Basil Regal Cragaxe

Species
Basil is that of a Northern Elf, which are typically seen across the Helmsland in the far North. Often living for hundreds of years, the average Northern elf matures at the rate of 3.5 human years. With a variety of looks, the most common are pale skin, ginger hair, and reddish/hazel eyes. A once powerful race of elves, the Northern elf was met with great oppression when the Humans moved into the area and conquered the land from them. After the Kingdom dissolved into the Councilate, efforts to improve relations have been made, but were never truly successful.

Appearance
Basil is an average looking Elf girl, with ginger hair and reddish/hazel eyes and pale white skin. Having lived for many years in poverty, Basil is quick to wearing something informal, even when the occasion cause for better fashion. Often wearing either Scholar's robes, cozy bath robes in her home, or a stylish, yet socially unaccepted Blue Collar and small white skirt. Basil also appears younger than her age, not only for the fact that she matures slower, but her years as a Council Member spoiled her in skin care.

Personality
Basil is an awkward case where, her personality switches up very drastically, but usually always in accordance to some context. One moment she could be joking around with you, and the next, physically restraining herself from letting her sword slice through after missing you barely, intentionally. Many though, consider her as kind, curious, courageous, and stubborn. No matter the situation, if Basil believes it, she will do what she can to get there, even if it means the murder of someone she would once consider a good friend.

Pre-Birth
In the time before Basil, in the Helmsland Isles, the Northern Elves ruled the land until the Humans took power in a coup. With little resistance, the Northern Elf Empire had crumbled, and the Kingdom of the Helmsland Isles was erected. The Northern Elves would face mass oppression in their old lands. Anywhere from being mistreated by the common folk to death if the King willed. From King Gril I to Foil III, the Kingdom Reigned over the land for 546 years, or 156 years in JRT (standard elf years [3.5x standard human year]).

Birth
In the First year of Foil III's Reign, 235 JRT(823 KYR), Basil was born. Being born a Northern Elf in the Helmsland Isles meant one thing for Basil, and that was oppression. Basil didn't have the greatest childhood. Her parents, Aegadar and Nalia Regal were poor farmers who earned 1/4th that of the standard human farmer in the realm. Basil was rather innocent at this time, not thinking much of it, but growing up, they soon started to realize the how the world was around them. It was clear that something wasn't right, and Basil did not enjoy that one bit.

Coming of Age
In the year 241 JRT(844 KYR), at the Age of 6(21 in human years), King Foil III would enact the Free Farms Act which would cause all Farmers to give at least 60% of all produce if asked by town mayors. This seems not too problematic in richer towns, but in the poor towns, all farmers would be required to give as much as possible. This would effect all towns heavily populated by Northern Elves, the slums. This Act would entirely screw over Basil's parents' source of income in the town, which was already mostly diminished. After this Act was passed, Basil came to the conclusion that the King was out to target the Elves, to starve them out of the Kingdom and rid of them for good. At just the age of 6, Basil was introduced to the Harsh Reality of the world.

Rebellion
In the year of 252 JRT(882 KYR), at the Age of 17(60 in Human years), Basil would go around and stir up groups of elves her age, even the few, straggling poor humans, in unarmed raids on food storehouses to provide food for Elven and Poor families in her hometown. As the raids were very small, and hardly organized, news of them to the King were often discarded and regarded as "Too Light to be Dealt with in Imperial Matters." Over time though, these raids would get more and more organized with news of them sparking similar ideas in other towns nearby or as far as the farthest borders. Each time, however, the King would just mark it all as "Too Light to be Dealt with in Imperial Matters."

Revolution
The year 254 JRT(889 KYR), at age 19(67 in Human years), rebellions are running rampant. Chaos plagues the land. Northern Elves finally taking a stand. Basil plans to get in contact with as many rebel leaders as possible to discuss a fully organized rebellion. A secret meeting is held. The decision is made. Votes cast. The Nordia Revolution is exacted into existence. For experience and being the longest lasting Rebel leader, Basil is elected to the top of the new Nordia Rebellion effort. With more swift and organized raids and attacks, the King finally acknowledges this threat. Imperial Troops are decentralized and placed throughout the Kingdom in poorer towns, all over the land. Real battles begin to take place. 6 Months into the Nordia Rebellion effort, a plant is finally set to storm the King's Castle. Having gained the support of the masses of elves throughout the Kingdom, and even the mid to lowerclass Human citizens, the Rebellion is able to grow large in number.

The day has come where the Nordia Rebellion must finally storm the Castle. Not a single drop of blood is shed that day. Mysteriously, no opposition in site. The Nordia Revolt is able to advance with no friction in the way.

