ToW | Lynette | Nereid | Ophidian

Human Form
 

Name: Lynette

Faction: Nereid

Rank: Ophidian

Status: Morwen

Faction Special: Fleet-Fighter

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RP rating: PG-13 

Age: 31

Year Born: 514

Gender: Mare

Height: 17 hh

Breed Body Type: Azteca 

Color: Smokey Black Blanket Appaloosa 

Species: Kelpie

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Personality: 

Loyal

Herd before all else. No matter how much it may behoove her that the queen is apart of that, she will still defend both her and her herd to her last breath. No dispute separates her family from fighting for each other.

Deceitful

It wasn’t always this way, but being an Ophidian has that kind of affect on people. Lying is a fun game, though Lynette knows it’s time and place. She only uses her deceit for her own work, or simple tricks and jokes with her herd mates.

Regal

As a Morwen, she consider herself as the closest thing to a young queen or princess that would be possible in the herd. She’s treated with as much respect, so it goes to her head quickly, but still she holds herself in grace and elegance.

Harsh

Not necessarily short-tempered, just when angry she is probably her most truthful. That being said, it’s more of a brutal honesty. Her true maw becomes more visible as she gnashes her teeth in her snarling words. But even if not in a full rage, she will not hesitate to tear you down if she can.

Sarcastic

Eye-rolls and sass for days. These are the more fun kinds of lies and irony, as she uses it often, when she works up the oomph to. Comes out more commonly among friends and family.

Unimpressed

To get this mare to remove her listless gaze is quite an achievement. In her bitterness and age, she has seen a lot, and has not much room for excitement in her life. The only sign of her pride is perhaps the one-eyebrow-raise which she gives her apprentices as they move through their training.

Spiteful

This is mostly towards the Queen Lorelei, though she keeps it hidden well. Its more of a secret emotion that fuels all her other negative ones. Nothing to underestimate though. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

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History: (2,868 Words)

BIRTH- 514

The crickets and tree frogs filled the world in their song as the sun began its descent through the dense canopy of the trees. Sunbeams filtered through the leaves and moss that swayed in the slight breezes of the late spring. Somewhere in the distance a bull gator rumbled, daring foes to stay away. Through these sounds a wail of exhaustion echoed, a young mare working through the last of her long labor. Her midwife gasped softly at the new filly she was cleaning, blinking blindly in silence as she look around her new world.

Delyth quickly swung to look at her filly, gasping for her breath in the thick watery air, thinking the worst. A deep sigh of relief as she saw her daughter looking back at her curiously. Shakily pushing herself up, she leaned down to inspect her foal and help clean her coat.

Lotus’ were the first new scent she knew of home, as her mothers flora was in full bloom in the spring, bringing with it a beautiful pink light in the monotonous shades of greens and blues. Pulled by an unknown instinct, she pushed herself up to her feet. Her first attempt sent her tumbling into a shallow pond, sending fish scattering for safety, and both mother and midwife lunged to stop her from falling too deep. Exchanging a faint thankful laugh as their new filly stumbled back to the ground before falling again in the soft mud.

Another small laugh from her mother as her face twisted with determination. That was the first sign of her father's personality in her. She would not be defeated by something as simple as gravity.

Pushing herself up once more she carefully rose her head, as to not undo her hard work, taking a few shaky steps as her mother nuzzled her gently. The midwife laid down a short distance from them, the fillies small head turning to look at her as she smiled at her. Quickly pulled back to attention by her mother's gentle nuzzling again, her pale blue eyes look up at her mother's, which lacked pupils and seemed more like an abyss of white. A comforting abyss if you can imagine such a thing.

A tiny rumbling called to reminding the filly she was hungry, and before she could really think on it, she was nursing. Delyth returned to cleaning her as she did, a low voice requesting entry into their clearing.

A tall buckskin stallion walked over to greet his wife who bore his long rivergrass as he now had a small blooming lotus at the base of his mane. Broderick was greeted by the black mare warmly, though she chose not to move too much, as she worried pulling away from her filly would lead her stumbling back into the water or mud.

The tall Behemoth stallion seemed already so proud of his daughter, as she bore his spotty blanket. Snorting a small throaty laugh as his wife told him about her birth, and her blind determination already quite visible.

As the rush of their new daughter's birth began to settle, the both seemed to come to the same realization that their daughter may be Marked.

As night fell, the couple watched eagerly as they sat out in the shallow nursery or theirs. The smoky filly laid beside them, sleepily watching with them as the Naethuil began to fade into existence through the swamp. With a soft yawn, the filly laid her head down against her mother, who was unconsciously holding her breath. A few Naethuil glowed before them, Broderick watching in awe as they seemed to flirt with the idea of being near them.

Destiny itself was there in the clearing that night, if not the black witch herself. A Naethuil drifted slowly down before landing on their new filly’s shoulder, flickering its glow as it sat before slowly drifting off again.

Both parents startled their filly awake as the rush of emotions washed over them and they gasped and yelled out on excitement.

