Post by Captain Eleanor Hawke on Sept 1, 2014 22:28:00 GMT
Name: Eleanor Hawke
Age: 21 (1564)
Rank: Captain
Nationality: English
Appearance:
Eleanor is a tall, slender girl with a trim figure from her years spent on dragonback. She has a slim face framed by a mass of dark brown hair, usually worn tied behind her head for the sake of convenience. Her dark blue eyes are set above a delicate nose and wide mouth. Her skin is usually tanned or windburnt due to her active lifestyle and the fact that she cares little for her appearance. She has a few battle scars but none of her injuries have yet been severe or disfiguring. Her fingers are long and nimble, her hips narrow and her legs long. She typically wears masculine attire. This began as a practical affair but she much prefers it. She will paint her face and wear ladies' garb but she considers these things vanities. She does, however, have a weakness for silk and gold, even if she prefers them to be worn with unfeminine attire.
Personal History:
Eleanor is the Earl of Northumberland's bastard daughter. Her mother, Margaret, a local girl of good birth, served as lady in waiting to the Countess of Northumberland, during the Earl's tenure as governor of Tynemouth. Margaret's pretty face and fine figure soon caught the Earl's attention. The young woman was dazzled by the nobleman's attention and the pair indulged in a love affair that lasted almost a year. As governer, the Earl commanded the military forces stationed in the north as a shield against attacks from Scotland. This also included overall responsibility for the Tynemouth covert where Margaret had been raised, so her father could be close to both his family and his dragon. Margaret managed to hide her liaison from her parents until her pregnancy became pronounced. Then the Countess sent her back to the covert in disgrace. Her father was furious but dared not threaten the Earl. His relations with his daughter became strained, until the Earl bought his former mistress a house in town.
Eleanor's birth reconciled the Hawkes and the girl grew up happily, playing with the children of the town, visiting the covert to see her grandfather and his dragon and receiving annual visits from her father, who always brought gifts as well as providing a generous allowance. However, the Earl's generosity towards his daughter and former mistress made Margaret a target for men looking to improve their lot. After rejecting several proposals, she fell in love with a handsome soldier named Walter Strange and the two married. But Walter disliked the six year old Eleanor and began to make hints about her father's responsibilities. Eleanor's life began to deteriorate. While Walter was kind to Margaret, he liked to use his fists on Eleanor, particularly when he thought her impertinent. After the beatings, Eleanor would flee to the covert and stay there until her mother fetched her home. She felt at home with her mother's family, and particularly with Hector, her grandfather's Yellow Reaper. Her favourite activity was to be allowed to fly with Hector, when he and Captain Hawke were in residence. Three years into the marriage, Margaret conceived after several miscarriages. As the pregnancy developed, Walter's attitude towards Eleanor grew worse. One day she angered him sufficiently to earn the worst beating of her young life. She kept to her bed for two days then fled to the covert where her grandmother, horrified by Walter's cruelty refused to let her go for a week. Eleanor then asked to become a dragon rider. Though women were not at this point allowed to be dragon Captains, a few had begun to fly with Longwings due to a quirk of the breed, which favoured female companions. Captain Hawke talked his superiors into letting Eleanor stay at the covert for training, with the understanding that she would be allowed to fly with Hector as an ensign if she did well at her lessons. Her mother was not happy about letting her go, but she was not blind to the bad feeling between her daughter and husband. Eleanor thus moved to the covert three months before her sister's birth.
Eleanor's first years at the covert were hard. She had to learn to read and write, to memorise signal flags, study history, learn swordplay and many other things. She didn't much like her time in the schoolroom, unless she was learning about dragons, and prized her time with Hector and his formation mates. Although Hector was her favourite, she enjoyed visiting the egg chamber in the covert and would dream of one day harnessing a dragon of her own. Yet for all her romanticism, Eleanor learned fast and well and became well liked about the covert. At eleven she began to spend increasing amounts of time on dragonback as her grandfather's ensign. Two years later she was promoted to Midwingman where she distinguished herself in a skirmish with a Scottish formation, earning her first battle scar, a cut to the thigh. Yet tragedy struck when Eleanor's grandfather, Captain Hawke, was slain in the battle. His son Richard took over as Hector's captain but it was never the same for Eleanor. Her uncle lacked his father's fire and was scornful of Eleanor's bastardy, so there was little warmth between them.
A few months after the Scottish battle, the Earl brought Eleanor to court to meet the Queen. Eleanor hated court but was fascinated with the notion that a woman could rule a land where men had most of the power. By this time, the female companions of the Longwing breed had begun to adopt the rank of captain, so the Earl began planning for his daughter's future. When a Longwing egg was produced at the Dover covert, Eleanor was chosen to captain it. But it would be some time before the egg hatched. So, when Eleanor was sixteen , she was given the rank of Lieutenant and transferred to an Anglewing named Vitellius. She served aboard Vitellius for two years, until the Longwing egg began to harden. She was sent to Dover to watch over the egg and be ready for its hatching, and thus spent the next months grounded. When the egg eventually hatched. Eleanor named the dragon Honoria.
