Cathlynn Strongbow and her sister Cuuthalion grew up in a diverse and accepting Doriath, part of a harmonious blended family with two half-human brothers. Their lives took a dark turn after a traumatic incident at a village fair, leading to their departure from home and their family's disintegration. The twins, navigating hardships in the world of Nehwon, pursued their individual paths - Cathlynn in Druidic arts and Cuuthalion as a Paladin warrior, both grappling with an inherited addiction to Fever Few and staying connected through sporadic letters.
- Age
- 155
- Date of Birth
- 26 Satyr
- Gender
- Woman
- Eyes
- Grey
- Hair
- Dark Auburn , Long
- Skin Tone/Pigmentation
- Fair / Pale
- Height
- 5'9"
- Weight
- 200
Cathlynn and her identical twin sister Cuuthalion are direct descendants matrilineally of Beleg Cuuthalion, "Son of the Wilderness who knew no sire". (In other words, he was one of the first Elves awakened in Middle Earth and had no parents. One of many "Adams", if you will.)
Beleg's name (Cuuthalion) means "Strongbow" in Sindarin Elvish. This is where the family surname originates. In later years after the intermarriage of the twins Human father and Elvish mother, the family chose to use Strongbow as a clever surname in the Common language when they wanted to "pass" as Human and have their Elvish half go unnoticed. To pay honor to her ancestor, the twins mother, Fornaria, used the Elvish of Strongbow as Cuuth's first name. Cathlynn's name is a combination of the names of her paternal great-aunts who raised her father, Cathleen and Lynalia. Cuuthalions name is a sore point for her between herself and her twin sister Cathlynn. As children in Doriath, Cathlynn would always tease Cuuth by calling her "Redundant" in reference to the fact that technically Cuuths name is Strongbow Strongbow.
Fornaria was told by a cheap fortune teller when she was about nine that she would " conceive the whole of her family of six in one night". For years Fornaria was terrified that she would give birth to sextuplets. However, what this prophecy alluded to was that she would marry Eldreth, who already had two children from his dead wife and Fornaria became pregnant with the twins on their wedding night. Thus, the four children and two parents were made a family in one night, at their wedding. The two older brothers, Owain and Ardun were close with their half sisters, but also teased them much about being half-elves. (The boy's deceased mother was Human, like their father). Fornaria adored all four of her children, and immediately became "Mama" to the boys. They called her this to save the honor of "Mother" for their biological mother, however, they took the surname Strongbow as their father had done when he married Fornaria.
By all accounts they were a sickeningly perfect family. They had wealth, status in Doriath, and didn't face the lines of division that most blended families encounter. The boys (only a year apart in age themselves) were besotted with "their babies" and most people assumed that Fornaria and Eldreth actually had two sets of twins. The boys were 6 and 7 years old when the twins were born. Doriath was a small but open minded kingdom and the twins never encountered the racism of being of a mixed background until they were "out in the world".
If anything, they were overprotected. The expectation was what we usually think of. Be a ladylike princess, earn an education you will never use, get married and bring forth an heir and a spare.
Fornaria did, however, insist that both her daughters were taught to fight and use weapons just as their brothers were. "My girls will not be princesses that need saving. They will be Queens who stand and fight beside their Kings". Early on Cathlynn showed a propensity for Earth magic, like her Elvish mother. There were no gardens in the land that could compare to the gardens on the family's estate. Cathlynn was a quiet, mellow child, slow to anger, but when she did finally lose her temper, no one was safe. As a teenager, her chosen method of vengeance was black, thorny vines springing from the earth to wrap around whoever she was angry with, or calling forth a swarm of honeybees to attack her tormentor.
Cuuthalion, however, was the bane of her parents existence. (Think Arya Stark). She fought. She swore. She refused to wear a gown or have her hair dressed. Fornaria nearly fainted when, at the age of 14, Cuuthalion shaved the bottom half of her hair (In other words, an undercut) and talked her sister into helping her magically dye it green. She refused to walk on her horse, and nearly gave her riding instructor a heart attack every time she would kick her mare into a gallop.
At the age of 19, the girls were walking through the village fair, shopping. The son of one of the town leaders began taunt Cuuthalion, as it had become clear by this point that she was gay. The boy, the same age as the girls, had a raving crush on both of them and so made their lives as miserable as he could, because Cuuthalion liked girls and Cathlynn already had a fiance whom she loved dearly and was commited to. They ignored him, and headed for home. On the road home, the boy and five of his cronies approached the girls, making usual remarks of young, straight men. You can just about imagine.
