Baroness Elizabeth Widenstide, (1510-15??) is a mortal.
History[]
Those who feel that mortals cannot deal on equal footing with the Awakened have never met Baroness Widenstide. A favored mistress of King Henry VIII, hostess to mysteries, and an influential figure around the English court, this young but willful noblewoman commands an impressive vantage-point in wizardly politics. Although she is, by all indications, un-Awakened, she provides a safe haven for some, entertainment for many, and a dire threat to several wizardly conspirators.
A slight, pretty but charismatic girl, the Baroness marries when she's hardly 14; her husband, Edward, is a close friend of Henry VIII whose family estates had been granted when his father fell at Henry VII's side. Edward himself is slain when an assassin tries to kill young King Henry. Rather than force Elizabeth to remarry, the King grants all her husband's properties to the grieving Baroness; clearly, Henry has his own agenda at heart. In Elizabeth, the King finds a close friend, lover and ally.
When he begins his "great and secret business" in 1534, the King petitions the Baroness to help him confiscate Catholic properties within her domain. She proves trustworthy; by 1537, Elizabeth has received several generous dispensations and estates from the grateful King. Naturally, Elizabeth has her agendas, too. Though nominally Christian, Baroness Widenstide has distinctly Pagan sympathies. According to family legends, her great-grandparents, Lord and Lady Brackenshire, sheltered fae and Pagan folk during Wyndgarde's March, and may have provided them with a stronghold during the Decade of the Hunt. If the mysterious, otherworldly visitors that frequent Elizabeths' court are any indication, those tales are probably true. If nothing else, she's on good terms with many shadowy folk, and they seem to owe her a debt. As her estates and influence expand, the Baroness plays a growing part in Awakened politics.
Ensconced in Hextonshire Manor, her luxurious castle, the Baroness hosts an opulent court of mysteries. Frequent visitors include wizards and witches from the Nine Traditions, faerie changelings, and other enigmatic folk. Naturally, Elizabeth takes pains to assure her own safety; all visitors are instructed to be discreet and behave themselves. Guests who violate the sanctity of Hextonshire Manor are dealt with harshly (and permanently), either by the Lady's mortal allies, the King's troops, or the many strange allies who frequent the castle.
As an ally of King Henry, the Baroness has been excommunicated and marked for death by the Roman Church. Consequently, she's careful to avoid "witchcraft" scandals. however, certain other parties have put her on the Black List, too; apparently, one of the abbeys in her domain provided the front for an English diabolist cult. Now, the forces of Hell and Heaven vie for Baroness Widenstide's life and soul. Fortunately, she's not alone; a keen wit, formidable allies, and a political acumen that belies her age make Elizabeth a very elusive, dangerous target.
Shakespeare's later words "and though she be but little, she is fierce" well suit Elizabeth Widenstide. Despite her diminutive (almost fey) stature and slender build, the Baroness has a presence that outweighs her physical appearance. Though refined, almost delicate in manner, she's known for nearly predatory wits and appetites. Elizabeth has three children (two daughters and a son) who mingle noble breeding and primal spirits. Behind their backs, the Widenstide family is occasionally called "that blonde wolfpack." Although they have no obvious connections to the Changing Breeds, Elizabeth Widenstide and her offspring live up to that reputation.
References[]
- MTSC: The Swashbuckler's Handbook, p. 76-77