Wilhelmine Vlaardoen
Wife of Prince Vanserie Vlaardoen XI of Bergdhoven
Member of the Followers of the Fire
Secret Founder of the Free Anachronic Society of Aalban
Fire Elementalist of the Fourth Circle
AC 1000
"The wife of the Prince of Bergdhoven must be a blazing fire for the Flaemish people. She must be a torch who shall light the path to glory. She must be a pyre where the tradition and legacy of the Flaems burn deeply in her heart. She must be a hearth who shall keep her Flaemish sons and daughters warm and safe. She must be an inferno who shall scorch this world till her enemies are but ashes. I gladly accept this my duty."
Appearance
Lady Wilhelmine Vlaardoen is 5'5" tall and very slim. She has amber-colored eyes and wavy, fiery-red hair. She often adorns her hair with a tulip from her garden, and she usually wears her hair down in public occasions to hide a birthmark on her nape. Her voice is very feminine when she speaks.
Lady Wilhelmine rarely dons robes preferring instead traditional Flaemish dresses. She often wears wonderful jewelry, mainly brooches and pins, made in the Bergdhovese style. She also uses perfumes from her principality, choosing gentle but particular scents.
Personality & Quirks
Due to her great sense of duty and her devotion to Flaemish ideals and traditions, Lady Wilhelmine is considered a symbol by her people. Though not officially a Prince of Glantri, she is often referred to as the "Princess of the Flaems" by her own people.
Periodically, Lady Wilhelmine parades in the town and villages of the Principality, accompanied by the local Bergdhovese Army. She stands in a chariot pulled by two fiery horses, throwing tulip petals to the people filling the streets. These are the only occasions in which she displays her magic in public.
The Princess of the Flaems is calm, gentle-mannered but strong-minded, brave, rational, and discreet. She can be cheerful, but never trifling, serious, but never boring, authoritative, but always charismatic and close to her beloved people. There are very few unpleasant words that are ever spoken about her.
In Linden Tower, Lady Wilhelmine is often irritable and prone to fits of depression, since the place reminds her of her trial to give birth to her daughter, Juliana. Her personal struggles are slowing consuming her inside, and she has begun to appear weaker than in her previous years. This change has become more obvious, as she has also stopped using potions of longevity, wishing to appear mature and elderly as a mother ought to.
Lady Wilhelmine is a great patroness of the arts—the Flaemish arts, to be exact. The galleries in Linden Tower are a testament to Flaemish greatness. Furniture, paintings, and books fill every corner in a veritable museum of the culture and history of her people. The fine jewelry of Bergdhovese artisans and the priceless collection of heirlooms of House Linden are under her watchful eye, but are displayed for all of Glantri to see. Around Linden Tower, Lady Wilhelmine has also commissioned a vast garden of all the wonderful species of flowers that can be found in her Principality.
Background
In AC 940, the birth of Vanserie Vlaardoen, the heir of House Linden, and the future ruler of the Flaemish Principality of Bergdhoven, started a chain of births among Flaemish families in good standing. Their hope was to give birth to the future consort of Vanserie, and thereby enter the highest ranks of Flaemish nobility. Wilhelmine's family, pure Flaems who once held a vast a dominion in Bergdhoven, was amongst those and one of the most serious candidates.
Wilhelmine was born in AC 942 on the anniversary of the Light of Rad ruling. On her nape was a birthmark shaped like a tiny red flame. In another context this would have meant a simple good omen, but in this one, it meant she was destined to rule Flaemish people. The affirmation of this advantage over her rivals meant to Wilhelmine a youth marked by a severe traditionalist education and rigorous daily study of magic and of all the skills that were to be learnt by a future "Princess of the Flaems."
During her stay at the Great School of Magic, Wilhelmine had only one friend: Sinaria Verlien, daughter to her cousin Garnaar, and the only person trusted by her parents to keep her company. Wilhelmine was younger than Sinaria, and although the two had very different personalities and were destined to have very different lives, they shared a common love for magic and Flaemish ideals. They spent most of their time together, thus gaining the nickname "The Fiery Duo."
