Application: tushanshu // Talia - Heralds of Valdemar

[thequeensown]

Player Information:
Name: Alma
Age: 32
Contact: almalthia@plurk // almalthia80 @gmail
Game Cast: NA

Character Information:
Name: Talia
Canon: Heralds of Valdemar book series
Canon Point: End of Arrows of the Queen, after she's poisoned herself
Age: 25-26
Reference:
Arrows of the Queen: Book 1
Arrow's Flight: Book 2
Arrow's Fall: Book 3

Setting:

General information and setting of books

Descriptions of and importance to Talia:
Sensholding

Valdemar

Karse

Information about:
Companions, Herald Gifts/Magic, being Queens Own/Monarch Own


In a time long ago there was known the land of Velgarth, a continent strewn by the wars of sorcerers and magic. A land where creatures of myth and fantasy existed by the hand of those that created them; gryphons and hertasi, man engineered creatures, some gifted with the magics of the land they were born from; others not.

The people's of this land were decimated under the magical wars and the land took back the powers it had bestowed upon its people; and so Velgarth returned the magic to its people. Streams of energy, ley-lines, make up the land and those talented enough are able to tap into its flow. These person's are known in the lands of Velgarth. Those skilled enough to call themselves Adepts are able to tap into the nodes, a place where two or more ley-lines meet.

These pockets of magical energy, acting much like flowing water, occur both naturally and un-naturally, created on occasion by those talented (and strong) enough to do so. Magic moves from these node throughout the land and into the Void, where it is later returned to the land where the cycle can repeat and continue.

This magic can be manipulated by those able to see it (mage sight), and many amongst those are found to be Heralds of Valdemar, one of the kingdoms that arose from the destructive magewars.

Heralds arose in Valdemar to be the overseers of its people; dispensers of justice, spies, military advisers and the only one they answered to was their King or Queen and their own peers. This arrangement was overseen by creatures at the very center of magic themselves, Companions.

Seen as graceful white horses to those that know nothing of their origins and abilities, the Companions were sent (by some unknown force) to seek out and find new Heralds, forming a bond with their newly Chosen mind-to-mind that only death could sever. At least as intelligent as the humans they Chose, they would bring back to Valdemar those of various age and sex; though most frequently those amongst their adolescent years. The only similarity (besides specific personality traits) between the Chosen was a touch of psychic ability. The continued contact with their Companion would aid in the development and recognition of the Gifts the young person held within them. Individuals were then trained to hone their abilities as much as capable.

The Monarch made the laws and the Heralds upheld them, dispensing them under the guidance of their Companions. They were, by nature, a self-sacrificing group and knew well that many Heralds would die in the line of duty.

