Rhaella Rhysling

Rhaella Rhysling is the eldest child of Lord Damon Rhysling and his wife, Lea Redwyne. The first of two children, Rhaella is the Heir to Starfish Harbor and her father's legacy. She covets the title ''Mistress of Starfish Harbor. ''

Appearance and Character
The Heir to Starfish Harbor is a pretty woman, if not beautiful. Commanding a striking presence, Rhaella Rhysling is beloved by common and noble alike, and for good reason. Smooth of speech and amiable, Rhaella has earned herself the hearts of the people of the Arbor. Her figure reflects her physical nature – when not dealing with the economics of the Harbor, her time is spent on mundane tasks, and she’s grown muscles from it, remaining slender and tall.

She has long, fiery red hair that matches her brows and the rich caramel of her pale skin. Bright, amber eyes frame her visage, each part of her face taking up as much room as the next, equally as striking. Her full lips and long neck are blemished only by the slightest dashing of freckles.

A minor noble, Rhaella dresses in rich cottons passed down from her mother. Despite the warmth of the Arbor, she often bundles up – it seems that she is always cold. Despite her smooth and amiable nature, Rhaella is an intense negotiator, especially so with foreign envoys. Her common folk are treated much different, however, and she visits those most prominent among them often. She is known to listen, forgive and forget, and even provide shelter to those in need. Because of this, Starfish Harbor has seen a remarkably small amount of poverty; Rhaella has even endorsed three orphanages.

Childhood
The year was 421 AC. For ten long years, the marriage of Lord Damon Rhysling to his wife, Lea Redwyne, had failed to bear fruit. Ten long years had been spent in a desperate search for fertility, and in that fateful year, Lea births her first child: Rhaella Rhysling, who took after her; beautiful and red-haired with big brown eyes, Rhaella was the first of two children. A younger sister, Serra, was born two years later.

Despite the search for a male heir, Lord Damon was said to be content with two daughters. “Who better to rule after than the daughters of the woman I love?” And indeed, though Lea’s knowledge and worldliness was plentiful, there was a precociousness about the eldest child that was not exhibited in the younger. Ever-curious, Rhaella had learned her letters by three, could speak Valyrian by six and had perfected three dialects by ten; her grace was exemplary, and there became no child more beloved in the Arbor than her.

Teenage Years
Though still a child, Rhaella was quickly becoming a prominent figure in Starfish Harbor. Beloved by the many friends of Lord Damon, Rhaella soon drifted apart from her tutors and would instead learn from the common folk, such rudimentary skills that a lady should not have been afforded – fishing, hunting, making milk and cream and wine. She enjoyed grape-treading the most, it is said, and in long nights celebrating bountiful harvests she felt particularly at home.

She was not without friend, either. Stable-boys and young women were drawn to her, and soon enough she had her own network of friends within Starfish Harbor. Though nothing would come of the seeds planted in these years, Rhaella would keep these friends well into her womanly years, and has written often that she, “loves them all,” in much the same way one loves their mother.

Despite her precociousness, despite her willingness to learn, Rhaella never desired to leave the Arbor. Such was given precedent when, during the Second Hammer Rebellion, Rhaella and her family stayed home, tending to their wines and crops. During the summer, Rhaella worked in the fields and vineyards, determined to humble herself. Her father allowed her this, as he did so much else.

Well into her years, Rhaella began hunting, hawking, and more. Though she found such lady-like pursuits to be beyond her, she would often be accompanied by her mother on such journeys. Rhaella and her would oft sail to the Mermaid’s Palace, and linger there until tide had dangerously rolled in. Such long days spent in each other’s company endeared mother and daughter, but their relationship was rocky, and littered with misgivings and misconceptions; Lea would plead with her husband to not allow Rhaella to ‘obeisce’ herself to the common people, and despite her daughter’s pleas, she would not listen.

Such was the rift sewn. Lea returned to Vinehall with her youngest daughter, Serra.

Sweet Tongue
The following year, the Four Year Winter began. Thirteen years old, Rhaella was swiftly growing into a beautiful young woman. Praised for both beauty and charm, Rhaella began working as a clerk under her father's steward. Quickly rising through the ranks, winter began to set in, and though winters were never particularly harsh on the Arbor, cold winds from the north made the seas less stable, and even in the sound Starfish Harbor was not without it's share of troubles. Flooding was not uncommon. Efforts to restrict the flow of water in and out proved difficult, and dangerous.

