Auralei da Cava

About You
Name: You can call me Beckett.
Age: Attending high school.
How did you find us: RPG-Directory.
Rules Password: [Password Accepted ~Cara]

Character Basics
Full Name: Auralei da Cava. (I dont mind how you pronounce it, but I say Ora/lee in my head.)
Alias(es)/Nickname(s): Her father’s pet name for her was Aura, and her aunt sometimes called her Greenthumb.
Gender: Female.
Age: Seventeen.
Species: Human (Terebinthian).
Status/Title: Terebinthian Ambassador's daughter.
Affiliation: Neutral.

Character Appearance
Hair: Auburn/dark red.
Eyes: Pastel green.
Overall:
Smoldering auburn hair was collected in a bundle of bouncy curls at the nape of Auralei da Cava’s warm neck. The loose tresses were adorned with insipid ribbons and a headdress of metal netting. Pastel green with slivers of sunshine yellow were the unique color of Auralei’s eyes. Not only were they heavy-lashed and interestingly shaped, but a strange powder had been applied to the upper lids to brighten and contrast their appearance. An ever-present and natural blush graced the apples of her cheeks, creating the impression that she was always cheerful and serene despite what she may be feeling. Auralei’s skin was of a pale pallor that shone with an inner glow of golden tan; radiating health and vitality. Despite being soft and smooth to the touch, the skin of her hands and wrists were scattered with short, rugged, white scars. Her body structure was already that of a woman’s, regardless of her youth; she was thin at the waist and generously rounded at the bust and hips.

The young Lady from Terebinthia wore a fitted white dress of simple yet fine fabric and design. It had long, slack sleeves that constricted at her wrists and puffed out at her hands. An over-garment of dark green was settled on her shoulders, it dipped down her front in an apron-like-style. It was loosely laced up both sides with leather cord. The neckline descended from her shoulders in a square shape; cutting straight down and across her upper chest and whispering a playful hint of cleavage. An elegant pendant carved from shell was cradled in the hollow of her neck a subtle reminder of her family’s wealth if it was yet to be noticed. No weapons graced her persona save that of her sharp mind and tongue.

Portrayal:

(Reference Image, edited & enhanced
by Beckett. Original can be found here.)

Character Personality
Likes:

Plants & Flowers.
Literature.
Music.
Politics.
Hosting/Amusing others.
Organizing Events.
Dancing.
Extravagance.
Strategy.
History/Archaeology.
Language.

Dislikes:

Dishonesty.
Physical violence/disorderly conduct.
Un-intelligence.
When her plans fail.
Artificial personalities.
Excessive pride in a personality.
Heights.
Gossiping.
Cowardice.

Strengths:

Affable: being pleasant and at ease in talking to others <an affable host> and/or characterized by ease and friendliness <an affable manner>.
Charismatic: having a personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty or enthusiasm for a public figure (as a political leader) b : a special magnetic charm or appeal.
Clever: mentally quick and resourceful.
Compassionate: having or showing compassion
Cooperative: working or acting together willingly for a common purpose or benefit.
Competitive: having a strong desire to compete or to succeed.
Diligent: constant in effort to accomplish something;
Observant: quick to notice or perceive; alert.
Herbalism/Herbology: medical practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts.

Weaknesses:
Sensitive: hurt and offended easily.
Stubborn: unreasonably obstinate.
Facetious: not taken seriously by elders.
Garrulous: occasionally over talkative.
Finicky: she can be difficult to please; fussy.
Vertigo: the sensation of spinning or swaying while the body is actually stationary.
Fear of failure or defeat.
Squanderer: to spend or use (money, time, etc.) extravagantly or wastefully.
Physically weak.
Slight limp on left leg.

General Personality:
Auralei is a very orderly person who has a high set of morals. She feels the need to do tasks efficiently and impeccable; or not at all. This instinct is bound deep in her core, so tightly that she often gets stressed and anxious while working on an important assignment. This requirement for perfection can become all-consuming; she can spend ridiculous amounts of time revising and editing her work. When confronted with this problem (or any other) she vehemently denies it, insisting that it’s a completely normal and natural impulse.

