A baron’s daughter, about to come of age

You are Lady Jordan Farcourt, daughter of Baron Farcourt. The Baron rules over a series of towns, villages, and mining camps in the rocky foothills of Avaria's northern border. It’s a relatively unimportant fiefdom, distant from the Capital; nevertheless, you are of noble birth, and have enjoyed the luxuries of a noble upbringing. Your handmaidens feed you, clothe you, and bear the brunt of your peers’ sexual attentions. In fact, you can hardly remember the last time your father used you, despite the fact that he’s a widower. He spends most of his time travelling from place to place, dealing with one crisis after another, and when he comes home he tends to prefer his buxom maids to his skinny daughter.

Late one night, you were sitting in your chambers, staring off into the roaring fire. It was the eve of your twentieth birthday, and you were far from elated. There would surely be a grand ball, and all the eligible bachelors would be there. You're quite eligible yourself... Your slender frame and shining blonde hair would bring admirers even if you were not the daughter of a baron.

Your father would expect you to pleasure every attendee, of course, in order to pave the way for marriage arrangements. Though there’s nothing wrong with pleasing men, you aren't exactly used to it, and the prospect of having to deal with so many is nerve-wracking… But not nearly as nerve-wracking as marriage plans. You've always known that, as an aristocrat, your marriage would be arranged for you. Still, you can’t help but envy the commonfolk, who are known to marry for romance or passion instead.

It was with these thoughts swirling in your head that you decided to leave your chambers and take a long walk. Slipping on a pair of leather boots and sneaking past the night watchmen (as you have a thousand times before), you make your way through the stone passageways of your father’s manor and out into the night air. It’s the height of summer, and you’re pleased to find that your thin silken nightgown is enough to protect against the gentle breeze.

Within minutes you've journeyed beyond the estate, hopping a fence and wandering off into the woods. You've taken this path many times before; in your childhood you were an adventurer, looking to confirm your nurse’s stories of buried treasure. Later, in your teenage years, you came for nothing more than solitude. This evening you are looking for both, yet expect to find neither. It won’t be long before the sun rises and guards are sent to comb the woods for you, dragging you back to your life and the impending doom of courtship.