PLAYER

Name: Kally
Journal: uhtceare
Contact: you've got this

CHARACTER

OC or AU: OC
Character Name: Ilona Szilágyi
Series: Dracula Fandom
Gender: Female
Age: 19

Entry position (Cadet, SeeD, Instructor, other): Cadet
Requested Sponsor (if a Cadet): Sapphire
Specialization (if a SeeD or Instructor): N/a

Appearance: Ilona's pb is Emilie de Ravin


But her drawn design is as so


History: Ilona was born to a Michael Szilágyi of Hungary and his sickly wife, who died four years after Ilona was born. Michael raised Ilona in his cousin Matthias Corvinus's, the King of Hungary's castle alongside the many, many servants and nurses who tended to Ilona's needs and educated her in literature, writing, and manners. Because her father and the King were always busy in the court, Ilona was mostly by herself. She spent time in the library, devouring book after book, and sitting by the fire, working on needlework as was expected of a young lady of nobility. Ilona was not yet a princess, only the second cousin to the King of Hungary, thus, not meriting much in comparison with the King's own children. If anything, the natural princes and princesses were quite cold towards Ilona, believing her to be an interloper in their affairs.

Another reason for their disdain was their envy towards Ilona's healing abilities. Ilona's mother had come from a long line of medicine women, and though she had not been open about her abilities during her marriage (as Michael thought her power to be witchcraft and thus an endangerment to his name), she had healed many people during her youth. And though Ilona had been small when her mother passed away, she had witnessed her mother's power to heal when she would heal any cuts or scraps Ilona sustained during her playing. After her mother passed away, Ilona took to healing herself when an injury was sustained, either by her own clumsiness or from the few times the princes and princesses raised their hands. While Ilona's father was ashamed of his daughter's talents, the King was very much intrigued. He had her make rounds as an assistant nurse whenever his soldiers would return injured and exhausted from battle. While she was surrounded by blood and death, Ilona preferred her days in the sick rooms to her days in the castle.

In the sick rooms, Ilona gained much praise from those she healed. She befriended many a soldier and was even allowed to witness their practice before they went back to battle. Due to her time spent in the sick rooms, Ilona had little fear of disease and the gores of autopsy and other medical practices that most young ladies would find disturbing. She even adopted a most stern bedside manner in which she was often lecturing her patients, berating them for their insolence against bed-rest, and the common stubborn man who longed for the battlefield enough to attempt to fake better health. Ilona would have none of that nonsense and henpeck the men until they fell back into their beds, giving up their lost fight with the small girl.

For the most of her childhood, outside the sick rooms, Ilona was a very quiet, though persistent, person. If she could not read the same books as the princes and princesses, then she would read everything else. If she could not play with the same toys as the princes and princesses, then she would make her own toys (though sloppy and poorly handled). If she could not make the same friends as the princes and princesses, then she would befriend anyone else, starting conversations with the maids, cooks, seamstress and guards whenever she could. Though she remained the lesser in importance, Ilona was certainly most beloved by the castle. And as she grew, becoming more and more the lady her nurses raised her to be, she proved to be the most adored as well, not just by her patients. However, with the princesses prancing about the castle in their rich dresses and beautiful mannerisms, and Ilona in her often bloodied apron and messy appearance, Ilona went unnoticed by the eyes of the opposite sex. And to this, Ilona was quite content to remain unwed and comfortable in the castle, and a harridan in the sick rooms.

And then Vlad Tepes arrived. Vlad had been a former ally of the King before relations soured and they began to look different ways. However, a scuffle of sorts with their shared enemy caused the two to rekindle their friendship, and so the King welcomed Vlad back into his castle. The King and Vlad spent much time together, walking about the castle together in long discussions. One such discussion included Vlad's need for a second wife after his first died so long ago. The King, looking to further cement his good relationship with Vlad, recommended that Vlad look upon the King's own daughters for a possible bride. However, Vlad was not impressed by the princesses. They were either too vain or too spoiled and not at all to Vlad's liking. He told the King that while he enjoyed their friendship, it would soon be time for Vlad to leave.

Days before Vlad had scheduled himself to leave, however, he met Ilona by happy accident. While he had been outside in the King's gardens, mulling in his thoughts over what he would do next once he returned to his castle, Ilona had come rushing out of the sick rooms, demanding clean sheets for the patients. She'd then -- rushing past Vlad -- went back into the sick rooms and proceeded to heel the injured that had arrived that morning. After investigation, Vlad found Ilona to his liking, and told the King that he wished to take Ilona for his second wife. The King relayed this message to Michael, who instantly promised Vlad Ilona's hand at the promise of precious golds and silvers.

When Ilona found out about her apparent betrothal, she was horrified, but when her father and the King expressed their eagerness for Ilona to marry, she gave her reluctant consent to the match. Ilona was sent to Wallachia soon after that first meeting for her wedding, as a young and hesitant bride. She had little time to assess her new home before the wedding, but surmised that her groom was a powerful and intimidating man, interested in barbaric rituals and bloody rites (an opinion she later changed when she learned of Vlad's belief in the power of blood and the effect of the dark prayers). First scared, Ilona went to her wedding expecting to see a monster at the very end of the aisle. Instead, she was pleasantly surprised to find a clean man who treated her dearly and took her hand during their vows.

Though the time before the their marriage's consummation was small, Ilona asked questions and became intrigued with Vlad's beliefs. She began to wonder indeed what her abilities could do for Vlad's ceremonies (which apparently had made him into the fearsome man she met upon her wedding day). She shared with Vlad her passion for healing and asked him what her abilities could do for him. Vlad told Ilona that her abilities could open a world-changing door that would lead to advancing medicine past the common bloodletting and resting. Cross the boundaries of the divine and touch against a (hoped) powerful level of living. A tonic to fight all illnesses, all wounds, heal any ache, mend every bone -- life-changing. Ilona was enraptured by these possibilities and all the good they would do, and told Vlad that she wanted to be a part of his vision for a higher life.

After a very passionate wedding night, Ilona began her new life as Princess of Wallachia. Vlad gave her the run of his medicines and even cleared out several rooms, breaking down wall to make space, to make Ilona a sick room, to Ilona's absolute delight. Her first patients in Wallachia were Vlad's soldiers, whose wounds she healed and infections she purified. She became an integral part of her husband's castle, and when not a month after their wedding, Ilona was announced expecting a child, she became an integral part of her husband as well. Spending so much time with Vlad, Ilona began to study the rituals he performed.

