Iskaria Cross

Group: Company of the Blackened Staff
Race: Human
Duchy: Keswick
County: Carlisle
Barony: Havoc

Iskaria, although born in Winchester, had been mostly absent from her homeland of Albion for the latter part of her adolescence and the beginnings of her adulthood.

Her father had died before she was born and her mother shortly after. As such, her paternal Aunt, Celise was left to raise her (although begrudgingly). For the majority of her childhood Iskaria lived with Celise and ‘assisted’ with the running of the family business; a small curios shop in Winchester. Celise had eventually grown weary of attempting to school and control the pestering child she was laden with, and decided that she might as well utilise her as a resource, so once she was old enough Iskaria was sent off on board the family’s small trading vessel to put a less weathered and slightly friendlier face on the acquisition of foreign rarities.

It would turn out that Iskaria would be particularly good at selecting books and trinkets that would keep the business ticking over and ensure the sailors who accompanied her were well paid, so she remained at sea. She kept some of the books for herself and studied in her cabin for most journeys, only stopping to visit ports and trade.

With only brief visits home, and rarely spending much time ashore, Iskaria was stunned when she had heard the news that Winchester had been taken. Once they had heard this, and knowing their livelihood was likely suspended, the ship’s men were polite enough to leave her at a port to find her own way home from Teutonia, and took the ship as a final payment.

Bartering off a few of the trinkets she had kept for herself, she made her way back to Albion, and happened upon Flare and the Company of the Blackened Staff. A tavern fight and a night of drinking later, Flare realised that she was a stray and offered her the opportunity to be an associate in the Company. Iskaria hesitantly accepted, but only a few months later, she decided that, if they would have her, she would properly join the Company as a full member, and joined them at the Gathering 1114. By early spring of 1115 Iskaria became the Company Clerk. Due to the eruption in Albion at the time she joined the Company, in the tradition of the Company Beastkin, she chose to give herself the middle name “Ash” to mark the sky at home when she was born into her new family.

Being forced home, and helping with the fight against Dolorous, Iskaria realised that her passive learning and lazy spellcasting will not be sufficient for what lay ahead and has spent her years at court endeavouring to prove herself. During the time since, she has risen to rank of Sergeant within the Company and was given the position of Consigliere, over a time in which contract was made with the Dons of Sicilija. She had taken on the duty of Master Mage of the Harts and only recently stepped down from the role at the Spring Moot of 1118 in Troy, handing over the responsibility to her deputy, Marwin. This has given her more time to dedicate to her apprentice position with Guildmaster Karma of the Mages, and her own studies.

For the past few years Iskaria has been Steward to then Earl of Carlisle, and Duke of Keswick, His Grace Wyndrake Winterheart, now His Royal Majesty, Arthurus Magnus (titles, ad infinitum). She now holds stewardship over Keswick, likely until a suitable successor to the Duchy can be found.