Empress Luciana Beaumont
"Empress Beaumont couldn't be more different from her father. Some say she isn't even his daughter. It's the hair and the attitude I expect, courtesy of her mother. May her soul be at peace. If anyone can restore the rights of the Mages of the Empire, it's her. Long may she reign." ~Tristana Allencourt, Captain of the Queensguard.
Tracing her lineage to the Beaumont Imperial Court of the First Age, Luciana Beaumont is the current Empress of the Averheim Empire. Coming into the throne just shortly after Emperor Matthias's quiet passing, Luciana is the youngest Empress in Averheim's long history. Her long, midnight black hair and sharp green eyes have caused some to question her relation to the late Emperor, siting Matthias's blonde hair and grey eyes as evidence of such. However, Imperial scribes have fought back against this accusation by siting that Luciana's mother, Empress Lilian, had the same features and that Luciana inherited heavily from her mother. Despite this consistent back and forth over lineage, Empress Luciana has so far been well received by her people. Her kind heart and compassion towards the citizenry has garnered her an exceptional reputation among nobles and commoners alike.
Since her rise to power, the Empress has spoken several times to the Enchanters of the Twilight Sanctum. The only Imperial sanctioned enclave of magical learning within the Empire. Luciana is adamant, being born with innate magical talent herself, on the easing of magical restriction among the borders of the Empire. Claiming that the restriction is an archaic remnant of the Twilight Accords and needs to be reexamined. She agrees with the Sanctum in that certain schools of magic should remain restricted, such as Necromancy. As Necromancy is viewed by the Empire as an affront to Galatea, the Life Goddess. Where her views and the Sanctum's diverge however, lays in the open practice of conjuration and destruction magics. Luciana believes that with proper guidance, mages trained in such magics become exceptional additions to the Empire's armies. Whereas the Grand Enchanter of the Twilight Sanctum argues that all magic of that School is a threat to the Empire's stability and good standing between the other countries. Additionally, she states that if word of such training were to make it to the Belryndians. The Congregation of Brass would view it as the Empire preparing for war during an already tumultuous time in the countries' relations. These two opposing views have caused a stalemate on the issue, however mages and other Imperial citizens with an arcane aptitude continue to pressure the Empress and the Sanctum for change.
Empress Beaumont often walks through the streets of Averheim, in secret, to see her people and their struggles. Despite protests from her advisors and Queensguard captains. This allows her to have a more complete overview of how the various ruling decisions she has made affect those in the lowest areas. This, in turn, has resulted in the Empress establishing better Queensguard patrol routes in what has become known as the Ashen Ward. An area where the poor, destitute, and disease ridden have previously been left to be forgotten by those better off. This increased guard presence has brought forth talks between the King of Beggers and the Empress herself, to improve quality of life within the Ward.
In recent months however, Luciana has made fewer and fewer public appearances and her promises to ease the magical restrictions continue to go unfulfilled. Patrols within the Ashen Ward have also begun to drop off, as well known members of the Queensguard within the ward have begun to disappear. Leading to a sharp decline once more in the area's security. The Empress's seeming disinterest in her city and her promises, as well as tightening restrictions on arcane use have also sparked an outrage among Averheim's arcane practitioners, causing secret rallies and calls for open rebellion to break the tightening shackles.
Staunch supports of the Empress are growing worried about her safety and her health. Is she succumbing to whatever mystery illness took her father? Or are their other, darker, forces at play within the political mire of the Imperial court? Dark rumors are passed in hushed voices across quiet tavern tables and a dull dread has fallen on Empire. Whispers of "long may she reign" have become words of damnation as many fear the Empire's collapse.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Luciana is driven by a desire to make a better life for her people. Particularly the mages that have long been oppressed and restricted in the years since the Twilight Accords were signed by her great-great-grandfather.
Alignment
Neutral Good
Children
Hair
Sleek midnight black hair that falls just below her shoulder blades
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Olive
Height
5' 9"
Quotes & Catchphrases
"Magic is part of who we are, to shackle that away is to sentence us to a slow and agonizing death."
Ruled Locations
Comments