Richelle Winter

Richelle is a character created for a D&D Ravenloft game.  
I revived the character for a real-world Victorian- Horror game ... slightly differently.  See the page for Pierce Everitt.

Name:  Richelle Mallory Winter

Age:  21

Eyes:  gray-green.  Currently, in the right situation there will be a mote of glowing red in her pupils (the demons in the new movie Constantine depict a good example of this).  As the game develops her eyes will completely change to red.

Hair:  Long and dark brown.  Two thin braids fall in front of her ears, and the rest of it is gathered into a loose ponytail.  As the game develops her hair will darken to black.

Height:  5'3"

Occupation:  Previously a Tutor

Birthday:  December 14

Setting:  Ravenloft (modified a bit)

Race:  modified human alchemically spliced with Barghest tissue ((Note, when art-referencing a Barghest, don't use the D&D ugly bat/dog/goblin-y thing. See below))

Traveling Companions:   Vastella and Sebastian

General Human Appearance/Attitude: 

While attractive with the refinement that comes with growing up in a wealthy household, Richelle has what might be considered "common" features by many noble standards.  She has a long, broad face with full lips, a fairly broad nose, and large eyes.  Sometimes, in the right circumstances there is a mote of red that gleams in her pupils (think the way it's depicted in the movie Constantine).  She is also solidly built, but with distinctly feminine curves: she has wide hips and is rather busty.  Her complexion is fair naturally, but shows signs of spending time outdoors.  She has a diverse wardrobe, primarily of dresses and nicer clothing, but is not above wearing a more functional traveling outfit or even pants.  Underneath her clothing, she has many fairly recent scars - some of which look like they resulted from nasty, torturous wounds, but all of them are very intentionally-made, and symmetrical, more like dissection lines than battle wounds.  She keeps these hidden well under her clothing.

Personality-wise, Richelle is very independent and strong-willed, if not a bit too much overconfident.  She is very much of the opinion that anyone who has the necessary skills and talent to do something should be able to, regardless of gender, race, etc.  She has an academic curiosity, but not to excess, although is more willing than most to take risks.

Art Reference Artwork of Richelle:

Featured Artwork of Richelle:

AKA: all of the current non-contest artwork of Richelle

	My original concept sketches for Richelle, doodled on the back of notes in class, much like many of my character concept sketches.  The 2 on the bottom are the best.
	Full lineart drawing of how I picture her - best reference for face shape, hair, and a typical outfit.
	A christmas gift from Tavis - A CG of Richelle :3
	Precious Flame Sketch of Richelle - soon to be finished/colored! :3
[Story]	A FANTASTIC story by Emelyn - a Christmas gift and a contest entry idea that she finished <3 - Wonderful characterization, and reading it really made me feel nostalgic for the character :heart:
	Drayke's commission of Richelle, part of a set of almost all of my original chars he did
	Precious Flame's finished piece of Richelle, and a completely separate piece from the sketch above <3
	Amazing Chibi-ish Richelle and barghest spirit by the talented eyecager!

Other Artwork of Richelle:

All Non-Contest Richelle Art : Pending.  Richelle is a new character and all of her non-contest art is in the featured section above.

Sabin and Kamiki's Joint Art Contest - a recently finished HUGE contest in which Richelle was a viable subject for entering and got some really lovely art.

Background

Richelle was born to a wealthy family (and the daughter of a fairly prestigious government official) in the country of Nova Vassa.  In general, Nova Vassa is known for their exceptional horses, wealth (and wide class separations), and rational thinking.  However, for those familiar with the Ravenloft setting, there have been several house modifications to the setting.  Most notably, in this version the class system is open.  This means that anyone has the potential to hold a government position (ie, positions that were well-paid) provided that they proved themselves eligible through standardized testing (very much like the Imperial Chinese system if anyone knows about that.)  There was still a monarch and a royal family, but beyond that significant positions in the government and the courts were held by those who placed well in these difficult exams, not by family line.  However, those in these positions generally could afford tutors to help their children do better - especially considering that the tests involved more than just natural intelligence, but memorization of histories and official moral codes that could not be feigned by merely a bright but untrained mind.  Unfortunately, while this is all fair and great, the society, like many historical ones, was still very gender-biased.  Only men are eligible to take the exams or hold government positions.

