The Heralds of Blood Character Spotlight & Moodboard: The Lady Juno Sharpe
Having enjoyed reading the OC spotlights from @did-i-do-this-write, I figured I'd participate & get some character spotlights of my own out and about, combined with image moodboards for the characters (more than just the costume ones I made before though I'll also reuse those). I have 12 main OCs, figure I'll post my new chapters on Sundays like usual & then one of these posts per day for the next two weeks. Feel free to send in any asks you like & I'll try to get to them by tomorrow before I post the next spotlight (I'll answer them afterwards, too, of course). Caution: There will be spoilers ahead so careful if you haven't read past Ch. 9.
For the fourth spotlight, I'll be focusing on Juno:
(I'm trying to draw some ink & colored pencil drawings of my characters, these Stardew Valley profile pics & PicRews will have to do for now)
Age: 34 Birthday: Harvenmark 23rd, 3018 A.G.
Family: Tiberius Sharpe (Father, Former Duke of Silvergard, deceased), Adelaide Sharpe (Mother, Former Duchess of Silvergard, deceased), Lavinia Sharpe (Twin Sister, Duchess of Silvergard, deceased as of The Bloody Tenth), Erskine Sharpe (Brother-In-Law), Rhiannon Sharpe (Niece), Julius Sharpe (Nephew), Edward Sharpe (Nephew), Lady Drusilla Sharpe-Frost (Aunt), Lord Octavius Frost (Uncle), Ignatius Frost (cousin)
Nationality: Silvergarder (Silvergard is itself a Freehold in The Westerwynde Alliance, citizens usually refer to themselves by their freeholder or island origin status)
Occupation: The Baroness of Argenthall, Lady of Palecliffe and The White Crescent Tower, Lady of Hydrargyrum Hall, Poet, Playwright, Patron of The Arts, Hunter, Board Member of Various Societies (The Merchants’ Guild of The Westerwynde Isles; The Island Restoration and Preservation Society; The Westerwynde Hunter’s League; Argenthall Theatrical Society; The Silvergard Institute Of The Arts). Her estates grow various fruits, berries, herbs and vegetables that are sold alongside wine, jams and jellies, preserves, herb butter, creams, salves, smoked meats, fowl and game, etc. Lady Juno is currently in the process of becoming Ducal Regent of Silvergard (more on that later)
Weapons & Magic Items: An entire arsenal of weapons. Her favorites are her hyper-pulse pistols, shaped like flintlocks and pepperbox pistols, often inlaid with silver, mother-of-pearl, gold and gems (usually powered by flame-crystals). She also has a variety of swords and blades-her favorite is a silver-hilted rapier named Rugosa. She carries various knives and daggers as well.
Physical Description: 5'9, straight-backed, long-legged and wide-hipped, with raptor-grey eyes, an aquiline nose, an elegant mess of dark brown locks usually held back in a bun or loose braid/tail. Fair-skinned and full-chested, swan-necked with proud features, high cheekbones, plump lips, a patrician bearing (sometimes haughty, sometimes stunning). Her proud features can easily turn absurd/silly when aghast, ashamed, embarrassed, morose, etc. When she genuinely loves someone or is with friends, the mask slips a bit and she's much more herself rather than the image of Lady Juno she projects for society. As the Rethan equivalent of Regency-style & Victoriana fashions are in vogue among the Westerwynde nobility, Juno tends to dress in her own interpretation of the style: navy blue frock coat, cream/white blouses, lacy cravats with cameo brooches, waistcoats in lilac, gold, green, bronze, gray/tan/cream/beige/umber trousers, knee-high boots chased with gold or silver. When not dealing with the affairs of her station, she'll settle for sweaters and plain trousers.
