Countess of Khaerlemmen, Eberyt the Tall
Countess of Khaerlemmen, His Grace the Duke of Harkgan's advisor and Chairwoman of the Botanist Council of Issqara Eberyt Tivueis of the House of Khaerlemmen, or the House by the Fringe (a.k.a. 'Prully')
'You would wed yon wolf, girl-- and know naught of what you would eat right from the Destroyer's out-stretched arm.'
The countess watched him, balling her fists. The Duke to be, the man she hated with abandon wilder and more virulent than what any slave felt towards his Qaran overlord, any beast He had taken alive to be added to his menagerie, gnawing, snarling inside the box of bronze and bars of folded steel. She watched him, waiting for the bride, the Duchess, and then she saw her, a woman who looked no older than an errand bestown, an imbecile with a golden spoon under her tongue, whom He would discard; it was not that ruin might find her, but the alacrity with which it would come. She moved with the sluggishness of a snail, eyes looking forward with an empty smile, and the flowers, already withering as she passed, were red and white, her gown of royal purple, and the golden walls to Heaven decorated with ornaments of both His Majesty, and his Hand in the East to be, as she walked the isles. 'Play loud, oh God let the organ drown my woe and hers and play with greater harshness, and lie not to neither me nor mine-- and why would you have children sing? Orthodox! I say: heresy!' Yet the countess bowed, along with the other nobles, as the Duchess passed, and as she cast some grain, gold and gunpowder to her feet, as a sign of her loyalty, she made eye contact with her. “Do not. Do not.”
She shook her head, her lips thin lines, a woman not seven years her senior, yet her features were already hardened and her laugh lines wrinkled. The woman turned her nose up, and scoffed - she knew; but how much? What lies had been told to her so that she would dismiss any rumors of Him? The countess rose as she passed, her head rising above all the other petty lordlings, taller than the guardsmen, yet far more grim in expression. “A kind word and a handkerchief...” She thought, as they knelt before the Adherent, all of them but her enchanted by the coming together of the two nations, and the couple.
She was seated, again. The Adherent read his lines in his script, the couple repeated them, in turn, formal, practiced, emotion only existed for them in form of promises spoken by fools, signifying nothing. “A vow unto my own, to never from this day shall I flag, fail or betray.” Her thin voice echoed from the walls. They kissed, and the countess closed her eyes, as the roaring of bells outside signaled the coming of peace for their time, she neither cried, cheered nor clapped. She stood there, in a of cold air of finality. “You fool.” She thought, and signaled her men to kneel. “The only land she will have in 5 years time will be six feet of sand on her mouth.” Se said so that her retinue could hear, she then knelt again, as the Duke walked past her with the Duchess, now anointed, high, mighty, she watched him, as he blessed them, accepting their vassalage. These were the times of miracle and wonder, like a warm summer followed by a quick Autumn of decay and a winter of stillness of death.
The countess watched him, balling her fists. The Duke to be, the man she hated with abandon wilder and more virulent than what any slave felt towards his Qaran overlord, any beast He had taken alive to be added to his menagerie, gnawing, snarling inside the box of bronze and bars of folded steel. She watched him, waiting for the bride, the Duchess, and then she saw her, a woman who looked no older than an errand bestown, an imbecile with a golden spoon under her tongue, whom He would discard; it was not that ruin might find her, but the alacrity with which it would come. She moved with the sluggishness of a snail, eyes looking forward with an empty smile, and the flowers, already withering as she passed, were red and white, her gown of royal purple, and the golden walls to Heaven decorated with ornaments of both His Majesty, and his Hand in the East to be, as she walked the isles. 'Play loud, oh God let the organ drown my woe and hers and play with greater harshness, and lie not to neither me nor mine-- and why would you have children sing? Orthodox! I say: heresy!' Yet the countess bowed, along with the other nobles, as the Duchess passed, and as she cast some grain, gold and gunpowder to her feet, as a sign of her loyalty, she made eye contact with her. “Do not. Do not.”
She shook her head, her lips thin lines, a woman not seven years her senior, yet her features were already hardened and her laugh lines wrinkled. The woman turned her nose up, and scoffed - she knew; but how much? What lies had been told to her so that she would dismiss any rumors of Him? The countess rose as she passed, her head rising above all the other petty lordlings, taller than the guardsmen, yet far more grim in expression. “A kind word and a handkerchief...” She thought, as they knelt before the Adherent, all of them but her enchanted by the coming together of the two nations, and the couple.
