Justine D'Airelle

Character Identity Information

Name: Justine D'Airelle
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Religion: Catharism
Species: Human
Origin: Southern France
Nationality: Craethiel
Occupation: Knight, wandering healer, evangelist of Catharism
Rank/Title: Lady, also Knight and Perfectus/Parfait/Perfect of Catharism

Physical Appearance

Height: 5'7"
Weight: 151 lbs
Eye Color: Luminous chartreuse yellow
Hair Color: Platinum Blonde
Physical Description: Justine keeps her hair is kept cropped short and the majority of her weight is in muscle mass, a tad bit on the heavyset side as she favors heavier weapons and therefore requires more strength. Her startling, full black lashes frame her striking, deep-set eyes and her eyebrows form harsh, uncompromising lines. Her strong jawline matching her immovable personality, and her small, surprisingly pouty lips are topped with a sharply peaked cupid's bow. Her preferred outfit is her barren, unadorned black armor, which contrasts with her pale skin tone, that much sought-after alabaster shade. Her fingers, though rough with labor, are long and slender.

Personality, Traits and Abilities

General Overview: 

The best way to impress Justine with your boorishness is to talk your head off. She has a natural dislike for overly ornate speech, finding it to be most likely a tactic used by those trying to hide the truth, though it's not as if she doesn't know how to use language in that way. She was, after all, born and originally tutored as a lady. On the other hand, though she recognizes the usefulness of keeping things simple and practical, she does have an inquisitive mind that can be prodded to more abstract musings. One of her current pet projects is trying to figure out what's the proper relationship people should have with God. Sometimes, her quest for a logical explanation can be a double-edged sword. It certainly entertains herself and keeps her wits about her, but it doesn't always come across well with religious authorities. 

When it comes to first impressions, Justine can even seem haughty and cold. In reality, she's a little shy and rather awkward, and besides has found that her desire to question and be open is rarely well-received. More than once, she's made a social faux pas by curtly saying whatever was the first thought that came into her head. She has learned her lesson. For that reason, a conversation with her can easily devolve into uncomfortable silence, which she tries to mask with a blank expression. Unfortunately, that does little to lighten the situation. It's a bit paradoxical, since she likes the company of her dog specifically because he wears his heart on his (metaphorical) sleeve. But they have a camaraderie that she's comfortable with; their companionship is so strong to the point that she might even give up her life for her dog.

Aside from her pets, Justine really isn't a trusting person, but when she trusts her loyalty is absolute. She will go through fire and hail for anyone she holds dear. To earn that status, though, Justine watches to see whether the other person trusts her. It's a bit paradoxical, too, because she's unlikely to allow herself to be the first to trust. These are dangerous times, after all; it's every man for himself. Nevertheless, she holds onto hope, believing that as long as she works hard, God will reward her.

Strengths, Skills and Abilities: 

• Endurance: The life of a Cathar perfect is hardly one for the physically weak. They don't eat meat and wander the countryside healing the sick. Clearly, that wouldn't work well if her own body couldn't tolerate constantly being exposed to diseases. And of course, as they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
• Speed: When unencumbered by her weapon, her reflexes can be quite quick, which comes in handy when it comes to a brawl.
• Healing: Naturally, since this is one of the Cathars' main missions, she couldn't possibly not know how to cure people. Though she rarely requires anything magical in her methods, she's extremely capable and has a reputation that precedes her. What's more, she offers her services free of charge, and people love free things. In addition, she has a good working knowledge of bodies, which can help her in a fight, too.
• Magic: Cathars are persecuted as heretics, so they do have some supposed links with witchcraft. Well, maybe not all those accusations are completely false. She's the most adept at wielding wind, which she frequently uses to boost her physical strength. It was a bit disappointing at first to realize she was best at something so...not concrete, but it does lend itself to interesting uses. She is able to use the other elements, but on nowhere near the scale that she's able to use the air.
• Navigation: Justine rarely gets lost because she has a naturally good sense of direction. She also has enough experience by now, which is also helpful in finding her way through new cities and forests alike.

Weaknesses: 

• Physical Strength: Justine is stronger than the average person, but she's by no means built like a tank. Originally from a noble family, she wasn't originally trained for hard manual labor. She's improved a lot as a result of her years of training, but still, it's nothing supernatural.
• Being Just a Human: Let's be real. She's not going to be a superhero.

