Elaine Tilsbury

Born just a hair short of nine months after her parents were wed, Elaine was the firstborn daughter of the esteemed Lucille Pendragon, the youngest of her name, and Edward Tilsbury, a minor noble and beauracrat of little consequence. The circumstances of their marriage had been a source of much controversy, especially considering the amount of well-bred suitors who'd persued the spirited and attractive Lucille in a much more sophisticated manner - but no matter how frustrated the Pendragons were about their daughters "irresponsible" choices, Elaine's early childhood was filled with nothing but love. Her younger brother, Rupert, was born a few years later. When Elaine was four, they seemed set to expand their happy family to a third. However, this joy was not to last. The labor was complicated, and neither mother or child survived it. Edward was heartbroken, and threw himself into his work.

While originally somewhat estranged from their more prestigious relatives, Lucille's passing incited the Pendragons to step in to help her grieving widower. The children were brought to live with their cousins at the main family estate in the country. While initially shy, those who knew Elaine remebered her as a curious and bright child with a talent for alchemy, considered a top candidate for further training in the Magical Law Enforcement Agency (name absolutely not final). Suitably, she made fast friends with Marianne Pendragon, another bright young woman with an ambitious streak. The two were rarely spotted apart. However, as years went on, Elaine grew more and more of a reputation as a troublemaker, involved in a variety of messes and petty deliquency. This came to a head when she was thirteen, when without any public explaination, the matriarch of the family sent Elaine back home to the Tilsbury estate in London. While plenty of rumors went around as to why, no one really seems to know, and those involved in the incident refuse to speak of it.

Thus marked the change in Elaine's disposition. While her brother transferred to a boarding school, Elaine remained at the estate to continue her studies privately. She left the ground rarely, and her only guests were private tutors, who she often shooed away when she outgrew them. When her father made the mistake of dragging her to social events, she spent her time looking for a corner to read in and insulting anyone who dared interrupt her. Attempts to find her some friends went in a similar fashion. She got along poorly with men, and even worse with women. While her brother made more and more of a name for himself as a debutante, Elaine merely alienated an ever-growing list of society. To those who asked, her goals in life were simple; she wanted nothing more than to continue her studies in alchemy without interruption. The pursuit of knowledge was more important than anything a garden party could provide.

Despite her attitude, none could deny her intellect. Between that talent and the weight of her family name, once she came of age, Elaine was able to enter University College London as one of their first female students. She quickly became the first woman to graduate from the Alchemy department, and was given a position of Research Fellow, allowing her to continue her important studies into the recreation of alchemical and ritual magics recorded in myth. Her specific combination of practical magical skills and in-depth research of historical and mythological records lead to an impressive body of scientific work. While few other professors and fellows at the university could say they enjoyed talking to her, her expertise was well-respected. To onlookers, it would seem she had found a perfect place to complete that stated life goal.