The da Cava’s have been known amongst their friends and neighbors to be kind, generous and fair people. These traits do not escape Auralei; they may even be stronger in her then in her cousins, for she is acutely aware of this legacy and its expectations. She will go out of her way to ensure the well-being and comfort of others before herself. Regarding friendship or any positive relationships she is zealously loyal and dedicated. It would not be surprising for her to compose a professional essay (complete with headings and footnotes) arguing the advantages of having a romantic affair if she had a friend who had done as such and was suffering from public ridicule.

Since there is a soft, girlishness in her appearance, Auralei is rarely taken seriously in the interests that she pursues (politics and law). This annoys her to no end because she believes that her opinions are just as valid and resourceful than any others, and that she deserves credit and recognition for her ideas. There were times in her younger years where she rebelliously cut her hair like a boy’s, so that maybe her father’s partners would respect her as a boy. This is a deep root of low self-esteem in her otherwise flawless confidence. It provoked and fed her fear of failing and being rejected.

Character History
Family:
Albion da Cava (Father; dead.)
Eleise da Caca (Aunt; alive.)
Richelle da Cava (Mother; dead.)

General History:
Auralei was born in the early morning of the New Year, and her father often remarked that it was truly the end of an old life and the beginning of a fresh one. This statement was extremely personal to him on two accounts; for not only did he see his life with his daughter higher and greater than that he lived before her, but his wife had died moments before she was born. What had once been presumed a healthy birth had led to an emergency cesarean.

Auralei grew up in an island estate with a beautiful seashore view. Her father, Albion, was the ambassador of Terebinthia. Despite her mother’s death, Auralei was raised by a strong maternal presence; her aunt Eleise, a flamboyant woman with a big personality. Eleise was a kindly woman whose presence was never anything less then comforting and pleasant. She was the one to teach Auralei womanly manners and behavior.

Aunt Eleise also educated her about plants and the medicines that could come from them. When Auralei wasn’t studying books and working on papers, she was out in the garden. She became what could be a worthy healer if only she had anyone/thing to practice on. In one case when she was very young, she tried to pick a patch of roses, forgetting about their thorns she dove her hands right in. The thorns dug into her hands and wrists and cut them deeply. The wounds only increased when she tried to frantically yank them free.

Where Eleise enforced etiquette and posture, Albion taught Auralei about the world. They would spend countless hours together pouring over old maps and texts; testing each other’s memory and sense. They also studied stories. Not only those of Narnia, which she became fascinated by, but also about an island with invisible people on it and other such fairy tales. Albion was a faithful believer in his daughter’s mind and thoughts, and often encouraged her to try her knowledge against that of his partner’s. His partners did not take benevolently to a young girl outwitting them, and tried to discourage her from her father’s career. With the support of father and aunt, Auralei managed to ignore their subtly sexist remarks (although they unconsciously affected her), she managed to channel them into competition. She evolved into a fearsome critic to the partner’s ideas, slowly picking apart their flaws and inconsistencies, and then substituting her own solutions.

When Auralei was ten, Albion was called to Galma for a brief visit. After much insistence and pleading on Auralei’s part, he allowed her to accompany him. They would sail in a gallant, if only slightly old and warping, ship. While on the boat, Auralei met a young cabin boy named Drewic, who dared her to climb the mast. When she refused, he taunted her with, “A boy would do it any day”. It worked like a charm and Auralei shot up that mast quicker than Drewic could have imagined. What neither of them expected was Auralei’s fear of heights. She’d never been so high in her life. She experienced a wave of vertigo; and let go of the mast. Auralei broke part of her left hip and leg from the fall. As soon as they arrived in Galma she was taken to a physician. The damage was so severe he deemed she would never walk again. Again, it worked like a charm. After years of rehabilitation and practice Auralei proved the doctor wrong and managed to walk again; with a very slight limp. The only physical memory of the fall is when her left leg occasionally gives out under her.

