Guillaime
de Mauve - Reigning Duke at the time of the Symbiote Wars,
Guillaime
de Mauve found that his settled agrarian lifestyle was being threatened
by
a horrible alien menace. The de Mauve's home planet of Bonneforet
was
but two jumpgates from Stigmata - far too close for the conservative
Duke.
Though unwilling to put aside his own wife, a lovely woman of just
barely
noble blood, the Duke did have two unwed children to barter.
Which
he did.
Seeking the
strongest,
yet laxest, military alliance he could, the Duke arranged for his heir
presumptive
to be wed to a woman of strong lines, though no land, within the Hazat
household.
His daughter was wed to... an embarrassment that the martial house was
looking
to unload.
In this way,
though
de Mauve remained an independent minor house, their ties to a military
force
of epic proportions was secured.
Violette de la Assuay - Violette lived the life of
which
fairy tales are made. A kind and gentle woman of almost no
notable
lineage, she managed to catch the eye of Guillaime during a routine
tour
of the royal family. The Duke was smitten and, despite the
vigorous
protests of his family, married clandestinely for love.
Perhaps
because
of the very pressures put on her, Violette rose to the challenge as an
unwanted
monarch with grace and aplomb. Smiling in the face of veiled
insult
and not a few 'accidents', Violette showed that not only was she
capable
of governing a world, but she was capable of governing a world under
threat.
While saddened
by
the necessities of her husband's negotiations, it was Violette herself
who
suggested that Hazat might be a better match for the De Mauves than
nearby
Hawkwood. And it was she who made sure that the De Mauves
retained
their independence from the Royal House and its influences.
Violette
outlived
her husband by a number of years and was extremely influential in
tutoring
her son, Guy, in the classic 'don't ask, don't tell' style of
governance
that characterizes the de Mauves.
Guy de Mauve - Guy de Mauve, Duc de Bonneforet, is
currently
in his late fifties but as robust as ever. Guy has a great love
for
his lands, including the two outlying planets of the Bonneforet system
-
Feu des Arbres and Chez Glase - and does not seek to squeeze every drop
of
profitability he can from the three resource-rich worlds. Instead
he
works to carefully husband and rebuild what resources he can, looking
to
leave a lasting legacy to his line. This sense of duty he has
instilled,
to a greater or lesser degree, into each of his three children.
Guy's
relationship
with his Lady Hazat wife is cool, though not strained. The two's
sense
of duty, commitment and honor keep them working side-by-side for the
good
of the House. And they keep their disagreements discreet, as well
as
their affairs.
Duc de Mauve
keeps
a mistress in a distant seaport - Lady Antoine de la Moire. This
Lady
would have most likely been his wife, had he followed in his
grandfather's
steps. But things being as they are, accommodations were made.
Isabelle Yvonne Louisa de Hazat - Baroness de Hazat was
looking
at a perplexing future when House de Mauve began scouting for
alliances.
The third daughter of a main but overcrowded line, Isabelle grew up
believing
that she would have to win any landed inheritance she wanted for
herself
on the battlefront. But though strong of heart, the young woman
was
not as strong of arm as she felt a daughter of Hazat could be.
When Guillaime
and
Violette began shopping for their children, Isabelle was stunned to
find
her name rapidly climbing up the list of potentials. And the life
of
a genteel farmer? So very different from the life she was trained
for.
But as
Isabelle
came to know the big, bluff Guy and spent time on the agrarian world of
Bonneforet,
she found her calling and challenge in life. Here was hard work
in
plenty, without the destruction of war. So Isabelle rolled up her
sleeves
and got to it.
At times the
Baroness
de Hazat misses the shinning life of the inner Known worlds and the
combat-won
intimacy of the Hazat barracks. Still, life on Bonneforet has not
been
without its victories and its moments of glamour.
Jainiene de Mauvre - The younger sister of Guy de
Mauvre,
Jainiene has lived in almost all respects the opposite of her mother's
life.
Raised to power and responsibility, Jainiene is an able administrator
and
sometimes a harsh overseer. Her wedding to Eduard de Vin has in
no
way mitigated that.
Jainiene
perceives
her husband as a lazy do-nothing and a waste of space. His
martial
feats cannot be denied but they serve no purpose on the bucolic world
of
Bonneforet. The Comtessa and Seigneur's constant arguments,
conflicts
and turmoils are the stuff of legend. As Jainiene is a woman of
both
action and temper, violence has often erupted at the Maison Belterre,
though
rarely has anyone been seriously injured.
The fact that
Jainiene
is a caretaker for Belterre in her brother's name until such time as
his
daughter inherits only adds to her continuing frustrations.
Despite
this, the Comtessa gives her all for her lands and people. And
expects
others around her to do the same.
Eduard de Vin - Formerly of House Hazat, Eduard lives
knowing
that he is an embarrassment to all around him. While a skilled
and
intimidating warrior, Eduard lacks... patience. And
discretion.
This has led him from one scandal to another, both militarily and
socially.
Hazat was glad to be rid of him.
He considers
his
marriage and entrenchment on Bonneforet to be an exile, one that does
not
wear lightly on him. While Eduard doesn't miss the gossiping and
maneuverings
of the central Known Worlds, he does miss their casinos, their
bacchanals,
their whorehouses... Bonneforet is just too sleepy for the likes of
Eduard
de Vin.
Thus, the
young
Seigneur de la Belterre tries to make up for it where he can. And
paying
for the consequences with his shrill shrew of a wife, her great clod of
a
brother and his mopey shadow of a son. It's enough to drive a man
to
drink. Which it does. Constantly.
