Karyleine Codex

Youngest daughter of the former Baron of Ethos and sister of the current Baron, Athar, Karyleine was married at the age of 14 to Lord Kristian Codex. The union was arranged by her father, who died shortly before seeing it carried out, leaving it to Athar to do so. Kristian was a reluctant bridegroom, however; he immediately returned to the spice fields and Karyl was left to entertain herself on their honeymoon night and for several weeks afterwards. Kristian was a strict Purist with traditionalist leanings, and believed in keeping Karyleine carefully under his eye to preserve the purity of her soul. Unfortunately, he often neglected his young bride, leaving her languishing, bored and frustrated with her lot. Their marriage remained strained, even after the birth of their daughter, Jaylene, late in the evening of 9 September 505; as an escape, Karyleine spent as much time as she could with her Soranus siblings on Gateway, only returning to Codex at her husband's command.

In January of 507, Kristian and Parsifal Valens exiled her and much of her family, sending them far outside the Barrier. Returning two months later, in March of 507, Karyleine witnessed the death of her husband by an assassin's crossbow bolt in the Temple at Ethos. Several months later, on 18 July 507, her and Kristian's second child was born, a son named for her late cousin, Tiege.

In the months following her husband's death, she has seen many more of her kin fall, and though it seemed to some she might buckle under the pressure, each time she lost someone close to her, she has picked herself up, a bit more scarred and mature than the last time, and persevered. With the passage of time, the flightiness of youth is being replaced by the temperance of adulthood, and she is blossoming into a strong, independent woman, mother and Lady who has a firm vision for her lordship and its people, even in the wake of the recent Schism.

Timeline goes here.

In her youth, Karyl was a quiet, reserved person, basing her beliefs and actions on the approval of those whose opinions she valued most, namely her family. With the passage of time, however, Karyleine is becoming more independent, and even rebellious at times. She still looks to her family for counsel in times of need, but is trying to become her own person and decide her beliefs and actions of her own accord. Her generally demure and circumspect nature has begun to give way on occasion to the adventurous streak within her that tempts her to be a bit rougher around the edges than her family approves of. Thus, it's not unknown for her siblings to chide her in private for her appearance, manners or the occasional display of passionate, teenage pique.

Karyleine's never been a touch-oriented person, though this has begun to change since the birth of her daughter. A simple smile is a sign of strong affection or joy; an actual frown showing on her face indicates extreme emotion. Indeed, most people only ever see wisps of such expressions, if any at all.

Karyl is well-read and educated, particularly in history and law, but she is also a capable herb gardener and horsewoman. She makes no secret of her Purist leanings and is a passionate, if quiet-spoken, debater. She is avid in the pursuit of knowledge and advocates educational opportunities strongly, especially for the less fortunate. This may come as a surprise as she is a Purist, eschewing alcohol, drugs and knowledge of Darkness. Yet, to be innocent does not mean to be ignorant, and Karyleine's own curiosity seems unquenchable.

The Soranus family is synonymous with morality, and many purists have moved to Ethos over the course of generations because of the baronial family's uncompromising support of Providence and the denouncement of all things tempting and corruptive.

Her father's house: House Soranus

The Codex family are peculiar in that the original name of the family has been erased from all history books, as has their crest. The family is now known by the same name as the land they govern. Their crest bears a conifer, a book, and a candle, representing the notable thing about their lordship - the only sizable forest on Draught, which is also the source of all the paper used in the making of the sacred Libris Sancti and other tomes of Providence's keenest followers. Like their lieges, the Soranus family, House Codex are keen Purists, and it is common for at least one child of each generation to join the priesthood or one of the other Purist orders.

Her husband's house: House Codex

Immediate, extended, and other relations: Relations

• Karyl counted among her childhood playmates her cousin Tiege (whom she was always dragging into mischief), Baroness Khalani Paggion, and Lady Baronet Natalia Paggion.

• Karyleine is fascinated by any scrap of knowledge about the world Outside the Barrier and has a small, but growing, library of books, manuscripts and writings about the countries beyond - basically, anything she can get her hands on.

• Minerva Laurentus, an Advocate and University Professor, has taken Karyleine under her wing as her mentor.

• In the Spring of 507, Ysora gifted her with a gray-and-white fluffball of a sheepdog puppy, a sibling to those given to her kin Helena and Linette. A mild-mannered and laidback mop, she spends most of her time dozing and has been dubbed Daisy.

• Since the beginning of August 507, Karyleine has been seen spending several of her early morning hours each day out in the fields with Linette, learning to ride astride and wield both dagger and longbow.