Bronach Rourke

[Brónach Rourke[Inactive]]

Settle down, it’ll all be clear

Full name: Bronach Rourke
Nickname: Call her Rourke if you care to keep your life.
Alias: Captain Sorrow, Sorrow.
Gender: Female
Age/Birthday: 30 July, 28th 1672
Celebrity Claim: Anna Friel

If you get lost you can always be found

Time Period: Golden Age of Piracy

Appearance: Bronach is a short, curvy, woman with wild brittle chestnut curls that frame her sundried face. Eyes as green as any clover in Ireland stare at you fanned in thick black lashes. Thin kissable lips that flash a daring, albeit sadistic, smile. One could say, all in all, Bronach is a lovely specter of a woman. Her style of dress is flamboyant, yet still set in the traditional male sense. She wears britches, long coats... That's about it. But while her clothing style is more male in nature it has never hindered her ability to be feminine. A small flash of cleavage here and pants tight enough to see the nature of her hips help. In her eyes it was more seductive than wearing a dress that hid every inch of her. She also, on most occasions, will don a large hat that is usually reserved for ones captain. This large hat will also be decorated with a large feather.

Height: 5'2

Distinguishing Features: Although she her body is riddled with scars from past fights she covers them from the naked eye with layers of clothing. Her left hand has plenty of tattoos all of which have meaning to her, but to most save for a pirate or astronomer, they would appear meaningless.

Just know you’re not alone

Personality: Bronachs personality can be described easily, in truth. Sarcastic, bloodthirsty, and loud. You can see why being an Assassin would be such a hardship. Bronach is a woman of anger and harsh words. She says whats on her mind at all times, even if it's probably going to ruffle the feathers of her fellow mates. She has a smart mouth on her, and uses it regularly to make the lives of those around her miserable if they don't know how to laugh at themselves. Bronach is brash and uncaring on whether someone likes her or not. If they don't she can simply shoot them. That's what guns were made for, right?

Bronach is not a timid woman to hide behind the ranks. Nor is she a woman to be underestimated. She doesn't mind boasting her skills, and often will make threats that she most certainly will carry out. Nine times out of ten Bronach will never threaten you with something she doesn't fully intend to fulfill. And if you don't believe her she's more than happy to demonstrate.

Bronach doesn't exactly like killing... No. No she pretty much does. She is most definitely a shoot first, ask questions later type of woman. And for her lifestyle it has worked wonders. It's hard to break those habits. She loves to pillage and plunder, and again isn't shy about it. She is, however, very very adamant that no woman will be raped aboard her ship, or by one of her crew. To go against this order is a most painful death that she will simply enjoy watching.

Or partaking.

Fears:

• Being forgotten.
  

• A jail cell.

• Getting pregnant.
  
  
• Growing old or ugly.

• Being landlocked.

• Dying inland.

Goals:

• Kill every Templar she happens by.

• No, make that all Templars in general.

• Find out who her father was.

• Make life miserable for any and all who get in her way.

• Cause mayhem.

Likes:

• Rum, of course.

• A warm bed.

• The way the moonlight ripples on the ocean.

• The sound of the wind as it brushes against the sails.
  

• Clear night skies.

• Men.

• Weapons.

• Explosions.

• The smell of a burning ship as it slowly sinks.

• Money, gems, the usual.

• Fine foods.

• Fine clothing, though she'd never admit it.
  
  
• Proving a point.

Dislikes:

• Most women.

• Templars.

• Assassins, most of the time.

• Politics.

• Religious fanatics.

• Running out of money.
  

[/span][li]Being underestimated.[/li][/ul]

• Being bound or caged.

• Being inland for too long.

• Housewives.

• Children.

• Authority.

• Taking orders.

Strengths:

• Marksman shooter.

• Ambidextrous. Bronach is skilled with either hand. She is, perhaps, a bit more skilled with her right hand. She does most of her killing with the left. The tattoos upon it mark it as her 'favored' hand in doing the job. But if Bronach is brandishing her right hand in a fight you should truly fear for your life as you have gravely insulted her in some way shape or form.

• Fine swordsman.

