Dark Mist: A FE3H OC Quest

It is the Great Tree Moon of Imperial Year 1180. You are Rosmerta Nerthus, only child and heiress of a prominent Adrestian merchant company. Your father has chosen to enroll you in the Officers Academy at Garreg Mach Monastery. There, you shall study at the very heart of the Holy Church, learning from the greatest scholars and rubbing shoulders with the most influential children of your generation, including the heirs of all three nations of Fódlan.

The Nerthus family is one of commoners, but that doesn't mean your heritage is unstoried. Your grandfather Taran was once feared across the high seas as the greatest pirate to ever live, who rallied the Hurricane Armada to threaten Enbarr itself. But then he negotiated amnesty and peaceful surrender for him and all his pirates, allowing them to settle down with the wealth of their plunder, as well as keeping many of their ships. It was your father, Mabon, who took that wealth and those ships and put them to trading, becoming a rising star of the Adrestian bourgeoisie.

And though the legacy may be young, comparatively, it is still one you must protect. You learned many lessons in the family townhouse in Enbarr: etiquette from expensive tutors, axe-fighting from your grandfather, and business from your father. Then, when you were thirteen, you started your hands-on education, spending all of 1174 as a clerk in your father's warehouses.

Then, you spent the next year aboard the sloop Fand, which plied the Exalted Sea between Fódlan, Brigid, and Dagda. It was unfortunate timing, as that very year was marked by the war between Dagda and Adrestia that resulted in Brigid entering vassalage to the Empire. Fand wasn't a warship, but it was once boarded and almost seized by the Dagdans. You managed to drive them off, by:

-[ ] Telling a tall tale, drawing on the legends of your grandfather to convince the Dagdans that you were marked by the storm and that if you were to come to harm, everyone would be dragged down to Shanty Pete's Locker in vengeance. (Rosmerta will be a STORYTELLER).
-[ ] Challenging the enemy captain to a coin toss: on heads, the ship and all its cargo would be theirs, but on tails they would have to let you go. None of them ever realized that your coin was tails on both sides. (Rosmerta will be a TRICKSTER).
-[ ] Lecturing the Dagdans about how wrong it was for them to assault a civilian, unarmed ship like the Fand, just trying to make an honest profit. Somehow, you managed to get them to leave feeling ashamed of themselves. (Rosmerta will be a MORALIZER).

You made it through the war and the year safely, and so in 1176 you were sent off to the city of Boramas, in Aegir territory, where your uncle Mullo worked for your father as a factor. You spent the year clerking under him, though a significant portion of your time with Mullo was spent less on finances and record-keeping and more on charming and mingling. In particular, your father instructed you to make an attempt at courting Ferdinand von Aegir, the Prime Minister's son, in hopes of marrying into nobility. You followed his instructions:

-[ ] Dutifully. You felt no real attraction to the boy, but you understood your father's reasoning, and decided to put all your effort into meeting his expectations. You wrote letters, purchased gifts, and offered dances. (Rosmerta will be ACCEPTING of marriage).
-[ ] Half-heartedly. You didn't particularly want to marry Ferdinand, and while you didn't try to sabotage the courtship, you certainly weren't trying very hard to make it succeed, either. (Rosmerta will be INDIFFERENT to marriage).
-[ ] Counterproductively. You knew, with absolute certainty, that you did not want to marry the Aegir boy. You could not, however, directly refuse your father, and so you took a different route, making the least appealing courtship effort you could to Ferdinand. (Rosmerta will be HOSTILE to marriage).

In any event, Duke Aegir was not interested in letting his son marry some upjumped commoner, and the courtship did not make it very far at all. After turning fifteen, you took a berth on the cog Orethia, which carried cargo on a route around the Pearl Sea, connecting merchants in Adrestia, Leicester, Almyra, and even Morfis. It was a peaceful year, and you found yourself in your first relationships. They were all brief affairs, lasting as long as your shore leave did, but there's one girl you still think of fondly:

-[ ] Helene. A bespectacled port clerk in Leicester. You stole lovely, calm moments in the hidden corners of the offices and warehouses. (Rosmerta will like QUIET GIRLS).
-[ ] Amina. A broad-shouldered guard-in-training in Almyra. You rode together on her wyvern, seeing the world from a whole new perspective. (Rosmerta will like STRONG GIRLS).
-[ ] Feray. A brilliant patrician's daughter in Morfis. You danced at a masquerade and kissed in her villa's pool. (Rosmerta will like FLASHY GIRLS).

