HOME | DD

Description
This is a commissioned biography for of her original character Arianna Belli from Haunting Ground. I think the bio works well within the universe and hope you feel the same milady. Thanks of course to like no contest hands down there.
-
Name:
Arianna (Ari) Floranimalia Belli

Age:
17

Personality:
For Arianna, the human race was never more beautiful nor more civilised than during the era of Queen Victoria’s reign. As such, she has modelled both her tastes and her behaviours upon the social mores of that time. However, in spite of her demure nature, she is a passionate child at heart, compelled by an indomitable vigour for life that informs her otherwise peculiar pastimes. Fortunately, the Belli family understand, appreciate and nurture her oft-times eccentric infatuations, accommodating her to the best of their abilities.

While beyond the comfort of the castle grounds, she maintains a timid disposition, her etiquette modelled on the archetypal Victorian woman. Despite her considerable difficulties in interacting with those whom she has little prior knowledge, she is gracious and polite to a fault towards those who are well-mannered and pleasant in kind. While it is true that her social awkwardness has led to an inability to easily form emotional attachments to others, it has also given her valuable insight into her relationships with these same individuals. Worthwhile persons are those whom she quickly finds herself at ease with.

When in familiar environs, she tends towards mischief, her usual reticence belying an almost imp-like nature. At times, she finds the allure of things prohibited to be too strong to resist. One example of this predilection is her curious obsession with medical paraphernalia, particularly pointed objects that can be used to slice and rend the flesh. It is not uncommon to see her loitering in those areas of the castle given over to physical treatment, indulging her love of blades. It is for this reason that she suffers from lacerations on her fingertips, more often than not, though this is little more than an inconvenience for her, inured to pain as she is.

Possessed of a mature mindset that often defies her youth, she has dedicated herself to several taxing hobbies, devoting herself completely to their pursuit and forsaking all other undertakings. Single-minded in her focus, she is aware that everything worthwhile is worth expending time and energy on. As such, she has pushed herself to proficiency in several increasingly unique diversions.

First and foremost to her is her love for the violin, an instrument that she demonstrated a natural affinity for very early in her young life. Though practice occasionally left her frustrated, her will was indomitable and she was further encouraged by the interest her mother displayed in her lessons. Her mastery has progressed considerably and her melodies are often heard by all who dwell within the castle, soothing and comforting them, lifting their spirits where needed. She continues to learn, advancing her skill above and beyond her current level, delighting in her own continued improvement.

Though her talent for the violin could easily be traced to her father, who was himself an excellent musician, her gift for contortionism had less obvious roots. Born as supple as any child, this asset did not wane with age as it does in so many others. She quickly learned that, during times of panic, she could twist her limbs to make even the most confined of spaces a suitable hiding place. This was particularly useful on those occasions when she happened upon a spider, deathly afraid as she is of these creatures.

She has since honed this natural advantage into a skill that she employs with indecent regularity, twisting her limbs at abnormal angles and earning her the concern of her family, who have often confused her flexibility for a grievous injury.

Perhaps her most surprising forte is for fire-hooping, a discipline combining both physical and mental endurance with strength and dexterity. Her desire to pursue such a hobby was piqued when she witnessed a woman in a nearby village dancing with flaming loops. Entranced by the beauty of her movements and unconcerned by the inherent dangers of the discipline, she trained rigorously. At first the pain was excruciating and the heat seared her flesh, hair and clothing alike, but despite the agony and her mother’s concern, her determination saw her through.

Now she wields the hoops with the grace of a seasoned veteran, never feeling the burning touch as she wields many at once, almost as though they were extensions of her own body.

Though generally sedate and modest in her behaviour, and while she understands that it is not generally acceptable, there lurks within her the capacity for murder. Despite this, her actions are forever guided by a code that she had decided for herself long ago. Imbued with a strong sense of justice, she does not believe in killing the virtuous and will always do her utmost to ensure their safety, even if this were to bring her into conflict with her family. Those innocents that stumble upon Belli Castle find an ally in her, despite the hostility that others might bear them. She also finds bullies and their actions to be detestable.

On the other hand, where the sinful are concerned, Arianna is quick to demonstrate her lethality. Beset by thieves, and sometimes worse, the family’s dwelling is invaded on an almost regular basis, and for their folly she sees fit to take a token of their chastening. Enthralled with the concept of ‘an eye for an eye’, she digs the jellied orbs from the skulls of those she slays, keeping them as both a symbol of her empowerment, and as a warning to those that would cross her. To her, it is no profound thing to take the lives of those who have willingly forsaken their right to live.

Strengths and Weaknesses:
Primarily, Arianna is small in stature and possesses no formal training in self-defence. Though she cannot be considered a mere slip of a girl, she is not equipped to be a powerhouse either. As such, she would find herself outmatched in conflict with a larger or more combat-proficient opponent. However, she does possess an exceptionally high pain tolerance, honed through years of cutting, piercing and dancing in the embrace of her flaming hoops. As such, she does not yield to pain as others of her age most likely would. Anyone expecting to force her submission without effort would find themselves disappointed.

She tends towards clumsiness, often consumed by her musings and failing to notice subtle changes in her surroundings, that in turn lead to her losing her balance at inopportune moments. Though her intensity is a considerable boon to her lifestyle, it can often lead to her taking less care than she should. Her occasional inelegance occurs much more often if she has been flirting with insomnia, malnutrition and dehydration. These usually result from her being otherwise engaged in something that she considers important to her. Though her single-mindedness does ensure that her goals can be achieved with the minimum of time consumed, it is also detrimental to her health if prolonged.

Despite her sometimes misplaced concentration, she possesses the fortitude of mind to remain guarded in the presence of strangers. Unfamiliar individuals will always be met with suspicion, as not all visitors to the Belli Estate are benign. Having no desire to run afoul of an ill-intentioned invader, she tends to deliberately avoid them where possible.

