Matron Ilivarra de'Camyras
| Biological | |
| Full name: | Ilivarra de'Camyras |
|---|---|
| Born: | October 18 |
| Birthplace: | Zhanduril, Crystal Dimension |
| Sex: | Female |
| Race: | Dark Elf |
| Hair: | White |
| Eyes: | Red |
| Height: | 5'8" |
| Weight: | 115 lbs |
| Personal | |
| Marital Status: | Long term Patron (Zaknafein de'Camyras) |
| Family/Relationships: | {{{family}}} |
| Religion: | Sindrai'el Worship |
| Title: | Matron Mother of House de'Camyras |
| Nicknames: | None |
| Hobbies: | Massages, scrying, fine wines, irritating Ambika Everhate |
| Known skills: | Divine Drow magic |
| Favorite color: | Violet |
| Inspiration: | Sindrai'el |
| Motto: | "Keep your lovers close, and your enemies closer." |
History
When Ilivarra was born to House de'Camyras, it was an ancient, long-established family with a history that stretched back even before the Drow were banished underground, yet it could never seem to move up in the city. It was ranked 58th, scraping the bottom of the city's strict hierarchy of noble houses. Growing up, Ilivarra despised this, and vowed to change the family's fortunes by purging it of what she deemed the weakness that held it back. At the ripe age of 45, barely into adolescence and her training at Arach-Tinilith, Ilivarra began to plot. She seduced a number of the house's males--including a young commoner named Zaknafein who served as a master at Melee-Magthere--into helping her stage a coup. One by one, she poisoned her sisters to stave off any potential rivals, and finally killed her mother, seizing control of House de'Camyras and becoming one of the youngest Matron Mothers in history.
Ilivarra took Zaknafein as her Patron, having a number of sons with him, and daughters by various and sundry other males, but never seemed to have enough daughters to serve as priestesses. However, her lax treatment of the males of the house was well-known, and houseless rogues and nobles alike flocked to her banner. She decided then that she would take this seeming curse and turn it to her advantage, and quietly began to build a force of mages and warriors second to none in the city. She made alliances at a staggering rate, hiring her men out as mercenaries and gaining the attention and envy of the higher ranked houses. Then, when it was least expected, she struck. House de'Camyras went on a bloody rampage the likes of which has not been seen since in recorded Drow history. In the ensuing years, Ilivarra brutally clawed her way up the power ladder in Zhanduril, her superbly trained army crushing any and all comers. The end result was House de'Camyras ascending to second rank in a record 200 years, something unheard of.
Ilivarra's main weakness is her blind pursuit of power at any cost, which tends to give her tunnel vision at times. Her hunger for the ultimate priestess to serve her led her to her greatest mistake, leaving her very gifted daughter, Kariza--a child of the Ilhar Velve Ilivarra used to destroy House Valneis--in the hands of two impious males who encouraged her disobedient attitude towards Sindrai'el. Kariza's defection to the surface stung Ilivarra and caused her--and thus, House de'Camyras--to lose the Spider Queen's favor. Despite her many enemies circling like vultures, Ilivarra remains confident that she will weather the coming storm, and come out even further ahead.
Personality
Matron Ilivarra is a stunning woman, even for a Dark Elf, and knows it. She enjoys flaunting her body in low cut, revealing gowns that tend to leave very little to the imagination. She also adores expensive jewelry, and is never seen without her favorite piece: a stunning gem-encrusted golden necklace that is rumored to have magical properties.
One has to be a rather gifted individual in order to survive 516 years in the viper's nest of intrigue that is Zhanduril, and Ilivarra certainly is. She's one of the most powerful high priestesses in all of Zhanduril, and as Matron Mother of the Second House, is the only Drow to approach Lady Ambika in terms of temporal power. She is tremendously cunning and resourceful, and has an uncanny knack for turning any situation to her advantage. Ilivarra is not one to throw her weight around unnecessarily, unlike other Matron Mothers, and has perfected the arts of charm and seduction in order to get what she wants. Because of her reputation as lenient towards males, she is perhaps the only Matron Mother to enjoy fierce allegiance from the men of the house. Ilivarra is also a bloodthirsty warrior, relishing combat unlike other Matrons. She was trained by Zaknafein, and as such is quite skilled in combat. Ilivarra's insatiable appetite for pleasure is also a profound Achilles' heel for her. Any other Matron would have rightfully sacrificed the impudent Zak years ago, superb skill with the blade or not, but her lust for him has kept him alive perhaps to her own disadvantage.
