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Background
Late Queen of Mobrin
Queen Laetitia Kilgour was born in the year 182 to Count Abir DeSalis and Countess Natalia DeSalis of Lakeshire beneath an auspicious winter moon. Unfortunately for all the auspiciousness of her birth, her life was to be one of hardship and heartbreak. At the age of three little Laetitia could hardly know her life was about to change forever. So naive to the world of political intrigue and maneuvering how could she know that her place within the world was so precarious.
Her mother and father were unawares of a plot to kill the family to allow their lands to be claimed by others. Their land, their yield, everything was coveted and dearly wanted in Lakeshire by other nobles who wouldn't dare make their move in the public realms. Unfortunately, believing themselves secure in their allies and other members of the court, Count DeSalis and Countess DeSalis were killed along with other members of the family at a small private lake on their lands. The day had started out as a lovely one on the lake, a day spent out in the sun and with the young children of the house playing in the sand and waters while the Countess and Count looked on further up along the beach-line, beneath canopies seated in comfortable chairs enjoying iced teas lightly liquored with the Countesses favorite fruit spirit. It was a rare occasion when the entire family could be found together in one location, the Counts duties often keeping him away on important business within Lakeshire and beyond in Darfield at the court there.
This day had been years in the working, with conspirators working tirelessly to maneuver the Count and his family to the lake in order to enact their plan. Everything worked exactly as they had planned, with the Conts calendar cleared out for the day and a rare day spent with his family. It was during the lunch time tea that the plan to kill the nobles was put in place. The tea and meal was poisoned by the staff who had years before been brought into the conspiracy. Served their lunch the family all quickly fell ill, collapsing into the sand and aided by the ones destined to kill them back to their home. By a quirk of the universe, or perhaps the machinations of some higher power, three year old Laetitia had wandered down the beach unnoticed in the throngs of children; grandchildren and cousins alike, along with her companion wolf; Bird. It is surmised by her guardian and protector Lorcan, that the wolf had actually led Laetitia away from danger, having sensed the evil intent of the servants and staff at the lake house. Of course, this is just superstitious thinking, but the thought would remain with Laetitia for the rest of her life.
Bird was given to Laetitia as birth gift when she was born from Lorcan who had come upon the pup when he had been traveling with the Count. What better gift for a young daughter than a cute wolf who would grow up to be huge and terrifying. A good protector for any future Countess. The escort, Lorcan, noticed that the young child was missing before lunch was served and wandered down the shoreline along the rocks to look for the young Laetitia. Given that the now three year old Bird was with the young Lady, Lorcan wasn't overly concerned since the wolf had shown considerable skill when it came to herding the overly precocious child. A ways down the beach the consort found the young child and growing Wolf curled up within a natural small cave in the wall of the shoreline. Upon fetching both the child and wolf the escort Lorcan stumbled upon a scene of horror from afar as he watched the poisoned and debilitated nobles dying on the lakeshore.
Immediately he set off in the direction from where he found Laetitia and Bird. While the rest of nobles had died and loyal servants put out the call of murder, little Laetitia was assumed drowned in the waters of the lake, an unfortunate consequence of being poisoned, and the escort Lorcan wasn't given much thought given that it had been told to the main conspirators that he had died of an unfortunate overdose of the poison meant to debilitate him at the most, he did, afterall, have his uses. Via the graciousness of people who were loyal to the nobles and wanting to ensure its continued bloodline in the future Laetitia and Lorcan were taken immediately to Darfield, behind the voices of the Nobles who were declaring that the lands should be divied up in the wake of the deaths of the family, that keeping those lands open would only lead to open conflict amongst the nobility.
In a quite dramatic display, the young Laetitia was brought forward as a surviving member of the family of Count and Countess DeSalis, young flaxen haired girl making quite the impression even at the age of three. Standing stoically before the court and in her sweet Lakeshire accent, she declared her parents were dead but she was not. Her escort, Lorcan, explained what had happened, however he had no clue whom was behind the attack, noting that to his knowledge there had been no issues between the family and any others. The then ruling King and Queen were quite taken with little Laetitia and Lorcan was given charge over Laetitia and the family lands, taking over the title of Count and giving him the duty to keep little Laetitia safe and unharmed as they had plans for her. With her beautiful creamy flesh, stark green eyes and golden wheat hair, it was clear they had found a potential suitor for their young son, Prince Callum Kilgour.
And there it began, despite tragedy and terrible losses, little Laetitia had suddenly found herself set upon a path that had been born of blood, leading to a trail of unimaginable happiness. It was as if the Gods and Goddesses had deemed that she had suffered enough, but needed the suffering in order to become a better woman, to become a future Queen.
As she grew she spent summers with the Royal family, initially as a playmate to young Callum, and later on as she aged to ensure she was getting the proper education and means to be suitable for Callum, though it was clear from the beginning that she was destined to be his and to rule at his side. Her intelligence, quick wit, warm smiles and heart endeared her quickly to the Queen and King, and she tempered Prince Callums wild side. Into their teens a love blossomed between the two, at first infatuated love that simmered over the years into something deeper, more lasting. When the announcement went out that Prince Callum was to be married to Countess DeSalis celebrations ensued.
The wedding was fanciful, beautiful, and wonderful; a day that Laetitia can barely remember, for the festivities went on for days, so much wine, so much laughter, so much love. Soon thereafter now Princess Laetitia was pregnant. Not long after this announcement another followed, the King was stepping down due to health and Prince Callum would soon be King Callum.
It was a dizzying time after that for the Queen, she spent nearly every day outdoors during her pregnancy, soaking in the sun, the cool air, reminiscing. And a growing Prince Tyrel to nurture until his birth. Soon after Tyrel was born, Prince Logen was brought into the world. A few years after his birth, Princess Caillin followed, and a few more after she Prince Mikhail followed. Queen Laetitia was a loving and doting mother, overprotective at times, mainly when it came to lollygagging out on the beach, the Queen demanding escort always and food tasters to be employed first, a fear of hers since childhood since her family was culled down so cruelly. She taught them the importance of loving their people - the low and the noble, all each played a part in the present and future of the kingdom; and you only did as well as the poorest amongst you did. She taught them poetry, song, dance, and could be found, and still is, on lazy warm afternoons or mornings dancing with her children, singing and laughing in between lessons.
In relation to her husband, the King, their relationship has remained as strong and steadfast as it had when they were young. Their love had already inspired poetry and song across the land. Truly the stuff of legends. The Queen prays daily to the Gods and Goddesses of the Light, thanking them for her hardships and the opportunities it opened for her and for the happiness tragedy afforded her later on in life.
Important NPCs
Bird, Laetitia's Irishwolf hound who has managed to live a very long life. |
Lady Winifred Cumberbatch, Laetitia's most trusted friend and companion |
On the grid
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