Character Masterlist

Key:


 * a (*) denotes an original character.
 * a (❧) denotes a role which must be a muse of color
 * a (†) denotes involvement in a future plot; please contact us prior to applying with any questions.

CHINESE EMPIRE
RULED BY THE HOUSE OF ZHU. ORIGINAL CHARACTER POSITIONS: 5 OPEN OUT OF 5 TOTAL. EMPEROR ZHU XIZONG OF CHINA » HU GE, 45, TAKEN"emperor xizong's reign has been long and fruitful, resulting in a vast territorial expansion, improved relations with the west, and a robust centralized state in which his wife, concubines, children, and mother are vital, providing the nucleus for a resplendent, growing court. the emperor succeeded the late emperor gaozu, regarded as the greatest among the ming dynasty, and his consort, liqin. only a boy when his father died and facing threats from secondary sons, his mother distanced his court from the capital and presided over the nation until he came of age, remaining, to this day, a central figure in chinese politics. xizong fears that his own sons will instigate a war over succession like that which his mother quelled years ago."EMPRESS JINGFEI » FAN BINGBING, 43, TAKEN"first among consorts, empress jingfei is an indefatigable member of her husband's court; polarizing, she is either highly beloved or, in the instance of the dowager empress, supremely detested as a social climber. despite bearing the emperor children in abundance – including the crown prince, xianmin – she has never strayed from the imperial palace nor retreated from public gaze, preferring to remain rooted in the limelight to ensure that her work is not to be outdone by the pretty young bobbles that come and go from xizong's bed. by any means, her bloodline will grace the throne upon his death. she has made her peace with her lot, yet she will never be content in the empress dowager's shadow so long as her son is expected to wear the crown."EMPRESS DOWAGER LIQIN » FACECLAIM UTP, (67-70), OPEN"one should not be fooled by the empress dowager's appellation as 'mother of the nation,' when – like a serpent – the creatures that present most vividly are often the most deadly. although she was never the late emperor's principal empress, said empress's infertility made her son crown prince. her now-dead contemporaries claimed that she patiently poisoned the empress, causing miscarriages and infertility; even the emperor's death was auspicious. liqin then ruled with an iron-fist until her son came of age. as xizong reigns, she lingers in the foreground as a respected, beloved fixture; her propaganda and descendents' great acclaim spin a winning tale which has vastly improved her standing among the subjects."IMPERIAL NOBLE CONSORT EHUANG » FACECLAIM UTP, (40-45), OPEN"she was once the ideal replacement for empress jingfei during her many pregnancies: young, well-read, of the wealthy, landowning gentry. yet her affair with the emperor was not expected to last the year – pretty young things come and go in a court overly-concerned with intellect – let alone produce a prince for the world to adore. prince zhao's birth cemented ehuang's place in the royal court, and in xizong's affections – the latter, which in terms of importance, has always come first to her. the people claim that zhao is the closest the emperor will have in likeness to the late emperor gaozu – and yet, ehuang fears that her son's ambition will cause unrest and imperil the thinning sense of security they have."CROWN PRINCE XIANMIN » FACECLAIM UTP, (24-26), OPEN."as the eldest son of the emperor and his principal empress, jingfei, xianmin was designated the crown prince in his infancy. despite the clear distinction between himself and other sons of the ming dynasty, jealousy and distrust have bred immense rivalry and plotting among the emperor's children, placing the crown princes' position in jeopardy."PRINCESS OF THE FIRST RANK, YICHENG » VIANN ZHANG, 23, TAKEN"the crown princess, eldest daughter of emperor xizong and empress jingei, is an exemplary lady, being sprightly, intellectual, and cultured. thrusted into the white hot spotlight as a child, she garnered the affections of poets, philosophers, and politicians alike, her accomplishments lauded throughout the vast expanse of her father's dominion as she received his unparalleled accolades. and so, it was with great chagrin and even greater shock that she was married to a well-respected general of the chinese army, instead of a distant prince, as so was promised to her. her marriage secured a localized alliance with one of the greatest factions in the chinese court and brought about a sense of peace within beijing. for yicheng, the marriage has proven restrictive and evidently below her rank."YIN JIANJUN, MILITARY GENERAL OF YIN » REMY HII, 34, TAKEN."an esteemed military general from the prosperous yin family, at the threat of uprising he was married to the emperor's eldest daughter, crown princess yicheng. he has become instrumental in both the chinese military and within the emperor's inner circle of trustees. his position as the crown princess' husband affords him great respect along with land and wealth almost beyond comprehension. nevertheless, the marriage is an unsuccessful one, bonded by mutual resentment despite the general's ability to monopolize the imperial court with the princess at his side."PRINCE OF HAN » FACECLAIM UTP, (38-43), OPEN"the prince of han is cursed with an ancient affliction – being born second. as a boy, despite relegated to his brother's shadow, he'd been a noted favourite for his militaristic successes. yet, upon his father's death, empress dowager liqin disgraced him from court, fearing that his growing popularity would topple her young son's rule. nevertheless, upon the birth of crown prince xianmin, he received imperial exoneration and returned to the good graces of the royal family and court. still, suspicion lingers that he has not offered an olive branch to the dowager empress in return."PRINCE OF THE SECOND RANK, ZHAO » FACECLAIM UTP, (22-24), OPEN."the second son of the emperor, borne of his consort ehuang, he has been noted for his similarities between himself and his father – and, more importantly, his grandfather: the great emperor gaozu. akin to his uncle, the prince of han, prince zhao sought military glory when it became evident that such triumph could outshine that of the crown prince, xianmin. though he is not expected to secure the throne, it is an ambition of his. he seeks to gain support from the grassroots of the imperial court, his younger brothers, and his father's consorts who must faction against the reigning jingfei."PRINCESS OF THE SECOND RANK, LIJUAN » FACECLAIM UTP, (19), OPEN."born in tandem with her brother, prince wen, at a time when her mother's place in the forbidden city was tentative at best, princess lijuan is the only daughter of the imperial noble consort ehuang. with her elder sister married to a chinese general, lijuang travels with her father to western lands as something of an offering: expected to secure a match that will underpin a series of alliances with europe."PRINCE OF THE THIRD RANK, WEN » FACECLAIM UTP, 19, OPEN."well-aware of the rivalry that surrounds him, for the majority of his life wen has been expected to take part, to stake a claim in the ongoing war between crown prince xiamin and prince zhao (the latter of whom is a full-brother to wen.) yet, his attitude is more carefree than that of his brothers' and, though zhao has attempted to ensnare him in their brotherly feud and claim his support, he remains reticent — if not altogether unwilling to offer it."GUAN YANMEI, LADY OF WANGSUN, IMPERIAL CONCUBINE » GULNAZAR BEXTIYAR, 28, TAKEN."a recent addition to the emperor's harem, she proves a promising concubine, ready to furnish the emperor with another son, whose family history often captures the interest of those around her. after her father and brothers were murdered in a massacre led by the 'abhorrent' prince of han, a soothsayer revealed to her mother that both of her daughters would become extremely honoured in spite of the tragedy. they were soon offered to the crown prince, and the eldest caught the attention of the emperor instead. despite being provided with riches and lavish accommodations, the lady of wangsun seeks to exact revenge and force the prince of han to repay his bloody debt to her family."ENVOY TO THE EASTERN NATIONS » FACECLAIM UTP, (35-43), OPEN"younger brother to empress jingfei, he was appointed as envoy to china's eastern relations soon after the couple's nuptials. china has witnessed a boundless expansion of both trust and trade between herself, persia, and the ottoman empire under his guidance. yet, he has ultimately failed in securing a marriage match, which many whisper may be harder to come by in the wake of the attack that took place in florence two years prior."ENVOY TO THE WESTERN NATIONS » FACECLAIM UTP, (30-40), OPEN"his is a position that proves more vital than ever as the imperial court travels to portugal to bolster relations with western nations. the princess of the second rank remains at the centre of his focus as he delves into european politics, hoping to offer her hand in exchange for the empire's loyalty."