Though not easily enraged, Arianna is prone to fits of absolute, unreasoning fury, accompanied by unrestrained violent outbursts. During such episodes, she loses her ability to rationalise her actions and can no longer control her behaviour, making her a potentially dangerous presence. However, these instances are few and far between, usually caused by grievous injuries to herself, her pets or her family.

It is worthy of note, however, that she possesses a unique fascination with the nature of time and the mechanical workings of clocks, particularly the sounds that they produce. On those occasions when she is taken by a moment of wrath, this fascination may be used to distract, and perhaps even calm, her.

As has already been mentioned, Arianna is terrified by the presence of spiders of all sizes, though the ancient castle has some particularly gargantuan specimens loitering in its halls.

The tale behind this phobia involves her first pet, a dragonfly that she was particularly taken with during her infancy. When she awoke, the insect would hover at her head and receive her adoration, even honoured with a name as a token of her affection. However, on one particular morning, she opened her eyes to see her pet ensnared in the silken web of an immense black spider, nesting in the corner of her bedroom window.

To this day, she remains thoroughly afraid of all spiders, unable to even approach them for fear that she might end her days in the same manner as her beloved dragonfly. The churning of her anxious stomach provokes genuine pain in her, which makes them something of an Achilles Heel for her, as well as a potential weapon to be used against her.

This fear does not serve to quash her adventurous spirit, however, and she regularly explores the halls of the castle with her sister in pursuit, furthering her familiarity with her surroundings.

Physical Appearance:
Arianna is an average teenager, more closely resembling her father than her mother. As such, she is shorter than both her mother and sister, and possessed of many of her father’s traits. Her eyes are a lively azure, innately bright and cheerful irrespective of her mood and regularly drawing comment from those she meets. Her brunette tresses are long and thick, so dark that they could easily be mistaken for raven black. Unwilling to restrain her unruly locks, she allows them to trail out in her wake. As such, they can often be seen as the last vestige of her presence as she disappears through a door or around a corner.

Though heavily influenced by the Victorian era’s sensibilities, her customary style of dress has been inspired by Venetian designs. Corsets have been a regular fixture of her apparel for much of her life and as such she is rarely seen without one. Usually, they will be died lavender in colour and embroidered with floral décolletage, each one a unique product of her own needlework. She compliments her outfit with a skirt of soft, sepia-coloured silk, ripped at knee level. A tear in this garment running parallel to her left thigh reveals several underskirts of a lavender hue, while a maroon bow has been stitched on at one side. This is a personal touch added by her mother at Arianna’s request.

Often found on her person is a small golden key upon a chain about her neck. Though none of her family are aware quite what this key unlocks, her mother and sister suspect it may pertain to a young gentleman whom she regularly seeks out for company. They do not speak of these notions in her presence, however, trusting that she is mature enough in mind to make her decisions for herself. Arianna herself remains secretive about this keepsake, choosing to keep her own counsel on the matter.

Perhaps her most curious physical feature is not a natural aspect of her body, but rather an artificial one. Despite adhering closely to the austere doctrine of Victorian etiquette, she has fashioned a silver barbell, which she has pinned through her tongue. It is not a facet of her appearance that is remarked upon often; quite the contrary, her piercing is regularly overlooked by those without the sagacity to spy it nestled in her mouth. Ordinarily, it is not readily visible, unless Arianna is speaking with particular zeal. On certain rare occasions, she may choose to divulge its presence to those she deems worthy, sharing this confidence as though sharing a part of herself.

Of course, Arianna’s penchant for modifying her form does not end with the perforation of her tongue, and she is rarely without some new scar, either temporary or permanent. Her body is her own, she feels, and therefore hers to customise as she so wishes.

Furthermore, it is rare to see her without some form of medical paraphernalia in her possession. Scalpels, syringes and blood-soaked bandages are worthy prizes one and all, and usually find their way into her burgeoning treasure trove at one point or another.

Background:
The tale of Arianna’s origin is twofold, beginning first with the story of her mother.

Daniella was not conceived through the union of mortal man and woman, but rather created through a process of duplication by the Great Alchemist, Aureolus Belli. With the purity of the Azoth within each generation of replicas he produced gradually diminishing, he made for himself a female, with whom he hoped to continue his line through more conventional means.

Though he was an exceptional scholar, his lifetimes of knowledge failed him when it came to the young woman who had resulted from his experiment. His first error was to assume that the cloning process had left her infertile when his attempts to have her conceive his child met with failure. His second was to relegate her to the position of servant in his household, believing that he had been unsuccessful in creating the perfect woman that he had hoped would save his lineage. Her withdrawn emotional state was, to him, the proof that she was naught but a failure.

Unbeknownst to him, even the most hardy and well-formed of wombs cannot bear the child of a union between clones; Daniella paid dearly for this unknown truth. Forced into servitude in Belli Castle, her limited scope of emotion became dulled to the point of abject disaffection, leaving her more as a fixture than a resident of the estate. She began to consider herself little more than a fundamentally flawed doll, rather than a human being, an estimation that was compounded by the scorn her master bore for her. At first, in solitude, she wept for her own appalling fate, but in time her face grew used to a mask of passive neutrality, until even alone she did not show the passion that slowly died beneath the surface. Life became monotony for her, devoid of anything that might be worthy of emotion.

But this was not to be the end of Daniella’s tale, or her heartbreak. It came to pass that a carnival of some repute passed through the village that lay in the shadow of the castle. The Belli family were widely feared and despised in those parts of the country. Despite this, a young man of uncertain parentage, whose family, of sorts, owned and operated the travelling show, stole away to their residence under cover of darkness. He came seeking an audience with Aureolus, desiring to further his knowledge of the alchemical arts, for which he harboured a hidden fascination.

Pledging his life to the service of the nobles, the man, Alvise De Luca, was given the honour of becoming an apprentice to the family’s master. This event served as the salve to ease the tensions that had grown within the household since the departure of Aureolus’s favoured clone, Ugo. His exit had created a rift between the alchemist and his remaining duplicate, Riccardo, which was worsened by the loss of Ugo’s Azoth. Alvise’s arrival meant new life, both for the castle and for their hopes of life eternal.

