MORTAL NAME: Isabella Di Florencia Carravaggio

CAINITE (Salubri) NAME: Mercy

COVEN: Il Stregano

NATIONALITY: Italian

NATURE: Guardian

ESSENCE: Mare (primordial, water)

DEMEANOR: Benefactor

CONCEPT: Midwife/Doctor's Wife

AFFILIATION: Verbena

MENTOR: Milagra

SPECIALIZATIONS: Medicine (herbology)

SPHERES: Connection 3, Forces 1, Life 3, Mind 2, Prime 1, Time 2

BACKGROUNDS: Resources 3 ( with husband Vincente), Covenant 3 (coven Il Stregano), Influence 2, Daemon 1, Library 4, Sanctum (with Arborium) 1

FLAWS: Dark Secret 1 (Witch), Ward 3 (husband- Dr. Vincente Carravaggio)

ARETE: 3

WILLPOWER: 9

MAGICKAL TREASURES: Spirit-Sight Glasses (purple-tinted glass in a metal frame)- allows the wearer to see spirits/wraiths; Golden Lion Enchanted Main-Gauche (can't remember what it did, doh) APPEARANCE: Isabella is in her late 20s with long, wavy chestnut-brown hair that she keeps tucked into an ornate headdress, and light brown eyes. She is small and slender with a clear, fair complextion and delicate features.

HISTORY: Isabella was born into a noble, deeply Catholic family, but Isabella's mind was too sharp and quick not to see through all the inconsistencies and failures of the Catholic church, and she would often snicker or refute the bishop's sermons quietly to herself while sitting in the cathedral with her family-- pretending to be murmuring a prayer or having a sneeze coming on when her parents would glare at her.

Just before Isabella Awakened, she made friends with a wealthy woman in town who was a trusted healer-- called "Milagra" by her close friends-- and Milagra began to teach her the healing arts. Isabella knew it was no coincidence, because this woman had also been chosen to be her mentor. After Isabella Awakened, Milagra's lessons became much more interesting! Isabella still had to learn which plants and herbs were used in healing, but it was mostly so she could make her Life magick appear mundane to the roaming paradox-spirits!

Isabella's parents thought highly of Milagra, and were impressed with their daughter's progress, but didn't see how it would be of much use to a high-born girl who would be marrying well, but they knew Isabella was stubborn, so they let her have her diversions. Isabella knew her parents were already looking for a husband for her, so she begged Milgara's coven-- Il Stregano-- to help her to find someone that she AND her parents would approve of before they found someone who would likely be dull and strict with her. The coven knew just the man-- a doctor named Vincente Carravaggio who had never been married because he never had time to look at women. Even though he was 20 years older than the 16-year old Isabella, he was kind, gentle, and honest, and his social status was compatible.

Isabella wanted to meet and get to know Dr. Carravaggio before she agreed to marry him, so the coven arranged that she would serve as his assistant, and also be his head midwife. Isabella liked him immediately. She could tell that he thought her beautiful by the bashful way he conducted himself around her, and how-- even when they were in the middle of helping a patient-- he could barely force himself to meet her eyes. She delighted in teasing him and trying to make him laugh, and everyone who knew him saw such positive changes in him! He started walking energetically with a bounce in his step, and was heard to whistle! He actually stopped to greet friends and acquaintences and ask how they did, rather than nod and say "bon dia" and keep hurrying to his destination. Everyone-- including the doctor, himself-- knew that this was all owed to Isabella.

Not many weeks later-- and with a little courage supplied him by one of the sneaky Verbena-- he called on Isabella's parents and asked for her hand in marriage. Her parents-- and especially Isabella-- were overjoyed, and wrote up the betrothal arrangements. The marriage was a beautiful event, and the couple honeymooned in the Swiss Alps. Both of them had never been happier in their lives!

Isabella told Vincente early on that she would be taking herbs to prevent her getting pregnant because her only joy in life was working by Vincente's side and helping their patients. Vincente quickly agreed, and the couple built a large manorhouse next to the hospital so they wouldn't have far to dash when they were needed.

The years went by and the Caravaggios' reputations spread to other cities. No babies born by Isabella's hands ever died, and the death-rate of their patients was the lowest of any surrounding country.