She learned more about the part blood plays in Vlad's rituals, seeing the victims tortured in their cells and watching blood drain from their bodies into bowls that would be transferred to Vlad. The first time she stepped down the stone steps into the dungeons, listening to the screams of pain and pleadings for mercy, she wavered, unsure how to move forward. But Vlad had apparently followed her and asked her if she would accompany him into the dungeons. Ilona took Vlad's arm for support and went into the dungeon. She watched as Vlad tortured a political victim, cutting out tongue, stomach, before draining him of his blood. Vlad saw the sickness in her face and explained to Ilona that all people he brought into his dungeon were enemies of Wallachia. He told her that what he did was a necessary evil so that his people could live a prosperously. Though still queasy, Ilona said that she understood and would learn to get past her sensitivities.

It took Ilona a few months before Ilona could step into the dungeon without an escort to lean against, but she managed to become as imposing a figure in the dungeons as her husband. Whenever a prisoner was brought into the castle, Ilona would soon follow them into the dark recesses alongside Vlad and stand by as the torture process commenced, a face of dark indifference as the screams and cries echoed off the cell walls. After collecting blood from the castle cells, she would purify the fluid and offer it to Vlad, refusing to drink the blood herself as she believed that Vlad should have the higher power whereas she would stand by dutifully to continue the process.

These rituals continued without fail, until one day Vlad was sent a message from Ilona's father that the King of Hungary needed Vlad in battle. Ilona, fearing that her husband would not live to see his child born into the world, collected blood herself alone while Vlad attended meetings to prepare himself for the coming war. While Vlad would torture the prisoners, Ilona killed them first thing and then drained their bodies. When Vlad was ready to leave, Ilona gave to Vlad the blood she had collected and purified as a parting gift. The blood gave Vlad strength and allowed him to return undefeated to his wife who laid upon the birthing bed, exhausted and pained, but happy to receive her husband home.

Ilona birthed a boy, the jewel of Vlad's and Ilona's eyes. Ilona was so attached to the boy that she even refused to allow nursemaids to nurse her son, preferring to feed her son with her own breast-milk, not caring if it lessened the weight of her bosom.

World History: (A brief summary of your character's world, if not from this one.)

Garden History: N/a

Abilities & Physical Abnormalities: Ilona is a healer who is capable of using her power to heal any open direct wound, ease any fever or illness, or even provide a powerful healing salve by just brushing her finger into the cream. Ilona takes great pride in her power and spend many nights with her husband's soldiers, healing and treating their wounds and defusing any illnesses they may have caught in battle or general protection of King Vlad. Despite her constant presence in the vicinity of the unhealthy, Ilona has yet to contract even a slight cold. Her resistance to illness stems from her power. Ilona can not only heal a wound, but she can purify the wound of any infection. This has made sure that Vlad's army is never one man or so short, and also boosts the morale of Wallachia's populace.

Personality: Ilona is very composed in big company. She's more suited to close, intimate gatherings (where she can be more open with not so many people in a room) and while she may host big crowds as Vlad's wife, she's usually quiet until spoken to with visiting dignitaries (such as, unless someone talks to her directly, she will remain silent and ever-listening) . Due to her quiet upbringing, Ilona is still relatively new to the vibrant court life of bustling lords and ladies which require heightened fashion, demure humor, and a vicious habit of gossip to which Ilona has only just met. She takes comfort in her friendship with castle staff, able to take and then follow through with using their advice. Besides a few select of Vlad's knights, Ilona's only true friends are the maids, servers and cooks.

Ilona's usual disposition is content until excited or angered. She always maintains decorum and doesn't let anyone see her cry. She could be breaking inside to itty-bitty pieces during an important party, and she wouldn't let the dam of tears break until everyone has gone home and she's absolutely alone to wallow in self-pity. Which she loathes. When she feels pity, Ilona has little patience for herself at times and berates herself constantly, meaning that she lacks self-confidence. She questions her own skills and often enough the reason she drowns herself in books is because she wants to learn more about everything so that she's not left behind. Ilona does not like being the lesser known, and absolutely abhors when people skirt about a subject to avoid causing Ilona emotional injury. If she thinks that she is hearing a lie, or being regarded delicately, she often enough is quiet, but also cold. If she does not like you, you will know when you attempt to greet her or talk to her and you receive a very icy shoulder for your efforts. This is called snubbing, and yes, Ilona has snubbed her fair share of people.

She is incredibly stubborn. No, she won't raise a fist (unless you attack her physically) but she will persist on a subject no matter if it is closed or open or even discussed. She does not backdown easily, and while this is a wonderful trait in a ruler -- to be able to not let a matter go until it is seen and amended -- it does little good when pitted against the more stubborn dignitaries of Wallachia. While Vlad is the ruler, there are people in his court who also have a hand in Wallachia's day to day happenings. She's disregarded several on several occasions and while she was made to stand by and let things happen, her cool remarks have stuck and caused her grief and frustrations for the future. And she holds no remorse for speaking her mind.

An issue stemming from constant verbal abuse from her wealthier relatives growing up, Ilona doesn't enjoy being around more boisterous and loud people. Especially the more popular, boisterous, loud people. Call it a cliche dislike for cliques (if that can be properly used to describe the feeling), Ilona is immediately distrustful to a more popular person who most people adore on spot. Before even getting to know them, she may act cold and aloof, preferring to not attract the attention of those most flashy and attention-seeking. Such as loud women in court who are always dressed most fashionable and are incredibly extravagant -- depending on their outward disposition -- she would walk past them curtly even when they attempt conversation. She often does not give these people a chance to explain themselves or show their true natures because Ilona is determined to not having anything more to do with them than brief court meetings. The thought process is based upon how, growing up, the princesses and princes were adored right away, when putting up a fake personality that reflected the desirable values of the time such as politeness and respect. But as soon as the people were gone, the princes and princesses would turn right around and become nasty once more.

Because of her less outspoken nature in public, Ilona is often perceived as a demure young princess, and at parties, a bit of a bore. Because she does not engage conversation on her own in big crowds (people must ask her questions to get her to say anything to them) she's also been viewed as a dull young woman.

But just because Ilona is publicly to the side, does not mean that alone, she is the same in regards to niceties. Ilona is a very caring young woman, showing hope and small affection for her patients, such as holding a scared patient's hand in reassurance when they are terrified, or quieting an ill, upset child. There is great compassion in her heart, especially when she stays at a patient's bedside, holding their hand to soothe their pains as their lives slowly fade away, or when she remains sleepless, waiting for a patient to wake from their pain-reduced sleep. Ilona's thought process is that she does not like seeing those who are loyal to her and Wallachia, in pain. Even to those who Vlad has caused great injury, she wants to be of use.

