Ruea

Ruea
Status
Race	Elf
Gender	Female
Guild	undisclosed
Instance	Prime
Relatives	Traim

Description

You are Ruea Shai'lin, an Elf. You have a heart-shaped face, pointed ears, sparkling silver eyes and a straight nose. Your snow-white-streaked flaxen hair is long and wavy, and is worn in a deceptively careless-looking arrangement of upswept locks held in place by a lifesculpted silverwillow tiara graced with a radiant molten-core diamond. You have tanned skin and a slender figure.
You are tiny for an Elf.
You are an adult.
You have a molten-core diamond shaped into a ghost orchid placed at the lobe of your ear and attached to a trio of whisper-thin icesteel chains that wrap into an exquisite braid. The chains loops through three rings along the helix before ending their journey at a petite hoop piercing the tragus.
You have a tattoo of seven small silver stars cascading from behind the point of her left ear down to the base of her jaw. The exquisite stars gradiate inward, the tone shifting from slate grey to a bright silver. The slight half-crescent arch follows the curve of her ear with a perfect symmetry, almost entirely hidden from view on your neck. You are in good shape.
You are wearing a pair of filigreed earrings set with molten-core diamonds, a silveress evening dress with asymmetrical folds, a thin silverwillow chain bracelet dangling a faceted sana'ati heart, a scorched witchclaw band inlaid with a lurid purple crystal knot, a dusk-hued feyweave purse clasped with a nightfire opal and a pair of high heeled slippers with slender ankle straps.

Exclusive Interview

Behind the Bardess: Ruea Shima'ionare

The heart of Shard lies just outside the South Gate. Under the watchful eyes of the sentinels, the Shoan a Sildelkuloa reigns supreme over Elanthia’s theatrical and artistic offerings. This is the perfect setting for our day with Ilithi’s own prolific Court Bard, Ruea Shima'ionare.

We meet Ruea just outside the theatre, where she has just been gated in by the ever-fascinating Commander of Ilithi's Obsidian Watch, Traim Ruin. After a brief kiss on the forehead and a glance that speaks volumes, Mr. Ruin leaves us with the effervescent Bardess, and she does not hesitate to turn her brilliant smile upon us.

“Okay girls, how about a tour?" she laughs as she breezes through the door of what she rightly calls “her” theatre. Motioning around the lobby she graciously points out all the fine details that adorn the breathtaking structure. Workers rush towards her with hushed questions as we move through the dressing rooms and the backstage area. We find ourselves center stage, bright lights shining onto us as we stand before an ocean of empty velvet seats.

“This is where I am most at home,” Ruea explains with a contented smile. “My performers always seem to find it intimidating, but here, with all eyes on me, I thrive.”

Set pieces from a recent performance are being carefully taken down while set designers bark orders and look over sketches. With a wave of her hand, Ruea elicits silence from the crew, and she quietly tells them to head out to lunch, generously offering to handle the tab.

“I try to do that fairly often. I demand a lot of my people, so I like to be sure they are taken care of.“

With the buzzing bustle of the crew dispersed, we finally have a chance to really look at Ruea, and the first thing we notice is the elegant tiara that graces her head. Ruea does not wear the tiara, it belongs with her. We mention this observation, and she waves her hand dismissively. She states with simplicity, “A tiara is not an accessory, dear, it is a state of mind.“

Born a Forest Elf, Ruea tells us of her parents with a soft smile. “My father was a Trader, he ran routes across Elanthia. Some of my fondest memories come from sailing with him. I learned common from the sailors, did you know?” She smiles brightly and continues, "They are who I must blame when my manners forget me.“

She stops a moment, and a beautiful trace of pensiveness flitters over her features as she goes on to explain that her mother was often gone with work. While she rarely speaks of it, Ruea always references her mother to be a Ranger or traveling Cleric of great importance. While her parents were often away, she says she always knew she was loved and that she relished her childhood.

Once old enough for schooling, Ruea was taken into the Rippentrop family by Taleek and his wife Rainea. It was then that Ruea found her home in the heart of Ilithi. “They were always very kind to me as I found my way.”

What about romance? A Court Bard without her handsome knight would be a tragedy! We asked Ruea about her ex-husband Kougen Aensworth, to which she would only say, “His duties with his guild and mine to Ilithi created a rift in our marriage. I adore him and wish him nothing but happiness and love.” The sincerity in that simple statement was not lost on these reporters.

