Lady Imara of House Alnarasqie

== History ==
Lady Imara Alnarasqie, the last recognised Matriarch of House Alnarasqie, was once a powerful, respected, and prestigious noblewoman from Kelesh, specifically the Satrapy of Qadira. However, after a series of both fortunate and unfortunate events, Imara fell from her place as a celebrity, and instead doomed her entire House to infamy and exile.
Despite her status as a noblewoman, Imara was once Princess Imara, having been born to Sultana Fdulia Alnarasqie and the General-turned-royal Burunzia, former rulers of the now-fallen Kingdom of Ethezias. Once a grand yet incredibly small city-state, Ethezias is now nothing more than a minor trade hub on the edge of Qadira, after it was annexed following a brief cold war engineered to pressure Ethezias into surrender. As Imara was alive throughout the entire affair and was in close contact with her parents, she learned about politics, regality, and the nature of Casmaron early on.
Even though Imara was no longer a Princess and her family was no longer royal, House Alnarasqie remained a strong noble family within Kelesh. Tragically, when she was just 17, Imara lost her parents to a deadly plague that had been bothering the region for years. Being an only child, Imara was the sole inheritor of her family's estate, making her the new Matriarch of House Alnarasqie, and the House's only member at that.
For years, Lady Imara rebuilt House Alnarasqie's reputation and maintained its power with the help of a few close advisors. Ethezias, while not quite an independent nation, had nearly regained its former glory. During this time, Imara delved into studying many different fields, namely arts, finances, and, oddly enough, Dragons. Imara had always been curious about the mysterious, reptilian creatures. Previous Matriarchs and scholars in House Alnarasqie had delved into similar studies and were even rumoured to have befriended or laid with them, closely tying the House to Keleshite Dragons.
Over time, Imara became particularly close to one of her servants named Khalaq, a mysterious man who she knew little about but learned a great deal of information from. Khalaq assisted Imara in her research and harnessing her Kinetic powers, bringing her closer to the Elements. Unlike the rest of her servants, Imara rarely saw Khalaq outside of their meetings, and most of the others did not seem to even know of his existence when she talked about him. While she was curious and inquired into his background, Khalaq refused to give a clear or full answer, though due to how helpful he was and seeing as Imara did not have many other close friends, she did not mind it much and rarely brought it up.
After nearly just over a decade of being friends, Imara still had not learned of Khalaq's background and the reason for his strangeness. However, when Imara turned 29, this changed when Imara became the target of an assassination attempt. While she was in a private meeting with Khalaq, a deranged cultist that seemed like a cross between a Blue Dragon and a Human broke into her quarters, apparently intent on using the two of them as sacrifices. Before anything could properly happen, however, Khalaq suddenly sprouted wings and threw the hybrid outside. As Khalaq flew towards the assailant, he quickly took on a new form: that of a massive, majestic Bronze Dragon. Khalaq quickly dispatched of the would-be murderer, leaving Imara and her guards with the knowledge that Khalaq was no mere servant.
Khalaq told Imara about the nature of Draconic Exemplars and how he had ascended beyond who he once was many centuries ago, becoming a True Dragon. Rather than angered by the fact that he hid this information, Imara was left with awe and, more importantly, a desire for such power. Imara requested for Khalaq to teach her the ways of Draconic Exemplars and how to become a Bronze Dragon herself. He gladly accepted and took Imara under her wing, becoming her mentor in both the Elements and Dragons.
The next couple of years were gruelling yet rewarding for Imara. Due to her innate tendencies, it was not difficult for her to adopt the traditions and ideals of Bronze Dragons. Khalaq guided her along until she had completed her training, at which point he granted her a fraction of his power. Lady Imara had now become a Draconic Exemplar herself. A weak and young one, but one still brimming with potential.
Despite her best efforts, Imara found it difficult to conceal her newfound nature, mainly due to the physical changes her body adopted. Parts of her body became scaly and she began growing sharp talons that were still able to be used for Kinetic combat. These changes were especially not ignored by Qadira's Satrap, who slowly began to view Imara and House Alnarasqie as a threat to his authority and power, fearing that Imara would try restoring Ethezias as a free kingdom. While this never came to fruition and was likely nothing more than paranoia, the idea of one of his most powerful vassals gaining independence was enough to set off alarms for him.
