Sabine

From FiranMUX

A young Sabine, held as an unwilling wife and prisoner in Elianos' walled compound in the Chimera Clan, plants her garden and longs for home.

Overview

Sabine Ista Aldrik is the Queen, the legend, the wife of Ranivor Elianos and matriarch to the Elianik royal family. She was clan leader of the Bear clan in her own right as well as High Priestess of the Firan Realms.

The Firan people owe their very survival as much to Sabine as Elianos. It was Sabine who organised the Exodus, Sabine who risked her life by remaining behind, along with Clan Leader Belik to deceive the Shamibelians into thinking they had captured all of the Firan people during their invasion. Sabine who helped to shape the early Clan Council through her tireless diplomacy and matchmaking. If Elianos will forever be the exemplar to the military of the Republic, Sabine is the exemplar to nobles and politicians alike.

As Queen, Sabine used her problem to ease or dispel many of the diplomatic difficulties between the Clans. While Elianos would order and demand, Sabine would use her influence to solve problems and lessen tensions. A prime example of this was the marriage she organised between then Sentry Zafir and Galadra, one of her ladies-in-waiting. Not only did she do this to attempt to mend Griffon and Gold Dragon tensions but also to force a lengthy engagement, to counter the many hasty marriages that had taken place of late. As with all else, Sabine rarely did anything for just one reason.

Under Sabine, the Bear Clan was known as the social example of the Republic. Proper in all things, with a devotion to their Clan Leader that outstripped even that of the Gold Dragons to Judano, the Bear Clan under Sabine enjoyed almost unrivaled success. Even militarily, something the Bear Clan was never noted for, they knew some prestige for General Zayes.

The only real controversy she caused was that of the birth of her twin sons, Vahlgellan and Solgarik. Queen Sabine's public acceptance of the twins came during the rush of support and morale following the defeat of the Shamibelians and the recapture of Anarinuell, as such while many plotted against them through the princes' youth, by the time they came of age they were mostly accepted.

Perhaps the most enduring legacy Sabine gave to the Republic was the very idea of royalty as being somehow better even than other nobles or the royal familes of each clan. Clan Leaders were and often are seen as remote from the people they rule, understandably so given the medallions they were. However, Sabine encouraged Selene, Vahlgellan and Solgarik to move among the people, to both set an example to the nobles and to also appeal to the commoners. To this day the royal family of the Republic has a mystique all its own, one that was fostered and encouraged by Queen Sabine.

As High Priestess Sabine could well be looked upon as the person most responsible for the Religious Council as it is today. Prior to unification, priests of different clans would typically only interact during Festivals. Along with the military and social aspects of unification, religion was a key cause of division, primarily between monotheists and polytheists. With Sabine as High Priestess, even the monotheists had to respect her for who she was, particularly the Hydrans with her familial tie to her uncle, Clan Leader Belik. As such, Sabine formed some rough conformity and unity in the Religious Council which, while fractured from time to time by the actions of one errant priest or another, was likewise passed on intact, along with her medallion.

During the height of her power, the first significant civil war within the clans since Unification occured when the Gold Dragon clan erupted at the news of Judano's heir being Lord Jalil, the son of Clan Leader Tazi. Queen Sabine endorsed Jalil's claim to the throne; in fact it was Sabine's word that Clan Leaders Tazi and Judano had secretly married while young that gave credence to Jalil's claim. Despite her acknowledgement of Jalil's patronage, Sabine's son, Prince Solgarik made war on Jalil for the Gold Dragon medallion using his bloodtie to his uncle Judano as his claim. When Solgarik lost the war, Jalil asked Sabine to perform the coronation ceremony and when two monotheists objected during the ceremony itself, she promptly had them defrocked and thrown out of the priesthood.

The monotheists claimed that Sabine as a polytheistic priestess had no power to defrock their priests, and both continued to attempt to minister their faith after being ejected, but in the end, the power of the Staff of the High Priestess proved victorious and the Queen won that power struggle.

In later years, Sabine began to be seen in public less and less, delegating many tasks to her Ista Aldrik neices. It was through delegation that she tested and trained the other Ista Aldrik noblewomen to assume their own responsibilities, letting them learn through her example and their own mistakes.

Sabine traveled to Vreland with her husband and others of the surviving Seven Heroes. There has been little word from her since, though rumors exist of a letter in her hand brought to Anarinuell by the mysterious Nekaht...