Eleanor and Honoria enjoy a close bond. They have been in a few actions together, including a clash with the French over the Channel a few months ago. In recent years Eleanor has begun to worry about her father, who is reported to have been involved in plots against the Queen, though no proof has been found. The rumours have died down lately so she hopes he will stay out of trouble, but cannot forget that her grandsire, whom she never knew, was executed at Tyburn for treason. In recent years she has begun to enjoy a friendship with her half-brother, Henry Percy, on the rare occasions she can be enticed to court. Although she has kissed a man once or twice in the heat of the moment, nobody has yet taken her fancy in any serious way.
Reputation: Eleanor is known for her dedication to Honoria and the Aerial Corps as well as for her famous father.
Character Skills:
Fighting:
--Pistol 60
--Sword 80
Leadership:
--Charisma 40
Political:
--Charm 50
-Connections 40
Physical abilities:
--Observation 30
--Swimming 30
--Unarmed combat 40
--Agility 60
Miscellaneous
--Writing 40
Languages:
--French 50
-Knowledge
--Dragons 50
--Court 30
Eleanor's paternal genealogy:
-Sir Thomas Percy (executed for treason by Henry VIII)
+his wife, Eleanor Harbottle (deceased)
--their eldest son. Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, (age 58)
++his wife Katherine Neville
---their eldest son, Henry Percy heir to the earldom, (age 21)
---their other sons, Thomas, William, Charles, Richard, Joscelyne, Alan, George
---their daughters, Lucy, Anne, Eleanor
++his former mistress, Margaret Hawke (39)
---their daughter, Captain Eleanor Hawke, of Honoria (age 21)
Eleanor's maternal genealogy:
-Captain Edward Hawke, of Hector (deceased)
+his wife, Anne Hawke (age 63)
--their son, Richard Hawke, of Hector (age 44)
++his wife, Jane Hawke (age 36)
---his first son, Robert Hawke (age 14)
---his second son, George Hawke (age 11)
---his first daughter, Mary Hawke (age 7)
--their daughter, Margaret Hawke (39)
++her former lover, Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, (age 58)
---their daughter, Captain Eleanor Hawke, of Honoria (age 21)
++her husband, Walter Strange (43)
---their daughter, Dorothy Hawke (17)
Age: 21 (1564)
Rank: Captain
Nationality: English
Appearance:
Eleanor is a tall, slender girl with a trim figure from her years spent on dragonback. She has a slim face framed by a mass of dark brown hair, usually worn tied behind her head for the sake of convenience. Her dark blue eyes are set above a delicate nose and wide mouth. Her skin is usually tanned or windburnt due to her active lifestyle and the fact that she cares little for her appearance. She has a few battle scars but none of her injuries have yet been severe or disfiguring. Her fingers are long and nimble, her hips narrow and her legs long. She typically wears masculine attire. This began as a practical affair but she much prefers it. She will paint her face and wear ladies' garb but she considers these things vanities. She does, however, have a weakness for silk and gold, even if she prefers them to be worn with unfeminine attire.
Personal History:
Eleanor is the Earl of Northumberland's bastard daughter. Her mother, Margaret, a local girl of good birth, served as lady in waiting to the Countess of Northumberland, during the Earl's tenure as governor of Tynemouth. Margaret's pretty face and fine figure soon caught the Earl's attention. The young woman was dazzled by the nobleman's attention and the pair indulged in a love affair that lasted almost a year. As governer, the Earl commanded the military forces stationed in the north as a shield against attacks from Scotland. This also included overall responsibility for the Tynemouth covert where Margaret had been raised, so her father could be close to both his family and his dragon. Margaret managed to hide her liaison from her parents until her pregnancy became pronounced. Then the Countess sent her back to the covert in disgrace. Her father was furious but dared not threaten the Earl. His relations with his daughter became strained, until the Earl bought his former mistress a house in town.