Ilona can be described as an intelligent woman with a different array of opinions that are often viewed as odd and unconventional (one of the reasons that she does not give much voice in Wallachia's public eye). Unconventional methods, such as using sympathy with any enemy to map out perfect attacks and the best methods in speaking with the enemy over negotiations or giving the enemy a little scare by flaunting prowess in their faces directly while remaining cordial. She looks to, as the modern saying goes, put herself in their shoes. Sometimes a war is unneeded and a negotiation (while bothersome) would be far more beneficial. In a court dominated by men, her presence is unconventional itself!

She has vast knowledge of books and enjoys a quiet reading now and then and relishes new information. She is able to match word for word in her husband's court and is capable of defending herself before the wives (and most often, the husbands) of foreign dignitaries without even raising her voice. Ilona holds her head up high and has a very balanced composure in which she's known to not even bat an eyelash at a cursing knight or a enraged lord. She is always careful to consider all her options in any decision before the decision is made, as she believes that while her least liked choice may be - obviously - not her favorite, it could benefit the greater good of her people.

While Ilona is not very outspoken in large groups, she is capable of participating constructively and actively in her husband's council room. As she was taught to be demure and quiet as a child, she relishes the opportunity to have her odd and unconventional opinions be heard and even considered. Though she is not loud about it, she is very passionate about the issues she holds dear to her heart, and she will even go toe to toe with her husband to that extent. She doesn't hold back any comments or facts whether or not they may hurt Vlad or a councilor, as she believes that in informing the men and encouraging them to follow her suggestions, then she will be preventing any speculation and doubt from the public. However, she has kept her mouth shut and looked away from the hard fist of her husband when he declares battle or attacks someone in their court. As princess, she knows that she doesn't have much say in what happens in Wallachia, but she ensures that Vlad knows her opinions once they are made known and that he doesn't brush her off like he would an attendant.

Though she does not always agree with Vlad, Ilona does love her husband. She enjoys spending time with him in their library and watching him bounce their five month old son, Little Vlad, on his knee. She believes that he is a good King and a good father, but wishes that he were a better human being. She thinks that it would make loving him easier on her sense of mind, but then she reminds herself that what Vlad does is necessary and as leader, his sacrifice is especially noble. She deigns to do the same for her people of Wallachia, placing herself upon the same level as Vlad, unwilling to let him walk the straight and narrow on his own. When Vlad is hurt, Ilona drops everything she is doing (barring if she's with their son) and rushes to his side. She's burst out of the castle in her nightdress once on a cold morning, an hour before sunrise, when her husband was being brought back to Wallachia, injured by a sword wound. Despite his haggard orders for her to return to the castle and wait, Ilona would hear none of Vlad's demands and immediately saw to his wounds. Ilona is every bit devoted to Wallachia has Vlad, but when Vlad is compromised, she refuses to see anyone else but her husband first thing.

While Ilona is a compassionate healer, she is also stony-faced in the face of her husband's victims. Having been told that he only takes the would-be enemies of Wallachia, Ilona sees these practices as a necessary evil. Odd for a healer to be compassionate, not wishing any pain upon her patients and if so they have pain, she wishes to alleviate it. That she can be so kind and gentle to one man and then cruel and indifferent in the face of another man's death is quite the opposite. Ilona believes with all her heart that she is doing what is best for Vlad and Wallachia. Each prisoner's death, each collected bowl of blood, with every inhuman act she commits, she is further ensconced in her belief that this necessary evil will lead to good someday. She's steeled herself to wash away the blood from Vlad and hers hands, serving Vlad the collected blood which she has purified, in her belief that what she and Vlad do will lead to the greater good of humanity. While her methodology of killing is to alleviate the suffering before taking the blood, Ilona still commits murder by slicing throat and wrist of her victims in Vlad's dungeon. Though the prisoners of beg and plead for her mercy, Ilona usually replies that by killing them first and not torturing them like her husband, she is showing mercy.

When Ilona is scared, she has a habit of secluding herself from public. When she was younger, and her mother died when she was only two, Ilona would lock herself in her closets, boudoirs, and climb into high places to ensure that she would not be disturbed. As an adult, Ilona is much the same, only the amount of time she hides is much less. She uses her seclusion to collect her frazzled thoughts and straighten her appearance, so that when she goes back in front of the public eye, she is every bit the composed princess that she was before.

What are your plans for the character in-game? I'm really excited about this. So as we are aware, in old old old times like the days of Vlad Tepes, women were not treated well -- in fact, we could go into an entire lecture on that, but moving on. If you're a boy, you will most likely receive an education. If you're a girl, unless you have the rare progressive parents or you're fabulously wealthy, it is unlikely you will have an education. For Ilona, she was lucky that she was at least taught to read and write, as well as taught proper royal manners. Ilona has always envied the great scope of knowledge possessed by the princesses and princes of her childhood, and for it, she would have done most anything, as she values knowledge as much as a king values his kingdom. In Garden, she would have that opportunity to learn mathematics, politics, a wider variety of literature than her library at home in Wallachia... This is a great opportunity for Ilona to broaden her horizons and realize more to her potential than just healing and being a good wife and mother as is so common in her time (minus the healing).

Anything else?

SAMPLES

Complete TWO out of the FOUR options.
i) IC Questionnaire (can be found on the application page)
ii) Prose sample (can be general or a response to the post's prompt).
iii) Bracket/Comments
iv) Thread link

revamped app


Player Name: Kally
Player DW: squished
Contact: I'm already a member of the game so my contact information is already posted and you know how to reach me.
Character Number: 1 (this would be +1 to = 2)

Character: Ilona Szilágyi
Fandom: Dracula (Fandom OC)

Personality: Ilona is very composed in big company. She's more suited to close, intimate gatherings (where she can be more open with not so many people in a room) and while she may host big crowds as Vlad's wife, she's usually quiet until spoken to with visiting dignitaries (such as, unless someone talks to her directly, she will remain silent and ever-listening) . Due to her quiet upbringing, Ilona is still relatively new to the vibrant court life of bustling lords and ladies which require heightened fashion, demure humor, and a vicious habit of gossip to which Ilona has only just met. She takes comfort in her friendship with castle staff, able to take and then follow through with using their advice. Besides a few select of Vlad's knights, Ilona's only true friends are the maids, servers and cooks.