Despite their plight, homes were erected in the surrounding areas to prevent such from happening again. Merchants had a difficult time getting into Starfish Harbor as well, though mending that would prove impossible. Instead, trade was diverted to Vinetown and Ryamsport, and Starfish had it's worst years since the Scarlet Winter over thirty years prior.

Once winter had settled in, Rhaella travelled to Vinehall. She was fifteen at the time, and when she was welcomed by Lord Ryam, she was not given much heed by her mother. Instead, Rhaella languished for three long weeks before she chanced to gather her mother's ear.

What followed was a day-long discussion. Rhaella was cool and level-headed, and though their debate never escalated beyond terse words, Rhaella emerged flushed and weeping. They had entered in the morn, and exited come the eve.

Another week passed. She met Lucien Redwyne during this time, the pragmatic heir to the Arbor, who convinced her to try again. Though Rhaella felt all was lost, he pleaded with her that family ties should never be forgotten... so, the following day, she returned to her mother.

The outcome was different this time. Though the details of their conversation are lost, what can be certain is that mother and daughter were reunited, and in the following days they enjoyed lavish life and more. Mother and daughter were seen together... and sisters too; Serra, who'd been neglected by Rhaella for so long, was seen laughing at her side. Rhaella would take her hunting come morning, and would tread in wine come night.

Just as the storm of their relationship was beginning to settle, so too was the Four Year Winter. Rhaella returned to Starfish Harbor with her mother therein, and would remain there until 439 AC. Shortly after her arrival, her father set about rounds of the Arbor, and Rhaella remained home, lady in all but name.

438 AC
Though winter in the Arbor was never particularly difficult, a sense of relief washed through the people of Starfish Harbor when the cold winds from the north began to settle. Winter storms became less frequent, and the land grew more fertile. Money which had flowed in an unsteady stream now flowed through Starfish Harbor as it did the other major ports on the Arbor.

Rhaella was foremost amongst the architects of Starfish’s resurgence. Though not sixteen, Rhaella’s sense for coin and economics was admirable, even excellent for a young woman of her age. She made quick friends of merchants, paid debts that had haunted her family for generations. Whilst Rhaella was seeing to the harbor, her father, Damon, was travelling throughout the isles, and often. Ever a charismatic figure, he was welcomed first by Lord Rewyne, then Lord Redding and Lord Lowther. Oftimes he would spend weeks hawking and hunting, and grew to mislike the ideals of lordship he’d so long toiled over.

Once, in conversation with Lord Redwyne, Lord Damon was like to have said that Rhaella was, “as worthy an heir as any man,” and, “she has proven herself thrice over, in beauty and charm and grace.”

Lord Damon’s pride only extended so far. Despite her father’s appraisal, Rhaella remained in Starfish Harbor. She would subject herself some days to work of a common woman, sometimes twelve to fifteen hours at a time; she would write in her journal that she slept less and less every night, and that she preferred the toil of the day to any menial lord’s work.

Indeed, such a lifestyle grew on the eldest child of the Lord. Rhaella was on her feet most of the day, working hard and harder to improve the life of those beneath her, teaching skills to young women like her, and comforting the old and the dying. Soon, Rhaella became no less beloved by her people than she loved them.

Her father’s return, late in the year from the Tourney and Marriage at Oldtown marked a significant shift in her life, however. After lording over Starfish Harbor for almost a year, her father had returned, though not with ill grace. He bestowed upon his daughter three gifts: a jade pearl from the east, along a silver necklace; a flowing gossamer gown of pale green, and a light feather hat to hide from the sun’s heat.

439 AC
Since then, Rhaella has been investing herself in the common folk around her, and though news of the death of the king had certainly startled her, life continued as it did – for what did one have to fear on a small island far to the south, away from any trouble?

Such would remain to be seen. The matter was certain, however, for her father had chosen her to represent House Rhysling at the Great Council, be it however she pleased.

Family

 * Damon Rhysling, Lord of Starfish Harbor, b. 390 AC
 * m. Lea Redwyne, b. 394 AC
 * Rhaella Rhysling, b. 421 AC
 * Serra Rhysling, b. 423 AC
 * w. Tansy of the Harbor
 * Landon Flowers, b. 410 AC
 * Olenna Rhysling, b. 383 AC
 * w. Ryam Redwyne
 * Arys Flowers, b. 401 AC