So the Queen of Valdemar, Selenay, ruled her people after the death of her father. Her advisor, second in importance to the Monarch themself, was Talamir, Chosen of Rolan. He was murdered while trying to begin a plan that would fix the Heir-presumptive of her spoiled a rotten nature; traits that would keep her from being Chosen by any Companion. If she was not Chosen, she would not be Monarch, as the first rule of Monarchy was that all rulers of Valdemar were also to be Heralds. His death brought confusion to the throne, furthered as Rolan Chose a new Queen's own, an adolescent girl named Talia; a far cry from the adult or full Herald the people were expecting.

~~~

Talia is of a Border people called Holderkin, a puritanical group that discouraged the knowledge of outside things and promoted subservient women and polygamous marriages. Often punished for her self-minded ways and nonconformity, she was very ill-suited for the subordinate role that the men of her village had planned for her. Often daydreaming of becoming a Herald, she had no idea what it meant to have a Herald's Companion carry her off; thinking him instead a simple horse that had run from its Herald master.

Lesser prepared was she for the explosive gift that would emerge shortly after her arrival at the Collegium in Haven; her Gift of Empathy and MindHealing, though not MindSpeech.

She found herself constantly on the offensive, defending Rolan's Choosing and proving that she was indeed very capable of the position she was given. Yes, she was green and young, but it was the situation needed for the assisted rearing of The Brat.

Queen Selenay put her daughter Elspeth into the hands of Talia to help hone her into a young woman more befitting a Companion. She was spoiled when Talia came into her life, but Talia was very versed in the care and treatment of littles and Elspeth was treated no differently than one of those Talia had helped rear in her own village. Before long, there was a polite young woman in place of the child that many felt would fail as future Queen.

There was the problem of those that had whispered in the ear of the little princess, however. Hulda the nurse and Lord Ancar, the man she answered to, were amongst several that were plotting for Valdemar's overthrow and the downfall of Selenay.

Hulda the nurse fled to the lands of Karse to escape the crime of treason and to reunite with her Lord.

Talia encountered more than just the problem of straightening out the Brat during her first few months, however. Much like her successor, she found her own life in peril after but a few short months when a group from a side of the Collegium (not affiliated with Healers, heralds or Bards) nearly killed her. She had been harassed by the group since her arrival at Haven, and her nerves and psyche were frayed and raw. She didn't believe there was anyone she could turn to that would believe it was happening; until they chucked her into a freezing river. This attempt on her life, and subsequent bump to her head, led to the awakening of her Gifts of Empathy and Mind Healing.

Then came the time for her to go out into the world on her first Circuit (1 1/2 year tour around Valdemar) with her senior Herald (and friend) Kris. During the course of this circuit, the pair become snowed in at a weigh station (a Herald rest stop equipped with various emergency rations) and it became evident that Talia had no control over her Gifts. Thus began the grueling task of Kris and Rolan re-training her and teaching her to center, ground and shield. The pair could not risk her Gifts going awry when she was supposed to be acting as envoy and adviser to the Queen. Lord Orthallen (Kris' uncle) was quite fond of spreading these rumors.

She succeeded on her circuit and returned to claim her Whites and began serving at the side of Queen Selenay as adviser, reading those around her with her Gifts. She became the rather constant companion of Elspeth and kept the young woman from making foolish decisions where young men were concerned. The task then became investigating a proposed union between Elspeth and Lord Ancar of Karse, a partnership Lord Orthallen encouraged to get himself closer to the throne.

Talia was sent to Karse with Kris to act as an envoy and see if Ancar was a suitable match, but it was found to be a trap as they witness Ancar overthrowing and killing his own father. In the escape attempt, Kris and his Companion were killed and Talia was injured and captured. During her imprisonment, and with the aide of a local, she managed to prepare several signal arrows and got them to Rolan, sending him to halt Selenay and her entourage at the border and warn them of the trap and betrayal.

She was tortured (physically, mentally and magically), raped and finally broken by Ancar and Hulda, but with the help of the same man outside the walls of her prison, obtained a vial of argonal (the deadliest poison available). Having realized that her chances of survival had run out, she drank the contents of the bottle and began to slip into a coma and die.

She was rescued by Elspeth and Dirk (her life-bonded) with the use of their gifts (Farsight and Fetching). She was pulled across the battle lines and brought home, and while the war was fought and Karse was pushed back to their lands, Talia healed.

Though brutal, the battle was won and the armies returned to their sides in a tentative balance.

Personality:
Heralds as a whole are Chosen with specific personality types; patient, unselfish, responsible, and capable of heroic devotion to their duties.


This is great, but how does it relate to Talia specifically. Examples of Heraldic behavior and actions.

Talia is not used to conforming and is of her own mind amongst her Border dwelling Holderkin, believing women are just as authoritative as men. She is good with children and has been responsible for watching, and teaching, the children of her Hold since she was nine years old.

Though Talia has a constant press of concern regarding her Gift, she presents herself as secure in both her abilities to use and not misuse them. She went through many trials when training to use them and seems confident that she is capable in their use both as a Herald and as a person. This is not, however, entirely accurate; if at all. She is truthfully, even years into being a trained Herald, questioning her Gift and the uses of it. She knows there is only the slightest wavering between using it as she should and taking advantage of it, as she has been pressed to. She worries if she has been properly trained to handle her own Gifts, especially after her breakdown on her Circuit. In truth, it would be very easy to misuse her Gift and she is well aware of it.

Unlike other Gifts, the only thing to keep Talia from misusing her Gift is her own moral values, and as she is still young, there is a wavering in them; she can be coaxed to see things perhaps in a way she shouldn't. She knows that she should do what is best for the kingdom and her monarch, but she questions if reading and persuading people as she can is right. So, she sometimes hesitates in using her Gifts at all, which could prove to be her downfall in a battle of political leanings; let alone cost her her own life in an attack of physical means.

She has also been placed in a political seat that she has no real business being in, and questions it herself. She was from a small border village and knew little more than she gleaned from the few books she was able to get a hold of. It was only after coming to the Collegium that she began to learn, but political intrigue is not something she is well versed in.

Again, great, but can we maybe make some examples of the political stuff she's fallen into here? I mean, the last Monarchs Own was MURDERED and all and possibly worth mentioning. Well done there, Alma. 8| Maybe mention some of the mistakes and what she LEARNED as well as some of the things she achieved that proved she was capable.

She is smart, fun-loving, passionate toward her causes. Strong-willed and athletic and holds the fury of a cornered she-cat when crossed unjustly. Quick to laugh and passionate in her ability to love and forgive, though relentless when in support of her friends or loved ones. Cautious around anything remotely involved in politics, she approaches such things carefully. She is emotional, a sure sign of her still being rather young, and her Gifts tend to augment this fact. She has been known to lash out more than necessary, particularly when emotions are running high around her. If not tightly shielded (and she does let them drop if she's not careful), she can pick up too much from those around her and act without thinking.

Oh, hey, here's another idea!!! 8D Maybe pay attention to the application, smarty pants. You flat out ignored the whole "how does/will your character react to being on TuVishan and being told about the dreaming/dying/dead" thing. Nice. Its only RIGHT THERE. It's only something you get pinged on EVERY SINGLE TIME. *lineface*

Appearance:
Talia is 5'2" tall and weighs approximately 123 lbs. Her brown/auburn hair is kept in various lengths, depending on how much effort she is willing to put into it and what season it is. The main deciding factor on this is that her hair is very curly when it's kept super short, and tends to ease into looser ringlets when longer. She has a heart-shaped face and is very trim and muscled, due to her constant level of physical training.

PB: Tori Amos

Abilities:
Empathy: the ability to read and influence the emotions of others. Talia is a STRONG mental projector and uses her Gift on circuits while acting as envoy and adviser to the Queen.

Mind Healing: focuses on the maladies of the mind and emotions, rather than the physical well-being of the patient. She can ease the transition of mental illness and will be able to break through deceptions or see if the mind has been tampered with. She can restore the mind, though it can take time and prove quite taxing.

Talia can heal with her mind and read emotions, but she can also hurt with these same gifts. She broke the mind of a man that was known to be a child molester and made him relive the pain and emotion of his victim. Warm and fuzzy, right? Now, in the book, this would only tire her a bit and she'd be up and moving.

She has been trained in combat by a master at arms and is more than capable with a sword/throwing knives/bow and arrow. She is slight of build so her physical fighting abilities are not as strong as some, but she is fit and will go down fighting rather than not. She is an able-bodied horse-woman and can do anything horseback; no really, try her. She is diplomatic and well-rounded, willing and able to do what must be done.

Inventory:
Just herself in scraps of clothing; perhaps with her bottle of remaining argonal still in hand.

Suite:
A one story home in Water will be more than adequate for Talia. She's shared her space with others (Holderkin or Heralds) all her life and doesn't need much space. She's not overly in need of riches or luxury, and will watch our for those lower class kedan around her. (Also, it will be amusing for anyone in a gang to think she's vulnerable because she's small.)

In-Character Samples:
Third Person:
Talia stared out over the edge of Tu Vishan's shell, her hazel eyes fixed on a point far off in the horizon. It had only been a few days since she had been accosted, or saved dependent upon the point of view, and brought to live on the strange living vessel, but it had seemed already a good deal longer.

She was certain, if she inquired, that there would be any number of passengers willing to help her keep herself busy. She was certain she could inquire of any of the kedan and find tasks she was capable of doing.

However, her mind was elsewhere. In truth, her mind was on another world entirely; a world she was told that she was better off putting behind her for the time being. Her hand balled into a fist at the thought, brows knitting in frustration as a savage shake of her head followed. "No," she breathed softly, throat tight around the word. She refused to concede that she was trapped here for an unknown length of time, the fate of her own kingdom unknown. She refused to accept that her beloved Companion had been forcibly taken from her, along with her life-bonded, Dirk.

Dirk .. She had only just accepted that she was life-bonded, but they hadnt had a chance to examine the relationship. What would Dirk think when he was told she was gone? Would he think her dead? Would he have fought those that had declared such? Or would he have accepted when no amount of searching with no amount of Gifts had found her?

She eased her fist and looked away from the water and down at the bottle she held grasped in her hand. Within the glass vial remained the contents of the argonal she had tried to kill herself with. Though no large amount, easily enough remained still coating the walls that she might have attempted it again.

She gazed at the bottle for a good while, throat tight as she inhaled slowly and looked out at the water again. Talia heaved her arm then and sent the vial spinning out over the water, watching as it was engulfed with barely any splash. She had heard tales of what happened to those that had died while aboard Tu Vishan, and their ultimate return just a short time later. There was no point in attempting such a thing as suicide aboard the enchanted creature she rode. Clearly her destiny had been taken from her own hands and was being guided by those of another.

Although not pleased, and desperately alone, Talia would not give into such a person without some fashion of a fight. She was a Herald, and by the Stars, she wasn't going to simply wallow in self pity. She would see her beloved Companion and life-mate again; no matter what those around her might have said to suggest otherwise. She was no longer in Valdemar, but that didn't mean that she was relieved of her duties and responsibilities. There were those that would be in need of her help and she would be there to see it given.

She was, and would always be, a Herald.

Network:
[Video]
[It has been a few days since her arrival upon Tu Vishan. A few days to adjust to technology she'd never before encountered... a few days to adjust to half of her soul being ripped away... a few days to begin to recover from the injuries she'd obtained before her arrival.

A few days too many, in many regards.

Though her arrival had neutralized the killing effect of her argonal poisoning, she was still incredibly sick. It was something she'd debated with herself for many pain filled hours, reaching out for help, but in the end she admitted that to not do so was both irresponsible and idiotic, despite her empathic shields still not being at their full strength. She knew that she was likely projecting without her shields stable, and that those with empathic or telepathic abilities were surely to have picked up on her; she wasn't 'quiet' when she projected. Even trying her best to rein in her errant emotions, it was still likely that the residents around her were still being effected by her at the edge of their perception. So, she activates the console in her own living quarters, unmindful about projecting her general location via any identifying marks in the room itself behind her.

Being as how she hasn't done much more than clean herself up in her own apartment, she looks quite the worse for wear when she appears. Bruises, though fading, still color her face, and her lip is obviously healing from a nasty split. Her hair hasn't gotten more than a cursory wash and combing, the ringlets framing her face in a tangled disarray.

Be grateful you can only see the bruises on her face, for their friends decorate a good portion of her body. What isn't covered in healing bruises bares a new variety of scars, both magically and physically administered during her imprisonment.]

My name is Talia... Chosen of Rolan... [She closes her eyes, nausea sweeping through her before her abdomen tightens in a painful spasm. She closes her eyes during it, nostrils flaring widely as she waits it out. With a sharp exhale she refocuses her attention on the console's screen.]

I require a healer... There is little enough I can offer in repayment, but I can offer the juulan given at my arrival... and little enough else.