Even as the newest resident of the citadel threw himself unreservedly into his research, Daniella continued to serve in the shadows, little more than a ghost. A year passed before Alvise finally noticed her for the first time and, all at once, he was smitten, though she treated him as impassively as everything else in her life. As a gentleman, he was not forthright with his interest in her, having no desire to distress her. Instead, he would simply ensure to address her with respect and gratitude for her work. Though the expression on her porcelain features did not so much as flicker, he felt certain that she found his company enjoyable, in her own muted way.

It was to be another year before he would begin to actively pursue her, with subtlety at first. He would accompany her on the journey between Aureolus’s sanctum and the castle, speaking animatedly and excitedly about the lessons of the day, while she would simply listen in stoic silence. They began to dine together and, while she remained emotionless in his company, he delighted in the opportunity to share his time with her. He continued to hope that, one day, she would grace him with a smile and that their relationship would begin in earnest.

To the naked eye, he was a man of plain and undistinguished features, neither particularly handsome nor remarkably grotesque. Decidedly average, his hair was a dull shade of burnt sienna, thick and soft, falling to rest at his shoulders, while his eyes were bright cobalt, alive with movement and earnest enthusiasm. Always cleanly shaven, he clad himself in plain robes lacking adornment, as his family were not of notable descent. All the same, there was a sincerity to his interactions with others that endeared him to the family that had taken him on, Daniella included, in her own quiet way.

It was not until one fateful night that she would show her burgeoning affection for him, however. Alvise was a talented violinist, for this had been his part in the troupe with which he travelled, and he played his instrument as though it were an extension of himself. He serenaded his love and, for the first time since he had come to the castle, he watched as emotion blossomed upon her features. A flush rose upon her cheeks and a smile appeared shortly after, setting his own heart aflutter. For Daniella, this was to be the first moment of genuine emotion since the days of misery, when her servitude had first begun.

Years of gentle courting had won her heart and she would gladly listen to him play for her each and every night from then on. And though he would dazzle her with every melody he had ever learned, her response would always be a smile for her beloved, the only reward he wished for.

It should come as no surprise to learn that, after so many evenings of subtle bliss in one another’s company, she felt no apprehension when he finally bolstered his courage to steal a kiss. It was a single, simple moment of heartfelt affection, but she responded to him. For the first time, her emotions came easily to her and she showed them, almost as though she had never been the impassive doll of old. She felt, with clarity, that she loved him and that he, in turn, loved her.

Providing that Aureolus himself would bless their union, they intended to marry.

For his part, the family master was eager for Alvise to join the Belli household as more than just his student, having already come to think of him as something of an adopted son. The union would also serve to provide him with a solution to his other concern, the lack of pure Azoth available to him. As such, he encouraged their courtship, desiring that they would join in matrimony.

As time passed and Alvise aged, while the other members of the house remained eternally youthful to a degree, he began to wish for a family of his own. Though Daniella was delighted at the prospect, Aureolus also demonstrated considerable enthusiasm for the idea. Viewing his motives with suspicion, the immortal maid insisted that her eventual pregnancy be concealed from her master, despite her husband’s utmost respect for him. In the end, the teacher’s concerns lay primarily with his own self-preservation and, as he continued to sink deeper into desperation, she was not willing to risk the lives of her unborn children. They did not speak of the matter, determined that the listening walls of the bastion would have no tales to tell.

It is important to note that, unfortunately, not all whom called Belli Castle home celebrated the union of Daniella and Alvise. Riccardo had never been the favourite of his ‘father’; he spent much of his time alone while Aureolus and Ugo enjoyed a more intimate relationship. Often, he would depart the castle for several days, only to return and find that he had not been missed, a fact that infuriated him. His jealousy of Ugo compelled him to encourage his brother to leave the castle and roam the world.

Though he had hoped to usurp his fellow clone’s position as the preferred of Aureolus’s offspring, he instead found himself competing with the alchemist’s pupil.

With the loss of the Azoth, Riccardo’s imperfections as a duplicate of his parent began to show in his flesh. His skin began to split and crack across his features, until he was no longer able to conceal it. One evening, upon awakening in the dead of night, he felt a rage building within him that he had not been aware of, though it had been gradually swelling inside for many years. Unable to ignore the compulsion, he armed himself with the ancient flintlock pistol that he had acquired many years before and left his own dwelling for the forest surrounding the castle. His aimless path carried him to Aureolus’s sanctum and a tragedy began to unfold.

Riccardo found the door to his father’s fastness barred by Alvise, a man whom the clone had initially only ever considered a servant to his family. Consumed by his fury, he shot the man through the stomach, the bullet tearing his organs to shreds. When Aureolus himself exited the laboratory to investigate the noises he had heard, he found himself confronted with the sight of a lone gunman standing over the prone body of his favourite student. Calling out Alvise’s name, he too was shot and collapsed in a bloodied heap upon the threshold, never knowing the identity of his attacker.

Awakening from the haze that had momentarily devoured his rationality, Riccardo found himself kneeling over the grievously wounded Aureolus, the taste of blood and Azoth on his tongue. The blood was his own, his teeth having cracked beneath the pressure of his wrath. The Azoth, on the other hand, could have come only from his father. Horrified that he had broken the most sacred of taboos, the theft of life energy from another human being, he fled, leaving his gravely injured victims where they lay.

Daniella was the one to find her husband dying at the sanctuary’s doors. She knew nothing of medicine and, with the woman who served the castle’s remedial needs so very far away, she could do nothing but watch as his life ebbed away. Knowing that Aureolus would soon be more determined than ever to harvest the Azoth of her unborn twins, she implored her partner to furnish her with the method by which she could save them. With his guidance, she withdrew the growing foetuses from her body into an artificial womb, intending to present them to her master as clones of Alvise and herself. This would be his final legacy to their household.

