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+---- Thread: Hel Stroton (/showthread.php?tid=274)
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Hel Stroton - Demotheus - 11-07-2013
Name: Hel
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Race: Mesalian,
Appearance
![[+]](/images/collapse_collapsed.png "[+]")
Spoiler
Hel is 5 feet 10 inches tall with the build of an athlete, mainly for endurance and being able to move around in a warrior's light armour and to use a sword. Under her armour she wears simple but sturdy travellers cloths. She wears a dark blue tunic over her chainmail and dark brown pants. Her sword is sheathed on her right hip, she wields her sword with her left hand.
She has a fair complexion with feint scars of her training and a large horizontal slash scar on the outside of her left thigh. She has shoulder length dirty blonde hair. She has olive green eyes which are wide and attentive.
She has a fair complexion with feint scars of her training and a large horizontal slash scar on the outside of her left thigh. She has shoulder length dirty blonde hair. She has olive green eyes which are wide and attentive.
Swordplay - Competent. Most of her life has involved learning this skill.
General wilderness survival - Competent. Though less skilled than her sword skills, she did practice this with her father periodically.
General wilderness survival - Competent. Though less skilled than her sword skills, she did practice this with her father periodically.
Hel is someone extroverted. She has no problem talking to people or having a good time, though she isn't likely to keep very many close friends. She learned a lot from her father and takes after him quite a bit. She craves adventure! She wishes to be able to one day tell people of her many battles and journey's that she hopes she'll one day have. She comes from a place that doesn't have any real difference between men and woman. If she sees a woman dressed like a "lady" she would be a little curious and perhaps a bit rude.
She enjoys mead and just about any kind of food, though salad has never really appealed to her. Her father taught her many things but table manners was not among them. What her father did teach her was certain values that one should never forget. Be honest, especially in your stories! If you tell grand stories but make it seem like you are much more skilled than you are than perhaps you will only make a fool of yourself in the long run. Also, do not lie. There are situations where it's acceptable, but most of the time it's not needed. Don't forget your goals and keep going no matter how hard it becomes. Retreat is rarely an option when it comes to meeting your goals. He also suggested she not have more than a few drinks at a time because she's an utter fool while drunk!
In friends she values trust, and honesty above all else. You don't have to have done something incredible to talk to her, she is not judgemental in that way. However, if you try to go against her wishes and goals she is prepared to cast you aside if you persist. She will not hate you, but it's unlikely she'll talk to you very much. Though she doesn't hold grudges, so such wounds can be remedied.
She wishes that one day she will be as successful in life as her father, or at least close. By the time she reaches old age she hopes to have many stories to tell, a few more scars to back them up, and a husband who shares her interests. She wants at least one child at some time in her life and to raise this child as her father raised herself. She wants to strive for greatness, and she won't have to be considered great by anyone other than herself. She will decide when she has achieved this goal, not society. She has been called "untameable" before by an old lover, and this couldn't be closer to the truth. Nothing short of death or being crippled with stop her from trying to reach her goals.
She has an ear for music and enjoys it. Daniel used to play the lute for her all the time before she left and she loved it. For this reason, she enjoys being in pubs or social gatherings that involve music. Any music, really. However, she doesn't dance much. She prefers to just listen to the music, relax, and socialize. She isn't likely to go for another man who plays music due to her previous experience with a musician. She feels that they are more likely to be pretty boys who don't want to get their hands dirty like she will. They wouldn't likely approve of her goals and would not go with her on journey's, so they are not for her.
She enjoys mead and just about any kind of food, though salad has never really appealed to her. Her father taught her many things but table manners was not among them. What her father did teach her was certain values that one should never forget. Be honest, especially in your stories! If you tell grand stories but make it seem like you are much more skilled than you are than perhaps you will only make a fool of yourself in the long run. Also, do not lie. There are situations where it's acceptable, but most of the time it's not needed. Don't forget your goals and keep going no matter how hard it becomes. Retreat is rarely an option when it comes to meeting your goals. He also suggested she not have more than a few drinks at a time because she's an utter fool while drunk!
In friends she values trust, and honesty above all else. You don't have to have done something incredible to talk to her, she is not judgemental in that way. However, if you try to go against her wishes and goals she is prepared to cast you aside if you persist. She will not hate you, but it's unlikely she'll talk to you very much. Though she doesn't hold grudges, so such wounds can be remedied.
She wishes that one day she will be as successful in life as her father, or at least close. By the time she reaches old age she hopes to have many stories to tell, a few more scars to back them up, and a husband who shares her interests. She wants at least one child at some time in her life and to raise this child as her father raised herself. She wants to strive for greatness, and she won't have to be considered great by anyone other than herself. She will decide when she has achieved this goal, not society. She has been called "untameable" before by an old lover, and this couldn't be closer to the truth. Nothing short of death or being crippled with stop her from trying to reach her goals.
She has an ear for music and enjoys it. Daniel used to play the lute for her all the time before she left and she loved it. For this reason, she enjoys being in pubs or social gatherings that involve music. Any music, really. However, she doesn't dance much. She prefers to just listen to the music, relax, and socialize. She isn't likely to go for another man who plays music due to her previous experience with a musician. She feels that they are more likely to be pretty boys who don't want to get their hands dirty like she will. They wouldn't likely approve of her goals and would not go with her on journey's, so they are not for her.