At the age of 33, Imara had finally almost finished her training as a master of Fire, Water, and the ways of Bronze Dragons. She was able to freely harness the Elements available to her and Khalaq had taught her everything he possibly could, with the rest of her training being a personal journey for her that no one but herself could lead her down. While this was happening, however, Satrap Xerbystes had been plotting to remove Imara from power be any means necessary and take away House Alnarasqie's power, not only in Ethezias but throughout the entirety of Kelesh. This plan came into fruition shortly after Lady Imara's 34th birthday, when a rumour spread from a completely unknown and totally inconspicuous source that Imara was a dangerous terrorist and cultist who had joined an underground sect of Dahak worshippers hell-bent on destroying the Keleshite government.
While the rumours were almost completely based purely on the fact that Lady Imara had allied herself with a Bronze Dragon and was seen with a Blue Draconic Exemplar at one point, the claims stuck in the minds of many people outside of Ethezias who only knew her as a Princess-turned-vassal on the outskirts of Qadira whose land was conquered by Xerbystes. The Satrap used these rumours as an excuse to further slander Lady Imara, leading to quickly rising tensions between House Alnarasqie and the rest of Qadira. Eventually, Imara could no longer safely live in Kelesh and watch over Ethezias.
Rather than further dispute the rumours or cause more trouble with Qadira's Satrap, Imara eventually conceded against many of her still-loyal followers' wishes. Even if she had managed to successfully dispell them, the Satrap would have found another excuse to remove Lady Imara or further damage her House's prestige. Imara put herself and House Alnarasqie into a willing exile and left Kelesh, formally ending the reign of her House, at least in its homeland.
Due to personal obligations and a desire to remain in Ethezias, Khalaq stayed behind in Qadira, leaving Imara with nothing but his teachings, the remainder of her family's dwindling wealth, and a staff of loyal servants who stays devoted to House Alnarasqie. Imara and her people sailed far away from Kelesh and Casmaron, having no desire to stay even on the same continent where the House's name had been defiled. They instead decided to resettle in the city of Absalom, a far off land renowned for defeating the Rough Beast and being a honey pot of numerous different types of folks.
Lady Imara and those who served her were willing to begin anew, rebuilding House Alnarasqie's legacy up in a foreign land. A small yet lavish estate was constructed on the border between the Foreign Quarter and Ivy District, standing as a testament to House Alnarasqie's continued survival even through dark times and the glory of a noble House who once ruled over an entire Kingdom.
== Appearance ==
Imara is almost always seen wearing her gaudy and revealing yet formal outfit traditional of Alnarasqie Matriarchs, complete with expensive Keleshite jewellery and the crest of her House in the middle of the collar. Much of her outfit is black and bronze, reflecting the royal colours of Ethezias, and now, ironically, her status as an Exemplar of Bronze Dragons. Further displaying her growing draconic nature are her amber eyes with reptilian slits for pupils, patches of coppery scales along the end of her legs and arms, curved horns with bronze rings sprouting from the sides of her head, and the metallic claws taking up nearly the entirety of her forearms.
== Personality ==
Like other Alnarasqie Matriarchs before her, Lady Imara was groomed to be a scholarly and charismatic leader during her childhood, even after Ethezias was annexed. Instead of commanding through force or fear, Imara is a kind yet stern noblewoman, doing her best to understand the issues of her servants, courtiers, and other subjects. She rules with a sense of regality yet is not obsessed with keeping tradition or status quo, instead doing whatever benefits House Alnarasqie and its allies while minimizing harm done to anyone else.
Imara is also a patron of the arts, collecting expensive pieces from various sculptors jewellers, and writers from all over, even keeping a personal coin collection which she proudly presents in her estate's main hall. She eagerly welcomes any artists who are willing to stay within her estate, whether as guests or courtiers, and does her best to fund artistic pursuits wherever she is. This has also led to her becoming somewhat of a xenophile, with a growing obsession with other cultures becoming more and more apparent with each artpiece she adds to House Alnarasqie's and her own collection.
