Nika Strobel
PersonalityNika is, in a word, focused. If there is a goal before her she shall dedicate herself fully to it's completion, even at the detriment (or benefit) of her health. Long hours will gladly be spent stoking the coals of the forge if only to work through the night and complete a bulk order. Satisfaction is drawn from being able to deliver a finished product and knowing it will enrich the lives of both swordsman and craftsmen, as one is preserved through martial might and the other receives the boon of wealth and experience. Her dedication to the craft has come at a detriment of lacking a social life, though when removed from the forge and mingling among her peers, she has the tendency of being clammed up until comfortable with a person due to the long ingrained habitual silence she picked up from weathering her abrasive mentor. Nika does have a soft spot for children and festivities, both having the effect of making Nika far more sociable as the upbeat atmosphere relaxes her wound-up personality.
BiographySwords have long been the building block of human society since the day man decided to melt the first ores or attach obsidian to a wooden paddle. They've deterred as many threats as they have ended upon their edge, and for that Nika believes it is a worthy ambition to dedicate herself to creation of these tool. Born into a city strategically positioned on one end of the most travelled pass through a sprawling mountain range, Nika has long been accustomed to the sights and sounds of tradesman at work, processing the wealth of materials that pass through their gates and out into the world.
It was through the designing, manufacturing, and selling of all manner of tool that they prospered, a feat that Nika would endeavor to replicate since she was a young girl. She apprenticed herself under a hard, old man who was getting on in the years, a veritable treasure trove of experience wasting away in a failing body. This would result in Nika often serving as his hands, forcing her to develop her body to handle all the rigors of forging for herself and her mentor, which resulted in a musculature she appreciates immensely in her craft.
She came upon the fake cat ears which are ever present upon her head one day while manning a stall her mentor's wares, attempting to sell a set of kitchen ware she'd fabricated with spare materials laying around the forge. A mother and her daughter had approached and looked interested in purchasing, but lacked the funds for everything she desired. To the buyer's surprise, her child tried to offer up her cherished hair clip to cover the bill. Unwilling to rebuke the generosity of a child and stifle it, Nika accepted what they could offer and continued to wear those ears in the same manner a smith might hand their first sword upon the wall as a memento.
Her mentor would never let her hear the end of it in regards to her new ornament, his verbal tirades only surpassed by added workload placed upon her, but he was not long for the forge anyway. Knowing he'd either retire or drop dead sooner rather then later, he ordered Nika to leave for Seishun Academy to broaden her horizons before he even considered passing on the forge to her. Nika thought the old grouch just didn't want anyone to see him wither away any further, but allowed him his solitude and left to further her education in sword smithing.
SpecialtyNika is suited towards the creation of 'modern' Damascus Steel, also known as billet welding, a term referring to layering slabs of steel and iron onto a billet and compressing it, resulting in metal that is more durable and possesses an iconic wave pattern that is unique in every metal forged with this process.
Favors making two handed weapons and bastard swords, though she does dabble in cooking implement work for extra funds.
Wood and bone are preferred handle materials.
When on expedition, relies upon curved great sword and heavy steel gauntlets for hunting. Plate mail covers her chest, back, and outer thighs, but otherwise is not present so she is not too encumbered to carry herself and her armaments with some speed.
