Description: Like a porcelain doll, Seva is a pale and delicate thing. Everything about her seems small, breakable, and harmless. Her face is heart shaped, lacking the severe cheekbones that most Thrax admire and her expression always seems to hint at a shy smile. Although she does not lack in womanly curves, Seva is petite and sometimes looks as though a gust of wind might blow her away. Long black hair contrasts her white skin and falls to somewhere just below her waist. Unlike most Thrax women, she prefers to keep it down or in a braid rather than a bun.

Personality: All that Seva has ever desired was the opportunity to learn. Even as a child, her head was always stuck in a book or out exploring. As an adult, that curiosity has not dulled. However, Seva now knows her limits and how to navigate the delicate political landscape to find out what she wants to know. She compiles secrets quietly, saving them for rainy days. Unfortunately, she has a gentle soul and it takes quite a bit for her to act against someone. By then, her iffy composure will have given her intent away.

Background: Seva's mother was a Thrax princess married away to a Valardin prince for political gain. It was a pleasant enough marriage and resulted in two strong male heirs and one baby Seva. Both of her brothers were hearty children who took to the sword and shield at young ages. She was different. Her breath ran out far before the other children and her skin never seemed to get a proper rosey tan. Almost every winter she would fall ill and in the spring she was plagued with coughs and frequent sneezing. For her own safety, her parents kept her inside.

So while her brothers were taught to fight, Seva grew up hearing stories from her mother of the islands and her heroic uncles' deeds. Her mother was afraid of losing Seva and so personally took over much of the girl's education in her early life. Lessons of etiquette and economics were intermixed with tall tales and stories of the gods. When her mother was too busy to teach, Seva followed after her like a tiny shadow, watching quietly as she managed the finances of the house.

Seva did not gain independence from her mother until the fall of her 13th year. It took a major illness, one that left her bedridden for a little over two months. Her survival seemed shaky and some days she seemed to recover while on others she was rarely even awake. The family called in an outside apothecary to insist what healers they already had.

Whether it was the man's tinctures, time, or just plain luck--Seva found herself cured. Her mother paid the apothecary to stay on as household staff and seemed convinced that he was her daughter's savior. Seva suddenly found herself recovering with a new guardian, one who was willing to humor her questions about his ointments and herbs.

The pair became friends, in a father-daughter manner, and the apothecary let her borrow his book and occasionally experiment with his herbs. When she was old enough, he even took her on as an unofficial apprentice. While her parents did not really approve of the profession for their daughter, they did not mind if she carried on behind closed doors. Seva's mother even wore some of the perfumes she created as a show of support.

In a funny way, Seva's talent with alchemy only furthered her political standing. It was part of what drew her future husband to her. She might not have stood out amongst the other candidates for a Thrax wife, what with her fragile looks but she quickly struck up a conversation with him. They spent an hour chatting about how to cure wounds or poison a blade. Then that hour became letters and then those letters became a proposal.

She and her family, gladly accepted and on her 18th year Seva set off to join her new family. The newlyweds were a happy couple. It wasn't quite love but it was a good friendship and the pair could often be seen spending time together or laughing. When not in the presence of her husband, Seva seemed like a meek and shy thing. When they were together, she was much more quick witted and outgoing.

Unfortunately, that all changed when her husband was challenged to a very rare lethal duel, a trial by combat in defense of a man he believed to be innocent accused of a capital offense. It was a good fight, a close fight between two warriors of near equal strength. Seva's husband struck his opponent down in the end but his own wounds would take him the very next night. The loss changed Seva. For the following 3 years she withdrew from the political scene and threw herself into her craft. Few saw the princess or heard word from her except on holidays.
%fIt was not until the last two years that Seva has come out of her self imposed exile. Now, she spends her time socializing in the background and occasionally attending events. She creates custom perfumes on request, although usually does not charge for them.