Hel was the Chief's daughter. When Agni saw that his child was to be a baby girl he was disappointed. When his wife did not survive childbirth he was almost destroyed. He knew, however, that he had to be strong if not for himself then for his daughter and his village. Agni was a man of battle - a warrior! He was a man who made a point of battling any obstacle that crossed his path! This, unfortunately, was his greatest and most difficult to overcome. His motivation, however, was all that he needed.
Agni had hoped to train a son to follow in his footsteps. He doubted his daughter would be interested. No matter, he would tell her the stories of various journeys and his many glorious battles, for he did not know any stories that a young girl would require, if any. He could only go on what he knew. He often thought about her mother and how she would have been more suited to raising a girl than he.
In their village there was not a huge difference between men and women. However, generally women did not like to go into battle or hunt. They enjoyed more peaceful jobs. Men were generally the warriors and the hunters, while the women did near everything else that the men usually didn't. However, he held hope for his daughter that she may take after him, but it was a slim one. A hope he held on to like he held his baby girl in his arms telling her bedtime stories.
Seven years passed and many raids and battles occurred. Every one of them were in their favour. Their warriors were skilled and strong with wills of steel. Retreat was never something that came to mind. The battles were glorious, and the spoils were great! And in this time their village grew to a respectable size. Home to over a thousand people, it was christened Stroton. However, Agni was growing weary of the events happening in the lands around him. Three times now had been approached by red eyed men that he had only heard stories about. They all offered him riches and power beyond his wildest dreams. The first two he had politely told them that he was content with life and so were his people. The third time he ordered the man to go back from wherever he came from, he and his promises were not welcome in Stroton! The third man simply bowed, defeated, and left. He made an announcement that all red eyed people were to be barred from the city. They were not welcome there.
Agni spent as much time with Hel, now eight years of age, as he could but he had other responsibilities as well, such as running a city. He often sent her to a woman named Alfr. She was the town's blacksmith for many years. Now approaching forty years old, she had much experience under her belt. Having raised two children who had long since departed for their own journeys she could handle Hel and understood why she was around so often. She was a kind woman and adored Hel. She also enjoyed the little bit of help she provided. It was small things, more or less just bringing her tools and materials. Hel often told Alfr about the stories her father told her. Alfr had heard them all ten times and many she was witness to, but she listened anyway, enjoying how the child tried to tell the tales herself as if she was there. If anything about the little girl was obvious it was how much she loved and adored her father and thought of him as a hero, and maybe a role model.
"Father has a really sharp sword! He told me it's the very sword he used in all of his adventures! He said you made it for him a long time ago. Can you make me a sword?" She asks, hopeful. Alfr feels a tinge of pain in her heart. It was true, she did make that mighty blade for the man about twenty years ago while they were much younger. She had gotten help from her father, who was the blacksmith before her. The truth was, she loved Agni. They had been close all their lives, and she hoped that this gift would sway him..that he might consider taking her as a lover. However, it was not to be as he had eyes for only one other woman. She felt nothing towards the girls dead mother in life or after. She had resented her for a time, but grew out of those immature ways long ago, realizing that there was no one to blame and no need to hate a clansman.
"Alfr?" Hel waves a hand in her face. She had been lost in thought and snapped out of it. "Hm? Oh, yes. Maybe when you're older honey." She answers, giving a slight chuckle before adding, "So you want to be like your father, hm? A strong warrior like him?" Hel nods, beaming. "My father is the strongest warrior there is, and one day I want to be just like him! Do you think he'll teach me?" Alfr nods, smiling at the girl. "You need only ask him, I'm sure. He would probably be very happy to do that for you." Hel beams, excited. She was going to be strong, just like her father!
Her father was very happy to help her take up the sword, much like she was excited to start learning something new. After two years or so she still persevered. Getting better, little by little. Soaking in as much knowledge as she could and becoming as skilled as she could. Her childhood stature greatly restricted her ability, but Agni could already see that she would be a great warrior should she continue. Perhaps even as great, or greater than himself. He could see the craving for adventure and excitement in her eyes. She seemed to have inherited her mothers green eyes and her father's spirit. Even at the age of ten he was proud of his daughter, and made sure she knew it!
When she was half way through her tenth year he decided it was time to teach her a little about surviving in the wilderness. This was a must as she had often voiced her wish to be like her father and have her own stories to tell. He taught her mostly of fishing and building a shelter. She enjoyed fishing as it was a nice thing to do to end the day on a relaxing note before retiring to bed.
Around the age of thirteen she was introduced to mead. There were few drunks that associated with her father and Alfr, but a drink of day is usually a minimum for most in Stroton. She got drunk off of two mugs. That entire night she was the entertainment. She was more or less the same, but exaggerated a lot. She would tell her father's stories but blow them up so that they were even bigger than they were, and boast about her "amazing" sword skills. Agni decided it was best to water down her drinks a little bit from that point on, no matter how entertaining it was to watch her stagger around babbling like a fool!