• Sense of direction. Even slobbering drunk Bronach has been known to simply know which way they should be going. Most of the time she won't even need to glance at the map.

• Iron will.

• Once loyalty is earned she's loyal till the end. Loyalty is not taken lightly to the pirate. Though she has lived most of her life with the unsavory lot that would be considered honorless Bronach was loyal to her crew. And should new acquaintances prove useful as well as worth her loyalty, ultimately gaining her friendship, she would fight to the death for them. Though she might be tempted to leave them to their fate if it meant she was truly going to die.

• Survival. Against all odds this woman will find a way to survive!

Weaknesses:

• Stubborn to no end.

• Temper.

• Ruthless.

• Unforgiving. Once you've crossed the waters into hatred there is no redemption.

• Bullet lodged in her collarbone above her heart. Still causes pain from time to time. Usually at unexpected times.

• Poor Education

Talents:

• Lovely singing voice.

• Drinking men under the table.

• Being a distraction.
  

Habits/Quirks:

• Crosses arms and runs thumb over her lips when thinking very deeply.

• Will not draw a weapon unless she intends to kill.

• Insubordinate.

Occupation: Ex-Assassin turned pirate turned back into an Assassin! yay life.
Alliance: Assassin, for now.

Cause I’m gonna make this place your home.

History: Bronach Rourke was born to live a tragic life. As her consummation was due to the rape of her mother, Maeve, she was an unwanted child. With that in mind she gave her the name Bronach, which means Sorrow. At first Bronach hadn't known that's why she was named as such. Her mother had lied to her, having grown to love her daughter, and said that it was because her father had died on his way home from the market. That bandits had shoved her father into an alley and gut him from nose to naval. And for many years she would believe this tale. But children were cruel and they told many stories. Some of it lies, but much of it was truth. Other children her age were harsh, and their mothers would not allow them to befriend the young dark haired girl.

They thought her a curse, much like her mother had. So when her mother, a lowly bar wench, managed to save enough money to send them to the Americas Bronach was ready for this new adventure. At 8, May of 1680, the young girl had only high hopes for this new world. Salem, Massachusetts to be exact. It was a slew of new chances for her mother to smile, and for her to make a name for herself. However what she hadn't expected was utter horror. The feeling of true betrayal. A year after their arrival times had brightened for their family of two. But people are not always kind to a lone woman and her child. Rumors blossomed around them and their private nature. When confronted about it many words were used, magic, secretive to name a few, but bastard was very prevalent. After much thought on the matter Bronach asked her mother once again about her father. This time Maeve didn't have the heart to lie to her beloved daughter. She told her of her horrid consummation and the true nature of her name.

Bronach was utterly heartbroken.

To know that ones birth was a blight is truly a horrible thing. Bronach grew angry at her mother for hiding this information from her and believed the love she had for her was false. She lost all faith in her mothers promises and often disrespected her out of spite. Furious with her own existence, furious that she had been the product of such a vile act. It only made her hunger for chaos, for trouble. And for three years that is exactly what she did. She terrorized her fellow children, and many of the adults. Bronach had no friends, and in her eyes, no family. What use of proper manners and education did she have when her mere existence caused such a response. Her mother tried to reinforce the fact that she'd been wrong to name her daughter sorrow and that she did truly love her, but Bronach was unconvinced. She grew tired of what she assumed was living a lie and ran away on several occasions.

In 1688, at 11 years old, Bronach was taken underwing by a very secretive bunch. They claimed they could teach her to take proper care of herself. That they could also give her the skills to keep herself heartily comfortable financially, and most importantly, they offered her a vision, a goal, and the ability to save those who could not save themselves. She would learn a Creed that would give her purpose, and that was something she sorely needed. Bronach liked that part, that she would work in the dark, to serve the light. But in return for these skills she would be forsworn to them, a tool for them to use. These were the Assassins. For 7 long years she trained with them, and flourished. Her bloodthirsty nature made her a deadly assassin, but it also gave those around her pause. She cared little for the information that she may be retrieving and cared little about the Creed she needed to live by. Mostly because she simply didn't understand it. And of course she was a teen, she knew everything, right? It was around the end of those 7 years that she began to demand marks. She wanted targets. They'd taught her everything, in her eyes. She knew how to kill with greater efficiency than most of her peers and she was unafraid to take a life.