EMIRATE OF CORDOBA
RULED BY THE AL-BARRACÍNS. ORIGINAL CHARACTER POSITIONS: 5 OPEN OUT OF 5 TOTAL. EMIR HISHAM OF CÓRDOBA » LESLIE ODOM JR., 43, TAKEN."hisham has ruled over iberia for roughly ten years, though he has been married to his consort, hürrem sultan of the ottoman empire, for far longer. the marriage established a trust between the emirate and the ottomans, as well as auguring hisham's ambitions to rule the iberian lands for himself under the governing islamic faith. blessed with two children and coffers overflowing with spanish wealth, he is preparing to make power moves across the european continent to undermine the catholic kings who pray for his downfall. his hand is strengthened by the great success he has had thus far in claiming spain as his own in the conquests of 1444."HÜRREM SULTAN OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE » MERYEM UZERLI, 41, TAKEN."hürrem, sister of the ottoman sultan, is a radically educated woman. though many would believe her to be at the mercy of the powerful men who surround her, she has proven herself time and time again as readily capable in her own right. she has stood as regent for her husband during times of warfare, and often accompanied him on campaigns – to the horror of their people. as powers within the emirate balance, and the realm shakes off its 'newness,' her influence has become limited; yet within her marriage, it only seems to grow, as does the trust between husband and wife."LADY AMIRA OF CÓRDOBA (1) » STEPHANIE LEVI-JOHN, 35, TAKEN."where the emir is known for his fortune, blessed in the realm of battle and warfare, his thrice widowed sister is pitied for her perpetual misfortune. her marriages seldom last but five scant years, and yet she loyally abided by her brother's wishes each time. she works intensely to better the emir's perception within the former spanish territories by instituting numerous academies and places of worship, transforming the rubble of destroyed catholic monasteries into glittering sanctuaries of islamic faith. however, the lady harbours a secret that could cause the emir to waver in his great trust and love of her, and that secret is her affair with the portugese count of ourém. it is a love that she has attempted to rid herself of for years but never to any avail. what's worse is that someone at the córdoban court has discovered the tryst and now attempts to blackmail her."PRINCE KARIM OF CÓRDOBA » CHANCE PERDOMO, 23, TAKEN."the prince is the only son of hisham and hürrem and is privately viewed as something of a black sheep within the al-barracín family, a lineage that for reasons evident requires strict adherence to loyalty above all. richly educated, he is occasionally influenced by christian practices and thought. recent trips abroad, taken in the name of peace, have only allowed the prince to reconsider the belief systems ingrained into him and study other, intriguing principles more intently. furthermore, the prince is plagued by a recurrent aversion toward marriage – finding the fairer sex less desirable than that of his own."PRINCESS OF CÓRDOBA » FACECLAIM UTP, (20-22), OPEN."the only daughter of the emir and hürrem, like her brother she is intended to be used as a tool to ensure peace in her father's new land. talks have seemingly always been in motion to unify córdoba and her allies through marriage, yet they have never yielded concrete plans to wed the princess. she is disillusioned by the idea that she should be a european consort, when it is felt that european culture and even their idea of luxury falls so pitifully below the lavish court she has always called home." GENERAL TARIQ OF TLEMCEN » FACECLAIM UTP, (45-50), OPEN."one of two generals now established as a prominent member of court, he is an adviser to the emir and, without him, it is unlikely that hisham would have been able to conquer the spanish lands that now comprise the cordoban emirate. in return for his fierce support, hisham granted him control over one former kingdom, along with one of his illegitimate – but much beloved – daughters for a wife. tariq is a born and bred military man, yet he practices compassion and tolerance as a ruler, exhibiting acts of great kindness among the diverse subjects. acutely aware that the vitality of youth is slowly creeping away from him, tariq undoubtedly favours peace; he is a man who simply wishes to spend the rest of his days with his beloved wife and children."GENERAL KHALID OF NADOR » FACECLAIM UTP, (40-45), OPEN."similar to general tariq, general khalid of nador made a name for himself – and an illustrious, well-respected one at that – during the conquests of spanish lands. in spite of his brutality, he was handsomely rewarded and thrusted into a position of prestige for his efforts, bequeathed by the emir a former spanish nation to control. he has yet to take a wife and, whilst not unusual for a man who lives by the sword, his often brutish and undignified behaviour has made marrying difficult. furthermore, his has been harbouring a secret desire for the emir's sister. after discovering her affair with the count of ourém, he has begun blackmailing her in order to end the sordid affair."LADY OF CÓRDOBA (2) » FACECLAIM UTP, (23-24), OPEN."the illegitimate daughter of the emir, the lady of córdoba is no less loved by her father than his children with hürrem, and it is because of this that she has lived within the lap of luxury since the day she was born. she was married to general tariq five years ago, but it was not something that she welcomed. three children have been born to them, but it is only the eldest two whom she is certain were fathered by her husband – not that tariq is any of the wiser. she has grown tired of her husband's love, craving the excitement of something unpredictable and passionate. she aspires to divorce, but another illicit affair could be an easy short-term distraction."LADY OF ANDALUCÍA » FACECLAIM UTP, (40-45), OPEN."the daughter of spanish nobles who converted to the islamic faith so as to preserve their titles and wealth, she took advantage of the troublesome shift in power by gleaning the emir's attention and bearing him a son and establishing herself in the andalusian court as the envy of the west. yet, it is often one's closest allies who wield enough power to betray most brutally; despite furnishing the king with a potential heir, she has schemed plentifully with spanish relatives to pass along information she deems worthy from the epicentre of the emir's fiercely guarded world."GOVERNOR AL-RAHMAN OF ZARAGOZA » FACECLAIM UTP, (30-60), OPEN."whilst many have proven their loyalty to the emir on the battlefield, the governor of zaragoza is one who has ensured his support through his rhetoric and ability to both firmly and effectively mediate with catholic kings. thus, he is one of the most influential and trusted men of the emirate, proving himself consummately loyal to the emir by devising a covert relationship with the king of castile."

HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE & CROATIA
RULED BY THE HABSBURG-BABENBERGS. ORIGINAL CHARACTER POSITIONS: 5 OPEN OUT OF 5 TOTAL.

AUSTRIAN COURT (HABSBURG-BABENBERG)
EMPRESS APOLLONIA OF AUSTRIA » CHARLIZE THERON, 48, TAKEN."the empress apollonia is recognised and respected throughout europe as the undisputed ruler of the holy roman empire. she is an astute woman with a penchant for opulence and excess, and prone to ruthlessness when provoked. she made it clear at the beginning of her marriage to dmitrei that he had no claim over the throne or power over her. nevertheless, their children are expected to climb to glorious echelons, as evinced by even her step-daughter's ascension as queen of castile."PRINCE CONSORT DMITREI OF AUSTRIA » FACECLAIM UTP, 45+, OPEN."dmitrei, the second husband to the empress, is often regarded as one of the most pitiful men in europe who is dominated by his wife — though, on your head to say as much to his face. as a member of the von bargau family, dmitrei is not without his own delusions of grandeur. his expensive and exotic tastes surpass those of even the empress herself."ARCHDUKE OF AUSTRIA » FACECLAIM UTP, (30-45), OPEN."the archduke of austria was the cousin of the late-emperor and, if the line of succession had been enforced following his cousin’s death, then he would have been upon the throne. instead he is forced to bow to apollonia while seeking a wife to strengthen his claim. regardless of his own personal ambitions, the empress is keen to demand his loyalty to her, killing two birds with one stone by sealing an alliance with portugal and betrothing him to their second princess."PRINCE OF AUSTRIA » FACECLAIM UTP, (23-25), OPEN."the prince of austria is the heir apparent and the son of empress apollonia and her second husband. however, he has little interest in being emperor and is inclined to side with the late-emperor’s cousin in reverting the throne back to the babenbergs. his recent betrothal to an ottoman sultana complicates this disinterest. (†)"PRINCESS OF AUSTRIA (1) » FACECLAIM UTP, (21-22), OPEN."she is uniquely positioned in the world by being the eldest daughter of the reigning empress apollonia and her second husband. a product of two driven hedonists, the princess shares in her parents' taste for excess. she seeks most ardently seeks an advantageous and hugely consequential marriage with which to stake her claim in the annals of history."IMMACULATA, PRINCESS OF AUSTRIA (2) » ELLE FANNING, 20, TAKEN."the youngest daughter of empress apollonia and prince consort dmitrei, she is a noted songbird of the austrian court – often regaling and feting her mother's subjects with her silvery voice. her prospects, along with her beauty, are seemingly endless. she takes great pride in being so highly coveted by, not only by members of court, but also foreign princes."