After your time in the Pearl, your father called you back to land and sent you to the much-reduced city of Nuvelle, which had been harshly damaged during the war with Brigid and Dagda. Its old noble house was also destroyed, and the Nerthus Trading Company had wormed itself into the new, reconstruction-focused government under Duke Gerth, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In your time aiding the factor there, you identified and arrested a corrupt clerk, guilty of embezzling funds, and received a tidy sum of gold for your trouble. You decided the best use of your windfall was to:

-[ ] Celebrate the officers, throwing a party for the factor, the prefect, and the other grandees of the city. (Rosmerta will be liked by BURGHERS).
-[ ] Feed the commoners, funding a public feast accessible to even the poorest inhabitant of Nuvelle. (Rosmerta will be liked by PEASANTS).
-[ ] Honor the Duke, commissioning a pair of ornate gloves and having them delivered to his castle in Gerth proper. (Rosmerta will be liked by NOBLES).

Then, in your eighteenth year, you again took to sea, this time aboard the galleon Carcassonne, which sailed in the north, bringing you to Albinea, Faerghus, and occasionally even Sreng. Once on shore leave in Dominic territory, you got into an argument with a priest-in-training. You've always been faithful, but most of your religious education had been from your grandmother, not a seminary, and the priest-in-training accused you of:

-[ ] Plurisanctism, the heresy of venerating Saints outside Seiros and the Four, like Saint Ruadan the Burner and Saint Atrotho the Weaver. Accusers say this is just a way to worship pagan, foreign gods under the guise of righteousness. You say that you were burning candles for Ruadan since before you'd left Enbarr, and the last time you invoked Atrotho to cast Heal it worked perfectly, so clearly the Goddess approves. (Rosmerta's faith will be SYNCRETIC).
-[ ] Assumptionism, the heresy of believing that Saint Seiros was, at the end of her time in Fódlan, assumed into heaven and, indeed, into the Goddess Herself, becoming one with her. Accusers say this has no basis in scripture and has been denied by multiple archbishops. You say that scripture is not the only source of doctrine and archbishops do not, necessarily, have a better view into the present state of the Goddess than you. (Rosmerta's faith will be MYSTICAL).
-[ ] Hyperinfallibilism, the heresy of holding every statement by every Archbishop to be divinely-guided and infallible, due to their role as Preservers of the Revelation. Accusers say this is a wild exaggeration of the doctrine of archiepiscopal infallibility, and also lends itself to contradiction, as Archbishops have contradicted each other in the past. You say that they are refusing to understand the mysteries of the Revelation, and that squaring contradictions in the divine word is in fact a holy task. (Rosmerta's faith will be LEGALISTIC).

A/N: Hello, SV! This is my first ever quest, I hope it is enjoyed. This first vote is a personality vote; please vote by plan! Feel free to ask questions.

ROSMERTA NERTHUS

Level 1 Commoner
HP: 24 (40%)
Strength: 9 (40%)
Magic: 6 (40%)
Dexterity: 5 (35%)
Speed: 10 (40%)
Luck: 7 (20%)
Defense: 7 (40%)
Resistance: 4 (10%)
Charm: 8 (45%)

Items: Iron Axe
Currency: 500 gold
Magic: Heal (10 uses)
Personal Ability: Swashbuckle (Adjacent enemies suffer -10 to Hit)
Skills: Authority D+, Faith D, Axe E+

Supports: N/A

Affiliation: Adrestian Empire
Gender: Female
Age: 19
Height: 172 cm
Birthday: 3/2 (Lone Tree Moon)

Interests: Praying, haggling
Likes: Foreign things, playing tricks, puzzles, showing off, the Goddess
Dislikes: Simple answers, debt, bad deals, wasting time, negligence

"Your hair's done, Miss Rosmerta."

The voice of your maidservant shakes you out of your reverie. You look into the mirror and see that yes, she's right. She's put up your rose-colored hair into a high ponytail, just the way you like it.

"Excellent work as always, Beatrice. Thank you."

You rise from your seat and look down to your clothes. Although you have yet to even set out for Garreg Mach, and it'll take you a few days to get there from Enbarr, you've decided to begin wearing your uniform, to get used to how it feels and moves. Also, it feels appropriate to wear to a celebration of your admission to the Academy, and it was certainly expensive enough, with all the black dye and gold trim, to wear it to a special occasion.

You smile at Beatrice. "Shall we?"

"Yes, Miss Rosmerta. They should be ready for you."

The two of you make your way through the family home until you arrive at the entrance to the main hall. There, Beatrice splits off from you, slipping through a servants' passage, while you push open the great oak doors and enter the hall.

