Changes: Clara Montag

Revision as of 20:45, 11 July 2021

Clara Montag was a human woman from the city of Hiberia. She is the elder "sister" of Sophie Montag. A former child slave, she was rescued and rehabilitated by the prophet Dagda Vormund, subsequently becoming one of his first followers and among the few surviving members of the Cult of Vormund. She was illegally married to Kemet, an Exekian, and had a child by him, John Stirling.

Biography

Early Life

Born in Hiberia, Apicarta, in 147 AYZ, Clara was the daughter of two unmarried servants working for a wealthy lord. When she was still very young, her father died. Her mother became a listless alcoholic and soon lost her job. To avoid starvation, she sold the eleven year old Clara into slavery.

Removed from her mother's care, Clara was eventually purchased by a wealthy merchant known as Madame Rathbone, who pretended she was her orphaned ward. Rathbone forced Clara to act as a household servant, and while she wouldn't hit the girl, she would frequently verbally abuse her and withhold meals as punishment for minor infractions. Clara was not allowed to leave the house or speak unless spoken to; she described her experience as being treated like an automaton, without thoughts or feelings of her own.

After seven years of bondage, Clara discovered that Rathbone intended to sell her to a brothel and replace her with a new girl, Sophie. Out of despair, Clara became suicidal.

Rescue

While attempting to squeeze through the bars outside her bedroom window in order to jump to her death, Clara heard the prophet Vormund preaching below. Vormund saw her and tried to talk to her, but she was pulled away from the window by Rathbone before she could reply.

Not long after, Clara killed Rathbone and was forced to flee. She took Sophie with her and found Vormund, who placed them in the care of Heather Montag, a retired nurse and close friend of his. Heather gradually helped the two girls recuperate, and during that time they each took the last name Montag and began referring to each other as "sister".

Recovery

In 162, following the instructions of a divine vision, Vormund headed for the Kuhlimani Mountains. Several of his acolytes followed, Clara among them.

The cult came upon an Exekian called Kemet, who was badly beaten and left for dead. They nursed him back to health, and in return he allowed them to stay in his hideout, the caves of Arza Kell. Clara and Kemet fell in love. The couple were married in a double wedding ceremony, along with Gavin and Melissa Zosimus.

Clara left the caves in 164, traveling with Vormund to the city of Bodai. Within a few weeks, they were banished from the city and forced to return to Arza Kell. Clara refused to follow them on their next journey (a return trip to Hiberia), preferring to stay with Kemet, who was taking care of the infant Laura.

Disbanding of the Cult

Some weeks later, the trio of Leonard Gorrister, Gavin Zosimus, and Adrian Vandiir (disguised as Drusus Rolfe) returned to the caverns. Knowing that "Drusus" intended to betray them, Leonard went on ahead in order to warn Kemet and Clara. They gave him Laura to bring back to Gavin and fled before Adrian could reach them.

Kemet and Clara traveled to Exekia.

Fifth Exekian War

In 183, the first Exekian kluuda since before the fall of the Empire began. It was nearly a full year later than expected, causing widespread concern and panic. Kemet was among the first to manifest the symptoms, and he quickly returned home in order to be with Clara.

Their peace and quiet was short-lived, however, as the Empress sent her agent Rasvan to seek Kemet out. Rasvan attempted to convince Kemet to mate with females of his own kind, but he refused to forsake Clara.

The couple was forcibly evacuated to the Exekian fortress of Heliobas. Kemet was made a commanding officer, although those taking shelter at the fortress treated him as if he were their prince. Clara discovered that she was pregnant and gave birth to a son, whom she and Kemet named Sinuhe.

Trivia

In early drafts, she was named "Sophia Belgrade". In The Inquisitor, she uses "Miss Belgrade" as a false identity.