PRINCIPALITY OF CROATIA (COLONNA)
PRINCE NICOLETO OF CROATIA » FACECLAIM UTP, 42-44, OPEN."appointed by his sister, the empress apollonia, to govern the now autonomous principality of croatia, his first act as reigning prince was to select a wife that would endear him to the fast-forming nation – ivana of dalmatia. yet, his growing popularity has arguably increased his taste for power; his country's wealth, with its ideal coastal location, has given a sturdy foundation to the once chimerical dream of usurping his pompous sister. within his mind, he mediates a war against apollonia – and succeeds. if he can gather the support necessary to do so, his ambitions may soon be realised, and he will be crowned emperor after all."PRINCESS IVANA OF DALMATIA » FACECLAIM UTP, 30 - 40, OPEN."the daughter of the prosperous duke of dalmatia – an instrumental figure in the feud between the croatian region of dalmatia and the italian city-states – she will be remembered as the first and only choice in bride for prince nicoleto. she is the consort of the newly-minted ruler, yet she finds her place in the sun dimmed by being at the empress' beck and call."LUDOVICO, DUKE OF SALERNO » LUCA MARINELLI, 30, TAKEN."a member of the illustrious colonna family and brother to the holy roman empress, he is the ruler of the duchy of salerno, a region that, in spite of its limited size, is strategically located. as its head, he is intensely wealthy and capable of swaying minds, whatever way he chooses. he is, however, currently vulnerable given the proximity of the former byzantine empire, forcing him to act quickly if he wishes to retain his land's independence. true to the colonna's family reputation of seldom running out of luck, his own sister may have provided the antidote to his fears by striking a match between the duke and the future queen of portugal."COUNT OF CELANO & MARSI » FACECLAIM UTP, (25-28), OPEN."the youngest brother of the empress apollonia, he shares her colonna blood in full – though that is not where the similarities between brother and sister end. he is of great prestige and standing in his own right as count of celano and marsi, but even more so as nephew of the late pope leopold xii and brother to the holy roman empress. as a result of his position, his prospects are limitless and, with the world as his oyster, he need only choose which thread of possibility to follow."LADY OF DUBROVNIK » FACECLAIM UTP, (25-30), OPEN."she is the chief lady-in-waiting to princess ivana, whom she has known since infancy. being equally ambitious, the lady of dubrovnik surrounds herself with powerful men, using them as leverages in her climb through the austrian court – which has opened up for her like a rose in bloom following ivana's marriage. despite these utilitarian relationships, she has always reserved her love and yearning for princess ivana alone. (❧)"

ITALIAN LEAGUE
RULED BY THE MEDICIS, SFORZAS, TRASTÁMARAS, & CONTARINIS.

ORIGINAL CHARACTER POSITIONS: 5 OPEN OUT OF 5 TOTAL.

DUCHY OF FLORENCE (MEDICI)
GRAND DUKE LORENZO DE MEDICI » DANIEL SHARMAN, 33, TAKEN."the eldest son of the late and great giovani de medici, lorenzo had enormous shoes to fill when he took over his father’s position as head of the household and the family bank a few years prior. yet, few can argue his success in doing so. the medici remain one of the wealthiest and most powerful families on the continent and, not only do they offer loans to many of the other noble families in florence, but other monarchs of europe have come grovelling to their vaults."GRAND DUCHESS SERAPHINA DE MEDICI » AURORA RUFFINO, 27, TAKEN."daughter of the late king of naples, the grand duchess was the bargaining chip within a peace treaty between the two states. although young, she is known as a formidable woman, one who often conducts business for her husband should he be unavailable."ARCHBISHOP DE MEDICI » FACECLAIM UTP, (40-50), OPEN."the archbishop was always destined for the church, but that does not mean he is overtly religious. he knows his duty to his family and stands by his loyalty to him, but the archbishop does not go without – he has risen to his position within the church through the medici wealth and he uses it to live lavishly and sinfully within rome. (†)."

DUCHY OF MILAN (SFORZA)
DUCHESS REGENT OF MILAN» FACECLAIM UTP, (25-35), OPEN."she was born to the esteemed duke of ferrara and, along with her beauty and remarkable musical ability, this garnered a favorable marriage. to milan, she brought the este family's penchant for artistic patronage and, until recently, led a life of ease and amusement. following her husband's unexpected death, she now rules as regent for her young son. it is not a position she asked for, and she still actively mourns her late husband, but she has taken well to leadership with support from her brother in ferrara. back in milan, the opposition fervently plots her demise.(❧)"CESARE NICOLÒ SFORZA, MILANESE AMBASSADOR » LUKE PASQUALINO, 35, TAKEN."the count of pavia is the late duke sforza's younger brother. he expected to claim the regency for himself, but these efforts were thwarted by his ailing brother's insistence that he undertake an allegedly vital diplomatic mission. he returned from an uneventful, seemingly pointless journey to find the duchess in charge. at the behest of the opposition faction, he reluctantly agreed to accompany her to portugal and, now, has arrived in paris to search for ways to augment his own influence. among other things, his medici mistress's recent annulment presents one opportunity."CATERINA DE MEDICI » CAITLYN STASEY, 27, TAKEN."a former princesss of france, the lady de medici is an italian-born woman with a colorful past. she is sister to the grand duke of florence, but rose to prominence within the french court while married to prince marius. unfortunately, his treason cast her from that pedestal and, abandoned by him, she returned to the italian peninsula. she has since been mistress to the count of pavia, with whom she shares a child. with the pope having recently agreed to annul her marriage to prince marius, her past france is firmly behind her—if not expunged from her reputation. nonetheless, caterina's focus has lately shifted to those areas a medici knows best."LADY SFORZA » FACECLAIM UTP, (20-25), OPEN."the lady sforza, step-daughter to the duchess regent, accompanied the milan delegation to portugal to secure a marriage. while fascinated by diplomacy, she despises her step-mother and is nursing a broken heart after her first betrothal — to the venetian ambassador — fell through."

KINGDOM OF NAPLES (TRASTÁMARA)
KING FERDINAND OF NAPLES » GEORGE MACKAY, 25, TAKEN."the young and impetuous king of naples is cousin the trastámaras of aragon. after the late king of naples failed to help his cousins during the córdoban invasion, then refused to offer them a place at his court, the current king has inherited distrust and tension. rather than mending the ruined relationship, he is ready to embrace the new order of things in the name of peace. though fresh faced and underestimated, he is deeply protective of naples and suspicious of both spanish and french encroachment. consequently, innovation and unorthodox diplomacy beckons. he joined the italian league at the behest of his sister, the grand duchess of florence."NEAPOLITAN AMBASSADOR » FACECLAIM UTP, (50-55), OPEN."the duke of montalto is a wise, experienced statesman who has advised several kings at this point. he, like the previous king he served, is wary of wading into the situation between aragon and córdoba. having always treated the current king like his own son, the duke hopes his effort will pay off as they negotiate in portugal. while he supports the king's maverick tendencies, stability is his primary concern.(❧)"DUCHESS OF MONTALTO » FACECLAIM UTP, (28-33), OPEN."the duchess remains as unhappy with her marriage as she was on her wedding day. bored by her imperturbable husband, she is contemplating seducing the king of naples into having an affair. (❧)"

REPUBLIC OF VENICE (CONTARINI)
VENETIAN AMBASSADOR » FACECLAIM UTP, (30-35), OPEN."the ambassador, representing the illustrious house of contarini, is both the doge's spokesman and his illegitimate son. his assignment as head of the venetian delegation was a transparent, widely despised act of nepotism, just like his ill-fated betrothal to the sforza heiress. this arrangement fell through when venice's leading republicans decried it as a pathway to tyranny. he hopes his appointment as ambassador in portugal will end less disastrously.(❧)"SUPERINTENDENT GENERAL OF THE SEA » FACECLAIM UTP, (45-60), OPEN."the bailo of corfu, governor of the ionian islands, represents venice's mighty navy. he is a well-respected warrior, easily recognized for the eye and limb he lost defending venice's interests. yet, his esteemed position as superintendent general is contingent on peace, so his chief goal is averting conflict, particularly with the ottomans."LADY OF SANTORINI » FACECLAIM UTP, (30-40), OPEN."the lady of santorini descends from the powerful barozzi merchant family. following her brother's abrupt fall from grace a mere week before the departure to portugal, she was nominated to pursue venice's commercial interests in his place. her reputation as a cutthroat, unrelenting negotiator precedes her. she harbors designs, not just to enrich venice's merchants, but to make war with those who would endanger their ventures."''

