Alma Elea Waratah

The Stiaggodalar Stables Presents:

Full Name: Alma Elea Waratah
Gender: Female
Age: 17
Birthdate: September 8
Nationality: Grew up in the gardener’s cottage near Corne D’Ore (there is no “nationality” in this A.U.)
Zodiac: Virgo
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
Weight: 138 lbs (63 kg)

Physical Description:

Build: Athletic but slightly stocky build
Hair: Dark brown hair with natural auburn highlights, usually in a practical braid.
Face: Brown eyes with unusual golden flecks, heart-shaped face with slightly rounded features

Skin: Olive complexion.

Distinctive features:

Tends to dress practically but with small feminine touches like embroidered details or vintage brooches
Outwardly composed but internally anxious
Acts more mature than her age due to responsibilities
Has a sharp, sometimes biting sense of humor
Deeply passionate about horses but sometimes feels guilty about pursuing her interests
Excellent at planning but struggles with spontaneity
Tends to be an early riser out of necessity rather than preference
Secret passion for writing poetry she never shows anyone
A habit of tucking loose strands of hair behind her right ear when nervous
Unconsciously hums old lullabies her mother used to sing
Always wears her mother's simple silver pendant

Bloodtype: O+

Relationship Status: Single

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Family:

Father: Alder Waratah (42 years old)

Gardener for the royal family at Corne D’Or
Intelligent and well-read but somewhat absent-minded
Struggles with grief and practical matters
Often feels guilty about relying on Alma so much

Mother: Rosemary Waratah (née Blackwood) (deceased at 36)

Died 3 years ago from a wasting illness
Was a skilled herbalist and healer
Known for her infectious laugh and storytelling
Taught Alder much of what he knows about medicinal plants

Sister: Summer Rayne Waratah (9)

Also horse-crazy
Free-spirited and somewhat wild
Still struggling with loss of mother

Dynamics:

Alder works long hours to maintain financial stability, leaving Alma often in charge
Summer Rayne (9) looks up to Alma but sometimes resents her attempts at mothering
Family grief manifests in different ways - Alder through work, Summer through rebellion, Alma through control
Financial struggles create tension, especially regarding horse-related expenses
Weekly family dinner ritual strictly maintained as connection to mother's memory
Complex relationship with maternal grandparents who offer financial help that Alder often refuses
Alma often mediates between her father and sister

Likes:

Dawn rides
The smell of leather and hay
Old books
Thunderstorm watching (despite her fear)
Traditional folk music
Organization systems
Her mother's old recipes

Dislikes:

Pity from others
Wasted opportunities
Being told to "act her age"
People who don't follow through on commitments
Feeling financially dependent
Large social gatherings
When people compare her to her mother

Pet Peeves:

People who treat horses as accessories
Wasteful spending
Being called "mature for her age"
Unexpected schedule changes
Summer's increasing rebelliousness
People who complain about "minor" problems
When others point out her similarity to her mother

Fears:

Another family tragedy
Not being able to protect her sister
Having to give up riding completely
Disappointing her mother's memory
Their financial situation worsening
Being seen as vulnerable
Thunder (though she tries to hide it)

Strengths:

Natural leader with strong organizational skills
Deeply protective of those she cares about
Resourceful and adaptable
Excellent at reading horse behavior
Determined and persistent
Good at budgeting and managing resources

Flaws:

Tends to suppress her own emotions to maintain stability
Perfectionist to the point of self-sabotage
Struggles with delegating tasks, believing she must do everything herself
Often passive-aggressive when stressed
Has difficulty accepting help or showing vulnerability
Prone to bouts of resentment, especially regarding lost opportunities

Hobbies:

Horse riding and training
Secret poetry writing
Collecting vintage horse books
Amateur painting, especially of horses
Cooking (out of necessity, becoming enjoyment)
Learning traditional herbal remedies
Maintaining her mother's garden with her father

Personality:

Alma Waratah embodies the paradox of forced maturity - a seventeen-year-old who moves through life with the measured steps of someone twice her age, yet carries within her the barely-contained dreams of youth. Her strength lies not in brute force but in her capacity to bend without breaking, managing household accounts with the same methodical care she uses to braid her horse's mane before dawn. Years of premature responsibility have shaped her into someone who plans three steps ahead, keeps her tears private, and always has a backup plan for her backup plan.

Behind her practical exterior and sometimes sharp tongue lies a soul that finds poetry in early morning frost and freedom in a horse's gallop. She bears the weight of her mother's absence like a well-worn saddle - both a burden and a source of stability. While she excels at caring for others, she struggles to accept help herself, treating vulnerability like a luxury she can't afford. There's a simmering resentment beneath her capable surface, not quite hidden in her occasional biting humor and the way she obsessively organizes everything within reach. Yet despite this, or perhaps because of it, Alma possesses a fierce kind of grace - the kind that comes from choosing to stay grounded while never quite giving up on the dream of flying.

Goals:

Earn enough to lease a horse
Keep Summer interested in school
Help father find better work-life balance
Improve jumping techniques
Save money for possible equestrian college program
Maintain mother's garden
Find better balance between responsibilities and personal dreams

History:

Started riding at age 6 under mother's tutelage
Mother's death forced her to take on significant household responsibilities
Reduced riding activities to help care for family
Started working at small jobs at Stiaggodalar Stables to help with finances and to get any moment with horses she can
Currently balancing school, home responsibilities, and pursuit of equestrian skills
Recently started teaching basic riding to younger children to earn extra lesson time
Developing reputation as a skilled horse handler despite limited resources

Horse: Alma Elea does not have her own horse, but she works closely with all the horses at Stiaggodalar Stables and spends as much time as possible with them. She is working toward affording her own horse in the near future.