Ooc: Character Background

[neriumoleander]

BACKGROUND & HISTORY

Nerium was born to be bad. Literally. She comes from a long line of witches known and feared for their dark sorcery and unblinking wickedness. Evil queens of history, legend, or fairy tale? Chances are they can be traced to a branch of her family tree. In fact, the Grimhilde family is a matriarchy in its entirety. No male has been borne into it. Seed is obtained through spell or seduction, but love is never part of the equation.

It was Nerium’s great great grandmother who brought the family line to Siren Cove. Ruler of a vast kingdom in Europe for nearly a century, she tired of the crown and opted to fake her death (in an elaborate battle involving a dragon, a “prince”, and a naive village girl, no less) to retire across the sea. She was not unknown there, of course. Her powers of both dark sorcery and politics (which may or may not be one and the same) made her both feared and sought after. The towns-folk parted in her wake. Avoided eye contact and quickened their pace; those who could muttered protective spells. But when they needed something done - something their own moral code or conscience couldn’t handle - it was she they would turn to. And so the once great and wicked Queen became a sort of adviser, particularly for the town’s powerful and well-to-do. Unbreakable curses of vengeance and turmoil or political strategics - she was on hand for all. And so became the role of the Grimhildes. The shadowy whisper in the ears of Siren Cove, the dark hand guiding key players into place.

Nerium’s grandmother and mother were no different. Her mother was as beautiful as she was feared, specializing in spells against the heart and potions of manipulation. She was lost, tragically, when Nerium was quite young, drowned while swimming in what was, at all appearances, a natural storm. For even great sorceresses are mortal. Nerium was then primarily raised by her grandmother. Proud, angry, a master of charms and curses, she loathed the “simpletons” of Siren Cove, so caught up in petty lives. Of the Grimhilde women, she was perhaps the most cruel, gleefully cursing the entire town for days on end whenever she was in a mood. Breaking couples apart who seemed too happy. Reveling in mayhem and malice. And she raised Nerium to do the same. Just last year she passed away at 273, leaving Nerium on her own for the first time.
 

PERSONALITY

All Nerium wants is to follow in her family’s footsteps. To be great and feared and powerful. To be above the “pathetic existence” of those around her. She looks the part. Dark and brooding, black hair, black gothic clothing, dark makeup. And on the outside, she acts the part too. In school she was the brooding girl in the back of the room, arms crossed eyes rolling making sarcastic remarks. Isolated. Elusive. Shooting curses without care. But they didn’t always work out as planned…

Nerium can’t help but shake that there’s good inside her. This inner-brightness that betrays all her family stands for. She likes cute animals and occasionally feels stirrings in her heart not over having caused someone pain, but because she caught the glimpse of a smile in her direction. Dare she even dream of love? Nerium has a desperate and secret devotion to cotton candy and the boardwalk at night, beneath all the lights and sounds. But damned if it doesn’t kill her inside. She’s the last of her line. If she doesn’t carry on the great and powerful darkness, who will?

So she’s glamored herself an alternate persona. Rose Winfield. A blonde bright-eyed human girl who can be happy and shining and not betray centuries of history and power. As long as no one ever finds out its her…

OPINION OF THE RIVALRY

The Grimhildes take no side but their own. They are feared and even hated by some, but almost all families have a shaky and tentative alliance with them when necessary. And as Nerium is the last Grimhilde standing, she holds all of the cards in that regard.

LIFESTYLE

Nerium lives in a great stone manor with all of the wealth and artifacts her family has gathered for generations. The town is under the assumption that she does not work, that her livelihood is watching over the town with disdain from her dark corner, coming out only when necessary, and to remind Siren Cove to be on guard or fear her wake. But Rose works odd hours at the bookstore. Enjoys strolling through town and lingering on the boardwalk, typically with cotton candy or a frozen custard in hand. She’s also built a community garden which has gained renown for its exotic flowers.

POWERS & ABILITIES

Witch. Nerium is trained in all areas of witchcraft and dark sorcery. Enchantment, curses, potions, soothesaying, spell-casting, necromancy, some elements of voodoo, and glamour. However, to the shame of her family, Nerium’s witchcraft often backfires. Curses become goodluck charms. A plague of frogs becomes a gaggle of kittens. She tries so hard to be bad, but something inside her just… isn’t right..