KINGDOM OF ENGLAND
RULED BY THE PLANTAGENETS. ORIGINAL CHARACTER POSITIONS: 4 OPEN OUT OF 5 TOTAL. KING EDWARD OF ENGLAND » MICHAEL FASSBENDER, 47, TAKEN."for a reign that has lasted more than twenty years, edward plantagenet has caused enough scandal and intrigue to dominate a reign twice that long. his marriage to queen lianor of portugal divided his countrymen who rejected having a foreign queen, then his relationship with isabel neville polarised further. yet, no one could accuse edward of not following his heart; consequently, his subjects have romanticised him even as his queens have been vilified. with his son's betrothal to the princess of viana ended, edward arranged a union with the russian tsar in an attempt to garner new allies. although not completely dismissive of alliances with the traditional allies in the future, his queen's advice to cast england's gaze eastward appears to be heeded."QUEEN ISABEL OF YORK » MONICA BELLUCI, 44, TAKEN."isabel neville is the second wife to king edward. lianor of portugal, the first wife, is whispered to have been poisoned by the duchy of york to secure the throne for their daughter. isabel's five years of queenship have not been easy; ever present rumors of witchcraft and devilry have surrounded the queen have only worsened since the crown was placed atop her head. it is even asserted that such rumours caused her poisoning in 1455, though suggested motives vary wildly. there is reason to celebrate, however, for in 1457 isabel gave birth to the princess cecily, much to the joy of the king and her supporters. isabel endeavours now to achieve a dispensation of legitimacy for richard and anne as well as establish strong relationships with the eastern kingdoms."QUEEN LIANOR OF PORTUGAL » RUTH WILSON, DECEASED."the sister to the current king of portugal arrived upon english shores as a mere girl and died a queen. the marriage between edward and lianor was soured, a short-lived happiness existing between them before the death of their eldest son, prince arthur, paved the way for isabel of york to supplant the queen in his affections. queen lianor retreated and all but retired from court as isabel took centre-stage, despairing until her death in the winter of 1452."BEATRICE, DOWAGER DUCHESS OF BURGUNDY » CHARLOTTE HOPE, 28, TAKEN."as the eldest daughter of king edward and queen lianor, she is a woman of incredible fortitude. forthright and arrogant, she was deeply insulted by her marriage to john valois, the duke of burgundy, as she saw the position below her status. yet, her life in burgundy was not unhappy; in fact, she found herself flourishing. she was widowed two years prior and, whilst she has returned to england, the dowager duchess still hold considerable respect and influence within the burgundian court — especially with her step-son, the newly appointed duke."PRINCE HENRY OF WALES » RUAIRI O'CONNOR, 27, TAKEN."the second born son to king edward and queen lianor, prince harry, then the duke of richmond, claimed the title of prince of wales upon his elder brother’s death. the infant prince arthur’s death marked a turning point in the royal couples’ life and in that of prince harry: he is now expected to take the throne. however, the prince is noted for his arrogance and, whilst readying for the role of king, acrimonious relationships with his father and queen isabel have sown discord and division within the house of plantagenet and the royal court of england."KATHERINE, PRINCESS OF WALES » LILY COLLINS, 25, TAKEN."sister to the tsar currently dignifying the throne, she was born katrinka of russia and, upon her marriage to the prince of wales, the people of england fondly called her 'katherine.' however, that selfsame fondness has been fast extinguished. the decision to betroth the heir to a russian princess is seen as an inauspicious one; the people claim the ruriks' interests are now firmly embedded in court and that england's prosperity may be compromised by russia."PRINCE THOMAS OF ENGLAND » RICHARD MADDEN, 29, TAKEN."the first born son to king edward and his then-mistress, isabel neville. through his mother's ascension to queenship, he benefited from a papal dispensation securing his legitimacy, making him second-in-line for the throne and a very tangible threat to his half-brother, henry. it is due to his power-hungry uncle, the duke of york, that people view him with suspicion. the strain and animosity between the children of lianor and isabel is palpable, but the prince happily recalls the happier days of his youth. thus, whatever ambitions he may harbour, they are muted by the bonds of kinship and blood."JOHN NEVILLE, DUKE OF YORK » FACECLAIM UTP, (42-43), OPEN."as the head of the powerful neville family, the duke of york prides himself as being the mastermind behind his sister's rise to queenship. fastidious and powerful, he is a force to be reckoned with, though his ambition has earned numerous enemies at court and now, more recently, upon continental europe. many deem him dangerous, a loose cannon when provoked but otherwise highly sagacious – especially those lingering supporters of queen lianor who consider the legitimising of the duke's eldest nephew to be a direct challenge to prince harry and primogeniture."UTP (SEYMOUR) NEVILLE, DUCHESS OF YORK » FACECLAIM UTP, (35-45), OPEN."the duchess of york is a seymour by birth and the daughter of the earl of somerset. a noted beauty at court, intelligent and on the make, she was once as close as sisters with the queen, fastened to her hip during her rise to the top. but, at her husband's behest, she took the king to bed to stay his wavering interests. her kinship with the queen has soured since, though her courtly leverage, and indeed total standing, has improved a thousandfold."JAMES FITZROY, EARL OF RICHMOND » HENRY CAVILL, 27, TAKEN."as retribution for fathering a bastard with a noblewoman in court, king edward's youngest, illegitimate son was sent to war to protect his brother's claim to the crown. however, the exact opposite was achieved, and amid skirmishes in calais, he fielded french allies and accumulated support from within the d'anjou court. nevertheless, upon his return to london, he was made earl of richmond, a title once held by the king's own mother. the importance of the role is not lost on him, neither are the attempts to legitimize him in the eyes of the church."LADY ANNE FITZROY » ISLA MERRICK-LAWLESS, 12, NPC."as the youngest daughter of the king and queen, she is proudly paraded as the rose of court, and is treated as such – coddled and spoiled to the hilt. she is both an irritant and joy within the english court, though it won't be long until her hand in marriage becomes just as useful as the brothers and sisters who have preceded her."EARL OF LANCASTER » FACECLAIM UTP, (30-38), OPEN."the youngest brother to the queen, he is perhaps the most acceptable neville to grace the court of king edward. dependable and resilient, he is first and foremost a military man, having commanded forces in normandy prior to its loss. he was appointed lord steward of the household by edward the previous year, and the queen's encouragement is said to have provided this extremely prestigious position."CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER » FACECLAIM UTP, (44-46), OPEN."upstart, commoner, the devil incarnate — the marquess of winchester has heard all the jibes and sneers on his rise to prominence. his origins are humble, yet he now boasts riches that could rival the king himself — not that he's one to boast. as the chancellor of the exchequer, his role appears simple, but the management of kings' and countries' finances has never been an easy task. his tax policies targeting the landed gentry have earned him special scorn at court. due to his prominent position and friendship with the king, he is mutual enemies with the duke of york. the marquess detests the entire neville family and thus could prove an invaluable ally to those looking to bring them down. (❧)"ROSALIND DE LA POLE, LADY IN WAITING » PIPPA BENNETT-WARNER, 30, TAKEN."for any ambitious nobleman, securing one's daughter as a lady-in-waiting for the queen is quite an advantageous accomplishment – as is the case for francis de la pole, the duke of suffolk. his daughter is a woman of exceeding charm, sharp wit, and ruthless ambition. she serves the queen diligently, but her true aim is securing the king's affections in hopes that she might one day achieve such an outcome as isabel neville before her."EIVOR HAGEN, KNIGHT BANNERET * » TRAVIS FIMMEL, TAKEN."from the day he could hold a sword, eivor dreamed of raiding like his ancestors till the day he became a man. for years, he spent his life on norway's countryside. he’d always thought that he would take up family farm as his parents aged. however, instead he rose to prominence for his efforts in battle. in his last battle, he went against the king's orders. it didn’t matter that they won in the end, eivor’s family was killed and his life was sent in a completely different direction. the only way to survive was to leave. eivor fled to england and there was hired to do some mercenary work. work that was pulled of swiftly and quietly enough to gain the attentions of the king. it took time to grow a trust but it did grow and with that trust in his battle prowess eivor once again gained a seat in court as a banneret knight. all the while he thought of is taking the king of norway out. a time will come to take and when it does, he intends on being ready."

