Lady Isabella Norton of York
Lady Isabella Norton of York was (or is) engaged to a horrible beast of a "man" who is attempting to gain fame as a Crusader in the 5th Crusade. Coming from a noble family, she was educated far more than most women are when it was discovered she had a gift for illumination. She was later sent to a convent to wait for her betrothed's return. While there she discovered that he was a very cruel man, that he had tossed kittens to his hounds, and that he beaten a heathen slave to death for not getting a stained tunic totally clean. After studying canon law,she became disillusioned with the convent's less-than-holy practices and her future marriage and decided to run away.
Fortunately for her, a chance encounter with Jasmine, a Redcap staying at the convent, helped her escape a dreaded existence as wife to a monster. She traveled to the covenant (being exposed to the "miracle" of Jasmine's land-sailing ship) after Jasmine promised that a position as illuminator to the magi could be found for her. She was interviewed by librarian Father Thomas, and was given the vacant Illuminator position.
She is currently tending the Illuminators Garden, will be teaching Illumination, and she is working on an illustrated book for Father Thomas (2 to the Covenant, 1 to the Church of Saint Katherine, and one free).
| Name: | Isabella Norton of York |
| Race/Nationality: | English |
| Place of Origin: | Norton-on-Derwent in York County |
| Birth Year/Age | 1197 (24) |
| Apparent Age | 24 |
| Family | Father and Mother very socially ambitious, are using "surplus" daughters to climb social ladder and pay off debts. 7 daughters, and very pampered son (youngest, 2 years old). |
Characteristics
| Intelligence | +2 | Presence | -2 |
| Perception | +1 | Communication | +2 |
| Strength | -1 | Dexterity | +3 |
| Stamina | +1 | Luck | -1 |
Virtues & Flaws
| Virtues Gentlewoman |
Flaws Blunt Spoken |
Skills
Updated to Autumn 1232
| Skill | Specialty | Score | XP | Books Written |
| General Skills | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awareness | Flaws in texts and illuminations | 1 | 10 | |
| Charm | Being unassuming | 2 | 15 | |
| Folk Ken | Nobility | 2 | 15 | |
| Guile | Lying to authority | 2 | 15 | |
| Speak English | Conversational | 4 | 52 | |
| Speak Norman French | Conversational | 5 | 75 | |
| Speak Greek | Academic | 2 | 15 | |
| Lore: Area, Melverley | Local Flora | 2 | 16 | |
| Lore: Area, Shropshire | History | 1 | 12 | |
| Lore: Area, Powys Wenwynwyn | History | 3 | 39 | |
| Lore: Organization, Church | Saints | 3 | 30 | Tractatus (1220) |
| Profession: Gardener | Plants for inks | 5 | 75 | Tractatus (1226, 1228) |
| Profession: Illuminator | Elaborate lettering | 6+2 | 112 | |
| Profession: Scribe | Composition | 2 | 19 | |
| Academic Skills | ||||
| Artes Liberales | Geometry | 3 | 30 | |
| Common Law | Yorkshire laws | 2 | 15 | |
| Civil and Canon Law | Marriage and Inheritance Law | 3 | 30 | |
| Speak Latin | Ecclesiastic Latin | 5 | 75 | |
Season Activities
1233: Winter Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Spring Read "Tales of Shropshire", Area Lore Shropshire +12; Summer Read "The Court of St. Peter", Church Lore +13 ; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Speak Welsh +4
1232: Winter Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Spring Read "Tales of Shropshire", Area Lore Shropshire +12; Summer Read "Powis Castle", Area Lore Powys Wenwynwyn +13 ; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Speak English +4
1231: Winter Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Spring Write Commentary "Powis Castle", Profession Scribe +2 ; Summer Read "Powis Castle", Area Lore Powys Wenwynwyn +13 ; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Speak English +4
1230: Winter Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Spring Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Summer Read "Powis Castle", Area Lore Powys Wenwynwyn +13 ; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Speak English +4
1229: Winter Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Spring Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Summer Illuminate book Profession Gardener, +2 Profession Illuminator ; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Speak English +4
1228: Winter Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Spring Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Summer Write book Profession Gardener, +2 Profession Illuminator ; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Area Lore Melverley; Speak English +4
1227: Winter Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Spring Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Summer Write book Profession Illuminator, +2 Profession Illuminator ; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Area Lore Melverley; Speak English +4
1226: Winter Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Spring Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Summer Write book Profession Gardener, +2 Profession Scribe ; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Area Lore Melverley; Speak English +4
1225: Winter Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Spring Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Summer Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Area Lore Melverley; Speak English +4
1224: Winter Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Spring Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Summer Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Area Lore Melverley; Speak English +4
1223: Winter Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Spring Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Summer Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Area Lore Melverley; Speak English +4
1222: Winter Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Spring Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Summer Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Area Lore Melverley; Speak English +4
1221: Winter Service Illuminating Aetatis Sanctus Katarina, Craft (Illumination) +2; Spring Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Summer Practice Profession Gardener +5xp; Autumn Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Exposure: Area Lore Melverley; Speak English +4
1220: Winter Practice Craft (Illumination) +5xp; Spring Service Practice Craft (Illumination) +2xp; Summer Practice Craft (Illumination) +5xp; Autumn Writing Tractatus Aetatis Sanctus Katarina (Life of Saint Katherine), Profession Scribe +2; Exposure: Area Lore Melverley; Speak English +4
Future Plans
- Hagiography of Saint Katherine - written in 1220, illuminated/illustrated in 1221
- Write book on Illuminating
- Write book on Gardening