She was seated, again. The Adherent read his lines in his script, the couple repeated them, in turn, formal, practiced, emotion only existed for them in form of promises spoken by fools, signifying nothing. “A vow unto my own, to never from this day shall I flag, fail or betray.” Her thin voice echoed from the walls. They kissed, and the countess closed her eyes, as the roaring of bells outside signaled the coming of peace for their time, she neither cried, cheered nor clapped. She stood there, in a of cold air of finality. “You fool.” She thought, and signaled her men to kneel. “The only land she will have in 5 years time will be six feet of sand on her mouth.” Se said so that her retinue could hear, she then knelt again, as the Duke walked past her with the Duchess, now anointed, high, mighty, she watched him, as he blessed them, accepting their vassalage. These were the times of miracle and wonder, like a warm summer followed by a quick Autumn of decay and a winter of stillness of death.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Extremely tall, very supple and strong, body and mind hardened by field work of a botanist.
Body Features
Fair skin, almond shaped eyes, very large hands and feet. She had a slight limp due to a fall injury, and growth scars in her back, legs and hips.
Facial Features
Long face, slightly round. Tended to grow very bushy eyebrows if left unkempt. Slightly wrinkled around her mouth even at a young age, as she tended to purse her lips and virtually freeze whilst studying, a type of cognitive stress induced rigor.
Identifying Characteristics
She was an eager corset-wearer, and could shrink her waist to a very tiny proportion compared with her hip and shoulders. All knew her height, yet those who knew her well knew of her outright fetish of tiny waists.
Physical quirks
Eberyt tended to walk briskly, with others having have to run to keep up if she was agitated or otherwise eager to get someplace else-- She had an excellent posture, with shoulders perfectly level, tending to sit with her ankles crossed, as not to appear indecent, due to most seats and chairs being made for people far less tall than she.
Special abilities
None to speak of, even if she was very quck to detect someone lying, and an extremely good judge of character. Genius level intelligence, as she was indeed amongst the most important naturalists in the 7th Imperial. Qaran humans tend to dwarf Terrans in terms of cunning and academical aptitude, either way.
Apparel & Accessories
Tended to favor plain colours, whilst staying at her estate: simple white wool or cotton garments and comfortable shoes. Only far later in life, when her work devoured her desire to look her best, did she cease wearing a corset everywhere except while in the field. Expecting visitors, she would wear an expensive red and white dress, with a modest hoop-skirt and her finest shoes, and inherited jewelry of gold and silver, some of which had been sold, and the Lord of Harkgan had managed to retrieve as service to his vassal. She would always wear a knotted, golden wristlet in the presence of the Duke, as a sign of loyalty and gratitude. All in all, she appeared very well groomed, yet simply garbed whilst 'at home' and whilst 'at work' she would look to give no reason to suspect, that her vassalage did not confer her riches, and the means to live a noble worth any other house.
Specialized Equipment
Always wore a bag of basic equipment for taking samples, a small knife, scissors, magnifying glass and a book to which record where and when.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Eberyt, Countess Khaerlemmen (house name meaning 'fortress in fealty') was born an heiress to a very old and respected, if marginalized house. There had been little military success for the heirs of which, nor many great barristers or speakers-- indeed, Khaerlemmen were mainly interested in exploration and trading specimen of plant and looking to grow tea in the cool Fringian climate. They had a reputation of being tall, lanky and intellectually minded. Welcome everywhere, but never commanding the full respect of his Majesty, or his other vassals. The house had a very steady income in the silvemine in their highland property, which enabled them to pay their tributes, and remain somewhat aloof.
With the birth of Eberyt, it became very much clear that her entire house could well fall into disassembly, for she was the first child to an aging lord, who was in no way able to father another child, nor her mother, as the caesarean performed nearly killed the mother, physically ensuring she would not bear again. Eby's features were not exceptionally beautiful, and she gained the nick-name of Prully as she appeared as tall as a horse compared to other children, as well as facial features to match.
Even so, the young heiress was well cared for, and much loved. She was surrounded by books, not people. Khaerlemmen servants were few, guests as well: she was always the one to absorb letters, and be absorbed by work. The father, Haln-neer, or Kalaqner in vulgar tuartergi (the young countess referred to her father with the vulgar expression) was an intelligent, educated man. He was always in favour of peace whence it came to fellow Kiri in the north; he spoke of war being a dirty business, with no choice in the matter, as combat could only be evaded for the advantage of others. One would, however, be able to elect allies and if on the offence, where to fight ones enemy-- Young Khaerlemmen would merely shrug 'Neat!' and go on to admire how a cat could well change direction whilst walking on a narrow fence...
Gender Identity
A staunch cis-woman. She was often suspected of being something else due to her appearance, and masculine tendencies. Her great height was an immense matter of body-identity to her.
Sexuality
A heterosexual woman, through and through, even if matters sexual and looks came second to her, after her work.
Education
Self-educated the best way possible, Countess Khaerlemmen virtually never studied in a formal institution.
