Princess Phyllis Dragonbane is the first and eldest daughter of the former
Grasynnian king
Merxellis Dragonbane the Great and his wife Siana, and is the older sister of the reigning Grasynnian monarch,
Supreme General Althea Dragonbane. Having to cede the crown to her younger sister while in absentia, the princess returned to Grasynnia after being missing for over two decades, and has since retaken her place as first in line to the Grasynnian throne.
Biography
Born as the first child of King Merxellis Dragonbane and Queen Siana, Phyllis had been raised from a young age to succeed her father. Taking a great interest in both scholarship and the arts, the crown princess spent her younger years largely in isolation, learning a broad range of skills in an effort to meet her father's expectations. When the
Zenith War broke out, she did not join her father and countrymen on the battlefield, instead remaining in
Hartmere on her father's orders; were he to fall on the battlefield, his successor should be ready to take the throne immediately to preserve the stability of the nation. Remaining diligent in her studies did not seem to be a priority to the young crown princess in these years, as she could often be found roaming the streets of the capital, partaking in revelry and debauchery - only to be dragged back home by the royal guard.
After her father and sister returned victorious, Phyllis was placed back in her isolated position, now expected to learn combative arts in order to become a true worthy successor. However, less than a year after the war's end, Hartmere was awoken by the sound of the alarum: the crown princess was missing. The entire city was ordered to search and stay vigilant, and King Merxellis himself oversaw a grand effort to search the countryside. It all proved fruitless, however, as Phyllis was never found. Eventually, even the stalwart king gave up the search on account of his worsening health, and when he passed not long after, it was instead the warrior general Althea Dragonbane who succeeded him in Phyllis's stead. It became a common source of speculation among the people of Grasynnia: what happened to the princess? Did her improper behavior get her killed or abducted? Did it make her father decide to get rid of her in favor of the loyal and powerful Althea? Did Althea kill her? The wildest conspiracy theories were abound, yet they would remain unanswered - for a bit over two decades.
Twenty-three years after her disappearance, a cloaked woman entered the royal court, and when she appeared before the Supreme General, she revealed herself to be Phyllis, finally returned to Hartmere. She explained herself thusly: she had heard the voice of the
Red Knight, who decreed that it was to be part of Her grand strategy that Althea would be the next monarch, to continue the great conquest. As such, she made herself scarce and traveled the world under an assumed identity as a wandering minstrel. Now, she was ready to assume a new position: Althea's advisor and confidant. It is widely speculated that her return was staged, or that she only returned due to the lack of an heir. Yet, since her return, things have continued as if nothing ever changed. Phyllis sits at Althea's right hand at court, and is personally in charge of matters including kingdom finances, logistics, and diplomacy.
Personality
Phyllis Dragonbane is known for being light-hearted, thrill-seeking, yet deceptively intelligent; the princess loves art and is rarely seen without a musical instrument of some kind, as she is known to possess mastery over nearly all forms of music. Many credit her to possess the gift of beautiful, enthralling song. Uninterested in military matters yet highly gifted in academic exploits, she is often seen as a counterbalance to Althea's battle-hardened mindset, and many in the court have described her presence as 'indispensable'. Her weapon of choice seems to be a rapier, yet she seems reluctant to engage in physical combat.
The extent of her religiosity is unknown, as she does accompany her sister to the Grand Temple of the Red Knight from time to time, but doesn't seem to be as dutiful in the practice as Althea. Her private life seems to be an extension of her public life: often overheard singing and playing music, and frequently leaving the Royal Palace to indulge in pleasantries and carry out other business, even maintaining a private ship in the harbor of Hartmere: the
Ivory Viper. As such, she has a knack for appearing in the strangest places.
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