What a blessing! Their daughter was a Marked One! And one day, she would have her chance to be Queen, so it was now their job to ensure that she would be so.

CHILDHOOD- 515-524

The young life of any Kelpie is spent learning their laws and their origins through the small amount of lore passed from mouth to mouth through the generations. But this is minuscule in comparison to the amount of play fighting, hunting, and training one does to learn how to survive.

Lynette spent much of her time with her mother, learning plants and herbs, for both medicine and poisoning. She found it so fascinating that something so beautiful as a flower, or delectable as a sweet berry could cure and kill with so much ease.

Her father taught her how to fight, as he wasn’t the largest Behemoth, he knew both how to use his strength and his wits to bring an opponent to the ground. Trying his best to teach his little Lyn without hurting her was hard, so he began using his apprentices. Though a smart apprentice knew better than to let her win, or force her to lose, as she was his greatest treasure.

As she grew, so did her skills and knowledge of the world around her. She wasn’t a successful hunter, but she was decent enough for her age and learning fast. Her fighting style was a unique blend of speed and strength, out maneuvering her opponents quickly before laying in hard blows. Lyn learned most of this through playing her favorite game with her friends. Chase was both a quick footed and strategic game, when it was set up properly for them. It wasn’t often they could play, but her father would catch her live animals to set loose in small areas to catch. It wasn’t the exact same, but she enjoyed it nonetheless.

When her 10th birthday arrived, Lynette was eager to try her hands as an Ophidian, like her mother before her.

APPRENTICESHIP - 524-528

Delyth had been one of the first with the rank Ophidian, as it was only put in place 20 years before Lynette’s birth. Plus this rank seemed to fit her personality the most, as she wasn’t a talkative child, but she was friendly, and above all else, a good and elaborate liar. Her fighting skills were good enough to start as a behemoth, but she chose to stick with her mother and her elaborate garden of life and death.

Not wanting to play favorites, Delyth placed her daughter under another Ophidian, a mare who had been there longer than she, and was an Ophidian at the birth of the rank.

Meredith was her name, and she wasn’t the kindest, but she wasn’t cold hearted. A stern instructor, Lyn learned a great deal under her, and quickly. Lyn’s training was a lot of glamour refining, at least what she could do. Glamour wasn’t her favorite thing, as she was a proud Kelpie.

“Let them look upon me. Let them fear me. Let them know and never forget that which would be their undoing.”

Lynette impressed many with her skill, and being a Marked One it was almost certain to those who knew her that she would be Queen if the time came.

The sun rose on her 14th birthday, and her apprenticeship was done. Nothing more could be taught to her that she couldn’t learn from anything more than experience itself. Experience was the greatest teacher in the herd, and all knew the sting and loving embrace it brought. Lyn bade her parents farewell as she set off on her hunt for her Coming of Age ceremony planned for the night.

As midday’s heat bore down and the chorus of birds and cicada filled the air, Lyn returned with a struggling rabbit in her maw. Delyth quickly taking it to be sacrificed, its body dressed and blood drained to add to their herbal paints. As the sun sank lower into the sky and the twinkling of the stars and Naethuil starting guide them, the family made its way down to the sea.

When they reached the lapping waves of the sea, Lyn gazed up at the full moon as it shined down upon them. The night was cool, but she felt warm, as if the black witch embraced her, welcoming her into the next stage of her life.

Her hide twitched slightly as the warm blood touched her, closing her eyes as her mother painted her face. Her Aunt Wynne drew symbols on her outstretched neck, as her father traced symbols she knew for strength over her heart and shoulders. Grandmama carved old runes for fertility along her flanks, leading them in a hum of a song that told of the great feats of their ancestors before them.

Lyns eyes slowly opened to see her family making the final touches to their work, blinking slightly at the blood that clung around her lashes and eyes. The last of the paint in their bowls were held up before she straightened herself out. Closing her eyes again as they all poured over her back, the heavier drops running down her sides to connect to her runes and symbols.

Taking in a deep breath as her parents stepped out of her way, she mumbled a small prayer through her breath. Stepping to the surf, her body seemed to fill with confidence. The water rose to meet her with each pace into the shallows, working her way down into the shimmering water. The further she went the stiller the water seemed, though still in motion. It reflected the stars back up to the sky, as if the stars in all their vanity were gazing into a mirror. It was a silly thought, but it to her seemed as if the night itself was embracing her.

Walking deeper and deeper, she was finally submerged, her gills kicking into action as she gulped in water instead of air now. The water hyacinth on her mane and tail seemed to drown in her black mane as its messy curls became undone and moved with the pulling of the waves.

Her view of the moon turned into her own reflection at the top of the water, surrounded by the stars as the moon haloed her. It was a beautiful sight, as she looked like a goddess, a queen. Perhaps this was a glimpse into her future, but she believed it more to just be a wonderful, amazing coincidence.

