sultanaesma

[sultanaesma]

having seen some things in the rpc i no longer wish to be part of this group and am making this public to make that absolutely clear . i do not condone some of the things i have seen called out nor do i want to support this anymore . thank u . 

[sultanaesma]

@princekarim​

obsidian eyes find those of her cousin , and for the first time in a long time , esma allows a genuine smile to cross her face . for too long , she had been stuck in a sense of uncertainty , and if there was anybody who could help her out of that , it was karim . the two of them may not get along all of the time , but when they did ,  he graced her with a rare sort of understanding that esma wasn’t quite used to . 

she wants to speak with him freely , unburden her woes upon him and seek his insight into thoughts that have no business in the sultana’s head , but  it is too much and too soon . instead , she raises a cup to her lips , sips the sweet wine within it , before placing it noiselessly on the table between them . 

‘ i’m not sure i like it much here , ’ she confesses . ‘ in europe . ’ she looks to him to change her mind . after all , they are his neighbours .  he knows them far better than she . 

[sultanaesma]

@sehzademurad​

elegant fingers pluck at the fabric of sumptuous skirts , head of dark hair held high .  esma is the model of what a sultana should be ,  and for all her many faults , she maintains that image well .  a prized jewel , and yet one she couldn’t help but feel was being discarded away , less of a jewel and more like a lame horse , past her prime and being quietly taken to one side . the thought made her burn with an indignation that she does not speak . 

it isn’t just her upcoming nuptials that cast a shadow on esma’s mind . no , since the birth of a brother , a son ,  makes things far more complex , and her mind turns to treacherous thoughts . she feels guilty for it - how could she not ? she adores murad , despite the lingering intrusive suspicious that plague her . for all of her life ,  she has known the path before him is a glorious one , but now , she cannot help but wonder if perhaps that glory is best left in the hands of another - for murad’s own sake . 

she arrives at her destination , slender digits curling into a fist to rap neatly at his door , and the eunuch who guards her steps backwards , allowing her privacy in her visit . her brother is expecting her , knows esma has requested some of his time this afternoon .  since arriving in france ,  she has seen little of her family , avoiding the day she must confront her own destiny . 

‘ murad ? ’ esma calls through the wood, voice low and melodious. ‘ are you lost in there , brother ? ’   an air of teasing graces her tone .

[sultanaesma]

DENIZ BAYSAL, 24, ESMA SULTAN. ❝ ⤚⟶ EUROPE, 1458. THANKS IS GIVEN BY THE SULTANA , ESME SULTAN FROM OTTOMAN EMPIRE. THEY ARE AT BEST AMIABLE, AND AT THEIR WORST WEAK-WILLED. WHILST ABROAD, THEIR AMBITION IS TO INTEGRATE INTO EUROPEAN CULTURE. SHE SEEM/S TO REMIND EVERYONE OF DENIZ BAYSAL & CAREFUL CLEASING OF THE HANDS AND FEET IN PREPARATION FOR PRAYER, GLIMMERS OF GEMS WITHIN MIDNIGHT-DARK HAIR, ELABORATE ARABIC SCRIPT WRITTEN IN GRACEFUL PENMANSHIP. ❞

FULL NAME : esma sultan of the ottoman empire

TITLES :  sultana

BIRTHPLACE : constantinople, anatolia

AGE : 24

LANGUAGES :

native : arabic, ottoman turkish

high proficiency : persian

intermediate : latin, french

learning : german

DYNASTY / HOUSE: osman

MOTHER & FATHER : sultan iskender and haseki sultan nehir

SPOUSE : n/a

ISSUE : n/a

SIBLINGS : murad, mihrimah, hiranur’s daughter (half), branimira’s son (half)

OTHER : engaged to the prince of austria

ZODIAC : cancer

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION : muslim

ORIENTATION : biromantic

PERSONALITY TYPE : infp

VICES : sloth, pride

VIRTUES : patience, charity

FACECLAIM : deniz baysal

HEIGHT : 5'7

RECOGNISABLE FEATURES : wide smile, strong brow

REPUTATION IN FLORENCE : graceful, witty and kind, a person who easily extends the hand of friendship to others and is known for their sweet and patient countenance

WANTED CONNECTIONS : female friendships of all kinds and creeds, relationships with other characters with a high degree of piety, regardless of their faith, perhaps somebody who doesn’t like her to explore how she would react to this happening, relationships with somebody politically inclined who can take advantage of her naivety.

