Corinne Cotnor-Grey
Her Highness Corinne Forsythia Grey- Cotnor
Known, in her time, as the most beautiful woman ever born - a title she steadfastly refused to bear - this High Queen and notable scholar was born amidst the clans and snow of the far north. She grew in stature and prominence as she grew in size, bringing a childlike quest for knowledge into every single one of her pursuits. By the time she reached her age of quickening, she had surpassed her people in every way possible. They had no math, and only the most basic runic writings. It was a quandary her father would drink about with his friends, and also with his acquaintances.
Her father, Ôpa, was not an intelligent man. Yet, he was smart enough to know his daughter was beyond him, and that she deserved much more than he would be able to provide. Until one day, he met an old man while he sat pondering his dilemma. How would he get his daughter the edumuh-muckathingy he kept hearing she needed? The wise ones all told him her growth would be as stunted as a mule-deer's nut-sack. At least, that was the technical term they used. He had never really paid attention to a mule-deer's dick, frankly. So now there he was, sitting out on a glacier pondering. Alone. He quaffed another ale horn and leaned in to the beer keg he had slid out there on his dog sled. Without the dogs - he dragged it all the way out there himself, according to legend. It is here that a man approached him with a question. "Why are you out here, drinking alone, Ôpa?" The idea to be surprised that a man was out here asking him questions did not occur to Ôpa. He was not an intelligent man. "My daughter, Corinne, is smarter than me. It's a much bigger problem than it feels or sounds like it should be," Ôpa replied. He rooted around under the spare furs he had piled up on his self-propelled dogsled, and fished out his emergency drinking horn. He topped it off with the frothy golden brew in the barrel he was leaning against, and handed it to the yellow-haired man who accepted delightedly, if a little surprised. Ôpa continued, "A man wants to do right by his daughter, you know? Usually, teach her how to break someone's ribs and plant a bully on his head in the snow, and you can call it a job well done. But she invented this 'meth' thingy, all full of numbers and figuring. Our ledgers are the best in the whole north, I bet." He sighed, mightily, at this dilemma. "She figured out a way to move materials around in the clan's mine way easier than anyone's ever done it before. It's like a high-sided sled, but it has wheels on it and moves along on a track. We've tripled production rates in two years." He again sighed at the depth of his problem. "She needs an eggjemma tercation. Where do I even find one of those? I don't even know what one looks like, or how it'll help her." He refilled his own (much bigger) drinking horn and drained it in a slow, steady draught, which his new companion observed with fascination before mirroring the action. He finished with a smile of wonder. "This is delicious!" The man smiled, and Ôpa motioned to the keg's tap with a nod of his head and an affable grunt. "Help yourself, mate. So, I start asking around, and nobody has ever heard of it, or if they have, they all say its way down to the south where it's hot all the time. Old Man Landry says we're better off sending her to a 'lye-berry', which sounds an awful lot like an elderberry full of moist potash." Ôpa grimaced in distaste, needing to drink down another horn in order to get the thought of the taste out of his mouth. The stranger wiped his mouth, and did the same. Ôpa turned to him directly. "What would you do, stranger? Do you got any kids?" The stranger nodded. "I do, Ôpa, yes. A headstrong lad. Far too smart for his own good. Far too fond of 'pranks'." His demeanor clouded over fondly for a moment at a memory. "Stevie is certainly a handful, yes." Ôpa sighed, again. "And how does your lady wife deal with it?" The northman's sadness at the thought of his late wife was palpable, and strummed the yellow haired stranger's heart strings. "My wife is also gone, Ôpa." Ôpa grimaced sympathetically, feeling for the guy. He patted the man on the shoulder with his massive hand. The stranger noted it was much more reminiscent in size and shape to a grizzly-bear's paw than a human man's hand. Ôpa noticed approvingly that the man was physically unmoved by his friendly gesture; Ôpa was a very big man. "Well, stranger, I suppose you should come with me back to the long-house and eat a meal with us. We have a fresh mammoth and some reindeer, but Corinne also figured out how to grow food indoors so we have year round vegetables." The stranger had been wondering about Ôpa's unusually healthy glow. "I would be delighted to share a meal with you and your family, Ôpa," the stranger said solemnly, like he was invoking an ancient ritual. The yellow haired stranger held his hand out. A strong, hard-calloused handshake later, the stranger clapped Ôpa on the shoulder. "I am called Bayard, my friend Ôpa." And he took up one of the leads to the northman's dogsled and they pulled it back to Ôpa's home, together, chatting like old friends. Thus began the generations of friendship between the descendents of Ôpa du Cotnor and Vekhettebærdolax-Bayard. In the words of the prophet, Ty Webb, "A donut without a hole, is a danish." And, so, Corinne found herself at a great center of learning. An entire city, dedicated to teaching people...anything! Corinne thrived, in this environment, eventually meeting and marrying Pladimus, a scion of The Greys. Their offspring and progeny have enjoyed a valued friendship with a yellow haired old man, who lives in a log cabin called Three Gables. He pretends to be ornery and cantankerous for some mysterious reason, but he is actually just a huge softy with a weak spot for children. He has always been there, it seems, for the Greys. Interestingly enough, not for Ôpa's other children, his sons, who grew up to be strong leaders in and of their own right. They led by the old methods of strength and fear. Perhaps this is why the Stranger has never been invited to Three Gables. But that is pure conjecture.