At that time, Wilhelmine also gained the attentions of Vanserie Vlaardoen...
It was becoming evident that all other aspirants for becoming the Princess of the Flaemish people were no match for Wilhelmine. Her great sense of duty, her natural predisposition towards magic, and her all-embracing education increased her advantage, to the point that Vanserie himself had not to be forced to accept his parents' choice of consort. On the day of her twentieth birthday, Wilhelmine was promised to the future Prince of Bergdhoven.
By that time, the consensus among the rest Vlaardoen's choice was unanimous. Everyone in Bergdhoven considered Wilhelmine a great mage and an icon of Flaemish ideals. The Flaemish people already showed her the respect owed to a Princess.
This, however, did not come without its price. Since her birth, Wilhelmine had been treated like an adult, thus missing out on all those little things in a child's life that fill adult memories. The only game she had ever been playing was "the little Princess." With no close friends besides Sinaria, Wilhelmine had been living quite a lonely life for twenty years. Her parents watched constantly over her, preventing her from forming significant ties with other Flaemish ladies, who were viewed as competitors rather than companions. Wilhelmine was kind to them, but always had to remain distant.
Lady Wilhelmine's favored position was also not without its perils. A few months after the announcement of her betrothal to Vanserie, a mysterious illness almost thwarted all of Wilhelmine's efforts to become Princess. Wilhelmine was bedridden for three months. The Flaemish healers and physicians had no knowledge of the disease, and, of course, priestly intervention was never ever brought up. Eventually, the illness took its course and Wilhelmine appeared to have recovered completely. But Wilhelmine soon learned that the illness had cost her her fertility. This is a painful secret Wilhelmine has been keeping to herself ever since.
Soon after the incident, Wilhelmine challenged a Flaemish lady to a duel, accusing her with an unholy alliance with a Belcadizan witch. The duel turned out to be Wilhelmine's last, since no one had dared to challenge her ever since. The tales on how she obliterated her foe in a fiery inferno can still be heard in the corridors of the Great School of Magic up to this day.
Her marriage in AC 966 was a national celebration. Everybody sensed that under their leadership, the Flaems would rise again to rule the whole of Glantri. Since then, Vanserie and Wilhelmine acted as one, although she always kept herself just one step behind the husband. He became the High Master of Fire Elementalism. He became the leader of the Followers of Fire. And in AC 972, he became the Prince of Bergdhoven But, both Vanserie and Wilhelmine knew, that it was she who had always been the power behind the throne, the invisible hand behind their plots.
As time passed, the Flaemish people started to wonder why their Prince and Princess had not yet produced a rightful heir of Bergdhoven. Wishing not to have other people investigate the matter, the couple worked together in secrecy to solve the problem through magic and whatever means they could think of. Since Vanserie was oblivious of the truth, he eventually started thinking he himself was the cause of the problem.
In AC 980, during one of his extraplanar travels, Prince Vanserie discovered an ancient scroll that revealed to them a possible solution to their problem. Using the strange and alien magic on the scroll, Wilhelmine found a way to produce a child. On the day of her fortieth birthday, Wilhelmine gave birth to Juliana, fulfilling her desire to become mother, and the unspoken dream of the Flaemish people. No Flaemish mouth ever whispered what every Bergdhovese wondered about the Vlaardoens and the strange child with silver hair, but the foes of House Linden promptly filled the silences in their family drama with generous amounts of gossip.
Lady Wilhelmine had been preparing herself to be a mother for a long while, but as Juliana grew up, she and her husband realized their daughter was not the child they had dreamt of. This took a heavy toll on the couple, but on Lady Wilhelmine in particular. Lady Wilhelmine saw her sense of duty opposed by Juliana's brashness and thoughtlessness, her dedication and fidelity abandoned by Juliana's many flirtations, her Flaemish nationalism and pride abandoned by Juliana's tolerance and association with other races, and her scholarship and love for magic neglected by Juliana's laziness. Moreover, Juliana could have everything Wilhelmine had been denied during her own youth.