Ambitions (Hopes/Dreams): 

• To gain a closer relationship with God
• To fight Catholicism and churches she views as corrupt. Part of this consists of spreading Catharism.
• To  gain a true purpose in life, and have the freedom to fulfill that purpose

Hobbies and Interests: 

• Weaponry: The first thing that drew her away from the Catholic Church. It's still near and dear to her heart, and she's amazed by weaponry as well as the technology they utilize.
• Reading: Justine is convinced that the only way to move forward is to continue growing her skill set. Reading is just a way to do that.
• Horses and dogs: She really has a soft spot for animals, though she prefers traveling with those that have more practical skills. For her, this means horses and dogs, though the dog does slow her traveling time. She's still teaching him the joys of being bundled on top of a horse. It's her firm belief that all animals have souls, which makes her wonder how her dog can become a Cathar Perfect, since he has no interest in all things vegetarian. Her horse, she's not so concerned about.

Personal Sexual Information

Sexual Orientation: Demisexual
Turn ons: A strong emotional connection
Turn offs: Being ordered around
Penis Length: N/A
Breast Size: C cup
Sensitivity: Almost nonexistent
Additional Sexual Information: Practices celibacy 
STD History: None

History

Awards/Commendations: None, though she is known as one of the Perfect due to having undergone Manisola, or the laying on of hands, meaning that the Holy Spirit is able to dwell in her.
Criminal Record: None
Bio: More a rebel against Catholicism than a believer of Catharism, what drew Justine to Catharism was its emphasis on purity and its opposition to the corruption and deviance from religion of the Catholic Church. She first joined the Cathari movement in her teens, and during that time she saw no wrong in it. If anything, it was a liberating experience; Justine was originally from a noble family in southern France. Arguably, the life of a noble woman like her wouldn't be too difficult. On the other hand, it would also be intensely boring. There simply weren't that many options afforded her by either the society or the church. When she decided to dress in armor and train as a knight, there was a scandal and it was the talk of the town for a good three months; the gossips worked the story hard, coming up with elaborate rumors about the cause of her actions. Even Justine's parents, usually so tolerant of their daughter's whims, became uneasy. They defended her for a while until the local clergy became involved and heresy came into the picture. That was when Justine realized that, whatever she wanted, she'd have to get it on her own. So, anticipating a fight, she left a note to her parents, grabbed her horse and weaponry, and ran away from home.

Never one to reject spirituality outright, Justine decided to become a practitioner of Catharism, who were known to give women the most opportunities. She never had any trouble following its teachings of vegetarianism and celibacy, though she failed (and to this day, still fails) in solving injustice through peaceful means. Despite her having received the Manisola, she feels that she often jeopardizes her path to Paradise whenever she feels herself moved to violence. Thus, she considers herself a struggling Perfect. While she regrets none of her decisions leading to this point, she's still quite religious and occasionally finds herself perplexed by inconsistencies in her own philosophy towards faith. 

Several years later, she saw firsthand even more the extent that blind faith could lead to questionable results. In particular, one of her close male companions fell ill. As she considered him much like a blood brother, she took care of him in his last days. He was given the Consolamentum, and then asked to be killed so that he might be guaranteed to go straight to Paradise. His reasoning disturbed her ideas on the purity of faith. Nevertheless, he was a beloved brother to her so she could hardly refuse his request. After ascertaining this was what he truly wanted, she smothered him under his pillow. His wish was not something required by the Cathars, and yet they still held it in high regard...despite the fact that he had ended his life sooner than necessary. On the other hand, he was going to die anyway, so perhaps it didn't matter. Justine's practical side tells her to let this incident go, though her intellectual side is somewhat less easily satisfied by something that seems almost like an ethical flaw.

Given that Catharism was beginning to become more widely persecuted, it wasn't so safe to stay in France any longer. So she boarded the first ship she found -- refusing to heave her horse or dog behind, to the crew's dismay. Though she now rarely sees her fellow Cathars, they still hold a special place in her regard, and she keeps them in mind as she travels the countryside to spread their teachings. Justine considers herself a knight though not in the traditional sense; she doesn't spend her time living in a castle in the service of a liege. She prefers a simple life, from wandering the countryside and helping others as she sees fit, to her curt manner of speech. However, in keeping with Cathar teachings, she is required to keep the company of a traveling partner of the same sex to avoid temptation. Not many like to travel the way she does, so she usually tags on with whichever female she manages to help along the way.