Penelope Zemlov

Character Overview

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Penelope Zemlov
Nickname	Penny
Age	14
Place of Origin	Moscow, Russia
Occupation	Student
Experience Level	New
Reborn God	Gaia / Terra
Current Strength	9
Potential Strength	29
Elemental Affinity	Earth and Fire (uncommon for females)
Abilities	Singer, Channeler

A Deal

In July 2031, Penny’s mother, Anastasia Zemlov, a secretary in the Kremlin, met Nikolai Brandon while delivering documents for his signature. After a brief affair, Anastasia became pregnant.

Before she could inform Nikolai, Anastasia was approached by two men who offered her a deal: financial security, housing, and a guaranteed university fund for her child in exchange for never revealing the child’s paternity, especially to Nikolai Brandon. Desperate to protect her unborn child, Anastasia agreed.

Unbeknownst to her, the men belonged to a secret organization known as the Di Inferi, whose purpose included tracking and controlling the offspring of Nikolai Brandon.

On April 22, 2032, Anastasia gave birth to a daughter she named Penelope. The father’s name was intentionally left blank on the birth certificate.

A Green Thumb

Penny proved to be an intelligent and observant child from an early age. She showed a strong affinity for nature, often spending hours reading beneath the birch tree in her backyard. Plants, gardens, and green spaces fascinated her.

Together, Penny and her mother built a garden where they grew vegetables and flowers. Penny frequently sat on a bench among the plants, softly humming to herself. During these moments, she noticed the plants seemed to lean toward her, a phenomenon that brought her comfort and joy, though she did not understand it.

An Academic

Penny excels academically and has a particular love for science, driven by her need to understand how things work. She is an avid reader and consistently earns high marks.

She is also musically gifted, participating in the school choir and playing flute in the orchestra. Teachers often describe her as endlessly curious, joking that her favorite word is “why.”

Questions About Her Father

For most of her childhood, Penny did not question the absence of her father. Content with her mother, she accepted their small family as complete. As she grew older, however, repeated questions from peers and teachers planted doubts.

After turning fourteen, Penny finally began to ask Anastasia about her father—his name, his personality, and whether Penny might ever meet him. Initially evasive, Anastasia eventually promised to tell Penny the truth, but insisted she needed to speak to him first. Penny did not fully understand, but was relieved that her questions were no longer dismissed.

A Broken Contract

Unbeknownst to Anastasia, the private company she had worked for over thirteen years was secretly owned by the Di Infieri. When she drafted a letter intended for the Ascendancy to inform him of Penny’s existence, the letter was discovered and reported.

One of the men from the original deal confronted Anastasia, reminding her of the binding agreement. Though she insisted she would not send the letter and would lie to Penny if necessary, the Di Infieri no longer trusted her. She had become a liability.

The Snow Cataclysm

In early 2047, with a major winter storm approaching Moscow, the Di Infieri sabotaged Anastasia’s home while both mother and daughter were away. The roof and the birch tree in the backyard were deliberately weakened.

When the storm hit, the weight of snow and ice caused the tree to collapse and the roof to cave in. Anastasia was buried beneath the wreckage.

Penny survived, trapped in a corner of the ruined house. She watched as her mother stopped moving, fully aware that she was alone and that the cold was setting in. Penny was found and rescued by firefighter/paramedic Anita Raikov who recognized she was suffering from hypothermia. On the way to the hospital, the ambulance got stuck in the building snow. With no other options, Anita carried Penny to the Sanctuary of the Ascendant Flame. Recognizing the necessity of getting there to save their lives, Penny channeled for the first time. Arrival at the Sanctuary was only the beginning. As soon as she is able, she plans to begin the search for her father – the only family she has.

Rebirths

In the Fifth Age, Penny was born as the Titan Gaia (Terra in the Roman Pantheon)