Watching the blood swirl off and wash away as it dispersed into the water, Lyn walked the sand and silt deeper, now surrounded by foolish fish who both came to watch and clean her.

They swelled around her in dazzling shining silver before taking off again into the darkness of the sea. The distant sounds of sea life humming to each other filled her ears as she trekked. The ocean sang to her as she watched her runes fade from her coat, causing her heart to fill with both peace and admiration.

The last of the markings now swirling into the water, the mare kicked off from the bottom and swam back towards the shore. The waves began to push her and help her legs to return to the shallower waters, her family still stood on the beach around a large bonfire, as more seemed to have gathered in her absence.

Breaching from the waves, she stood on the sand again as the water crashed around her. Moving up to the shore as fast as she could she ran up to greet her family again, shaking out her coat. Her friends as well as a more extended family had come to celebrate her Coming of Age, and had prepared a small feast for her. It was a wonderful surprise!

And it would be one of the last good ones she had.

ADULTHOOD- 529-Present

A death of any leader is seen as a tragedy, and with the passing of Queen Indrani it was taken like the loss of a valued family figure. After her nearly four and a half decade rule as the herds mother, she was laid to rest like every Queen before her, and all attended. As the sweet smell of the flowers and ocean filled the silent air, and the queens body was set out to sea, a rush of fear broke the loss.

As a Marked One, Lyn had to fight for her right to be Queen.

All the Marked fillies and mares rose to their birthright. Many were older and more experienced than she, the oldest of the mares fought as young as she did when Indrani was named Queen. Gathering together, the herd stood to watch as a 15 year old Lyn entered the fray of Kelpies who fought for the crown.

The heaviest among them, The Behemoths,were the first to attack, and quickly Lyn found herself pacing the outside of most of the chaos, before being taken on by another.

Quickly running to safety before spinning to take on her opponent, as to ensure no other would team up on her like the ones in the center had, she let the mare tire herself out before laying any blows.

Finally getting her mouth around a leg and throwing her opponent to the ground, her adrenaline sent her shooting towards the few left in the center, taking out the few she could. As her last opponent fell to the ground in exhaustion, she turned to the familiar face of the Queen’s Niece, Lorelei. Rearing back to face her, she started on her attack, lunging at her throat immediately, but fate, or rather a large mare shoved her out of grasp.

In frustration, she turned again to her opponent, rearing up in a roar as Lorelei did. But Lorelei stood taller than she, and a hoof quickly slashed across her face.

Hissing in frustration as she stumbled back, blood now filling her vision as her pain screamed in her ears. Dizzy from the blow, Lyns lungs collapsed under the hard blow of a heavier mare to her side. Like a doll, she had been sent crashing to the ground, the sand stinging into her wounds.

That was it, she couldn’t catch her breath or find her balance to stand.

Only recently an adult and now here she was, helpless as a newborn foal again.

Laying in the sand, she blinked her blindness away as she tried to catch her breath, glaring into the arena as her now fellow Morwen fought.

Her vision was blurry, but as Lorelei conquered the last of her opponents, it was declared she was to be Queen.

Now a bit more able to stand, she pushed herself up to her feet, as did the other Morwen, as they all now gathered around their new Queen, grooming her harsh wounds as their own were cleaned. This was a bond only they would share, as no one else would truly know the hell of the arena other than those who were there that day. At least not the horror of fighting for something that they all had longed for and all but one lost.

Opportunity had presented itself and had slipped from Lyn’s grasp in mere moments.

A bitterness grew inside of her.

A resentment silently bloomed.

With Lorelei’s fear of the Olde, and the immediate removal of her sister, Behemoth and Ophidians alike were sent to take on the Olde Order. Lyn stayed behind, as her glamour wasn’t quite seamless enough to lure in horses, but her father and mother both went.

In one of the Raid’s, Broderick was killed by one of the Mages guarding the King and Queen, who also soon perished. The loss of her father hit hard, and her mother grieved for him, constantly stroking the rivergrass in her mane to never forget him.

“He is always with me, with you. No one ever is truly gone as long as we do not forget them, Lynette.”

Her Mother still resides in their family home, tending her garden as she is now becoming too old for her duties as an Ophidian, though she doesn’t wish to give it up entirely. Still eagerly taking in apprentices, and teaching them all of her knowledge of plants and deception. Her role now is more that of a healer and brewer now than a slinking Ophidian as she once was.

As the time under Queen Lorelei grew, Lyn now twice the age she was in the arena. Still a loyal Ophidian, obeying her orders as given, and teaching apprentices as needed.

Her distaste from Lorelei grew from what she considers a ‘cowardly blow’ to her face. She could’ve taken her eyes for more than a moment, and she had known that, or Lyn assumes she had.

Her fathers death doesn’t help the Queens standing in her heart either. But he went down fighting, which is what he would’ve wanted in the first place, at least she had that comfort.

These don’t keep her from breaking her familiar bonds with her herd nor her queen, as the herd comes before all else, but it does come with a bit of snark.