Ilona's usual disposition is content until excited or angered. She always maintains decorum and doesn't let anyone see her cry. She could be breaking inside to itty-bitty pieces during an important party, and she wouldn't let the dam of tears break until everyone has gone home and she's absolutely alone to wallow in self-pity. Which she loathes. When she feels pity, Ilona has little patience for herself at times and berates herself constantly, meaning that she lacks self-confidence. She questions her own skills and often enough the reason she drowns herself in books is because she wants to learn more about everything so that she's not left behind. Ilona does not like being the lesser known, and absolutely abhors when people skirt about a subject to avoid causing Ilona emotional injury. If she thinks that she is hearing a lie, or being regarded delicately, she often enough is quiet, but also cold. If she does not like you, you will know when you attempt to greet her or talk to her and you receive a very icy shoulder for your efforts. This is called snubbing, and yes, Ilona has snubbed her fair share of people.

She is incredibly stubborn. No, she won't raise a fist (unless you attack her physically) but she will persist on a subject no matter if it is closed or open or even discussed. She does not backdown easily, and while this is a wonderful trait in a ruler -- to be able to not let a matter go until it is seen and amended -- it does little good when pitted against the more stubborn dignitaries of Wallachia. While Vlad is the ruler, there are people in his court who also have a hand in Wallachia's day to day happenings. She's disregarded several on several occasions and while she was made to stand by and let things happen, her cool remarks have stuck and caused her grief and frustrations for the future. And she holds no remorse for speaking her mind.

An issue stemming from constant verbal abuse from her wealthier relatives growing up, Ilona doesn't enjoy being around more boisterous and loud people. Especially the more popular, boisterous, loud people. Call it a cliche dislike for cliques (if that can be properly used to describe the feeling), Ilona is immediately distrustful to a more popular person who most people adore on spot. Before even getting to know them, she may act cold and aloof, preferring to not attract the attention of those most flashy and attention-seeking. Such as loud women in court who are always dressed most fashionable and are incredibly extravagant -- depending on their outward disposition -- she would walk past them curtly even when they attempt conversation. She often does not give these people a chance to explain themselves or show their true natures because Ilona is determined to not having anything more to do with them than brief court meetings. The thought process is based upon how, growing up, the princesses and princes were adored right away, when putting up a fake personality that reflected the desirable values of the time such as politeness and respect. But as soon as the people were gone, the princes and princesses would turn right around and become nasty once more.

Because of her less outspoken nature in public, Ilona is often perceived as a demure young princess, and at parties, a bit of a bore. Because she does not engage conversation on her own in big crowds (people must ask her questions to get her to say anything to them) she's also been viewed as a dull young woman.

But just because Ilona is publicly to the side, does not mean that alone, she is the same in regards to niceties. Ilona is a very caring young woman, showing hope and small affection for her patients, such as holding a scared patient's hand in reassurance when they are terrified, or quieting an ill, upset child. There is great compassion in her heart, especially when she stays at a patient's bedside, holding their hand to soothe their pains as their lives slowly fade away, or when she remains sleepless, waiting for a patient to wake from their pain-reduced sleep. Ilona's thought process is that she does not like seeing those who are loyal to her and Wallachia, in pain. Even to those who Vlad has caused great injury, she wants to be of use.

Ilona can be described as an intelligent woman with a different array of opinions that are often viewed as odd and unconventional (one of the reasons that she does not give much voice in Wallachia's public eye). Unconventional methods, such as using sympathy with any enemy to map out perfect attacks and the best methods in speaking with the enemy over negotiations or giving the enemy a little scare by flaunting prowess in their faces directly while remaining cordial. She looks to, as the modern saying goes, put herself in their shoes. Sometimes a war is unneeded and a negotiation (while bothersome) would be far more beneficial. In a court dominated by men, her presence is unconventional itself!

She has vast knowledge of books and enjoys a quiet reading now and then and relishes new information. She is able to match word for word in her husband's court and is capable of defending herself before the wives (and most often, the husbands) of foreign dignitaries without even raising her voice. Ilona holds her head up high and has a very balanced composure in which she's known to not even bat an eyelash at a cursing knight or a enraged lord. She is always careful to consider all her options in any decision before the decision is made, as she believes that while her least liked choice may be - obviously - not her favorite, it could benefit the greater good of her people.

While Ilona is not very outspoken in large groups, she is capable of participating constructively and actively in her husband's council room. As she was taught to be demure and quiet as a child, she relishes the opportunity to have her odd and unconventional opinions be heard and even considered. Though she is not loud about it, she is very passionate about the issues she holds dear to her heart, and she will even go toe to toe with her husband to that extent. She doesn't hold back any comments or facts whether or not they may hurt Vlad or a councilor, as she believes that in informing the men and encouraging them to follow her suggestions, then she will be preventing any speculation and doubt from the public. However, she has kept her mouth shut and looked away from the hard fist of her husband when he declares battle or attacks someone in their court. As princess, she knows that she doesn't have much say in what happens in Wallachia, but she ensures that Vlad knows her opinions once they are made known and that he doesn't brush her off like he would an attendant.

Though she does not always agree with Vlad, Ilona does love her husband. She enjoys spending time with him in their library and watching him bounce their five month old son, Little Vlad, on his knee. She believes that he is a good King and a good father, but wishes that he were a better human being. She thinks that it would make loving him easier on her sense of mind, but then she reminds herself that what Vlad does is necessary and as leader, his sacrifice is especially noble. She deigns to do the same for her people of Wallachia, placing herself upon the same level as Vlad, unwilling to let him walk the straight and narrow on his own. When Vlad is hurt, Ilona drops everything she is doing (barring if she's with their son) and rushes to his side. She's burst out of the castle in her nightdress once on a cold morning, an hour before sunrise, when her husband was being brought back to Wallachia, injured by a sword wound. Despite his haggard orders for her to return to the castle and wait, Ilona would hear none of Vlad's demands and immediately saw to his wounds. Ilona is every bit devoted to Wallachia has Vlad, but when Vlad is compromised, she refuses to see anyone else but her husband first thing.

