__________________QUICK STATS
Name: Dahlia Gray, neé Treyburn
Age: Early 30's
Gender: Female
Species: Human
Ethnicity: Connlaothian
Height: 5'4"
Occupation: Minor Noblelady; since she's widowed, she runs her own estate
Residence: Uthlyn, Connlaoth
Sexuality: Heterosexual
__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF
Physical Description Dahlia has long, curly ash blonde hair (
something like this), usually kept in one heavy braid or bun or, when she's busy about her own home, tied back into a 'poof'. Her eyes are grey, bright and clever. She has a pretty face with high cheekbones and a short, straight nose, with a complexion that is fair but not pale. (Though she is known to get freckles in the summer time). Always one to keep herself busy, Dahlia has always had a fairly fit physique, though this has started bordering on (too) thin since her husband, Kerry, died. She dresses in a manner typical of a lady, neither spurning nice clothing like some of her siblings, nor going to any excess. She wears two wedding rings: the official, standard bejeweled gold ring, but also a slim ring of rosewood that Kerry carved when he unofficially proposed to her when they were kids.
Personality Dahlia has a sharp mind and, like many of her siblings, a strong will. She's pragmatic and fairly independent and, growing up, was notorious for listening to neither her parents nor her older siblings. For for all of that Dahlia always had a fairly good disposition, rarely getting in too much trouble and helping to look after the kids who were younger than her. She always had a good sense of humor, though it is frequently a little snarky, and frequently played jokes or tricks on her siblings. Dahlia is the type to never really rest, she always has to be busy, busy, busy. Growing up that meant she could have been running around with the boys, practicing a craft (she continues to be something of an amateur potter and glass-blower), or reading a book. Her independence and need to keep busy was largely how she coped with her hectic family and it made her fairly unflappable. In general, Dahlia isn't too fussed about high society or etiquette or all the pomp that goes along with nobility - indeed, Kerry and her used to come back from parties and spend half the night making fun of all the stiff and stuffy nobles. Nevertheless, she understands how to act in formal social situations, and is perfectly able to carry herself with the grace and politeness expected from a noble lady.
A lot of her light-hearted air and sharp sense of humor has been consumed, however, by her grief over the loss of her husband. Though she never lets her children, or younger siblings, see her grieve or lose her composure, Dahlia almost always feels like she's falling apart now and has not infrequent bouts of either crying or losing her temper (something she rarely did before). Still, she's coping the best way she knows how: putting on a brave face and keeping herself busy, raising her family and running the Gray estate.
The loss of Kerry also dramatically changed Dahlia's views on magic. Dahlia used to be fairly liberal, if somewhat ambivalent, about magic and magic-use. She certainly didn't believe in persecuting people or hunting them down. This all changed after her husband's death. Dahlia has let her personal grief trump whatever ethical considerations she once had. Now the mages can all be put in camps or killed for all she cares. These feelings fall apart a little when confronted with a mage that she knows personally, but in general her emotions on the matter don't listen very much to reason. That said, Dahlia is far from supporting the Grand Duke in the war. If anything, she holds him – and the rest of the government-military system – in equal contempt to mages, if not higher (the Grand Duke especially). From her perspective, all sides are just as responsible for her husband's death and the disruption of her family.
Magic/AbilitiesWhen not busy with her responsibilities as the de facto head of an estate, a noblewoman, or a mother, Dahlia takes solace in both pottery and glass-blowing and she has a small studio adjacent to the stables that her in-laws converted for her when she joined the family.
In addition to glass and pottery work, Dahlia also enjoys baking. The more elaborate the better. She's not as good at cleaning up after it, though, and the kitchen is usually an explosion of flour and eggshells after she's been through with it.
RelationshipsThe GraysKarol "Kerry" Gray: Husband, deceased. Also from a house of lower nobility, Kerry and Dahlia met as preteens and were sweethearts from a pretty young age. Since her family was so crazy, Dahlia turned to Kerry for something positive and stable. Kerry was friendly, smart, and a bit of a joker (though always in a good-natured way). Since there was no major objections, being two nobles of similar rank marrying, they were married in their late teens and had their first child a few years later. Like nearly all Connlaothian men, Kerry was also a soldier despite his generally tolerant views on magic and gentle personality. As tensions in the country grew, he was obliged to spend more and more time away from his family, until finally he didn't come home. The full details of her husband's death were never given to Dahlia. The army officer tasked with delivering the news simply said it had happened during a "skirmish with mages."
Miles "Milo" Gray: Son, 15. Always somewhat quiet, since the death of his father Milo has become a fairly serious child. His disposition is enhanced by his appearance, with dark hair, fair skin, and gray eyes. He's very responsible, considerate, and thoughtful and cares a lot about his younger siblings. Dahlia and Milo were always exceptionally close, but Milo has become a bit withdrawn in recent years. Since the national draft was announced, Milo was conscripted only days after his fifteenth birthday and is now serving in the Connlaothian army. Though Dahlia pulled every string and connection she could to ensure Milo would serve as the assistant to a commander in a, hopefully, less dangerous position than typical cannon fodder.
