Sometimes—Arryl stands six feet even. She has a lush
build—ample bosom and hips, narrow waist—that is sometimes quite
at odds
with the uniformed figure she cuts. She is long in the leg, but thigh,
calf,
shoulder and bicep are all wrapped in curvaceous and generous lines.
Arryl's skin is a gentle golden tan and her hair is so pale a blonde
as
to almost appear white. It is long and thick with many loose body waves
though Arryl tends to wear it in braids and buns.
Arryl is most commonly found in the uniform of der Gottswache—a
dark grey coat with a high collar with brandh and rank insignia
emblazened on black collar tabs. Black narrow epalets reach from
collar to shoulder. The sleeves are straight, and end with rank stripings
of black near the cuff. Double rows of grey buttons march down the front
of the coat to a flat-cut hip-length bottom. Over the right breast is
emblazoned a large black circle containing the red up-raised fist that is
the heraldric symbol of Prince Eric's armed forces. Tight trousers of
dark grey with black piping are tucked into cuffless knee-high boots of
black leather. As an officer, Arryl sports a grey and black-billed cap
built
along the lines of that of a WWII German Army Officer's hat.
In addition, Arryl usually affects a leather great coat over her grey
uniform complimented by a pair of aviator's goggles draped around her
neck.
At other times—Arryl is 38" high at the shoulder and 5' from tip
of
muzzle to tip of tail. She weighs in at about 95 pounds and is built
along
long leggy lines. Her paws are smallish for her size and her legs are
lean runner's legs. Her muzzle is tapered and pointed with a smaller
jaw, perked-up ears and curious yellow eyes. Her tail is likewise long
with smallish plumes. The entire effect is for a lean distance hunter as
opposed to a large mass of bone-crushing wolf.
Her coloring changes according to the seasons in Weirmonken—regardless of where she actually is. Summer coloring is a white belly
and feet, with a darker grey back. In Winter, the dark steel grey fades
to
a very light dusting, leaving Arryl almost entirely white.
Arryl has what is known among the Weir as a 'fine calling voice,'
meaning her howls and whufs carry very well over distance with pleasing
(to Weir) tones.
Arryl is a bit... spirited and somewhat loud. And a beer drinker.
Arryl likes physical experiences as opposed to intellectual ones.
She's somewhat curious but not terribly so, pragmatic and not given
much to philosophizing. Art to her is at its best in songs and war poetry
and should be participated in, not observed. She finds spectator sports
and art boring.
Her duty with the Gottswache is the center of her life, though she
*does* understand off-shift. She is very proud of her position within
Eric's forces—a pride she shares with the other Weir. However, Arryl
likes to portray herself as an 'Alt Schurrzenjager', an old warwolf, due
to
the length of time she's served in Amber.
Arryl was born in Weirmonken during the end the War with Amber.
She grew up in Weirmonken just as Prinz Erik was establishing Der
Second Reich.
Arryl was one of the first 115 Weir chosen to enter Der Prinz's
Gottswache -- so she's pretty much old-school Weir -- with a thin veneer
of modern Weir laid over by various home-leaves. These first members
of the Gottswache left Weirmonken to serve -- at first -- just at Erik's
private estate while he worked it out with his father (and probably
certain
brothers) to bring a portion of the Gottswache into Amber City / Castle
proper. She was serving within Erik's castle, probably 40 some years
after the end of the Himmelkrieg (Amber time.)
Arryl was not among the first Weir to enter service in the Castle /
City
itself -- when the Gottswache finally came to Amber Castle 10 years
later -- 50 years after the end of the Himmelkrieg (Amber time.) But she
was among the second wave, arriving in Amber about 53 after the end
of the Himmelkrieg (Amber time).
For most of her military carrier, Arryl der Gottswache has retained
her
original rank of Leutnant (lieutenant) and her original posting as a
courier. A few brief stints as Hauptmann (captain) and one as Oberst
(colonel) ended dramatically as Arryl got herself busted back down to a
rank she was comfortable with.
As Arryl has served in the same position for over three hundred
years, she has developed quite a familiarity with the castle and the
people in it -- especially the secretaries, attaches, castelaines, guard
captains, watch commanders, department heads etc. -- the people who
are actually getting the work of Amber done.
"Oi, you know better than to deliver to Steward Oshwei at dis time!"
Companionable booming laugh to the sullen page. "It's before die
Morning Tea. Come Freund, let's get some eis on that eye. "
She also has some knowledge of the equivalent in the City and the
Port as well -- port masters, police commissioners and captains,
teamster and shipping heads, guild masters, mayor, councilmen, etc.
And a passing familiarity with the major names of the Church of the
Unicorn.
Arryl also knows the couriers and officers in the other Royal's'
forces.
She's carried messages to Benedict's troops. Gotten blitzed on
occasion with some of Dierdre's Valkyries. And while the relationship is
still be a little strained -- worked with the Rangers of Arden. Passed
secret dispatches to Caine's spies or open packets to Gerard's naval
couriers. In the more recent centuries, she's got some experience with
various shadows -- especially Golden Circle -- where she's needed to
take things.
Arryl takes residence in the junior officer's wing of the Weir
barracks
at the Castle proper and R&R's at one of Der Gottswache's favorite
hang-outs— "Der Amberhoehle" or, more affectionately, the Hole—a
Weir bar not too far (but just far enough) from Der Weir Kaserne
(Barracks) to provide a nice getaway. The Hole contains a low bar and
tables, couches -- no chairs or stools, bier served by the stein or by the
bowl, and spring-powered victrola in the back-ground pumping out
'Oompa' tunes. With a *lot* of wolves in there, yep, yep.