Lady Wilhelmine suddenly felt her whole life was a failure. She had believed in her family, in Flaemish ideals, in the supremacy of magic over everything else. And now her own daughter, the daughter she had wished for twenty years, seemed to spurn all these. Lady Wilhelmine no more considered herself a great mage, a great princess, a great woman—she was only an unsuccessful mother. Wilhelmine laid the blame on herself, her own selfishness and shortsightedness.
Perhaps to make matters worse, Prince Vanserie's attitudes towards Juliana differed greatly from Lady Wilhelmine's. Vanserie was more permissive of Juliana's brash and childish ways, and although he often reprimanded his daughter of her little faults and oversights, deep inside he was still the proud, affectionate, doting father. For better or for worse, Juliana grew to recognize this, knowing who to run to if she wanted a pet unicorn or a new dress for the ball, and knowing who to stay away from if her miscast spell burned down another house or her latest suitor was caught by the city guard. (It was, after all, Lady Wilhelmine's idea to have a law that imposes a death penalty on anyone who touches Juliana with no due reason.)
Lady Wilhelmine decided to put a stop to Juliana's irresponsible habits, but could not do so personally. She often committed the matter to Vanserie or to Anton Vlaardoen, her husband's brother and Juliana's authoritarian tutor, but even then, still felt guilty and ashamed of doing so.
And beyond the private turmoil of House Linden, Lady Wilhelmine's public image also began to change. Although she would still appear as the charismatic leader to her Flaemish people, the struggles in her heart started making her a very cruel and merciless person. Lady Wilhelmine's repressed guilt and frustrations found themselves vented against her enemies, personal, political and otherwise.
Web of Intrigue
Wilhelmine is the trait d'union, the point of reference, for the whole House Linden. She is the foremost supporter and counselor of her husband. She has shared in his victories and his losses. Vanserie is perhaps one of the few Princes of Glantri who has never thought about any woman other than his wife. Perhaps, the only bone of contention between the two, is how to handle their daughter, Juliana.
Juliana is no stranger to her mother's severity and disapproval, and has learned to avoid attracting Lady Wilhelmine's attentions altogether. This strikes Lady Wilhelmine deep in her heart, causing her much pain, grief, anger, and despair as a mother can have. Lady Wilhelmine's deepest wish is for her daughter to realize how much being a mother has meant to her and how much love she has for Juliana if only she could express it.
Outside of House Linden, their three noble allies greatly respect the Princess of the Flaems. Wilhelmine shares with Countess Sinaria Verlien a deep love for magic, and with Lord Pieter Vandehaar, Baron of Oxhill, a love for art and politics. She sponsored Lady Rowena Krollnar, Viscountess of Bergen, into the Secret Craft of Fire Elementalism, and shares her curiosity towards ancient Flaemish history and planar lore.
Lady Wilhelmine is the master puppeteer behind all the schemes of the Followers of the Fire, the Secret Craft of Fire Elementalism, and the politics of House Linden. Nothing is done without her approval. But she is careful to make everything appear as the doings of her husband, Prince Vanserie, so very few even suspect how deep she delves in political matters.
Lady Wilhelmine has also kept alive an ancient Flaemish tradition of the Keepers of the Radiant Flame, pledged to "keeping the Light of the Radiance from ever being shadowed by Gray Sorcery" (referring to science and technology). Together with Lady Sinaria Verlien, Lady Wilhelmine hatched an intricate conspiracy to deter the advance of technology, but also to undermine the political stability of the neighboring Principality of Aalban, itself already besieged by the conflict between the Hattian and Alphatian factions of the ruling House Ritterburg. Thus, two Flaemish wizardesses fabricated the Free Anachronic Society of Aalban, a belligerent group of wizards employing sabotage and other destructive methods against all forms of technological machinery—mostly under the control of the Hattians of Aalban). The leader of the Anachronic Society—and the unwitting pawn of the Flaemish masterminds—is Frau Gertrud von Drachenfels, the embattled Alphatian wife of Prinz Jaggar von Drachenfels of Aalban, who had no qualms against the anti-Hattian agenda of the Anachronics. Recently however, another Alphatian noblewoman, Lady Serena Aendyr, wife of the rival Prince Volospin Aendyr of Blackhill, has come to suspect the involvement of the Flaemish powers that be in the Society, and has rightfully directed her sinister attentions towards Lady Wilhelmine.