KINGDOM OF FRANCE
RULED BY THE ANJOUS. ORIGINAL CHARACTER POSITIONS: 4 OPEN OUT OF 5 TOTAL. KING FERRANT & QUEEN HELLISENT » DECEASED."late queen and king of france, they died of plague IN 1446, leaving behind a young son in the care of his grandmother and uncle."KING PHILIP OF FRANCE » FACECLAIM UTP, (20-27), OPEN."with the death of his parents over a decade ago, philip assumed the throne at a young age. for this reason, he was not crowned, and his uncle ruled as regent in his stead. even upon his eighteenth birthday, his uncle continued to postpone the coronation, providing his nephew instead with earthly and material vices to distract him from state affairs. it was his grandmother who shattered the happy delirium of wine and women which had ensnared philip, awakening him to his uncle's methods and the rumours that he desired the throne for himself. now, with his uncle's retreat to austria, philip has assumed his rightful place as head of state. his coronation two years ago was one of incredible pomp and circumstance, yet philip cannot part with his vices, and he finds himself distracted easily, allowing new figures to speak through him. he married the princess of viana a little over a year ago, thus pledging france to reclaiming her homeland of aragon."QUEEN ALEXANDRINA OF FRANCE » ADELAIDE KANE, 28, RETIRED."the daughter of the deposed monarchs of aragon, alexandrina has suffered much hardship in her life. she saw the invasion of her homeland and subsequent deposition of her parents, then the humiliation of seeking refuge in the court of their kin. their honourary titles of princes and princesses of viana were as hollow as the crown upon her father's head. for years she was offered to the monarchs of europe as a pawn upon a continental chess board, the fair princess's hand in exchange for men, horses, weapons, and gold; whilst many were sympathetic, few saw sense in provoking the might that was córdoba. she was betrothed to prince henry of england for some time, but those negotiations unravelled during the florence summit and, subsequently, she was married to king philip of france a little over a year ago. although she finds relief in her marriage to the french king, she knows that she must produce an heir to feel truly secure in her position. perhaps with a son upon her hip the french may feel more obliged to help aragon recapture their lost lands."PRINCE MARIUS OF FRANCE » FRANCOIS ARNAUD, 35, TAKEN."once the prince regent to the young king philip, marius has since fallen from grace after his desire to rule by his own divine right was made known to the king. fleeing the outpouring of voices that called for the blade as a response to such treasonous activities, the prince and his mistress sought refuge in the holy roman empire. here, he serves the empress apollonia. once, marius sought an annulment so he might marry his mistress; in a cruel twist of fate, the pope's recent granting of that wish coincided with henriette's untimely death. marius now commits himself to fulfilling his beloved's deathbed wishes and making amends with france."DOWAGER QUEEN OF SWEDEN » FACECLAIM UTP, (38-45), OPEN."the daughter, sister, and now aunt of french kings, the dowager is a woman who knows her worth. charming, handsome, and remarkably intelligent, she is a figurehead of enlightenment upon an otherwise dreary continent. married and widowed twice, her first husband was the duke of lorraine; after his death, she ruled through their son. the prince regent, however, had other ideas and insisted that she travel north and wed old king erik for the sake of an alliance that was tentative at best. erik was twice her age and noted for his austere and gloomy demeanour; she never forgave her brother for this, but she did her duty for france. their union begot one child — though it has been rumoured that the child was fathered by another. due to the king's countless children through his first wife, their chance of inheriting the throne is slim to none. following erik's death, she returned to france and established herself at her nephew's court and within his affections. she has become invaluable to philip, helping him secure his kingship and perpetuate anti-regent propaganda in the wake of her brother's failed coup."DUKE OF ÉTAMPES » FACECLAIM UTP, (35-37), OPEN."as the french court's spy-master extraordinaire, the duke of étampes trades in secrets. during the regency of prince marius, the duke was exiled from court and sought refuge across the channel in england, where the king and queen availed themselves of his services. he was welcomed back to france after revealing the depths of marius' treachery to the queen mother and has since served as a trusted adviser to king philip. his influence at court has only grown in recent years, and his network of spies branches well beyond the french court to infiltrate numerous european courts. he often clashes with the dowager queen of sweden as they vie for control over young philip, yet they are united in tarnishing the former regent's name."QUEEN MOTHER BLANCHE OF FRANCE » HARRIET WALTER, 65, TAKEN."the queen mother is the mother of the late king and grandmother to the present one. upon her husband’s death more than twenty years ago, she sequestered herself in a convent, only to reemerge in the public eye to guide her young grandson through the early years of his reign. among her chief goals is convincing him to return fervor to france’s religious society."PRINCESS ANTOINETTE OF SARDINIA » LILY JAMES, 26, TAKEN."her position in the french court is unique: her mother, sister to king ferrant, was the king of sardinia's third wife. she was but a drop of water in an ocean already saturated with heirs — and, what's more, male heirs. as such, she lived the majority of her life in france, governed by her aunt and grandmother, and is known as a sprightly young woman who engages a multitude of artists, musicians, and innovators in her purview of influence. now that her cousin, king philip, has reclaimed his authority, she hopes to remain in his good graces."DUKE OF LORRAINE » FACECLAIM UTP, (22-24), OPEN."the son of the dowager queen of sweden and her first husband, claude-henri ardenne, the duke inherited his title and lands from his father at the tender age of seven. when his mother married the king of sweden, he was sent to live with his cousin, the king, under the guardianship of his grandmother and uncle. there, he received a rich education and excelled in sporting activities. upon his eighteenth birthday, he assumed full control over his duchy. he shares a close kinship with the king and his uncle, the former regent; presently, he does what he can to reconcile the pair."LEON, COUNT OF BEAUJOLAIS » SEAN TEALE, 26, TAKEN."recognized by the late king ferrant but never formally inducted into the line of succession, the count of beaujolais bears the surname 'de anjou' as a mark of his royal parentage. whilst kept away from the royal court by his grandmother to avoid a rivalry with the legitimate philip, his return to paris was much celebrated by the king – given the count's deep and enduring fealty to his half-brother. (❧)"MISTRESS TO THE PRINCE REGENT » SARAH GADON, DECEASED."as the mistress to the former regent, she has cast aside her former patron and love, the duke of étampes, in favour of following her heart. once prince marius' treason was discovered, she followed him with their young son to the holy roman empire, seeking refuge in the empress apollonia's court. she and marius have been petitioning the empress to reinstate the lands that she lost following the death of her father. although she and the prince currently live in sin insofar as the church is concerned, they hope to one day be joined together in matrimony. all they must do is secure an annulment from the pope – a task that is easier said than done."MARGUERITE, MISTRESS TO THE KING OF FRANCE » GUGU MBATHA-RAW, 27, TAKEN."the daughter of the wealthy comte de polignac, she is a popular figure at court. the epitome of beauty, charm, and wit, she possessed the king's attentions for many years and recently bore him a son, whom he proudly boasted to his court much to the dismay of the queen. whilst philip's affections have not been completely withdrawn, his marriage has created distance between the pair. but, she is nothing if not cunning, and she plots with the duke of étampes to procure his undivided attentions once more. little does she know that people who play with fire often get burned. (❧)"LUCREZIA, LADY-IN-WAIITNG * » LASHANA LYNCH, 28, TAKEN."lucrezia’s father held estate in navarre, passed down through an unmarried uncle who bequeathed the households’ inheritance through lack of choice and regret. he was well-liked, of course. but a man can only do so much to polish a reputation soiled by a king who was liked by all (by almost all, the pope had never agreed to an annulment after all). it was with his natural charm that persuaded the late king of aragon to his cause, offering his one daughter lucrezia to the queen when she came of age. lucrezia, is through and through, aragonese. she is faithful to her country but she seeks a power and to, quite rightly, change the wrongs made by the king and to rightfully restore the name of de vidaure."

KINGDOM OF PORTUGAL
RULED BY THE BRAGANZAS. ORIGINAL CHARACTER POSITIONS: 5 OPEN OUT OF 5 TOTAL. KING CRISTIANO OF PORTUGAL » FACECLAIM UTP, (48-52), OPEN."cristiano has reigned since he was nineteen, triumphing to the throne after his uncle's death. his supremacy, once doubted by the portuguese court and even beyond its contentious borders, has nevertheless stood the test of time; support for his claim to the throne has seldom been challenged in recent years due to his remarkable faithfulness and fealty to the kingdom. he has amassed immense praise for maintaining portugal's catholic roots whilst islam marched across spain and devising useful marriages for his relatives and daughters. such marriages include that of his late sister, lianor, and edward plantagenet as well as the recent unions of his two eldest daughters with members of empress apollonia's inner-circle. while sneered at for his inability to father a son, he has placed complete trust in his capable eldest daughter."QUEEN CRARA » FACECLAIM UTP, (45-50), OPEN."the queen's father sought to unite portugal and aragon as one, and he influenced king cristiano for several years until his death. crara has since taken over her father's advising role, especially as it concerns aragon, staunchly believing in the efforts to return the trastámara bloodline to favour using her late sister-in-law's husband, the king of england. crara is a natural a statecraft and, indeed, boasts more royal blood than does her husband; these familial connections have proved immensely useful. she is the aunt of the prince of wales and dowager duchess of burgundy, and the sister of the late queen of aragon."CROWN PRINCESS MARQUESSA OF PORTUGAL » EMILIA CLARKE, 26, TAKEN."the crown princess of portugal is the steadfast eldest daughter and heir to the dominion. her devotion to her studies and people is unremitting, and she has been vocal in her intention to deny her future prince consort any power over the portuguese subjects. modeling herself after the woman who will one day be her sister-in-law, empress apollonia, the crown princess is firmly supported by her father and his advisors. as sou jure heir to the throne, marrying a king would risk her power, thus she finds her engagement to the duke of salerno, of house colonna, entirely suitable."PRINCESS JOANNA OF PORTUGAL » ISOLDA DYCHAUK, 23, TAKEN. "though less devoted to portugal than her elder sister, and far more likely to shirk of her responsibilities and duties to the throne, she shines just as brightly within the portuguese court and uses her ample wealth to ensure that the crown she boasts is one worthy of a princess. she, too, provides strength to the alliance between portugal and austria; it is a source of pride for her that, though her sister shall be queen regnant, she may one day become empress of the holy roman empire — provided, of course, that the archduke of austria is ambitious enough."PRINCESS CAROLINA OF PORTUGAL » MARIA VALVERDE, 21, TAKEN/RETIRED."upon her engagement to the portuguese conde de ourém, it was rumored that the youngest princess of portugal was so beloved by her parents that they fought strenuously to keep her upon portuguese soil by marrying her to one of their own. though initially stung by the match, the engagement has proved mutually benefitting; it settled skirmishes within court and kept money flowing between the royal house of braganza and the noble de menezes family." DUKE OF VALENCIA » FACECLAIM UTP, (35-42), OPEN."brother to king crara and the late costanza of aragon, he was forced to abdicate his principality and go into exile by the córdoban forces. he remained without esteem in castile until seeking refuge and respite in the portuguese court. here, he was met with intense ardor and favour from his sister's subjects. little consumes the duke as completely as his desire to avenge his sister's death by waging a great holy war against the emirate."RAFAEL DE MENEZES, COUNT DE OURÉM » PEDRO PASCAL, 38, TAKEN."few men have struck such loyalty in the heart of king cristiano than the aristocratic conde de ourém, head of the de menezes family. an adroit politician who facilitated the star-crossed marriage between princess lianor and edward plantagenet, he has climbed the ranks to sit at king cristiano's right hand as his treasured adviser. yet, he would be quick to shift his alliances should a more lucrative position come along. his ambitions have recently been slaked by his engagement to the princess of portugal (2), which ensures that his coffers will remain fruitful year long and that he will be able to rely upon the king's backing. (❧)"MARCHIONESS OF VALADA » FACECLAIM UTP, (30-38), OPEN."a firm and dedicated ally to the royal family of portugal, she herself is a member of the de menezes family and sister to the count de ourém. like her brother, she has inherited her family's unquenchable thirst for power, yet her aspirations to endear herself to the king of portugal were quashed by her husband's death. his demise left a vacancy in her life, and she readily accepted the proposal to accompany the crown princess of portugal to austria and guide her through the rudimentary steps of marriage. in the meantime, her focus above all else has been the inner workings of the braganza family so that she can keep her brother and family one step ahead in court. (❧)"PRINCE OF BEIRA » FACECLAIM UTP, (40-50), OPEN."he is a cousin to the portuguese crown, one whose claim to the throne was cast aside by the notion that king cristiano was the closer relation to the late king and thus rightful heir. with no hopes of wearing the crown and even less hope of disturbing portugal's peace under king cristiano's rule, he has taken every precaution to remain trusted. he is wary of receiving his father's fate — who was murdered by the late king on suspicion of conspiracy — and thus accepts the post king cristiano has granted him as ambassador to the orient. this work suits him, and he has fast developed a rapport with the emperor of china and his bevy of marriageable successors."DUKE OF BRAGANZA » FACECLAIM UTP, (45-55), OPEN."where his brother the prince of beira may be inclined to diplomacy, the younger duke of braganza has known little other than the might of warfare in his life. conscripted into the army at a tender age, his established relationship with the late holy roman emperor and current empress has allowed him to enlist his services for austria. he fought alongside the imperial armies against córdoba and the ottoman turks for numerous years, earning a reputation as a strapping conquerer. he firmly believes in the sword over the pen and, for that reason, is less inclined to let sleeping dogs lie; refusing to play second fiddle to king cristiano, he often wonders if he was meant to inherit the crown."

