Lazuli Starling

Born the first child to the Lord and Lady Heirs of Sorcery's Crest, Lazuli was the second child to ensure her family's line for another generation. She was, however, the first child born to the blending of two prominent families from the Crest, in hopes to put to rest a long standing feud. First and for many years the only child when, more than a decade later, came her younger twin siblings, Larimar and Citrine.

After a somewhat shaky beginning, she grew to be a brilliant and curious scholar and decidedly bizarre child, Lazuli spent surprisingly few years at the academy. With many long standing breaks back at the Crest between stints away at school, she was brought back to the Crest for the last time shortly after her 16th birthday to be tutored exclusively in private. This did not stifle her ability to learn as she blossomed under the careful care of her family and tutors. It did leave her at a loss for friendship outside of her family and those who remain at the Crest, very few letters were passed to her from old schoolmates, which may or may not be to blame for her being less the socialite than her brother.

Those who visit the Pavilion or the Estate for the first time and observe the woman late at night have been prone to starting rumors and stories about a ghostly visage who guards the mountains and can at times be heard singing a haunting tune to lure men to their deaths. Other stories claim she is the incandescent collection of Breath and magic expended in the Pavilion during the duels, come to life and now acting as Guardian of the Pavilion, watching for cheaters and those who may question the judge's rule.

Her years spent in quiet solitude with her family atop their mountain, and would've likely remained that way happily for the rest of her years. That was until that fateful summer morning when she was called into her mother's solar for tea with her Lord Uncle. It was this meeting where he expressed interest in Gateway, having been witness to the impressive duel of (then) Regent Baroness Dragon Lake, Phoebe Forester. Admitting to her that while he would have liked to go to Gateway himself, he felt compelled to remain at the pavilion and his duty to it. This all lead up to her new appointment as his representative and assistant, to go to Gateway as a citizen and act as his eyes and ears in the Capital.

For nearly four years she 'haunted' the city of Crossroads, acting as her Lord Uncle's assistant and representative to Crossroads City. It's anyone's guess just how such a quiet, seemingly unremarkable woman with such reclusive tendencies could have won the attention of not one, not two, but three separate noblemen. Perhaps it is merely the thought of a dutiful wife from a respected family. Regardless of the reason, a new task comes appointed to the woman as she takes on the mantle of Baroness Moonshadow opposite the well-known former Lord, Baron Joseph Starling. Just how the mild woman will fare with the stormy man is anyone's guess, especially as they now come together as Duke and Duchess Regent of Mists.

• September 503: Lazuli arrives on Gateway as Representative of Sorcery's Crest for her family.
• 505: Lazuli is proposed to by both Lord Enchanted Coral, Dyonith Zeloral, and then Baron Foxfire Cradle, Malachi Windermere. Both propositions are denied, quietly.
• 506: Lazuli travels outside the barrier with her siblings, Kyrie Mezelien, Joseph Starling, Athar Soranus, Averrin Paimon and a number of others to a place unknown.
• 506: As the Breath vanishes, Lazuli returns to Sorcery's Crest to help her family.
• 507 Spring Festival: Duke Raziel Devonshire announces Lazuli's betrothal to Baron Moonshadow, Joseph Starling, with the wedding scheduled for the morning of the Double Eclipse that year.
• September 11, 507: Lazuli is married to Joseph in the garden of the Moonshadow Baronial Estate the early morn of the Double Eclipse by Empress Philomena Caprios.
• April 28, 508: After a long and difficult labor in the Baronial Estate, Joseph's children Anatase, Arden and Connor are born.
• September 3, 508: With Joseph's appointment to Steward of Mists, Lazuli takes on the mantle of Baroness Moonshadow nearly alone while her husband focuses on the rest of the isle.
• October 22, 508: Lazuli endures the death of her paternal grandfather and maternal grandmother, as hundreds of Mistian fall to the same fate in the Great Schism. She continues to watch over Moonshadow while Joseph becomes increasingly preoccupied with the survival of the isle as a whole.
• December 3, 508: Due to the efforts of many, the people of Mists are saved from their deaths as every Mistian is called home for this night. A ritual conducted drives four brilliant pillars of fire into the air that can be seen all the way in Crossroads City. But at what cost?
• January 11, 509: Lazuli and her husband are appointed the new Duke and Duchess Regent of Mists, do to their efforts during the Schism.

