Viola Fallisci History

Viola's Family

I was born one of the younger members of a large family and a middle daughter of 3. I have always felt different to everyone else in the family. For as long as I could remember I have possessed an acute awareness of everything around me, quick reactions and an almost unquenchable curiosity about everything. I grew up on Falisci island, Medico watching visitors from all Theah at family parties quietly above the stairs with intense curiosity, fascination and (in the case of the women of not a little envy, the always seemed far freer than the women of my own family). I listened particularly intensely to their talk of their homelands and part of me longed to follow them home to see what the worlds they came from were like.

I also watched her brothers at their swordplay practice with similar curiosity and envy with a gut feeling that it was something I could excel it and a sure knowledge that I would never be allowed to try and it was a dangerous desire to admit to. I only really confided her feelings to my sister Regina who was 2 years younger and could sense it possibly through instinct, probably through close knowledge (we grew up sharing a room?) and possibly through Sorte (I never did understand the limits of Sorte). I also confided to her my other gut instinct that I did not possess Sorte. Both Regina and our mother assured me that some girls were just late developers (Questions: are girls trained to use Sorte from birth or is just the ones who show a gift?) but I somehow always felt they were wrong and by the age of 16 all concerned knew the truth. Without Sorte my fate was even more depressing, I was to either confined as a nun, bundled off to be a second wife for Regina’s husband or exist as a useless burden grounded in the family home probably resented by father and brother alike.

As a family we can famously never resist a bet so when Regina (for reasons that I still never really understood), after listening to a whinge too many on the subject, wagered that however much I detested my situation I would never do anything about it, she must have know that I would at least attempt to prove her wrong. It was agreed the stake would be one of her best-trained spiders. I stole some clothes that I know my thankfully all elder brothers had outgrown, a sword and a knife, disguised myself as a boy and trooped off to the Ambrogia sword school I had heard my brothers talk about. It was in this place that my true identity was spotted and a member of the daughters approached me discreetly. (question Andy – are sword schools boarding or do guys attend on daily basis, also Sophia’s Daughters train women at the sword school or would Viola have approached by a spy disguised as a servant?). They confirmed my long held beliefs that Vodacce society is unfair towards women and offered to assist me in leaving Vodacce. How could I refuse? I also learned of the possible fates that could await Regina and became determined to see that she did not suffer as of her kind do. The daughters told me that could not reveal details of them to anyone lest they be betrayed but I needed to tell Regina that there were people she could turn to if she ever needed to, so I asked for permission to say goodbye to her before I left Vodacce. I told her if she need to help that there were people she could turn to and she insisted that since I had won the wager I should receive the spider. I still wonder to this day if she saw what would happen in the strands and I just goaded me into doing to it to fulfil my destiny. I make it seem a very calm and serene parting, it wasn’t, there were many tears on both sides and I still miss her horribly.
The rest is a sense history – I joined Axel’s band of mercenaries and was taken under his wing whilst simultaneously learning from the daughters more of their aims. I cannot thank them enough for giving a useless prisoner a freedom which has been sweetened by a noble purpose. I am still disguised as my alter-ego Roberto because one tends to be asked less questions that way and because despite the fact foreign women are more respected than Vodacce women it is still relative and men still don’t really take swordswomen seriously. I do sometimes have a craving for a pretty dress even a black one of my birth rank but freedom seldom comes without a price and this is a relatively small one. I also miss the Falisci wine, which is the best in Theah (I have tasted a few since leaving Medico) and therefore well beyond my budget at present. Maybe one day I’ll rich enough or I procure some. In the meantime I make do with whatever I can obtain from taverns in moderation (some of it is tolerable and some insults the word vinegar). I pretend to be ultra-religious Vaticine to explain being ridiculously modest but I would like to know more about the Objectionist faith as I suspect it as being closer to the truth and just because I have to know everything. The discovery of the third prophet being a fake was profoundly enlightening, it explained a lot.

My hope is to rescue Regina from the imprisonment that is Vodacce society unless of course she manages to achieve a genuinely happy marriage, which from what I know is not likely. When we are both old I would like us to be living quietly in a place where we are not bothered and free from peril. My fears mostly involve imprisoment, discovery and the unpleasantness than non-gentleman can inflict upon ladies (all of which makes me glad I can fight without the benefit of my swords). The worse case scenario is obviously being sent back to Vodacce and burnt as a heretic. Believe it or not I do not actually hate my country, I miss the beauty and grave of her architecture. She has great potential and could we rid of her of men such as Villanova then we might see her reach it. Contrary to popular belief there are a good men such as Prince Vestini and the leader of own family who was in our house during my youth and I remember as a man of great charm, friendliness and kindness. I have heard of his desire for the Montaigne lady and I would like to approach the idea of the sisters coming to an agreement to assist him in procuring her in return for a similar licence to that which we enjoy from Prince Vestini and possibly for the safe passage of Regina in particular.

Who do I dislike? Apart from that bastard Villanova, as a Vodacce even in exile I’m not wild about the Vendel. I share the daughters dislike of the Inquisition and I don’t particularly like the Knights of the Rose and Cross, the sisters don’t trust them and sending the Lady Clarisse across the country with no concept or preparation for what might befall her is a little irresponsible in my book.

Sorcery? – I sometimes feel like an island in the middle of sorcery. My mother and sisters are “fate witches” and the “sisters” consist of many sorcerers. I don’t particularly envy them their powers as I think lacking in Sorte made following my natural path easier and it ensures that no one will concern themselves with seeking me. I do wish I possessed the Scryers gift for being able to read a man’s heart instinctively as it would have enabled me to run a sword through that treacherous Brother Mark while I had the chance and would make deciding who to trust easier.

Family? – Father was always so remote that he seemed like a stranger, I feel know more about our Prince than him. I was of no use to him in the great game so he barely noticed me therefore I learned to return the compliment. I miss my mother and wonder how happy she is and what family she used to belong to. I feel a great pity that I cannot find out if she is happy and attempt to rescue her too but she is growing old and I fear it is too late for her. I like to imagine that both her and Regina are looking out for me through the strands but this could be a romantic notion.