By the time she was sixteen, Auralei’s father had become quite ill with a strange cough. It seemed to come from deep in his lungs and attack him in random fits. No amount of herbal tea on Eleise’s or Auralei’s account could rid him of this ailment. The month after her seventeenth birthday, Albion suggested she travel to Telmar to investigate war-time practices, and maybe even go looking for old Narnian ruins, like they had always wanted to do. Reluctantly she agreed. Before her ship sailed however, Albion passed away. The cough did not kill him directly; he had been going down a set of stairs when his body was wracked with the cough. He had lost his balance and fallen. Auralei decided to make her field study permanent and she left the Terebinthian estate in the worthy hands of her aunt Eleise (or until another Ambassador is appointed).

With her she brought a substantial inheritance to be spent on the construction of a small, country-side manor. It could possibly serve as a safe-house for either Narnians or Telmarians upon its completion; depending on which side Auralei aligns herself with -- if any.

Other/Notes:
Goals

To find and examine the ruins of Old Narnia.
To learn the true Old Narnian Lore.
To form strong, reliable friendships (possibly one more intimate).
To learn self-defense.
To come to terms with her "perfection" problem.

(Goals ~~strikethroughed~~ mean they have been abandoned or accomplished.)

Sample
RP Sample:

Quote

Albion sat in his study, his hands neatly folded on his desk, gazing around the room fondly. There were so many good memories of his daughter in here. The couch in the corner had probably served as her bed more frequently then the one in her private chambers had. And like an eerie apparition he envisioned a younger version of Auralei sitting in the window seat, pouring over an old text and occasionally glancing up at him and flashing a brilliant smile. He’d loved and cherished the days when she’d read there. Some how the quiet rasp of her breath had made it easier for the ambassador to concentrate on his work.

There was a hushed knock on his door; three raps. His servant Priley opened the thick, oak door. Behind him, Albion could see the faint outline of Auralei, waiting patiently to enter.

“Sir? I have retrieved your daughter for you, as you asked.” Priley noted.

“Yes, thank-you, Priley. You may leave us,” he directed to the man and then to his daughter, “You may enter, Auralei, and please, take a seat.”

She silently did as she was told, gracefully lowering herself into the window seat, just as he had imagined her before. The contrast between the two Auralei’s was great. Although the younger one was nothing more than a memory, a recollection of years past, he could still see the difference. The young one had had short, self-cut hair and a boyish face. This new, older one wore pristine gowns and was the image of femininity.

The silence lengthened, as if she already guessed what he wanted.

“You called after me, Father?” Auralei finally asked.

He shuffled the parchment on his desk, “Well yes. I was wondering your opinion on an adventure of sorts. To Telmar.”

“Telmar? Why would we go there? Have they called on you?”

The ambassador rose from his desk and moved to stand before his book shelf; facing it and not her, “I would not be going. Only you, Auralei. Once the war is over, the winning Kingdom will need help rebuilding their country politically and economically. Auralei, you have the skills and motivation to help them." He paused, "You could also look for Narnian ruins if you so wish.”

Again silence descended on father and daughter. It had never been so formal and tense before. Their relationship had always been open and friendly.

Albion broke the quiet first; but not with words. He coughed relentlessly into a kerchief. When at last he regained his breath he quickly closed his fist over the cloth, he did not wish to worry Auralei with the spatter of blood there.

“Father, are you alright? I could send for some more tea. Tell me what I can do to help.” She had come up behind him and placed a loving hand on his arm.

“You can go to Telmar for me,” he said as gently as possible.

A look of hurt confusion fluttered over her features. An amount of guilt and self-loathing settled in his mind and stomach stronger then he had ever felt before. Albion touched her shoulder, “Only a vacation. You need one.”

Albion’s motives were selfless, but he couldn’t help but feel shame. He knew he was dieing and he did not want Auralei here to see it. He knew it would ruin someone like her.

“If that is what you wish, Father.” He hated the submission in her voice, it was not her nature. It was rare for her to accept anything without a list of valid reasons, pros and cons.

“I . . .” he started, but a knock at his door stopped him, “Yes?”

Priley peeked his head into the room, “I apologize for the interruption, Sir, but Miss Eleise wishes to speak with Miss Auralei; private matters.”

Albion looked at his daughter, who was subtly avoiding his gaze, “Oh, alright, thank-you Priley. . . Excuse me Father.”

With a flurry of footsteps and the soft sound swishing skirts both were gone and the ambassador was left lonely in his office.

[01/11/2010 Edited]: Likes, History & Quote.