Description: Soft chestnut hair frames a heart-shaped face, dominated by large, dark eyes and fair, clear skin. The height of Keely's brow and the high sweep of her eyebrows suggest almost an attitude of permanent surprise. The overall impression favors youth over any dramatic beauty, though she tries with a careful hand at tasteful makeup. Her best features are those eyes, framed by a sooty thickness of dark eyelashes. Her second best feature is her mouth, dynamic, mobile and expressive, with lips neither too full nor too thin. As for the rest of her, she can take or leave it.

Personality: Keely wants to think the best of everyone. Her gentle heart is sometimes undercut by awkward privilege - have you tried just not being poor? What if we just let the shav'arvani alone and asked them nicely to stop killing our trade caravans? - and a well-intentioned awkwardness that leads some of her tries at social excellence to be more dithery than not. She has high hopes and a tendency to expect a lot from herself, to which she often applies Capital Letters of Real Importance. Her worst enemy is her own embarrassment, over which she is determined to reign supreme ... somehow. Kind, hopeful, and full of fond wishes, she is excellent at finding way to like people, and it is this type of charisma that makes it easy to like her. Naturally inclined to introverted pursuits, she finds herself wishfully lurking at the corners of the ballroom, dreaming of being a woman for whom the splendor she loves comes easier.

Background: A young princess flowering in a well-tended garden, Keely's childhood was cursed by little more dire than a preponderance of sisters. Well-educated in the palatial family estate at Bastion, Keely grew up a wistful child, dreaming of a different kind of -more- than the kind that might populate the dreams of those without her advantages. A quiet life is not a Grayson direction, and Keely always found her more adventuresome siblings honestly more worrying than not.

When her older sisters removed to Arx to make their way in a world that embraced their heritage, Keely stayed home, studying with the seraph of Bastion and learning about different dances and the history of her House, all the while her elder sister, Liara, rose to the challenge that House Grayson had to offer her and accepted the mantle of High Lady from His Majesty.

When Keely set forth for Arx, it was as a sheltered, privileged girl, hoping to reach for womanhood in a capital city full of the shades of reality that she never really saw before beyond her garden walls. She wished to grow into the kind of powerful woman who dominates a dance floor, a courtier of Renown and Poise. A young woman with powerful and diverse sisters, she had always felt shadowed by their prolific and profound accomplishments.

However, since her arrival to the capital, Keely has undergone remarkable growth, embracing the tapestry of the city and its inhabitants. Deep wells of empathy have been unearthed within her, allowing her to forge unbreakable bonds with the diverse souls she encounters, and her unwavering compassion has become her trademark.

Now, united in matrimony with Oathlander Marquis Kael Keaton, Keely stands as the Marquessa-Consort of Oakhaven, embarking on a new adventure by her husband's side. Together, they lead and protect their people, embracing the challenges and joys that come with their noble duty. Keely's journey of growth and self-discovery is far from over, as she continues to learn, evolve, and unravel the depths of her own potential in the ever-unfolding world at her feet.

Relationship Summary

Friend:

Denica - Keely met Denica playing (and winning!) a getting-to-know-you game, and the rest was history. Denica's passion and confidence inspire Keely endlessly, and her warmth has led to an unexpected, sudden bond that has Keely looking forward to every letter and visit. She knows Who She Is and What She's About, and someday Keely strives to carry herself with such confidence.

Cesare - Keely watched Cesare's effortless command of the social scene from afar for some time, but over the course of several events both hosted and attended as teammates, she looks to him as a friend. His outgoing personality is a stark contrast to the often self-conscious princess, making for hilarious antics and misadventures.

Ilira - Vivacious and free, Ilira is on Keely's list of people admired to the point of near idolization. That she has, over time, also become a friend and confidante simply delights the princess.

Medeia - Lady Medeia Eswynd began as a valued teacher in navigating the social scene of Arx, and quickly became a cherished presence in Keely's life. They have already embarked on one daring adventure together, and Keely looks forward with excitement to what comes next.

Aconite - Anyone who can remain Graceful and Poised in the presence of free-roaming jumping spiders is sure to catch Keely's attention. And she did, soon becoming a trusted friend and advisor on everything from fashion to dancing to people.

Cristoph - Cristoph has been a mentor, friend, and guiding light to Keely from nearly the moment they met. Whenever the world has gotten too dark, he has reminded her to look for the light.

Frenemy:

Signe - The thing about coming from Bastion to Arx and never having met a shamanist worshipper before in your life is that you might accidentally say something, on meeting a shaman, like: "What is it like to worship rocks?" Despite this (hah) rocky beginning, I like Signe and admire her free spirit.

Sibling:

Liara - High Lady, Older Sister. Keely is intimidated by the breadth and scope of Liara's success and looks up to her, while wishing very much to make her Proud.

Macda - Protector, High-Strung Mess Maker. Keely both admires and dreads the way Macda charges headfirst into danger.

Family:

Lou - Lou's adventuresome fierceness is the antithesis of Keely's wistful edges-of-the-party femininity. She's just Something Else, around which Keely finds herself somewhat tongue-tied.

Reese - Reese is somehow both frilly and pink -and- a Renowned Warrior. Keely is mystified and envious, and would like to know her secret to Having it All.

Sabella - Keely finds Sabella extremely Glamorous and would like to be her when she grows up. But perhaps a version of Sabella that is slightly... less.

Noah - Noah is secretly Keely's favorite cousin. Despite how abrasive he is to most of the population, Keely sees the best in him and holds him in high regard.

Jaenelle - Jaenelle's ability to maneuver politically in the Lyceum of all places while remaining compassionate and thoughtful amazes Keely to no end. She looks up to Jaenelle as a rolemodel, and adores her as family.

Acquaintance:

Calandra - Keely is fascinated by how thoroughly Calandra has surpassed her common roots to become a Famed and Glamorous Whisper, and she follows her social career with some interest.

Videl - Liara introduced Keely to her protege, Lady Videl Igniseri, shortly after Keely arrived in the city, and she both admires her particular willful verve and feels a little protective of her.

Gianna - Keely holds Gianna high in her mind's eye as a Role Model of what kind of Cool and Glamorous Courtier to be.

Mabelle - Another protege of Liara's, Lady Mabelle Laurent has never failed to dazzle Keely with her creativity and industry. Keely looks up to her in many capacities, and finds her presence steadying when social situations become Too Much.

Protege:

Mattheu - A fast friend, and now a protege. Keely has a deep fondness for Mattheu that verges on protectiveness against those who view him as merely a source of entertainment.

Savio - Bold, charming, confident. Savio is Keely's guide to attaining the traits she strives for, and he makes sure she's having fun and not taking herself too seriously along the way.

Deceased:

Luca - Luca married in to Grayson when Keely was still too young to attend the extravagant parties her older cousins and siblings enjoyed. His boredom mingled well with her shyness, and he could sometimes be found hiding with the little princess in a balcony, secretly watching events below and munching stolen snacks. She misses him.

Spouse:

Kael - In Keely's eyes, the sun rises and sets with Kael Keaton. He hangs the stars in her sky, and guides her from shadow with his Unwavering Light. They have walked through grief together and, through the slow burning fires of emotional turmoil, a bond was forged that Keely believes resilient enough to endure the test of time. Admiration, devotion, love, are not big enough words, but they are a start...