Meliana Paggion

September 7 496 (496-09-07) (age 13)

How much history can a nearly teenager actually have? That all depends. If you're Meliana Paggion, Maker of Your Own Destiny, quite a bit.

Meliana was born at the Amphorae Baronial Estate in Draught. The third daughter of four, she was a year old when her mother died and six when her father died. She was known, on Draught, to be the tree-climbing and hide and go seek champion of the family. More than once she was compared to a squirrel.

When Khalani became Baroness and went to Gateway, and then Natalia followed, it was less than a year before Meliana was begging to come with them. And so, she came. Barely nine, there wasn't a lot for Meliana to do except hide from her tutors. She was permitted to explore the castle, but never to go outside of it except with a family member or a guard. It didn't take her long to find the best hiding places and set up her hidden stocks of candy.

After a friend became hurt and ended up in the Infirmary, Meliana started a ritual that has continued to this day (with the exception of time out of Gateway or in the case of the infirmary being sealed off). Nearly every single day, she goes to the infirmary and visits the sick people. She brings books for them to read and sweet treats of some sort. There are many that have said her daily visit brightens their day.

There was an incident when she was ten involving some mages. Only those closest to Meliana know what happened exactly, but she came away with a very intense and deep dislike for those of the Mistian isle. One exception to this was Duke Raziel Devonshire. She very much appreciated how he told her the truth of things, didn't lie, and didn't talk to her like a child. It was because of him, and at his urging, that the child chose to become Maker of Her Own Destiny.

Her first step was an attempt to use a favor from Duke Green Fields that was won by one fortunate cow taking a dump in the right place to betroth herself to his eldest child. That didn't work so well. He apparently appreciated her political attempts, but it was a no go.

Her second step (which went much better) was a change in tutors. She convinced her sister Khalani that she might go through fewer tutors if she was allowed to pick them herself. It was agreed this would be acceptable, with Lani having a veto vote, but with a promise to always listen to Meliana's reasoning. Her lessons continued to be in the same matters as before, just with a tutor for each different subject -- someone she liked, and someone who was an expert in that field. Her lessons include such things as literature, history, geography (the worst class /ever/, just ask her!), ethics, math, etiquette (yuck), needlework (doubleyuck), and the sciences such as biology and astronomy. Additionally, being a daughter of Amphorae, she has learned basic healing skills and is well versed in the herb lore of her home island. This learning was expounded upon by her time in the Infirmary and more learning from her Cousin Marek.

Third up to bat: not eating any more animals. She decided after her twelfth birthday that she no longer wanted to eat animals and was old enough to make this decision stick. And so, after much communication and bartering with her sister, this is now the way of things for Meliana. She isn't very strict about it, for that would be extremely unhealthy, but she tries as best she can. She still eats broth when sick, and in the winter, might eat a bit of roast, and eggs are always alright, as is fish. Its just the cows and chickens and lambs and squirrels and bunnies she avoids as much as she can.

And that leads us to October 508. Where, quite suddenly, Meliana sneaks herself and Captain Truffles Rascal Flywheel - First Pirate Dog of Draught, onto one of the Emperor's ships that she knows is leaving for outside the barrier. They hid in a trunk before revealing their presence just after crossing through the barrier. And she had a wonderful time! She never even got off the ship, but she didn't care. She climbed the rigging like a little monkey, and learned from the sailors.

They returned to devastation. The Schism had hit. While the fact her sister was busy dealing with half of Draught falling into the ocean somewhat mitigated her punishment, that didn't make the little girl feel any less guilty for the worry caused. So many injured people, so much destruction. It was almost more than her little heart could bear. When it became clear she wasn't going to be allowed in the Castle Infirmary to help, Khalani sent her to the University Infirmary instead, where she was welcomed. No one saw much of the girl during those weeks, save the healers there. She gave people water and helped feed them, listened to them tell their stories of loss, learned more about healing as she was allowed to help with minor things -- in chaos, another pair of hands is another pair of hands, no matter how small those hands may be. She never seemed to get tired, even when she was exhausted, and always had a ready warm smile for any and every one.

She has recently had discussions with a few key people about beginning classes to become a healer.

This young lady has nearly inexhaustible stores of energy. She is rarely seen in a leisurely stroll, but is constantly on the move just as fast as the etiquette of the situation allows. She has a ferocious love of candy, cookies, tarts, cake and especially FROSTING, and a sweet tooth of kraken size proportions.

She enjoys hiding, being off alone in the woods, climbing trees, riding horses, getting dirty, and all manner of other tomboyish things. Meli is the hide-and-seek champion of the Paggion family. Known for being fearless, she has no problem scurrying up that tallest tree or jumping from limb to limb like a little monkey. Dirt? That is not a bad word in her vocabulary. It all washes off. From the first ride to Gateway on a ship from Draught, she's loved sailing. They have their particular captain they prefer, going back and forth between the isles and the crew has made her their little mascot. At least once a week she goes to the docks to visit with them and when she returns to Draught they always let her help. And she is a most willing student.