While Ilona is a compassionate healer, she is also stony-faced in the face of her husband's victims. Having been told that he only takes the would-be enemies of Wallachia, Ilona sees these practices as a necessary evil. Odd for a healer to be compassionate, not wishing any pain upon her patients and if so they have pain, she wishes to alleviate it. That she can be so kind and gentle to one man and then cruel and indifferent in the face of another man's death is quite the opposite. Ilona believes with all her heart that she is doing what is best for Vlad and Wallachia. Each prisoner's death, each collected bowl of blood, with every inhuman act she commits, she is further ensconced in her belief that this necessary evil will lead to good someday. She's steeled herself to wash away the blood from Vlad and hers hands, serving Vlad the collected blood which she has purified, in her belief that what she and Vlad do will lead to the greater good of humanity. While her methodology of killing is to alleviate the suffering before taking the blood, Ilona still commits murder by slicing throat and wrist of her victims in Vlad's dungeon. Though the prisoners of beg and plead for her mercy, Ilona usually replies that by killing them first and not torturing them like her husband, she is showing mercy.

When Ilona is scared, she has a habit of secluding herself from public. When she was younger, and her mother died when she was only two, Ilona would lock herself in her closets, boudoirs, and climb into high places to ensure that she would not be disturbed. As an adult, Ilona is much the same, only the amount of time she hides is much less. She uses her seclusion to collect her frazzled thoughts and straighten her appearance, so that when she goes back in front of the public eye, she is every bit the composed princess that she was before.

History: Ilona was born to a Michael Szilági of Hungary and his sickly wife, who died four years after Ilona was born. Michael raised Ilona in his cousin Matthias Corvinus's, the King of Hungary's castle alongside the many, many servants and nurses who tended to Ilona's needs and educated her in literature, writing, and manners. Because her father and the King were always busy in the court, Ilona was mostly by herself. She spent time in the library, devouring book after book, and sitting by the fire, working on needlework as was expected of a young lady of nobility. Ilona was not yet a princess, only the second cousin to the King of Hungary, thus, not meriting much in comparison with the King's own children. If anything, the natural princes and princesses were quite cold towards Ilona, believing her to be an interloper in their affairs.

Another reason for their disdain was their envy towards Ilona's healing abilities. Ilona's mother had come from a long line of medicine women, and though she had not been open about her abilities during her marriage (as Michael thought her power to be witchcraft and thus an endangerment to his name), she had healed many people during her youth. And though Ilona had been small when her mother passed away, she had witnessed her mother's power to heal when she would heal any cuts or scraps Ilona sustained during her playing. After her mother passed away, Ilona took to healing herself when an injury was sustained, either by her own clumsiness or from the few times the princes and princesses raised their hands. While Ilona's father was ashamed of his daughter's talents, the King was very much intrigued. He had her make rounds as an assistant nurse whenever his soldiers would return injured and exhausted from battle. While she was surrounded by blood and death, Ilona preferred her days in the sick rooms to her days in the castle.

In the sick rooms, Ilona gained much praise from those she healed. She befriended many a soldier and was even allowed to witness their practice before they went back to battle. Due to her time spent in the sick rooms, Ilona had little fear of disease and the gores of autopsy and other medical practices that most young ladies would find disturbing. She even adopted a most stern bedside manner in which she was often lecturing her patients, berating them for their insolence against bed-rest, and the common stubborn man who longed for the battlefield enough to attempt to fake better health. Ilona would have none of that nonsense and henpeck the men until they fell back into their beds, giving up their lost fight with the small girl.

For the most of her childhood, outside the sick rooms, Ilona was a very quiet, though persistent, person. If she could not read the same books as the princes and princesses, then she would read everything else. If she could not play with the same toys as the princes and princesses, then she would make her own toys (though sloppy and poorly handled). If she could not make the same friends as the princes and princesses, then she would befriend anyone else, starting conversations with the maids, cooks, seamstress and guards whenever she could. Though she remained the lesser in importance, Ilona was certainly most beloved by the castle. And as she grew, becoming more and more the lady her nurses raised her to be, she proved to be the most adored as well, not just by her patients. However, with the princesses prancing about the castle in their rich dresses and beautiful mannerisms, and Ilona in her often bloodied apron and messy appearance, Ilona went unnoticed by the eyes of the opposite sex. And to this, Ilona was quite content to remain unwed and comfortable in the castle, and a harridan in the sick rooms.

And then Vlad Tepes arrived. Vlad had been a former ally of the King before relations soured and they began to look different ways. However, a scuffle of sorts with their shared enemy caused the two to rekindle their friendship, and so the King welcomed Vlad back into his castle. The King and Vlad spent much time together, walking about the castle together in long discussions. One such discussion included Vlad's need for a second wife after his first died so long ago. The King, looking to further cement his good relationship with Vlad, recommended that Vlad look upon the King's own daughters for a possible bride. However, Vlad was not impressed by the princesses. They were either too vain or too spoiled and not at all to Vlad's liking. He told the King that while he enjoyed their friendship, it would soon be time for Vlad to leave.

Days before Vlad had scheduled himself to leave, however, he met Ilona by happy accident. While he had been outside in the King's gardens, mulling in his thoughts over what he would do next once he returned to his castle, Ilona had come rushing out of the sick rooms, demanding clean sheets for the patients. She'd then -- rushing past Vlad -- went back into the sick rooms and proceeded to heel the injured that had arrived that morning. After investigation, Vlad found Ilona to his liking, and told the King that he wished to take Ilona for his second wife. The King relayed this message to Michael, who instantly promised Vlad Ilona's hand at the promise of precious golds and silvers.

When Ilona found out about her apparent betrothal, she was horrified, but when her father and the King expressed their eagerness for Ilona to marry, she gave her reluctant consent to the match. Ilona was sent to Wallachia soon after that first meeting for her wedding, as a young and hesitant bride. She had little time to assess her new home before the wedding, but surmised that her groom was a powerful and intimidating man, interested in barbaric rituals and bloody rites (an opinion she later changed when she learned of Vlad's belief in the power of blood and the effect of the dark prayers). First scared, Ilona went to her wedding expecting to see a monster at the very end of the aisle. Instead, she was pleasantly surprised to find a clean man who treated her dearly and took her hand during their vows.

Though the time before the their marriage's consummation was small, Ilona asked questions and became intrigued with Vlad's beliefs. She began to wonder indeed what her abilities could do for Vlad's ceremonies (which apparently had made him into the fearsome man she met upon her wedding day). She shared with Vlad her passion for healing and asked him what her abilities could do for him. Vlad told Ilona that her abilities could open a world-changing door that would lead to advancing medicine past the common bloodletting and resting. Cross the boundaries of the divine and touch against a (hoped) powerful level of living. A tonic to fight all illnesses, all wounds, heal any ache, mend every bone -- life-changing. Ilona was enraptured by these possibilities and all the good they would do, and told Vlad that she wanted to be a part of his vision for a higher life.

