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Hillia Clacey

Baroness of Dennview

It is true that I am but the baroness of a worthless city and its surrounding villages, my dear Marquise, but I can assure you that won’t be the case for very long. My aspirations, as I’m sure you are aware, are much greater than that. And when that happens, my dear friend, I won’t forget what you have and have not done for me. I’ll be sure to give you appropriate thanks.

As a side note, I would appreciate it if the spies you sent weren’t so utterly obvious. I enjoy the game, but at least provide me with some challenge.
 
- Baroness Hillia Clacey in a letter to Marquise Maddison Read

Introduction

Ambitious, ruthless, and confident, Hillia Clacey may be young but she is not to be underestimated. The young baroness is a master of the Empire’s political games, and while she may be new blood, she is utterly unafraid in challenging the far more established and deeply rooted nobility of Evadrin. Hillia knows one thing for certain, and that is that she is deserving of ruling far more than simply a worthless northern city and its surrounding villages on the northernmost border of the Empire. Every opportunity she can get her hands on to prove just that, she will gladly take, if only to speed up the process to rise through the ranks of the Evadrinian nobility.

Background

Youth

Hillia is the lone child of Iris and Finnley Clacey. While they were not nobility, her mother was in fact the secretary of Rupert Gardner, the former Baron of Dennview, and held a great deal of influence in the small region.

As a young girl, Hillia spent most of her time within the mansion of the Baron where they also lived. Even for her education she never had to leave, as she was completely homeschooled. Growing up in this mansion she quickly became aware of the political dynamics that were embedded deep within the structure of the Empire. Even at a young age she quickly learned the nuances necessary to maneuver the political landscape and was able to use that to her advantage. Hillia also noticed early on that while her mother was a capable secretary, she lacked both the ambition and understanding of politics to ever grow out of that position.

The Dismal March

When the first reports of the monstrosities came in Hillia was only 9 years old. Most of the local rulers, including Rupert Gardner, largely ignored these reports and were unafraid of the so called ‘invasion’. In their eyes, the military power of the Empire was unbeatable. It was Hillia’s mother, Iris, who insisted that the people should evacuate. While the baron ignored her completely, Iris refused to risk the lives of so many and went around the Baron to warn as many people within Dennview as well as the surrounding settlements. Her warning fell on deaf’s ears by many, as the baron continued to insist there was no danger and branded Hillia’s mother as a madwoman. Nevertheless, Iris took her daughter, and together with a convoy of a couple of hundred northerners that heeded her warning they travelled to the capital of Wyminster. This would save their lives, and many of those that stayed behind would either die to the horrible monsters, or be scarred for the rest of their lives.

Hillia and her family would sit out the entire war in the capital, which remained relatively safe from the Dismal March. Iris would quickly find work as her knowledge of Dennview and its surrounding settlements proved paramount in keeping track of the survivors. Baron Rupert Gardner would make it to Wyminster as well a few months later, although like many of the northern rulers that survived he would lose all lands and titles after the war due to his incompetence.

The capital left a deep impression upon the young girl, and she enjoyed her time there immensely, despite the dire circumstances. It was then that Hillia decided she would one day return as a respected noblewoman.

Baroness

By the time the Dismal March was over, Hillia was 15 years old. Together with her parents she returned to Dennview which was largely destroyed. Like most northern settlements, Dennview had to be rebuilt from scratch, though that wasn’t a major issue thanks to the efficiency of the Empire, as well as the massive investments from the new Emperor, Arryn Lancaster, who took over after the death of his father. The new Emperor, however, was incredibly displeased with the northern nobility, considering them incompetent and largely responsible for the delayed response to the threat, as well as the large destruction and many deaths which resulted from their lack of action. Most of them, including the former baron of Dennview, Rupert Gardner, were entirely removed from position. As Iris Clacey had proved her worth in Wyminster, she was appointed as the new baroness of the northern city.

Hillia’s mother was honoured with the new title, but very quickly realised that she much preferred her old position as secretary. While she was good at dealing with the practical side of things, the politics surrounding leadership went way over her head. Despite being only 15 years old at the time, Hillia actually ended helping her mother a great deal in that regard, and while their coöperation went reasonably well, the young girl often grew incredibly frustrated with her mother’s lack of ambition. Iris simply wanted to make sure the settlements she supervised functioned well. Hillia, on the other hand, wanted to become so much more than the baroness of some insignificant city. Thus, she began planting an idea within her mother’s mind. Iris wasn’t interested in being baroness, whereas Hillia most certainly was, be it as a stepping stone to something greater. She began convincing her mother that once she felt confident enough in her daughter, she could step down as baroness and let her daughter inherit the title. In return, Iris could go back to her position as secretary which she enjoyed so much more. Six years later her mother did just that. Hillia became baroness at the mere age of 21, and switched positions with her mother who now became her secretary.

Every since, Hillia spent her time productively, making many connections and building up influence, all the while carefully choosing allies and enemies alike. She realised that her rise through the nobility would be a difficult one. Hillia was young, and from a family that was not nobility before the Dismal March, so proving herself worthy was incredibly important. Additionally, many of the old nobility actively worked against her. Nevertheless, Hillia fought on undeterred, and has been quite successful at making a name for herself. However, a true great achievement that would lift her out of being the leader of an insignificant region has so far stayed out, though she remains convinced that sooner rather than later her big break will come.

Personality

Hillia is defined by her ambition to climb the ladder of Evadrin’s nobility as well as her ruthlessness in being willing to do almost anything to achieve that goal, although she will never go outright against the Empire’s interests. After all, that would only reduce her chances of success. She is confident in her own abilities to the point of arrogance, though she most certainly does not underdeliver. When Hillia says she will take care of something, she will take care of it, one way or another. The young baroness is extremely skilled in the Empire’s political dynamics, which she considers to be a game of some kind and enjoys immensely. Hillia likes to portray herself as a great ally to have and an even greater enemy to make, though it remains to be seen how true that statement actually is.

Faith

More concerned with politics than with matters of faith, Hillia is not a very religious person. While she believes in the gods, she spends little time worshipping them, often preferring to rely on her own abilities and skills to achieve her goals.
Year of Birth
460 5A 27 Years old
Birthplace
Dennview
Children
Current Residence
Dennview
Gender
Female
Eyes
Blue
Hair
Combed back, Neck Length, Black
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Light Pale

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