Lady Jane Fortesque

## ***BACKSTORY***

Lady Jane Fortesque was a “proper” lady back in England. She came from the wealthy household of Lord Fortesque who, through business investments and other activities, had built a name for himself and his family. Unfortunately for Lord Fortesque, his daughter disdained being forced into the role of a Lady of the upper class, and dreamed of freedom.

Lady Fortesque never really had any serious suitors, but around the age of 23 (old for a Lady of her status) she met one of the investment prospects of her fathers, Hezekiah. They developed a strong friendship which quickly blossomed into fondness, then love - a love that they both knew would not be tolerated by her father. The two began a letter correspondence together, writing to each other under pseudonyms to avoid being caught by Lord Fortesque.

After a whirlwind romance from afar, Hezekiah seemed to disappear without a trace. This was explained weeks later by a letter from the lad indicating that he had found true freedom among a crew of pirates who hailed from a place called Puerto Dorado. Bereft of her only source of excitement and adventure, she pined away, dreaming about what it would be like to join them.

On one ordinary afternoon, Lady Fortesque opened the door to a crew of irregular fellows. The leader, who called himself O’Fortune, offered to take her with them as they set sail for the Isla de Oro, at the recommendation of his Navigator. Fortesque recognized the opportunity, as well as this ‘navigator’, who turned out to be none other than her long-lost beloved Hezekiah, and she swiftly became a deckhand aboard the mighty Gutless Goon, taking to the skallywag lifestyle with remarkable skill and aplomb beside the love of her life.

While serving under O’Fortune on a raid against a Royal Navy vessel, she came upon a pair of turtles cowering under a cutting table in the galley, likely planned to be eaten that night or another. She coaxed them out and brought them back to her own quarters aboard the Goon and tended them, earning their trust. But her goals were slightly more sinister than simple altruism; she had a plan to conduct some experiments on them. Whether or not these experiments were a success is known only to her, but the results were felt by all aboard the Goon. A blast rocked the ship onto its side one morning, and in the confusion, they found Lady Fortesque sprawled outside her quarters, slightly singed, while her room was completely obliterated, scarred with soot and ash. All but the two turtles, which upon further tests were found to be not only in perfect health, but mysteriously impervious to any kind of harm. In time, she fashioned retractable swords to lay hidden within their shells, until at her command the turtles deploy them, and become spinning whirlwinds of death.

From the time she left England, Fortesque conquered many foes, amassed a vast fortune, and became the Quartermaster of the Bleeding Rose shortly after landing. This post was short-lived, however, because she was also responsible for spearheading and implementing the Isla Gazette, and her skills at leadership and organization were recognized to have much more potential. The Council welcomed her in as a permanent member following a successful term as the People’s Lord, and her rule has continued to be a boon for the Isle, working in tandem with Hezekiah, the great love of her life, to share in the spoils of brotherhood and fortune.

## ***APPEARANCE AND GEAR***

* Lady Fortesque is of average height, and athletic in build. Her hair, once a deep auburn, was bleached white by the explosion that also lamed one of her legs, forcing her to utilize a cane for locomotion. She keeps her hair cut to shoulder length, and often has it pulled up into a near topknot on her head. She also sports multiple glittering piercings, several in the right ear but two at most in the left. These were given to her by Hezekiah, none of which are hoops at his sage advisement.

* Her turtles, armed with retractable swords and taught to spin into her enemies, defend her rigorously and unfailingly. But in times when they are otherwise occupied, she wields a \_\_\_\_ to defend herself, and is more than adept at its use.

## ***PERSONALITY AND ABILITIES***

* Lady Fortesque is kind and energetic, and is ever one to see to the mental health and overall morale of the pirates of the Isle. She is beloved for this aspect of her character, but only a fool would think her weak or complacent for this attitude. She suffers no such fools and brooks no nonsense, crushing it with an iron will when any dare to test her mettle.

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