So what does this have to do with Richelle herself?  A lot.  Richelle's father was one of the aforementioned self-made men.  He was very bright and very dedicated, and came from a wealthy family himself that could afford to see him the tutors he needed to get a prestigious position as an official at the capital city.  Throughout his term he was renowned for being very good at what he did, being just and skilled.  Having risen to prestige rather quickly, and he took a wife when he was in his late twenties.  He planned on training a son to follow in his footsteps personally, passing on the wisdom and knowledge that had served him well.  However, his first child was a daughter.... as was the 2nd.... and the third.  Richelle was his second daughter, 3 years younger than her elder sister, Lorraine, and 4 years older than her younger sister, Alice.  By the time Alice was born, Lorraine was already well on her way to etiquette training, was fond of the fancy dresses and preferential treatment that came with being the first daughter of a rich family.  However, after seven years of trying to have a son, Richelle's father became worried that it would not be possible, especially considering that he wanted to personally tutor him and his advancing age was a concern.  So, instead, he began to teach Richelle the workings and necessary knowledge that he wished to pass on, hoping that perhaps she could become a tutor and earn respect for the family and eventually would marry well and she could train her son when the time came to it, thus passing on his knowledge through the family, albeit delayed a generation.  Additionally, he trained her himself, not using a tutor as an intermediary, and began her training young so that he could shape her learning from an early age.  Richelle had her father's intelligence and took to the knowledge like a duck to water.  She was curious and bright, and seemed to never tire of learning more information.  She was educated in reading, writing, arithmetic, history, literature, languages, the natural world, religion, folklore, and of course politics and the workings of the land.  She respected her father and his position very much, and for some time never even paused to think that she herself couldn't follow in his shoes. 

When Richelle was about 13 or 14 she began to realize the practical side of the way things worked... most notably that she herself would not be able to hold the position that she had been spending her entire life preparing for, despite how qualified she might be and the working knowledge that she had.  She began to harbour resentments, but being a part of the society and admiring her father, she kept her mouth shut for the most part, but always had the nagging wonder of why couldn't she be given the opportunity to prove herself when she felt she was at least as good if not better than most men her age.  As time passed, she became very confident in her knowledge and then overconfident in general.  She was not a weakling, and had learned some basic swordplay that is taught to most noblemen (so that she in turn could teach it) - though certainly had more confidence than would be healthy for her actual skill.  But nothing had happened to her to prove to her otherwise.  Then, when she was 18, there was a surprise.  Her father had a son.

He was ecstatic and immediately suggested that he and Richelle train him together - he was nearing retirement and knew that Richelle had the youth and vigor to teach him well.  For Richelle, this was the last straw.  She was furious; her quiet resentment bubbled forth and she had it out with her father in a very heated argument that resulted in her leaving home.  Fortunately, at least, it was not difficult for Richelle to find work as a tutor - it dulled the pain that at least she wasn't in her own household training her brother, however despite the fact that she was a very good teacher, her heart was not into the work.  She took a role teaching the son of a wealthy nobleman - who had money but not the social status that came with being an official.  The bitterness now definitely more prevalent in her personality the longer she was acting out merely the role of a tutor.  She became more confident in her abilities and capabilities beyond even the established officials.  And because she grew up sheltered from the harsh, gritty realities of the world she had little that she feared, even daring to walk out in the streets at night and alone (although she kept a single heirloom wand with her capable of packing a mean punch secreted in her clothing at all times).  Above all, Richelle wanted an outlet for her abilities and knowledge where she could be recognized for her talents.

It was about at this point in her life when something happened.  She was walking back from having been out late teaching when she was ambushed in the dark, lonely streets.  She was knocked out before she had time to scream or reach for her wand.  Either she was unfortunately enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, or she had attracted some unfortunately attention because of her opinions.  A mad alchemist had captured her and used her as a subject of experimentation. 

