# #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Felisia d'Rocca - **Race/Species:** Human - **Class/Profession:** Duelist/Council Member - **Alignment/Morality:** Neutral Good - **Age:** 26 - **Gender & Pronouns:** Female (She/Her) - **Appearance:** A striking figure who embodies both martial precision and artistic grace, standing five feet seven inches with a lithe, athletic build that combines surprising strength with exceptional agility. Her face features refined features with high cheekbones and expressive eyes—enhanced by a confident bearing that commands attention without arrogance. Her eyes are a deep amber that assess opponents and situations with the practiced evaluation of a master duelist, constantly calculating distances, angles, and opportunities with remarkable speed. Her hair is black with a single distinctive streak of silver running from her right temple, typically kept in a practical braid for training but worn loose for formal occasions and official duels. She dresses in a distinctive style that reflects her innovative approach to dueling—quality materials that combine traditional Aldori practicality with Taldan elegance, featuring blues and silvers that have become her signature colors in the arena. Unlike traditionalists who favor either purely functional gear or ostentatious display, her equipment balances form and function—a custom-designed dueling outfit that allows complete freedom of movement while incorporating subtle embellishments that enhance rather than impede her fighting style. Her most distinctive feature is her dueling sword, an elegant weapon with a slightly curved blade that incorporates elements of both Aldori and Taldan design, its hilt wrapped in blue leather with silver wire inlay that matches her personal colors. Her hands show the calluses of someone who trains relentlessly but also the precise dexterity of a surgeon, and she moves with a fluid grace that seems to flow between formal stances and improvised movements with seamless transition. A thin scar running along her left jawline—the result of her first and only defeat in formal competition—serves as both a reminder of humility and a testament to her subsequent dedication to perfecting her craft. #### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Felisia embodies the progressive evolution of Mivon's dueling tradition—a swordsmaster who views dueling as both sacred heritage and living art form requiring constant innovation. She approaches both combat and council duties with thoughtful intensity, analyzing traditions critically while maintaining deep respect for their foundations and purpose. To her students and supporters, she represents exciting possibility and necessary evolution, demonstrating how Mivonian dueling can incorporate outside influences without losing its essential character. To traditionalists on the Council of Nine, she presents a challenging combination of undeniable skill and uncomfortable questioning, acknowledging their wisdom while gently but persistently advocating for adaptation and growth. Her human heritage manifests in her adaptability and innovative spirit, her talent for synthesizing seemingly contradictory techniques into harmonious new forms, and her belief that tradition serves people rather than people serving tradition. Though capable of the formal protocol necessary for her Council position, she is most authentic when training or dueling, where her natural intelligence and accumulated experience create moments of breathtaking martial artistry that even her critics must acknowledge. Beneath her composed exterior lies a woman defined by dedication to both preserving and evolving Mivon's dueling traditions—a perspective that has made her controversial among conservatives but increasingly influential among younger duelists seeking to make their mark in a changing world. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Technical Innovation** – Exceptional ability to integrate diverse dueling techniques into effective new forms - **Tactical Adaptability** – Remarkable talent for adjusting strategy mid-duel based on opponent's style and weaknesses - **Teaching Ability** – Highly developed skill at explaining complex techniques in accessible, practical terms - **Diplomatic Tact** – Natural gift for advocating progressive ideas without unnecessarily antagonizing traditionalists - **Physical Precision** – Extraordinary control over movement and timing that makes her techniques appear effortless - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Youth Perception** – Struggle to be taken seriously by older Council members despite proven skill - **Perfectionism** – Tendency to be overly self-critical when performances don't meet her exacting standards - **Overwork** – Habit of pushing physical limits during training that occasionally leads to injury - **Idealism** – Sometimes underestimates the political resistance to change within Mivonian institutions - **Impatience** – Occasional frustration with the slow pace of institutional evolution despite her diplomatic approach - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Speaks in precise, thoughtful sentences that reflect both her Taldan education and Aldori training - Uses her hands expressively when explaining techniques, often demonstrating subtle movements as she talks - Maintains steady, engaged eye contact during conversations, a habit developed to establish respect in a male-dominated field - Habitually adjusts her stance and balance even in casual settings, always maintaining optimal positioning - Employs formal address in official settings but shifts to warm informality with students and friends #### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Born to a minor noble family in Taldor with a tradition of