Employment
Khaerlemmen-Eberyt Tar gained some income as an expert on types of hop, and the production of ale. Her innovations went largely unnoticed until far later, when her sound merchant sense caused her to create a system of patents, the Issqaran Botanist Patent Office being her employer for several years. A Countess working a clerk-- this did not bother her, as she became keenly aware of all the Duke's scientists and their potential.
Later on, President to the University of Slëmonoch-Issqar, which flourished under her guidance.
Explored Sarlük-ara, and proved to be a tenacious strider of immense tolerance for heat and thirst. She is amongst the first non-Sarlükkans to cross the Qaran tropic, and find herself in the vast Southern praeries. She brought back samples of four-winged birds and giant, carnivorous reptiles which many believed to be Rämenaran mythological creatures.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Created a system to classify species in a more scientific manner. A very linnaean system, for which the Countess was mainly known for. Names were written in tuarkiri, e.g. a Qaran human would be called 'bipedal thinking mammal' due to the uniqueness of both set aside humans from all other known species - there exist no other species of ape on Qara. A house cat would be referred to as 'miaw rawnen', with the common word 'cat' for miaw, and the oldest known skeletal remains of a house cat from the Raqnan-region of Mölqara.
Observing mainly the physiological features of an animal, Lady Eberyt came to question the academia on matters, that life has reached the peak in humans: that some say, that the bipedal mammal which thinks is God-created, for where else could an animal as perfect come from?
Failures & Embarrassments
Khaerlemmen was constantly stone-walled by the traditional academia, as she was some century or so ahead with many of her theories.
Mental Trauma
She was rife with traumas. Losing her only child to feudal politics, having been raped and attempting suicide-- constant struggle to remain in bread in a noble house which had lost its income, being ridiculed and often threatened by the academia...
Intellectual Characteristics
Countess Khaerlemmen was mainly a botanist, even if she was an extremely well-read polymath. She had much respect for her superior in politics, the Lord of Harkgan, as he saw many matters in purely human interactions with clarity she was unable to. It is not that the Countess knew not politics, or understoood psychology or leadeship poorly-- but the Lord of Harkgan, Eregieth-Tar was way ahead of her in these matters.
Morality & Philosophy
Bored by ethical arguments. Not a philosophical type - considered the worth and merit of anything to be proportional to its utility, now and in the future. E.g. keep this rose, for it is beautiful, keep this mold, for it has interesting sterizling properties. But the mold comes first.
Taboos
Utterly hated the Qaran academia. She was known to turn red in the face if the language was uttered in her presence. She disliked the Adherent, and hated bullies and brutes-- even if to the Giant in Body and Mind, Malmüth who courted her later she remarked, that brutality does not equal stultishness, a brute is not by definition a fool. We must all act in our bodies the way we desire, for our shape we were given, and thus an expectation of how to use it.
In other words, she tended to look at others minds, and not bodies. Dogmatism, she felt, was a sickness of the intellect, and difficult to cure.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
She is looking for answers to scientific questions burning in her mind: where to humans come from? Why are there ancestors in the ground for virtually all species, yet not humans? What is the nature of this planet Qara, truly?
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Is utterly bored by balls, and dancing. She can never find a pair her height, and mainly scribbles in some side room caricatures of the hosts, and leaves them for the servants to find.
Likes & Dislikes
Khaerlemmen Eberyt-tar is an avid body painter, with her hands and feet often decorated with a type of henna. She collects books and samples, and the estate library is extremely important to her. Despite being expert on matters hop and barley, detests beer: is known to force down a flagon as not to appear undiplomatic.
Virtues & Personality perks
Extremely knowledgeable and often 'Irish' whence it comes to know-how. Show her a smithing tool, and she will have a good idea for what it could well be used for-- is an expert on scientific tools for measuring etc. Very patient woman, is well able to endure great pain with patience.
Vices & Personality flaws
Often dissociative when consumed by her work. Known to wonder around in her estate in her night-gown at night looking for that one particular book, forgetting about it come morn. Fiery and sometimes outright rude due to her abrupt, assertive and immediate manner of speaking, and acting.
Considered somewhat un-ladylike.
Personality Quirks
Is easily fired up into a steam of consiouscness-type rant with an intellectual provocation, such as an interesting philosophical thought or a historical fact she connects to something else for the first time. Very fiery to friends: cool and collected enough, but she truly cares. Duke of Harkgan intoxicated whilst sitting in a senate session, she is sure to let him know she noticed.
Hygiene
Generally smells faintly of a laboratory, or a greenhouse; manure, rotting plants, alcohol, old books and musty, old samples. Often has twigs or dry leaves in her hair, if not bruises or bumps for hitting her head on doorways and such--
Social
Contacts & Relations
Quite high in succession in Tergaledian nobility; worryingly so, as the Duke of Harkgan is high himself due to his marriage and rank.
