Princess Theodora Pavlovich

Theodora while performing field work in Higd in 17 CE.

### Relatives

High King Viktor Herminov (father, deceased)Queen Consort Helia Wilem Herminov (mother, deceased)

Dr. Mikael Pavlovich (husband, deceased)

Princess Natasha Herminov (sister, deceased)

Princess Alina Herminov (sister, deceased)

Princess Minerva Herminov (sister, deceased)

High Queen Hestia Wilem of Flowers (aunt, deceased)

Prince Consort Nikolas Wilem (uncle, deceased)

High Queen Cycilia Wilem of Flowers (cousin, deceased)

## Physical description

### Eye color

Brown

**Princess Theodora Wilem Herminov Pavlovich** was the daughter of High King Viktor Herminov and Queen Consort Helia Wilem. She is famous for her work as an archaeologist active throughout the North.

## Biography

Theodora was born on 28th of Netep 16 AE in Castle Highcrest, Isgerdia. She was the couples second daughter, being a great disappointment to her father who was desperate for an heir. Queen Helia did her best to garner favor for the girls in the eyes of their father, but failed to do so until the birth of High Prince Viktor Herminov II in 10 AE. As a child, Theodora became obsessed with history after she and her sister Alina stumbled upon a secret chamber in the dungeon tunnels of Highcrest. Within the chamber were ancient carvings and bones adorned in golden jewelry. It turned out to be a Mound Builder burial chamber, untouched since the city's founding. Theodora watched the excavation by a team of Fleurian archaeologists with great interest, deciding then that she would become one when she grew up.

The princess was sent to Saint Sasha's School for Girls in Barland at the age of thirteen in 3 AE. There she studied history, excelling in the subject. She ended up meeting several Fleurian girls while at the school, including her cousins Cycilia and Lorelai Wilem. They introduced her to Fleurian culture which the rebellious Theodora quickly adopted. After graduating in 2 CE, Theodora attended university in Wilemberg at Lambert University. She graduated in 6 CE with a degree in history. She returned home the same year, but was unsatisfied with courtly life. Her father was horrified at her behavior upon her return, especially her new habits of smoking cigarettes and wearing trousers. Reluctantly, they granted her wish to attend training at the Royal Archaeological Academy of Sikkud, if only to rid her of public scrutiny.

### In Kudd

While training at the Royal Academy, Theodora became interested in similarities between Palmyran and Mound Builder burial chambers, specifically in carving style. Her paper on the subject earned her much acclaim in Sikkud and the attention of her professors. She began attending many digs in the area as well as lecturing on reliefs throughout eastern Sikkud.

In 10 CE she became one of the few Northerners to ever enter the sacred city of the Cadanites, Neru. While there she performed several anthropological studies on the local Cadanites, noting the difference in culture between the Salbak and Danin cultures. Over the next two years she built a great deal of respect with the respected groups, eventually being granted permission to excavate a tel to the south of Bak called Mabak. Her team consisted of Kuddian and Northern archaeologists, including the noteworthy Mikael Pavlovich, famous for his work in the Gnoll Lands throughout the final years of the Ancient Era. Theodora had hired Pavlovich for his skills as an interpreter to beast races as well as his anthropological work. The two would become close friends.

The excavation of Mabak lasted three seasons and in 6 CE the teams findings would be presented in Wildakar to much excitement. Theodora had uncovered a Mound Builder tomb in Cadan, a place previously considered outside the culture's range. Within said tomb were also Cadanite bones, showing earlier proof of their existence than previously understood. For her discoveries, Theodora was granted the title of doctor at the age of twenty-two.

For five more years Theodora would continue working in Kudd, often with Mikael who had become her constant companion. Mikael eventually purchased a house with the woman in Wildakar, which they jokingly called Dustmantle. Despite this, they remained strictly platonic friends. During this period Theodora would produce many papers, important finds, and one book, *On the Kuddian Mound Builders: Their Style, Culture, Extent and Similarities to their Northern Cousins*.

### Return to the North

In 11 CE, Theodora and Mikael would return to the North in hopes of beginning a lengthy survey of Mound Builder sites in the North. Theodora briefly returned to Highcrest where she was presented to the Lord of Long Hall at a gala on 20th of Kaltan. An argument broke out between Mikael and Lord Halmir that led to a fight and the removal of the professor from the castle. In response, Princess Theodora left Isgerdia in rage, fleeing to Higd with Mikael to begin their work.

The couple lived in Skjoldir from 11 to 18 CE surveying the country until they had compiled a comprehensive list of every Mound Builder site known to exist in Higd. They excavated several burial chambers and ruins, including seven that would be identified as Norduren style early northern settlements. On several occasions, Theodora's family would attempt to return her to Isgerdia without success. After an especially violent attempt, Theodora would write to her cousin, Queen Cycilia Wilem of Flowers for asylum, which was swiftly granted. Mikael and Theodora made it to Fleur on the 4th of Muntep 19 CE.

That year, while working together near Tar, Mikael would confess his affections to Theodora after the two broke into an untouched burial chamber of a Mound Builder royal, perhaps their greatest find together. Shocked, Theodora would be confused as to why he was interested in her now that she had thrown away her title and holdings. "Because I love you." Mikael had said plainly and the two were married the following week on the 14th of Priyat 19 CE.

For the next twenty-five years the pair would be the leading archaeologists in the North, if not the world. They conducted digs throughout the North, Caldos, Kudd, and Cadan until their retirement in 44 CE in Sundagan, Sikkud. Mikael would die on 29 Kaltan in 53 CE at the age of sixty-eight and Theodora would follow soon after on 20 Attep in 54 CE at seventy years old. Their bodies were embalmed in the Kuddian style and returned to Fleur, where they were buried in an elaborate recreation of a Mound Builder burial chamber in Willowreach Gardens.

## Appearance

Theodora had blonde hair and dark eyes with a somewhat masculine face. Her overall appearance and disposition was quite masculine for the time period, especially her choice of dress which often went for pants instead of skirts. She was usually seen with a cigarette in her hand.