It was also at this age that she started making friends. It wasn't that she was not a likeable person so much as she was always with Alfr or Agni. She made three close friends. Bjorn, Daniel, and Brigga. They were all within a year of her in age. Brigga and Bjorn were in the throws of young puppy love while Daniel had his eye on Hel. Daniel wasn't from Stroton. He was from the south. He never cared to say where he was from, and no one cared to ask. All that was known was that his family had went through a great deal of trouble to get to a new, safe land that offered protection. Agni, being a generous man, let them stay and gave them a small home to live in. It was nothing special, but they were content with what they were given. He was Hel's best friend. Over the years the four young teenagers shared many good times together, often involving mead. When she turned fifteen she grew more adventurous and asked her father if she could do something that she had wanted to accomplish for a good few years but didn't have nearly enough knowledge to bother. He grinned to her and gave her permission to go on an excursion with her friends. He feels she asked a little later than he thought she would, but of course, everyone grows at their own pace.
He gave her an old sword that had been lying around and some rations. She stole a couple canteens filled with mead, so she thought. Agni knew she would and didn't really care. Kids will be kids, he figures. She would be gone for a few days with her friends, which means Alfr could have more time to focus on Hel's very own sword. It would be a broadsword with a blade three feet long.
So the party of four departed, heading to the northern mountains. Dressed warmly and equipped for adventure, and if need be, battle!
Three days they had travelled to get to the mountains. On this journey Hel learned a little more about survival then she thought she would. Turns out that her friends new a great deal more about the subject. She learned some common edible plants and how to gut and clean small game like squirrels and rabbits. She also learned that Daniel had a knack for music, namely the lute. He played very well, better than many she had seen in the local pubs of her city. The man was determined to be more than just friends with the young woman. This was clear to everyone except herself, which amused Bjorn and Brigga to no end.
Then, the drinks came out. It turned out that everyone except Daniel had stolen away a good amount of mead and it mattered not where they got it from. They drank well, that night. This was not something Hel did very often, as her mead was usually watered down by her father and she quickly became intoxicated. The drunker she became the better Daniel's songs seemed to her. The seed of love was planted in her that night and was watered with mead. However, that night when they went to sleep she slept by herself. While she slept Daniel tried to stay awake as he lay under his own shelter so he could watch her sleep. His eyes appeared closed because he was very tired, but he kept them open to slivers - no one would notice.
She woke up, startled from a nightmare that was soon forgotten. Though, the feeling of fear remained in her. She was desperate for that feeling to go away. She looked to Daniel who stiffened up slightly and closed his eyes, not that he needed to. He thought he was caught red handed being a creep. However, what he got was not the slap he expected, but her warm body against him and her arms around his middle. She muttered something, seeming hopeful that no one would find out. She was, after all, a morning person and would likely be up before anyone else. Daniel nearly let out a sigh, and relaxed. He decided now was as good a time as ever to sleep, and did just that.
For the next few days he started dropping hints to her on their way to the mountains hoping that she would pick up on it. It seemed hopeless for the first couple days but on the third day they made it to the mountains. He invited her to climb up to an over hang with him and she agreed, loving adventure and being quite fond of Daniel as well there was no reason not to. Bjorn and Brigga decided they were going to go to "sleep", though Hel and Daniel both knew what they meant by that. Let them have their time, they thought.
On the way up to the over hang 100 feet over their camp they joked about what the couple were probably doing. When they got to the cliff they sat on the edge, looking out over the forests in which they had come from. The sun was going down, setting the sky aflame with colour. Nothing was said, but much was communicated from the moment Hel leaned against Daniel while he put his arm around her to the moment they kissed. When they came down from the cliff, even more was communicated when Bjorn and Brigga poked fun at them about what they saw clear as day from the camp. Daniel's face turned a flaming red, but Hel laughed at them and mentioned how Bjorn and Brigga were also easy to see from up on the cliff. It was then their turn to turn bright red. They mumbled something about needs and retired to go to sleep.
Hel's birthday was fast approaching. There was only a few days and she hoped to be back home to celebrate it in time, so the group travelled fast back towards Stroton. Getting home the night of her birthday. She cursed herself for taking too long on the journey and missing most of her birthday. Her father would have likely wanted to celebrate it with her. However, they still had the night! She and her friends went to Hel's home. She stepped in and called out to her father. He comes into the room looking absolutely furious...
"Where have you been!?" He shouts, to which Hel twitches. She rarely got her father mad, but when she did she knew she had done something very wrong. "I...I...was late...I'm sorry, we spent longer than -" She was cut off by his yelling again. "Here we were, waiting ALL day for you to get back here to give ya your gifts and that's your sorry excuse!? Are you serious!?" She looked scared and very sorry and looked to her feet. She didn't notice Alfr come out with a long package and it took her a second to realize her father had started laughing. When she looked up she was confused. Meanwhile her friends breath a sigh of relief that she wasn't in a huge amount of trouble after all. They were waiting outside however.
"Do you still have any mead left?" She went wide eyes and shook her head. "How did you know!?" She asked, sounding worried. He laughed again. "Well, seeming as I don't water down my own mead quite as much as it seemed to be...It was pretty obvious." Apparently, her efforts at masking her theft were futile. He frowned a bit. "Hel, I'm only jokin' with you. I'm not mad." He chuckles slightly. She sighs, forgetting that it was her birthday for the moment, she was confused when Alfr handed her the long box. In the light she could see it was very ornate. She realized immediately what would be inside. Alfr used these special boxes for shipping expensive weaponry!
