Post by The Blessed Isles on Jun 22, 2012 23:02:35 GMT -5
Sofiya Maurenos
Episcopos of the Blessed Isles
Age: 37
Religion and Language: Dissenter Iesinorene, speaking Amorean, Pharosi, and Meshtuu.
Faction Loyalty: The Blessed Isles
Alignment: Good.
Profession: Episcopos of the Blessed Isles
Appearance: With some gray and of modest stature, usually wearing ankle to neck robes. Her eyes are white from blindness.
Personality: Demanding and terse of speech. Quiet but with a strong presence, and absolute devotion to the faith.
History: Sofiya Maurenos is surrounded in mystical rumor. She was raised in a landowning aristocratic family in the Blessed Isles. At the age of 12, she began having lucid dreams where she claimed to speak with Iesinor himself, resulting in a strong religious conviction. Over the objections of her father - who tried to have her married off at the age of 14 to forestall it - Sofiya apprenticed herself to and arbiter, the mystic Leo of the Column.
She spent time with Leo and several other Iesinorenes on a small, mostly barren island in prayer and intentional community, studying the teachings of the faith. One day, while collecting shellfish on the beach, it is said that she was visited by the divine presence itself in a burst of light so bright it rendered her blind - but filled her thereafter with the inner fire of faith.
Returning, Sofiya continued her religious studies and rose through the ranks. As a result of her experience, she became the prominent leader of a powerful dissenter sect in the Blessed Isles, producing tracts for which she was twice exiled to remote islands by the ruling episkopos of the Blessed Isles.
The fall of the Empire occurred during her second time in exile. Taking advantage of the chaos, a band of faithful followers brought her back to Iesinoria, where she became the focal point of a religious insurrection against the governor and ruling episkopos in Meshuthia.
Provincial forces were dispatched against this revolt by the governor under the command of Aidan Cambress, the scion of the wealthiest landowning family of the province. At the head of professional imperial forces, Aidan Cambress was sure to defeat the ragtag group of dissenters, and arrayed his forces at a key bridge along the route to Meshuthia.
Everyone expected a final battle - but that night, under the cover of darkness, Sofiya snuck into Aidan's camp. He awoke to find her seated beside his bed, without a weapon, deep in contemplative prayer. Although neither side has ever spoken of the events of that night, the next morning, Aidan renounced his heritage and swore loyalty to the dissenter cause in a public mass before all his forces.
In the sack of Meshuthia, both the current governor and episkopos were slain. A gathering of Presbyters was held, promoting Sofiya first to Presbyter, and then, in 412, to the office of episkopos of the Blessed Isles.
Since that time, the Blessed Isles have been formally ruled by Sofiya Maurenos as the Episcopate of the Blessed Isles. Civilian government continues to follow the old Imperial system, although the seat of the governor remains empty.
Strengths/Weaknesses
Strengths: She inspires devotion in her closest confidants, and is strong of mind with a powerful intellect. She has a thorough grasp of the role she plays and its powers and limitations.
Weaknesses: She is more or less blind, and therefore must rely heavily on those around her. Unmarried, she lacks extended family to support her. And her devotion, while often a strength, can cloud her judgment.
Likes: Tea.
Dislikes: Polytheists!
Weapons: The holy spirit?
Armor: None.
OOC: Belisaurius