OTTOMAN EMPIRE
RULED BY THE OSMANS. ORIGINAL CHARACTER POSITIONS: 4 OPEN OUT OF 5 TOTAL. SULTAN İSKENDER » ENGIN ÖZTÜRK, 45, TAKEN."the youngest son of the late sultan, iskender was neither the heir apparent nor heir presumptive. yet, following widespread death within the sultanate during the plague, he ascended to the throne upon his sixth birthday and has ruled, expanded, and enriched the ottoman empire since then. noted for his great reconciliation of the empire and european nations, he also possesses a contradictory reputation as a great conqueror."VALIDE SULTAN MAHIDEVRAN » VAHIDE PERÇIN, 60, TAKEN."despite her status as a lesser consort prior to the plague, mahidevran seized the opportunity to become regent when her son emerged as the sole survivor of many heirs. she expertly ruled through her son until he came of age, triumphing over the advisers who would replace her and see her exiled to the remote corners of the sultanate. she continues to influence courtly life, and preside over her son’s harem, ruthlessly working to achieve her agenda and instilling in her grandchildren her beliefs."CONSORT HIRANUR SULTAN » FACECLAIM UTP, (45-48), OPEN."hiranur was the first of the sultan’s consorts, one who fast established a place in his heart by rapidly providing an heir; however, their joy was fleeting as the child died in the nursery. the rest of her pregnancies would result in miscarriage, until the day their cherished daughter was born, though the bond between hiranur and the sultan remained irrevocably strained."HASEKI SULTAN NEHIR » FACECLAIM UTP, (42-47), OPEN"the long favoured and influential nehir is a calculating woman who sways courtly life and fashion on a grand scale. in spite of her imminent popularity, she has recently been usurped in fondness by the sultan's youngest and most recently procured consort, branimira. her son's condition, near deafness and partial blindness, has also worked against her, making her once concrete role as consort and future queen mother insecure. luckily, nehir is as tenacious as she is quick-witted." CONSORT BRANIMIRA OF CROATIA » KEIRA KNIGHTLEY, 28, TAKEN."the duke of dalmatia's youngest daughter was betrothed to the sultan in the hopes that the sultanate would spare croatia an invasion. although this aim’s success remains tenuous, the quick birth of branimira’s son swiftly secured her influence. her son may one day take the throne if he becomes the more widely favored alternative to his elder brother—an outcome branimira actively seeks. blessed with wit and cunning cleverly disguised by a sweet exterior, branimira arrived in her new home hungry for greatness; she aspires to someday replace and even outshine mahidevran as the most powerful woman in the empire."SULTANA OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE (1) » FACECLAIM UTP, (25-26), OPEN."the sultana is the only child delivered of the sultan and hiranur sultan, yet her birth was never a disappointment. she is cherished as a miracle who ended the string of miscarriages which drove a wedge between the sultan and his first consort, tragedies that ultimately placed her behind nehir in both esteem and affections. once widowed and mother to a young son, she has recently wed the sultan's also-beloved grand vizier."ŞEHZADE MURAD » DOĞAÇ YILDIZ, 25, TAKEN."the şehzade is the heir presumptive to the ottoman empire and the sultan's first-born son by the tremendously influential nehir. he is her only son but, as a result of the şehzade’s near deafness and poor eyesight, his mother's preeminence is endangered, and the şehzade himself risks being sidestepped in the line of succession in favour of his infant brother." SULTANA OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE (2) » FACECLAIM UTP, (22-24), OPEN."the sultana is the sultan’s precious second daughter, considered a glittering testament to her father's bloodline, being a charitable, gregarious, and well-learned individual. these traits have helped both conceal her increasing antipathy regarding her elder brother's succession claim and facilitate her recent betrothal to the prince of austria. this marriage would solidify an unprecedented holy alliance but, with devotion to her state and faith which rivals even her father's, the sultana views her betrothal to a christian foreigner with trepidation. (†)"MIHRIMAH SULTAN » BESTE KÖKDEMIR, 20, TAKEN."the sultana is also the product of nehir and iskender's once legendary romance. she has been reared to become a refined, well-married lady. however, her grandmother has done much of the shaping, making her a cunning young woman with a taste for power. along with inheriting her mother's guile, the sultana thrives on harem politics and is fiercely loyal to her brother, often aiding him when necessary."GRAND VIZIER OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE » FACECLAIM UTP, (40-50), OPEN."the grand vizier is the sultan's longtime friend and trusted advisor. unlike the sultan, he is more suspicious of the europeans and less interested in building relationships with them, despite the sultan's eagerness to do so. his esteem with iskender has increased even more since he married his daughter, the much-beloved melek sultan, which has allowed him to assume a transcendent role in court."SECOND VIZIER OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE » FACECLAIM UTP, (35-60), OPEN."descending from a prominent family which dominated the empire under the previous sultan, the vizier's family name and charisma have purchased much trust and authority. however, he diametrically opposes the grand vizier: the second vizier wishes to partner with europeans and plots to make branimira of croatia's son sultan. having successfully negotiated the improbable marriage agreement with the austrians, he now seeks to further embed himself in the dynasty. outshining the grand vizier in portugal presents an opportunity, as does making himself a viable suitor for the youngest sultana (3). grand vizier is the sultan's longtime friend and trusted advisor. unlike the sultan, he is more suspicious of the europeans and less interested in building relationships with them, despite the sultan's eagerness to do so. his esteem with iskender has increased even more since he married his daughter, the much-beloved melek sultan, which has allowed him to assume a transcendent role in court."CHIEF STEWARD OF THE IMPERIAL HAREM » FACECLAIM UTP, (35-50), OPEN."as the harem's chief officer, the kizlar agha cemented his power through wealth, powerful relationships, and secrets. he is apprised of all harem intrigue, controls the vast majority of the empire's charitable enterprises, and uses these connections to influence politics well beyond the harem's confines. a master manipulator and expert manager, he currently marshals his spiderweb network on behaLf of nehir sultan, his longtime friend. however, his true allegiance is to his own interests — and, the only person with even more reach, the valide sultan. (❧)"DILŞAH BEY ÖZDEMIR * » ÖYKÜ KARAYEL, 29, OC."supremely intellectual, cultured, and well-read, she can easily preside over a summit of quick-thinkers and philosophers, though as the valide’s trusted lady, she is aware that she must hold her tongue on such matters. she fights against urges to behave brashly, and nastily, though can transform her bitter quips into clever witticisms at the drop of a hat. furthermore, she is haunted by the memory of her son, and despite all reason that she should vie and contest to be reunited with him, she possesses little desire to do so and instead allows his absence to consume her soul. in the public eye, dilşah is a religious woman, and, indeed, in private sanctuaries her religious devotion flows in spades–– she trusts in Allah foremost, and herself second. There is none above than He, not even the valide."SAFIYE HATUN* » BEREN SAAT, 26, OC. born the daughter of a byzantine official, safiye was delivered into the ottoman harem following the fall of constantinople. a gentle soul, she became a quick friend of the youngest sultana, adapting to her new life, and has recently become a lover and champion of the eldest sehzade.

