Description: Appolonia is visually catching, if at odds with the image of the perfectly beautiful woman. Her ebon hair and olive skin show her Pravus roots. Her slate blue eyes give her an air of staring. A high forehead, naturally dark and hollowed eyes, and a thin jaw make her look darker and younger than she truly is. She moves with an easy and casual grace, with the physical demeanor of a perfect lady even if some of the details may be... questionable.

Personality: Appolonia's foundation is curiosity. Perhaps it is Pravus, perhaps it is simply some sort of horrible feline spiritual touch, but she has always had her mind turn towards the unseen, towards things uncharted and seas unsailed. This has drawn her largely into scholarly pursuits, where she can gratify this desire without too much work.

This curiosity has extended to the nature of humanity. Why do people do what they do? What do people truly think? Are people truly bad or truly good? Is virtue inborn or made? These kinds of topics, as well as a mixture of the social graces and a certain amount of natural poise, have made Appolonia able to get along with just about anybody and leave a good impression for the length of a quarter of an hour. After this... well, that's about how long it takes for the strangeness of her interests to show themselves. Even then, though, she is rarely without poise.

Background: Appolonia is the daughter of Isabella Pravus, a minor daughter of that great house, and Admando Seraceni, a seasoned corsair who died of an infection in war with the Argento.

From a young age, Appolonia struggled against the restraints of knowledge. What happens when we grow older? Why are some things hidden from us, for "when we are older" or never at all? What dangers does such information hold? How can we prepare for these dangers if we don't know any better? (Such latter lines of thought spoke of a budding talent for social manipulation.)

Appolonia sought to spite her tutors, learning more by her womanhood than many of the highborn learn in their entire lives. She soon exhausted the stock of common knowledge, although she retains it and deploys it at her command. She sought the restricted, the unknown, the hidden. To know that which few, or no-one else knew. It was the only way to be...

Safe.

Mother encouraged this. Mother helped her daughter learn the hidden ways, such as they were. Some people in Seraceni raised their eyebrows, but Isabella's grace and charm poured oil over ruffled feathers. (Is that the analogy? Ducks have oil, you know, in their tails. When they preen, they're smearing it over themselves.)

Appolonia struggled with the new Marquis, Dario, on this matter. Her occult studies were a rift between them. Of course, such matters have moved along, although she is often feared in a subtle way within the household. Whispered about, but never to.

Less cryptically, Appolonia is also fascinated with tales of foreign lands, although she has taken a special interest in Eurusi culture and fashions and more. She is fluent in the Eurusi language (if perhaps not perfect - few people to practice with in Arx) and hopes to travel the world, one day - perhaps simply as a tourist, perhaps as more.

Appolonia wants to find something - not simply power, or wealth, or even love, though she is no ascetic. She seeks something else. She herself has trouble articulating it... or reluctance; and the two are awfully hard to tell apart.

Relationship Summary

Acquaintance:

Giulio - The Count Corvini

Deceased:

Dario - I wish you could have found it in your heart to trust me completely, but now you are gone.

Friend:

Delilah - A fellow scholar like myself.

Jeffeth - The Knight of Buckets and Smiles.

Family:

Prisila - My cousin and Marquessa. I don't always agree with you but I shall always try to help where I may.