| Suzanne Vibben, Duchess of Wailing March | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Positions |
Duchess of Wailing March |
|
Predecessor |
David Vibben |
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Title |
Archmage Vibben |
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Date of Birth |
5 B.P. |
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Affiliations |
House of Vibben |
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Published Works |
An Arcanist's Study of Shamanism, An Arcanist's Study of the Divine, Organic Magical Catalysts and Their Uses, The Ebonloch Library Arcane Reference |
|
Status |
Alive |
|
Relations |
[Orazio Garibald] (husband, alive), Marcus Vibben and Marcia Garibald (children, alive) |
Suzanne Loren Vibben (neé Arkwright) is the Duchess of Wailing March.
Appearance[]
Duchess Suzanne is petite in the truest sense, standing at five feet two inches in height and weighing a slight one hundred pounds. Her shoulders are narrow, and the delicate bones of her face and neck are clearly visible. A slight frame appears to have little muscle tone and presents only the most subtle of feminine curvature.
Art by Kelzack
Suzanne has splendid eyes- large, deep brown and carrying a pensive shine. The face is long and angular, with a pointed chin and aquiline nose, as if a sculptor had carved her from stone but had not thought to soften her edges. Her hair is naturally a light auburn, but is dyed black and worn long due to courtly etiquiette. It does remain simply styled, usually without accessories or curls. Despite being in her late thirties, Suzanne posseses and ageless quality, and may be taken for twenty as easily as forty.
While never beautiful, some may consider her handsome.
Personality and Beliefs[]
Lady Vibben often has an affected air, like and actor who isn't quite in character. Though not outwardly standoffish, she is a quiet sort that rarely initiates a conversation. She has little skill for small talk and will remain silent more often than not during exchanges of vague pleasantries, but one always has the impression that she is not only listening, but scrutinizing.
Suzanne has a distinct lack of philosophical and romantic nature, and has a tendency toward the literal and concrete. She is by no means a pious woman, despite having seen the power of the Light, and pays only token respects to the divine.
Though born into her station, Suzanne does not hold the attachment to her peerage rank many do- seeing it more as a means to an end rather than a civic duty of any sort. She is an able adminstrator of her holdings and assures her smallfolk are well off; if only for the reason that they must be so to ensure she is as well.
History[]
Childhood and the First War[]
Born to Lord Duncan Arkwright and Lady Hester some five years before the opening of the Dark Portal, Suzanne was the only child to survive to adulthood. The fistborn twin sons died within a week of birth, and the first daughter met an untimely end drowning at nine.
The Wailing March was largely isolated from the First War, only coming into contact with the occasional stray orc attemping to join the others in Alterac Valley. Naturally, any greenskin filth passing through the March were killed on sight.
Marriage and the Second War[]
The formation of the Alliance of Lordaeron ultimately shaped Suzanne's fate more than any other event. The House of Arkwright was on its last legs, the Lord holding his title and little more. The family had long lived on a run-down estate in Chestermere, a 'luxury' afforded to them by the Marquess David Vibben of the Wailing March.
While she was not a classic beauty, Suzanne was pretty then- if only because in her mid-teens the softness of youth had not totally faded. Her House's poverty meant her formal education was lacking, though her innate talent for painting had been quickly turned into a channel for garnering favors.
When the time came for the armies of the Alliance of Lordaeron to tame the chaotic Orcs, Marquess Vibben reminded the Lord Arkwright of the favor shown him and commanded he lead the March's soldiers to the battlefield. A hard man with little love for any save himself, the Lord at once offered his daughter in exchange for being allowed to remain away from the front. Lady Hester, too, had no love for the sharp-faced girl she had birthed, and readily agreed to the arrangement.
The Marquess was nearly three times Suzanne's age, and already widowed under strange circumstances- but he accepted and made the girl an offer. And so, at the age of sixteen Suzanne Arkwright became Lady Suzanne Vibben.
The Third War[]
Forever a coward, the Marquess Vibben left for his southern estates at the first sign of northern trouble, leaving the Lord Duncan and Lady Hester to 'oversee' the affairs of the March. Everything went south: the militia, the estate staff, and his wife. It was not long before the Wailing March was overrun with Scourge, wiping out all the denizens of the territory. Marquess David was content to hide in the Redridge Mountains with his fortune, abandoning his motherland to the Scourge and Forsaken.
The Long Isolation[]
However sure of his actions he seemed, the Marquess' greatest fear was retribution for his cowardice. Through bribes, favors, and threats, he kept his estate and assets well under wraps. He secured tutors for his wife, offering high salaries for discretion.
Suzanne was educated by a disgraced scholar of the Clergy and a wayward, drunken mage- the only people willing to take up positions in so dishonorable a House. Development of her latent talent for Cryomancy consumed her interest during the long years.
Death of the Marquess and the Kingdom of Lordaeron Restored[]
Just as the Grand Alliance made landfall on the shores of Pandaria, the Marquess took ill and became totally bedridden. Suzanne was his sole legitimate survivor, and heir to all he owned.
Within months of the Marquess' death, the lady had ordered her affairs and set forth to Stormwind with the intent of presenting herself before the Queen. She was determined not be punished for the transgressions of her husband, and so swore fealty to the Crown.
The Second Grand Crusade[]
The first test of Suzanne's new allegiance came within weeks of her oath, when the Royal Army marched against the Forsaken. Despite never having seen any real combat the noblewoman took to the front lines without hesitation, and though lacking the polished skills of her peers, proved to be a force to be reckoned with. The margravine suffered injuries in each engagement of the campaign, but took to the field regardless.