Ranks & Offices

• Clan Leader of the Bear Clan (emeritus)
• Queen of the Republic
• High Priestess of the Firan Realms (emeritus)

Family Life

Parents

• Aldrik(d): Clan Leader of the Bear Clan and primogenitor of the Ista Aldrik family.
• Dirakis(d)

Siblings

• Ivania(d): Ivania died from eating a poisonous mushroom in 14 B.U.
• Varrat(d): Varrat was the first hero to be killed by the Great Beast that stalked the Firan realms before the Seven Heroes
• Honnold(d)
• Catrine(d)
• Sarci
• Rocco
• Sarat(d)

Marriage

• Elianos: Sabine's marriage to Elianos was arranged by her mother, Clan Leader Aldrik and initially Sabine was greatly opposed to the union. In fact, she had to be dragged to the Chimera Clan where she was held for many years as Elianos' unwilling bride in the compound at Emran. Rumors have it that she tried to kill her husband with poison from her garden several times, and that in retaliation, Elianos would plow over her garden and sow salt in it. Inevitably, Sabine would find a new corner to start a new garden, in which she would plant her flowers and a Bear Clan flag.

Over time, however, her respect for Elianos grew until today the marriage of Sabine and Elianos remains as one of the great love stories of the Firan people, with their rulership together seen as as the heyday of the Republic. Stories are told of how they met, their first public kiss, how they would appear in public and how just and wise their rule was.

Children

• Selene: Sabine's relationship with Selene was often tempered by Selene's incautious acts. Selene being a far cry from a typical daughter to an Ista Aldrik.
• Elik(d): Elik was killed by the great beast, it was his death that spurred Elianos into forming the Seven Heroes to hunt it. It was said that this child was Sabine's favorite, and that she never got over his loss. Her relationship with Selene was strained because of it, and some claim that she never loved her twin boys, Solgarik and Vahlgellan as much as her first brave son.
• Solgarik: Solgarik, like his twin brother, was very dear to Sabine. She worked hard to arrange his marriage.
• Vahlgellan: Vahlgellan may have always seemed slightly more responsible than Solgarik when the two were growing up but Sabine was careful to never show any favouritism.

Nieces and Extended Family

Heirs

• Sarcia: Sabine's relationship with Sarcia was often strained because Sarcia married Sir Gellhorn and after he died, was often caught in compromising and semi-scandalous situations. Sabine felt that Sarcia wasn't very bright and early dismissed Sarcia as being ineligible to be proxy of the clan. She never stopped caring for her, however, and overlooked her eccentricities.
• Junia: Junia idolised her Aunt and Sabine was very fond of the girl, having summoned her and Fidelia to come to Anarinuell to assist her in the running of the Bear Clan. When Sabine left with the Seven Heroes, she chose Junia to be first proxy in her absence, trusting her with the Bear Clan Medallion. Some say that Sabine's Last Will and Testament explicitly named Junia as her heir and that she was the rightful Clan Leader of the Bear Clan, usurped by her little sister, Fidelia. The Clan Council refuses to comment one way or another on this matter.
• Fidelia: In many ways Fidelia was a trial for Sabine while growing up and a source of disappointment. There was Fidelia's hopeless idealism, her quirky habits, and her on-again-off-again relationship with Prince Sadin of which the Queen never approved. As Fidelia matured into adulthood, however, Sabine began to trust her as she did all of her nieces. In some respects, Fidelia is Sabine's least likely heir, but those who knew the Queen best say that Fidelia is very like her.
• Petrina: Petrina was the most distant of Sabine's nieces, rarely used politically but still a piece on the board for her to deploy as she needed to.
• Gellina: Gellina was much beloved of Sabine, but she couldn't quite forgive Gellina's willingness to go off to marry Gavin Rissik and take his name.
• Aldrissa: While never rising high in the political sphere of the city, Sabine always cared for Aldrissa and gave her political cover for her many indiscretions. Eventually, however, the rumors and scandals that the Coran Emista raised about Aldrissa would sour her relationship with the Queen, and it was because of Aldrissa that Sabine made the famed edict about Ista Aldrik women being sent to a brothel if they allowed themselves to fall into public disgrace. Many say that Sabine only made this edict to frighten her nieces, but in her absence it was actually used against Aldrissa. Had Sabine known that her own flesh and blood ended up a whore at the Dove, it would have likely broken her heart.

Nephews

• Donos: Being a man, Donos never figured highly on Sabine's attention. She did teach him many lessons on how to behave and what was expected of him as an Ista Aldrik Lord, however.
• Aldrikos: As far as her nephews went, Sabine always favored Aldrikos, son of her former betrothed and jilted love, Sir Gellhorn.
• Thaddeus:
• Erythes:

Grandchildren

• Sadin: While Sabine was fond of her grandson, Sadin, he managed to irritate her often with his sometime wild ways and lack of social understanding.
• Inaya: Sabine's grandaughter was well-loved by the Queen though her marriage to Vahlon was not the perfect match Sabine hoped for her, she did not prevent it.