App Bits

Esma knows too much, and that has long been her problem in life. She knows much, but says nothing, keeping her mouth occupied with pretty smiles and honeyed words rather than speaking her mind. This passive countenance has led to two situations that she isn't entirely pleased with, the first being her elder brother's claim. Whilst Esma does not scorn or dislike Murad, she is aware of the instability that comes with a position in the Ottoman court - especially the most prestigious of all, that of the sultan. She worries for him, should he ever succeed their father, believing his ailments render him unsuitable for the role, unable to see the snakes in the grass, and more than that, worries that he will be unable to maintain the glorious victories their father has achieved over the years. The second is a far more personal matter. Esma is truly dedicated to the Ottoman Empire, willing to serve however she can, however, she isn't certain that renouncing her faith in order to take her place in the Holy Roman Empire is the best way to do so. A devout woman, she greatly fears the day she will have to wed, and does not want any children she bears to grow up outside of the Islamic religion. She isn't used to speaking her mind, keeping her opinions veiled behind what she thinks others want to hear, but time is rapidly running out, and with the walls closing in, she must find her tongue or else lose her chance to shape her own destiny. 

The model of an Ottoman princess, Esma is beautiful, and known to be a kind and popular figure. The grace she exudes does not come naturally to her, though, but is the result of years of careful work and tutoring to cultivate her outer façade - though she does not see this as an act on her part, rather than a deep desire to better herself. A selfless woman, everything she does is in service of her father's rule, and her devotion to her faith, the two most important things in her life. Academic and intelligent, her wit quickly earns the friendship of others, though her inherent sweetness helps to maintain those friendships, and she never uses her humour against others. However, Esma is a coward, unable to voice her true feelings for fear of having others think ill of her. She can flawlessly speak what she believes others want to hear from her, but bites her tongue when it comes to her own opinions - particularly if those opinions are set to rock the boat. Indecisive, and perhaps a little shallow, she can easily be won over by well-placed words and pretty things, and can be a little naïve to the machinations of others, leaving her vulnerable to be used as a pawn by other's scheming. Though she is aware of such plots occurring, she is not as bright as she believes she is, and struggles to see such things when aimed at her, or when coming from somebody she has already put her easily-earned trust in.

Esma has often dreamed of being married since childhood, idealising the view of her future husband in her head. As a young girl, she could often be found playing with dolls, imagining the day when they would be replaced by her own sweet babes in her arms. As she’s grown older, the desire for matrimony and motherhood has only intensified, but Esma never imagined she would be marrying into a European country. In her mind, the only option was ever a Muslim prince, or at worst, a worthy man from her own country. The idea of conversion is terrifying to the young Sultana, who despite her vast knowledge of the world, knows little of Catholicism, and fears what awaits her in the afterlife should she turn her back on the religion she has devoted her life to. Similarly, the idea of raising her children in a different faith fills her with revulsion. She does not see the path ahead of her, as consort to an Austrian Prince, as anything but a tool from which the sultan can expand his power, and whilst she is usually more than eager to aid in bettering the empire by however she can, she sees this move less as betterment and more as a means of control by European factions. Thus, she quietly works to convince her family to support her in ending the relationship as subtly as she can for fear of worsening international relations.

  Esma is a gifted writer and meticulous diary keeper. As a woman who keeps so much hidden away inside, locked away for herself and herself alone, she finds writing her thoughts and feelings down to be the sole way in which she can fully express herself, a therapeutic endeavour that helps her maintain her placid countenance. She fears what would happen if anybody were to find and read her writings, especially with so much weighing on her mind. Recently, she has taken to developing her own code, so that anybody who stumbles across her diaries would find nothing they could possibly hope to decipher, and the thoughts within her mind remain as private as possible