Family Ties
Very few. Khaerlemmen had up to this point been a remote house, with few connections. L'ostav and Khórr being very distant relations - Father Týoll was amongst Khaerlemmen sires, if distant.
Religious Views
Not spiritual outright, yet tended to view religion as a real-politik tool for ruling, as well as a useful for philosophical pondering of the world.
Social Aptitude
Very skilled in public speaking. Somewhat introverted, but if spoken with at length, Khaerlemmen Eberyt-tar would charm, being able to more than make another laugh, but smile.
Mannerisms
Tended to run hands on her hair, and fiddle with her sleeves, biting her lips whilst relaxed, growing rigid if sensing even a bit threatened by the situation-- a new person speaking, she would gauge and small-talk before moving on into more personal matters.
Hobbies & Pets
Painting murals. She tended to form mathematically precise paintings onto the estate walls, ranging from simple ornaments to far-off scenes from her travels, depicting Mölqaran peasants or travelling communities from the western reaches of Mihur. She had a fascination with creatures and beasts, which extended well beyond the scientific; truly wanted to catch a dragon, or a lost great cat of lore--
Body painted until death, a type of henna. Eberyt might expose her arm in the gentle summer sun, whilst amid other nobles, and begin painting - she would make private notes in this manner, scripting secret messages to herself to keep in mind for later, in the most formidable fortress which was both her mind, and body. These were seldom scientific in nature, but personal and political.
Body painted until death, a type of henna. Eberyt might expose her arm in the gentle summer sun, whilst amid other nobles, and begin painting - she would make private notes in this manner, scripting secret messages to herself to keep in mind for later, in the most formidable fortress which was both her mind, and body. These were seldom scientific in nature, but personal and political.
Speech
Eberyt-tar tended to speak with a Heartland accent, meaning the upper class speech of tuartergi most commonly found in courts and universities. Seldom swore; preferred to use body language and passive-aggressive insinuation to drive home she did not like someone. Preferred to get the first, and the last word on matters.
Learned harnothi very quickly upon moving to Slëmonoch. Spoke like a city-born woman, with a slight rhotacism, and difficulty pronouncing emic Kiri words. No stutter, no ticks - spoke quite quickly, with slowing down often meaning either distrust, or looking to gauge if the other party was with her at all.
Wealth & Financial state
Very well funded by the Duke. Uses much of her personal profit to improve her laboratory, and build-up a solid County, having previously run out of silver which had historically given Khaerlemmen-house their income. Under Khaerlemmen management, the House began again flourishing, enabling the Countess to focus utterly on science, and to a lesser degree politics. She was extremely busy with matters Coalition, and mainly let her ministers direct all things critical to the Estate, e.g. planning of land distribution and building granaries, depots and roads--
A young thegn by the name of Girw of Kerki-ara came to serve Khaerlemmen, and was introduced to the Coalition staff via his management, and his impeccable skill as a translator to even the more exotic tongues-- Far later, the same thegn would be Duke Harkgan's closest servant, even friend...
A young thegn by the name of Girw of Kerki-ara came to serve Khaerlemmen, and was introduced to the Coalition staff via his management, and his impeccable skill as a translator to even the more exotic tongues-- Far later, the same thegn would be Duke Harkgan's closest servant, even friend...
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Khaerlemmen Eberyt-tar, Spokeswoman of yon Botanist Council and his Grace the Duke of Issqar's advisor
Life
589
665
Circumstances of Birth
Lady of Khaerlemmen, Eberyt was born through a very risky caesarean for her extremely great physical height. She was the first and only child.
Circumstances of Death
Died rejected largely by the scientific community. He theories were too advcanced and ahead of their time.
Birthplace
Tergaledian Fringe, West, Khaerlemmen estate.
Children
Current Residence
Khaerlemmen estate, as well as the Botanist Council in Slëmonoch.
Gender
Female
Eyes
Sharp brown; quite large, but tended to squint in a slightly sardonic manner.
Hair
Very thick, very long, dark brown and tied into elaborate braids which she kept carefully, even while having no servants.
Height
Extremely tall. Some 2.4 meters.
Weight
C.a. 120kg. Muscular, slightly wiry.
Quotes & Catchphrases
"Nay chess-piece I am as of vassalage, sir, but a right player. Dismiss mine if you will, but know you will have dismissed his Grace in doing so."
"Foolish girl. The sole land she would have left in year's time is yon six feet of soil on her mouth!"
Aligned Organization
Ruled Locations
Character Prototype
Judge Holden from Blood Meridian, toned down, female and demonic bits removed. No actress I can think of could pull this role off without camera tricks, but someone intense and sharp-tongued could well voice act Countess Khaerlemmen.
Bonnie Aarons would be a good pick-- she has the looks.
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