[hr][hr][center][h3][color=darkkhaki]Aurelia Nekroz[/color][/h3]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/LCUyJvM.png[/img][/center][hr][hr]
Aurelia sat atop her camel, a hand grazing over a fresh cut she had acquired the day before. The parade out of the city had been anything but celebratory for her on account of the immense amount of heckling the shield maiden had attracted. She could hear them now, their hateful words cruelly stripping away any dignity she had left:

"Heretic!"
"The only good Nekroz is a dead one!"
"The wastes claim you, bitch!"

Though innocent of any crime levied against her, the treason her family committed had made waves throughout Oasis. Rumors spread from there, demonizing the Nekroz clan. Some spoke of incestual relationships, some of demon worship, and Aurelia distinctly remembered someone accusing her of necrophilia. Though untrue, whatever taboo subject the masses could think of, it was synonomous with the name Nekroz. Needless to say, the event had ruined the poor woman, and even 6 years later, the Nekroz Conspiracy was still fresh in the populace's mind. At one point during the caravan's procession, the harassing had gotten so bad that some of the hecklers had decided to hurl rocks at her. One of those stones hit the woman on the left side of her temple and drew a bit of blood, causing the current wound her fingers grazed over, plus a few other bruises. She pressed on without any reaction though, her ebony eyes always set on the city's western gates.  

Once they set up camp at the gates, Aurelia had spent the rest of the night alone, isolated in the room she was given. There was no reason for her to go out, considering no one wanted to have anything to do with her. Even the innkeeper was skeptical about harboring a known pariah, and it took the Royal Guards' persuasion for him to keep her. After all, socializing with the last remaining Nekroz was all but forbidden lest she spread her "lies and heresy". Truly, it was a wonder the military had let the shield maiden remain within their ranks for 6 years with such animosity aimed at her, but Aurelia speculated the Queen herself had something do with it. The woman had no doubt they were glad to be rid of her once she signed up for this expedition though. So, while the others enjoyed their merriment in their presumed last night in Oasis, the shield maiden sharpened her weapons and packed a few last minute provisions before getting a long night's sleep. 

The next day had brought some relief to her, as they finally ventured out into the vast desert that lay ahead. From listening in on the conversations, Aurelia had deduced that most of these volunteers were criminals, most of whom had little other choice than to take part in this adventure. This news didn't surprise her at all, considering their leader was none other than Hannibal Hughes. While she knew very little about him and could not have cared less about him, he was quite infamous, especially among the nobility. Her mother, Diana, and eldest sister, Lydia, would go on and on about his exploits when they were alive, and Lydia swore up and down she was going to marry him one day. That woman had every damn news clipping that concerned him plastered on her walls.

At the front of the column, her dark eyes caught sight of the eccentric man, flourishing his blade and screaming about wine. What her sister's obsession was based on, Aurelia hadn't a clue since he was clearly insane. The rabble rousing Hannibal was soon joined by a tall redhead, who proceeded to boast about accomplishments as a thief. Aurelia wasn't sure how someone could be so proud of such lowly deeds. However, at the mention of her name, a light bulb went off in her head, noting that this Senna Daher was also one of those miscreants that had broke into the Queen's palace. The guards had gossiped quite a bit about that occurrence, not to mention security on the palace was doubled afterward. Sighing, the shield maiden shook her head and pondered on how she had ended up in a ragtag group of suicidal criminals. Life had been so sweet, but now... She only continued to redeem her family's name.

Her strong legs signaled the camel beneath her to trot a little faster until her form loomed beside Hannibal and Senna, introducing herself with a courtly bow. [color=darkkhaki]"So [i]you're[/i] the one the soldiers kept talking about... Do not forget to tell us about your [i]great[/i] palace scheme."[/color] Aurelia told the redheaded thief, narrowing her eyes at the woman. Though the words she spoke were meant to mock, the softness and mousiness of her voice seemed to imply interest instead. She always had been terrible at sarcasm. Her head turned to Hannibal, acknowledging the man's attractive features, particularly that smile of his. Perhaps Lydia had not been too in the wrong for falling head over heels for him. [color=darkkhaki]"My sister, Lydia, loved you, Mr. Hughes. No... I should say the entire Nekroz family loved you. It is an honor. I am the remnant, Aurelia, and I apologize if my presence insults you..."[/color] her unassertive voice came out and stroked his ego. At the same time, Aurelia came off as a bit depressing and timid. Her blonde hair bellowed in the wind, and she prepared to fall back in line at his behest, assuming none of these people wanted to deal with a social plague such as herself.

[sub][@Rune_Alchemist][@Snagglepuss89][/sub]