She lay with him as shock stole the last seconds of his life, weeping as his skin grew cold and clammy with sweat, his body wracked with convulsions, until he drew his final breath and breathed no more. As he died, she felt a part of herself dying with him. Powerful desolation welled within her, so great that to allow it to take hold would destroy her utterly. A scream of unadulterated misery rose in her throat and there it stayed, emotion fleeing from her once again.

Unable to feel, she dedicated her newly hollow existence to the care of her children. Alvise had told her the method to nurture them; the first would depend upon the red mandragora to grow, and would age at a much faster rate than its sibling. She named it Aurora, and as it developed she realised that it resembled her. The second she fed only white mandragora, as per her husband’s instruction, and named it Arianna. With each passing month, the younger girl seemed more and more to have inherited her father’s features.

Daniella’s woe continued even after the ‘birth’ of her children, when they were finally permitted to set foot in the world. Blunted by the loss of her beloved, she could not show them the affection she so dearly wished to impart to them. Furthermore, determined that their safety would not be endangered by careless talk, she felt it unwise to tell them of their birthright, allowing them to think of themselves merely as clones. In time, however, she hopes that circumstances will permit her to tell them of their true lineage.

For the time being, she remains as mother and protector to her young daughters, and watching them grow and develop is one of the few satisfying experiences for her, though she finds it difficult to show this. The majority of her time is spent doting on her offspring and teaching them the importance of family, ensuring that they are prepared to defend their family from those that seek to do them harm. It is difficult to describe her as warm in any sense of the word, but she is considerably more animated in the company of her beloved Aurora and Arianna.

The Belli family has since stabilised considerably, though the potential dangers are still too great to justify incautious behaviour. The household swells with fresh faces and Aureolus is satisfied with the possibilities for new Azoth. Even Riccardo finds his loneliness salved by his relationship with a certain young woman, though he is troubled by the rise to power of several other families in the area.

And with Daniella’s story concluded, the tale turns to that of her daughter, Arianna.

Admittedly, her tale is a more sedate affair, marred by no great tragedies to speak of. Though she is surrounded by alchemists and their endeavours, this is all that she has ever known, and so she does not see its wonder. Rather, she sees her world as quite ordinary and does her best to fill her days with adventures around the castle. This is particularly important to her, given that she is mortal, possessing none of her mother’s longevity.

There have been three defining moments in the young Arianna’s life thus far, each contributing some manner of excitement to her otherwise ordinary time. When first she pierced her tongue was a particularly noteworthy experience for her, delivering liberation like no other event. Since then, the act of piercing has brought her considerable enjoyment and, with the aid of Riccardo’s beloved Sarah, she has an array of similar piercings lining her ears. Her mastery of pain from these self-inflicted injuries has granted her a feeling of control, allowing her to behave in a more assertive way in her everyday life.

The second crucial milestone involved the death of one of her beloved pet rats. Mourning its passing, she felt it disrespectful to simply discard it after so many months of devoted loyalty. For years, she had watched the mistress of the castle’s medical quarters perform dissections with rapt attention, and now she wished to have her opportunity to do the same. Finding her hand pleasingly steady, she set about the procedure and though she did not learn much, it was an experience that she savoured for its own sake.

In subsequent days, she would seek tutelage from the female medic, seeking to improve her knowledge of anatomy, both human and animal. By using the bodies of her dead companions, she was able to work with those she yet cherished, and keep her friends closer for just awhile longer.

The third event affects her life still, but the factors that led to its occurrence bear some mention. Though Arianna loved her sister and mother, possessing a bond of the utmost closeness with them both, she did not possess their longevity. It seemed, to her, that they lived in worlds of their own, dear to her heart, but distant by nature. She craved company of an age similar to her own, but her attempts to fraternise with the young men and women of the nearby villages left her disillusioned with the appeal of others. With each unfortunate encounter, she became more and more insular, no longer wishing to socialise.

She would slip away, under cover of darkness, to a cemetery beyond the walls of Belli Castle. Here she would find the solitude she so craved. The ever-present guardians of their bastion permitted her to come and go as she please, compelled by her mother to nurture her independent spirit, aware that she was no fool. Riccardo, self-appointed leader of the household, would likely have objected to her wanderings, but his relationship with Sarah and their children ensured that he was always occupied.

While attending her place of solace, she met a young man by the name of Salem Amereno, the son of another of the powerful families inhabiting their land. He possessed the graces of a gentleman and seemed to be, like her, a soul lost in time. They took to one another quickly, and soon it was not seclusion that she sought in the graveyard.

Had Riccardo known of her twilight sojourns in the garden of remembrance where she met with Salem, he would most certainly not have been happy. Intent on isolating his family from the others who were rising to power in the area, he forbade the younger generation, Ari included, from associating with them. Distracted as he was, however, the relationship continued undeterred.

Her sister, Aurora, on the other hand, was not so blind to her constant journeys beyond the walls. She had inherited many of her mother’s traits, both physically and mentally. Possessing the inhuman strength of one who is mostly insensitive to pain, she also benefited from functional immortality. Much like her mother, Aurora is exceptionally protective of Arianna, and suspicious of outsiders, particularly where her sister is concerned. Knowing that she has nothing to fear from anyone, she has appointed herself her sibling’s keeper, intent on ensuring her safety until more is learned of Salem.

For her part, Daniella trusts her daughter’s judgement in the affairs of her heart, and it is not difficult to give Arianna the benefit of the doubt, considering that she is honest to a fault.

Thus far, Salem’s actions suggest that he is every bit the gentleman he seems to be. It is clear that he is already a person of influence in her life, someone whom she values deeply, but only time will tell whether their undeveloped relationships will blossom.

Weapon:
A scalpel, always razor sharp

Items likely to be found on her person:
The rat, Sir Percival, is her constant companion, travelling with her regardless of where she might roam, though it should be noted that she would resent any reference to him as an item. She will always be found carrying a scalpel or syringe, as she favours them as weapons and playthings. She also wears a green ribbon tied around her wrist, and the golden key as has already been mentioned, worn on a chain about her neck.