Her father, Ôpa, was not an intelligent man. Yet, he was smart enough to know his daughter was beyond him, and that she deserved much more than he would be able to provide. Until one day, he met an old man while he sat pondering his dilemma. How would he get his daughter the edumuh-muckathingy he kept hearing she needed? The wise ones all told him her growth would be as stunted as a mule-deer's nut-sack. At least, that was the technical term they used. He had never really paid attention to a mule-deer's dick, frankly. So now there he was, sitting out on a glacier pondering. Alone. He quaffed another ale horn and leaned in to the beer keg he had slid out there on his dog sled. Without the dogs - he dragged it all the way out there himself, according to legend. It is here that a man approached him with a question. "Why are you out here, drinking alone, Ôpa?" The idea to be surprised that a man was out here asking him questions did not occur to Ôpa. He was not an intelligent man. "My daughter, Corinne, is smarter than me. It's a much bigger problem than it feels or sounds like it should be," Ôpa replied. He rooted around under the spare furs he had piled up on his self-propelled dogsled, and fished out his emergency drinking horn. He topped it off with the frothy golden brew in the barrel he was leaning against, and handed it to the yellow-haired man who accepted delightedly, if a little surprised. Ôpa continued, "A man wants to do right by his daughter, you know? Usually, teach her how to break someone's ribs and plant a bully on his head in the snow, and you can call it a job well done. But she invented this 'meth' thingy, all full of numbers and figuring. Our ledgers are the best in the whole north, I bet." He sighed, mightily, at this dilemma. "She figured out a way to move materials around in the clan's mine way easier than anyone's ever done it before. It's like a high-sided sled, but it has wheels on it and moves along on a track. We've tripled production rates in two years." He again sighed at the depth of his problem. "She needs an eggjemma tercation. Where do I even find one of those? I don't even know what one looks like, or how it'll help her." He refilled his own (much bigger) drinking horn and drained it in a slow, steady draught, which his new companion observed with fascination before mirroring the action. He finished with a smile of wonder. "This is delicious!" The man smiled, and Ôpa motioned to the keg's tap with a nod of his head and an affable grunt. "Help yourself, mate. So, I start asking around, and nobody has ever heard of it, or if they have, they all say its way down to the south where it's hot all the time. Old Man Landry says we're better off sending her to a 'lye-berry', which sounds an awful lot like an elderberry full of moist potash." Ôpa grimaced in distaste, needing to drink down another horn in order to get the thought of the taste out of his mouth. The stranger wiped his mouth, and did the same. Ôpa turned to him directly. "What would you do, stranger? Do you got any kids?" The stranger nodded. "I do, Ôpa, yes. A headstrong lad. Far too smart for his own good. Far too fond of 'pranks'." His demeanor clouded over fondly for a moment at a memory. "Stevie is certainly a handful, yes." Ôpa sighed, again. "And how does your lady wife deal with it?" The northman's sadness at the thought of his late wife was palpable, and strummed the yellow haired stranger's heart strings. "My wife is also gone, Ôpa." Ôpa grimaced sympathetically, feeling for the guy. He patted the man on the shoulder with his massive hand. The stranger noted it was much more reminiscent in size and shape to a grizzly-bear's paw than a human man's hand. Ôpa noticed approvingly that the man was physically unmoved by his friendly gesture; Ôpa was a very big man. "Well, stranger, I suppose you should come with me back to the long-house and eat a meal with us. We have a fresh mammoth and some reindeer, but Corinne also figured out how to grow food indoors so we have year round vegetables." The stranger had been wondering about Ôpa's unusually healthy glow. "I would be delighted to share a meal with you and your family, Ôpa," the stranger said solemnly, like he was invoking an ancient ritual. The yellow haired stranger held his hand out. A strong, hard-calloused handshake later, the stranger clapped Ôpa on the shoulder. "I am called Bayard, my friend Ôpa." And he took up one of the leads to the northman's dogsled and they pulled it back to Ôpa's home, together, chatting like old friends. Thus began the generations of friendship between the descendents of Ôpa du Cotnor and Vekhettebærdolax-Bayard. In the words of the prophet, Ty Webb, "A donut without a hole, is a danish." And, so, Corinne found herself at a great center of learning. An entire city, dedicated to teaching people...anything! Corinne thrived, in this environment, eventually meeting and marrying Pladimus, a scion of The Greys. Their offspring and progeny have enjoyed a valued friendship with a yellow haired old man, who lives in a log cabin called Three Gables. He pretends to be ornery and cantankerous for some mysterious reason, but he is actually just a huge softy with a weak spot for children. He has always been there, it seems, for the Greys. Interestingly enough, not for Ôpa's other children, his sons, who grew up to be strong leaders in and of their own right. They led by the old methods of strength and fear. Perhaps this is why the Stranger has never been invited to Three Gables. But that is pure conjecture.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
She was in fantastic physical condition until the day she died.
