Empress Maria Antonia

Maria Antonia Porphyrogennetos, Empress of Rome and Matriarch of Sarastantinople.

Maria is a Gryphos woman with brown feathers, a white underbelly, pointed triangular ears, orange eyes and a sharp beak. From her waist down is that of a pantherine with digitigrade legs and pawed feet. As Empress, she wears a deep purple dress, a matching purple cloak pinned with a golden olive branch brooch, The Imperial Loros, a long, jeweled scarf-like garment, and a crown consisting of a gold loop embedded with various precious stones, four strings of pearls hang from the crown, two in the front and two more hanging in the back, a small silver crucifix is attached to the end of each strand.

A devoted Orthodox Christian, The Emperor Nikolaos never pursued a significant other, but soon he would meet Maria, originally a low born who worked in her father's bakery. Initially The Senate was reluctant due to Maria Antonia's status but was unable to convince Nikolaos otherwise and the two married under the dome of The Haiga Sara.

Despite her lower status, Maria Antonia proved herself a brilliant and effective tactician, first flaunting her genius by beating her husband and several of his officials in separate games of chess.

Maria Antonia was able to fit in perfectly in high society, proving to be clever and adaptable.

Empress Antonia used a diverse network of connections from people of all status securing her influence. Although multiple Imperial Historians agree on her devotion and piousness, her character is also ambiguously described as cruel and fear inspiring, yet she was also beloved by the people of Sarastantinople.