Sabine, Queen of the Underlings

DAY 2 - Prompt: depths

During Spookoctober, I will create a character sheet for twenty one dark Fae of the Court of Dew and Dusk, the main protgagonists in a new novel filled with humour, mystery and courtly shenannigans.

If Terry Pratchett had written 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' ... well, I am likely not going to be as witty as Terry, but it should be fun!

Backstory

Early life

Sabine herself does not know how she came into the world. She is barely of this world, a being of near pure magical abilities. She vaguely remembers, millennia ago, being a fledgeling in Faerie's underworld.

Her powers grew quickly over a few centuries, so much so that the then-king, King Everand made several attempts on her life as he felt threatened by her nascent powers. Sabine managed to hide successfully from her jealous sire and, when the time came, was able to overthrow him and send him to the void and oblivion.

Youth/Education

From an early age, Sabine knew that knowledge was power, and her magnetic and powerful presence attracted a slew of courtiers who were extremely faithful and devoted to her.

She was careful to attract and retain Faerie's best tutors and magical instructors - her knowledge of magic is beyond the standard. She has knowledge of ancient and now-forgotten rites and spells, and as the Queen of the Underlings, is able to draw an enormous power from the underground itself.

Sabine also ensured that no one else could learn the forbidden and dangerous magic she was instructed in, disposing of her tutors and teachers when she was done with them. She has, herself, been the tutor and instructor of Daemon Hollowdark, her son from her first union, who is now Prince of the Underlings. In this endeavour, she has been careful to distil her teachings, ensuring Daemon knows that more will come - if he behaves himself.

Mid Life

As Queen of the Underlings, Sabine wielded absolute power and authority in the Underworld. This suited her for a while as she enjoyed the safety and comfort of royal status. Her retinue of 'Ladies in Waiting' and 'Knights' kept growing as she attached to herself a diverse crowd of fae and non-fae followers.

She was still in her first millennia - and thus very much a teenager in the eyes of Faerie - when she fell in love with a dashing Princeling from the Light Court. The forbidden aspect of the romance added spice to the liaison, and the besotted princeling ( Prince Ame, Lord of the Golden Dawn) moved to the Underworld to be with his Queen - thus lost his title and standing in the Light Court.

The union was doomed from the start. Ame, despite the love he bore his queen, could not settle down in the harsh and dark environment of the Dark Court. In the end, Ame was forgotten by the Queen who thought that they did not fit after all. Ame , shunned by his beloved, left the Underworld and soon died of a broken heart.

However, from this union, a son was born—Daemon. Daemon was not the child's first name. He was first named Melisen after his maternal grandmother, Melisende, Lady of the Bright Springs. However, the queen thought it would be a fun poke at the Hells if he were called Daemon. She had just killed a demon lord (Maynard) who had infiltrated her court and planned a coup against her.

Soon, the ambitious Queen set her eyes on the Overworld. It was not long before she was betrothed to none other than the King of the Dark Court, King Roul. The union was more a political one than a love one. The union of the Dark courts was sure to give this side of Fairie unparalleled powers and stability it had not known for many millennia.

Two children, Crown Princess Nestariel, Princess of the Eternal Eclipse and Crown Prince Wyldirion, Lord of the Dying Stars were born from this union. Unbeknownst to Wyldirion, he is really the fruit of one of Sabine's indiscretions. Sabine had a passionate and short affair with an Elven envoy a millennia ago, Brassenor Echer which resulted in Wyldirion's birth. However, Sabine soon discovered that the 'envoy' was a powerful demon lord in disguise ( the archdemon Dyuzaran, Lord of the Endless Fires) which means that Wyldirion is half daemon—an ironic situation considering his half-brother's mock sulphurous origin.

Present

Sabine is now an imperial power in the Dark Court. She has brought with her a large retinue of Ladies and Knights. Sabine - like all dark fae - likes drama, illusions and theatre, and her people are dressed in a particular way, a sort of uniform or code (to explore), something that will impress. and add gravitas to their station.

Sabine has a complicated and mysterious relationship with the King. Most courtiers will not be party to the true nature of their feelings towards each other. They are very good at hiding their emotions and feelings to courtiers and outsiders, always presenting a united front.

In truth, the King is fascinated by Sabine and is half in love with her - however, he knows he cannot trust her and this makes for a challenging dynamic between them - it also makes it exciting and not boring at all, which is a big consideration for near-eternal faes.

Readers, through the eyes of Pergamon will wonder about what is really going on between them, with tidbits being discovered as the stories develop throughout the books.

Personality

1 Heart

How does it show?

What lies?

How do others see him?

2 Intellect

How does it show?

What lies?

How do others see him?

3 Habits and Abilities

How does it show?

What lies?

How do others see him?

4 Morals, Beliefs and Ethics

How does it show?

What lies?

How do others see him?

5 Social

How does it show?

What lies?

How do others see him?

INTERVIEW (Sara Cannon)

Talent/Abilities

Good at (knack/special talent) / Bad at (embarrassment) /Skills rely on /Secret talents (shared?)

Interests

Loves/dislikes/Obsessed by/Pet peeves/Interests/hobbies/Hobbies would like/Alone why? Stress outlet/Find boring/entertaining/Creative side

Moral and Ethics

Black and White?/Champion causes issues?/Reactions when beliefs challenged?/Influencers?/Hidden moral beliefs no matter what

Relationships

Who closest to?/Make the first move?/Current relationship lacking?/Vulnerable with?/Show sensitive side to?
Who they avoid, why?/What type turn them off?/Person from their past? (upset/happy)

Secrets

Biggest secrets?/Fear of discovery?/Why secret important?/Think about it often? (Humiliating?)
Secrets they know (Secretkeeper)/Are they trusted? Found out? Confided?

Fears

Quirky/Surprising fear(s)/Cause embarrassment?/Irrational fears?/Trying to overcome it?/Past events caused fear?
Deeper fears (not want to admit)/How affected by fears?/How do they hide fears? (fake/pretend/personna)

Wounds

What caused deeper fears?/Sent life on a new path?/Who/what did they discard from their past?/What was lost/joy given up?
Is the character flawed by it? (feel unworthy?)/How wounds can be introduced in present story?/How can they face similar wound/situation again? (so they can overcome it)

Character Arc Questions

1 Plot: What does the character want to achieve?

Arc: What must be resolved by growth, change of mindset shift?

2 Plot: Why do they want to achieve the plot goal?

Arc: What do they need to make that internal change?

3 Plot: What is blocking them from achieving the goal?

Arc: What is blocking them from internal change?

4 Plot: What's at stake if they fail to achieve their goal?

Arc: What's at stake if they don't change?

Arc/Embryo

1 YOU

2 NEED

3 GO

4 SEARCH

5 FIND

6 TAKE

7 RETURN

8 CHANGE