You are greeted by the mild cacophony of your family, gathered around a long, mahogany table and attended by a collection of servants. Not all your kin were able to make it -- Cousin Otto was at sea and Aunt Gretchen was minding the Boromas factory in Uncle Mullo's stead, to name two examples. It was unfortunate, but you weren't that concerned about it. Most of them had given you the relevant well-wishes at your nineteenth birthday party last moon, and those that hadn't were the ones you barely even knew. The first of them to notice your arrival is your father, who stands from his seat. He is a tall, somewhat portly man with slicked-back hair and a thin mustache, both of them the same color as your own hair.

"Rosmerta, my girl! You're here! Come, come, sit. Theodore, get her chair."

You make your way down the table, and nod gratefully at the manservant who pulls out the seat at your father's right hand.

"Oh, darling, that uniform does look good on you, doesn't it?" says your mother.

Desiderata Nerthus is a slim and pale woman, with hair the color of night and piercing green eyes, which you inherited. You also inherited her sharp cheekbones, thin lips, and prominent ears. You smile at her.

"I think so, too, mother. Certainly worth the gold."

"D'you think you'll be able to fight in it, lass?"

This question comes from your grandad, sitting to your left. Taran Nerthus, the Hurricane Admiral, the greatest pirate to ever live. He's a snow capped mountain of a man, broad-shouldered and silver-haired, with a great bushy beard and an eyepatch. There are novels about him. A few years ago the Mittelfrank put on an opera about him. You've even heard sea shanties about him. He's a living legend.

He is also, you know, profoundly ticklish.

"I haven't fought anyone wearing it, but it doesn't really restrict my movement. I don't think I'll have to worry about that."

He claps a hand on your shoulder. You wince.

"That's a good lass!"

"Taran, remember to be gentle. We don't want her to start at the Academy with an injury," chides your gran, Vanadia.

She is also legendary, though her tales are of a different tenor than your grandad's. The Hurricane Admiral is renowned for his prowess, his daring, and the punishments he dealt out to captains he found to be wicked. Stories of Vanadia, the Siren Queen, are all about her beauty, her romances, and the whispered secrets that brought a hundred petty admirals to heel.

You have not found a single one that mentions her deep and abiding faith in the Goddess, or her massive sweet-tooth.

Any further discussion is brought to a halt, as a train of servants carry an array of plates out, setting them in front of each diner. Your mouth waters at the sight before you: two strips of fish (one of them gar and the other herring, you note), still semi-sizzling and glistening with butter, and finally garnished with chopped coriander. A wonderful example of a two-fish sauté.

Your father claps his hands to get everyone's attention. Once the family's collective gaze has entirely turned upon him, he closes his eyes and bows his head in prayer. Everybody follows, and joins him in reciting the thanksgiving prayer:

"O Goddess great, o Goddess good,
We thank you for this blessed food,
As it was, as it is, as it shall be, forever."

After the prayer, you dug into the meal, savoring the fish. It had always been a favorite of yours, but you'd particularly begun to enjoy Albinean herring in your time on the Carcassonne, where it was an almost everyday part of the diet. This meal, of course, was much tastier than anything cooked aboard the ship, but you appreciated the memory of your time sailing regardless.

"Granddaughter," intoned your grandfather, Wolfgang Aymeric.

He is a rather more mundane figure than his counterpart, but you appreciate him all the same. In his day, he had been the Dean of the Enbarr Guild of Carpenters, someone who on occasion advised even the Lord Prefect of Enbarr. Nowadays, he was bent and reedy, though his hands still bore the calluses he'd earned through his years of labor.

"Yes, grandfather?"

"I have heard some interesting things about who else will be attending Garreg Mach this year."

You raise an eyebrow. "Like what, grandfather?"

"From the sound of it, your house leader will be Her Highness the Imperial Princess herself. And it seems the great lords have arranged to have their heirs beside her."

"The Bergliez heir went years ago, Wolfgang. The Count might be sending his other son, though. Have you heard anything about that, Dietrich?" interjects your Aunt Andarta.

She's a short, muscled woman, with her blue-black hair wrapped up into a neat bun. For a few years now, she'd been a Captain in the Imperial Navy, and her husband Dietrich was a shoreside logistics officer in the same.

He hums pensively. "Yes, I think I have. Johann told me that Jude said he'd heard from Heidelberg that the Count's second son -- Jasper or something, I think -- was going to Garreg Mach this year."

"I don't think Duke Gerth has any children old enough to attend," adds your Uncle Mullo.

He's the youngest of your father's siblings, with a thin, narrow face and a well-maintained goatee. He works directly for your father, as his factor in Boromas.

"However, I do have it on very good authority that Lord Ferdinand will be your classmate, Rosmerta. Perhaps you can try courting him again, Rosmerta."