Meliana was known in the past to 'disappear' just before formal lessons -- thus began the long line of tutors that were hired and then fired or quit. With the advent of her choosing her own tutors, this has completely stopped.

Though it is still very difficult for her to be still, with age has come maturity. When before, it was a struggle to make her sit still and have a nice tea or dinner, she can now manage such things. It takes a full hour before she starts squirming. This is a weakness of hers she attempts to mitigate by talking to people standing up whenever she can. As a petite young lady, and having not yet gotten into the realm of formal invitations for tea, this is still acceptable.

For all that Meliana loves to have a good time and is a bundle of pure energy, by far her greatest asset (and perhaps in the future, weakness) is her kind heart. She truly is a sensitive child, big-hearted and giving. She is also a little peacemaker. She dislikes seeing people argue or hearing voices raised in anger. When she does something wrong, or something that hurts someone, she tries her best to find ways to make it better. Her kind heart doesn't just extend to people, but animals as well. She has a dog for a pet but could never see her way to caging a wild animal.

• Jarl Paggion, Baron (deceased; 467-502): The father of four, Jarl was always the Lord Baron to Natalia, who doted on Khalani more than any of the daughters, though he loved them equally. Jarl was known as a passionate alchemist and lover of cookies, as well as a reasonably skilled healer. Meliana was six when he died. She has fond memories of her father, who was known to sneak her cookies when no one was looking. Enough cookies, in fact, to thoroughly ruin her dinner. Perhaps that is where she got her ferocious love of sweets.
• Arissa Winthrop Paggion, Baroness (deceased; 471-497): Arissa was a talented healer, but a commoner, who earned her way into the heart of Jarl Paggion, whom she met at the College of Healing in Amphorae when they attended together. The pair were fast friends and lovers, and when he ascended to the barony in 487, he requested her hand in marriage. Arissa died a few days after the birth of her fourth daughter, having grown sick with the birthing. Meliana doesn’t remember her mother, being just over a year old when she gave birth to Shala and died. Despite that, she has been known to work the memory of their mother into important events, such as Khalani's wedding.
  • Khalani Paggion, Baroness (489): The eldest of four daughters, Khalani came into her inheritence at only the age of thirteen. When she moved into the tower as Duchess Consort, Meliana chose to go with her rather than remaining in the suite with Cousin Willem, who was made Regent. The two of them get along rather well – fights about how many carrots Meliana will eat with dinner notwithstanding.
  • Natalia Paggion, Lady Baronet (493): Second to Khalani in all things--or so it has always seemed--Natalia began 'running' (with copious amounts of help from advisors) the Amphorae Baronial Household by herself at the age of nine, while her sister went to study on Gateway Island. Meliana and Natty have always been close, though with her recent extended absence on Draught, it gave Meli time to get to know Lani as well. Natty is the more strict of the two older sisters, though for the most part, both have given up and just decided to let Meli be Meli.
  • Shala Paggion, Noble Lady (497): The youngest of the Paggion daughters, Shala's birth was the cause of their mothers' death. Like Meliana, she was mostly raised by her older sisters. Meliana tends to view Shala as a pain in the butt. She is a tattle-tale who feels the need to tell everything Meli does that she thinks is the slightest bit wrong – like skipping lessons for the day to climb a tree in her new dress.

• Tiadora Paggion : Meliana has never met Aunt Tiadora. At least, not that she recalls. Maybe someday she'll get to fix that.
  • Willem Paggion : The relationship between Willem and Meli is a bit tense. It isn't that she doesn't like him -- she doesn't even know him. The few times they've met, Meli has left with a not-good feeling. She's pretty sure he doesn't like her much.
  • Imani Paggion : From Meli's view, Imani /definitely/ doesn't like her. The woman seems to disapprove of just about everything Meliana loves to do! She seems to think Meli shouldn't be running about and climbing trees and riding horses and learning archery. Luckily, Lani doesn't agree.
  • Marek Paggion : Cousin Marek. Next to Captain Truffles, he's about her best friend in the whole world. The two were cut from the same cloth. They adored each other from the moment their eyes met. He officially became one of her formal tutors, teaching her in what she like to label 'the outdoors arts'. Archery, herbology, training and caring for animals, riding, jumping, climbing trees.
  • Jakob Paggion : Meliana has met Jakob only once, but he seemed alright. He dared her to swear like a sailor, but she refused. He has offered to teach her to play poker, however, so how bad can he be?

• Dorian Claremont
• Caedmon Ashlan
• Gareth Arethusa
• Innocentia Candide
• Gregory Clapton
• Helena
• Joshua
• Bryce
• Kenneth
• Dyonith Zeloral
• Grant Liebermann

Deceased

• Catelyn Claremont
• Mathis Cardiff
• Conrad Rollins
• Raziel Devonshire