After a very passionate wedding night, Ilona began her new life as Princess of Wallachia. Vlad gave her the run of his medicines and even cleared out several rooms, breaking down wall to make space, to make Ilona a sick room, to Ilona's absolute delight. Her first patients in Wallachia were Vlad's soldiers, whose wounds she healed and infections she purified. She became an integral part of her husband's castle, and when not a month after their wedding, Ilona was announced expecting a child, she became an integral part of her husband as well. Spending so much time with Vlad, Ilona began to study the rituals he performed.

She learned more about the part blood plays in Vlad's rituals, seeing the victims tortured in their cells and watching blood drain from their bodies into bowls that would be transferred to Vlad. The first time she stepped down the stone steps into the dungeons, listening to the screams of pain and pleadings for mercy, she wavered, unsure how to move forward. But Vlad had apparently followed her and asked her if she would accompany him into the dungeons. Ilona took Vlad's arm for support and went into the dungeon. She watched as Vlad tortured a political victim, cutting out tongue, stomach, before draining him of his blood. Vlad saw the sickness in her face and explained to Ilona that all people he brought into his dungeon were enemies of Wallachia. He told her that what he did was a necessary evil so that his people could live a prosperously. Though still queasy, Ilona said that she understood and would learn to get past her sensitivities.

It took Ilona a few months before Ilona could step into the dungeon without an escort to lean against, but she managed to become as imposing a figure in the dungeons as her husband. Whenever a prisoner was brought into the castle, Ilona would soon follow them into the dark recesses alongside Vlad and stand by as the torture process commenced, a face of dark indifference as the screams and cries echoed off the cell walls. After collecting blood from the castle cells, she would purify the fluid and offer it to Vlad, refusing to drink the blood herself as she believed that Vlad should have the higher power whereas she would stand by dutifully to continue the process.

These rituals continued without fail, until one day Vlad was sent a message from Ilona's father that the King of Hungary needed Vlad in battle. Ilona, fearing that her husband would not live to see his child born into the world, collected blood herself alone while Vlad attended meetings to prepare himself for the coming war. While Vlad would torture the prisoners, Ilona killed them first thing and then drained their bodies. When Vlad was ready to leave, Ilona gave to Vlad the blood she had collected and purified as a parting gift. The blood gave Vlad strength and allowed him to return undefeated to his wife who laid upon the birthing bed, exhausted and pained, but happy to receive her husband home.

Ilona birthed a boy, the jewel of Vlad's and Ilona's eyes. Ilona was so attached to the boy that she even refused to allow nursemaids to nurse her son, preferring to feed her son with her own breast-milk, not caring if it lessened the weight of her bosom.

Timeline: Five months after Little Vlad is born.

Abilities: Ilona is a healer who is capable of using her power to heal any open direct wound, ease any fever or illness, or even provide a powerful healing salve by just brushing her finger into the cream. Ilona takes great pride in her power and spend many nights with her husband's soldiers, healing and treating their wounds and defusing any illnesses they may have caught in battle or general protection of King Vlad. Despite her constant presence in the vicinity of the unhealthy, Ilona has yet to contract even a slight cold. Her resistance to illness stems from her power. Ilona can not only heal a wound, but she can purify the wound of any infection. This has made sure that Vlad's army is never one man or so short, and also boosts the morale of Wallachia's populace.

Inventory:
x her medicine bowl
x the medicine bowl's pestle
x a lined black wool overcoat
x tanned, leather boots
x her blood-letting knife
x four lbs. of gold leu (coin)

Link to an image of the character: This is a link to the image

Prose Sample: A really good thread since it compares Ariel's cheery attitude to Ilona's quieter reactions.

Journal Sample: [ It's a scrying mirror. Ilona hasn't seen a scrying mirror for a while, at least not outside of Vlad's private study. She finds it bundled up in her cloak when she first starts awake on the temple floor, and if it weren't for Ilona's quickly catching the mirror, it probably would have broke upon impact with the ground. ] --ah! [ She wipes her long sleeve against the reflective surface. ] Why is it so dirty? [ She wipes away a long-lined smudge, clearing the surface. ] Much better. [ It then decides to activate with a flash of light. ] Oh!

[ Instead of releasing the tension in her fingers in reflex, she only grips the mirror tighter in surprise. Now, upon the network, the young princess's face can be seen, bemused, a touch frightened, and very confused. But that face is nothing compared to the open-mouthed shock her face displays when she starts to hear voices -- of all things! -- coming out of the mirror.

She hesitantly calls out through the din. ]

Hello? [ The surface ripples like water dropping into a pond. ] I am-- [ She pauses and thinks. She can't let anyone know she's royalty (if there is anyone here) until she knows who she is dealing with. She starts again. Clearing her throat. ] Is there anyone who may provide assistance to a confused traveler?

this will likely go out of use in a month or so but because Ilona is a work in progress as an OC, I'll ut links here so you can follow her development.

> Ilona & Ariel at amusement park.
> Ilona talking to Rose on dear_mun.
> Ilona talking with a young Integra on dear_mun.
> Ilona & Alucard (maybe_a_count) on dear_mun.
> Ilona & Alucard (thenolifeking) get drunk.

Player Name: Kally
Player DW: squished
Contact: I'm already a member of the game so my contact information is already posted and you know how to reach me.
Character Number: 1 (this would be +1 to = 2)

Character: Ilona Szilágyi
Fandom: Dracula (Fandom OC)

Personality: Ilona is very composed in big company. She's more suited to close, intimate gatherings (where she can be more open with not so many people in a room) and while she may host big crowds as Vlad's wife, she's usually quiet until spoken to with visiting dignitaries (such as, unless someone talks to her directly, she will remain silent and ever-listening) . Due to her quiet upbringing, Ilona is still relatively new to the vibrant court life of bustling lords and ladies which require heightened fashion, demure humor, and a vicious habit of gossip to which Ilona has only just met. She takes comfort in her friendship with castle staff, able to take and then follow through with using their advice. Besides a few select of Vlad's knights, Ilona's only true friends are the maids, servers and cooks.

