Thurva dar Eltri
From Zok
Thurva is the daughter of Eltri (the founder of Eltrin), the Blademistress of Tein-Larion, and one of the most powerful nobles in Saltur. She left her father's territory several centuries ago over a dispute regarding a proposed marriage to the king of Comtrana. A graduate of Tein-Larion, she knew King Saltur from school (where she had consistently demonstrated an ability to introduce him to whichever elven ladies he was interested in, as well as shrewd administrative capabilities) and so it was in his lands that she sought a new home.
Thurva's lands are in northeastern Saltur, just north of Marathesian lands. While her mountainous territory doesn't have as many mines as Marathesian or Kaman, what mines she does have are the richest source of silver in Pallon. This silver and gems are her primary exports, and her craftsmen combine them to provide some of the finest jewelry on the continent. She has a great deal of sway with the trade guilds, and she mints most of Saltur's currency. Her financial sway, however, is not indicative of her current political power. Thurva has never been popular with the other nobles, especially Cela who took Thurva's decision to decline her father's marriage proposal as an insult to the entire family. Kaman dislikes her because she took his position as the king's favored military advisor. Her only ally among the nobles is Marathesian, who she usually sides with even on issues which would be detrimental to her; some claim this is because the quiet Namer has some secret hold over her, but the truth is that she she doesn't want to lose her only noble ally-especially now that King Saltur has fallen. Neru dar Saltur didn't attend Tein-Larion, instead studying at the Hall of Names and with Thurva's estranged son, Teleis. Thus, Thurva doesn't have the personal relationship with Neru that she relied on with his father. Having only a small military and few exports of any use during a time of war, her province hasn't been the most useful to the kingdom of late, while Kaman has been solidifying his position by spearheading the Salturni presence in the wars of the Expulsion.
To fortify her weakening strengths, Thurva is using her position as Blademistress of Tein-Larion to good effect, building friendships with the younger generation of nobility. She has weak ties to nobles from all over Pallon, but few of her students have attained positions of suitable power to back her up if Cela or Kaman were to make a power play.
Description
Thurva is a thin elven noblewoman of middling age. She bears the stern facial lines of one who spends far too much of her time scowling at pranksters who think themselves the first to make innovative use of the Prestidigitation spell. Her hair is brown, coiled into a tightly braided ponytail, with strands of gray and silver hair spiraling down its length to showcase her age. She wears loose-fitting brown robes and thin silver spectacles, and speaks with the reedy voice of a librarian. While dignified, she has a disciplined and domineering air learned from decades of forcing distracted youths to pay attention to her lessons, and her pale, mousy husband tends to fade into the background when they attend public gatherings.
Thurva's manners and etiquette are impeccable, but she can be rather cold when dealing with those she dislikes, and she's certainly made few friends based on interpersonal relations.
Abilities
Thurva's not called a Blademistress for nothing. While she doesn't have a large army at her disposal, those she does have were trained by the best: herself. Thurva's masted every style of combat taught at Tein-Larion, and she trained five out of the six swordsages in Saltur with the rank of Blademaster. And only two of them claim to have beaten her in a sparring match.