-
Aurora Belli belongs to , Sarah Belli belongs to and Tourniquette is mine

Description
This is a commissioned biography for of her original character Arianna Belli from Haunting Ground. I think the bio works well within the universe and hope you feel the same milady. Thanks of course to like no contest hands down there.
-
Name:
Arianna (Ari) Floranimalia Belli

Age:
17

Personality:
For Arianna, the human race was never more beautiful nor more civilised than during the era of Queen Victoria’s reign. As such, she has modelled both her tastes and her behaviours upon the social mores of that time. However, in spite of her demure nature, she is a passionate child at heart, compelled by an indomitable vigour for life that informs her otherwise peculiar pastimes. Fortunately, the Belli family understand, appreciate and nurture her oft-times eccentric infatuations, accommodating her to the best of their abilities.

While beyond the comfort of the castle grounds, she maintains a timid disposition, her etiquette modelled on the archetypal Victorian woman. Despite her considerable difficulties in interacting with those whom she has little prior knowledge, she is gracious and polite to a fault towards those who are well-mannered and pleasant in kind. While it is true that her social awkwardness has led to an inability to easily form emotional attachments to others, it has also given her valuable insight into her relationships with these same individuals. Worthwhile persons are those whom she quickly finds herself at ease with.

When in familiar environs, she tends towards mischief, her usual reticence belying an almost imp-like nature. At times, she finds the allure of things prohibited to be too strong to resist. One example of this predilection is her curious obsession with medical paraphernalia, particularly pointed objects that can be used to slice and rend the flesh. It is not uncommon to see her loitering in those areas of the castle given over to physical treatment, indulging her love of blades. It is for this reason that she suffers from lacerations on her fingertips, more often than not, though this is little more than an inconvenience for her, inured to pain as she is.

Possessed of a mature mindset that often defies her youth, she has dedicated herself to several taxing hobbies, devoting herself completely to their pursuit and forsaking all other undertakings. Single-minded in her focus, she is aware that everything worthwhile is worth expending time and energy on. As such, she has pushed herself to proficiency in several increasingly unique diversions.

First and foremost to her is her love for the violin, an instrument that she demonstrated a natural affinity for very early in her young life. Though practice occasionally left her frustrated, her will was indomitable and she was further encouraged by the interest her mother displayed in her lessons. Her mastery has progressed considerably and her melodies are often heard by all who dwell within the castle, soothing and comforting them, lifting their spirits where needed. She continues to learn, advancing her skill above and beyond her current level, delighting in her own continued improvement.

Though her talent for the violin could easily be traced to her father, who was himself an excellent musician, her gift for contortionism had less obvious roots. Born as supple as any child, this asset did not wane with age as it does in so many others. She quickly learned that, during times of panic, she could twist her limbs to make even the most confined of spaces a suitable hiding place. This was particularly useful on those occasions when she happened upon a spider, deathly afraid as she is of these creatures.

She has since honed this natural advantage into a skill that she employs with indecent regularity, twisting her limbs at abnormal angles and earning her the concern of her family, who have often confused her flexibility for a grievous injury.

Perhaps her most surprising forte is for fire-hooping, a discipline combining both physical and mental endurance with strength and dexterity. Her desire to pursue such a hobby was piqued when she witnessed a woman in a nearby village dancing with flaming loops. Entranced by the beauty of her movements and unconcerned by the inherent dangers of the discipline, she trained rigorously. At first the pain was excruciating and the heat seared her flesh, hair and clothing alike, but despite the agony and her mother’s concern, her determination saw her through.

Now she wields the hoops with the grace of a seasoned veteran, never feeling the burning touch as she wields many at once, almost as though they were extensions of her own body.

Though generally sedate and modest in her behaviour, and while she understands that it is not generally acceptable, there lurks within her the capacity for murder. Despite this, her actions are forever guided by a code that she had decided for herself long ago. Imbued with a strong sense of justice, she does not believe in killing the virtuous and will always do her utmost to ensure their safety, even if this were to bring her into conflict with her family. Those innocents that stumble upon Belli Castle find an ally in her, despite the hostility that others might bear them. She also finds bullies and their actions to be detestable.

On the other hand, where the sinful are concerned, Arianna is quick to demonstrate her lethality. Beset by thieves, and sometimes worse, the family’s dwelling is invaded on an almost regular basis, and for their folly she sees fit to take a token of their chastening. Enthralled with the concept of ‘an eye for an eye’, she digs the jellied orbs from the skulls of those she slays, keeping them as both a symbol of her empowerment, and as a warning to those that would cross her. To her, it is no profound thing to take the lives of those who have willingly forsaken their right to live.

Strengths and Weaknesses:
Primarily, Arianna is small in stature and possesses no formal training in self-defence. Though she cannot be considered a mere slip of a girl, she is not equipped to be a powerhouse either. As such, she would find herself outmatched in conflict with a larger or more combat-proficient opponent. However, she does possess an exceptionally high pain tolerance, honed through years of cutting, piercing and dancing in the embrace of her flaming hoops. As such, she does not yield to pain as others of her age most likely would. Anyone expecting to force her submission without effort would find themselves disappointed.

She tends towards clumsiness, often consumed by her musings and failing to notice subtle changes in her surroundings, that in turn lead to her losing her balance at inopportune moments. Though her intensity is a considerable boon to her lifestyle, it can often lead to her taking less care than she should. Her occasional inelegance occurs much more often if she has been flirting with insomnia, malnutrition and dehydration. These usually result from her being otherwise engaged in something that she considers important to her. Though her single-mindedness does ensure that her goals can be achieved with the minimum of time consumed, it is also detrimental to her health if prolonged.

Despite her sometimes misplaced concentration, she possesses the fortitude of mind to remain guarded in the presence of strangers. Unfamiliar individuals will always be met with suspicion, as not all visitors to the Belli Estate are benign. Having no desire to run afoul of an ill-intentioned invader, she tends to deliberately avoid them where possible.