Despite typically being level-headed and formal, sometimes Imara's emotions and sense of duty betray her. She meets even the slightest issue as if it is incredibly urgent and requires the upmost amount of attention. Even something as simple as figuring out what to wear for the day or how to arrange art throughout her estate is like a personal quest for her. On top of this, Imara treats issues related to House Alnarasqie and her allies with immense importance, quickly becoming prone to anger if either are seriously threatened by any means, whether this is simply perceived or otherwise. While this is not unnatural for many nobles, it is taken to the extreme for her, leading to an irrational phobia of sudden disaster and widespread destruction she has personally dubbed symforaphobia. While she recognises these flaws, Imara also embraces them. She does not seek perfection, instead working with who she is and making herself the best she can with all of her shortcomings and traits.
== House Alnarasqie ==
House Alnarasqiue is a rather young noble family, with Imara being of the fourth generation - the only members of this generation, in fact. Started by a Sultana named Igmon Alnarasqie, House Alnarasqie has always been a small clan despite its former status as one of Kelesh's most prestigious families. Even in its current state as a disgraced noble House exiled from its homeland, it remains a house modelled after royalty, almost standing like a tiny kingdom amongst a grand city-state.
While the exact details are somewhat disputed, it is known that Sultana Igmon had many male concubines during her reign, including a Bronze Dragon named Malakia who is believed by some to have been the true father of Igmon's children, causing her bloodline permanently being touched by Dragons. This led to House Alnarasqie's association with Dragons, specifically of the Bronze variety, and is still apparent today with its current Matriarch. While Lady Imara is the first head of House Alnarasqie to become a Draconic Exemplar, she may not be the last, and is certainly not the first one to embrace her heritage.
House Alnarasqie's current estate in Absalom's Foreign District is heavily modelled after the main palace in Ethezias, complete with intricate Keleshite architecture, a regal black, brown, and bronze colour scheme, and three floors: a ground floor, an upper floor with living chambers, and an underground area with a large wine cellar, art collection, and library holding House Alnarasqie's short history alongside Kelesh's much more colourful one.
=== Court ===
After it was exiled to Absalom, House Alnarasqie lost many of its servants. Despite this, Lady Imara still has a varied staff of courtiers and servants from both Casmaron and the Inner Sea, many of whom act as Lady Imara's advisors, guards, or simply people she considers friends.
==== Lady Julien ====
Lady Julien Karenavaala is a shy Half-Elf knight from Vudra who was Sultana Fdulia's closest friend. She now acts as House Alnarasqie's most respected and trusted guard, frequently seen guarding the Matriarch's chambers and the estate's front entrance.
==== Archie ====
Archibald Nephilos, who simply goes by Archie, is an Aasimar native to Absalom itself who was House Alnarasqie's upbeat captain during its voyage to the City of Secrets. Despite being fully independent, they are an honoured courtier of House Alnarasqie, and one of Imara's current best friends.
==== Madame Kanesidra ====
Madame Kanesidra of Orlov is a Tiefling from Brevoy who has been House Alnarasqie's Spymaster since the reign of Sultana Igmon. Despite his title, Kanesidra is in fact a male. He simply likes the sound of it.
==== Tetraites ====
Tetraites Schwazen is a Half-Giant possibly from Qadira who is House Alnarasqie's greatest cook. It is unknown exactly where he is from, as he showed up one day without a word with a beautiful cake for Lady Imara, who viewed the dish as a gorgeous piece of art worthy of a museum.
==== Sir Horzaak ====
Sir Horzaak Adoros, an eccentric Triaxian who arrived in Numeria decades ago, is a Dragon-blooded Kineticist and one of Khalaq's apprentices who was mentored alongside Lady Imara. While rather withdrawn from most others, Horzaak is one of Imara's current closest friends and seeks to become a Draconic Exemplar himself someday.
==== Gale ====
Gale is a young Human man from an unknown land who was the first person Imara properly interacted with after her arrival in Absalom. While slightly dim-witted and not particularly good at fine tasks, Imara befriended him rather quickly nonetheless, alongside his many summoned companions.
==== Talc ====
Talc is a shapeshifting being from the Plane of Shadow who usually takes the form of a Humanoid woman, though due to her nature as a shapeshifter, she can change this. Alongside her summoner Gale, Talc is a member of Lady Imara's court and is the Matriarch's concubine.