She didn't know what happened to her during the time she was held there.  She only gained consciousness for moments over long spans of time  - and the memories that remained were fuzzy, but punctuated with foggy images of movement around her, strange noises, animals, lights, strange contraptions and most especially of extreme pain.  When she woke up at the (end?) of it she found herself alone and restrained on a sort of table, with all sorts of objects and caged beasts around her.  Like the earlier moments, things were foggy, and her vision was swimming.  She was terrified, hurt, and had strange scarring all over her body.  With the fuzziness of her awareness, she doesn't recall how she escaped ((she subconsciously activated her new blinking ability)) and ran for home, packed some things, and left -all in the haze, and left town.  The mists came over her and relocated her - by the time she was really fully aware she found herself in the country of Darkon, trying to figure out what had happened and at the same time worried about thinking about it too deeply, and searching for some direction, with the distinct feeling that she didn't want to go back to Nova Vassa.

Eventual Appearance and a note on Barghests:

What Richelle doesn't yet know is that what happened to her was some strange experiment attempting to splice her with a barghest.  Currently, the only mark physically aside from the scars (which will eventually heal) is that sometimes a mote of red gleams in the pupils of her eyes. Eventually, over time, she will begin to manifest canine/barghest features.  Her hair will darken to a jet black, her eyes become a red that will glow  like dull embers.  She may grow canine ears, a tail, and perhaps other features even.

Barghests:
Barghests, btw, is NOT the standard D&D barghest (that look like the ugliest cross between a bat/goblin/dog - and unfortuntely what the google image search comes up with primarily for "barghest"), but the folkloric version, also known as the Black Dog, Grim, etc etc etc.  They are unanimously agreed to appear like huge black dogs with glowing red eyes and an imposing presence.   What is not agreed upon is the type of dog or what their role is.  ((In my mind, appearance-wise, they are large black dogs with shaggy fur, and I prefer the pointed-ear variety.  And while I definitely prefer the pointed-ear type, THIS IMAGE by Blaqriot (not my art, not my character) gives a very good "feel" of what a barghest is. And, admittedly, think also about the representation of Sirius's canine form in the 3rd Harry Potter Movie)).
 Some say that the barghests are horrible omens - that seeing one indicates that you or someone you know is going to die.  Others say that it is seeing them that causes one to die, and yet others say that they are escorts of the dead to the afterlife.  In the game, all of these aspects will be taken into consideration - there actually being three sorts of them.  All of them have a death-vision - seeing when someone is nearing death - naturally or unnaturally.  The "evil" barghests attempt to end lives, and are in a way avatars for the Dark Powers, they are what keep people in Ravenloft, encourage evil, and sew dissent.   and keep people tied to the lands.  They are also the most numerous in population, a reflection of the balance of the powers of the land.  the "neutral" barghests are the ones who guide the dead to where they should go. These beings are the ONLY ones who have the ability to break away from the pull of the land and bring those whose souls are meant to pass on to other realms to them.  These barghests are the only reason that every individual who dies in Ravenloft is not still stuck there after death as a ghost or whatnot.  The "good" attempt to prevent the untimely death of others, and encourage or assist those individuals who are meant to pass on to another place.  The alchemist who experimented on her had an unhealthy fascination with barghests - though the particular reason is unclear.  Perhaps he was working for the evil in order to understand the good.  Or perhaps he had the wrong kind by mistake.  Regardless, she has yet to find out what is in store for her, and a lot to discover about herself.

Special Abilities:

Already Richelle has several latent abilities that she currently does not either understand or know of yet.  She sees those who are near death or fated to die as grayed out - like a black and white movie.  She is starting to figure out what this means.  Other than that, she can see and potentially speak with ghosts, touch them as if they were real (and visa versa ^~), see in the dark, unconsciously passes without a trace, and cause fear in a subject.  She also is able to blink (quick, nearby teleport) a few times a day, and  hurt someone with a touch (Corrupting touch from ghostwalk if you know D&D well).  Eventually, she will expand upon communication with the dead and undead, become invisible and eventually incorporeal, and finally - shapeshift to a full barghest.

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