Izebel
Legacy Name: Izebel

Estir: Her brother. Estir is quite a bit older than Izebel, and he was raised to be the next leader of the tribe. However, after Izebel’s birth he lost much of the attention that had been given to him for so long because of the controversy concerning Izebel’s destiny. He is extremely close minded (this is fueled by Achan’s beliefs as well), and bears a lot of the old prejudices that the elders are guilty of having. He is, naturally, opposed to Izebel’s leadership and has gone out of his way to be spiteful to her. However, only once has he ever formally challenged her leadership. Deep down Estir is not evil, nor is he cruel, but he is incredibly selfish and bitter. He also subscribes to the beliefs of the elders, though many suspect this is only for personal profit; he doesn’t really believe it, he just uses it as a reason to pit himself against Izebel.

Achan: Estir’s closest follower and adviser. When they were young they were close friends, although Estir has always been slightly afraid of Achan. Achan’s beliefs are far darker than Estir’s; while Estir has only gone out of his way to challenge Izebel to a battle once, Achan talks in whispers about the idea of murdering her. He’s wicked in the way that Estir isn’t; although he is the one who follows around Estir, he is extremely manipulative. Achan is highly favored by the corrupt elders, and helps keep Estir in good favor as well. Achan, unlike Estir, is not Highborn.

Keturah: Izebel’s mother. Keturah was soft spoken and extremely kind. She was a good friend of Bakuko, and generally did not subscribe to the beliefs of the elders. Despite being Highborn (which is a part of why the elders will make excuses for those like Keturah and Bakuko) she was very frail; she was prone to falling ill. She mothered both Estir and Izebel, but not some of Mattaniah’s other cubs. She died of illness during Izebel’s first winter. She died before knowing much about Izebel’s fate.

Mattaniah: The leader of Izebel’s tribe. He is a powerful warrior, but extremely weak minded. He’s almost a puppet of the elders, who are desperately trying to prevent change from altering the powerful leadership the tribe has had for hundreds of years.

Atza: The Goddess that rules over much of the Arctic Frost, and is especially relevant near the Coda Caves, the area where some of the oldest Celinox tribes (including Izebel’s) are.

As a child Izebel showed all the marks of a good leader. She was born into a great destiny, one they had thought was meant for Estir. The soft tendrils at the end of her tail were like unto the great aurora borealis; why she, of all the Celinoxes, was blessed with this mark was unknown, but it was a burden she would learn to bear as she got older. She showed signs of bravery (her ventures a bit too far out into the outskirts of the forest proved this) and she was a good listener, with a deep reverence for the Gods, though not so much that she was shortsighted. She was raised with love, mostly from her mother and, in a way, Bakuko. However, the treatment she received from the elders made her hardened; she is now cold and distant at times. The sadness in her eyes betrays how her father treated her – in her eyes, as a cub, his position in the tribe meant more to her than she ever did.

Mattaniah had deliberately pushed Izebel away, leaving her in the care of the elders. He loved her, because she was his child and he saw how much potential she had, but raising her closely would likely cause a rift between him and the elders. They requested, after her mother’s death, that they take care of her to ensure that “she didn’t get any delusions of grandeur”. Bakuko, one of the elders (and a more open minded, caring one, at that), actually believed that Izebel was the the prophecy spoke of. After the death of her mother Bakuko made sure to tell her all of the legends that he knew, told her all that he knew of prophecy and all that he believed she was meant to do. As Achan became closer to the elders, he pushed Bakuko away. The elders were careful about everything; after all, Bakuko was extremely wise. However, he worked against their movement.

When Izebel was finally of age, Bakuko died at the hands of Achan for supposed crimes against the Gods. Izebel knew then what she was dealing with. Days later, she requested to her father that she be made leader after him. Estir, in turn, challenged her to a battle.

She left the tribe of her own free will, after that, vowing to come back when her people needed her.