Marllyn
Her Lordship Marllyn Mylas
One of the Thirteen Mage Lords of D'arcan, Marllyn stands as one of the preeminent authorities on magic in the world. Not only does she govern the eastern Province of Claywaleh, but she has also presided over the prestigious academy in the the capital city. She has big ideas, at times standing apart from her colleagues, as to how to propel the already great Wizard nation even further.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Marrlyn's family comes from the most populous land of Elves: The Kingdom of the Bronzebark in western Tillanong. There had been some family trouble with the auhtorities, that caused them to uproot and relocate. Rather than merely seeking refuge in Khartoum, Hlysa, or another neighboring state, her father Glandura decided to hedge his bets and travel across the ocean to D'arcan. The journey was long, but fascinating to young Marllyn, seeing and interacting with so much of the world that she had only known about in books. Showing his knowledge and value, he petitioned that he and his family be given D'arcani citizenship, in exchange for a lifelong committment to the state. Glandura was tasked with translating old First Age books from his native language into D'arcan. Feeling that he was no longer a citizen of own country, the work was easily worth the benefits included, especially for his daughter.
Granting citizenship to non natives was rare in those times, but those who were granted that were given full benefits and priveleges, including that of education. Marllyn showed early promise, even back home, as a cunning and capable mind. Given the greater resources for arcane learning than even the Bronzebark Elves possessed, she thrived in her new home. Proving herself routinely, she was granted access as a student to the D'arcan Academy, where all of it's wizards study and graduate.
Marllyn found greater kinship with her teachers than her fellow students; as many would-be wizards saw themselves as having arrived at a destination and being owed acclamation. Wizards were highly valued and respected, and was the start to great things within the meritocracy of D'arcan. However, Marllyn saw what her professors did; that learning was a continuous process, and that true learning begins with the mindset before one even approaches a book. Her humility and determination won her praise. She would serve in the Northern provinces with distinction, before being brought to the east to help manage the new territories acquired from the surrender of the Queen of Stoneheart. While in this position, she also helped coordinate forces to deal with Purshand in The Quasi War, where D'arcan gained additional land.
Having proven to have a wide grasp of arcane knowledge as well as effective administrative and managements skills, Marllyn was brought back to Valle Parrana, this time to be a member of the faculty. At first, she was just brought on to be adjunct for one course, as well as help administer one of the private collections. By the time her assingment was scheduled to be up, she had grown to be a vital asset within the Academy. Her two year period instead lasted for decades, becoming the Dean of the entire organization before being asked to depart.
Sexuality
Like many in her vaunted position as a professional and leader, Marrlyn has become too entrenched into her work to have serious thoughts about sex or relationships. She feels lonely, a trait by no means unique to her among the upper class, but fears that she is too far along in her age and position to do anything about it. Pursuing a relationship now would be painfully complicated and awkward, and always run the risk of damaging her personal and professional reputation.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Under her tutelage and instruction, the Academy implemented many overdue reforms for both students and staff to ensure their Wizards could assume the full range of responsibilities D'arcan placed upon them. As Mage Lord of Claywaleh, she has instituted an education program that could be the greatest in all of T'sara, in both the number of students who have access to it, and in terms of the quality of education provided. Whatever her contemporaries may say of her motives of implementing these policies across all of the Provinces, they cannot deny that she's gotten results.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Marrlyn wants to push D'arcan to stand alone among the great nations; not just first among the nations of Khilgara, but of all of T'sara. She knows that her goals would require D'arcan to give up many of it's traditions and identity, including possibly even sacrificing the Lords entirely in favor of a single government with a solitary leade. She can outlast her detractors, and if she shows that her plans work in her distant province, than eventually they'll understand that it will work for all.
Having seen the workings of the academy where few others have, she knows that the quality of the education alone will not serve the nations needs. More people need to be entering in, and more graduates. Rather than adjusting the standards, she wants to help increase the potential candidates by expanding opportunities early on in a citizens life.
Vices & Personality flaws
Having accomplished so much, and seen so much in her life, Marrlyn suffers sometimes from believing that she has the most knowledge. This makes her reluctant to take on new ideas.
Social
Reign
Marrlyn rules over the Claywaleh province of D'arcan, the furthest east of the country. Formerly small, this has grown dramatically from results of the Triumverate War, with significant land taken in the treaty of surrender from Stoneheart. This, naturally, has made her territory more heavily populated with Orcs than the others.
Marrlyn has taken this expanded responsibility with rare good grace and magnanimity. She has insured that the new members of D'arcan were treated as full and equal citizens: an effort that has been difficult to enforce further dowmstream.
There's been a few moments where this has been controversial even among those she means to rule. Some of the ethnic Stoneheart have felt their culture was diminished or even erased.
A large part of her effort was creating an education system for every child in the Province, no matter how impoverished. Her goal to see more of the valued wizards and educated experts has shown with early success of an Orc graduating from the prestigious wizard academy: Herida Pelips
Contacts & Relations
She still has contacts within the academy, tenured professors whose desire for teaching runs deep. Or at least, those whose sense of perfection and lack of trust precludes them from ever stepping down and letting someone else fulfill the role. Regardless of their motivations, they are welcome friends and contacts, both to know about the prospective and graduating wizards, where they are going, and what else is occurring in the capital city of Valle Pallara.
Family Ties
She has distant family ties back in the forests of Bronzebark. Even though her magical acumen would provide her easy ability to transport herself across continents, she feels the time she's been away has been too long and the relationship too strained to amend with her parents and siblings. Whatsmore, a solitary visit can't fix past absenses, and her responsibilities are too much to make routine visits feasible. She laments the situation, but sees that there was no other way the situation could have gone in her life. Reflecting on this has caused her to use the phrase 'there are some problems that even magic can not fix'.
Religious Views
Despite being one of the most knowledgeable wizards in the world, Marllyn's first religious commitment is to Varissa. First of Six Sisters, creator of Elves and Goddess of Learning, her ethics and dictates have informed much of her adulthood, both serving as the dean of D'arcan's wizard academy, and more recently as Mage Lord. Anyone can learn, but opportunities must be made for them to do so, and the environment must be well prepared for learning to be effective.
She respects and gives tribute to Skolm, God of books and memory, as her life and experiences are as dpendant on him as it is to Varissa or Vrishka, Second of Six Sisters, Goddess of Magic. For the respect and tribute she gives him, she also recognizes that writings of Skolm show him to be a tempremental, difficult God who is unnecessarily judgemental of the mortals he governs. Seemingly nothing is good enough for him, which tempers the degree to which Marrlyn is willing to heap praise upon him.
Species
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Marrlyn carries not only the distinction of a Mage Lord, but is also the oldest among them; a natural consequence of her Elvish blood. This causes many to view her as the leader of the group of thirteen, something that riles the more cantancerous of them something fierce.
She finds having earned her title as the Dean of the Wizard Academy a more gratifying personal victory. In her eyes, by the time she left the position and started moving onto to greater positions, joining the Mage Lords was only a matter of time.
Children
Aligned Organization
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