The foes and allies of House Linden are Lady Wilhelmine's with no exceptions.
Amidst her foes, there is one most hated archenemy: Princesa Carnelia de Belcadiz y Fedorias. Since Lady Wilhelmine lost her fertility, she has begun to watch with ever-growing suspicion the activities of Princess Carnelia. After years of discreet inquiry and investigation by her loyal Flaemish contacts, Lady Wilhelmine has become convinced that the tragic incident that left her barren was not a random act of malice, but part of an elaborate plot against the Flaems, orchestrated by the leader of a vast secret coven of Belcadizan Witches, rumored to be Princess Carnelia. As expected, this hatred is mutual, as the Princess of Belcadiz does blame Lady Wilhelmine for the theft of a powerful elven artifact for her own selfish purposes.
Style of Magic & Combat
Statistics: 23rd-level mage, Fire Elementalist of the 4th Circle; Str 7, Int 17, Wis 15, Dex 13, Con 6, Cha 16; AL C (D&D), CE (AD&D).
Languages: Thyatian (Glantrian, Caurenzan and Aalbanese dialects), Traladaran (Boldavian dialect), Darokinian, Sylaire, and, of course, Flaemish. Wilhelmine speaks foreign languages with a slight Flaemish accent, even though she could do so without one.
Weapon Proficiencies: flail (grandmaster), dagger (expert).
Skills: ancient history (Flaemish), etiquette, law (Glantrian), leadership, meditation, politics (Glantrian), planar lore (Elemental Plane of Fire), quick casting, reading/writing, spell combination, spellcraft.
Since her first and last magical duel, Lady Wilhelmine has had very few occasions of magical combat, as enemies know never to engage her in combat.
Lady Wilhelmine does not prefer one school of magic to another, since she likes magic as a whole, she believes a great mage has to know everything she can. But as any proper Flaemish wizard should, Lady Wilhelmine she knows everything about fire-related magic. However, she knows quite everything about other spells as well. Should an enemy protect himself from fire, he would be in danger of being blasted with an ice storm spell from her.
Lady Wilhelmine knows every common wizard spell, a lot of the uncommon Glantrian spells, and a good number of the rare spells, even those difficult to find in Glantri. She has a vast repertoire of ancient Flaemish scrolls and spellbooks, which she gathered in Bergdhoven and through her husband's travels.
She possesses some unique Flaemish spells, as well as some ancient versions of common fire-based spells, known only to the Followers of the Fire. Of course, the personal spells of her husband, Prince Vanserie, are no secret to her, as well as other spells from the members of the Secret Craft of Fire Elementalism. During her long career as a mage, she has also created some unique spells of her own, as well as personal variations on already known spells.
Lady Wilhelmine despises the enchantment of jewels, believing this is something every low-level mage can accomplish. Therefore, the only enchanted jewel she has is a family heirloom, a brooch—The Brooch of Unwavering Protection, one of The Seven Legendary Brooches of the Flaem.
In the Tower of Linden, Lady Wilhelmine keeps an enchanted looking glass, The Mirror of the Ill-Fated Omens.
"The Flaems will burn out someday. The spark is there, but not the fuel."
(Prince Volospin Aendyr, engaging in rather ungentlemanly gossip)
References:
The Magic of the Secret Craft of Fire Elementalism
Spells of the Followers of the Fire
The Trial of Wilhelmine Vlaardoen, a story about the Princess of the Flaem and the Baba Yaga
Author: Giovanni Porpora