Hero Allystra Skylark, steadfast Shienaran blademaster
Level 22 (female)
Age: 36d 3h 54m 46s
Bartle type: (SEAK)
Can be mailed at: Allystra@Cairhien Palace
Info: Back in the game!
Age: 36d 3h 54m 46s
Bartle type: (SEAK)
Can be mailed at: Allystra@Cairhien Palace
Info: Back in the game!
Tale of Allystra Skylark
The daughter of a powerful Cairhien noble and a Shienaran commoner, Allystra never knew she had a twin sister. Shortly after her birth, her mother and father separated. Allystra was taken to Cairhien with her mother, while her sister remained in Shienar with her father. Raised in a noble house, Allystra received the best education to be had, and she also became skilled in the Great Game. When she was sixteen, Rand al'Thor and his Aiel arrived in Cairhien, and much about her life was changed. She began studying with Teniel, a blademaster, and soon became a skilled swordswoman. She set out into the world, wishing to avoid the tensions in the Cairhien palace. Her journeys took her as far as Emond's Field, where she stopped to help repel the shadowspawn who were ravaging the area. After a day of long, hard fighting, she staggered wearily into the only inn in the village. Snagging a mug of apple brandy, she found an empty table, and listened to a gleewoman recount an amusing tale of her early days of entertainment. At the conclusion of the tale, Ally looked up ... and dropped her mug. The shock in the gleewoman's green eyes mirrored that in her own blue ones. With the exception of eye color, she might as well have been looking in a mirror. The gleewoman called for a break, and amid protests from the partons, she made her way over to Ally. Speachless, Ally watched her approach. With a half-hearted flourish of her cloak, the gleewoman introduced herself as Alyssia Skylark of Shienar. Thoroughly baffled, Ally responded with her own name and invited Alyssia to sit, which she did. After much talk, the two eventually realized that they were sisters, and twins at that. The happiness at having found her long-lost sister was short-lived, however, as Ally received news of her mother's death a few days later. With a heavy heart she returned to Cairhien to assume her place as high seat of her house. She invited Alyssia to stay with her in the palace, but having been raised in a common inn, Alys was uncomfortable with all the formality of court, and chose instead to buy a house on a quiet street not far from the palace. Ally often visits her there. Shortly after her seventeenth birthday, Ally was handed yet another surprise - Xanatos, King of Cairhien, asked for her hand in marriage. She joyfully accepted. Shortly thereafter, however, war broke out between Shienar and Cairhien.Torn by her loyalties to both nations and wracked with grief when her long- lost sister returned to Shienar, Allystra went into retreat from her duties as a noble. Following her sister to Shienar, Allystra was overcome by the warm welcome she received there despite her Cairhienin upbringing and the ongoing war between the two nations. For weeks she was torn by indecision as to which country truely held her heart, but in the end she realized that, with one notable exception, the Cairhienin nobility had become hostile and unwelcoming. She at last decided to give up her comfortable life in Cairhien and live with her sister in Fal Dara, despite the love she felt for Cairhien and her people. She still maintained close contact with the one friend she had left in Cairhien - a friend more dear to her than life itself. Over time, it became clear that what she originally perceived as hostility and unwelcome was nothing more than hurt feelings on both sides - nothing that time wouldn't ease. Though not as close as they once were by any means, Allystra no longer sees nothing but ice and closed doors when she looks towards Cairhien. She hopes that, in time, perhaps there can be peace and old friendships can be restored. After she had been living in Fal Dara for a while, Allystra was summoned to the Palace. Hearing of her courage and valor in the defense of Fal Dara during numerous raids from the Blight, the Court of Shienar called Allystra before them and bestowed upon her the honor of knighthood. Overwhelmed, Allystra humbly accepted this great honor and is now dedicated, mind, body and soul, to the defense of her people. Around this time, a heart that Allystra was sure would never love again showed her just how resiliant the human spirit is. Duke Riadon Adarius awakened in her feelings that she had long-since given up hope on ever experiencing again. Their friendship had always been strong, even when they were supposed to be at war with each other. Now the bond they shared was proving to be stronger than friendship. Shortly after their courtship began, Riadon's brother Circe vanished, leaving Riadon to assume his place as Prince of Shienar. Around this same time, Allystra and Alyssia discovered a letter from their father, explaining who he truly was and how it came to be that they were separated. With this new evidence, the Court of Shienar restored both to their rightful stations as Duchesses of the land. For a while, all was happy in Shienar. Aside from the usual raids from the Blight, things were peaceful. Or so they thought. After one particularly harsh raid, the leaders of the land decided to try and stop future raids at the source. Riadon, the newest prince, was chosen to lead the excursion into the Blight. Many weeks he was gone, and Ally received not so much as a single letter to let her know he was all right. Then one afternoon, as she, her sister, and their cousin Alisande sat idly about the palace, he staggered in, wounded but alive. Alisande offered him Healing, and he told them of events in the Blight. The tale was a bleak one. Riadon was the sole survivor of the party that had ventured forth. It was whispered about the Keep that the forces of the Shadow had forewarning, though whether this was fact or rumor was uncertain. For her part, Allystra mourned her fallen soldiers while rejoicing that Riadon had returned to her. Then one day she awakened and Riadon was gone. Upon being told that he had been sent back into the Blight on a mission so secret, no one but the King himself knew beforehand, Allystra sank into a constant state of worry. One week passed. Two. A month. No word. At last a report came that none of the party had survived. Completely devastated, Allystra assumed the white gown of mourning and cut her hair