Kristiana Greycliff

Category:Characters
Bishop Kristiana Greycliff (née Clarke) is a priestess and healer of the Church of the Holy Light. She is relatively unknown in most circles - even within the greater religious community, having come from a small farming family and preferring to remain humble and focused in her station and ambitions. Receiving her episcopate while serving in the First Regiment, Kristiana now leads its Clerical Corps and sits as the current bishop of the Diocese of Westridge, overseeing the spiritual needs of both the soldiers and the lay faithful under her care.
==Description==
Kristiana is a young woman of average stature and slender build. Simple robes of lightweight linen hang from her body in a shapeless cascade, displaying only a modest and undefined form. In another lifetime she might have been a great beauty, for she has all the natural features that would suggest the potential. Yet, her present incarnation is kept unremarkable and plain; Her skin is unblemished but pale, her hair soft and golden but tucked away from view. She is sparsely embellished with any decorative wear, and those that are visible are requirements of her rank or station.
==Personality==
===Kind ===
While she herself has led a relatively sheltered upbringing, Kristiana is not ignorant of the world's hardships or the effects such a life has on those who suffer through them. She knows that her own being is the very product of others' kindness and compassion and seeks to offer the very same to those who are willing to accept it - and on several occasions, those who would rather not. She firmly believes a little kindness can go a long way and strives to bring even the smallest smile where and when she can.
=== Insightful===
Though she is often characterized as being infallibly optimistic and at times naive, Kristiana possesses a natural gift of insight and intuition. She enjoys "reading" people and strives to understand their motivations, actions, and feelings - even if she does not necessarily agree with them. This not only gives her the ability to make friends among those who walk very different and separate lives, but she is also sometimes able to coax people into showing aspects of themselves that are rarely seen or expressed.
===Devoted ===
A laywoman of the Church of the Holy Light, it is generally expected that Kristiana would be devoted to her faith. Her unwavering dedication, however, is not limited to her spiritual beliefs. She also holds unshakable fealty to those she calls friends and to the causes she believes in, even willing to put herself in harm's way to support and uphold them. While some may call her headstrong or even stubborn at times, she cannot be charged with being inconsistent when it comes to that which she holds true and dear. To those who have gained her deepest and sincerest trust and respect, a more caring and steadfast companion would be difficult to find.
===Gentle ===
Kristiana, as one might expect, is a gentle soul with pleasant mannerisms. She abhors the idea of violence and aggression while also understanding that they are sometimes necessary - especially in times of war. In her heart of hearts, she wishes for peace and harmony but knows that even her own actions and beliefs must be tempered by reality. Even so, she prefers to approach situations without violence when possible and takes no pleasure in death, conflict, or despair.
===Creative ===
Both a thinker and a lover of stories, Kristiana has a vivid and expansive imagination. She often creates her own tales based on those she meets and is particularly drawn to narratives of adventure and romance. She considers herself a far better writer than an artist but is just as inclined to paint or draw when the inspiration strikes her. However, her creativity has the ability to manifest into far more practical applications than that of a simple hobby. While she is no expert strategist or tactician, she sometimes offers unexpected and innovative solutions to situations where more traditional methods cannot be used.
== History ==
===Childhood ===
Kristiana is the first-born and only child of Richard Clarke and his wife, Mary. Her entry into the world was a difficult one, leaving young Kristiana with a sickly constitution that was made all the worse by her family's impoverished situation. Her mother, who never recovered from the initial birth, grew progressively more ill and succumbed to her condition when Kristiana was four years old.
On hearing of her sister's death, Lady Catherine Du Mortain arrived at the Clarke farmstead and took physical and legal guardianship of her young niece. Richard, grieved as he was to lose his daughter, agreed to be parted from her in the hopes that she would receive all the advantages that a formal education and comfortable living could provide. And so Kristiana left her father and her family's home to take up residence with her aunt at her estate.
===Education===
Kristiana spent her first year in her aunt's care as a sickly child in recovery, slowly overcoming her illnesses and coming into good health. Once she was deemed strong enough, she joined her cousins and received her earliest education under the direction of a governess and eventually began more advanced lessons through dedicated tutors and instructors. Among these lessons were those that focused on the Light and the Three Virtues, taught to the children by the local vicar. Kristiana found herself naturally drawn to these teachings - an interest that was heavily encouraged by her aunt. Lady Catherine believed that by joining the Church, Kristiana could live a secure and respectful life equal to that of any noblewoman. 
As the years passed, Kristiana's passion for the Light and its teachings grew - as did her desire to help others in need. She became a daily visitor to the local vicarage, volunteering her time to the poor and unfortunate, and visited the Cathedral of Light whenever she could. Having shown her convictions to live a life dedicated to the Light, her aunt and uncle arranged for Kristiana to live in the capital while she attended seminarian lessons. 
===Laity ===
Kristiana continued her lessons and education in a cloistered life and eventually took her vows to become a sister of the Church. The walls of the Cathedral kept her shielded from the worst of the ongoing wars and conflicts, and in time, Kristiana found herself unsatisfied with her passive life. The Light, she believed, existed beyond any walls and should be brought to those most in need of it. With this in mind, she began looking into ways to continue her education while also actively serving those who could benefit from her skills as a servant of the Light.
A revelation came in the form of her father, now a Captain in the Stormwind army. She told him of her plans, and he shared his thoughts of the Light as he - a soldier of common birth - understood them to be. This conversation inspired her to follow her father's footsteps in joining the military, where she hoped to bring much-needed skills and council to the common soldier.
===Recruitment===
Confident in the merits of her new plan, Kristiana spoke to her aunt and uncle and received their blessings as well as their expressed concerns regarding the nature of military life. Having promised to write regularly as proof of her continued wellness, Kristiana followed her reluctant father to an enlistment post within Stormwind City and signed all the paperwork required of her. Her father offered his own endorsement in the form of a written recommendation, and in short order, her application was approved and her unit assigned to her. 