That day at the forge came back to her right away and she beamed and opened it up. Agni stood with his arms crossed and a grin on his face and Alfr sat on the ground in front of Hel, who was crouched down to open the box. She pulled out a well made broadsword that had a lot of effort put into it. She unsheathed it and grinned. The end of the hilt had a symbol on both sides. The blade itself was about three feet long and was well made and would last a long time, for certain. She sheathed it and set it down and jumped up to hug Alfr and thank her repeatedly and obnoxiously.
The rest of that night was spent drinking and talking about the trip the group had to the mountains. Hel, taking after her father, told them everything that happened. Why leave out the few interesting bits? Of course, this had her three friends turning bright shades of red and in turn this had Agni and Alfr roaring with laughter at the story. Hel felt that she did a good job of telling the story. Agni patted her on the shoulder and chuckled saying in a slurred voice, "You's a woman now, so's ya can do what you want.". She was pleased to hear that her father thought of her as an adult, and grinned to him in acknowledgement.
For the next two years she practiced her sword skills with her father. In this time she got light armour fitted for her by Alfr. Chain mail under a thick leather tunic with good, sturdy travellers boots. Her father made her run every day in her armour to get her strength up so she could sustain herself with the added weight. He told her that she would have to keep doing this until it felt weird to be in normal dress. She grumbled and complained the entire way but never protested. She knew her father knew best and if this is what it took to become a strong warrior and be able to live out her own adventures than so be it! After several months she didn't feel as much of a weight when she wore her armour.
Her father offered to let her try some heavier armour, but she turned it down. He asked why, and crossed his arms. He was unsure if his daughter had some sort of reason other than laziness. She said that she wants to be able to move freely when in combat and doesn't want to be restricted by heavy armour. He nods, sighing silently, relieved that she hadn't gone soft on him and there was a brain in her head after all! So they practiced swordplay in her armour. With a little time she was able to wield a blade as if she was not wearing the armour!
After a hard day of training Agni grinned and sheathed his sword and waited for Hel to do the same. He goes to her and pats her on the shoulder. "You're going to be a fine warrior, Hel. All that's left to learn is on you now." He chuckles. "Can't make it easy for you, now can I? I mean, that's half of life's adventure, you know? Doing things on your own." She nods, smiling and hugs her father.
Then, there was shouting. "Defences!!!" Agni, looked to where the voice came from and called to the warrior. "What!? An attack!?" He called back to Agni, "That's what my men are saying! We have several dead, arrows in their throats! There is a lot coming from the east!" Agni cursed the timing. His daughter looked to him. "I can help, father!" He looked to her, concern on his face. He had never expected the feeling of fear when his daughter would ask to fight with him. He had only ever dreamed of pride. He pushed it aside and nodded. He would not deny his daughter her first battle. She was ready.
They stood at the gates, her and her father in the front with an army of 150. He turned to his men and started to give a speech, to which they all listened. "This civil war has been going on around us and has not touched us! Until today...But I'll be damned to the Nether if Stroton's mighty walls will fall to those who think to call themselves "warriors"! Those who want nothing but riches and land but they aren't willing to work for it! Instead they would rather shed innocent blood instead of earn their own fortunes." He pauses a moment. "We will not give them an inch." He says in a fierce growl. All 150 men shouted their battlecry's and awaited for the incoming threat that loomed over the hill.
They were equal in numbers with the enemy, but in skill they greatly surpassed the neighbouring lands for leagues around! These low life's were no different. Hel got her first taste of battle that day. The army forced back the pathetic remains of their forces and lost only 30 men to them. They were well armoured, however it was like fighting children. Perhaps it was luck, or it was due to the intense training all received, or both. It looked like they were fighting young, inexperienced soldiers who knew not what they had gotten into. Perhaps they had mustered together whatever willing soul they could due to some bribe by a Xitian. However, Stroton cared not for the enemy's story. The survivors would have probably told their leaders of what happened that day.
The aftermath left many wounded, but few of those wounds were serious. Several lost some of their teeth and some had fairly deep slash wounds, but those would heal with time. The dead were collected and buried, the families grieved but were happy that Stroton did not fall! Hel, herself, suffered from a deeply cut leg. The scar on her left leg is 4 inches long. She admired it. When people talk about the battle she could say she was there. That she had done damage. She had slain the trespassers and she had the scar to show it. However, Daniel was not thrilled by the injury. He was scared for her. How many more battles may come before she falls and before he loses her? He had always tried to talk her out of her silly dreams of adventure, which annoyed her greatly.
She was twenty years old and she should settle down and start a family, he suggested. She didn't like that at all. She tried to explain her desires, but he wouldn't understand why she would ever want to live a life where it could be cut short by anything at any time. He wouldn't understand the excitement that the fantasy brought to her. She told him she did not want to stay in Stroton for much longer. She loved her city, her friends and family but she desired to find a new place far from here! She just did not know where, until news came of a ship that was headed to a new place in the forbidden lands. A town called "Ravenna" which was apparently largely unexplored and untainted.