Ilona's usual disposition is content until excited or angered. She always maintains decorum and doesn't let anyone see her cry. She could be breaking inside to itty-bitty pieces during an important party, and she wouldn't let the dam of tears break until everyone has gone home and she's absolutely alone to wallow in self-pity. Which she loathes. When she feels pity, Ilona has little patience for herself at times and berates herself constantly, meaning that she lacks self-confidence. She questions her own skills and often enough the reason she drowns herself in books is because she wants to learn more about everything so that she's not left behind. Ilona does not like being the lesser known, and absolutely abhors when people skirt about a subject to avoid causing Ilona emotional injury. If she thinks that she is hearing a lie, or being regarded delicately, she often enough is quiet, but also cold. If she does not like you, you will know when you attempt to greet her or talk to her and you receive a very icy shoulder for your efforts. This is called snubbing, and yes, Ilona has snubbed her fair share of people.

If you really want to know Ilona's biggest shortcoming, it is that she is incredibly stubborn. No, she won't raise a fist (unless you attack her physically) but she will persist on a subject no matter if it is closed or open or even discussed. She does not backdown easily, and while this is a wonderful trait in a ruler -- to be able to not let a matter go until it is seen and amended -- it does little good when pitted against the more stubborn dignitaries of Wallachia. While Vlad is the ruler, there are people in his court who also have a hand in Wallachia's day to day happenings. She's disregarded several on several occasions and while she was made to stand by and let things happen, her cool remarks have stuck and caused her grief and frustrations for the future. And she holds no remorse for speaking her mind.

Because of her less outspoken nature in public, Ilona is often perceived as a demure young princess, and at parties, a bit of a bore. Because she does not engage conversation on her own in big crowds (people must ask her questions to get her to say anything to them) she's also been viewed as a dull young woman.

But just because Ilona is publicly to the side, does not mean that alone, she is the same in regards to niceties. Ilona is a very caring young woman, showing hope and small affection for her patients, such as holding a scared patient's hand in reassurance when they are terrified, or quieting an ill, upset child. There is great compassion in her heart, especially when she stays at a patient's bedside, holding their hand to soothe their pains as their lives slowly fade away, or when she remains sleepless, waiting for a patient to wake from their pain-reduced sleep. Ilona's thought process is that she does not like seeing those who are loyal to her and Wallachia, in pain. Even to those who Vlad has caused great injury, she wants to be of use.

Ilona can be described as an intelligent woman with a different array of opinions that are often viewed as odd and unconventional (one of the reasons that she does not give much voice in Wallachia's public eye). She has vast knowledge of books and enjoys a quiet reading now and then and relishes new information. She is able to match word for word in her husband's court and is capable of defending herself before the wives (and most often, the husbands) of foreign dignitaries without even raising her voice. Ilona holds her head up high and has a very balanced composure in which she's known to not even bat an eyelash at a cursing knight or a enraged lord. She is always careful to consider all her options in any decision before the decision is made, as she believes that while her least liked choice may be - obviously - not her favorite, it could benefit the greater good of her people.

While Ilona is not very outspoken in large groups, she is capable of participating constructively and actively in her husband's council room. As she was taught to be demure and quiet as a child, she relishes the opportunity to have her odd and unconventional opinions be heard and even considered. Though she is not loud about it, she is very passionate about the issues she holds dear to her heart, and she will even go toe to toe with her husband to that extent. She doesn't hold back any comments or facts whether or not they may hurt Vlad or a councilor, as she believes that in informing the men and encouraging them to follow her suggestions, then she will be preventing any speculation and doubt from the public. However, she has kept her mouth shut and looked away from the hard fist of her husband when he declares battle or attacks someone in their court. As princess, she knows that she doesn't have much say in what happens in Wallachia, but she ensures that Vlad knows her opinions once they are made known and that he doesn't brush her off like he would an attendant.

Though she does not always agree with Vlad, Ilona does love her husband. She enjoys spending time with him in their library and watching him bounce their five month old son, Little Vlad, on his knee. She believes that he is a good King and a good father, but wishes that he were a better human being. She thinks that it would make loving him easier on her sense of mind and state of moralities. When Vlad is hurt, Ilona drops everything she is doing (barring if she's with their son) and rushes to his side. She's burst out of the castle in her nightdress once on a cold morning, an hour before sunrise, when her husband was being brought back to Wallachia, injured by a sword wound. Despite his haggard orders for her to return to the castle and wait, Ilona would hear none of Vlad's demands and immediately saw to his wounds. Ilona is every bit devoted to Wallachia has Vlad, but when Vlad is compromised, she refuses to see anyone else but her husband first thing.

When Ilona is scared, she has a habit of secluding herself from public. When she was younger, and her mother died when she was only two, Ilona would lock herself in her closets, boudoirs, and climb into high places to ensure that she would not be disturbed. As an adult, Ilona is much the same, only the amount of time she hides is much less. She uses her seclusion to collect her frazzled thoughts and straighten her appearance, so that when she goes back in front of the public eye, she is every bit the composed princess that she was before.

History: Ilona was born to a Michael Szilági of Hungary and his sickly wife, who died four years after Ilona was born. Michael raised Ilona in his cousin Matthias Corvinus's, the King of Hungary's castle alongside the many, many servants and nurses who tended to Ilona's needs and educated her in literature, writing, and manners. Because her father and the King were always busy in the court, Ilona was mostly by herself. She spent time in the library, devouring book after book, and sitting by the fire, working on needlework as was expected of a young lady of nobility. Ilona was not yet a princess, only the second cousin to the King of Hungary, thus, not meriting much in comparison with the King's own children. If anything, the natural princes and princesses were quite cold towards Ilona, believing her to be an interloper in their affairs.

Another reason for their disdain was their envy towards Ilona's healing abilities. Ilona's mother had come from a long line of medicine women, and though she had not been open about her abilities during her marriage (as Michael thought her power to be witchcraft and thus an endangerment to his name), she had healed many people during her youth. And though Ilona had been small when her mother passed away, she had witnessed her mother's power to heal when she would heal any cuts or scraps Ilona sustained during her playing. After her mother passed away, Ilona took to healing herself when an injury was sustained, either by her own clumsiness or from the few times the princes and princesses raised their hands. While Ilona's father was ashamed of his daughter's talents, the King was very much intrigued. He had her make rounds as an assistant nurse whenever his soldiers would return injured and exhausted from battle. While she was surrounded by blood and death, Ilona preferred her days in the sick rooms to her days in the castle.

