Alexandrie Falisci

The Leveque d'Aur family, Montaigne's most notable shipwrights and naval officers, wanted to negotiate for favorable harbors in Vodacce. They got the most traction with the Falisci, and sealed the bargain with the marriage of a Leveque d'Aur girl to a Falisci princeling. The Faliscis were surprised, and a little chagrined, when the fortunes of the Game elevated that princeling up to Prince (he had been fourth in line to inherit), and his Senzavista, foreign wife to Princess. The pair have passed on in their turn, and their son Donello is now the ruler.

Genevieve Leveque Falisci was never comfortable in her new homeland. She was educated, witty, a courtier - here, that got her branded as a loose woman, more a courtesan than a proper noblewoman. She could talk turns around the strega but would subsequently find her emotional life topsy-turvy as they tugged and stretched her strands in reply. As an Adept Portier, she decided that she simply didn't have to take this any more, and began frequent visits home. When her children were born, she would take them with her (once she became a Master). Their father agreed that exposure to other cultures, especially the Montaigne nobility who so loved the family wine, would be good for them.

Her youngest, Alexandrie, was most impacted by these trips. She loved Montaigne, where vivaciousness and fun were encouraged, and she got to wear pretty dresses and jewels. Life in Vodacce was dull in comparison, where she was expected to stay quiet and wear black. When she was old enough that her sorceries manifested, Vodacce life got a lot more interesting. In Montaigne, everyone had to pretend that they weren't sorcerers. In Vodacce, her black veil told everyone she was a little Clotho, and they respected her accordingly. Just a mean glare and a semi-lifted hand to the veil's hem was enough to make most people back off.

She was about ten when Donello, then fifteen, gathered her and Michel Durand together. The rumors were coming in that there was another new Villanova prince, the younger son, Giovanni. And, well, they said, if you could believe it, that he'd killed his own brother. Donello wanted to make sure that the Falisci siblings never came to such an end, and proposed that they swear a vow to always support one another. From Alexandrie, he wanted reassurances that she'd never support her future husband over her brothers. She agreed - but only if neither of her brothers would pressure her into a marriage she didn't want. Donello pronounced that fair, and they swore.

That was becoming a problem, ten years down the line. One suitor after another was eager for the hand of a woman so close to one of the more powerful Princes, but Alexandrie was not eager to accept any of them. For one thing, she was happily enmeshed in Donello's parties and plots, assisting him in their planning and execution. For another thing, her half-Montaigne brothers accepted her "little ways," habits of outspokenness and insouciance she learned in Montaigne. Most husbands would not be so forgiving. The problem was finally resolved when the Caligari required a husband for the exceedingly dangerous Beatrice Caligari. The Caligari and Falisci maintained at least cordial ties at all times, since each winter, half the mainland nobles of Vodacce flooded through Falisci's port of Estivo della Verde en route to Reinascienza, and from there to their own islands. Ferries between the two cities made a lot of money for both princes, and so they kept on good terms. Which was why, when no one else would risk their lives to wed Beatrice, Caligari looked to Falisci for help.

Poor Aldo Falisci, a second cousin once removed, was packed off to Caligari Island. Beatrice didn't even take the Falisci name, which was a bit of a blow to Falisci prestige. In a tit-for-tat move, Alexandrie requested her own marriage be made to a minor Caligari nobleman, who would come to Falisci lands, and she would keep her own name. Negotiations took a few months - Alexandrie was no Beatrice Caligari, to be making such demands - but in the end, it was a small price for Caligari to pay to stay on Falisci's good side. A cargo of Falisci's best was sent to the island as part of the deal.

Alexandrie has since taken over more and more hostessing duties on Falisci Island, especially as the military and political maneuvers are demanding more of Donello's attention. Her ability to see the strands keeps her current on the relationships in the room, letting her see which are ripe for nudging into a drunken embarrassment (via mundane means, of course). More than once, she's engineered a scandal for an enemy by retrieving a previously-blooded item from him or her and planting it in a new location.

Alexandrie does not have many friends, besides her brothers. As Donello's sister, none dare strike too hard at her (not without one good, solid conspiracy, anyway) but her Montaigne mannerisms do not endear her to the other Falisci. She has had no children with her husband, and the speculation is that their marriage bed is cold.

Alexandrie Falisci, Hero
Reputation: 60
Background: Vow 2

Brawn 3, Finesse 4, Wits 3, Resolve 2, Panache 4

Advantages: Above Average Appearance, Linguist, Lord's Hand, Noble, Scarovese, Castillian (R/W), Eisen (R/W), Montiagne (R/W), Thean (R/W), Vendel (R/W), Vodacce (R/W)
Porte (Apprentice): Attunement 3, Bring 3, Blooding 3, Pocket 3, Walk 0
Sorte (Apprentice): Arcana 3, Coins 3, Cups 3, Rods 3, Swords 3

Artist: Singing 3
Courtier: Dancing 3, Etiquette 5, Fashion 5, Oratory 4, Diplomacy 4, Gaming 3, Gossip 3, Politics 2, Seduction 2, Sincerity 4
Spy: Shadowing 2, Stealth 3, Bribery 2, Cryptography 2, Disguise 4, Forgery 2, Poison 1, Sincerity 4

Athlete: Climbing 5, Footwork 4, Sprinting 2, Throwing 3, Break Fall 5, Leaping 3, Swimming 3, Swinging 2
Dirty Fighting: Attack (DF) 3, Attack (IW) 3, Kick 2, Throat Strike 3
Fencing: Attack (Fencing) 4, Parry (Fencing) 3
Knife: Attack (Knife) 2, Parry (Knife) 2, Throw (Knife) 4
Rider: Ride 3, Trick Riding 2

Secrets:
Alexandrie learned a whole lot more than insouciance in Montaigne, and in her mother's closed quarters in Vodacce. Genevieve Leveque d'Aur was not about to let her daughter grow up to be an unlettered, unlearned witch, dependent entirely upon her ability to intimidate, cajole and fool others to survive.

Alexandrie enjoys quite the double life as one of Donello's most trusted Lord's Hands. Disguised as "the Spider" while on duty, she flaunts her ability to climb Vodacce's tallest towers - and fall from them, if necessary. Alexandrie has learned to limp away from plunges that would kill most men or women. Her Porte skills mean that she's rarely without access to whatever equipment she needs - small items are in her Pocket, while larger ones are Blooded and left at home until needed. Things she wants for evidence that she can't easily carry off can be Blooded and removed easily later.

She has an understanding with her sham husband. He can enjoy the very best Falisci Island has to offer - which is very good, indeed - in exchange for his compliance in the act. For her part, Alexandrie mustn't do anything to overtly injure his pride or honor. She was well-known as devoted to her brother before her wedding, and he accepts that, but if she takes any lovers, she must be discreet about it.