Fiora Bernoulli - Vodacce Fate Witch
Actress - Jennifer Connelly	Picture by Toos

2 - How would you physically describe yourself?
Fiora seems to be a very average women. She is not too tall, and not too short, with a good figure and noble bearing. However her habit of keeping her eyes slightly downcast makes her look shorter, and less attractive than she is. She dresses as befits her station as a Strega in a fine quality black dress and veil. The veil silently hides her beautiful features, and intensely dark eyes.

3 - Do you have any recurring mannerisms?
Fiora speaks very seldom, and is happy to let others take the lead. Her eyes are often downcast. However, she ruthlessly meets the gaze of those she speaks to, especially if she speaks of their strands.

4 - What is your main motivation?
She essentially wants to be left alone.

5 - What is your greatest strength, and weakness?
She is a good violinist, a talented horsewoman and has great ability with Sorte. However, none of these are her strengths. Her greatest ability is to use the reputation of a fate witch to inspire fear and command respect. She is a person of great resolve, but it is a resolve born of constant oppression. Her weakness is the way she accepts her oppression, she does not want to break free of the system. Her loyalty and dedication to Vodacce and the church are laudable, but ultimately keep her a prisoner.

6 - What are your most and least favourite things?
Without doubt her most important possessions are her violin and her horse ‘Scuro Domani’. However, beyond that, her greatest possession is her sense of self, something she rarely shares.

7 - What is your psychology?
Under a surface of calm and respectability, Fiora is a thunderous ocean of Vodacce passion. Alone with her music she lets herself go. When angered she boils with inner rage that is only barely visible, yet no less frightening. You would not think to look at her, but she is fierce and passionate in love, loyalty and friendship, and equally fierce when scorned.

8 - What is your single greatest fear?
Her greatest fear is that anyone should learn that she can read, because she will burn for it and everything she loves will be torn away. She knows she is playing a dangerous game by copying documents, but that will go well as long as no one thinks she can read them. If her father knew she was learning several secrets with her work, he might be the one to light the pyre himself.

9 - What are your highest ambitions, and greatest love?
While there are many things she longs for, Fiora knows her place and doesn’t believe they will ever come to her. She wants to be as good as she can as a fate witch, because that is what she does. Theus has dealt her a hand, and she must play with the cards she is given. To play music, fall in love and live without fear are her greatest desires, even though she does not believe them possible.

10 - What is your opinion of your country?
Vodacce is a beautiful land that simply works differently from other lands. Like Vaticine dogma, it is not to be questioned, just believed. She considers most of the politicking to be simply a ‘man’s game’ and remains glad she was born a woman.

11 - Do you have any prejudices?
The Objectionist church is of course sadly misguided, as is any other non-Vaticine faith. She bears no ill will to non-Vaticines; she is just saddened that they are denying themselves the true faith. Fiora also has little time for men. They play their political games and behave like children. As long as they don’t try to involve her in their games then all will be well. Even so, they cannot be trusted, especially in matters of the heart.

12 - Where do your loyalties lie?
There can be only one loyalty in Fiora’s life, that of loyalty to her family. To do as the family commands is to obey all other loyalties. However, she secretly regards loyalty to her friends as a greater passion, and may quietly disobey the family for their sake. She also has great loyalty to Theus and his holy Vaticine church, but not necessarily all of its priests.

13 - Are you in love, betrothed or even married?
Fiora is new to love. However, she fears it, as it will bring complications. All she hopes for is to marry a man she can get on with, and who will leave her alone. Love is not for the nobility.

14 - What is your family like?
Her family are like many others of the Bernoulli line. They are virtuous (in a Vodacce way) and look after themselves in the great game.

15 - How would your parents describe you?
Her father would rather not describe her. As a woman she is of little use, but as a witch she has abilities he can use. As long as she remains obedient, and stays away from her mother’s influence, things will be fine. Fiora’s mother is even less interested. Fiora’s decision to stay on the islands was the same as ‘siding with her father’. Anyway, Fiora’s elder sister is a better Sorte mistress, and so Fiora is only really useful as a backup.

16 - Are you a gentleman/woman?
At all times Fiora comports herself as a gentlewoman. She has standards to keep up whether she likes it or not.

17 - How religious are you, and which church sect do you follow?
Fiora is a Vaticine, there is no other religion available. Other people can believe what they like, but that is unfortunate for them.

18 - Are you a member of a guild, gentleman’s club or secret society?
Such things are for men and their games.

19 - What do you think of sorcery?
It is a beautiful gift that in Fiora’s case brings freedom and respect for women. It is a tool of emancipation, and safer in the hands of women than men. She sees no moral troubles with it, for Vodacce is the most Vaticine of all places and their church does not condemn it. So it is perfectly acceptable when wielded by the faithful.

20 - What advice do you need to hear?
Fiora needs to understand that she has the right and the power to make her own life. It is not wrong to want to make her own choices in life. Neither her family nor the church can tell her what to do with her powers and talents. She needs to realise this, and that she has the ability to do something about it.