<strong>Human Name:</strong>Irena (family surname no longer used)<br/><strong>Drow Name:</strong>Iraeisstra Aleanneld [arcane, mystic, wizard, acolyte, apprentice, of noble lineage - the arcane]<br/><strong>Class:</strong>Psion<br/><strong>Age:</strong>22<br/><strong>Appearance:</strong>(see pictures)<br/>height - 5'7<br/>human eye color - honey<br/>drow eye color - fiery amber-orange<br/><br/><strong>Background:</strong>Irena, and her twin brother, were born to the highest nobility in the land.  Their mother, the queen, died shortly after their birth from labor complications.  Not that that mattered to the powerful warlock king, he had gotten what he needed, an heir ... a<em>male</em>heir.  Though Irena was older than her brother Idris, if only by a matter of minutes, her father put Idris above all others, especially his daughter.  Irena, however, had a fiery nature and refused to be second.  From an early age she knew that she was just as strong, if not stronger, than her brother, and certainly smarter.  Everything between them became a competition, and though Irena would best Idris at nearly everything, physical, mental, or magical, Idris still had all of their father's pride and affection.  To the King his daughter was little more than a pawn to be used in order to establish a treaty, with one kingdom or another, through a marriage arrangement.  Sensing great defiance in Irena and potential in the magical arts, especially psionics like her mother, he forbid her training.  He feared that she may one day rise up and claim the throne from her brother.<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu91/Cassiopeia101/Roleplay/Nelisande_by_acidlullaby-cropped.jpg?t=1271967850)</div>Sadly, for the king, this realization came too late.  Irena had a knack for the dark arts and training or not she would see that her powers would expand.  Though without the guidance and tutelage bestowed upon her twin brother Irena's gift came naturally and she was easily the more skilled and powerful of the two, not that anyone would have known it for she hid her practices well.  Aiding in the matter was the fact that her brother was most obviously hot-headed and short sighted, much like their father.  Had life, or her father, been fair or just she would have been the one in line for the throne, and the knowledge of that ate away at her relentlessly.  The rivalry between the twins grew with each passing year and Irena had to use every ounce of control she had to keep from falling her brother with her psionic abilities.<br/><br/>When Irena was sixteen her father arranged a treaty with a neighboring kingdom, calling for her marriage to the younger prince, ensuring that she would not be in a position to rule in either kingdom.  The young princess had no knowledge of this until her betrothed came to inspect his newly acquired prize.  The horrific nature of her situation sunk in and a burning panic overtook her.  This prince made it clear that she was now his property and he was set on claiming her immediately.  For Irena it was the last straw.  Unable to contain her rage and fury she unleashed her powers upon him, wounding him before her father's mages subdued her.  He was not hurt badly enough for Irena's tastes, not enough to have made exposing her powers worthwhile.  Immediately an Inhibitor Collar was placed around her neck, suppressing her powers completely.<br/><br/>The king was beyond furious and, had he been a kind man, he would have killed her.  But he was most certainly not kinda and wanted his daughter to feel as humiliated as he did by her treacherous acts.  Telling the kingdom that the princess had died of a swift and fierce sickness he secretly sold her off to the highest bidder.  The sum was hefty due to the princess's renowned beauty as well as her lineage.  Irena was taken by an obscure member of the court, one having much wealth and little reputation.  In order to preserve her own life she was forced into doing the most demeaning tasks and acts.  Though virtually powerless now, the fight and spirit remained deep within her, the possibility of vengeance and freedom spurring her on.  Eventually, as Irena had predicted, her cruel and shortsighted captor lost the majority of his assets through gambling debts and he was forced to sell her off.<br/><br/>As luck would have it the man who purchased her was a psion, though unluckily for Irena he was even more cruel than her former master.  She appeared docile and submissive enough that he would not worry about practicing the art in front of her, thus she was able to observe and learn.  Watching, however, made her ache to use her powers again all the more.  She knew the only way to free herself of the wretched collar was to obtain the key and besides her master the only ones to possess such a key were the guards.  The older more experienced guards were not even worth her attempt, they were hardened and had seen nearly every trick and coercion known to humanity.  But one new recruit was highly promising, his eyes followed Irena whenever she was near and the hunger he felt for her was evident.  She encouraged his interest, smiling at him secretively, allowing her eyes to meet with his for a few brief moments before darting away, letting him catch glimpses of her skin when she would bend or move a certain way.  