The name Clara means "bright" or "clear". She was named after the character from The Nutcracker.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox_character|image1 = Sophia Aesthetic.png|avatar = Gemma Arterton|occupation = Prostitute (former)
+{{Infobox_character|image1 = |avatar = |occupation = Slave (former)
-Farmer|affiliation = [[Vormundism]]|age = 17 (as of 164 AYZ)|species = Alucar|gender = Female|hair = Brown|eyes = Brown|skin = Olive|distinguishing_marks = |birthplace = [[Hiberia]]|lovers = |children = |height = 5"7'|weight = 150 lbs.|scent = |spouses = [[Kemet]]}}Clara Richter is a human woman from the city of [[Hiberia]]. A former child prostitute, she was rescued and rehabilitated by the prophet [[Dagda Vormund]], subsequently becoming one of his first followers and among the few surviving members of the [[:Category: Cult of Vormund|Cult of Vormund]].
+Farmer|affiliation = [[Vormundism]]|age = 17 (as of 164 AYZ)|species = Human|gender = Female|hair = Brown|eyes = Brown|skin = Fair|distinguishing_marks = |birthplace = [[Hiberia]], [[Apicarta]]|lovers = |children = |height = 5"7'|weight = 150 lbs.|scent = |spouses = [[Kemet]]}}Clara Montag was a [[:Category:Humans|human]] woman from the city of [[Hiberia]]. She is the elder "sister" of [[Sophie Montag]]. A former child slave, she was rescued and rehabilitated by the prophet [[Dagda Vormund]], subsequently becoming one of his first followers and among the few surviving members of the [[:Category: Cult of Vormund|Cult of Vormund]]. She was illegally married to [[Kemet]], an [[:Category: Exekians|Exekian]], and had a child by him, [[John Stirling]].
-She is illegally married to [[Kemet]], an [[:Category: Exekians|Exekian]]. Their union is not recognized in either of their homelands, and is only given religious significance among the [[Vormundism|Vormundists]].
 == Biography ==
 === Early Life ===
-Born in [[Hiberia]], [[Apicarta]], in 147 AYZ, Clara Richter was the daughter of two unmarried servants working for a wealthy lord. When she was still very young, her father died. Her mother became a listless alcoholic and soon lost her job. To avoid starvation, she sold the eleven year old Clara into prostitution in the infamous Hiberian red light district.
+Born in [[Hiberia]], [[Apicarta]], in 147 AYZ, Clara was the daughter of two unmarried servants working for a wealthy lord. When she was still very young, her father died. Her mother became a listless alcoholic and soon lost her job. To avoid starvation, she sold the eleven year old Clara into slavery.
-Removed from her mother's care, Clara was eventually picked up by a chain of high-end brothels. Custody of her was granted to Madame Rathbone, the owner of the chain, who pretended she was her orphaned ward. Under Rathbone, Clara was forced to take drugs which affected her physical body, making her appear older and more mature, as well as altering her psychological and emotional states. As a result of the drugs, she has significant gaps in her memory of that period, and what she does remember often seems like a dream.
+Removed from her mother's care, Clara was eventually purchased by a wealthy merchant known as Madame Rathbone, who pretended she was her orphaned ward. Rathbone forced Clara to act as a household servant, and while she wouldn't hit the girl, she would frequently verbally abuse her and withhold meals as punishment for minor infractions. Clara was not allowed to leave the house or speak unless spoken to; she described her experience as being treated like an automaton, without thoughts or feelings of her own.
+After seven years of bondage, Clara discovered that Rathbone intended to sell her to a brothel and replace her with a new girl, [[Sophie Montag|Sophie]]. Out of despair, Clara became suicidal.
 === Rescue ===
-While attempting to squeeze through the bars outside her bedroom window in order to jump to her death, Clara heard the prophet Vormund preaching below. Vormund saw her and tried to talk to her, but she was pulled away from the window by a bouncer before she could reply.
+While attempting to squeeze through the bars outside her bedroom window in order to jump to her death, Clara heard the prophet Vormund preaching below. Vormund saw her and tried to talk to her, but she was pulled away from the window by Rathbone before she could reply.