Ruea seems to have found her match in the quiet and handsome Commander Ruin. The mention of his name brings a new light to her already sparkling eyes. “He was a horrid dresser and can be stubborn and difficult,“ she says with a coy smile. “He is also compassionate, driven and quite adorable when he is exasperated.“ The Mage and his Bardess have quite a future together, as we are sure he could tell you.

Finally, we circle back to ask about her position on the Court. As Court Bard, Ruea crafts stellar original productions, storytelling contests and song competitions that have kept Ilithi entertained and breathlessly anticipating her future work. She manages to draw acting talent from across the Realms to star in her plays and has countless dignitaries filling the balconies at every performance.

There was quite an upheaval upon her appointment to the Court, and Ruea handled it all with her signature grace. “I am well aware there are those that did not see me as fit for this position, but I simply use that to drive me towards doing more and better things. I don’t play into the rumors and such, dear. I just do my job as best I can and look to Her Grace for the only approval I need.”

As if on cue, workers begin to filter back into the theatre, picking up where they left off with sets and costumes. Smiling amiably, Ruea shows us back out to the bustling streets of Shard. “Ok girls, I played along with you and your reporter game. Where is this going to end up?”

We will never tell....

This article was brought to you by Allye Shhoiyvvhur'Slo and Synamon MacUlrik, Reporters at Large.

Ruea's Tiaras

TAP: a gleaming platinum tiara with a faceted lotus blossom
LOOK: The royal purple lotus blossom, precisely shaped to portray the flower at the height of its bloom, stands as the centerpiece of the tiara. Encircling the glistening platinum base, Ilithi emeralds have been set into the shape of a tightly twisting vine. Realistic leaves of emerald with sharp platinum-tipped thorns adorn the vine and hold small purple amethyst nightshade blossoms in place.
DESIGNED BY: Leucius for the Rose of Ilithi

TAP: a lustrous silver tiara bejeweled with dazzling rubies
LOOK: Metal waves initiate at the ends and gracefully stream toward a large hollow oval. Each crest brims with sparkling red stones, designed to match the prized jewel dangling inside the central shape.

TAP: a delicate platinum tiara crowned with a cluster of brilliant diamonds
LOOK: Polished tendrils curve up and down along the base, forming a perfect symmetry of detailed metalwork. The incredibly clear, perfectly cut jewels form a sparkling starburst adornment, held in place with discreet settings to create the illusion of the centerpiece floating slightly in front of the band.

TAP: a lustrous silver tiara bejeweled with dazzling rubies
LOOK: Polished tendrils curve up and down along the base, forming a perfect symmetry of detailed metalwork. The incredibly clear, perfectly cut jewels form a sparkling starburst adornment, held in place with discreet settings to create the illusion of the centerpiece floating slightly in front of the band.

TAP: a woven vine tiara embracing a profusion of ethereal tenra blossoms
LOOK: Luminous tenra blooms nestle amid the twisted verdant vines and silken ribbons twine through the piece, their loosely curling ends designed to trail gracefully down the wearer s back. Tied into the ribbons, glass charms clink softly with every movement, each engraved with tiny script.
READ: "Certified Hostess with the Mostess!"
DESIGNED BY: Allye

TAP: an elegant tiara of pale silver filigree channel-set with Ilithi emeralds
LOOK: Ethereal coils of twining silver arch over the slender base of the tiara. Deeply set along the length of the piece, a multitude of tiny Ilithi emeralds glimmer subtly in the softest of light. A flowing inscription graces the smooth inner curve.
READ: "Ruea Aensworth; Ilithi's visionary bardess"
DESIGNED BY: Allye and Synamon

TAP: a regal white gold tiara set with dozens of shimmering white diamonds
LOOK: Intricately wrought metal twists and turns to form a delicate lace that culminates in soft points. Clusters of princess-cut diamonds glitter across the strands, designed to create a brilliant sparkle to highlight the face when worn.
DESIGNED BY: Ruea

Disclaimer

This profile has been brought to you by (the players of) Synamon and Allye! The content has not really been reviewed, approved or in any way endorsed by Ruea, except for that time we showed her and she said, "OMG I can't stop laughing."