Difference between revisions of "Anastasia O'Rourke, Countess of Halstaig"
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Feeling sympathy for her, the Norlanders took her back to their home in [[Morsgrad]] & raised her until the age of sixteen. Through these three years, they taught Anastasia how to fight, hunt & ride. During this period of time, Anastasia picked up a job as a sell-sword; a sword for hire. On the 10th of Sun's Smile, one of her assignments took her to [[Helena]], the capital of The [[Holy Orenian Empire]] where she was to distract the guards of the city so a small raiding party could kidnap an imperial nobleman. She was successful in doing such & because of her success, she was hired to do the same thing multiple more times throughout the same year until she was captured by a haenseni soldier & handed over to imperial authorities. | Feeling sympathy for her, the Norlanders took her back to their home in [[Morsgrad]] & raised her until the age of sixteen. Through these three years, they taught Anastasia how to fight, hunt & ride. During this period of time, Anastasia picked up a job as a sell-sword; a sword for hire. On the 10th of Sun's Smile, one of her assignments took her to [[Helena]], the capital of The [[Holy Orenian Empire]] where she was to distract the guards of the city so a small raiding party could kidnap an imperial nobleman. She was successful in doing such & because of her success, she was hired to do the same thing multiple more times throughout the same year until she was captured by a haenseni soldier & handed over to imperial authorities. | ||
| − | Once in custody, she was given the choice of death or joining [[Imperial State Army|the Imperial State Army]] by [[Joseph Clement, Duke of Helena|Joseph Clement, The Duke of Helena]]. Without a second thought, Anastasia chose the ladder. | + | Once in custody, she was given the choice of death or joining [[Imperial State Army|the Imperial State Army]] by [[Joseph Clement, Duke of Helena|Joseph Clement, The Duke of Helena]]. Without a second thought, Anastasia chose the ladder. She spent the next two years in basic training which she completed with ease having already been training in combat & competency. |
=== Becoming Countess === | === Becoming Countess === | ||
Revision as of 20:49, 28 January 2021
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Anastasia O'Rourke more commonly known as Azariah was born on the 11th of Snow's Maiden, 1770 in Owynsburg; the capital of the Commonwealth of Kaedrin to Padraig O'Rourke & Illaena Elendil. Growing up she often spent her time locked in her room, reading stories of far-off places & wonders from across the lands. In her teenage years, the young bookworm turned into a cunning warrior. As a warrior, she took the name "Azariah" which she still goes by today. When her father failed to produce a true male heir to O'Rourke, she was named as the heir which prompted her to step up into Orenian politics.
Biography
Early life
Anastasia O'Rourke was born into House O'Rourke to Padraig O'Rourke & Illaena Elendil. For the first few years of her life, she was moved between Aeldin & Arcas. Being constantly moved around gave her precious little time to make friends in either Realm which led her to lock herself in her room, reading & writing until she would pass out. She started to become more introverted & rejected the idea of going outside.
In 1783, the young Anastasia was awakened by a crude knock at the door by a house servant who came bearing a request for her presence downstairs. Peaking through a window in her room, she spotted a well-maintained carriage bearing the crest of an Aeldin house. Knowing full-well what this meant, she climbed out of her second-floor bedroom to the ground, seeking to escape. Almost seconds after her feet touched the soil the sound of a door splintering rang out from her bedroom prompting Anastasia to flee.
By nightfall, Anastasia found herself lost in the woods. Without a compass, she settled down, slumped against a tree to sleep the night away. The next day she was harshly awoken by the sounds of horses. A norlandic patrol had spotted her. The riders introduced themselves & befriended the young girl, asking her questions about where she was from. Not desiring to return to her home in Kaedrin she lied & said Curon; a former kingdom of Oren that was destroyed over a decade prior.
Feeling sympathy for her, the Norlanders took her back to their home in Morsgrad & raised her until the age of sixteen. Through these three years, they taught Anastasia how to fight, hunt & ride. During this period of time, Anastasia picked up a job as a sell-sword; a sword for hire. On the 10th of Sun's Smile, one of her assignments took her to Helena, the capital of The Holy Orenian Empire where she was to distract the guards of the city so a small raiding party could kidnap an imperial nobleman. She was successful in doing such & because of her success, she was hired to do the same thing multiple more times throughout the same year until she was captured by a haenseni soldier & handed over to imperial authorities.
Once in custody, she was given the choice of death or joining the Imperial State Army by Joseph Clement, The Duke of Helena. Without a second thought, Anastasia chose the ladder. She spent the next two years in basic training which she completed with ease having already been training in combat & competency.
