BRANWEN ZORAIDA

[Branwen Zoraida]

Branwen Zoraida
HUMAN, WITCH & MADAME AT THE RED ORCHID


"Nun, liebe Kinder gebt fein acht
Ich bin die Stimme aus dem Kissen,
Ich hab euch etwas mitgebracht,
Hab es aus meiner Brust gerissen.

Mit diesem Herz hab ich die Macht,
Die Augenlider zu erpressen
Ich singe bis der Tag erwacht
Ein heller Schein am Firmament
Mein Herz brennt..."

about your character

[/b] Brawen Elene Zoraida
gender: female
age: 35
canon or original: Canon[/SIZE][/ul]

the description

[/b] Jenni Button
description of appearance: Her eyes are a deep and soul melting brown, framed by dark lashes. Her skin is pale and although she does not easily tan, she avoids too much exposure to the sun to maintain the lustrous marble color of her flesh. But in the sun her skin warms with rosy tones that hint at a blush, which she often imitates in her decorative makeup to disguise the lack of color and romantic fever her clients inspire in her. Her lips are a soft kissable pink, but those lips are often set in a stern line. Her face is of a classical beauty from a more reserved and delicate age. Her chin juts out slightly and her cheekbones are prominent but with her smile her visage comes alive like a moonlit night. The crown of hair on her head is a lustrous creamy white cascade of curls that fall around her shoulder and at length come to an end just between her shoulder blades. Her hair is a strange color which is rarely seen in the real world, but then she is a creature of fantasy and is free to have such a strangeness about her person. With a coiffure of white silky hair she often wears it in a loose bun or short braid, because the thick curls prevent too strict of a confinement for her ghostly locks. Her body is strong and lithe. With rounded shoulders and proportionate hips she maintains a perfected hourglass form. She trains herself daily and has learned many forms of defense and the delicate art of seduction. Her feet and hands are long and elegant, with smooth nails and curves in the palm and arches that have made many clients come to honor and worship just these simple appendages of her beloved body. From years of experience, she walks gracefully and with confidence. This confidence permeates her being and gives her an easily commanding air. Her appearance is a haunting compilation of many diamond facets, from every angle she is a masterpiece of her art. Like a ghost, she will haunt your memories even though she has slipped from your grasp…[/SIZE][/ul]

the personality

[/b] Branwen was born different. She always knew that there was something about herself that separated her from everyone around her. It was only when she finally met her real father did she fully understand her soul and the magic laced there. Her emotions are sometimes as volatile as the weather, which responds to her every tear or furious glare. She has to maintain a sense of control over herself, or else she might spiral into a tornado of rage or the darkness of a winter storm. At times Branwen can be filled with a sad rage, which stems from the suffering and confusion she endured under the fearful eyes of the human villagers who reviled her. Once she rediscovered her ancestry and understood why she was different, with the help of her father, some of that hate and rage left her. With knowledge and gifted intelligence, she has learned to become calm and master her own body and its magic. By practicing her craft and the art of her body‘s natural weaponry she finds peace. Knowing that she can now defend herself with ease has healed her aching soul, which was torn asunder by the ravishment she endured in her youth. When she was raped by a group of wicked men she hated herself more than the men who had taken it upon themselves to steal her innocence and beauty. She knew very well that she had toyed with them like playthings and was punished for her own selfish wickedness. When she came to the Red Orchid the women there endured such torments every day and it took her a long time to understand how they felt about their bodies and the acts of sexual desire. It was natural to want and be wanted. To know the intricacies of such an understanding was the key to guiding Branwen into the world of sex and romance in the Red Orchid. To bring her clients joy, even if it was not shared by herself, was soon her profession. She had no choice but to become a prostitute in the Red Orchid, because surviving outside this hallowed place was growing harder every day with conflicts between races heightening. As a witch, a bastard and a haunting beauty Branwen was hated by the human world. Only in the world of fantasy and secret desires did she feel safe. In the mortal world of hardship and pain she had suffered. Now she was free to be peaceful and to share that peace with those around her. As a stronger woman loving sentiments began to bloomed within her. She cared for the women in the Red Orchid that needed help and she was happy to heal them and give them hope that their lives would get better. With her magical gifts and newfound self awareness she had the ability to command respect at last and as the Madame of the Red Orchid she wields that power with natural skill. In secret Branwen still longs for the life she could have lead as a human woman. By now she could have been married with children to love and care for as she watched over the family estate in peace and harmony within a community. But now she has her own community of fantasy, desire and magic to control and protect. It is a lonely life but one she would not change to satisfy others weaker than herself. She is her own creature, self made and strong…[/SIZE][/ul]

the history

[/b] Zeddicus Zoraida (125), Lorraine Mercy (56)
spouse/children: N/A
siblings: Brigid Mercy (30)

history so far: Branwen was born into a family with secrets and wary eyes fixed on her in fear. Her father was a powerful earth wizard who was feared by the village in which he had been born. On a return visit to his childhood home, Zeddicus Zoraida met Branwen‘s mother. She was a young and beautiful creature, a simple healer with an innocent view about the world. Zeddicus enchanted the young Lorraine with his tales of far off lands and castles. Zeddicus was taken in by Lorraine’s innocence and beauty and it seemed he had found a reason to live a normal life at last. They soon consummated a relationship that was frowned upon by those who feared the power of Zeddicus‘ magic. When Lorraine became pregnant with a child, Zeddicus left them to fend for themselves suddenly and without warning. To Lorraine it seemed Zeddicus was afraid of the responsibility, while in fact Zeddicus had been forced to leave by the villagers with threats against Lorraine‘s life and that of her unborn child. Lorraine never discovered the truth behind Zeddicus‘ departure. She married well in the village, even though she had the bastard child of a wizard bouncing on her hip. Young Branwen soon had a sister to keep her company, Brigid, and the family Lorraine had created lived in bliss without magic in their lives. However, that innocent bliss was soon to end. As Branwen aged, strange things began to happen. Storm clouds gathered when ever Branwen was sad, the rain falling on the window in imitation of her frustrated tears. Lightening would begin striking violently in the fields when she was angry or frightened. Injured animals sprang back to life in Branwen‘s hands, rendering her unconscious and ill from being drained of her energy so suddenly. Lorraine and her sister Brigid feared for Branwen‘s life and the lives of those around her as her power grew. Under the watchful and frightened eyes of her family Branwen became spiteful and very distraught. She began disconnecting herself from those that said they wanted to help her, but who in truth only feared her wrath if they did nothing. As if in reply to her young heart‘s helpless cry, a dark man appeared on Lorraine‘s doorstep once more. Zeddicus had returned.