Body Features
Her legs were very long, which men noticed at an inordinate rate. She wore specially cut dresses to lessen the allure. She was graceful, deft, and confident.
Facial Features
Her eyes were set a hair too wide, and were just a touch too large. Or so she said; others would have told you it was striking. Her nose was an aquiline work of art, gracing a wide oval face that was strong and delicate all at once, somehow. There are many portraits of her around The Bardic College Campus, as she was the driving force before many of the new colleges that opened on-campus during her time. She had pavilions and public spaces built all throughout her Kingdom, and then throughout the lands that would become the The Unified Kingdoms of Craysilt. She provided scholarships, hired musicians and orators to perform frequently, and paid top dollar to all of the vendors supplying her fetés. All of these spaces have portraits, or depictions, of the High Queen's beautiful, smiling face.
Identifying Characteristics
Her stunning beauty is quite identifying in and of itself, however there were a few things that set High Queen Corinne apart. For one; her hair was actually black. It was not dark brown, or even very dark brown. It was jet black, just like her father's, and her brothers'. For another, her eyes were bright green, with a circle of blue surround the irises. Her legs were quite long, which many people noticed immediately no matter how she dressed.
Physical quirks
Her legs were a 'little too long', which she hated but her husband was totally down with. He, in fact (the High King, I mean), considered himself the luckiest guy he had ever met.
Special abilities
Her smile could charm the angriest person. She was one of the best mitigators and mediators the The High Kingdom has ever seen.
Specialized Equipment
She bore a sceptre said to have been given to her by a Golden Dragon.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Corinne's intellect was vast, and was a source of constant consternation for her before her father, Ôpa, who was not an intelligent man but apparently a wise one, figured out how to get her to The Bardic College Campus.
Gender Identity
Corinne was known as the most beautiful woman in the realm.
She vehemently denied this until the day of her death.
She vehemently denied this until the day of her death.
Sexuality
She was married, had kids and shit....so let's assume she had a happy sex life, even though there are no records of it.
Education
She graduated Valedictorian from the Bardic College Campus, and completed her grad school work in the Order of Oghma's library in Greynor.
Employment
She was a gentle scholar, and an empathetic High Queen. Absolutely beloved by her people.
Accomplishments & Achievements
So very, very many - but one was the design and creation of a new type of bridge that could span longer reaches and was much lighter.
Failures & Embarrassments
While her accomplishments were vast and are greatly admired still, High Queens are also human. Poor Corinne had a real taste for liquor. She liked to tie one on. did High Queen Corinne.
Mental Trauma
As much as her father tried, her childhood was pretty traumatic. Being the smartest kid in the group paints a target on one's back specifically for bullies.
Intellectual Characteristics
High Queen Corinne was what we would today call a 'genius profundus'.
Morality & Philosophy
She believed wholeheartedly in the trope that 'givers gain'. She got her reputation by being nice...but make no mistake. Our High Queen could use niceties as a pirate uses a saber.
Taboos
Bullying of any kind could send her into a rage, especially if she had been drinking.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Corinne was literally on a constant quest for knowledge until the day she died.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Corinne was a terrible dancer, even though as High Queen it was required of her pretty often. She also loved to play the dulcimer, but was honest enough with herself to never do it in public.
She was also the greatest chess player Grandmaster Vittorio ever trained, and rode a horse like she was born in the saddle.**
She was also the greatest chess player Grandmaster Vittorio ever trained, and rode a horse like she was born in the saddle.**
Likes & Dislikes
Corinne was a real fan of oysters and clams. Lobsters, considered no more than pig food by many, were one of her favorite things to dip in garlic butter. Sea bass with a little onion and garlic? Chef's kiss!
