Nymeria Martell

"Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken - The words of House Martell… A promise to her enemies and a challenge to her lovers."

Nymeria Nymeros Martell is a Princess of Dorne. She is the daughter of the Red Prince, The Chosen Son, Alaric Nymeros Martell. The seat of her family is Sunspear, ruling over lands extend from the mouth of the Greenblood to Prince's Pass and the Boneway. She is known to be aspiring and ambitious. However, she also possesses a charm which she is not afraid to leverage in order to get what she wants.

Appearance
Princess Nymeria has long black hair and dark amber eyes, which flicker inquisitively. She is tall, curvaceous, with smooth sunkissed skin. Her features are soft, with syrup-sweet lips. She enjoys adorning in embellished gowns, favouring thin silks which flap and toss alight the warm winds whilst at Sunspear.

Early Life
Nymeria Martell was born in 289AC at Sunspear. She is the second-born child and only daughter of Prince Alaric Martell and his late-wife, Bethany Martell née Darklyn. She has one older brother, Nymor Martell.

Nymeria grew up behind the walls of Sunspear, during the reign of her grandmother, Eleanor Martell - The Tigress, The Warrior Princess, The Tamer of the Dornish Sand and Waters. As a child, Nymeria was painfully shy, refusing to leave Nymor’s side. Together, they would be raised playing by the water gardens, alongside many other children from noble families all across Dorne.

Described as inquisitive by her maester from even a young age, Nymeria would begin her education shortly after her sixth nameday. The little viper proved to be a quick learner, especially enjoying arithmetic. Her father provided her with the best of tutors hailing from across the lands. Such included tutors of the arts as well. Though little Nymeria could never manage to focus during her harp lessons, she seemed to take naturally to dance. Feeling confidence in her new hobby, the small girl began to emerge from her shell. Nymeria would spend hours each day practicing, twirling and jumping around by the water gardens. Nymeria would grow more skilled at dancing over the years to come, always striving to push further. [Acrobatics].

Much of Nymeria’s young life was spent happily, beloved by much of her family, though there had always been a distance with her uncle. Oberyn Martell felt as an outsider among them. Nymeria knew him to be a vicious man, on occasion witnessing the cruel way he would order courtiers. Though he would never treat Nymeria poorly. Though still very young, and not understanding the circumstances fully, she had learned to keep distance from him.

In 295AC, tragedy would befall Sunspear, when Bethany Martell would suddenly fall ill. Over the next three years, Nymeria would watch her as her mother slowly began to fade. The great black-haired beauty at last succumbed to her illness in 298AC. No longer did the palace fill with her father’s songs. Nymeria was now motherless. She grew that more quiet, keeping mostly to herself as she mourned. Wishing to find solace, would oft find herself roaming the many libraries around Sunspear, finding comfort among the dusty leather tomes. She would immerse herself in the many tales - of far off lands and languages, of queens and courtesans alike. Such tales would remain with Nymeria for her life.

A Tigress Falls — The Battle of the Two Princes
In 297AC, Nymeria’s father, Aleric Martell, was decreed the heir to Sunspear. War continued with the Stepstones. During this time, Nymeria remained protected at the palace, continuing her studies. But two years later, in 299AC, the war with the Pirate King was ultimately lost. Along with such, Nymeria would lose her grandmother and Dorne would lose their Princess. Time had finally caught up to the aged tigress, older than the sand, her last battle unable to be fought with the same illustrious power as once in her prime. Prince Oberyn would betray her as he led troops back to Yronwood, still very much enraged by his disinheritance. He would leave his mother with a poem, a mockery, before ending her life. For such a betrayal Nymeria could only see as pure cowardice - to be murdered by her own son, for a throne he could never deserve. After the death of the Princess, when chaos broke out at the palace, Nymeria and her brother were hidden by a servant in one of the wine cellars. With Alaric’s victory, Nymeria stood by her father’s side as he became the ruling Prince of Dorne, in support of Oberyn’s exile. With her father’s ascent to the throne, Nymeria also inherited the title of Princess. To this day, Nymeria still fears of her cruel uncle’s return, often having nightmares of him.

A Red Sun Rises
Now under Prince Alaric’s rule, Sunspear would begin to return to a state of normalcy - and soon it would flourish.

The sun had set, but once more it would rise. Nymeria would watch as the palace would begin to thrive with the riches of philosophy and art. Her father’s court would expand, with a new wing being constructed in the palace, "The Dornish Assembly”. Nymeria, along with her brother, would oft join her father’s side as he hosted council, carefully watching and learning.

