The Virian Chronicler

Image of Bridget Murphy made using Yodayo AI. Bridget Murphy's parents originally came from the independent Kerajan territory, set apart from the rest of Viria.  As a result, she is brought up in an extremely strict environment.  She has little opportunity for making friends, except at school.  Her best friend is Rayleen Shanahan.  She maintains their friendship despite her parents' disapproval of the Shanahan family.  She struggles to find her own way in life, which causes difficulties in her close friendships.

Image of Maurice (Maurey) Ardglass made using Yodayo AI. Maurice, affectionately known as Maurey, is the youngest son of Maureen Ardglass.  He is quietly spoken and can be shy around people whom he doesn't know well.  He has a studious nature, taking an interest in academic pursuits.  This led him to study law.  Later he became a lawyer in the family firm of Shanahan & Ardglass.  Dancer and martial artist Mildred (Millie) Cox developed a personal interest in him and managed to break down his reticent barriers.  Much to the surprise of family members and friends, they married. 

Image of Maureen Ardglass made using NightCafe AI. Maureen has lived on Viria all her life and is a close friend of the Shanahan family.  She is a widow and a mother of three sons — Vanlose, Sam and Maurice.  She is feisty, cheeful and hard-working.  Later on in life, she meets the rogueish old vagrant Mustapha Morphew and they embark on an unlikely romance.

Image of Sam Ardglass made using Picfinder AI. Virian-born Sam works as a window-cleaner and general labourer.  His cheerful easy-going manner and his robust sense of humour make him popular and likable.  The Ardglass family and the Shanahan family have been friends for decades.  Sam works alongside his brother Vanlose and his best friend Levene Shanahan in their self-employed ventures.  When he falls for the supposedly unattainable and glamorous Irae Batalan, no-one expects his infatuation to be reciprocated.  He manages to thaw her icy veneer and they become good companions as well as intimate partners.

  Image of Irae Batalan made using Picfinder AI. Irae is half-Yttrian, half-Carpathian.  She is named after Iraevesh, the Carpathian Goddess of Justice.  Her family is wealthy and she leads a privileged lifestyle.  She is expected to marry into a family of similar standing.  Instead, she defies convention and falls for the rustic charms of Virian window-cleaner and labourer Sam Ardglass.

Images of enclave/estate made using Bing AI. Images of library made using Bing AI.  The former Argili Estate, located in the Geryalah Province of Central Varathusia, was purchased and taken over by the Varathusian branch of the Vyrdigaan Order.   It has been repurposed as a multi-functional space for members of the Vyrdigaan/Carpathian Alliance to live, work and study. The Estate occupies a vast area of land in the Geryalah countryside.   Within its boundaries are several large mansions, conference chambers, computer laboratories, training facilities for a multitude of disciplines, utility buildings and the huge library famed for its massive collection of books, scrolls and other storage media. Due to the machinations of Lord Claudio Scalani, the Geryalah Enclave has been designated as one of the Sacred Spaces.