The Noble
Lazuli could be described as mild and even meek, leading some to believe she is a weak creature, not suited for any real power or responsibility. Respectful, yielding, polite; these are all words that have been used to describe the woman upon meeting. Slow to anger and quick to smile, Lazuli's keen attention to propriety and courtly manners is deeply ingrained in every aspect of her personality, going to such an extreme as motions that may seem too outlandish, unexpected or forward may startle her. Carved from the very stone of pride and social grace that her family is known for, she follows a very thin, very straight line that-- in her mind-- outlines the honor and duty every mage and noble should take to heart. Her disapproval in such matters is rare, but as her brother has noted before, "a wrath so rarely exercised is even more fearsome for it." Whether this is true or not, you may have to ask him.

The Woman
The second eldest neice of the current Lord Sorcery's Crest, Dioptase Montaigu, Lazuli is a mostly soft-spoken, almost introverted woman. While she is not the strangest of the bunch, she is certainly an obscure creature, from that eerily constant smile she wears, to her peculiar affinity toward veils that would surely obscure any person's vision. For Mists, and certainly for the Montaigus, this is par for the course.

On a personal note, she seems to find delight in the simplest of things, but particularly can be noted for the open joy and curiosity she finds in magic. Few things can move her as displays of magical prowess, which seems only fitting for a woman who grew up watching magical duels. From there, there is an odd collection of things that can draw a sentimental edge to her lips, including but not limited to music, gusty weather and a the song of a particular bird native to her home.

The Sister
Over a decade older than her younger siblings, Lazuli fully understands the distance that seems to be growing between her and them each and every day. A separation of duty, station, time and physical distance, the one manner that separation is not occurring is affection. Adoring of every member of her family, it would be fair to say she is prone to excessive praise when one can actually wrench her opinion away from her, even going as far as to say that Lazuli employs a certain amount of denial when it comes to Larimar and Citrine's faults.

Even when it comes to the black sheep of their family, Tourmaline, Lazuli feels nothing but affection for her, no matter how the rest of the family may feel. Her similarly aged cousin were once inseparable growing up, and yes, while that distance has grown as well, there is nothing signifying there is any loss of love from her end.

The Wife
In 507 her betrothal to Joseph Starling was announced, which came as a surprise to some as the pair had been seen in slight, but increasing company leading up to the public announcement at the Spring Festival. Starting at the Harvest festival in 506, Lazuli and Joseph were seen together, indulging in a dance and display of magic, though no rumors seemed to arise of their courtship or entanglement, they were soon spotted again, attending the Winter Festival together, perhaps a series of small events that lead to their betrothal, or so some might say.

There could not have been a more mismatched couple between the brooding and severe Starling and the mild and gentle Montaigu. Even their tastes in clothing were noted to be completely opposite, as the black-garbed man and white-draped woman appeared arm in arm. Thusfar, the couple manage to keep their lives quiet and discrete, perfectly proper to outside viewing, at times appearing together and in solidarity at public events, and yet still comfortably separating to handle separate affairs across the Empire. Maids do whisper that in private, the two may actually not completely despise one another and giggle about the increase in her jewelery collection since their marriage.

The Mother
For a woman who knew from a young age that she would very likely be used as a political token, married off to a man for purely political reasons and not love, the one security Lazuli had was that she would have children and no matter what she felt (or didn't feel) for her husband. She would have them, and she would love them. She is one of those obnoxiously cheerful women, when pregnant. The aches and ills of carrying seemed to be about as heavy as a bit of down fluff to the tall creature as it made her glow with maternal warmth and bliss each and every day. When the delivery finally came for the triplets, it was extremely difficult for her, three days of labor and more than once the midwife thought she wouldn't make it, but that doesn't seem to have swayed her from speaking fondly for the pregnancy itself.

Though duty calls her attention away time and time again, Lazuli has nothing but the greatest affection for her children and dotes on them whenever possible. Her station does not allow for much time, and as the children grow and become more demanding, more independent, who can tell what role she will be forced to take.

Lazuli Starling/Connections