In 302AC, Prince Alaric Martell converted to the Red Faith. Nymeria would receive education in the ways of R’hllor, growing fascinated by the fiery lord, though her ties to the Seven would never fade. Wishing to please her father, the daughter of the Red Prince would convert, alongside her brother Nymor.

Shortly after Nymeria’s 15th nameday, she would take her first lady-in-waiting, Obella Sand. A year later she would take a second into her service, Dyanna Dayne, as well as a sworn spear, Damon Gargalen. With Song Shu’s arrival to the Sunspear court in 305AC, Nymeria began to study under her. The princess quickly took to the philosopher, especially enjoying their long games of cyvasse, whilst only speaking in Yi Tish.

With ambitions to be further involved in her family’s influence, Nymeria began visiting the surrounding cities, paying alms. With literacy being her cause, she would take time visiting orphanages where she would help children learn how to read. But in 306AC, whilst out in the city, Nymeria would wander off too far from her guards, encountering thugs who pulled her into a dusty corner of the bazaar. Before Nymeria could be harmed, they were intruded upon by a strange elder who frightened the scoundrels off. To this day, Nymeria has kept in touch with the one who saved her, coming to know him as Garin, the Old Man of the River. Once Nymeria arrived back at Sunspear safely, her brother first scolded her for running off, as much as he was glad for her safety. He would then insist to Nymeria that she took up a weapon, so that she could defend herself in the future. She was resistant at first, not seeming to inherit the drive of her tigress-grandmother. But knowing the dangers of the world, she would finally agree to begin her training under him. By dancing with ornamental blades for many years, Nymeria took to daggers in particular. She would eventually move onto throwing knives, practicing with targets daily. To this day, it is not unknown for Nymeria to hide a sharp blade on her, veiled beneath the soft silks of her clothing. [Daggers]. A few moons later, she would compete in the tourney of Sunspear. Still very new to combat, but stubborn enough to enter, she would ultimately lose her first match to Lord Fowler.

Adolescence
Moons would pass and Nymeria would eventually come of age. And so the girl with the once bony elbows would finally blossom into womanhood. Soft curves now sculpted her form, hips feminine and wide, smooth raven hair which reached her elbows. She would not shy away from such gifts bestowed by her mother, noticing how it would afford her extra attention she did receive prior. She would choose to dress in clothing to provoke such desires, thin silks which swayed freely, giving but a hint to temptations which remained laden beneath. Nymeria would continue to practice dancing, especially enthralled by the old Rhoynar styles, emphasizing flexibility and the complex movements of the torso. When Prince Alaric is hosting a function or ceremony, it is not uncommon for Nymeria to perform a dance in the guest’s honour.

Due to Nymeria's high ranking and exotic beauty, many suitors would be pursue her in the years to come. However, all would be refused, for Prince Alaric did not believe any of these matches were well-suited for his only daughter. Not that Nymeria minded at all, enjoying all the independence an unmarried life could afford. Though taking lovers would not remain out of the question for the princess. Namely, an encounter with Anders Yronwood, in which they drank a little too much one evening. To this this day, the two keep such an encounter as secret.

In 308AC, the Great Princess Library began its construction. With Nymeria wishing to be more involved, her father assigned her to work alongside the stewards, managing the costs. From there, she would also assist with the management of increasing exports, how much coin should be exchanged for a hundred orders of wine and silk. With Dorne flourishing with culture under her father's reign, Nymeria realized that such a chance could be seized to increase the wealth of Sunspear. An opportunity. [Entrepreneur, Mercantilist].

Present Day
Princess Nymeria is now aged twenty, remaining unwed. Her ambitions and goals remain focused on assisting her beloved father and doing all she can to help Dorne grow prosperous. However, she knows well that threats are always looming, whether at their borders by the marches or over the narrow sea. Nymeria knows it is in house Martell’s best interest to remain vigilant. For she has heard whispers of R’hllorites being persecuted in the other regions. She now travels alongside the Red Prince and the Dornish retinue to King’s Landing, to celebrate the dragon prince’s nameday, as well as a new addition to her family - the marriage of her father and a Summerhall princess. Whilst at King’s Landing, Nymeria strives to forge new alliances, as well as strengthen old ones. A promise to her enemies and a challenge to her lovers.

Family
See Family Echo here.