In the sick rooms, Ilona gained much praise from those she healed. She befriended many a soldier and was even allowed to witness their practice before they went back to battle. Due to her time spent in the sick rooms, Ilona had little fear of disease and the gores of autopsy and other medical practices that most young ladies would find disturbing. She even adopted a most stern bedside manner in which she was often lecturing her patients, berating them for their insolence against bed-rest, and the common stubborn man who longed for the battlefield enough to attempt to fake better health. Ilona would have none of that nonsense and henpeck the men until they fell back into their beds, giving up their lost fight with the small girl.

For the most of her childhood, outside the sick rooms, Ilona was a very quiet, though persistent, person. If she could not read the same books as the princes and princesses, then she would read everything else. If she could not play with the same toys as the princes and princesses, then she would make her own toys (though sloppy and poorly handled). If she could not make the same friends as the princes and princesses, then she would befriend anyone else, starting conversations with the maids, cooks, seamstress and guards whenever she could. Though she remained the lesser in importance, Ilona was certainly most beloved by the castle. And as she grew, becoming more and more the lady her nurses raised her to be, she proved to be the most adored as well, not just by her patients. However, with the princesses prancing about the castle in their rich dresses and beautiful mannerisms, and Ilona in her often bloodied apron and messy appearance, Ilona went unnoticed by the eyes of the opposite sex. And to this, Ilona was quite content to remain unwed and comfortable in the castle, and a harridan in the sick rooms.

And then Vlad Tepes arrived. Vlad had been a former ally of the King before relations soured and they began to look different ways. However, a scuffle of sorts with their shared enemy caused the two to rekindle their friendship, and so the King welcomed Vlad back into his castle. The King and Vlad spent much time together, walking about the castle together in long discussions. One such discussion included Vlad's need for a second wife after his first died so long ago. The King, looking to further cement his good relationship with Vlad, recommended that Vlad look upon the King's own daughters for a possible bride. However, Vlad was not impressed by the princesses. They were either too vain or too spoiled and not at all to Vlad's liking. He told the King that while he enjoyed their friendship, it would soon be time for Vlad to leave.

Days before Vlad had scheduled himself to leave, however, he met Ilona by happy accident. While he had been outside in the King's gardens, mulling in his thoughts over what he would do next once he returned to his castle, Ilona had come rushing out of the sick rooms, demanding clean sheets for the patients. She'd then -- rushing past Vlad -- went back into the sick rooms and proceeded to heel the injured that had arrived that morning. After investigation, Vlad found Ilona to his liking, and told the King that he wished to take Ilona for his second wife. The King relayed this message to Michael, who instantly promised Vlad Ilona's hand at the promise of precious golds and silvers.

When Ilona found out about her apparent betrothal, she was horrified, but when her father and the King expressed their eagerness for Ilona to marry, she gave her reluctant consent to the match. Ilona was sent to Wallachia soon after that first meeting for her wedding, as a young and hesitant bride. She had little time to assess her new home before the wedding, but surmised that her groom was a powerful and intimidating man, interested in barbaric rituals and bloody rites. First scared, Ilona went to her wedding expecting to see a monster at the very end of the aisle. Instead, she was pleasantly surprised to find a clean man who treated her dearly and took her hand during their vows.

After a very passionate wedding night, Ilona began her new life as Princess of Wallachia. Vlad gave her the run of his medicines and even cleared out several rooms, breaking down wall to make space, to make Ilona a sick room, to Ilona's absolute delight. Her first patients in Wallachia were Vlad's soldiers, whose wounds she healed and infections she purified. She became an integral part of her husband's castle, and when not a month after their wedding, Ilona was announced expecting a child, she became an integral part of her husband as well. Spending so much time with Vlad, Ilona began to study the barbaric rituals he performed. She even participated in a few herself before Vlad was sent a message from Ilona's father that the King of Hungary needed Vlad in battle. Ilona, fearing that her husband would not live to see his child born into the world, stole several of ritual rites books from Vlad's library.

She learned more about the part blood plays in particular rituals, and after collecting blood from the castle cells, she purified the fluid and offered it to Vlad as a parting gift. The blood gave Vlad strength and allowed him to return undefeated to his wife who laid upon the birthing bed, exhausted and pained, but happy to receive her husband home.

Ilona birthed a boy, the jewel of Vlad's and Ilona's eyes. Ilona was so attached to the boy that she even refused to allow nursemaids to nurse her son, preferring to feed her son with her own breast-milk, not caring if it lessened the weight of her bosom.

Timeline: Five months after Little Vlad is born.

Abilities: Ilona is a healer who is capable of using her power to heal any open direct wound, ease any fever or illness, or even provide a powerful healing salve by just brushing her finger into the cream. Ilona takes great pride in her power and spend many nights with her husband's soldiers, healing and treating their wounds and defusing any illnesses they may have caught in battle or general protection of King Vlad. Despite her constant presence in the vicinity of the unhealthy, Ilona has yet to contract even a slight cold. Her resistance to illness stems from her power. Ilona can not only heal a wound, but she can purify the wound of any infection. This has made sure that Vlad's army is never one man or so short, and also boosts the morale of Wallachia's populace.

Inventory:
x her medicine bowl
x the medicine bowl's pestle
x a lined black wool overcoat
x tanned, leather boots
x her blood-letting knife
x four lbs. of gold leu (coin)

Link to an image of the character: This is a link to the image

Prose Sample: A really good thread since it compares Ariel's cheery attitude to Ilona's quieter reactions.

Journal Sample: [ It's a scrying mirror. Ilona hasn't seen a scrying mirror for a while, at least not outside of Vlad's private study. She finds it bundled up in her cloak when she first starts awake on the temple floor, and if it weren't for Ilona's quickly catching the mirror, it probably would have broke upon impact with the ground. ] --ah! [ She wipes her long sleeve against the reflective surface. ] Why is it so dirty? [ She wipes away a long-lined smudge, clearing the surface. ] Much better. [ It then decides to activate with a flash of light. ] Oh!

[ Instead of releasing the tension in her fingers in reflex, she only grips the mirror tighter in surprise. Now, upon the network, the young princess's face can be seen, bemused, a touch frightened, and very confused. But that face is nothing compared to the open-mouthed shock her face displays when she starts to hear voices -- of all things! -- coming out of the mirror.

She hesitantly calls out through the din. ]

Hello? [ The surface ripples like water dropping into a pond. ] I am-- [ She pauses and thinks. She can't let anyone know she's royalty (if there is anyone here) until she knows who she is dealing with. She starts again. Clearing her throat. ] Is there anyone who may provide assistance to a confused traveler?