military service, Felisia's early years were shaped by both aristocratic education and martial training. From childhood, she showed unusual aptitude for swordplay, quickly outpacing her brothers and cousins despite her family's initial reluctance to encourage a daughter's martial interests. Her formal education in dueling began at Taldor's prestigious Valiant Academy, where she mastered the elegant, precision-focused Taldan fencing style. However, her instructors noted both her exceptional talent and her frustration with the rigid formality and limited practical application of pure Taldan technique. This combination of ability and restlessness led to her first encounter with Aldori swordplay during an exhibition match between the Academy and visiting Brevic duelists. Fascinated by the Aldori style's practical effectiveness and different philosophical approach, she made the controversial decision to leave the Academy at eighteen to pursue training in Restov. This choice caused a significant rift with her family, who viewed the Aldori tradition as crude and provincial compared to Taldan fencing. Nevertheless, she persisted, spending three years in Restov mastering the fundamentals of Aldori swordsmanship. Her journey to Mivon came through a chance encounter with a traveling Mivonian duelist who recognized her unique potential and suggested that Mivon's more meritocratic environment might better appreciate her talents. Arriving in Mivon at twenty-two, she quickly distinguished herself in local competitions by employing a hybrid style that combined Taldan precision and footwork with Aldori practical effectiveness and adaptability. Her defining achievement came during the Midsummer Championship three years ago, when she defeated three senior masters in succession using her innovative techniques, culminating in a victory over Council member Harran Voss that earned her his seat on the Council of Nine. This unprecedented rise from newcomer to Council member in less than a year generated both excitement among progressives and concern among traditionalists. Over the subsequent years, she has balanced her Council duties with continued refinement of her dueling style and the development of a growing school of students eager to learn her hybrid techniques. Her particular expertise lies in the psychological aspects of dueling—reading opponents, controlling the emotional tone of a match, and maintaining composure under pressure. Her current status as the youngest and most progressive member of the Council places her at the center of ongoing debates about Mivon's future. While respected for her undeniable skill, she faces constant challenges from traditionalists who see her innovations as threatening the purity of Mivonian dueling tradition. This tension defines much of her daily experience as she navigates the complex politics of the Duelist's Court while continuing to develop and promote her vision of an evolved dueling tradition. - **Current Role:** - Serves on Mivon's Council of Nine as its youngest member - Teaches her innovative hybrid dueling style to selected students - Represents Mivon in international dueling competitions and exhibitions - Advocates for progressive reforms within the Duelist's Court - Mediates between traditional and innovative factions within Mivonian dueling culture - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[The Duelist's Court]]** – The institution where she serves as Council member and instructor - **[[Aldori Raston]]** – Lord Mayor of Mivon with whom she maintains a respectful if sometimes tense relationship - **[[Maestro Vincenzo]]** – Taldan fencing master who recognizes her talent despite disagreeing with some of her innovations - **[[The Progressive Duelists]]** – Informal group of younger swordmasters who support her reformist ideas - **[[House d'Rocca]]** – Her estranged Taldan noble family with whom she has limited contact - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **The Council of Nine** – Mivon's governing body on which she serves - **The Hybrid School** – Students and practitioners of her innovative dueling style - **The Diplomatic Corps** – She occasionally serves as Mivon's representative in matters requiring both martial skill and diplomatic tact - **The Reformist Faction** – Those who seek to modernize various aspects of Mivonian governance and tradition - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **Concordance** – Her signature dueling sword that combines Aldori and Taldan design elements - **Council Medallion** – Symbol of her position on Mivon's Council of Nine - **Training Manuals** – Her ongoing work documenting her hybrid dueling techniques - **Formal Dueling Attire** – Custom-designed outfit in her signature blue and silver - **Family Signet** – Rarely worn ring bearing the d'Rocca family crest, kept as a reminder of her origins #### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - The balance between honoring tradition and embracing necessary evolution - The challenge of earning respect as a young woman in a traditionally male-dominated field - The integration of seemingly contradictory philosophies into harmonious new forms - The tension between individual innovation and community standards - **Player/GM Notes:** - Can serve as a valuable ally for progressive characters or a respectful opponent for traditionalists - Might provide training in her innovative dueling style to characters who demonstrate both skill and open-mindedness - Could become a political supporter for characters seeking to introduce positive changes to Mivonian society - Her position on the Council makes her a potential quest-giver for missions requiring both discretion and martial skill - Represents the progressive, innovative dimension of Mivon's dueling culture