Ophelia Evenbrook Colbreak
Her Most Honored Eminence the Duchess Ophelia (née Al Anbar) Evenbrook Colbreak
CW: Mentions of war and parental death.
My mother hears all that is happening in the world, each moment of each day. A useful power but also a horrible curse, her ability was used by the Crathlian government during the Great War to spy on the naered. She is now the Duchess of Evenbrook.
Personal History
Early Life
Ophelia Al Anbar Evenbrook was born into the Evenbrook Clan to Aisha Al Anbar and Brenden Evenbrook. They lived in an apartment in Catersburg. With her father as a busy private investigator, she was primarily raised by her Shabrian mother (who spoke perfectly good Crathlian due to being raised by shapeshifters) and grew up bilingual and heavily entrenched in her mother's heritage and culture. She attended public primary school in Catersburg. Her experiences there later led her to reform the duchy's school system.Power Surges
It was a shock to the entire nobility, but most of all her parents, when Ophelia Evenbrook tested above Everdon levels, initially at 143.93. Furthermore she had not yet surged at that point, which made it likely that her true power level was higher than that. Her father illegitmate (likely with an Amalgam father) and barely a Paragon, her mother a naturally-powerless gifted human, it was believed that she would be a Dreg. Gifted humans had never been known to pass their powers along. Then again, it had been centuries or more since a gifted human and a Paragon had had a child. The curiousity around what her power would be was obvious. Her father encouraged it, enjoying the sudden acknowledgment from the nobility who had always rejected him.You could divide my life into before I could hear, and after I could hear. It came on suddenly and loudly. It's hard for me to remember the before. It was peaceful, I guess, more peaceful than I knew. I took it for granted. Though it's not like I knew what was coming. Of course, you could also say the dividing line was before and after I went to Everdon. Before and after I knew I'd be a duchess. It all happened at the same time. Now that was overwhelming.Around the time she began to prepare to attend Everdon Academy, sounds from all over the world descended on her uncontrollably. Though no one else could hear them, she was overwhelmed the influx of noise from Lexport to Arxaverna to Shui Lu, especially as the Supreme Emperor realized that he could speak to her. Since she was unable hear what was going on around her during one of these surges, it was suggested that her entrance to Everdon be delayed. However, before the first term started at Everdon, she was retested and found to score at an unprecedented 150.15. This meant she was almost certainly the heir of the Evenbrook Clan for her generation, and thus needed to attend school even more than any other noble. On her father's urging, she started at the normal time, still struggling with surges. She often listened to music with headphones to cope and bring herself back into the moment.
Education
My mother struggled at Everdon due to her ability. In particular, political maneuvering, manners, and speech were quite difficult for her due to their immediacy and the neccessity that one be in the moment. She excelled in classes that allowed her to study visually at her own pace, such as history and literature.Great War
Her school struggles were worsened by the Great War's beginning in 1286, her second year at Everdon. Then, in her fourth year, her father was drafted, which gave her an auditory anchoring into the combat--she hears her loved ones much more frequently than strangers, especially when she's anxious about them. She says he told her good night anytime he went to sleep and often assured her that he was okay. In her sixth year at Everdon, her father was taken captive by the naered and tortured for several weeks for marrying Aisha Al Anbar. They hoped to learn the location of Aisha and Ophelia, but he refused to open his mind despite the pain. Ophelia was pulled out of Everdon due to the trauma of experiencing this through her ability, as well as to keep her safe from the naered. She spent the rest of the war feeding Crathlia as much information she could alongside her mother. She never graduated. By the time the war was over, most of her Evenbrook relatives were dead, and she was next in line for the Duchy of Evenbrook after her grandmother Kiera Evenbrook, who currently held the title.Marriage and Children
Duchess Kiera arranged her granddaughter's marriage to Dissipator Alistair Redbreak Colbreak in hopes that he could help moderate her after the trauma of the war and protect her from any further naer threats. They have two children: myself, Cordelia Colbreak Evenbrook, and my brother, Gabriel Colbreak Evenbrook, who is four years younger than I.Ducal Inheritance
In 1308, Kiera Evenbrook suffered a major stroke and passed away, leaving the Duchy of Evenbrook to my mother. As duchess, my mother has prioritized education while also attempting to repair the fast-decaying infastructure in Catersburg.Social
Contacts and Relations
My mother had few friends at Everdon Academy due to most noble families standing in solidarity with the legitimate branch of Evenbrooks who had been "robbed" of their duchy. After her father left for the warfront, however, Duncan Redbreak Colbreak and Kyle Stelworth Blackburn noticed that she seemed lonely and in need of a friend. The two future Dissipators comforted her during that dark time and remain as close as family to her.Family Ties
Most of the extended Evenbrook Clan at that time viewed her as a usurper, so my mother was never particuarly close to them. The other remaining branch, that of Quinn Nymphaeus Evenbrook, has repaired ties with ours and denounced the behavior of their parents and cousins. We aren't especially close, but we have a strong working relationship. My mother was very close to her father and remains extremely close to her mother. Because of this upbringing, as well as the value that her husband's family places on family, my mother took as much a hands-on approach as possible to raising both my brother and me. Thus we are a rather close-knit family. My mother is very fond of music and has taught both myself and my brother a wide range of instruments and songs.Relationships
Written by Cordelia Colbreak Evenbrook
Telekinesis
Species
Ethnicity
Other Ethnicities/Cultures
Date of Birth
1st of Dagal, 1274
Year of Birth
1274 DA
40 Years old
Circumstances of Birth
The only child of Brenden Evenbrook and Aisha Al Anbar.
Spouses
Alistair Colbreak Evenbrook
(husband)
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Evenbrook Manor, Lower North Lautney
Gender
Female.
Eyes
Chestnut brown.
Hair
Long, sleek, and dark. Typicaly worn in buns and braids.
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Honey brown.
Height
5'4.
Weight
140 lbs.
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Ruled Locations
Double Wedding by ReachingForStardust
Teenage Alistair, Kyle, Ophelia, and Duncan by chasing_colored_skies_art
Teenage Kyle, Ophelia, and Duncan at a Ball by chasing_colored_skies_art
This is a really strong article that deserves much more attention, excellent writing! I love how this article links to a lot of other articles to explain the detailed lore you have created in this world. I also pity Ophelia's past and her power - it seems like quite the heavy burden. Finally, I absolutely love the supporting artwork in this article too. Lovely!
Wow thank you so much!! Apologies for the late reply haha, I took a break from worldbuilding and haven't been checking notifications. It's quite the heavy burden for her indeed, poor thing :( And I'm glad you like the artwork! :D