Lilly Gray: Daughter, 13. Lilly is whimsical and full of life, with curly flame red hair and bright blue eyes. She's the least serious of the three children and frequently wonders after her two solemn and earnest brothers. Lilly was the closest child to Kerry and was an absolute "daddy's girl" while he was alive. After her brother's conscription, Lilly was sent away to live with a trading contact in Serendipity with her younger brother Riley.
Riley Gray: Son, 10. Riley is still very much a child. But a rather astute and forward one! He is, honestly, quite precocious. He has straight, sandy blond/light brown hair that's a bit of a mop, blue eyes and a decent amount of freckles. He sticks pretty close to his older siblings. When he's not with his siblings, he spends most of his time with his small hunting kestrel. As the youngest, he is in some ways the least affected by his father's death, and undertakes great endeavors to lift the spirits of the rest of the family. After his brother's conscription, Riley was sent away to live with a trading contact in Serendipity with his sister Lilly.
After her own upbringing, Dahlia strives to be a particularly attentive and present mother. Though she far from coddles her children; rather, she tries to treat them like the independent, rational creatures that they are.
Helen Gray: Mother-in-Law, late 50s. Helen's husband, Kerry's father, died a few years before Kerry, fallen victim to an aggressive illness. Helen is kind-hearted and quiet, but doesn't have the wherewithal to manage an estate now that the men are gone and leaves this mostly up to Dahlia. Helen had three children, all lost at different ages (one daughter when she was a child, another daughter during childbirth, and finally Kerry), so she considers Dahlia as her own. Dahlia, in turn, is much closer to Helen than she is to her own mother.
The TreyburnsDarryn and Rose Treyburn: Parents. While Dahlia isn't overly fond of her parents, she's less at odds with them than most of the rest of her siblings. Mostly she just rolls her eyes at them. Though very occasionally she feels bad about the large rift between her parents and their children and will make an effort to visit/humor them. Occasionally.
Redly Treyburn: Brother. While Dahlia thinks that Redly is, in general, well-meaning and loveable, she finds his 'fathering' attitude exasperating and has little patience for it.
Jana Treyburn: Sister. Dahlia has always had a tense relationship with Jana. As a child, most of her ire at her older siblings for always excluding her (in her mind) was directed at her sister.
Braxton Treyburn: Brother. Dahlia has always liked Braxton best of her older siblings. Now that they're all adults, she views him as one of the "not crazy" siblings, even if he is a bit of a boar.
Trevian Treyburn: Brother. The closest to Dahlia in age and also very much a "middle child", Trevian is probably the sibling Dahlia identifies the most with and has the easiest time relating to. However much of a scamp he can be.
Oscar Treyburn: Brother. Dahlia has a big soft spot for Oscar, which she's always expressed by teasing him mercilessly.
Jillian Treyburn: Sister. Dahlia has a bit of a soft spot for Jillian, especially since her younger sister spent more and more time in the Gray household visiting and helping with the kids. While she thinks Jillian is sweet and appreciates that she 'goes her own way,' she worries a bit that Jillian is a bit too airy and has her head a bit too far in the clouds. And from time to time loses patience with Jillian's focus on fantasy and fairytales rather than the world in front of her.
Florry Treyburn: Brother. Relationship to be determined in RP.
Janette Treyburn: Sister. Janette was only a toddler when Dahlia left the household, so she doesn't know Janette so well. In general, though, Dahlia is fairly unimpressed by Janette's acting out and poor attitude (in her eyes).
Cherie Treyburn: Sister. With Cherie being only a year or so older than Milo, Dahlia views her her a bit more as a child than a sibling, but she tries to make sure she treats her as a sister nonetheless.
OthersLord Edward Draven: A friend, sort of. Also, unbeknownst to him, the father of her newest child after a one-night mistake. Edward first made an impression on Dahlia by befriending her son Riley, and later found him more entrenched in her family. Though she has understood for some time that Edward was a little smitten with her, Dahlia has no desire to become a duchess, and is (unconsciously) wary of letting herself be too happy, much less remarrying.
Bun-in-the-Oven: Result of aforementioned mistake.
HistoryDahlia fell into the somewhat awkward gap between her sibling's ages. The youngest of the older siblings, she was mostly treated as the "little kid" by them when she was young. But by the time any more Treyburns came around, Dahlia was already five and too old to fall into the next age group of siblings. Hence she was fairly independent growing up. Active and intelligent, she spent a lot of her time with the household cooks and craftsman, trying just about everything from watercolors to blacksmithing, archery and shooting to teaching herself foreign languages, acting to floral arrangements. Finally, she settled on pottery, glasswork, and baking as her primary hobbies. Keeping herself busy, though, didn't mean there wasn't time to play jokes or pranks on her siblings. These were mostly focused on the older ones, perhaps partially in retaliation for not being entirely included in their "group."
