Character Portrait: Patrice Mirriam
Creating character backgrounds is one of the most rewarding aspects of writing a story, no matter its scope. Developing the background for Lourous Mirriam’s mother, Patrice was particularly meaningful for me. Aside from the fact her name is practically identical to my own mother, Patricia, provided numerous traits to pull from.
Nothing compares to both the strong and delicate nature of a mother’s nurturing to help shape the young mind. I owe my own personal strength to the strong will of one who raised me to be considerate, giving, and to put others first. I am sure Lourous feels the same way.
Born Patrice Benoit in 2472 to parents, Henri Benoit and Marcella Rousseau from the region of Normandie in France, Patrice inherited her mother's fiery red hair, piercing green eyes, and penchant for breaking down the most complex problems in to the simplest of terms. Combined with her father's strict adherence to proper etiquette, respect for all living things, and the scientific method, served to influence Patrice in ways she would not comprehend until many decades later.
In her developmental years, both Henri and Marcella noticed remarkable traits about their young daughter which, at first, they speculated could be the signs of a gifted child. Patrice learned to walk, talk, and problem solve much earlier than her peers. Even more pronounced was the aging process or virtual lack of it. Physically, she grew at the same rate but at the cellular level, she remained much younger, verified at various stages of development by Henri, a practicing herbologist and geneticist. Conducting various, non-invasive tests in the privacy of their own chateau proved useful.
Marcella, a descendant of the Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer Jean-Jacques Rousseau began to question her daughter's uniqueness and grew progressively concerned due to the rise of paranoia around the world, especially on the North American continent, which focused on humans labeled Manipulators. Rumor held, those identified as Manipulators, could bend the very elemental forces of nature to do their bidding, often destructive in nature. Being a composer and philosopher herself, Marcella preferred to follow facts, not science fiction. Yet, her concerns would soon be realized.
Shortly after Patrice's 8th birthday, a fire had erupted in one of three greenhouses cultivated by her father. Noting her father's disappointment and saddened by the event, Patrice placed her young hands in the freshly scotched earth and used the elemental forces around her to restore the plant life to full health, much to the chagrin of her parents. Although it confirmed many of the suspicions they had about Patrice, it did not provide any answers to the how and why of her abilities.
As Patrice grew older, she was schooled in a wide range of studies at her parent's chateau until the age of 17, when she was accepted at the prestigious University of Bordeaux in 2489 to study in the field of Botany, which she would later use to supplement her practice of herbalism, specifically in the area of medicine. During her upper-level studies, Patrice began to discreetly explore her abilities, eventually leading to her discovery of an underground movement devoted to exploring and gaining an understanding of abilities similar to her own. This would lead her to eventually meet, Augustas Mirriam.
During the ensuing years, Patrice encountered a series of hardships like those she befriended who would later adopt the term Sy'Arrian to describe themselves as part of a new race, which she readily accepted. Her slow aging and robust constitution introduced her to the painful reality of watching those she loved, grow old and die. She came to both marvel and resent her abilities, until Augustas came into her life and provided the necessary guidance, which eventually lead to their joining as life partners in 2594 during the 45-year journey from Earth to their eventual colonization of Hyprus, the new home world of the Sy'Arrian race in 2625.
In 2790, Patrice and Augustas welcomed their son, Lourous, into their hearts and minds. Shortly after their son's birth, the inner workings of the Sy'Arrian government made Augustas rarely available to both Patrice and Lourous, which eventually lead to strained relationships. Nonetheless, Patrice made the necessary time for her son whenever possible, passing on life lessons and what it meant to be a Sy'Arrian. She knew Lourous was receiving the best training from Bayne Thaddeous in the ways of a warrior, however, she also ensured Lourous received balanced perspectives related to all what life had to offer.
While the Sy'Arrian culture continued to evolve, Patrice used her astute knowledge of botany, philosophy, and scientific understanding of Akasha to counsel other races whenever they encountered significant issues on their own home worlds.
In 2855, only 65-years after the birth of her son, the ship Patrice was traveling in from the Hyprovian's home world, Lotar, suffered an imbalance in its ion engines, resulting in the ship's complete destruction shortly after exiting the planet's outer atmosphere.
Rather than internalize his grief, Lourous used the wisdom gained from his mother's guiding influence to hone his leadership abilities, often calling in to question the dubious practices of the Cri'lin Council, especially his father, Augustas Mirriam, the High Leader.
Feel free to post your questions or comments. I will respond when I am able. Be safe, be well and allow compassion to manifest while we continue to navigate a crazy but beautiful world.
Thank you for reading.