After all who's to say she hadn't practiced.

Yet she was denied at every turn. Her chance to prove herself seemed further and further from her grasp. In short, rather than an assassin, she had become a blunt tool. Too blunt, and her Master saw it too evidently. She grew even more angry and restless, wanting nothing but the chance to show she was just as good as any other assassin that left their Bureau with a contract. It was part of the reason she left the Brotherhood later. It was not, however, the most worrisome of her reasons. In 1692 the Salem Witch trials were beginning. And for 3 long years Bronach and her mother lived in their perpetual silence, but the people around them did not see their disdain in each other. Instead they began to think horrid thoughts, magic thoughts. Many came forward claiming they had seen both Bronach and her mother partake in the Devils Dance. A dance on a full moon in the dead of night completely in the nude, some claimed sacrifices as well. Their allegations were completely based on their fear of the two Irish immigrants and nothing else.

Except of course Bronachs ever increasingly sneaky behavior.

She woke on a cloudy morning, startled by a muffled scream. Quickly the 18 year old woman had slipped out the hidden floor panel she'd installed herself, and thrown on her assassins robes as well as the weaponry she had stashed there. She peered through the crowd, circling back and blending in, as they tied her mothers heels to her neck. It left her in some sickening hoop and she cried endlessly for Bronach to hide, for her to run. She swore to their Christian God that they would never get Bronach and that if they did the Heavens above would rain fire for her revenge. It was in that moment, when they carted her mother away and off to their jail cells did she realize her mother had indeed loved her.

By cover of darkness Bronach snuck past each window of the jailhouse until she found her mother. Huddled and sobbing the woman nearly screamed at her daughters voice. Petrified, covered in bruises and lesions, she clamored to the window and demanded she leave at once. She was to live her life and make the horizon hers. She forced Bronach to swear to her that she wouldn't stay for the trial, that she wouldn't watch her die. And it was a promise Bronach kept.

That very evening she made her first kill. Her first real kill, as an assassin, in her robes, with her hidden blade. A wealthy man named Nathan Stuart lived on the edge of the city, in a house that she'd seen many times as a recruit, under the veiled hood of her white robes. The man was a possible contract for her Bureau, she'd heard the Master talk about him many times, but the Master never committed to the contract, and this Stuart, was well thought to be a Templar, the sworn enemies of the Assassins. That was Bronach's very problem with her so-called brotherhood. Why let this one man live, while letting so many others die? Weren't we all just trying to save lives, and promote true freedom? Isn't that what the so-called Creed was all about? Well Bronach was tired of being told "no", or "not now", or "you're not ready". She had known two of the Assassins who had trailed him, and both had sworn to see him preforming acts of Templarism. Bronach also knew that this man Stuart had the two assassin's holdings under his heel, and they might never pay their debts to him.

Bronach was sick of the Templars, and sick of the Assassins. She tried Nathan Stuart in her fashion, and found him guilty. So she went into his home, on the night of her mother's disgrace, and gave this man another's punishment. If she could have, she'd have burned the entire town. When her work was finished, and the man was without doubt, dead, Bronach took her dues. Nathan's private treasure was enough to pay the debts of her fellow assassins and then some, possibly enough to buy the freedom of some wrongfully condemned witches as well. But before she could mount the courage, her mother's forced promise filled her heart with sorrow, and her eyes with tears. She couldn't take it, the entire world caved around her soul, and she fled. Stuart's private purse would see this twisted, young bird into the farthest reaches she could find, and then, when all was behind her, she could know she'd escaped her destiny.

Bronach fled the colony to Newport, Rhode Island, where she bartered passage with a molasses trade ship and found her way down into the Caribbean, to the Island of New Providence where she had been told that anyone with coin was a god in living flesh, and that no one asked any questions. And living god she was for the shortest godship in history. But before her fall from deification, she managed to pry out the singular eye of Captain Thomas Wood, a Privateer for the English Navy. Upon hearing that he could basically do as he pleased when he pleased, made as much coin as his hold could stand without busting, and legally at all that, she had her mind set. She flirted heavily with Wood, unabashedly suggesting they return to his ship for a more private setting. He, of course, obliged this idea and spent the evening with the young vixen. And once she'd snared him he was hers forever. She convinced him to allow her to sail with him, despite his crews dislike of the notion. He could see her need for adventure, and was quite pleased with the idea of her warming his "bed". But it was her threat that had him under her thumb.