The Dove Rebellion[]
Led by the remnants of the House of Creed, the 'Dovemen' riled the smallfolk, particularly those of The Grasp and The Grave, against the crown. The Dove Rebellion proved to be more dangerous to the margravine's health than the Grand Crusade, and there were three engagements that nearly claimed her life. Just as she did during the crusade, Suzanne served honorably and was present at every battle until the rebellion had been put down.
The Eastfold Campaign[]
With Charlotte Marlow's army defeated at the Battle of Silver Hills, Suzanne finally saw the conclusion of a campaign started well before she had any vested interest in Eastfold.
Though the margravine herself did not take the field, she lent her aid in the form of her remaining guard and the priestess Orelia Lucio. The work of both the Marcher rifleman and the young priestess garnered praise from the other champions on the field.
The Archmage of Ebonloch: Rise and Fall[]
By Her Majesty's decree, Suzanne headed the Council of Ebonloch, Lordaeron's magical center intended to replace Dalaran. While she is dedicated to seeing Lordaeron's magical achievements advanced, Suzanne grappled with the ever-present conflicts of her peers. For a time, she was able to hold a balance among them, but the task proved too great following her long absence due to her pregnancy and the birth of her children.
During its height, the Council saw magical tactics and weaponry without equal brought to the Royal Army; as well as breakthroughs in magical theory and revival of ancient native magics. Once trained under the watchful eye of the Duchess, magi proved to be one of the greatest additions to any regiment on the field.
The unraveling of this crucial research institution can be traced to the departure of Edevyn Bayne, an event that the Duchess to this day refuses to comment on, besides stating she is fond of Viscountess Baneridge and admires her genius despite their disagreements. For some time, Ebonloch remained and active presence, even after it had been absorbed into the Royal Army as a magical regiment operating out of Riverspire.
In the end, the conflicts that had ravaged the magi both before and after the War of the Light proved too much for the Duchess to rebuild, and her resignation on the premise of dedicating her time to motherhood was accepted by Her Majesty.
Lady of Eastfold[]
Suzanne's appearance among the Queen's Men did not turn many heads, save for one: Baron Garibald. Despite having been married twenty years and widowed for only one, the margravine encouraged the baron's advances- to her benefit. The affair of convenience soon turned into a true courtship, and an informal alliance between houses.
In the fall of the year 623 K.C. Suzanne wed Orazio Garibald, Viscount of Eastfold. Though their houses have not yet been approved in a formal union, she believes the boon will be granted should she prove herself worthy of it.
in summer of the year 624 K.C. Suzanne gave birth to the fraternal twins Marcus Vibben and Marcia Garibald. Their names and inheritances remain divided at present, and it is unclear whether changes will be made. The birth was difficult and forced the margravine into a fever and bedrest, though she refused to remain in convalescence for more than a week.
Scourge Invasion and the Containment of the Forsaken[]
The attempted invasion of Lordaeron by a Scourge army under the command of the lich Archaemian is perhaps the conflict that crystallized the Duchess' place as a capable magical military force. Her confinement was at perhaps its most crucial stage during the height of the conflict, and thus she was forced to return to Blackmarsh with the decimated Dawnguard after the Battle of Shattered Stone.
She returned, however, alongside King-Consort Prestor Falomyr, Lady Edevyn Bayne, and her Lord-Husband to break the Siege of Tulloch Hold. During the assault of the crypt lord Anub'Azzar, Suzanne managed to teleport herself and the Mark I: Annihilator into the center of the hold and erect a protective barrier over the exhausted royal forces while the dragon riders met the enemy on the field.
Following the Siege and the victorious return to Blackmarsh, the Duchess took to true confinement until the birth of her children. Though the twins were born early, the Duchess was largely absent from the conflicts with the Forsaken due to the fever that took her following a difficult birth.
Ascension and the War of the Light[]
WIP
Inheritence Controversy[]
Marquess David had one living blood relation at his time of death: a bastard son only three years younger than Suzanne and born of a maid. The boy, Lorenzo, went through life as a counting house clerk and was well-liked among the estates servants. Upon the Marquess' death it was expected that Lorenzo would petition to be legitimized- but to do so would mean facing the claimant, Queen Madelynne I.
Lorenzo knew facing Her Majesty would mean renewing the loyalities of the House to Lordaeron; something his father had spent years avoiding. Desperate to dodge the responsibilities of his rank, Lorenzo beseeched Lady Suzanne to ratify his claim on her authority. Their closeness in age seemed to give the man a false sense of companionship, and he trusted her implicitly to handle the affair. The Lady promised Lorenzo she would handle the matter, and sent him on a expedition north under the pretext of having him assess the state of the March. He never returned.
Her initial time as the Margravine of the Wailing March was difficult. She faced resentment and disobedience from nearly all the lower level staff, who had hoped the ill-bred Lorenzo would be their new master. But Suzanne had been patient- there had been years of isolation to plan. Over time (and in particular through Marquess' decline) she had made lackeys of the bailiff, the steward, and the head maid- and these crucial leaders of the commons saw her hold on the assets and peoples of the house solidified.
![Suzanne Vibben, by Baenhoof [karnokoto.deviantart.com]](/wiki/File:Vibben,_by_Baen.png "Vibben, by Baen.png (1.83 MB)")