Her father and Alfr encouraged her to go, but Daniel didn't want her to leave. He was tired of travelling. It took him far too long to make it to Stroton all those years ago and he didn't like everything in between. They fought a little but she cut it short. "Daniel..." She says with a disappointed sigh. "I love you, but...we are not for each other, no matter how much it hurts. We want very different things. I'm leaving for the forbidden lands, for this...Ravenna. If you choose to come with me, then great!" She looks away for a moment before sniffing slightly to hold back her tears as she knew what his answer would be, before looking back to him. "But if not, we can no longer be together. If I do return I don't want you to expect me to run to you and love you like I did five years ago..." He looks at her for a while and looks to his shoes in defeat. She would not be tamed by him. She would not be tamed by any one. Nothing would make her stay, and he would not go with her. "I'm sorry..." He says, meeting her eyes again. She bites her lip and sighs. "You knew who I was five years ago..." She kisses him for the last time and steps away. "I am not to blame, but I am still sorry." He nods slightly.
She says good bye to her friends and family before departing for Ravenna. She adjusts her armour and bag, tests her sheath on her belt and finding that she is not missing anything she gets on the ship to the forbidden lands and set's sail on her new journey. She unsheathe's her sword slightly, looking at the newly engraved phrase in cursive close to the hilt of her sword which reads, "A New Dawn". She slides it home in the sheathe and enjoys the ride across the ocean.
Agni had hoped to train a son to follow in his footsteps. He doubted his daughter would be interested. No matter, he would tell her the stories of various journeys and his many glorious battles, for he did not know any stories that a young girl would require, if any. He could only go on what he knew. He often thought about her mother and how she would have been more suited to raising a girl than he.
In their village there was not a huge difference between men and women. However, generally women did not like to go into battle or hunt. They enjoyed more peaceful jobs. Men were generally the warriors and the hunters, while the women did near everything else that the men usually didn't. However, he held hope for his daughter that she may take after him, but it was a slim one. A hope he held on to like he held his baby girl in his arms telling her bedtime stories.
Seven years passed and many raids and battles occurred. Every one of them were in their favour. Their warriors were skilled and strong with wills of steel. Retreat was never something that came to mind. The battles were glorious, and the spoils were great! And in this time their village grew to a respectable size. Home to over a thousand people, it was christened Stroton. However, Agni was growing weary of the events happening in the lands around him. Three times now had been approached by red eyed men that he had only heard stories about. They all offered him riches and power beyond his wildest dreams. The first two he had politely told them that he was content with life and so were his people. The third time he ordered the man to go back from wherever he came from, he and his promises were not welcome in Stroton! The third man simply bowed, defeated, and left. He made an announcement that all red eyed people were to be barred from the city. They were not welcome there.
Agni spent as much time with Hel, now eight years of age, as he could but he had other responsibilities as well, such as running a city. He often sent her to a woman named Alfr. She was the town's blacksmith for many years. Now approaching forty years old, she had much experience under her belt. Having raised two children who had long since departed for their own journeys she could handle Hel and understood why she was around so often. She was a kind woman and adored Hel. She also enjoyed the little bit of help she provided. It was small things, more or less just bringing her tools and materials. Hel often told Alfr about the stories her father told her. Alfr had heard them all ten times and many she was witness to, but she listened anyway, enjoying how the child tried to tell the tales herself as if she was there. If anything about the little girl was obvious it was how much she loved and adored her father and thought of him as a hero, and maybe a role model.
"Father has a really sharp sword! He told me it's the very sword he used in all of his adventures! He said you made it for him a long time ago. Can you make me a sword?" She asks, hopeful. Alfr feels a tinge of pain in her heart. It was true, she did make that mighty blade for the man about twenty years ago while they were much younger. She had gotten help from her father, who was the blacksmith before her. The truth was, she loved Agni. They had been close all their lives, and she hoped that this gift would sway him..that he might consider taking her as a lover. However, it was not to be as he had eyes for only one other woman. She felt nothing towards the girls dead mother in life or after. She had resented her for a time, but grew out of those immature ways long ago, realizing that there was no one to blame and no need to hate a clansman.
"Alfr?" Hel waves a hand in her face. She had been lost in thought and snapped out of it. "Hm? Oh, yes. Maybe when you're older honey." She answers, giving a slight chuckle before adding, "So you want to be like your father, hm? A strong warrior like him?" Hel nods, beaming. "My father is the strongest warrior there is, and one day I want to be just like him! Do you think he'll teach me?" Alfr nods, smiling at the girl. "You need only ask him, I'm sure. He would probably be very happy to do that for you." Hel beams, excited. She was going to be strong, just like her father!
Her father was very happy to help her take up the sword, much like she was excited to start learning something new. After two years or so she still persevered. Getting better, little by little. Soaking in as much knowledge as she could and becoming as skilled as she could. Her childhood stature greatly restricted her ability, but Agni could already see that she would be a great warrior should she continue. Perhaps even as great, or greater than himself. He could see the craving for adventure and excitement in her eyes. She seemed to have inherited her mothers green eyes and her father's spirit. Even at the age of ten he was proud of his daughter, and made sure she knew it!
When she was half way through her tenth year he decided it was time to teach her a little about surviving in the wilderness. This was a must as she had often voiced her wish to be like her father and have her own stories to tell. He taught her mostly of fishing and building a shelter. She enjoyed fishing as it was a nice thing to do to end the day on a relaxing note before retiring to bed.