"If'n ye refuse me, Cap'n. I warn ye. I'll be sure'n tae' the life o' yer men before ye leave port."

When he'd laughed the notion off she'd left his cabins and returned with a body. There sat Jenkins wide eyed and very dead. The alarms hadn't been raised. No man had even made a peep. And most of them were awake and moseying about the ship. She'd quietly stalked through his beloved vessel, found Jenkins, and killed him without so much as batting an eye. Or alerting his men. She was driven, unyielding and the coldness that set into her eyes had made even him shiver. This woman was not meant to take to sea, she was as the sea, with all her wiles and furies. So of course he agreed to bring her.

She fell for Wood and his intense lifestyle and he fell just as hard. In the beginning she was nothing more than a bar wench for his men, and the lover in his bunk. But as they sailed on and on she would pose questions, or suggestions, and it didn't take long for Wood to understand her true potential. Whatever she pressed for, whichever prize or port, her plans were deadly accurate. Wood was her's completely. Once she started in on the planning and the messy work of the pirate he grew more and more perplexed, and gave her more and more private control of his ship. And soon after that, it perhaps wasn't so private, many had noticed the change in their fortunes, and the wealth of their prizes. So much so that the majority of his crew paid her extra respect. Of course Thomas had no idea that this was also because she'd made a personal visit to each. Not to share their beds, but to prove a point.

Yes. She was a woman.

And yes. She would kill you without a second thought.

But her true point was to let them know that not only would she kill them, but she could do so without anyone ever knowing who'd done so.

Oh yes, Bronach made it irrefutably clear that she was the Alpha and Omega. They feared her wrath more than their own captain. As a result it earned her her own title of captain. Captain Sorrow. Thomas was merely a figurehead most of the time, and the crew knew it, though they never spoke it. They revered her, and together she and Thomas would take the world.

Bronach was known by now for her butchery and zero tolerance of any disrespect, but that wasn't all she was. She had a sharp mind for takeovers. It started with her own ship, which the buccaneer crew later only called "Wood's" in their telling of it. She'd had the ship's name scrubbed clean from the bow and aft, and tossed all records overboard. With Bronach aboard, they would never sail their own ship into port again, but others...

Captain Sorrow was well known for taking small sloops, or slightly larger merchant ships, and found many ports that would gladly purchase them from her. She became a regular follower of the wars of the east, and learned which ports would purchase the ships of another flag. Sorrow was well known for early morning raids, where she would sail behind her prize, and set her bell to theirs, and stage her boarding for halfway through the fourth hour. Another of her favorite deceptions, was to board her prize posing as a pregnant woman, and wait until midway through the night, before unbundling her "baby" to reveal a swaddling bundle of pistols and knives and a poisonous smoke grenades she'd known of from before her buccaneering days. Those prizes were usually the most easily won, as by the time that her Wood had hooked her, the sailors had already struck their colors.

It was in this time, that Bronach decided that the seas of the Caribbean had become too crowded and with that in mind she and her favored captain moved towards the Pacific, an uncommon destination for pirates used to the luxurious life in the tropics, but with more whalers and more booty. She sailed with those pirates for 12 years. They upgraded their vessel with greater sails and more cannons when the time came and all in all, things had been exciting and chaotic. But as they ventured into the Pacific, causing mayhem and messing in affairs that ought not be messed with they became a target. A bounty was placed on her head, but worse than that Templars were taking notice.

Some of their stolen booty had infact belonged to them. The more she killed the larger her bounty, but the more they took, the larger their battles came. Until they sent a fully armed frigate at them. True they had upgraded, but they were not prepared for the onslaught that would take them.