Though not easily enraged, Arianna is prone to fits of absolute, unreasoning fury, accompanied by unrestrained violent outbursts. During such episodes, she loses her ability to rationalise her actions and can no longer control her behaviour, making her a potentially dangerous presence. However, these instances are few and far between, usually caused by grievous injuries to herself, her pets or her family.

It is worthy of note, however, that she possesses a unique fascination with the nature of time and the mechanical workings of clocks, particularly the sounds that they produce. On those occasions when she is taken by a moment of wrath, this fascination may be used to distract, and perhaps even calm, her.

As has already been mentioned, Arianna is terrified by the presence of spiders of all sizes, though the ancient castle has some particularly gargantuan specimens loitering in its halls.

The tale behind this phobia involves her first pet, a dragonfly that she was particularly taken with during her infancy. When she awoke, the insect would hover at her head and receive her adoration, even honoured with a name as a token of her affection. However, on one particular morning, she opened her eyes to see her pet ensnared in the silken web of an immense black spider, nesting in the corner of her bedroom window.

To this day, she remains thoroughly afraid of all spiders, unable to even approach them for fear that she might end her days in the same manner as her beloved dragonfly. The churning of her anxious stomach provokes genuine pain in her, which makes them something of an Achilles Heel for her, as well as a potential weapon to be used against her.

This fear does not serve to quash her adventurous spirit, however, and she regularly explores the halls of the castle with her sister in pursuit, furthering her familiarity with her surroundings.

Physical Appearance:
Arianna is an average teenager, more closely resembling her father than her mother. As such, she is shorter than both her mother and sister, and possessed of many of her father’s traits. Her eyes are a lively azure, innately bright and cheerful irrespective of her mood and regularly drawing comment from those she meets. Her brunette tresses are long and thick, so dark that they could easily be mistaken for raven black. Unwilling to restrain her unruly locks, she allows them to trail out in her wake. As such, they can often be seen as the last vestige of her presence as she disappears through a door or around a corner.

Though heavily influenced by the Victorian era’s sensibilities, her customary style of dress has been inspired by Venetian designs. Corsets have been a regular fixture of her apparel for much of her life and as such she is rarely seen without one. Usually, they will be died lavender in colour and embroidered with floral décolletage, each one a unique product of her own needlework. She compliments her outfit with a skirt of soft, sepia-coloured silk, ripped at knee level. A tear in this garment running parallel to her left thigh reveals several underskirts of a lavender hue, while a maroon bow has been stitched on at one side. This is a personal touch added by her mother at Arianna’s request.

Often found on her person is a small golden key upon a chain about her neck. Though none of her family are aware quite what this key unlocks, her mother and sister suspect it may pertain to a young gentleman whom she regularly seeks out for company. They do not speak of these notions in her presence, however, trusting that she is mature enough in mind to make her decisions for herself. Arianna herself remains secretive about this keepsake, choosing to keep her own counsel on the matter.

Perhaps her most curious physical feature is not a natural aspect of her body, but rather an artificial one. Despite adhering closely to the austere doctrine of Victorian etiquette, she has fashioned a silver barbell, which she has pinned through her tongue. It is not a facet of her appearance that is remarked upon often; quite the contrary, her piercing is regularly overlooked by those without the sagacity to spy it nestled in her mouth. Ordinarily, it is not readily visible, unless Arianna is speaking with particular zeal. On certain rare occasions, she may choose to divulge its presence to those she deems worthy, sharing this confidence as though sharing a part of herself.

Of course, Arianna’s penchant for modifying her form does not end with the perforation of her tongue, and she is rarely without some new scar, either temporary or permanent. Her body is her own, she feels, and therefore hers to customise as she so wishes.

Furthermore, it is rare to see her without some form of medical paraphernalia in her possession. Scalpels, syringes and blood-soaked bandages are worthy prizes one and all, and usually find their way into her burgeoning treasure trove at one point or another.

Background:
The tale of Arianna’s origin is twofold, beginning first with the story of her mother.

Daniella was not conceived through the union of mortal man and woman, but rather created through a process of duplication by the Great Alchemist, Aureolus Belli. With the purity of the Azoth within each generation of replicas he produced gradually diminishing, he made for himself a female, with whom he hoped to continue his line through more conventional means.

Though he was an exceptional scholar, his lifetimes of knowledge failed him when it came to the young woman who had resulted from his experiment. His first error was to assume that the cloning process had left her infertile when his attempts to have her conceive his child met with failure. His second was to relegate her to the position of servant in his household, believing that he had been unsuccessful in creating the perfect woman that he had hoped would save his lineage. Her withdrawn emotional state was, to him, the proof that she was naught but a failure.

Unbeknownst to him, even the most hardy and well-formed of wombs cannot bear the child of a union between clones; Daniella paid dearly for this unknown truth. Forced into servitude in Belli Castle, her limited scope of emotion became dulled to the point of abject disaffection, leaving her more as a fixture than a resident of the estate. She began to consider herself little more than a fundamentally flawed doll, rather than a human being, an estimation that was compounded by the scorn her master bore for her. At first, in solitude, she wept for her own appalling fate, but in time her face grew used to a mask of passive neutrality, until even alone she did not show the passion that slowly died beneath the surface. Life became monotony for her, devoid of anything that might be worthy of emotion.

But this was not to be the end of Daniella’s tale, or her heartbreak. It came to pass that a carnival of some repute passed through the village that lay in the shadow of the castle. The Belli family were widely feared and despised in those parts of the country. Despite this, a young man of uncertain parentage, whose family, of sorts, owned and operated the travelling show, stole away to their residence under cover of darkness. He came seeking an audience with Aureolus, desiring to further his knowledge of the alchemical arts, for which he harboured a hidden fascination.

Pledging his life to the service of the nobles, the man, Alvise De Luca, was given the honour of becoming an apprentice to the family’s master. This event served as the salve to ease the tensions that had grown within the household since the departure of Aureolus’s favoured clone, Ugo. His exit had created a rift between the alchemist and his remaining duplicate, Riccardo, which was worsened by the loss of Ugo’s Azoth. Alvise’s arrival meant new life, both for the castle and for their hopes of life eternal.