The young man was as if under a spell yet she had used no magic.<br/><br/>Once Irena was certain his attachment and need for her had reached a peak she approached him privately, confessing her "feelings" to him, expressing her longing for him.  After<div class="floatright">(http://i637.photobucket.com/albums/uu91/Cassiopeia101/Roleplay/Drow_Spellcast_by_Cyzra-cropped.jpg?t=1271968025)</div>months of slow teasing the young guard was nearly powerless to resist.  Irena told him that the collar prevented her from being with anyone but her master, much as she desired otherwise.  In a moment of sheer brilliance the gallant guard offered to free her of the insidious device.  Irena rewarded her would-be savior with a concussive blast, launching him head first into a stone wall not two seconds after she was freed.  Her powers were a bit unstable after having been suppressed for so long but she was able to sneak through the keep undetected and find her despised master.  The depraved psion slept unaware in his lavish bed, secure in the knowledge that none could harm him.  Irena looked at him with contempt and disgust.  He, like all men, thought himself invulnerable, all powerful, superior ...  This time she would not use her powers, she wanted to feel the life drain from him directly.<br/><br/>Grabbing a fruit knife from the small ornate table she lunged atop him and stabbed him through the neck.  His eyes snapped open in agony, his expression changing to shock when he finally realized who it was taking his life.  Irena stopped for a moment to smile down at him sweetly in the way that she always had, innocent, fragile, incapable of harm, and continued to do so as she stabbed him again, and again, and again until finally his last breath gurgled out.  The feeling coursing through her was powerful and intoxicating as she sat there looking down at his motionless body, satisfied that she had sent him to the hereafter knowing that his slave was anything but weak or lesser.  Covered in his blood she fled, knowing that she would soon be hunted for her crimes.<br/><br/>Irena's psionics allowed her to disguise herself to a certain extent, but being out of practice she knew it was only a matter of time before she was discovered, especially once her father learned of her escape.  He would use every available resource, both magical and otherwise, to end the threat she poses to him and her brother.  As she ran, attempting to distance herself from her father's kingdom until the opportune time, she hid among groups of traveling merchants.  She would hear them tell stories of Underdark and the goddess Lolth, a female deity who encouraged women's dominance over men.  Her followers were strong and well trained in the magical arts, and the more Irena learned about the goddess the more she wanted to worship her.  The only way to accomplish this was to go to Underdark, a place that basically only existed in whispered rumor.<br/><br/>Through various cruel and perhaps, considered by the narrow minded, unscrupulous means she found the name of one who supposedly dealt in secrets with the greatest of skill - Ciara Ferragio.<br/>(To be further elaborated)<br/><br/><strong>Personality: </strong>Given Irena's life and her general regard for the male species as a whole she could easily be labeled as a man-hater, though this is not the case.  What she does believe however, based on her experience, is that men are not capable or worthy of being in positions of power.  Shortsighted, greedy, cruel without cause, squandering their resources for momentary gratification, no these<em> men</em>do not deserve the inherited crown of humanity.  Men, in her eyes, are simply foolish, lesser, unworthy of the positions they hold.  Leaving men in charge is about as wise as allowing a three year old to take a monarch's throne, at least that's what she's be known to say.  It is not power over kingdoms which she craves, per say, merely that things fall into the natural order: women ruling, men serving.<br/><br/>Irena is smart, cunning, calculating.  She indeed has a temper but seldom lets it get the better of her, having learned to wait for her ideal moment to strike.  The former princess still carries herself with the air of royalty, her chin held high, parallel to the ground, her shoulders back, and her body stretched tall as she walks.  While she possesses the knowledge of the most obscure and noble of manners and courtesies she seldom finds use for them, thinking them to be more of a waste of time and a nuisance ... unless of course she can use them to her advantage.  Irena is a ruthless opportunist, having never truly had anyone to be loyal to in her life, her top priority is her own survival and power.  Neither naive or blind to her strengths or weaknesses, for she has had ample time to assess them, she is truly a dangerous nemesis.<br/><br/>Beyond her jaded outlook, Irena is adaptive, capable of being charming and inviting in one moment (courtesy of her nobel upbringing), and vicious and violent the next depending on what suits her purposes.  She is not without emotion or compassion, she simply chooses to ignore them whenever they conflict with what benefits her, and thus far she has been able to do so without exception.  A seemingly fearless psion, she seeks to rid herself of all the weaknesses of humanity.