Around the age of thirteen she was introduced to mead. There were few drunks that associated with her father and Alfr, but a drink of day is usually a minimum for most in Stroton. She got drunk off of two mugs. That entire night she was the entertainment. She was more or less the same, but exaggerated a lot. She would tell her father's stories but blow them up so that they were even bigger than they were, and boast about her "amazing" sword skills. Agni decided it was best to water down her drinks a little bit from that point on, no matter how entertaining it was to watch her stagger around babbling like a fool!
It was also at this age that she started making friends. It wasn't that she was not a likeable person so much as she was always with Alfr or Agni. She made three close friends. Bjorn, Daniel, and Brigga. They were all within a year of her in age. Brigga and Bjorn were in the throws of young puppy love while Daniel had his eye on Hel. Daniel wasn't from Stroton. He was from the south. He never cared to say where he was from, and no one cared to ask. All that was known was that his family had went through a great deal of trouble to get to a new, safe land that offered protection. Agni, being a generous man, let them stay and gave them a small home to live in. It was nothing special, but they were content with what they were given. He was Hel's best friend. Over the years the four young teenagers shared many good times together, often involving mead. When she turned fifteen she grew more adventurous and asked her father if she could do something that she had wanted to accomplish for a good few years but didn't have nearly enough knowledge to bother. He grinned to her and gave her permission to go on an excursion with her friends. He feels she asked a little later than he thought she would, but of course, everyone grows at their own pace.
He gave her an old sword that had been lying around and some rations. She stole a couple canteens filled with mead, so she thought. Agni knew she would and didn't really care. Kids will be kids, he figures. She would be gone for a few days with her friends, which means Alfr could have more time to focus on Hel's very own sword. It would be a broadsword with a blade three feet long.
So the party of four departed, heading to the northern mountains. Dressed warmly and equipped for adventure, and if need be, battle!
Three days they had travelled to get to the mountains. On this journey Hel learned a little more about survival then she thought she would. Turns out that her friends new a great deal more about the subject. She learned some common edible plants and how to gut and clean small game like squirrels and rabbits. She also learned that Daniel had a knack for music, namely the lute. He played very well, better than many she had seen in the local pubs of her city. The man was determined to be more than just friends with the young woman. This was clear to everyone except herself, which amused Bjorn and Brigga to no end.
Then, the drinks came out. It turned out that everyone except Daniel had stolen away a good amount of mead and it mattered not where they got it from. They drank well, that night. This was not something Hel did very often, as her mead was usually watered down by her father and she quickly became intoxicated. The drunker she became the better Daniel's songs seemed to her. The seed of love was planted in her that night and was watered with mead. However, that night when they went to sleep she slept by herself. While she slept Daniel tried to stay awake as he lay under his own shelter so he could watch her sleep. His eyes appeared closed because he was very tired, but he kept them open to slivers - no one would notice.
She woke up, startled from a nightmare that was soon forgotten. Though, the feeling of fear remained in her. She was desperate for that feeling to go away. She looked to Daniel who stiffened up slightly and closed his eyes, not that he needed to. He thought he was caught red handed being a creep. However, what he got was not the slap he expected, but her warm body against him and her arms around his middle. She muttered something, seeming hopeful that no one would find out. She was, after all, a morning person and would likely be up before anyone else. Daniel nearly let out a sigh, and relaxed. He decided now was as good a time as ever to sleep, and did just that.
For the next few days he started dropping hints to her on their way to the mountains hoping that she would pick up on it. It seemed hopeless for the first couple days but on the third day they made it to the mountains. He invited her to climb up to an over hang with him and she agreed, loving adventure and being quite fond of Daniel as well there was no reason not to. Bjorn and Brigga decided they were going to go to "sleep", though Hel and Daniel both knew what they meant by that. Let them have their time, they thought.
On the way up to the over hang 100 feet over their camp they joked about what the couple were probably doing. When they got to the cliff they sat on the edge, looking out over the forests in which they had come from. The sun was going down, setting the sky aflame with colour. Nothing was said, but much was communicated from the moment Hel leaned against Daniel while he put his arm around her to the moment they kissed. When they came down from the cliff, even more was communicated when Bjorn and Brigga poked fun at them about what they saw clear as day from the camp. Daniel's face turned a flaming red, but Hel laughed at them and mentioned how Bjorn and Brigga were also easy to see from up on the cliff. It was then their turn to turn bright red. They mumbled something about needs and retired to go to sleep.
Hel's birthday was fast approaching. There was only a few days and she hoped to be back home to celebrate it in time, so the group travelled fast back towards Stroton. Getting home the night of her birthday. She cursed herself for taking too long on the journey and missing most of her birthday. Her father would have likely wanted to celebrate it with her. However, they still had the night! She and her friends went to Hel's home. She stepped in and called out to her father. He comes into the room looking absolutely furious...
"Where have you been!?" He shouts, to which Hel twitches. She rarely got her father mad, but when she did she knew she had done something very wrong. "I...I...was late...I'm sorry, we spent longer than -" She was cut off by his yelling again. "Here we were, waiting ALL day for you to get back here to give ya your gifts and that's your sorry excuse!? Are you serious!?" She looked scared and very sorry and looked to her feet. She didn't notice Alfr come out with a long package and it took her a second to realize her father had started laughing. When she looked up she was confused. Meanwhile her friends breath a sigh of relief that she wasn't in a huge amount of trouble after all. They were waiting outside however.