The High Queen had a real enmity for bullies, whether in school or on the battlefield. She became known as a fierce fighter, and she trained with the monks tending the Order of Oghma's library and archive.
The High Queen had a real enmity for bullies, whether in school or on the battlefield. She became known as a fierce fighter, and she trained with the monks tending the Order of Oghma's library and archive.
Virtues & Personality perks
The High Queen truly loved people. She loved meeting different people. She loved seeing how they lived, and experiencing their lives with them, instead of observing from some royal ivory tower. She was quite beloved.
Vices & Personality flaws
Our beloved High Queen was quite a lover of
Dharak, in fact she funded large Rilworm farms and sponsored jumping-fun music festivals rife with dharak and Rilworm Gargle.
Personality Quirks
Our lovely High Queen could go nowhere without a special bag in which she kept the novel she was reading, a sketchbook and pencils, and a leather-bound journal.
Hygiene
The high queen was meticulously clean.
Social
Reign
Her rule was marked by a marked improvement in social acceptance, and she instituted the Primary Education Program throughout what would soon become The Unified Kingdoms of Craysilt.
Contacts & Relations
She loved her father very much, and her brothers, too. But upon her father's death, her brothers began fighting each other, trying to carve up Ôpa's territories into their own. Distancing herself from them made her incredibly sad; a sadness she could not shake off until, one day, a red-haired pre-teen boy scampered up to her and said something no one has ever discovered; but it helped her raise herself out of the darkness her heart had fallen into. She and Stevie Vekhet became fast friends for a time, though the freckled boy did have to leave in under a year. They remained in contact through sending stones and hand-written letters.
Family Ties
Religious Views
She was an advocate and acolyte of the Order of Oghma. Even so, she believed that religion was fine - in moderation.
Social Aptitude
Our lovely Queen could command a room, even were she not the royal.
Mannerisms
She was very polite and reserved. In public at least. But there was a wild side that would come out when she dove deep into her cups.
Hobbies & Pets
Her horse, Equious, was much more to her than just a horse. The horse was a friend, who she cared for lovingly with her own two hands. She also played the dulcimer, but not in public. It was certainly more of a hobby.
Speech
High Queen Corinne had the clipped, twangy accent of a Northerner. There were times, especially while she was drinking, that her thick clan accent would emerge and all of her 'R's would just sort of disappear. 'A's becoming 'O's, cats and dogs living together, it was chaos.
Wealth & Financial state
The wealth of the realm was open to her, yet she lived as frugally as a High Queen could.
Alignment
Lawful/Good
Current Status
Deceased
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
The High Queen
Date of Birth
22 Fedus
Date of Death
7 Tember
Life
201 NG
304 NG
103 years old
Circumstances of Birth
Born to a wise father
Circumstances of Death
Old age, surrounded by family. Mourned for a year and a day.
Birthplace
Cotnor Wilderness
Place of Death
Greynor
Family
Children
Pronouns
she/her
Gender
Female
Eyes
Blue
Hair
Short-shorn black hair
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Pale white
Height
5'11"
Weight
165 lbs.
Quotes & Catchphrases
"What the fuck are you even thinking?"; "Hard to open a lock without the key"
Belief/Deity
Oghma
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Ruled Locations
Character Prototype
Kathy :-)
Hi there! You may not know me, but I am the sponsor of the Great Leader of Their People Summer Camp Prompt this year! Since you wrote this article, I would like to know, would you mind me reading it aloud on my Twitch channel this week? I have a lot to get through so it helps to do it live while people watch. I've scheduled to go live at 8am and 8pm Eastern Time every weekday. If you join and comment, I can go over your article right then and there! If you'd like to coordinate a specific date, let me know. If you aren't able to make it (or don't want to be present live), you can also always watch streams after the fact on my YouTube channel BUT, if the answer is NO because you'd rather I not, it's okay! Not agreeing to be streamed definitely does not put you at any disadvantage for winning in my eyes. Please respond swiftly by replying here (make sure to click REPLY under my comment or I won't be notified), message me on my World Anvil profile page, Discord, or anywhere else you find me online. Thanks again! Whatever you choose, God bless and much success! <3
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Oh hey there! Sorry I missed this! I would be honored...I am quite frankly surprised and incredibly happy that you would want to read this! I love your stream, I was running a D&D game today during that time frame or I would have gone and listened as soon as I saw the Discord alert :-) Please feel free to read it whenever you like. I will definitely try to be there, and appreciate the compliment immensely. I'll be listening tonight in fact. Be well!
It was fun reading through this and having you on chat. <3 Much love and thanks again for allowing me the honor! :)
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