Cathlynn lost her temper first. She began to chant her spell, but before she could finish the boys attacked. Cuuthalion instantly killed one boy accidentally by punching him so hard she broke his neck. When she turned, she saw that the other boys had Cathlynn tightly restrained and a knife at her throat. They made it clear that if Cuuthalion did not "do as she was told" they would cut her twin sisters throat. She acquiesced, because she knew something that even Cathlynn didn't know yet. Cathlynn was pregnant. They made Cathlynn watch as they raped and beat her sister. When it was over, they limped home, both beaten badly, and fell in through the kitchen door. The servants called for their parents and brothers.
Their father, in a rage of grief and misplaced anger, screamed at Cuuthalion that if she had behaved like a "Gods-damned normal woman" and "kept her preferences quiet" like he had always told her to do, this wouldn't have happened. Her mother did nothing to intervene.
To cut a long story short, that was the beginning of the end for the twins in their hometown. Their brothers went and found the boys and killed them all. The brothers left home that night as they knew they'd be arrested if they didn't. No one has seen them to this day, though rumours of changed names, and careers as mercenaries are often bandied about in the local pub.
The twins recovered physically and also left home in the middle of the night, a few months later. They've not seen their parents since. They received word when each parent died, but did not attend their funerals or burials .
Together, the girls travelled to the Caves of Ningauble, some miles south of Doriath. These caves connect to the World of Nehwon, and the girls then travelled to the city of Lankhmar. Young, unsure, and with no way of earning their keep, the twins were homeless for over a year. When Cathlynns baby was born, in a hovel next door to a brothel, she was forced to give the child up for adoption. Cuuthalion swore to her sister that some day they would find the child.
Over the ensuing years, they earned a meagre living with their fighting skills. They could pass for either Elf or Human as needs depended upon it (simply covering or uncovering their ears), as the World of Nehwon was not as open minded as Doriath. Cuuthalion gradually improved her fighting skills, becoming a well known Paladin warrior who dedicated her life to helping those who could not help themselves and Cathlynn joined the Druid College in the forest outside of Ilik-Ving. The girls began living separate lives and don't see each other often, although they do write when they are in a settled place for a few months. (Usually the winter). After attaining the rank if Ovate, Cathlynn opted to pursue her Druidic degree while travelling. She felt she was being called by her Gods to be out in the world, not "squirreled away in some damnable damp library". Since her powers are land/Earth based she relies heavily on Nature to replenish and renew her spirit and her Magicks.
The last time she heard from.her sister was over 30 years ago. She'd met some Rogue woman named...Keeta? Keetha? Her sister always did have terrible handwriting. At any rate, she gathered that Cuuthalion probably loved this woman deeply, the way she spoke of her. She couldn't tell if it was a romantic love or a deep platonic love, she just knew this woman was important to her sister. She prayed that her twin was well and happy and asked Brighid and Lugh to bring their paths together again one day. For now, she travelled, adventured and looked at ever child she passed wondering...
Beleg's name (Cuuthalion) means "Strongbow" in Sindarin Elvish. This is where the family surname originates. In later years after the intermarriage of the twins Human father and Elvish mother, the family chose to use Strongbow as a clever surname in the Common language when they wanted to "pass" as Human and have their Elvish half go unnoticed. To pay honor to her ancestor, the twins mother, Fornaria, used the Elvish of Strongbow as Cuuth's first name. Cathlynn's name is a combination of the names of her paternal great-aunts who raised her father, Cathleen and Lynalia. Cuuthalions name is a sore point for her between herself and her twin sister Cathlynn. As children in Doriath, Cathlynn would always tease Cuuth by calling her "Redundant" in reference to the fact that technically Cuuths name is Strongbow Strongbow.
Fornaria was told by a cheap fortune teller when she was about nine that she would " conceive the whole of her family of six in one night". For years Fornaria was terrified that she would give birth to sextuplets. However, what this prophecy alluded to was that she would marry Eldreth, who already had two children from his dead wife and Fornaria became pregnant with the twins on their wedding night. Thus, the four children and two parents were made a family in one night, at their wedding. The two older brothers, Owain and Ardun were close with their half sisters, but also teased them much about being half-elves. (The boy's deceased mother was Human, like their father). Fornaria adored all four of her children, and immediately became "Mama" to the boys. They called her this to save the honor of "Mother" for their biological mother, however, they took the surname Strongbow as their father had done when he married Fornaria.
By all accounts they were a sickeningly perfect family. They had wealth, status in Doriath, and didn't face the lines of division that most blended families encounter. The boys (only a year apart in age themselves) were besotted with "their babies" and most people assumed that Fornaria and Eldreth actually had two sets of twins. The boys were 6 and 7 years old when the twins were born. Doriath was a small but open minded kingdom and the twins never encountered the racism of being of a mixed background until they were "out in the world".
If anything, they were overprotected. The expectation was what we usually think of. Be a ladylike princess, earn an education you will never use, get married and bring forth an heir and a spare.
