The Realm
Keepers need not have feared, for planted within the greatness of humanity, is
a seedling of courage, that need only strife and despair to bear fruit. The
ages are littered with forests of great men and women who answered the call of
their brethren, and stood firm as oak in the gales of war. From this great
tradition, a new breed was sown, Six warriors, Six legends, ready to take up
the cause of defending the Steel Citadel from her impish tyrant.
The people
of Steel are aptly named for they had withstood many a hardship. Often they took arms to defend their
lands against marauding Ravenfolk, tame torrential rivers, and carve their
houses into the Steel Citadel's hallowed hillsides. To the surprise of no one therefore, the
first to answer the Citadel’s call marched from within her own ramparts. They
were three, bonded through a sisterhood forged during many moons of arduous
training, under the mighty ebony lion of their castle’s sigil. For this grand
castle, and their legendary exploits, they were later known under a different
title, the Damsel-Warriors of Duquesne.
From county
Northern Hills rode Lady Kristenivere, of Houses Rezzetanova and Rispolimen,
first of her name. Her steed was jet black and she was accompanied by her
faithful companion, Artie, her spirited canine protector. She was fair of
complexion and her golden trusses framed a face of great beauty. Her athletic grace
was matched only by her keen intellect and fierce will to succeed. Woe to those
who would underestimate her warrior spirit! For she was known to smite those
who dare comment on her fairness, without mention of her cunning. At her hip,
Lady Kristenivere wielded the mighty Polamalu, an oblong weapon of great
repute, which she threw with uncanny accuracy and ferocity. This treasure was a
relic, passed down through the generations; its ebony casing, black as the
night, was inlaid six times with wrought gold of the finest craftsmanship, once
each for her House’s hand in the greatest victories of the Steel-lands.
From the emerald
depths of the enchanted Forest Sharpsburg there emerged Lady Susanniel, a
princess of elf-folk lineage. She ran unencumbered by steed, for her Elven nature
manifested in vast stamina, and fleetness of gait, unmatched in the mortal
realm. She wore a shimmering silver tunic of finest mythril, and dark fitted leggings
that promoted swiftness and camouflage. This Elven warrior was armed with twin
daggers, Joy and Misery, with which she could disarm any adversary with
simultaneous strikes. The fairer race had bestowed upon her many gifts, for it
was said that her charm was legendary, as was her fluency in the ancient canine tongue. As befitting her linguistic skill, she was ever accompanied by her
caninesses, Ivy and Isabelle, two specimens as large as a man is tall, who
possessed both regal bearing and gentle nature. In battle, they fought as one,
their movements so enmeshed that it was nigh impossible to tell claw from fist,
tooth from dagger.
The last of
the Damsel-Warriors hailed from the inner sanctums of the great Steel Citadel.
Her noble lineage was entrusted with the twin crafts of metalwork and
messaging. From the halls of House Keenerel and Schneideren, arose the graceful Danavara, The Dark Lady, so named because of the black forges which blessed her
houses with wealth and repute. It was said that smith was so engrained in her
lineage that dark blood coursed through her veins and the ringing sounds of
steel forging steel, drove her heart. For all of her shadowy artisanship, Lady
Danavara was fair of complexion, beauty, and nature. She was robed in long
flowing skirts, wrought of dark steel thread, and at her hip hung the legendary
short sword Bustan-Rhymod, sheathed in a jewel-encrusted scabbard, forever at her
beck and call. On the battlefield she would sing to her blade, awakening its
inner fury, and spelling doom for all who would oppose her. Danavara was also a great
friend to the feline-folk, who gifted her one of their race, white as snow. Although not yet a yearling, this feline was bestowed a blessing, the ability to deliver messages through thought, over distances great and small. So
entwined were these companions’ thoughts, that outsiders feared that madness
had touched The Dark Lady and urged her to constantly seek her feline ally's counsel.
To be
continued...
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