Accomplishments & Successes

• Bear Clan Leader: Sabine took the throne of the Bear Clan after the death of her mother. She enjoyed one of the most stable rules of any Clan Leader until she departed with the other heroes to go to Vreland. During her reign, she continued the tradition of the Bear Clan in having a Small Council help her with matters of state, giving authority and autonomy to officials unprecedented throughout the realms.

• Exodus: Following Sabine's dream from Soli, where she saw the Firan people taking refuge in Soli's belly, Clan Leader Sabine, together with Velani, Clan Leader Firgalas, Clan Leader Torvahl and Garen the hero, Clan Leader Sabine organised the great exodus that saved the Firan people. Going from city to city atop Garen's griffon she prepared the exodus with a masterful show of organisation. Havng organised everything needed for the retreat to the caves near Caldera City, Sabine joined her uncle, Clan Leader Belik in remaining behind with other valiant Firans to convince the Shamibelians that they had conquered all of the Firan people.

• The Firan Forces of the Interior. Along with the then young Clan Leader Judano, Sabine helped found and organise the FFI. After the war was over, Queen Sabine ordered the FFI disbanded.

• High Priestess: Clan Leader Sabine became High priestess of the Firan people after Firgalas. While the Gold Dragons were less than pleased to see a woman with the title, she was an effective and strong advocate for the temples and the gods.

• Healer: Easily the most accomplished healer known to the Firans. The details are, again, not clear, but some speculate she learned during the exodus because of the need for healers, and simply built upon that. Others think that perhaps it's from Soli herself. It's all assumption, however, and the details aren't known.

• Kingmaker: If Sabine had not supported Jalil's claim to be Judano's son and heir then he would never have been able to take the position, even if he did have to fight for it.

• Queen: As Queen of the Republic, Sabine has set a legacy that is spoken of almost daily. Her manners, opinions and beliefs are quoted as all but immutable laws on how Firans should behave and act.

Scandals & Failures

The Jilting of Sir Gellhorn

As a young girl of 14, after the death of her sister, Ivania, Sabine met a young hero of the Bear Clan army called Gellhorn. Wracked with grief over her sister's death, Sabine took comfort in Gellhorn and her mother deemed him a fair match. However, less than a year later, after Elianos had carved out his own clan, Sabine's mother informed her that she was to be married to Elianos, despite Sabine's own wishes. That Sabine's all-but finalised marriage to Gellhorn was abandoned for politics both devastated her at the time and caused more than few grumblings within the Bear clan - albeit most of their issue with Elianos was because of his seeming irreverance for tradition.

Sabine and Elianos' Early Marriage

It is no secret that Sabine was an unwilling bride. What is perhaps more secret is the fact that she tried to kill her husband with various poisons several times. She claimed that their first child, Selene, was conceived while she was under the influence of some potion that Elianos had administered to her, and their marriage was alternatively murderous and passionate up until the Great War when Sabine became a Clan Leader in her own right, and the two became reconciled to a life long love affair.

Twins

When Vahlgellan and Solgarik were born, the Firan people were even more superstitious about twins than they are now. Despite this, however, Queen Sabine kept both her children, neither killing nor sending one for adoption as was traditional for the second twin to be born. There was a great deal of consternation and difficulty about this for the young Queen, but through her political mastery, power and the fact that directly opposing her on anything would be a scandal in and of itself, Sabine and the young princes weathered the storm. In later years, the two princes would rarely appear together, thus causing many to conveniently forget that they were twins.

Selene's Marriage to Elik

With perhaps only Selene and the Seven Heroes knowing the truth, Selene's marriage to the god, Elik, remains one of the great mysteries of the Republic. After it was announced, Sabine used her position as Queen and High Priestess to limit the amount of public disbelief or protest. Supported by the remaining Seven Heroes, who even claimed to have been at the wedding, Sabine was able to prevent her daughter being accused, in public, of being an unmarried mother. To this day there are many who doubt or question the validity of the claim, but certainly none who would openly oppose Sabine's word. Sabine was fiercely protective of her neices and in as much as she judged them all closely, she would also forgive them much. Even Aldrissa who caused a great deal of strife for the queen was given opportunities for redemption.

A Reputation for Poison and Plotting

There are those staunch advocates of the Queen who claim that the rumors about her were nothing more than Gold Dragon propaganda against a powerful woman, but gossip persisted throughout her lifetime that Queen Sabine was a practitioner of toxicology. Moreover, she was an expert at political maneuvering and plots to eliminate rivals and enemies. The Gold Dragons claim that Sabine used a Lady Lucretia Look-Alike named Faythe Honoria to ruin the girl's reputation and get her banished from the city so as to ruin her grandson Sadin's marriage.

