Aurora Franks do not use last names so she uses her father's name (Boswick) like a middle name. Zhen
Daughter of Sir Boswick and Doctor Nian Zhen, she is an 18 year old Handmaiden who is sponsored by Dame Evelyn herself.
Six Word Description: Thinking Things Through, Doing Them Right
Words to Live By: I want to master everything, every skill, every subject, every language.
Physical Description
Excellent overall condition. She is tall, lean, and quite strong for a woman.
Her facial features are a blend between her Frankish father and Chinese mother.
She is right handed. She walks quickly and tries to avoid wasting time. She walks from her shoulders like a man instead of from her hips like a woman. She is efficient with her movements and her words.
Durum steel hauberk, scuta, gladia, francisca, hunting bow.
She owns and knows how to play a [b]qin, a type Chinese zither. Her father bought it on a trip to India and her mother taught her how to play it.
Mental characteristics
Her mother's uncle flew into a rage over an insult and killed his brother (her grandfather) and then sold his brother's two daughters (Aurora's mother and aunt) into slavery in a border town between China and India. Her father saw her mother being branded in preparation for sale on the auction block and bought her. He set her free but she chose to return with him to the west since she thought she couldn't go home (why go home and be sold into slavery again?) Nian Zhen eventually became a Christian, married Sir Boswick, and became a Centurion doctor. Aurora has always been treated well in Castle Warrick but a couple of new girls came into Castle Warrick (via their parents joining the Order) and they began to bully Aurora about her half Frankish, half Chinese appearance starting at the age of 12. She can be sensitive about her appearance and has felt like an outsider within her own community at times. Her mother is something of a "tiger mom" and a little of that intensity has rubbed off on Aurora when it comes to mastering her skills and knowledge.
Trained by the castle's tutors and her own mom, her education is very high, especially in the classics.
She is a handmaiden training to become a shieldmaiden in the Order of the Centurion.
With the help of Portia she has become the de facto leader of the handmaidens. She fought and killed two Hungarians during the attack of the Winter Wolves and established herself as a legitimate warrior. She is one of the most intelligent people in the castle.
She was mocked about her appearance, in particular the yellowish cast of her skin and the appearance of her eyes, when she was in her early teens and is still sensitive about these things.
She is an INTJ - The Architect. She likes to plan and carry out her plan, she is fairly unemotional and analytical. She thinks strategically and likes complex problem solving. She is calm and unemotional about most things, keeping her cool even when under attack.
Very high morality, always takes the high road.
Best Friend (Vital)
Towards Aurora Zhen Boswick
Best Friend (Vital)
Towards Lady Portia of Warrick
History
Handmaidens together in the barracks for years, they respected each other but were not particularly close. Aurora had been praying how she could help Portia since she knew that Portia would one day be the Countess of Carinthia and one of the leaders of their Order in the Eastern Marches. Aurora recognized that Portia was dealing with some deep, personal issues. She got some advice from her Mother, Dr Zhen, and began talking to Portia. She helped Portia confront some issues about herself and the two decided that they were going to make some changes in the barracks to help get the rest of the girls up to speed.
Nicknames & Petnames
Portia calls Aurora "Sage" because she sees her as a very wise person who gives useful advice.
Aurora calls Portia "Centurion" as a sign of respect. Centurions are commanders and also the name of the Order and Aurora feels that no one works harder to be the ideal Centurion than Portia.
Relationship Reasoning
Both girls view themselves as outsiders from the rest of the group. Portia because of her relentless zeal in her physical training and her less than feminine appearance, Aurora because of her half Chinese heritage that make her look different from everyone else in the castle. Both girls need a friend that they can trust and both girls are devoted to the Centurion way even while many of the other girls are not.
Commonalities & Shared Interests
Physical training as warriors and upholding the highest standards of the Centurions. Portia also loves engineering projects (castle design, siege engine design, etc.) and Aurora has a strong interest in these things too (though not to Portia's degree). Aurora loves academics across the board and while Portia doesn't, she does at least see the value in them.
Shared Secrets
Both girls understand that much of what drives Portia's behavior is a response to the trauma of losing her brother Cyrus in the stable fire. She was trying to save him but was simply not strong enough.
Shared Acquaintances
They both know Priscilla and don't like her.
Comments