Overthrown
The Castle walls are breached, up through the castle, to the King's chambers, the first few rebels breach in. The King looks to be already waiting. Walking in, Basil finds that the King is just standing, Crown out reached, waiting for the taking. Basil obliges. The King abdicates his throne. Mass confusion is in the air. Many assumptions are made on what happened on this day. The King is rightfully exiled into the wilderness of the lands outside the Kingdom. Being the old man he is, no one expects him to go far.

Having the power of the crown, Basil doesn't want to make the same mistake that was made for the last 546 years, and therefore, develops and idea to divide the power among 5 voted in members. The Councilate of Helmsland is thus created.

Council
Within the Council, 5 members are elected, Basil included. The Council is dedicated to handling all the power the King did, but all matters must be agreed upon by the majority of the 5 members. The Council would go on to rule for the next 23 years JRT(81 human years) to come. In that time, only 3 of the Original Councilors had been replaced, but in that time, the Council had been a good idea and runs smoothly according to the Public, but within is a different story. Great Bias and turmoil would take place within the Council, causing it to nearly fail every day.

Speculation
Over time, Basil began to figure that some decisions would never be brought up with her there, and on most occasions, would never be invited to meetings. According to Basil, not that many decisions were being made, but they slowly realized that, sometimes, the newer Councilors would be more well-versed on topics she believed she was very well-versed in. Basil began to feel worry they were being left out of meetings. She was the only Elf on the council, afterall. Eventually, Basil would end up spending more and more time at the meeting hall, as to never miss a meeting, in fear of not being notified in the first place. She began to realize her worst fear.

Realization
They were not only keeping most meetings from her, most topics were on the idea on how they would bring down Basil from her status without the public outcry, but they believed that murder was too outrageous to be in the question. Basil rightly, didn't attend those meetings, however, overheard some bits and pieces from the doors outside the meeting hall. These meetings would happen nearly everyday, for weeks on end. Basil would only ever be notified of meetings that the decision being made was something that the public would react heavily to. This outraged Basil greatly, but in fear that something would happen to her, Basil decided the only option she had was to just step down. She was being plotted against for being an elf, and was never involved as much as she thought she had been.

Departure
Fearing what the government would try to do to her having lost her status, she ran. She ran far away. For 11 years, she ran between towns, ultimately, further and further south. She would gain a knack for documenting in a diary everything she learned about the places she visited on her travels away from the Helmsland Isles. She grew a large interest in those non-human/elf peoples and wished to learn everything from their culture to their history.

Arrival in Kylorne
The culmination of 11 had led her to this. Off of a boat in the Northern Reaches of Kylorne, Basil noticed a greater personal identification with this new land. Everyone they met, whether apart of the same land and culture, or not, would identify the land with one word of many variations of speak. Ultimately: Kylorne. Travelling further south, from town to town, Basil would meet a caravan of merchants. Agreeing to follow these Merchants for some time, in exchange for passing on knowledge from their journey, they went on. From town to town, Basil began to document everything.

Wandering
Wandering with this Caravan, Basil would see many wonder landmarks and places to potentially travel to after leaving the Caravan. Meeting many new people and learning as much as they can, Basil would go on to learn the customs of the land, a mix of many. On top of that, Basil would begin to learn common, only knowing Silvi fully, Basil began to learn the foundational language of the roads between. As they travelled further south, Basil grew fascinated with a certain abandoned mountain top. An old library of sorts, Basil thought of the possibilities with this land, and grew eager to learn who controlled the region. Traveling further south, past a stronghold of noble fashion, Basil would reach a castle town along a river.

Meeting the River'folk
Someone stands right in the middle of the road, as if expecting the Caravan, with trade posts all around. Growing closer, a man on the Caravan expresses relief towards seeing a certain named man. Argon. Asking questions, Basil learns that Argon is the leader of a land settled along the river called River'reach, or the Reach. Basil decided it was time to leave the Caravan here, and after expressing goodbyes when the trade posts are all set up and ran dry between the local traders and the Caravan, Basil would be left there, in foreign land, no knowing a single person. Something she was used to over the last 11 years. She began asking around about places to stay, but none would give a better answer than that of Argon, the Volark(King) himself. A house was being built on a bridge and needed someone to live there, for economical reasons. Argon practically begged Basil to stay in that house for a few nights so that the architects could get an idea on the general acceptance of a small bridge town, similar to the large one under construction over Kunami Lake. Basil agreed, not expecting to stay more than a few days.

Gallery
Last updated: 12:07, 13 September 2022 (UTC)