Eleanor's birth reconciled the Hawkes and the girl grew up happily, playing with the children of the town, visiting the covert to see her grandfather and his dragon and receiving annual visits from her father, who always brought gifts as well as providing a generous allowance. However, the Earl's generosity towards his daughter and former mistress made Margaret a target for men looking to improve their lot. After rejecting several proposals, she fell in love with a handsome soldier named Walter Strange and the two married. But Walter disliked the six year old Eleanor and began to make hints about her father's responsibilities. Eleanor's life began to deteriorate. While Walter was kind to Margaret, he liked to use his fists on Eleanor, particularly when he thought her impertinent. After the beatings, Eleanor would flee to the covert and stay there until her mother fetched her home. She felt at home with her mother's family, and particularly with Hector, her grandfather's Yellow Reaper. Her favourite activity was to be allowed to fly with Hector, when he and Captain Hawke were in residence. Three years into the marriage, Margaret conceived after several miscarriages. As the pregnancy developed, Walter's attitude towards Eleanor grew worse. One day she angered him sufficiently to earn the worst beating of her young life. She kept to her bed for two days then fled to the covert where her grandmother, horrified by Walter's cruelty refused to let her go for a week. Eleanor then asked to become a dragon rider. Though women were not at this point allowed to be dragon Captains, a few had begun to fly with Longwings due to a quirk of the breed, which favoured female companions. Captain Hawke talked his superiors into letting Eleanor stay at the covert for training, with the understanding that she would be allowed to fly with Hector as an ensign if she did well at her lessons. Her mother was not happy about letting her go, but she was not blind to the bad feeling between her daughter and husband. Eleanor thus moved to the covert three months before her sister's birth.
Eleanor's first years at the covert were hard. She had to learn to read and write, to memorise signal flags, study history, learn swordplay and many other things. She didn't much like her time in the schoolroom, unless she was learning about dragons, and prized her time with Hector and his formation mates. Although Hector was her favourite, she enjoyed visiting the egg chamber in the covert and would dream of one day harnessing a dragon of her own. Yet for all her romanticism, Eleanor learned fast and well and became well liked about the covert. At eleven she began to spend increasing amounts of time on dragonback as her grandfather's ensign. Two years later she was promoted to Midwingman where she distinguished herself in a skirmish with a Scottish formation, earning her first battle scar, a cut to the thigh. Yet tragedy struck when Eleanor's grandfather, Captain Hawke, was slain in the battle. His son Richard took over as Hector's captain but it was never the same for Eleanor. Her uncle lacked his father's fire and was scornful of Eleanor's bastardy, so there was little warmth between them.
A few months after the Scottish battle, the Earl brought Eleanor to court to meet the Queen. Eleanor hated court but was fascinated with the notion that a woman could rule a land where men had most of the power. By this time, the female companions of the Longwing breed had begun to adopt the rank of captain, so the Earl began planning for his daughter's future. When a Longwing egg was produced at the Dover covert, Eleanor was chosen to captain it. But it would be some time before the egg hatched. So, when Eleanor was sixteen , she was given the rank of Lieutenant and transferred to an Anglewing named Vitellius. She served aboard Vitellius for two years, until the Longwing egg began to harden. She was sent to Dover to watch over the egg and be ready for its hatching, and thus spent the next months grounded. When the egg eventually hatched. Eleanor named the dragon Honoria.
Eleanor and Honoria enjoy a close bond. They have been in a few actions together, including a clash with the French over the Channel a few months ago. In recent years Eleanor has begun to worry about her father, who is reported to have been involved in plots against the Queen, though no proof has been found. The rumours have died down lately so she hopes he will stay out of trouble, but cannot forget that her grandsire, whom she never knew, was executed at Tyburn for treason. In recent years she has begun to enjoy a friendship with her half-brother, Henry Percy, on the rare occasions she can be enticed to court. Although she has kissed a man once or twice in the heat of the moment, nobody has yet taken her fancy in any serious way.
Reputation: Eleanor is known for her dedication to Honoria and the Aerial Corps as well as for her famous father.
Character Skills:
Fighting:
--Pistol 60
--Sword 80
Leadership:
--Charisma 40
Political:
--Charm 50
-Connections 40
Physical abilities:
--Observation 30
--Swimming 30
--Unarmed combat 40
--Agility 60
Miscellaneous
--Writing 40
Languages:
--French 50
-Knowledge
--Dragons 50
--Court 30
Eleanor's paternal genealogy:
-Sir Thomas Percy (executed for treason by Henry VIII)
+his wife, Eleanor Harbottle (deceased)
--their eldest son. Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, (age 58)
++his wife Katherine Neville
---their eldest son, Henry Percy heir to the earldom, (age 21)
---their other sons, Thomas, William, Charles, Richard, Joscelyne, Alan, George
---their daughters, Lucy, Anne, Eleanor
++his former mistress, Margaret Hawke (39)
---their daughter, Captain Eleanor Hawke, of Honoria (age 21)
Eleanor's maternal genealogy:
-Captain Edward Hawke, of Hector (deceased)
+his wife, Anne Hawke (age 63)
--their son, Richard Hawke, of Hector (age 44)
++his wife, Jane Hawke (age 36)
---his first son, Robert Hawke (age 14)
---his second son, George Hawke (age 11)
---his first daughter, Mary Hawke (age 7)
--their daughter, Margaret Hawke (39)
++her former lover, Henry Percy, 8th Earl of Northumberland, (age 58)
---their daughter, Captain Eleanor Hawke, of Honoria (age 21)
++her husband, Walter Strange (43)
---their daughter, Dorothy Hawke (17)