Lorraine’s husband at the time tried to make the wizard leave to keep Branwen in the dark about her origins, but it was no use standing between a powerful father and his beautiful daughter. Branwen was introduced to Zeddicus by a flustered Lorraine, who still hated the man who had abandoned her all those years ago. Branwen felt an immediate connection with the strange white haired older man who had come to visit her. When he made a flower blossom in her head from a handful of earth she was excited to be alive for the first time in her life. Zeddicus stayed against his better judgment to watch his daughter grow. Over time he taught her some taming skills to control her emerging magical abilities. Branwen loved every moment she could spend with the strange man and his loving presence. Without being told she came to realize that this man was her father. She gravitated towards him and his magic more than her own mother‘s affections. To be with someone who shared her life‘s frustrations and extraordinary beauty felt right and made her happy. Once again the village began to stir with discontent. They didn‘t like the wizard living so near to the village and the home of his child. The ignorant populace of their village feared magic as they feared the plagued and soon an exorcism of the reason for their fear was called for. Both Zeddicus and his daughter were asked to leave. Lorraine resisted this command with all her might. While she hated Zeddicus for his betrayals she still loved her first born daughter. Force was made necessary to the people and in the night, as a raving mob of villagers advanced, Lorraine smuggled Branwen to Zeddicus and told them to leave and leave quickly. The final look shared by Zeddicus and Lorraine explained everything that had went wrong. Lorraine finally understood why he had left her all those years ago and finally the guilt on Zeddicus‘ shoulders was lifted. With the young Branwen in his arms they fled their home village. He took Branwen to K‘eth Burgh, where he had been living as a scholar and teacher of magic. They made a life together and Branwen grew up in rooms full of stacks of books that stretched to the ceiling. She read every volume put before her and she soon was being asked to teach those younger than herself how to control their gifts.

Branwen became an intelligent and beautiful young woman. The eyes of every man following her shadow as she passed. Branwen learned to toy with the burning desires of men. She enjoyed this human power she could control as easily as she controlled the water elements and weather. This gift for being coy while maintaining an air of desire soon got her into trouble. The frustrations of cruel young men made themselves known and Branwen was unable to defend herself from the nightmare that day. Disgraced by this violation of her innocence, Branwen couldn‘t bring herself to go on living in K‘eth Burgh with her father. The eyes, of those who could see her dishonor, were too heavy to bare. Against her father‘s wishes she fled the white towers of her second home. Traveling like a lone beggar woman she hid her magical abilities and begged for her bread. Until one day, lost under the summer sun, she stumbled across a grand palace of pleasures and delights she never knew existed before. The Red Orchid took her in and cleaned her wounds. The women there taught her to be strong and how to survive in their world even with such terrible bruises on her soul. She became a maiden of this sinful bathhouse and she soon was one of the best courtesans working there. With her gifts for magic in healing and water, Branwen became an essential part of life at the Red Orchid. She maintained the hot and cold water springs and healed the women who were with child or injured by heavy handed men. She also cared for the other magical women in the Orchid, who didn‘t understand or know how to control their gifts. With men groveling at her feet and women safe under her guidance, the title of Madame of the Orchid passed into Branwen‘s hands.

Many of the women at the Orchid were jealous of Branwen‘s advancement, but they had no choice but to obey her status. Branwen reestablished the order in the Red Orchid and changed many things for the better. They did not use slaves to do the work in the Bathhouse. No more girls were stolen from their homes to work at the bathhouse. Women who came to the house willingly were accepted and those who wanted to leave the Orchid had that freedom. Men were given a set of rules to follow when under the Red Orchid‘s roof and safety for her younger charges was Branwen‘s top priority. With a higher class of prostitute working at the Red Orchid, noblemen began visiting with their friends and relatives. Powerful men stepped across the Red Orchid’s doorstep to be worshipped by beautiful women, who listened with open ears to their plans for the future. Branwen soon had more knowledge about the inner workings of the human and vampire courts than anyone else. She keeps her covertly gathered knowledge secret and hopes to use it one day to end the conflicts arising across the land beyond the Red Orchid‘s sanctuary. In confidence and under the alias “White Raven”, Branwen even offers the Red Orchid as a safe haven for those who need a hiding place from the law. She services both the bad and the good men of Magnum Terra with her protection, but the order and balance of power is maintained. The evil men that walk in her palace of pleasure are weeded of information which Branwen can use to help the good men and women who want to help Magnum Terra become a better place, free of tyranny and evil. One thing Branwen desires above all is equality, between those with magic and those who are simply human. She lived and suffered with that black shadow of hate on her shoulders and she would hate for that shadow to hang over the world forever. If her last breath was what the Gods desired to bring peace between magic and humanity, she would gladly give her life. With the watchful dark eyes of a raven and the experienced wisdom of the owl, Branwen keeps the peace in the Red Orchid with the power to defend it should that need arise…[/SIZE][/ul]