Dyra Sylvaine Cassandra Polaris Araceli de Niclaeys is a recently widowed apothecary and physician from an affluent - if questionable - family. She trained under a private tutor for much of her life and is now coming into her own practice.

Childhood

Dyra was born into the affluent and influential House de Niclaeys, the youngest of two children and the household's only daughter. As her brother Dymir de Niclaeys was already in line to inherit the estate of their father - Volodymir de Niclaeys - Dyra was swiftly deemed a lady of use only in terms of marriage. She spent much of her early years at the side of her mother Odalys de Niclaeys, learning the everyday duties of a woman in nobility. Dyra was frequently bored and dismayed by these tasks, and put little effort into forming herself into a "perfect lady".




In contrast, she found herself attracted to an area of existence that is primarily dominated by men - that of medicine and the combining of chemicals that affect the body. She stumbled upon this interest at the age of 7, when a physician was called to the estate due to an illness that had befallen her brother. The physician's name was Dr. Weylin Kaizen, and he took an interest in Dyra's keen attention to his work. He often let her sit in as he tended to Dymir, and when his work was finished he made an offer to Volodymir to take her on as a student in his work. Seeing this as little more than an opportunity to keep his daughter occupied until marriage as Dymir learned the family trade, Volodymir accepted the offer, and Dyra began studying in the field.

Adulthood

At the age of 20 Dyra had earned the credentials of a professionally trained apothecary and physician and was considering options to build a practice of her own. With little regard for these aspirations, her family was already in the midst of arranging her marriage. By her 21st birthday, they had chosen to betroth her to Yevhen Adrastus, the son of another well-off family. While Yevhen seemed friendly enough most of the time, Dyra had no interest in the union. Their marriage would strip her of professional credit and shackle her under his will - neither of which were appealing.




The only thing that could stop either from happening, however, would be the unfortunate demise of Yevhen. By this time Dyra had the knowledge to carry this out quite easily, but she also had the insight to see that the groom's death so near the wedding day would pull suspicious eyes almost instantly towards the bride. So instead she waited, and allowed the wedding to take place through forced smiles and uncomfortable shows of affection before those present.




Unfortunately, only a few days later, Yevhen fell gravely ill. Being a physician, Dyra insisted at staying by her new husband's side as she worked to...treat...his ailment - which she diagnosed as alcohol poisoning. With despair, she found that there was little she could do besides comfort Yevhen in his final days before he finally crossed the veil, less than a month after their union. As she mourned her "beloved" she found herself free to re-assume her place as a proper physician and apothecary, although to the public and her immediate family she was too distraught to do much of anything.




When an opportunity arose in the form of her cousin's (Mara de Niclaeys) request for a shipment to be supervised by a member of the house, Dyra jumped at the opportunity to remove herself from the curious gaze of those around her. If dealing with the unwashed masses - whom she had found to be excellent experimental subjects - is to be her penance, she figures that she can cope.

Age

22

Date of Birth

28th February

Gender

Female

Eyes

Hazel

Hair

Medium light brown

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Fair

Height

5ft

Weight

120lbs