Edmond de Mauve - Growing up in the constant
turmoil
and bickering of Maison Belterre, Edmond has found his refuge in the
Orthodox
Church and the family expects him to take Holy Vows as soon as he
becomes
strong enough to directly contradict his mother's wishes.
Edmond is
morose
young man, given to gloomy and defeatist pronouncements. Despite
this,
the Monseigneur de la Belterre is generous to a fault and truly cares
for
the people of his mother's lands. He just does so with a sad and
doom-struck
mien.
Triste de Mauve - Triste de Mauve is everything his
father
could have wanted in an Heir. Having just turned 30, Triste is at
the
peak of his game, and what a game it is. The Comte de Bonneforet
is
handsome, personable and athletic. His mother has made sure that
he
is warrior worth respecting and his father has trained him in the firm
but
fair backwoods judgment and diplomacy that has served the de Mauves so
well.
Triste's marriage to Marie del
Soya
has, to all appearances, gone better than either his parents' or his
Aunt's.
He seems to be generally fond of his Lady wife and the mother of his
son.
Of course, Triste seems generally fond of everyone -- including a
number
of the young women of Bonneforet.
In fact, there
has
been a sudden rash of black-eyed square-jawed children among the lesser
nobility
-- and even the peasantry -- of Bonneforet. Though none have been
officially
recognized by the House de Mauve, none of these children or their
mothers
have suffered unduly from the rigors of life.
Nominally in
charge
of Feu des Arbres, the hot inner world of the Bonneforet system, Triste
tends
to delegate governing responsibilities to those over-seers and minor
nobles
whose experience with the volatile climate lends them greater ability
to
make decisions. Though he is not uninvolved, just willing to
listen
to those greater understanding of the geologically unstable lands and
the
temperamentally unstable demands of the Feu Anges (Fire Angels) who
live
there.
Marie del Soya - Marie del Soya was hand-picked
from
House Hazat by Triste's mother, the Baroness de Hazat, who knew
exactly
what she was looking for. In the young Marquessa, Isabelle found
a
young woman who was looking for an adventure far from the scrutiny of
the
Hazat elders.
Marie is a
perfect
match for her husband in zest for life -- and wandering eyes. But
since
there is no doubt that her son, Alvarrado, is indeed her son by Triste
–
and the Baroness has born no other children during the length of her
marriage
– well, then a woman does what she needs to. Marie and Triste
keep
their various affairs out of one another's honor, but their rather open
relationship
is an open secret among the Bonneforetesse.
The Comtesse
de
Bonneforet is also loved by her people as Marie has a very hands-on
approach
that is much appreciated. She has never been afraid to get her
hands
dirty, and since leaving the central Known Worlds Marie has experienced
an
immediacy of life that was almost impossible among the gossiping,
cloistured,
stratified world of the Royal Houses.
Alvarrado Manuel Triste de Mauve – Alvarrado de Mauve
is
the darling of Bonneforet. A fair-haired, friendly, adventuresome
child,
Alvarrado bathes in the love of both his parents and most of his
relatives.
Still fairly young, the duties that await him have yet to weigh down
his
running feet and laughing spirit.
Arivonne de Mauve – The Marquis de la Chez Glase is
much
like his older brother, except somewhat darker. With a sense of
humor
that tends to the sarcastic and a fondness for practical jokes that can
sometimes
run to the cruel, 'Ari' is not as beloved as some of the other members
of
the family, yet he still manages to prove that he can get things done.
Chez Glase,
being
the least habitable of the worlds of the Bonneforet system, has proved
an
excellent coming-of-age trial for the young Marquis. Its icy
expanses
and domed cities, its sudden fierce storms, the effort required for
humans
to even survive there, has provided an excellent outlet for Arivonne's
rather
abundant intelligence and quick-thinking skills. The delicacy
required
to negotiate with the proud and enigmatic Neiges Anges (Snow Angels)
indigent
to the world has also give Arivonne's rather sharp edge something to
carve
against.
Arivonne is
every
bit the lady's man is brother is as well, though he does not have to
hide
his various affairs due to an arranged marriage. Something he is
eternally
grateful for. The young Marquis actively discourages his family
from
shopping among fine young noble women, and will probably spend the
entirety
of his life in happy bachelorhood.
Charlaine Isabelle Violette de Mauve – The youngest of
the
Duc de Bonneforet's three children, Charlaine is probably the most
enigmatic
to her parents. As a young child, she showed the same zest for
life
and spirit of adventure that her brothers did. But at twelve
years
old, the Marquessa was sent to an undisclosed destination. Her
absence
of two years spawned many rumors among the Bonneforet nobility.
An
unexpected pregnancy? An illness? Some great sin that
needed
addressing? The de Mauves remained silent as a whole concerning
Charlaine's
absence.
When the young
Marquessa
returned from her sojourn, she was much changed. The wildness and
lightheartedness
of Charlaine's earlier years seemed to have been lost, replaced with a
steady
dedication to her lands and peoples and a more serious mien.
There
was also something about her eyes – the way the youngest de Mauve
watched
and listened...
As the years
went
by, nothing further odd about Charlaine ever developed. Quite the
opposite
in fact. She re-entered her societies and cultures very naturally
and
easily, though she refused to speak of her time away from Bonneforet.
Like her
brother,
Arivonne, Charlaine seems disinclined to marriages and
arrangements.
Unlike either of her brothers, Charlaine has not made any 'pillow
friends'
that have yet been discovered. Though at 24 years old, the Family
can
not wait much longer before seeing their daughter suitably wed.
