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Rowena Mikin
Rowena Mikin.
Height	...
Weight	...
Born	598 ATA
Died	N/A
Mother	Athell Mikin
Father	Lelara Lomasa
Children	None
Siblings	Alieron Mikin
Spouse	None
Class	Noble
Title	Duchess

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Contents 1 Beginnings 2 A Healer Ascends 3 The Loss of Love 4 Quest for Knowledge 5 Dark Wings Beckon 6 Badges 6.1 JTS Faction Point Value of Badges

[edit] Beginnings

Born in East Bluff Keep over twenty years after her eldest brother, Alieron Mikin, Rowena was considered a blessing by her mother and an accident by her father. Her childhood proved to be full of 'accidents' and she grew with a reputation of being less the financial tool a daughter should be and more instead an uncivilized pest. Ironically enough, Rowena's venturous inclinations that were so deeply scorned led to her encounter with the Prince of the Blood.

As a budding girl of thirteen, Rowena was sent away from her home and tomboyish ways to spend her teenage years living in a harsh reality. Her parents hoped that her apprenticeship to the reknown healer (a common citizen by the name of Maeve) would shock the "devilish" nature from her and send her begging for forgiveness to her father. On the contrary, Rowena rather enjoyed the freedom that the apprenticeship offered her. Her skills grew to an esteemed level, and she was released upon her 18th birthday to return home.

The subservient, eloquently-tongued daughter that returned home was merely a well-mastered act, for Rowena had managed to retain her spitfire through the years. Such impish ways proved survived during a spoiled courtship arrangement that her father had attempted between herself and a Vozhd-Kahar. It remained evident that the young woman was determined to forge her own path.

[edit] A Healer Ascends

After her parents' death in 622, Rowena managed Light's Reach alongside Alieron as Second Liege, while Orell Mikin sought after his own dreams. It's a well known fact that her patience and wisdom often surpassed that of her brother's, though the noteworthy Mikin temper was well in her genes.

At least once a season, servants in the keeps bore witness to the verbal maelstroms that would arise between herself and the much older Alieron. This temper thankfully seemed reserved only for him, and a select other few who managed to get beneath her skin, however.

When ascended to the position of Royal Healer, Rowena took her reputation as the wise and gentle healer to her seat on the Imperial Council. During the increase of wildling attacks, she fought the poisons with concoctions of her own, the success with which made an incredible breakthrough.

Also a reknown breakthrough, the Duchess appeared in meeting with Duke Zolor Zahir, representing the Mikin house in efforts to end the heated feud between their houses, spurred by the accidental death of Zolor's son. Duke Markus Vozhd-Kahar mediated the discussion till the dispute was more or less resolved.

Near this time, Alieron Mikin made a horrific discovery within the mines behind East Bluff Keep's property. An ancient tomb, walls of ethereal blue and a vivd green flame signified this find as one both sacred and dangerous. Nothing was spoken of the find outside their family until Rowena confessed what she had seen to the town priest. She slept evenly that night on a promise by the father than he'd pass her concerns along to the Church for investigations. She heard not from him again.

[edit] The Loss of Love

Not long after the Horsemaster returned from his first supposed death in 623, their friendship was rekindled, and in 624, grew into the intensity of a proposal. The happy thoughts of wedding affair would be long postponed by the rising of the Ravager and the news that Serath had once again been slain by wildlings.

For several months, Rowena was left destitute at heart, her faith and knowledge of his last alleged death leading her by a thread of hope that he may still be alive, lost in the Wildlands. That thread grew thinner with each season's passing, the doubt of others weighing heavily on her mind. When the pressure grew to that of urges to remarry, she knew that it was her time to follow in his footsteps.

That opportunity came when Sahna Nillu organized an expedition to Crown's Refuge so that information could be gathered of the world beyond. Rowena accompanied the men on their journey to the unknown, carrying with her the resolve to discover new remedies and dangers and to find the answer to her most precious question. Into what abyss had Serath Kahar vanished?

[edit] Quest for Knowledge

The year 626 brought winds of change to the disheartened Duchess, as the Imperial Council at last agreed on a second excursion to the Wildlands. Placing herself on the roster as enacting healer and researcher, Rowena was granted permission to accompany the mission. The band of blades, craftspeople, and herself piled into a boat sailed beneath the command of Thayndor Zahir and traversed the Jadesnake River into the little known but greatly feared lands beyond the protection of the Aegis.

Upon their arrival, it was learned that the Crown's Refuge was under vicious attack by the Black Wildling tribe. Until that eye-opening experience, the Royal Healer had been ignorant of the apparent diversity amongst wildlings, as had been the Fastheld generations past. Led by Vhramis Wolfsbane and the deceased Serath Kahar, Crown's Refuge was able to repel the attack with thanks to the arrived reinforcements of Fastheld's men.

Many bladesmen and townspeople had been wounded in the fight, most of which suffering the long-feared effects of wildling toxin. As Rowena was soon to discover, the existing antidotes for the Green Tribe venom was not potent enough to combat the Black poison. But not all was lost...

For many nights while the duchess slept, Vhramis Wolfsbane led their diminuitive savior inside to work her gift, or as the Church would label it, a curse. As men close to death recovered from their grievous wounds, Wilesly Sprigg included, Rowena was at loss for words or explanation. It was clear that unnatural powers were manifested in the Refuge, but from whom or to what extent, she could not identify. Fastheld's law against the Shadow did not permeate these lands, and thusly it was out of her hands to control.

It was also in this foreign realm that she received a long-awaited answer to ease her sorrows. The rumored Prince had survived his second clash with death. Rowena could now pursue her quest for knowledge of the flora and fauna beyond the Aegis with a lightened heart and firmer faith that the Light remained loyal to her faithful even in the darkest of shadows.

[edit] Dark Wings Beckon

After a dismal note from Fastheld flew to the party's eyes, preparations for the long journey home were spurred into place. On the night of their departure, Rowena was privledged to say farewell to the little hands that had contributed so much to the survival of the wounded, a most bitter-sweet affair. It was living proof that some shadows lingered closer to the light than others.

The four travelers: Vhramis, Theo, Serath, and Rowena (accompanied of course by Cinder and the raven) traveled for over three weeks on foot back to the Aegis. Along the way, an interesting find of the creature leoporidae was made. To Rowena's delight and perhaps Vhramis' dismay, she requested the pelt be saved and hauled with the rest of their gear to Fastheld.

Once home, Serath set to work on studying decades of law and public records to prepare for his brother's request while Rowena buried her nose in her findings. She'd taken many a Black Wildling claw and toxin gland home, in addition to other plants and animal bits to investigate more closely.

Unfortunately, the dark tidings were not over, and Zolor Zahir made his move to strike.

[edit] Badges

[edit] JTS Faction Point Value of Badges

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