Jayne Blackthorne

Jayne in Brecilidia, circa 620AE

Bellerophon Knox (son)

Delladen Knox (son)

Deidrach Blackthorne (cousin)

The Lady-Reignant **Jayne Blackthorne** was the matriarch of House Blackthorne from the years 620AE to 656AE. She is most notable as being one of the only female heads of that House in Aradian history, as well as being among the first women to ever to represent one of the human houses at the Senate, and again one of the few to ever lead an army in battle. Certainly there would not be another female head of her House until the reign of Queen Talia I nearly 400 years later. Alongside her challenging of the human tradition of male primogeniture, she is also famous for her series of military victories against the Brecilidian Kingdom that saw its collapse and the eventual subjugation of the High Elven people.

She was the only issue of Lord Edwin "Tenwives" Blackthorne, sired upon his fourth wife, Aoife Corcoran. As her father had no male heir, Jayne's succession as the Head of House was challenged by both Senate law and her male relatives; however, thanks to her lifelong close alliance with her cousin Deidrach Darkhand, she was able to secure the dynasty. She was married to Lord Hephaesus Knox, a match made for political gain, with whom she had one living son named Bellerophon Knox. Jayne's promise of inheritance to her son, later reneged upon when her titles passed to Orion West upon her death, caused the war known as the Century Spat.

Considered a hero in the West but widely reviled among her enemies, Jayne remains a divisive figure in Aradian history.

## Appearance & Character

Jayne was not considered to be very beautiful by her contemporaries. Her small statue, narrow face and skinny build were not in line with the beauty standards for Aradian noble ladies, and her choice of masculine clothing styles and armor often made her the target of ridicule. Nontheless, several prominent figures including Hephaesus professed an infatuation with her. She wore her red hair in a long braid (imitated by Princess Valoria) and had grey eyes. She was noticed for "flushing" red often when angered or embarrased. As she grew older she suffered from failing health which reflected in her appearance; she got facial scarring & lost several fingers and toes to Brecilidian frostbite, suffered from fluctuating weight issues following the stillbirth of her second son, and wore a replacement jaw prosthetic to cover a war-wound so that her speech was slurred.

She was extremely outspoken, wilfull and determined. Her single-minded, almost obsessive drive was exhausting to many of her contemporaries and soon became a key political strength when it came to getting her way--she often "wore down" her opponents through sheer dogged persistance until they capitulated to her will. Jayne was also very prideful. This was a double-edged sword; it granted her an immense level of self-confidence that spurred her on and emboldened her allies, but also gave her a high expectation of herself and allowed her to be easily embarrassed and humiliated by mockery.

## Skills & Abilities

Jayne was short and thin, and not particularly physically strong, but through a harsh self-imposed training regimen she trained herself to become both fighting-fit and martially comnpetant. While not a great warrior on the level of many of her male kinsmen, Jayne was easily able to hold her own against competant opponents with her longsword--and when wielding the family blade Zerstodhia she was even able to defeat King Argiliac. She was a skilled rider on horseback, and was able to command troops in the field effectively.

Jayne's education also gave her an extensive knowledge of histories, economics and sciences. She was a savvy political agent and made a devastatingly effective pair with her cousin Deidrach.

## Legacy

Jayne's line did not continue on through the male line of House Blackthorne for many centuries. However, through her granddaughter Helen Knox, her blood was folded into the main line of the Knoxes--ironic considering her disdain for her husband's House. Interestingly, Jayne eventually did end up having a main-line Blackthorne descendant centuries later when her many-times-great-granddaughter Victoria Knox married King Gordon I Blackthorne. Their children, Ethan and Gwenavere, are living descendants of Jayne and her father Edwin's line as of 1086AE.

## Trivia

Just as Edwin is based on Henry VIII for his multiple wives and deteriorating mental & physical state, Jayne is based on Henry's daughter Queen Elizabeth I in multiple respects - her status as only remaining heir following her father's desparate attempts for a son, her "chaste" nature, her selection of a cousin as an eventual heir, her military successes against an enemy faction, and her deterioating physical appearance as she aged.