-A month later, one of Vormund's followers, [[Ethan]], entered the brothel and pretended to be a client. He made his way upstairs, where he found Clara locked in one of the rooms. He bought her and delivered her to Vormund, who placed her in the care of [[Heather Babbitt]], a retired nurse and close friend of his. Heather gradually helped her recuperate, but it quickly became apparent that she would have to be moved out of the city for the sake of her mental health.
+Not long after, Clara killed Rathbone and was forced to flee. She took Sophie with her and found Vormund, who placed them in the care of [[Heather Montag]], a retired nurse and close friend of his. Heather gradually helped the two girls recuperate, and during that time they each took the last name Montag and began referring to each other as "sister".
 === Recovery ===
@@ Line 22: / Line 23: @@
 The cult came upon an [[:Category: Exekians|Exekian]] called [[Kemet]], who was badly beaten and left for dead. They nursed him back to health, and in return he allowed them to stay in his hideout, the caves of [[Arza Kell]]. Clara and Kemet fell in love. The couple were married in a double wedding ceremony, along with [[Gavin Zosimus|Gavin]] and [[Melissa Zosimus]].
-Clara left the caves in 164, traveling with Vormund to the city of Bodai. Within a few weeks, they were banished from the city and forced to return to Arza Kell. Clara refused to follow them on their next journey, a return trip to Hiberia, preferring to stay with Kemet, who was taking care of the infant [[Laura Stirling|Laura]].
+Clara left the caves in 164, traveling with Vormund to the city of Bodai. Within a few weeks, they were banished from the city and forced to return to Arza Kell. Clara refused to follow them on their next journey (a return trip to Hiberia), preferring to stay with Kemet, who was taking care of the infant [[Laura Stirling|Laura]].
 === Disbanding of the Cult ===
-Some weeks later, Kemet sensed the approaching presence of [[Rowan Renard]], [[Gavin Zosimus]], and [[Selca Ducani]]. He read their minds, learning that Vormund was dead and that they were in danger. Taking Laura with them, Kemet and Clara fled the caverns and headed for the southern border.
+Some weeks later, the trio of Leonard Gorrister, Gavin Zosimus, and [[Adrian Vandiir]] (disguised as Drusus Rolfe) returned to the caverns. Knowing that "Drusus" intended to betray them, Leonard went on ahead in order to warn Kemet and Clara. They gave him Laura to bring back to Gavin and fled before Adrian could reach them.
+Kemet and Clara traveled to [[Exekia]].
-After crossing the river Antoi, they found an abandoned cottage in the wilderness, rebuilt it and lived there as a family for four and a half years, until Lord [[Gavin Zosimus]] contacted them and arranged for them to return Laura to him.
 === Fifth Exekian War ===
-In 183, the first Exekian kluuda since before the fall of the Empire began. It was nearly a full year later than expected, causing widespread concern and panic. Kemet was among the first to manifest the symptoms, and he quickly returned home from travel in order to be with Clara.
+In 183, the first Exekian kluuda since before the fall of the Empire began. It was nearly a full year later than expected, causing widespread concern and panic. Kemet was among the first to manifest the symptoms, and he quickly returned home in order to be with Clara.
-Their peace and quiet was short-lived, however, as the Empress sent her agent Rasvan to seek Kemet out. Rasvan attempted to convince Kemet to mate with females of his own kind in order to produce more aislings, but he refused to forsake Clara.
+Their peace and quiet was short-lived, however, as the Empress sent her agent Rasvan to seek Kemet out. Rasvan attempted to convince Kemet to mate with females of his own kind, but he refused to forsake Clara.
-The couple was forcibly evacuated to the Exekian fortress of Heliobas, which had been converted to a safe haven for newborns and pregnant females. Kemet was made a commanding officer and given the task of management.
+The couple was forcibly evacuated to the Exekian fortress of [[Heliobas]]. Kemet was made a commanding officer, although those taking shelter at the fortress treated him as if he were their prince. Clara discovered that she was pregnant and gave birth to a son, whom she and Kemet named Sinuhe.
 == Trivia ==
-In early drafts, she was named "Sophia Belgrade". In ''Dreamwalker'', she uses the last name as a false identity.
+In early drafts, she was named "Sophia Belgrade". In ''The Inquisitor'', she uses "Miss Belgrade" as a false identity.
 The name Clara means "bright" or "clear". She was named after the character from ''The Nutcracker''.[[Category:Humans]]