Backstory: One of the twin daughters of the late Tiberius Sharpe (often called The Western Storm for his blustery, thunderous speeches and infamously short temper), Lady Juno often believed herself the obvious heir to the ancient titles of The Duchy of Silvergard and its Freehold. To her surprise, The Lord Tiberius passed down the title to her sister Lavinia, believing a minute or two apart in birth did not mean Juno was more suited for the role. While the modern-day Freeholds of The Westerwynde Alliance leave the actual governing to the Civic Assembly, the Dukes & Duchesses still serve as patrons and protectors, host diplomatic affairs, appoint/approve judges and merchant-factors, oversee tax collection and city/castle watch, confer with The Azure Order and Inquisitors over matters regarding the Shadow-Vaults and War Relics, serve as Protectors of The Faith (while not enforcing the religion nor favoring one goddess over another), etc, etc. While Juno had always been a fierce fighter and hunter, Tiberius could tell early on she would not likely be suited for the other aspects of her role, believing them to be tedious, and thus groomed Lavinia for the role. Though Juno likely would agree with the sentiment, especially given she feels the role of the aristocracy beyond their status as landowners and patrons was outdated and unnecessary, she was nonetheless surprised when she was passed over in the inheritance after years of expectations. Still holding to her other titles and estates, Lady Juno initially tried serving as an advisor to her sister Lavinia, much more level-headed and calm than either Tiberius or Juno. Their outlooks and styles of leadership clashed, however, and after their mother passed away a couple years later, they ceased speaking to one another altogether. Lady Juno moved north to Argenthall, spending most of her time hunting, in the library or at the theater. Growing well-regarded by the local gentry, Juno became engaged to Lord Horatio Crane, only to break it off six months later (rumors as to why are still gossiped about at local functions; Lady Juno is bisexual and has had both male and female lovers, though she never cheated on Horatio while together so that wasn't the issue like many claim). The Baroness then turned her attentions to restoring the old Palecliffe estate and its White Crescent Tower, which had gained the nickname "The Empty House" due to its long years as a dusty museum for old Sharpe acquisitions and furniture. She transformed the upper levels into an elegant theater while bolstering the local theatrical and arts societies with her patronage. Refurbishing the house also meant re-directing the estates' various gardens and fields to produce a proper profit-earning amount of goods to support her endeavors, with old contacts among the airship and bioship merchant-captains helping Juno to fill the family coffers (some, like The Khaleds of Sulamir, were old family friends). Though the tedium of court was very much not to Juno's interest (she refused nearly all couriers or calls & servants were expected not to discuss news from down south unless necessary, earning a reputation as reckless and ill-mannered), she had proven herself a mostly effective land manager, patron and household mistress, earning the loyalty of her staff with her kindness, compassion and influx of money and support for a forgotten home. With her sister's recent and violent death, Lady Juno has found herself thrust into the role she'd sniped about for years but never thought she'd get-and with the world on the edge of plunging once more into ancient peril...
Personality: A touch haughty and prickly but usually pleasant, whimsical, prone to speaking in florid, dramatic style and tone with a rich, cultured voice, has a brash sort of charm and no-nonsense attitude (except for her own nonsense, of course). Loyal to those who are loyal to her, does not care for time-wasters or anyone she finds to be a nuisance. Often caught up in nostalgia or her hyper-fixations, argues with her "Inner Critic." Sometimes has her head in the clouds. Pampers her crusty old bulldog, Jenkins, and gives generous wages & benefits to her servants. Picks up odd friends here and there like strays. Usually maintains a prim, perfect composure but is at least a little brittle and certain triggers can easily set her off. Her hair is an elegant mess and so is she. When not busy with the pen or local politics, she often hunts, fences, practices her shooting, rides about the countryside or visits museums, antique stores and ruins for inspiration/ideas for the Tower's restoration, tries acting with her crew (she's better off a playwright), etc.
Special Personal Items: Her sword Rugosa, her flintlocks & other hyper-pulse pistols, various knives, her moleskin journal & gilded pen set, the signet ring of House Sharpe (with the sigil of the sword & crescents embossed upon it), a wide collection of odd artwork and a vast personal library.