Upon setting their sights on a small merchants vessel they were ambushed. Canons went off time and time again and she could feel every hit like a knife to her heart. This would be different. This time they wouldn't come out on top. She begged Thomas to see reason, to leave the ship while they had a chance. To take one of the boats and flee. Their men were already doing just that. And as the Templars began coming about to board she was desperate. Thomas finally agreed and they grabbed two of the still living men and made for the boats. They hollered orders, telling them to flee, but it was too late.

She watched them slaughter her men while she sat in a boat, lowering to safety. For the first time in many, many years, Bronach wept. She silently cried as her friends were murdered before her very eyes. She watched as their heads were taken from their shoulders, their insides spilled all over her beautiful ship. But even she could not save them. All those years of training, and all the years of honing them... Yet she could not save her men.

The boat swung sideways in midair and she looked above them to see a Templar slicing at the ropes. The fall would likely collapse the small boat. She reached for one of her many pistols and took aim, disregarding the hell around her, she took aim. Gunfire rained up at him and Bronach made sure to put a bullet betwixt his eyes, but not before he put a bullet in her collar bone. However it was the gurgled cry of pain that caught her attention. She paid little attention to her own bleeding chest, instead she was fixed on Thomas. Three shots had met his own body. Two in his right lung, and the third in his stomach. She took a chance, having her two men hold him as she sliced the other side of the boats rope.

For a moment they were flying. They were soaring towards the sea and she held her lover while he choked on his own blood. And when the boat met water she felt it give. She felt the hull snap and closed her eyes as the sea swallowed the four of them like a python devouring its meal. Beneath the water Bronach had a moment of clarity. She would not die this day. Gripping the lifeless, bleeding, corpse of her Thomas she made a vow to kill every Templar she could get her hands on. But to do so she would have to return to the Assassins. She would have to return to their devious, dogmatic ways. Which meant she needed to make contact.

That small moment of clarity was all she needed. Her head broke above the waves and she held the corpse of her love as her tears mixed with the sea. Twice her head fell beneath the waves, crushing her with its weight as she struggled to let go of the only man she'd come to truly care for. She released him, praying to whatever entity that he would rest silently at the bottom of the ocean, knowing it wouldn't be so. The sharks, as well as other sea creatures, would strip him away piece by piece. But for now she would live in denial. She would see him whole at the bottom of the sea, waiting for her to join him.

The moon that glittered above her as she floated limply on the waves while she made her plans called to her. Bronach memorized the very position of the stars that night, remembering always the night the Templars took her life from her. The night a piece of her died inside and steel moved over her. She would be far more ruthless now.

For what seemed like ages she paddled along the ocean waves, atop one last gift of her ship to stay afloat. Bronach and a small group kicked through the ocean, her last two men dying of exhaustion and dehydration. But Bronach was not to be trifled with, and even the sea creatures seemed to know that. For Bronach was never attacked by any creature, nor did she realize how very hungry she was. Or that her muscles were locking from time to time from over use. She didn't realize that her face was gaunt, and her eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. She knew only rage and determination.

And it seemed Lady Luck smiled on her. A merchant's vessel on its way north happened by. The man in the nest happened to peer out over the calm waters where he saw her there, barely alive, and hallucinating from exposure and seawater. There she was, as if she'd simply rowed herself to the middle of the ocean for a brisk swim, and decided to stay. They brought her aboard, suspicious of her of course. She claimed to have been attacked by pirates, but was unsure of how long ago. They had seen floating barrels as well as other debris five days earlier so they were keen to believe her. Most of them were simply amazed she was still alive after being adrift for so long, while Bronach couldn't believe it had been five days.

Now Bronach Rourke had only one thought. Find a bureau. Make contact with the Assassins.

Kill every Templar.

Kill them all.


Mother: Maeve Rourke
Father:Unknown.
Significant other: Captain Thomas Wood. [Deceased.]
Pets:
Home: A nameless vessel at the bottom of the ocean. Her home sank with her Captain.

Behind the Scenes

Name/Alias: Hannii
How long have you been in RP?: It'll be 14 years on the 28th.
How did you find Cutting Corners?: Onas dragged me in by the ears.

Music credit -- Phillip Phillips - Home

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