Approved bio for Kastyana Amharadar--CC by BT

[WhiteWolf]

Name: Kastyana Amharadar

Age: 14

Nationality: Far Madding

Tower: Traditional

Birth Year: 973 NE

 

Hair: Light Brown, with one braid starting on both sides of her head that meet up in the back.

 

Eyes: Blue with faint green rings

 

Skin: Pale white, little to no sun exposure

 

Height: She stands at 5 foot 9 inches tall.

 

Voice: Her voice is that of a soprano, it has a musical quality, as if she were full of joy and on the brink of breaking out into song.

 

Other: She has a green ribbon woven into the braid on the right side of her head. Around her neck is a gold chain with a small gold locket. Around her right thumb is an oversized, much worn signet ring. She has a medium-sized scar on her right hand, what remains of an old burn. Her chin is very sharp, sometimes giving her a severe look.

 

Personality: She is very analytical, she often over thinks even the most basic instances. She loves giving to others but she often secretly does it to set up network of possible return favors if she herself happened into a tight spot. Before approaching any situation she analyzes possible outcomes in advance, often causing herself anxiety before any conclusions have been made. She is always the first to laugh and smile but even quicker to anger.

 

Special Skills: She knows the details of her sleeping space so well that upon reentering she can easily detect the slightest disturbance or change in her belongings. She can easily spot fake gold, and if unsure she knows well how to find out. Her sharp vision was also advantageous while working her mother’s business. She is fairly well versed in the gold trade. She is particularly adept at singing, a treasure that she holds dear to her heart. She is also moderately skilled at the playing of harp.

 

Weaknesses: Her biggest weakness is her analytical mind. While it can be advantageous at times, she often overuses this skill, which causes her anxiety and fear in even the most simple of situations. She doesn’t start one task; she starts many and forgets to finish all.

 

Full History: Kastyana Amharadar comes from a proud but broken family. The Amharadar has a noble history even if they no longer hold any title today. Related to one of Far Madding’s most revered families, to which a major market was named, the Amharadar name still holds some memories. The earliest known records of Kastyana’s family hint at significance some time after the Breaking when the city belonged to the nation of Essenia. But much more is known of the Amharadar family during the time of the country of Maredo, when Far Madding was its capital. The Amharadar line or the Amhara House as it was back then had charge of a small town to the north of Far Madding known as Thessara. When Maredo collapsed, so did the house of Amhara. Few minds remember that past but Kastyana has always had pride in her family’s ancient history.

 

In Far Madding, the women are the authority in the household and Kastyana’s mother, Eleoin is no exception. Her mother owns a large business, dealing in all things gold. On top of a storefront, the family employs several workers, including a goldsmith and several trade caravans. Kastyana was taught the ways of the gold business ever since she could talk. When she was eight years old, her mother allowed her to observe the hired goldsmith and learn more about the family trade. The ability to recognize the real from the fake, discern the tiniest flaw and respect the nature of fire all were lessons she learned from her long days of observance. She learned the latter of the aforementioned abilities on her second day in the smithy. When the smith had left to document a shipment Kastyana burned her left hand badly when she attempted to dip her toy doll’s shoes in molten gold.

 

On top of learning so much of the trade at home, Kastyana was frequently taken abroad when her mother would take her along on the major trade missions. Her mother dealt with many different types of gold workings. Gilding, jewelry, and the occasional commissioning of royal devices was handled by the family business.

 

Kastyana knows little in the way of Aes Sedai. Living in Far Madding limited her exposure to the politics and manipulation of the White Tower. Once, in attendance with her mother on a business trip, Kastyana had the opportunity to see a healing. She had never seen a channeler in her life but found herself oddly mesmerized by the event. After her mother explained that such healings were impossible in the city of her birth, Kastyana began to dream of life in the White Tower.

 

On Kastyana’s 10th tenth nameday, her father gave to her two items, a gold locket and an old silver house seal. The locket held an item of pride for inside it was one of two items proving the nobility of the family’s past. Inside the locket was a small scrap of parchment bearing the noble title of one of her ancestors. The second item, the seal, had belonged to the family since time remembered. The ancient family seal was that of a large tree overshadowed by a harp.

Disaster struck Kastyana and her family shortly after her birthday. Her father was named as a darkfriend by a rival merchant opposing the family. Accused of affiliation with the Shadow, her father fled the city in the hopes of preserving his own life.

After her father left, Kastyana did all she could to show her love and support of her father. She began singing in the local taverns, singing songs of love and respect that she herself had written and dedicated to him. Her best friend convinced her to learn the harp, as her own mother was adept at teaching new students. By the time she was 12 she was already surpassing her teacher in both improvisation and skill. It was then that Kastyana composed one of her best songs yet, a song dedicated to the lost and innocent. In her mind she was representing her family perfectly.
 

When Kastyana began her 14th year she asked her mother to allow her to take on the role of novice at the White Tower. There she was sure she could one day prove her father innocent. Kastyana even ran away from home, stealing a horse to travel to Tar Valon. Upon arrival, she was distraught that news of her flight had already reached the ears of the city guards. After she was brought into the city, an Aes Sedai of an unknown Ajah questioned Kastyana about her reasons for coming to the city. In return for Kastyana’s obedience and swift departure, the Aes Sedai agreed to test the girl for the ability. Finding that Kastyana could learn to channel, the Aes Sedai accompanied her to Far Madding to ask her mother to allow the child entrance into the Tower. Only after her mother was confident her daughter was familiar with the family craft did she consent. Feeling satisfied that her daughter would not begin a new life without some substantial skill from her old life, Kastyana was taken to Tar Valon.

Edited December 2, 2012 by Arath Faringal

[Arath Faringal]

*BT Stamp*