Vesurai, Lady of Orloi
Born into one of the less powerful families of House Orloi, Vesurai determined early on that she would not be content until she had risen to the highest possible ranks of society.
Blessed with an incisive intelligence and sharp wits she took every opportunity to learn - but not the lore of historians and scholars, but rather the ways of the human mind, of society, of all the unwritten rules by which people interact. Despite the dangers in the land at the time (the Deeper Darkness was upon the land) she travelled to the courts of the other Houses and watched, and listened and learned.
When she arrived back in Orloi at the age of 22 or 23 she became known as one of the finest ladies in society and quickly amassed influence, status and wealth becoming a counsellor, confidante and lover (so it is scandalously recorded) to many of the wealthy lords and ladies of the time.
She is widely believed to be the anonymous author of Madam Silvertongue's Treatise on Elegant Discourse in which she herself is referred to as:
A woman of uncertain history but certain ambition who, blessed with only moderate beauty and an unpleasant sharpness of tongue (carefully hidden behind painted lips) nontheless learned to bewitch and lead astray many by the silent arts of misdirection. Not to be trusted.
The custom of House Orloi ladies wearing elegant gloves was introduced during Vesurai's lifetime and coincides with her return to Orloi from her travels. It is widely believed that she introduced the custom, stating that it was the latest fashion of the royal court at Sildern (which it was not).
A cruel rumour, even at the time, was spread that she had introduced this custom because of disfiguring birthmarks on her right arm and hand. A chronicler of the court of Count Elashem reported that when an older and much higher socially regarded lady attempted to put Vesurai down by making reference to this rumour, Lady Vesurai simply shrugged and said "Removing my gloves to settle the matter would be a tiresome exertion, I would rather call a witness if you must press the question. Incidentally, madam, is your husband at court?"
The question was not pressed.
Blessed with an incisive intelligence and sharp wits she took every opportunity to learn - but not the lore of historians and scholars, but rather the ways of the human mind, of society, of all the unwritten rules by which people interact. Despite the dangers in the land at the time (the Deeper Darkness was upon the land) she travelled to the courts of the other Houses and watched, and listened and learned.
When she arrived back in Orloi at the age of 22 or 23 she became known as one of the finest ladies in society and quickly amassed influence, status and wealth becoming a counsellor, confidante and lover (so it is scandalously recorded) to many of the wealthy lords and ladies of the time.
She is widely believed to be the anonymous author of Madam Silvertongue's Treatise on Elegant Discourse in which she herself is referred to as:
A woman of uncertain history but certain ambition who, blessed with only moderate beauty and an unpleasant sharpness of tongue (carefully hidden behind painted lips) nontheless learned to bewitch and lead astray many by the silent arts of misdirection. Not to be trusted.
The custom of House Orloi ladies wearing elegant gloves was introduced during Vesurai's lifetime and coincides with her return to Orloi from her travels. It is widely believed that she introduced the custom, stating that it was the latest fashion of the royal court at Sildern (which it was not).
A cruel rumour, even at the time, was spread that she had introduced this custom because of disfiguring birthmarks on her right arm and hand. A chronicler of the court of Count Elashem reported that when an older and much higher socially regarded lady attempted to put Vesurai down by making reference to this rumour, Lady Vesurai simply shrugged and said "Removing my gloves to settle the matter would be a tiresome exertion, I would rather call a witness if you must press the question. Incidentally, madam, is your husband at court?"
The question was not pressed.
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