Enemies

• Coran 'The Mad Priest' Coran spoke out about the twin princes Vahlgellan and Solgarik and was a thorn in the side of Sabine until his death, as he was to many Clan Leaders in the republic.

• Asala: A bonduin whore who claimed to want to become an acceptable part of society, Asala assisted in the jailbreak of Raldrister, a rebellious traitor who opposed unification and attempted to persuade the Firans to turn their backs on the republic.

• Wenda: One of the Queen's servants. Mes Wenday Aurik accused Vahlgellan of having raped her. After refusing to keep her silence as Sabine ordered, the young woman was exiled and her name stricken from the records.

• Galena: Around the same time as Wenda's banishment, Galena Istanar was a young glassmaker and singer of some repute with in the city. What respect she had was lost when she accused the princes, Vahlgellan and Solgarik, of inappropriate conduct; she even went so far as to accuse them of raping her. Sabine ordered the woman quiet and when she continued to make her scandalous charges public had her exiled with her name stricken from the lips of all Bear Clan Citizens.

• General Jomo of the Shamibelians: During the occupation of the Firan Lands by the Shamibelians, General Jomo was a cruel master for the enslaved Firans. For the young Bear Clan Clan Leader and priestess, Jomo was particularly hated as he insisted on burying dead Firans, thereby giving them soul death. Bannos prayed to Unot who heeded the prayers and turned Jomo into Silver during the escape attempt from Anish.

• Lannos: Rumored to be the leader of the Lanesh regime and the man who killed Firgalas he was a cunning enemy for the Seven Heroes. Around the time Bannos had finally stopped dithering and decided to kill his half-brother, Lannos attempted to rape Sabine. She killed him with a poisoned ring during the attempt.

Allies

• Bannos: If not for Sabine, Bannos would never have survived to rule the Cockatrice throne as long as he did. After Firgalas' death Sabine defended Bannos against the rumour he'd been responsible. She likewise defended him against all of the charges of him being a member of the Lanesh Regime. In return, Bannos supported Sabine thoroughly and went from 'that athlete friend of Elianos' to a close ally.
• Judano: Sabine's relationship to Judano was always somewhat odd. Politically they were ever at odds but Sabine kept the secret of his marriage to Tazi until his death. Judano in return ameliorated a great deal of Bear-Gold Dragon tensions by heeding Sabine's advice often.
• Belik: Despite their differences of religious opinion. Belik and Sabine had a close relationship. Quite often she was his only ally in Clan Council meetings. Given how cantankerous at Council meetings Belik could be, it was Sabine who often maintained peace, particularly between Belik and
• Akinita: Akinita often felt ill at ease as a Clan Leader; unlike the other Clan Leaders she had no ancient blood tie to justify her rule. While Elianos was her chief ally at council, Sabine would often speak to the young woman and advised her greatly on matters both familial and political.
• Garen: While to many Garen was often thought of as untrustworthy and dangerous, Sabine's time with Garen preparing for the Firan Exodus after Unification gave her a greater insight to the taciturn man than even some of his fellow Seven Heroes had. It was Sabine who helped arrange his marriage to Akinita.
• Endeera: Endeera was one of Sabine's ladies-in-waiting and like many of those who took the position Endeera prospered greatly as a result of her training under the Queen.
• Graciana: One of Sabine's closest confidants, Graciana was dearly loved by Sabine and was among the few people who seemed to be able to get away with disagreeing with Sabine and not receiving a stern rebuke.
• Gellhorn: Her young paramour, despite the overturning of Sabine's marriage to the Bear Clan hero, Gellhorn remained a faithful and loyal servant to Sabine throughout his life. His death during the Great War pained Sabine greatly.
• Ista Aldrik nieces: After her marriage to Elianos, she decided that rather than cause strife amongst her own children, the succession of the Bear Clan Medallion would rest in the hands of her nieces Petrina, Aldrissa, Gellina, Junia and Fidelia. Sabine wielded her nieces much like pieces on a chess board. She would offer them all challenges and tests, seeking to find which was the worthiest of claiming her medallion all the while never giving a hint as to which was likely to inherit. She used her female relatives to reward those who had done good service to her or the Republic by offering them in marriage. In many regards, Sabine was repeating the actions of her own mother, Aldrik, who of course arranged the marriage of Sabine to Elianos.

Miscellany

Habits

• Gardening
• Flower Arranging
• Keeping close counsel
• Dagger Practice

Likes

• Hairpins
• Manners

Dislikes

• Rudeness
• Atheists

Logs