You nod. "I'll have to see how he remembers me, but it's certainly a good option."

During your time clerking in Boromas, Ferdinand had seemed a rather polite boy, and you don't think you'd managed to offend him with your attempt to earn his hand. The greatest mark against him wasn't any fault of his own, but the simple fact that Duke Aegir strongly disapproved of his son and heir marrying a, quote, "lowborn sailor girl whose reach exceeds her grasp." Managing to actually marry Ferdinand would be quite the task, but that is only to be expected with the next Prime Minister of the Empire.

"Enough about her classmates, let's talk about her classes. Dearie, what are you looking forward to learning?" interrupts your Grandmother Juliana.

Her round face bears the marks of near-constant smiling, while her eyes are cloudy with cataracts. Despite her kindly appearance, you know her to be formidable, and it was at her feet that you learned to weave and knit.

"Tactics sound interesting, and I'm interested in getting more experience with axes. And of course I'm excited to learn more white magic."

The rest of the luncheon proceeded very similarly, with discussion of what Garreg Mach would be like, and how you would adapt, and other such things. After the fish was all gone (and you'd had a second helping), and the servants had cleared away all the plates and silverware, your father rises and gets everyone's attention.

"What a wonderful meal! Soon, our Rosmerta shall embark on her journey, and bloom in the mountains. However, we have one last duty to fulfill before we can send her onwards!" He claps. "Theodore!"

A line of servants enters the hall, each carrying something in their hands. Orderly, they set their burdens down onto the table, before stepping away to stand by the walls.

"Father? What's all this?"

"Why, my girl, did you think we could let you go all the way to Garreg Mach without any gifts to remember us by?"

"You make it sound like I'll never see you again, father. You are aware it's only a year, are you not? A year during which, I remind you, you will be free to visit me?"

"Bah! There simply must be gifts, my girl! Now, get to opening, won't you? We do need to leave the servants enough time to pack these with the rest of your luggage before the carriage leaves."

Sighing and rolling your eyes, you begin to open your presents. First, from your parents, you get a pair of gloves and a long cloak, both of which match your uniform's color scheme. Then, your gran gives you a silver necklace in the shape of the Crest of Seiros, while grandad hands over a much more practical present, in the form of an iron axe. You appreciate both of them equally.

Aunt Andarta's gift is a leatherbound book, entitled The Art of Supply. As you open it, she leans over and whispers in your ear that Dietrich was the one who picked it out. You give him a small smile. Your present from Uncle Mullo is a fine swan-feather quill and a variety of inks with which to use it. Grandfather's present is similarly a mundane object made well, though he chose a satchel. Last, but most certainly not least, Grandmother presents you with a pair of quality riding boots.

The house is shortly filled with a flurry of activity, as the servants set about taking your presents and packing them neatly and safely into the carriage that will take you away from Enbarr and, over the course of several days, up into the Oghma Mountains and finally to Garreg Mach itself. While these final preparations are underway, each member of your family finds some time to take you aside and give you a private farewell.

You appreciate all of these goodbyes, of course, but there is one which is particularly meaningful to you:

-[ ] Your father, Mabon. The cheerful, cunning, charming man whose shoes you one day must fill. How can you desire anything more than to make him proud? (+5% Charm growth, -5% Luck growth).

-[ ] Your mother, Desiderata. The greatest teacher you've ever known. She taught you your letters and, more than that, taught you how to be a woman. How can anyone else compare? (+5% Luck growth, -5% Charm growth).

-[ ] Your grandad, Taran. That ticklish pirate king, the living legend in whose wake your whole family exists. How can you ever leave his shadow? (+5% Resistance growth, -5% Magic growth).

-[ ] Your gran, Vanadia. You can't recall ever seeing her straying, in word or deed, from the will of the Goddess. How can anyone be so perfect? (+5% Magic growth, -5% Resistance growth).

-[ ] Your grandfather, Wolfgang. Steady and dutiful, he stands as firm as an oak tree. How can you ever be as strong? (+5% Defense growth, -5% Dexterity growth).

-[ ] Your grandmother, Juliana. The kindly weaver who taught you how to slip something out of a man's pocket without noticing. How can anyone be, at once, two things so different from each other? (+5% Dexterity growth, -5% Defense growth).

-[ ] Your uncle, Mullo. He is, perhaps, the quietest member of the Nerthus family, but he's also the one who made you love numbers, who really made you want to take over the company some day. How can you pay him back for that? (+5% Speed growth, -5% Strength growth).

-[ ] Your aunt, Andarta. The soldier of the family, who commands an entire shipload of souls. How can anyone bear such responsibility? (+5% Strength growth, -5% Speed growth).