - if he dared touch Finley.

They returned to Ironsedge with the intention of settling their affairs and leaving the Marches – but then the realm of dreams became a nightmare, and their travel plans are on hold until they have finished helping their stepmother calm the people of Ironsedge.

BEHIND THE MASK

[LIST]Player’s Pen Name: phoenixandashes
Contact: PM, IRC, AIM, MSN
Roleplay Experience: LOTS
Language(s): English
How did you find us?: Lyth

[Fenris]

This is an excellent application. Approved!