The year 1565, it was a blissful year... The King and the Queen had their only child, Princess Aisse... but disaster struck the Kingdom of Liere. Tsidorfus rose to power, his army of ten thousand dark mages took over the Kingdom of Liere. The young Princess was shoved into the arms of a maid, new to this world, her title a mere whisper upon the lips of her people -- nobody had seen the girl, but a select few. This maid was ordered to flee -- to run.<br/><br/>Take the Princess to the Kingdom of Fieri. Take the Princess and flee this place, the Queen had whispered to the old maid. The woman had family in Fieri, and that was where she went. Jumping trains, going underground with the help of the few people who were spared from Tsidorfus' wrath.<br/><br/>The Queen was executed -- the leader of the Dark Army had come for the child; and to find the child gone... She was killed. The King, however, sank into hiding. His wife gone, his daughter safe for the time, he disappeared into hiding until the day he would be needed.<br/><br/>1681. Aisse was sixteen now, living on the farm with her adopted mother and father and brothers (though she had no idea they were adopted). The old maid who had taken her, had given her to her son and his family. She had four brothers; Jakoby, Allen, Leslie, and Milton. Her mother and father were Jammae and Micah auVontaire. Therefore she was Aisse Bethella auVontaire. And she was completely unaware of her true status within the Kingdom that was threatening Fieri. Fieri was tense; the King, Ronan, was gathering an army of men -- and her brothers' were to go... women did not usually go into the army -- especially not girls of sixteen, but that did not matter to Aisse -- she would find a way.<br/><br/>The night her brothers' left to journey to the Capitol, Aisse followed them. She had tied her hair up atop her head into a bun, and she had dressed in some of her baggiest clothing (her family was not rich; most of her things were hand-me-downs from her brothers).<br/><br/>She stood on the Palace steps, staring toward the sky as she presented herself to their King. Ronan was studying his new arrivals; the four brothers and the stranger, Vice. That was the name she gave. Vice. Frederick Vice. She bowed her head and whispered, "I serve thee, Sire." With that, she was initiated into the militia -- and the story truly began.<br/><br/>She was in her quarters one night, showering. She showered when none of the men were awake -- because she knew if she was found out, it could end badly (she could be executed, or she could be shunned -- perhaps exiled from the Kingdom). Women were frowned upon within the military; but she knew there were surely others in there with her... She just did not know who they were.<br/><br/>Standing in the tub full of lukewarm water, she washed herself slowly, closing her eyes as she swayed.. It felt great to get a good wash in. Mid-wash, she heard shouts and cries -- they were on the border of Fieri and Liere. Had battle broken out?<br/><br/>Aisse quickly dressed, shoving her hair up into a tight bun atop her head as she turned to claim her sword -- her fine features were sure to give her away but she knew if she was found out, perhaps she would not be punished until the battle was over... If she survived.<br/><br/>And off she went, into the fray. Men, half-dressed, most asleep...<br/><br/>Dawn rose, and the battle had ended in blood-bath, Aisse and a few of the others had gotten into the forest on the Liere side of the border -- the Liere army continued to advance into Fieri, however. She was gasping for air, staring at the torchlight that was quickly fading. "S- Someone must warn... must warn..." She whispered, her brothers staring at her silently. All of them were alive so far; and two or three other people.<br/><br/>"Mother and Father..." She mumbled, jerking her hair down as she slammed her back against a tree. Her brothers, and the other men were staring at her in silence. "You... you're a girl," one stuttered softly, her brothers' simply glared at her... Oh, she'd done it now.<br/><br/>Nevertheless, the group moved on -- the guise of a man was still Aisse's play. They entered into the first of many villages that made up Liere. And they found a nice Inn to settle into for the night, though while her companions headed to bed, Aisse settled at the bar.<br/><br/>The woman-dressed-as-a-man was resting her chin in the center of her palm, as she ordered a whiskey, they never checked ages; though in this era there was never really any reason to check ages.