Even as the newest resident of the citadel threw himself unreservedly into his research, Daniella continued to serve in the shadows, little more than a ghost. A year passed before Alvise finally noticed her for the first time and, all at once, he was smitten, though she treated him as impassively as everything else in her life. As a gentleman, he was not forthright with his interest in her, having no desire to distress her. Instead, he would simply ensure to address her with respect and gratitude for her work. Though the expression on her porcelain features did not so much as flicker, he felt certain that she found his company enjoyable, in her own muted way.

It was to be another year before he would begin to actively pursue her, with subtlety at first. He would accompany her on the journey between Aureolus’s sanctum and the castle, speaking animatedly and excitedly about the lessons of the day, while she would simply listen in stoic silence. They began to dine together and, while she remained emotionless in his company, he delighted in the opportunity to share his time with her. He continued to hope that, one day, she would grace him with a smile and that their relationship would begin in earnest.

To the naked eye, he was a man of plain and undistinguished features, neither particularly handsome nor remarkably grotesque. Decidedly average, his hair was a dull shade of burnt sienna, thick and soft, falling to rest at his shoulders, while his eyes were bright cobalt, alive with movement and earnest enthusiasm. Always cleanly shaven, he clad himself in plain robes lacking adornment, as his family were not of notable descent. All the same, there was a sincerity to his interactions with others that endeared him to the family that had taken him on, Daniella included, in her own quiet way.

It was not until one fateful night that she would show her burgeoning affection for him, however. Alvise was a talented violinist, for this had been his part in the troupe with which he travelled, and he played his instrument as though it were an extension of himself. He serenaded his love and, for the first time since he had come to the castle, he watched as emotion blossomed upon her features. A flush rose upon her cheeks and a smile appeared shortly after, setting his own heart aflutter. For Daniella, this was to be the first moment of genuine emotion since the days of misery, when her servitude had first begun.

Years of gentle courting had won her heart and she would gladly listen to him play for her each and every night from then on. And though he would dazzle her with every melody he had ever learned, her response would always be a smile for her beloved, the only reward he wished for.

It should come as no surprise to learn that, after so many evenings of subtle bliss in one another’s company, she felt no apprehension when he finally bolstered his courage to steal a kiss. It was a single, simple moment of heartfelt affection, but she responded to him. For the first time, her emotions came easily to her and she showed them, almost as though she had never been the impassive doll of old. She felt, with clarity, that she loved him and that he, in turn, loved her.

Providing that Aureolus himself would bless their union, they intended to marry.

For his part, the family master was eager for Alvise to join the Belli household as more than just his student, having already come to think of him as something of an adopted son. The union would also serve to provide him with a solution to his other concern, the lack of pure Azoth available to him. As such, he encouraged their courtship, desiring that they would join in matrimony.

As time passed and Alvise aged, while the other members of the house remained eternally youthful to a degree, he began to wish for a family of his own. Though Daniella was delighted at the prospect, Aureolus also demonstrated considerable enthusiasm for the idea. Viewing his motives with suspicion, the immortal maid insisted that her eventual pregnancy be concealed from her master, despite her husband’s utmost respect for him. In the end, the teacher’s concerns lay primarily with his own self-preservation and, as he continued to sink deeper into desperation, she was not willing to risk the lives of her unborn children. They did not speak of the matter, determined that the listening walls of the bastion would have no tales to tell.

It is important to note that, unfortunately, not all whom called Belli Castle home celebrated the union of Daniella and Alvise. Riccardo had never been the favourite of his ‘father’; he spent much of his time alone while Aureolus and Ugo enjoyed a more intimate relationship. Often, he would depart the castle for several days, only to return and find that he had not been missed, a fact that infuriated him. His jealousy of Ugo compelled him to encourage his brother to leave the castle and roam the world.

Though he had hoped to usurp his fellow clone’s position as the preferred of Aureolus’s offspring, he instead found himself competing with the alchemist’s pupil.

With the loss of the Azoth, Riccardo’s imperfections as a duplicate of his parent began to show in his flesh. His skin began to split and crack across his features, until he was no longer able to conceal it. One evening, upon awakening in the dead of night, he felt a rage building within him that he had not been aware of, though it had been gradually swelling inside for many years. Unable to ignore the compulsion, he armed himself with the ancient flintlock pistol that he had acquired many years before and left his own dwelling for the forest surrounding the castle. His aimless path carried him to Aureolus’s sanctum and a tragedy began to unfold.

Riccardo found the door to his father’s fastness barred by Alvise, a man whom the clone had initially only ever considered a servant to his family. Consumed by his fury, he shot the man through the stomach, the bullet tearing his organs to shreds. When Aureolus himself exited the laboratory to investigate the noises he had heard, he found himself confronted with the sight of a lone gunman standing over the prone body of his favourite student. Calling out Alvise’s name, he too was shot and collapsed in a bloodied heap upon the threshold, never knowing the identity of his attacker.

Awakening from the haze that had momentarily devoured his rationality, Riccardo found himself kneeling over the grievously wounded Aureolus, the taste of blood and Azoth on his tongue. The blood was his own, his teeth having cracked beneath the pressure of his wrath. The Azoth, on the other hand, could have come only from his father. Horrified that he had broken the most sacred of taboos, the theft of life energy from another human being, he fled, leaving his gravely injured victims where they lay.

Daniella was the one to find her husband dying at the sanctuary’s doors. She knew nothing of medicine and, with the woman who served the castle’s remedial needs so very far away, she could do nothing but watch as his life ebbed away. Knowing that Aureolus would soon be more determined than ever to harvest the Azoth of her unborn twins, she implored her partner to furnish her with the method by which she could save them. With his guidance, she withdrew the growing foetuses from her body into an artificial womb, intending to present them to her master as clones of Alvise and herself. This would be his final legacy to their household.

