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STATISTICS
Eleanor Shingleton (current)
FULL NAME
El, Eleonora van den Brink
AKA
400 years +/-
AGE
1600
BIRTHDAY
Monogamous
SEXUALITY
Married
RELATIONSHIP STATUS
Witch (Cursed)
SPECIES
The Mayor's House on the Lake
RESIDENCE
Mrs. Mayor, though she is involved in a lot of outreach programs
OCCUPATION
PERSONALITY
Eleonora van den Brink, now known as Eleanor Shingleton, possesses a personality shaped by centuries of experience, immense fortunes and great mistakes. She has never felt the need to be in the spotlight, she would actually rather avoid it, but has always thrived as the woman behind the man. Her love for Gaspard is the cornerstone of her existence. This love is not just romantic, but also deeply spiritual and transformative. It was her love for him that led to her immortality, a curse she willingly accepted, mistakenly believing his life to be in grave danger. This bond has imbued her with a profound sense of purpose and resilience. She often acts as the steadying force in their relationship, grounding Gaspard when his own burdens become too heavy. Despite the heartache of watching generations come and go, her love for Gaspard and the community they’ve created gives her life a consistent meaning and direction.
However, Eleanor’s immortality also brings significant challenges. She is haunted by the perpetual loss of friends and loved ones. Still, though she tries to maintain a certain guardedness in forming new relationships, it only lasts until she encounters someone in need. With her immortality came an eternal infertility, and over the years, rather than have their own children, Eleanor and Gaspard has adopted a multitude of beings into their lives. Be it an injured squirrel in need of nursing, a young Fae mother joining the community with her infant daughter, or an orphaned child, they have taken them in, either literally or metaphorically to either heal, help or raise and give them the best future possible.
APPEARANCE
Height: 5’8’’Build: Slim
Hair: Long, flowing blonde hair
Eyes: Clear blue
The first thing you notice: Her blue eyes
HISTORY
Eleonora van den Brink was born in 1600 in a small village in De Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden (present-day’s the Netherlands) during the Dutch Golden Age. Her family was respected and well-off, involved in both trade and maritime enterprises, key components of Dutch prosperity. Eleonora, or “Nora” as she was affectionately called, grew up in a nurturing environment that valued education and hard work. Her father, Pieter van den Brink, was a merchant who often sailed to distant lands, while her mother, Margriet (witch), was known for her herbal knowledge and midwifery skills.
From a young age, Eleonora was curious and compassionate, often accompanying her mother on her healing rounds, learning about the natural remedies and the magical powers they as witches held, though kept hidden. Her upbringing was imbued with a sense of adventure and a deep respect for knowledge, both practical and mystical.
In 1624, when Eleonora was 24, the van den Brink family joined the Dutch settlers headed to the New Netherland colony both driven by the spirit of exploration as well as seeking new opportunities. They settled in what would later become Tarrytown, a strategic location along the Hudson River. The family adapted fairly quickly, using their skills and knowledge to contribute to the burgeoning community, and Eleonora soon became a well-known figure among the settlers.
The year was 1627, when Eleonora encountered Qaspiel, an angelic being, who had come to the area on one of his walks on Earth. They met by the Hudson River where Eleonora was gathering herbs, and their connection was instantaneous and profound, transcending the ordinary bounds of human relationships. Eleonora didn’t know what Qaspiel was, but as they met each day, she found that his nature didn’t matter nearly as much as the love that was growing between them.
Later that year, a catastrophic even struck the colony – a sudden, fierce storm threatened to destroy the everything the settlers had built. As chaos ensued, a dark supernatural force emerged, feeding on the fear and destruction. Qaspiel, still trying to keep his true angelic form hidden, attempted to combat this force, but began to appear overwhelmed. Eleonora, driven by her love for him and unaware of his angelic nature, intervened by using her knowledge of ancient protective spells and drawing on the magic she herself had been taught to keep hidden.
In a desperate bid to save Qaspiel, Eleonora invoked a powerful incantation that repelled the dark force, but at a great cost. The supernatural energy from the incantation intertwined with her life force, causing Qaspiel to fall from grace and Eleonora to be cursed with immortality. The act of saving him bound her life to an eternal cycle, preventing her from aging or dying, even if he had no need to be saved.
After the dramatic events of 1627, Eleonora and Qaspiel decided to dedicate their lives to creating a safe haven for both humans and supernatural beings. They founded the settlement that would become Tarrytown, using their unique abilities and knowledge to nurture and protect the growing community. Qaspiel, now mortal but with a profound sense of purpose, took on the role of a civic leader, while Eleonora continued to serve as a healer and guide.
Together, they attracted settlers, ensured the town’s prosperity, and maintained a delicate balance between the mundane and the mystical. Over the centuries, Tarrytown grew under their watchful eyes, evolving into a vibrant and diverse community. They took on new identities periodically, with Eleonora eventually adopting the more Anglicized “Eleanor” and Qaspiel “Gaspard Shingleton” to blend into different societies more seamlessly.