"Do you still have any mead left?" She went wide eyes and shook her head. "How did you know!?" She asked, sounding worried. He laughed again. "Well, seeming as I don't water down my own mead quite as much as it seemed to be...It was pretty obvious." Apparently, her efforts at masking her theft were futile. He frowned a bit. "Hel, I'm only jokin' with you. I'm not mad." He chuckles slightly. She sighs, forgetting that it was her birthday for the moment, she was confused when Alfr handed her the long box. In the light she could see it was very ornate. She realized immediately what would be inside. Alfr used these special boxes for shipping expensive weaponry!
That day at the forge came back to her right away and she beamed and opened it up. Agni stood with his arms crossed and a grin on his face and Alfr sat on the ground in front of Hel, who was crouched down to open the box. She pulled out a well made broadsword that had a lot of effort put into it. She unsheathed it and grinned. The end of the hilt had a symbol on both sides. The blade itself was about three feet long and was well made and would last a long time, for certain. She sheathed it and set it down and jumped up to hug Alfr and thank her repeatedly and obnoxiously.
The rest of that night was spent drinking and talking about the trip the group had to the mountains. Hel, taking after her father, told them everything that happened. Why leave out the few interesting bits? Of course, this had her three friends turning bright shades of red and in turn this had Agni and Alfr roaring with laughter at the story. Hel felt that she did a good job of telling the story. Agni patted her on the shoulder and chuckled saying in a slurred voice, "You's a woman now, so's ya can do what you want.". She was pleased to hear that her father thought of her as an adult, and grinned to him in acknowledgement.
For the next two years she practiced her sword skills with her father. In this time she got light armour fitted for her by Alfr. Chain mail under a thick leather tunic with good, sturdy travellers boots. Her father made her run every day in her armour to get her strength up so she could sustain herself with the added weight. He told her that she would have to keep doing this until it felt weird to be in normal dress. She grumbled and complained the entire way but never protested. She knew her father knew best and if this is what it took to become a strong warrior and be able to live out her own adventures than so be it! After several months she didn't feel as much of a weight when she wore her armour.
Her father offered to let her try some heavier armour, but she turned it down. He asked why, and crossed his arms. He was unsure if his daughter had some sort of reason other than laziness. She said that she wants to be able to move freely when in combat and doesn't want to be restricted by heavy armour. He nods, sighing silently, relieved that she hadn't gone soft on him and there was a brain in her head after all! So they practiced swordplay in her armour. With a little time she was able to wield a blade as if she was not wearing the armour!
After a hard day of training Agni grinned and sheathed his sword and waited for Hel to do the same. He goes to her and pats her on the shoulder. "You're going to be a fine warrior, Hel. All that's left to learn is on you now." He chuckles. "Can't make it easy for you, now can I? I mean, that's half of life's adventure, you know? Doing things on your own." She nods, smiling and hugs her father.
Then, there was shouting. "Defences!!!" Agni, looked to where the voice came from and called to the warrior. "What!? An attack!?" He called back to Agni, "That's what my men are saying! We have several dead, arrows in their throats! There is a lot coming from the east!" Agni cursed the timing. His daughter looked to him. "I can help, father!" He looked to her, concern on his face. He had never expected the feeling of fear when his daughter would ask to fight with him. He had only ever dreamed of pride. He pushed it aside and nodded. He would not deny his daughter her first battle. She was ready.
They stood at the gates, her and her father in the front with an army of 150. He turned to his men and started to give a speech, to which they all listened. "This civil war has been going on around us and has not touched us! Until today...But I'll be damned to the Nether if Stroton's mighty walls will fall to those who think to call themselves "warriors"! Those who want nothing but riches and land but they aren't willing to work for it! Instead they would rather shed innocent blood instead of earn their own fortunes." He pauses a moment. "We will not give them an inch." He says in a fierce growl. All 150 men shouted their battlecry's and awaited for the incoming threat that loomed over the hill.
They were equal in numbers with the enemy, but in skill they greatly surpassed the neighbouring lands for leagues around! These low life's were no different. Hel got her first taste of battle that day. The army forced back the pathetic remains of their forces and lost only 30 men to them. They were well armoured, however it was like fighting children. Perhaps it was luck, or it was due to the intense training all received, or both. It looked like they were fighting young, inexperienced soldiers who knew not what they had gotten into. Perhaps they had mustered together whatever willing soul they could due to some bribe by a Xitian. However, Stroton cared not for the enemy's story. The survivors would have probably told their leaders of what happened that day.
The aftermath left many wounded, but few of those wounds were serious. Several lost some of their teeth and some had fairly deep slash wounds, but those would heal with time. The dead were collected and buried, the families grieved but were happy that Stroton did not fall! Hel, herself, suffered from a deeply cut leg. The scar on her left leg is 4 inches long. She admired it. When people talk about the battle she could say she was there. That she had done damage. She had slain the trespassers and she had the scar to show it. However, Daniel was not thrilled by the injury. He was scared for her. How many more battles may come before she falls and before he loses her? He had always tried to talk her out of her silly dreams of adventure, which annoyed her greatly.