Kristiana arrived at Westbrook Garrison as instructed and met with an officer of the First Regiment. After answering questions to verify her skills and background, Kristiana was given a quick tour of the regiment's headquarters and issued the appropriate military gear before setting off towards Westridge Chapel. There she made arrangements to reside at the nearby abbey and received new religious garments.
The weeks that followed were filled with training and individual study, and Kristiana devoted herself to learning the material. She soon settled into her duties as a healer and began to offer insight and religious council to those who asked it of her. As she now considered all those within the regiment to be her friends, her confidence in the decision to join and serve alongside them was quickly cemented.
==Relationships==
=== Pridion Greycliff ===
Kristiana's husband, an officer in the First Regiment who she considers her best friend and the love of her life. She was initially introduced to Pridion as the regiment's quartermaster, though they later bumped into each other outside of duty hours. Kristiana found herself happily engaged in a lively conversation with the man before eventually parting ways for the evening. Countless meetings and conversations followed thereafter and the two would eventually enter into a devoted relationship. In the fall of 40 L.C., Pridion and Kristiana were married in a wedding that was held on her aunt and uncle's sprawling countryside estate before returning to their military duties. Shortly after Kristiana's ordination to Bishop, Pridion received his long-awaited promotion to High Inquisitor of the Stormwind Inquisition and now assists his wife, the appointed Bishop of Westridge, in governing the diocese and carrying out the directives of the episcopate. 
=== Alther & Delrick Greycliff ===
Kristiana and Pridion's identical twin sons were born on March 25, 41 L.C. at their Westridge residence. Both were born healthy and without incident and have become the apples of their parents' eyes. Though still in their infancy, both boys have already begun to reflect some of the characteristic traits of their mother and father in appearance and developing personality. 
===Captain Richard Clarke===
Kristiana's father, born into a small Westfall family. Upon his father's death, Richard took over the family farm and did his best to eke out a living from growing and selling wheat. He eventually met and fell in love with a youthful and spirited woman by the name of Mary Bertram, the youngest daughter of an affluent and noble Stormwind family. The affair was considered a terrible scandal among high society, made more so worse by the discovery of their secret elopement. Mary was effectively disowned by her family and spent her remaining days as a simple farmer's wife.
Her eventual death all but destroyed Richard, leaving him with little choice but to accept his wife's sister's offer to take Kristiana away. Shortly after her departure, Richard abandoned Westfall and his dying farm to join the kingdom's military, where his commission was paid for in secret by his daughter's stern but empathetic aunt. He has since devoted his life to his profession, visiting his daughter when he can and becoming a major influence in her decision to join the military later on in life.
===Lady Catherine Du Mortain ===
Kristiana's maternal aunt and a noblewoman of Stormwind. The eldest daughter of a Stormwind nobleman, Catherine was well-known in her youth for both her regal bearing and cleverness of mind - traits that have only matured in potency over the years. She eventually married into House Du Mortain to the first son of the then-reigning Baron of Easthold, becoming the Lady of Easthold Manor. Having taken in Kristiana as her husband's ward, she diligently raised her niece alongside her own children and ensured her education and eventual placement within the Church. While many see Lady Catherine for her stern and rigid mannerisms, Kristiana insists that her aunt is truly kind and caring at heart and openly cherishes their relationship.
=== Lord Reginald Du Mortain===
Kristiana's benefactor and the current Baron of Easthold, Lord Reginald is the amiable and pleasant husband of Lady Catherine. Though their union was initially an arranged affair, Reginald and Catherine found themselves perfectly paired with each other, and their marriage has always been a happy one. When his wife proposed he take her niece on as his official ward, he was overjoyed with the idea and agreed full-heartedly to it. True to his word, Lord Reginald opened his home to Kristiana and treated her as if she were his daughter, doting on her as much as he did his own children. Kristiana credits her happy personality and good nature to her uncle's influence and writes to him often between visits.
==Companions==
===Marmalade===
Originally found behind the Cathedral of Light in Stormwind, Marmalade was cared for and eventually adopted by Kristiana. He is still very young, only just out of kittenhood, and has effectively imprinted himself onto the young woman. His temperament is calm and affectionate, and he is usually found near Kristiana or carried in her arms. He seems to be a very patient cat, often being found in various states of dress and accessories made by his owner's loving hands. 
==Trivia==
*Kristiana speaks in an overly-articulate manner that some may consider old-fashioned, if not slightly pretentious at first. Despite her formal dialect, her tone is always light and welcoming, and she rarely raises her voice in anger. She does, however, have a habit of expressing simple thoughts in excessively long and roundabout ways when nervous or excited - often to the effect of losing focus on the original topic.
*While Kristiana gives the impression of being naturally prim during first meetings, hints of her playful personality always come through with increased familiarity and exposure. Many of her closest friends and family members have been subject to countless pranks and mischievous behavior, all of which have been harmless and done in good-humor.
*Kristiana believes in making the best of any situation and finding the silver lining in every failure. This is one of many rituals she practices to keep both herself and others motivated and in good spirits. Unfortunately, this same habit prevents her from showing her true feelings so that others can reach out to comfort her.
*While drinking alcohol is not forbidden to her per se, Kristiana chooses to practice strict abstinence against its consumption. Her reasons for this choice are both personal and religious in nature, but she takes no issues with those who do choose to partake in a harmless amount of indulgence. 
*Kristiana enjoys several hobbies including cooking, knitting, sewing, and writing as they keep her hands and mind busy. During her idle time on deployments, she can often be seen doing one of these activities, claiming they offer her cathartic therapy against the stresses of her duties and responsibilities. 
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