Becoming Countess
With Azariah now back with her family in the Crownlands, she met up with her father who encouraged her to take up the political career. After some convincing, she agreed to try. Three years later in 1789, Azariah ran for city Alderman & won the first seat by only a thousand votes. Once in office, she set quickly to work, creating "The Excommunicato Act" with her cousin, Dimitri Orlov. With the majority of the city assembly in agreement, the act was passed. During her next city assembly session, Anastasia was appointed as Deputy Speaker of The Assembly. In addition to her career as alderman, she also took up a job as a city clerk.
Hardships fell upon the O'Rourke in 1791 when the patriarch & Anastasia's father; Padraig O'Rourke succumbed to a wound given to him a few months prior by Edward Napier & his orcish bride. Padraig, not having left behind a male heir to the County of Halstaig, saw instead his eldest daughter; Anastasia ascending to take her place as the rightful ruler of Halstaig. Around this time, Anastasia started being courted by Carter Komnenos II.
Her clerk career continued & in 1795, Azariah was promoted to Deputy City Clerk of Helena. Later that same year, Arcas fell apart, sending the descendant races off into the Daeperician Archipelago. On the archipelago, many new ores & woods were discovered which paved the way for future scientific developments. Three months passed & the descendants were able to escape the archipelago. Another few weeks of sailing went by & on the Sun's Smile, 1796, the descendants landed on the shores of Almaris; their new home.
Construction of a new Orenian capital instantly began. Azariah, being a former political figure in Helena stepped up to help with the construction of the new city; Providence. Anastasia personally oversaw the design of many homes interiors along with the interiors for the city bank, the home office & parts of the town hall. She also set immediately to helping the former citizens of Helena find a new home. For her service, it was found fit for Azariah to retain her position as Deputy City Clerk.
In 1797, new elections were held for the mayoral position & alderman positions. Not being finished with her alderman career yet, Anastasia ran for re-election & again took the first seat, this time by ten thousand votes. The new mayor, Doctor Desmond Morgryn encouraged her to run for speaker of the city assembly. After her political victory, her lover, Carter Komnenos proposed to her. A few months passed & the first meeting of the 1797 City Assembly was called to order. The meeting was opened by Lord Mayor Desmond Morgryn but it was soon passed onto Anastasia to run after she won the election of assembly speaker.
Marriage
On the 4th of Harren's Folly, 1800, Anastasia married Carter Komnenos II in The County of Halstaig. The two had a small wedding with only family members and close friends attending. Anastasia wore a simple satin ivory dress with a short train laced with real silver. She was walked down the aisle by her grandfather, Jonah Stahl-Elendil. Afterward, a small reception was held in Erin's Hall; the estate of House O'Rourke where the finest wines & pastries were feasted upon.
In autumn of 1802, Anastasia's friend, Keaghen Armas established The Imperial Times, a newspaper company. Needing help for his new business, Keaghen reached out to Anastasia offering her a position as an editor in his company to which she agreed. When winter came, a riot broke out in the Providence tavern where two foreign knights violently protested against women being allowed rights. The Imperial State Army quickly showed up on the scene, moving to arrest the foreigners. One of the knights, clad in full plate spouted racist comments at a new imperial guard who was trying to contain him. Seeming mildly annoyed with the resistance from the knights, General Peter d'Arkent made an offer that he knew the knights could not refuse; single combat against a female imperial office to prove his point. The knight hastily agreed & Peter d'Arkent nominated none other than the pregnant Anastasia to represent the imperials.
Due to her nature, Anastasia accepted the duel. The competitors & a crowd of spectators were moved to the Providence fight pit for the event. As Anastasia climbed down into the pit to fight the fully armored knight, sexist slurs & remarks were tossed at her. Azariah tried her best to tune out the comments but it was to no success as she was suddenly charged by the knight. The duel went roughly twenty minutes & in the end, the pregnant Anastasia was tossed to the ground, meaning the duel had come to an end with the foreign knight winning. Sexist slurs continued to be tossed about & the knight became boastful. So boastful proceeded to assault the downed Azariah after the match had concluded, breaking her jaw. At this moment, General d'Arkent finally jumped into the pit, flanked by two army recruits. The arrest was made on the knight & with assault now added onto his list of felonies, he was given a life-long jail sentence. The following day Anastasia made a full, miraculous recovery with no signs of injuries from the previous event.
In 1803, Anastasia gave birth to Gareth Padraig O'Rourke & Auden Thein O'Rourke.
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gareth Padraig O'Rourke | 7th of Sigismund's End, 1803 | Alive | Unwed | Firstborn son of Anastasia & Carter, Heir to Halstaig |
| Auden Thien O'Rourke | 7th of Sigismund's End, 1803 | Alive | Unwed | Secondborn son of Anastasia & Carter |
| Iduna Anne O'Rourke | 16th of Horen's Calling, 1805 | Alive | Unwed | Firstborn daughter of Anastasia & Carter |