She was twenty years old and she should settle down and start a family, he suggested. She didn't like that at all. She tried to explain her desires, but he wouldn't understand why she would ever want to live a life where it could be cut short by anything at any time. He wouldn't understand the excitement that the fantasy brought to her. She told him she did not want to stay in Stroton for much longer. She loved her city, her friends and family but she desired to find a new place far from here! She just did not know where, until news came of a ship that was headed to a new place in the forbidden lands. A town called "Ravenna" which was apparently largely unexplored and untainted.
Her father and Alfr encouraged her to go, but Daniel didn't want her to leave. He was tired of travelling. It took him far too long to make it to Stroton all those years ago and he didn't like everything in between. They fought a little but she cut it short. "Daniel..." She says with a disappointed sigh. "I love you, but...we are not for each other, no matter how much it hurts. We want very different things. I'm leaving for the forbidden lands, for this...Ravenna. If you choose to come with me, then great!" She looks away for a moment before sniffing slightly to hold back her tears as she knew what his answer would be, before looking back to him. "But if not, we can no longer be together. If I do return I don't want you to expect me to run to you and love you like I did five years ago..." He looks at her for a while and looks to his shoes in defeat. She would not be tamed by him. She would not be tamed by any one. Nothing would make her stay, and he would not go with her. "I'm sorry..." He says, meeting her eyes again. She bites her lip and sighs. "You knew who I was five years ago..." She kisses him for the last time and steps away. "I am not to blame, but I am still sorry." He nods slightly.
She says good bye to her friends and family before departing for Ravenna. She adjusts her armour and bag, tests her sheath on her belt and finding that she is not missing anything she gets on the ship to the forbidden lands and set's sail on her new journey. She unsheathe's her sword slightly, looking at the newly engraved phrase in cursive close to the hilt of her sword which reads, "A New Dawn". She slides it home in the sheathe and enjoys the ride across the ocean.
Drake - Welcome Party
First person I met here. Seemed to be an unintentional welcome party. He also builds boats. Seems nice enough. Told me about a brewer which gave me hope for this place. Then later I found that the brewer is completely useless and doesn't make Mead. Gods...
Strange little man. Wears a mask and he's really quiet. Told me that I can pretty well just take a room at the inn. Was good news to me.
I feel like I upset him. I made a joke about him being a ladies man that went sour because his former lover is about six feet under. He left shortly after that and I hope he doesn't hold hard feelings. The rest of the conversation went well. Also, he's missing an eye. I'm going to have to ask about that later. He's going to teach me and some other girl how to hunt with a bow and arrow. This is good, because I do need to learn something else to be productive, and that seems the best way to do it. He seems upset about something, so maybe when I talked to him before he was merely in a good mood...
Well, he certainly made an impression. He came into the pub, bleeding a lot (wearing a dress) and I acted completely cool, as usual. (I kind of freaked out.) Turns out I saved his life by getting him to the healer, apparently named Arua. He said I was his handsome knight in shining armour (definitely not sarcastically). After I left him in the healer's hands I came back later to find that he isn't a little bitch about nearly dying. That's always a good quality in a person! Has a sense of humour. Most people here seem to have that, which is always nice.
She's the one I dropped pretty boy off to. Seems she knows what she's doing since he's not dead!
I don't much like being lit on fire so I made extra sure not to piss her off when she came in asking about stuff that I don't even remember about now.
Got me a job in the guard. I pissed her off a bit though. Said something to her son that she took seriously. I think she has a lot on her mind.
Apparently a good swordsman, can kind of cook, deals with children well and plays the lute. If only he could turn water to mead he would be a miracle worker! Seems nice enough, though.
She's really shy. She wants to be a queen some day. Cute. She's also really shy, to the point of being adorable and hilarious.
Seems "ladylike" but much more friendly than Sidian, it seems. She has some kind of twitch in her hand every so often. Was interested in Alex, something about a patch job on her glove, I think.
Ah, another "lady". Seems nice enough, though. Seems really attached to Thomas. It's funny watching her try to woo him.
RE: [WIP] Hel Stroton - Demotheus - 10-08-2013
I think this is ready to be graded.
Just to note something to the whitelisters and staff, I made this character female because of a personal goal to NOT do another Dani character and I feel like I wouldn't be meeting that goal if I played a male character. The whole point is to play a female character "right", which is somewhat objective but from my understanding Dani wasn't exactly the "right" way to play a female character and portrayed woman in a way they might not want to be seen as, regardless of how I intended it.
So this character is aimed at being interchangable with a male...if that's the right way to say that. If you would prefer I changed the gender than I can easily do so with a few minor changes to the back story and some word swaps and what not.
So yeah, this is ready to be graded!
RE: [NEW] Hel Stroton - Demotheus - 11-08-2013
Removed "norse equivelent" from the race section as it didn't need to be there.
RE: [NEW] Hel Stroton - Michelle - 11-08-2013
Hi, Demo.
Aside from a few issues and conditions Zark has talked to you about privately, this is a pass, female character and all (don’t make us regret this). Yep, a pass. And not even a ‘barely’ pass; it’s a pretty impressive improvement from you. It deserves cookies. Needless to say, I’m both very pleased and very proud. Congratulations, and keep up the good work.
Just a note: since this character is arriving by boat, you’ll have to wait for boat travel to Ravenna to actually be available… which will be soon, since Con is building said boat as we speak.
Moving this to the character sheet section.
RE: Hel Stroton - Demotheus - 11-08-2013