She lay with him as shock stole the last seconds of his life, weeping as his skin grew cold and clammy with sweat, his body wracked with convulsions, until he drew his final breath and breathed no more. As he died, she felt a part of herself dying with him. Powerful desolation welled within her, so great that to allow it to take hold would destroy her utterly. A scream of unadulterated misery rose in her throat and there it stayed, emotion fleeing from her once again.

Unable to feel, she dedicated her newly hollow existence to the care of her children. Alvise had told her the method to nurture them; the first would depend upon the red mandragora to grow, and would age at a much faster rate than its sibling. She named it Aurora, and as it developed she realised that it resembled her. The second she fed only white mandragora, as per her husband’s instruction, and named it Arianna. With each passing month, the younger girl seemed more and more to have inherited her father’s features.

Daniella’s woe continued even after the ‘birth’ of her children, when they were finally permitted to set foot in the world. Blunted by the loss of her beloved, she could not show them the affection she so dearly wished to impart to them. Furthermore, determined that their safety would not be endangered by careless talk, she felt it unwise to tell them of their birthright, allowing them to think of themselves merely as clones. In time, however, she hopes that circumstances will permit her to tell them of their true lineage.

For the time being, she remains as mother and protector to her young daughters, and watching them grow and develop is one of the few satisfying experiences for her, though she finds it difficult to show this. The majority of her time is spent doting on her offspring and teaching them the importance of family, ensuring that they are prepared to defend their family from those that seek to do them harm. It is difficult to describe her as warm in any sense of the word, but she is considerably more animated in the company of her beloved Aurora and Arianna.

The Belli family has since stabilised considerably, though the potential dangers are still too great to justify incautious behaviour. The household swells with fresh faces and Aureolus is satisfied with the possibilities for new Azoth. Even Riccardo finds his loneliness salved by his relationship with a certain young woman, though he is troubled by the rise to power of several other families in the area.

And with Daniella’s story concluded, the tale turns to that of her daughter, Arianna.

Admittedly, her tale is a more sedate affair, marred by no great tragedies to speak of. Though she is surrounded by alchemists and their endeavours, this is all that she has ever known, and so she does not see its wonder. Rather, she sees her world as quite ordinary and does her best to fill her days with adventures around the castle. This is particularly important to her, given that she is mortal, possessing none of her mother’s longevity.

There have been three defining moments in the young Arianna’s life thus far, each contributing some manner of excitement to her otherwise ordinary time. When first she pierced her tongue was a particularly noteworthy experience for her, delivering liberation like no other event. Since then, the act of piercing has brought her considerable enjoyment and, with the aid of Riccardo’s beloved Sarah, she has an array of similar piercings lining her ears. Her mastery of pain from these self-inflicted injuries has granted her a feeling of control, allowing her to behave in a more assertive way in her everyday life.

The second crucial milestone involved the death of one of her beloved pet rats. Mourning its passing, she felt it disrespectful to simply discard it after so many months of devoted loyalty. For years, she had watched the mistress of the castle’s medical quarters perform dissections with rapt attention, and now she wished to have her opportunity to do the same. Finding her hand pleasingly steady, she set about the procedure and though she did not learn much, it was an experience that she savoured for its own sake.

In subsequent days, she would seek tutelage from the female medic, seeking to improve her knowledge of anatomy, both human and animal. By using the bodies of her dead companions, she was able to work with those she yet cherished, and keep her friends closer for just awhile longer.

The third event affects her life still, but the factors that led to its occurrence bear some mention. Though Arianna loved her sister and mother, possessing a bond of the utmost closeness with them both, she did not possess their longevity. It seemed, to her, that they lived in worlds of their own, dear to her heart, but distant by nature. She craved company of an age similar to her own, but her attempts to fraternise with the young men and women of the nearby villages left her disillusioned with the appeal of others. With each unfortunate encounter, she became more and more insular, no longer wishing to socialise.

She would slip away, under cover of darkness, to a cemetery beyond the walls of Belli Castle. Here she would find the solitude she so craved. The ever-present guardians of their bastion permitted her to come and go as she please, compelled by her mother to nurture her independent spirit, aware that she was no fool. Riccardo, self-appointed leader of the household, would likely have objected to her wanderings, but his relationship with Sarah and their children ensured that he was always occupied.

While attending her place of solace, she met a young man by the name of Salem Amereno, the son of another of the powerful families inhabiting their land. He possessed the graces of a gentleman and seemed to be, like her, a soul lost in time. They took to one another quickly, and soon it was not seclusion that she sought in the graveyard.

Had Riccardo known of her twilight sojourns in the garden of remembrance where she met with Salem, he would most certainly not have been happy. Intent on isolating his family from the others who were rising to power in the area, he forbade the younger generation, Ari included, from associating with them. Distracted as he was, however, the relationship continued undeterred.

Her sister, Aurora, on the other hand, was not so blind to her constant journeys beyond the walls. She had inherited many of her mother’s traits, both physically and mentally. Possessing the inhuman strength of one who is mostly insensitive to pain, she also benefited from functional immortality. Much like her mother, Aurora is exceptionally protective of Arianna, and suspicious of outsiders, particularly where her sister is concerned. Knowing that she has nothing to fear from anyone, she has appointed herself her sibling’s keeper, intent on ensuring her safety until more is learned of Salem.

For her part, Daniella trusts her daughter’s judgement in the affairs of her heart, and it is not difficult to give Arianna the benefit of the doubt, considering that she is honest to a fault.

Thus far, Salem’s actions suggest that he is every bit the gentleman he seems to be. It is clear that he is already a person of influence in her life, someone whom she values deeply, but only time will tell whether their undeveloped relationships will blossom.

Weapon:
A scalpel, always razor sharp

Items likely to be found on her person:
The rat, Sir Percival, is her constant companion, travelling with her regardless of where she might roam, though it should be noted that she would resent any reference to him as an item. She will always be found carrying a scalpel or syringe, as she favours them as weapons and playthings. She also wears a green ribbon tied around her wrist, and the golden key as has already been mentioned, worn on a chain about her neck.

-
Aurora Belli belongs to , Sarah Belli belongs to and Tourniquette is mine