PERSIAN EMPIRE
RULED BY THE SAFAVIDS. ORIGINAL CHARACTER POSITIONS: 5 OPEN OUT OF 5 TOTAL. SHAH MEHDI MIRZA » DOMINIC ADAMS, 39, TAKEN."the shah is an accomplished astronomer and mathematician, but his statesmanship is not so impressive. the shadow cast by his illustrious father is black as night, but he appears either ignorant or disinterested in this fact. while not an ineffectual or cowardly leader, he prefers to delegate — some might say abdicate — responsibility to his many formal and informal advisors. his recent marriage has left his court suspicious of his judgement, at the very least."CONSORT FIROUZEH » FACECLAIM UTP, (38-43), OPEN."the shah’s first wife comes from a prosperous political family with deep rooted loyalty to the dynasty. firouzeh is also a powerful woman herself; she leverages her connections and personal wealth in unprecedented ways, endowing mosques and filling the capital with artists and intellectuals. her celebrated image is etched upon the empire in the form of the architecture, murals, vast gardens, and charitable giving which follows safavid conquest."SHAHBANU GHAZALA » FACECLAIM UTP, (25-35), OPEN."the sultan’s second wife was the delhi sultanate's ruling sultana less than two years prior. her father chose her as his heir over her brothers, but she faced a bloody civil war upon his death. after triumphing over her brothers and their allies, a turn of treachery led to her being deposed. she escaped and found refuge with the safavids. the shah's immediate infatuation presented a miraculous opportunity which she could not turn down. more than homesickness and righteous rage, the shah's new consort is motivated by ambition."SHAHZADEH MAHMUD » FACECLAIM UTP, (22-25), OPEN."the shahzadeh is among his father’s critics, contributing with impunity to the discontent swirling around the shah. it is apparent to all that he considers himself an already more successful leader. indeed, his father has potentially made a mistake by vesting so much authority in his bullish son. his capacity for war and trade have earned him acclaim across the empire, and some are sure to grow impatient waiting for his ascension."SHAHZADEH KHANOUM KHADIJA » FACECLAIM UTP, (18-22), OPEN. "unlike her brother, the shah’s daughter is his untiring defender. still, she finds herself increasingly estranged from her mother and brother as a result of this disagreement. what she sees as treason, her brother in particular calls necessary. the peculiar situation is pushing her closer to the shabanu, a strange and willful woman she secretly admires. her father's new consort has proved thoughtful, considerate, and able to dispense patient advice — this is the face she shows the princess, at least."RAHMAN TARKHĀN » DOMINIC RAINS, 31, TAKEN."rahman is consort firouzeh’s younger brother, a military man, and a close friend of the shah. he has joined the princess in providing excuses for him, but his motivation is not familial love. instead, rahman appreciates that the shah lacks an inborn desire to rule. he takes it upon himself to provide that impulse, finding it gratifying to make decisions for his brother-in-law. yet, the shah’s recent marriage has strained their relationship, and rahman grows increasingly wary as the new consort eats away at his influence over the shah."ABUZAR BEG » FACECLAIM UTP, 35-40, OPEN."abuzar is a trusted advisor of the shabanu who followed her into exile from delhi. he bears physical scars from defending her life, but he insists she owes him nothing for his loyalty. he brings daring political acumen as well as a lengthy list of diplomatic and commercial ties to the safavids, including invaluable chinese contacts."ZEYNAB SHIRAZI » ANYA CHALOTRA, 23, TAKEN. "the consort firouzeh rescued zeynab years ago and was impressed by her affinity for mysticism and outstanding talent as a poet. the consort remains her protector and patron, ensuring she lives in luxury and encouraging her to become a playmate for her daughter. this cemented zeynab's place in the family, and two women remain best friends, even as recent tensions have put them at odds. zeynab’s own relationship with the source of the problem, ghazala, is further complicated by her familial connections to the delhi sultanate—her father’s homeland, where he was a wealthy merchant known to and friendly with ghazala's father, the now-deceased sultan."

SPANISH KINGDOMS
RULED BY THE TRASTÁMARA AND ANSCARIDS.

ORIGINAL CHARACTER POSITIONS: 5 OPEN OUT OF 5 TOTAL.

EXILED COURT OF ARAGON (TRASTÁMARA)
PRINCE FERRANDO OF VIANA » RUFUS SEWELL, DECEASED."ferrando of viana was the king of aragon until roughly ten years ago when the headstrong and faithful ruler lost everything except the honorary title he donned when his own father had ruled aragon. initially emboldened by the ascension of a trastámara pope to the papacy, ferrando's zeal for reclaiming his throne seemed to wane; in the months before his untimely demise, it is alleged he had entered tentative but secretive peace talks with córdoba."PRINCESS COSTANZA OF VIANA » ASSUMPTA SERNA, DECEASED."the daughter of a wealthy duke who sought to unite portugal and aragon by brokering marriage agreements with their kings, costanza was an eminently learned woman with a bold yet pious temperament. she was unafraid to demand more for herself and her children, whom she would have stopped at nothing to return to royalty. her surviving ladies claim she knew nothing of ferrando's plans and remained hellbent on reclaiming aragon for her children."PRINCE CRISTOBAL OF ASTURIAS » MATTEO MARTARI, (38), TAKEN."the prince of asturias is the eldest and only brother to the prince of viana, and he strove endlessly to protect his brother’s throne during years of warfare and squabbling within the peninsula. the prince unflinchingly bloodied his hands and led violent, shocking campaigns for catholicism - thereby securing papal approval for the trastámara clan. in the aftermath of his brother's death, he rose unchallenged to lead the deposed court of aragon — and, when the throne is reclaimed, become its king. (†)"JEANNE, PRINCESS OF ASTURIAS » BRUNA MARQUEZINE, 27, TAKEN."a woman of french birth, of the noble de guise family and cousin to the french king, she is the prince of asturias' second wife. she was employed as a tool to secure an alliance with france several years after the trastámaras' exile began. much like her family, reclaiming aragon sits high on her list of priorities. (†) (❧)"PRINCE MATEO OF VIANA » CHARLIE VICKERS, 29, TAKEN."the eldest prince of viana is easily swayed by material trinkets and pleasures of the flesh, and a great weight lifted from him once the aragonese crown fell to another. his freedom has certainly granted him ample time to enjoy his youth and indulge in sport, drinking, and women - including the castilian duchess of sessa. his parents' death has done nothing to sober him up; some claim it has worsened his bad behavior and made him more reckless."PRINCE OF VIANA (2) » FACECLAIM UTP, (22-24), OPEN."the youngest prince of viana is his father’s son through to his core. expected to join the ranks of the spanish militia, he is quietly forthright and subtly tactful. he assisted in the crusade to reclaim the throne through brute force, but his true strength is undoubtedly his intellect. now that the prince of asturias heads the exiled court, the prince wistfully finds his uncle makes better use of his abilities than his father ever did."DUKE OF CASTILNOVO » FACECLAIM UTP, (40-48), OPEN."a chief ally and adviser to the late king who fled aragon during the al-barracíns' brutal coup, the duke of castilnovo remained by the king’s side and acted as a diplomat for his interests. serving as a messenger between the reigning emirate and the once king, he was privy to the nuanced, complicated negotiations. now, he is torn between making permanent peace with córdoba and the prince of asturias' fervor for war - both undesirable options. furthermore, he is beginning to recognize that there is danger afoot where the alliance between castile and the emirate is concerned. (❧)"DUCHESS OF CASTILNOVO » FACECLAIM UTP, (45-50), OPEN."the duke’s elder sister, the duchess of castilnovo, was the mistress of ferrando during his reign and bore him three children. all remain politically useful pawns in court, though the duchess must reconfigure her strategies now that the prince of asturias holds the power.(❧)"LORD OF CASTILNOVO » FACECLAIM UTP, (20-28), OPEN."the lord of castilnovo is the illegitimate son delivered of ferrando of viana and the duchess of castilnovo. though scorned by his father’s legitimate children, he remains a fierce power to be reckoned with in court. he successfully averted his father’s pleas to become a cardinal and now seeks to forge his own path."