Fornaria did, however, insist that both her daughters were taught to fight and use weapons just as their brothers were. "My girls will not be princesses that need saving. They will be Queens who stand and fight beside their Kings". Early on Cathlynn showed a propensity for Earth magic, like her Elvish mother. There were no gardens in the land that could compare to the gardens on the family's estate. Cathlynn was a quiet, mellow child, slow to anger, but when she did finally lose her temper, no one was safe. As a teenager, her chosen method of vengeance was black, thorny vines springing from the earth to wrap around whoever she was angry with, or calling forth a swarm of honeybees to attack her tormentor.
Cuuthalion, however, was the bane of her parents existence. (Think Arya Stark). She fought. She swore. She refused to wear a gown or have her hair dressed. Fornaria nearly fainted when, at the age of 14, Cuuthalion shaved the bottom half of her hair (In other words, an undercut) and talked her sister into helping her magically dye it green. She refused to walk on her horse, and nearly gave her riding instructor a heart attack every time she would kick her mare into a gallop.
At the age of 19, the girls were walking through the village fair, shopping. The son of one of the town leaders began taunt Cuuthalion, as it had become clear by this point that she was gay. The boy, the same age as the girls, had a raving crush on both of them and so made their lives as miserable as he could, because Cuuthalion liked girls and Cathlynn already had a fiance whom she loved dearly and was commited to. They ignored him, and headed for home. On the road home, the boy and five of his cronies approached the girls, making usual remarks of young, straight men. You can just about imagine.
Cathlynn lost her temper first. She began to chant her spell, but before she could finish the boys attacked. Cuuthalion instantly killed one boy accidentally by punching him so hard she broke his neck. When she turned, she saw that the other boys had Cathlynn tightly restrained and a knife at her throat. They made it clear that if Cuuthalion did not "do as she was told" they would cut her twin sisters throat. She acquiesced, because she knew something that even Cathlynn didn't know yet. Cathlynn was pregnant. They made Cathlynn watch as they raped and beat her sister. When it was over, they limped home, both beaten badly, and fell in through the kitchen door. The servants called for their parents and brothers.
Their father, in a rage of grief and misplaced anger, screamed at Cuuthalion that if she had behaved like a "Gods-damned normal woman" and "kept her preferences quiet" like he had always told her to do, this wouldn't have happened. Her mother did nothing to intervene.
To cut a long story short, that was the beginning of the end for the twins in their hometown. Their brothers went and found the boys and killed them all. The brothers left home that night as they knew they'd be arrested if they didn't. No one has seen them to this day, though rumours of changed names, and careers as mercenaries are often bandied about in the local pub.
The twins recovered physically and also left home in the middle of the night, a few months later. They've not seen their parents since. They received word when each parent died, but did not attend their funerals or burials .
Together, the girls travelled to the Caves of Ningauble, some miles south of Doriath. These caves connect to the World of Nehwon, and the girls then travelled to the city of Lankhmar. Young, unsure, and with no way of earning their keep, the twins were homeless for over a year. When Cathlynns baby was born, in a hovel next door to a brothel, she was forced to give the child up for adoption. Cuuthalion swore to her sister that some day they would find the child.
Over the ensuing years, they earned a meagre living with their fighting skills. They could pass for either Elf or Human as needs depended upon it (simply covering or uncovering their ears), as the World of Nehwon was not as open minded as Doriath. Cuuthalion gradually improved her fighting skills, becoming a well known Paladin warrior who dedicated her life to helping those who could not help themselves and Cathlynn joined the Druid College in the forest outside of Ilik-Ving. The girls began living separate lives and don't see each other often, although they do write when they are in a settled place for a few months. (Usually the winter). After attaining the rank if Ovate, Cathlynn opted to pursue her Druidic degree while travelling. She felt she was being called by her Gods to be out in the world, not "squirreled away in some damnable damp library". Since her powers are land/Earth based she relies heavily on Nature to replenish and renew her spirit and her Magicks.
The last time she heard from.her sister was over 30 years ago. She'd met some Rogue woman named...Keeta? Keetha? Her sister always did have terrible handwriting. At any rate, she gathered that Cuuthalion probably loved this woman deeply, the way she spoke of her. She couldn't tell if it was a romantic love or a deep platonic love, she just knew this woman was important to her sister. She prayed that her twin was well and happy and asked Brighid and Lugh to bring their paths together again one day. For now, she travelled, adventured and looked at ever child she passed wondering...
Appearance
Mentality
Personality
The major events and journals in Cathlynn Strongbow's history, from the beginning to today.
The list of amazing people following the adventures of Cathlynn Strongbow.
Social
Birthplace
Doriath, Middle Earth
Current Residence
Nomadic
Family Ties
Family Tree