KINGDOM OF CASTILE (ANSCARIDS)
KING ALFONSO OF CASTILE » MAX BROWN, 39, TAKEN."ruthless begets ruthless – and this is exactly how the king of castile came upon his throne, the son and grandson of two great rulers; both feared and respected. his reign has been marked with absolute political control, underhanded machinations, triumphant coups, and despite the king's apparent bond with both the papacy and the emirate of cordòba, among his court it is whispered that his goal is to reclaim aragon for himself, for his kingdom."QUEEN MAGDALENA OF BAVARIA » YASEMIN ALLEN, 26, TAKEN."the only child of empress apollonia and the late holy roman emperor, she is both princess and politic pawn, ushered from quasi-exile into marriage with the king of castile by her mother. she has endeared herself to the people of castile who, for centuries, have known only the reign of a remorseless king – their consorts all too often succumbed to childbed fever. assertive and astute in private, the queen seeks to demonstrate herself as a worthy, useful partner in pursuing castile's goals."CONSTANCA, QUEEN MOTHER OF SCOTLAND » MIRIAM LEONE, 34, TAKEN."raised with the expectations that she would one day become queen, she was crowned at the tender age of eighteen as the queen of scotland. her husband, the king, was already in poor condition upon their marriage; senile and ailing, he died within three months of their nuptials (rumoured to have been debilitated by his wife's youthfulness.) miraculously, the queen found herself pregnant. though eventually ousted from scotland and returned to castile, she works strenuously to return to her son and dismantle the regency that his advisers have established."CROWN PRINCE OF CASTILE » FACECLAIM UTP, (30-35), OPEN."the crown prince is an ambitious man who works closely with his brother to expand castilian influence and make allies of powerful rulers. (†)"CROWN PRINCESS OF CASTILE, DOWAGER OF BISCAY » FACECLAIM, 25-30, OPEN."once the wife of the powerful lord of biscay, her husband met his end when moorish troops claimed the peninsula where their territory had been nestled. she cleverly brokered a deal with the king of castile that saw her hand – and extensive dowry – transferred to the crown prince of castile upon her husband's death.(❧)"PRINCE SANTIAGO, DUKE OF ALMENARA ALTA » NICK SLATER, 28, TAKEN."the youngest brother of the king of castile, and a redoubtable figure within the castilian army who frequently rubs elbows with córdoban forces. he sees the peace as an opportunity, valuing military might more than religious brotherhood, and works to strengthen the alliance between castile and the emirate."DUKE OF SESSA » FACECLAIM UTP, (35-55), OPEN."the house of vigil is a robust one, their riches spanning across the hispanic territories as they create a banking monopoly within the country. as such, they remain in the king's ear at all times – bankrolling his militaristic and political endeavours, ensuring that castile shines and glints like a star in the european night sky. at the head of this family is the duke of sessa, a scrupulous and cunning individual.(❧)"DUCHESS OF SESSA » FACECLAIM UTP, (30-40), OPEN."the duchess arrived in castile a foreigner but outfitted to make the kingdom her home: flush with an extensive dowry, assigned to tended the queen as a lady-in-waiting, on track to find a castilian husband. and so she did, marrying the influential duke of sessa, an act that effectively made her a player and no longer a pawn."MISTRESS OF THE ROBES » FACECLAIM UTP, (25-30), OPEN."the mistress of the robes is an innovation brought to castile by its new queen, modeled after her late mother's trusted courtiers. the woman herself has been less well received than the queen, viewed by some as obnoxiously nosy and excessively austrian. others are even more suspicious, complaining she is a spy of the holy roman empress. there is likely a grain of truth in the rumors, but her loyalty to the king and queen (if not castile itself) is difficult to question.(❧)"

TSARDOM OF RUSSIA
RULED BY THE RURIKS. ORIGINAL CHARACTER POSITIONS: 5 OPEN OUT OF 5 TOTAL. TSAR IVAN OF RUSSIA » CILLIAN MURPHY, 40, TAKEN."the tsar of russia is a cutthroat ruler, one whose lineage has transformed a rugged country into a prosperous nation renowned for both industry and agriculture. though his marriage to adalsinda of france was once a promising union of two royal cadets intended to further this reputation, the relationship has soured beyond repair, with mutual aversion compounded by a string of miscarriages."TSARINA ADALSINDA OF FRANCE » KSENIA SOLO, 31, TAKEN."born adalsinda d'anjou, princess of france, she is the elder sister to king philip and consort of the reigning tsar. highly disapproving of her uncle's unweighted leverage over the youthful king philip, she nevertheless finds herself in an uncannily similar position. without any say in russia, she resents her role as a titular tsarina and thus strays from the marriage bed – and, amid turbulent, into that of the crown prince."CROWN PRINCE OF RUSSIA » SAM HEUGHAN, 35, TAKEN."the beloved crown prince is, without a trace of doubt, the crowning glory of russia, its most prominent military figure, and his late mother's favourite son—this, a fact he seldom allows his brother, the tsar, to forget. willing to damn his soul for the rurik's reign, he is a slave to the institution, and there is little that will stop him from ensuring the crown remains where it should and always has been – at the very crest of the russian caste."CROWN PRINCESS EUDOXIA OF RUSSIA » ANNA SHAFFER, 28, TAKEN."the crown princess is the wife of the tsar’s brother and the daughter of an influential noble family – one that, for many years, has had the ruriks beneath their thumb thanks to their extensive wealth. with the tsarina all but proven barren, it is the crown princess's children who shall inherit the throne if adalsinda fails to produce an heir. (❧)"GRAND DUCHESS IRINA OF RUSSIA (1) » JENNA COLEMAN, 30, TAKEN."it is every great woman's misfortune to have been born a woman, a singular fault that cannot be forgiven or overlooked in the russian court. despite this, the grand duchess has put her birthright to good use: acting as a diplomat for her brothers; representing the tsar in the public eye; attempting to improve the tsarina's assimilation to eastern culture. wed and subsequently widowed at an early age, the grand duchess has joyfully dedicated her life to the service of the nation."GRAND DUKE NIKITA OF RUSSIA » ANEURIN BARNARD, 27, TAKEN/RETIRED."as the youngest brother of the tsar, the grand duke has proven that there is not a single weak link in the rurik's chain of command. he has been instrumental in diplomatic negations — perhaps as influential as is the crown prince in war — and established himself as an exceptionally adept envoy to the western world. despite bearing the brunt of europe's distaste for russia, he has also worked extensively to reconstruct their opinion of the once rural nation. most notable of his efforts has been arranging the marraige of his sister, katrinka, to england's prince of wales, but this is an act he may well come to regret."GRAND DUCHESS EVELINA OF RUSSIA » ALICIA VIKANDER, 22, TAKEN."the youngest sister of the tsar, the grand duchess has lived the lion's share of her brief life in her sister's shadow. the clever, adept, cunning, and loyal elder princess dominates courtly politics and polite society, leaving the younger duchess to feel that she pales in comparison. yet, it is her hand that is being touted as a tribute as they travel abroad, and it is her beauty that will secure another hard-won alliance."PRINCE OF HOUSE BEZUKHOV (1) » FACECLAIM UTP, (38-50), OPEN."the old and noble house of bezukhov has almost always been at the centre of russian society. over ten years ago, prince makar was executed for treason by the tsar but, due to the efforts of his son, prince vasily, the family have once again risen to a position of prominence amongst the courtiers. vasily is an ambitious man and, now head of his house, he aims to take advantage of the tsar's publicly failed marriage. to do this, he has placed his alluring sister within the tsar's sights - not as a secretive mistress, but to formally replace the frenchwoman as tsarina."PRINCESS OF HOUSE BEZUKHOV (1) » FACECLAIM UTP, (35-40), OPEN."a pioneering individual, the princess bezukhova was born into a family of great renown with vast control over the bucolic perimeters of the russian empire. upon her emergence into the imperial court, she bore hopes of securing the tsar's affections and becoming his wife; though it was not to be, she ultimately was sworn in matrimony to prince vasily, with whom she campaigns tirelessly to see house of bezukhov once again rise to the top."PRINCE OF HOUSE BEZUKHOV (2) » FACECLAIM UTP, (25-36), OPEN."the second son is quite unlike his older brother; whilst he has agreed to bury the hatchet, he will never forget where. he has ambitions of his own, however, and is solidly intent on avenging his father's death – and to do this, he has the tsar in sights."PRINCESS OF HOUSE BEZUKHOV (2) » FACECLAIM UTP, (20-27), TAKEN."the princess is a jewel amongst courtiers, educated and cultured, and she catches the eye of many. however, she is aware that her heart is not hers to give away. her eldest brother has plans for her, and she will seldom deny the excitement of one day becoming the tsarina. despite her apparent gentleness, she craves the ability to, not only to rid russia of french influence, but to take vengeance for her father's death by placing a child of bezukhov blood upon the throne."LADY IN WAITING TO THE TSARINA » FACECLAIM UTP, (25-30), OPEN."in spite of her humble origins, the tsarina's chief lady-in-waiting has achieved much notoriety and even greater wealth in her lifespan; once the mistress of a powerful russian lord, she inherited his riches upon his death and used them to establish herself at court. she has secured the coveted position of attending the tsarina and overhearing each quibble within the royal bedchamber. (❧)"