Name: Paula "the Huntress" Creek
Physical Attributes: Paula is an abnormally short woman who stands somewhere around 140cm tall, her appearance dominated by her heavy clothes that leave very little if any of her skin visible. Her coat clinks slightly if she ever moves at a pace faster than brisk walk with all her tools and reagents set within the limited space, and even her face is covered by a beaked mask, more for appearances than function's sake. Yet having that wet sponge filter the breathing air in times it is required comes in handy. The colour scheme of her clothing is dark greens and browns, the latter mostly being tanned leather for handling hazardous substances, or her one bandolier. Her voice suggests her age to be somewhere just under thirty years.
Mental Attributes: Paula is a rather morose character, not easily impressed by others and especially not expecting anyone to really be able to pull their weight until proven differently. She also has little patience for those who get in the way of her plans or set others in danger by reckless action. Getting on her good side is a chore, and getting her trust even more so. But she will do her part to the betterment of the group, since there is power in numbers and despite not really expecting others to look out for her, she can't take it on her conscience to do that to another.
History: Sometimes, you just hear a rumour. An insistent one, you know one of the kind. You hear it once, and then you notice yourself hearing it everywhere. Whispers about the sort of thing spoken by those who believe, the same words in billowing laugh by those that don't. Paula wasn't one for spreading these, but she certainly always appreciated when the knowledge came all the way to her. Directly, even. For there had been someone who had specifically come to her with a request. A request that would lead the Huntress to her next challenge, that on board of the train that had now stopped abruptly.
But let us not dash too far forward. Why would anyone, much less the wife of a well known merchant approach a monster hunter with as unconvincing an appearance as Ms. Creek? Well, one would be pleased to know that Paula had had her opportunity to make a name for herself earlier, her arrival a few weeks back having been marked by not only one but two smaller extermination jobs. And so with the resounding successes under her belt, she made for a promising candidate. She would be out there to look after the task giver's husband, wouldn't she? Of course she would. Coin was coin, and she needed the thing to supply herself.
And so on this choice journey, the rumours that had been whispered had proven themselves true. Not the first time they had. The weapon was soon readied and defensive positions taken. Whatever was to come, it would do so eventually. Trains weren't stopped for a laugh, not even by mysterious presences that nobody quite understood the origin of.
Abilities:- Vitality: 3 - Paula seems somewhat sickly, but it is difficult to judge from her grey eyes seen through the lenses alone what the issue might be.
- Strength: 2 - Not of the muscular sort and not really having the mass to leverage, Paula does not deal well with situations requiring pure physical brawn.
- Finesse: 10 - Quick feet and diminutive size come with certain advantages. In this case, fitting through places and staying out of trouble.
- Perception: 4 - The amount of gear with her at all times has forced Paula to adapt with her senses, heightening them somewhat to counteract the issue, but overcompensation has not brought her to great lengths.
- Intelligence: 10 - If there is another thing that keeps the Huntress working over dying miserably in a ditch, it is her wit. She employs a plethora of tools for each task at hand, and finds that human ingenuity can indeed stand up to the horrors that stalk these woods.
- Wisdom: 6 - It takes a real numb nut to not learn from past forays in a trade such as hers. Each mistake comes with a lesson. And she has collected a fair few not only of her own.
- Faith: 7 - Paula's faith may not necessarily be to that of the might of the Light, but the ability of herself and those that might fight on her side. Mostly herself. Someone's got to pull this job, or nobody will.
- Occult: 8 - All part of the job. Someone out there hunting for the things that go bump in the night for a living has these things on a need-to-know basis, lest they would be dead before someone got around to asking if they know things.
Equipment:- Tier 1 Flashpowder grenades - Cylinders filled with magnesium powder and a fuse. With a burst of heat and a bright flash, these self-made weapons disorient the opposition for long enough for the Huntress to gain the upper hand… as long as they rely on eyesight and happen to be looking at where the weapon was thrown.
- Tier 1 Smoke grenades - Cylinders fitted with a fuse built to burn long and create a cloud of obscuring somewhat opaque smoke, for disturbing the flow of battle.
- Tier 2 Combat gas grenades - Glass containers filled with chemicals that react in a volatile manner with air on strong impact, creating a cloud of coloured smoke that causes irritation in exposed skin, eyes, nose, and especially airways. Mainly made for attacking an opponent's respiratory system.
- Tier 1 Ratting piece - There are more reliable firearms out there than this little grapeshot. As its name implies, the weapon is more useful for hunting rats and birds than actual threats, but it delivers a nasty sting and even wounds stronger creatures just enough for the Huntress to try and regain her foothold in the fight. Kicks like a bastard, though.
- Tier 1 A particularly long knife - If it has just one edge to it, it is not a sword. Ask any lawyer. Hers simply happens to be long enough to pass for a sword on the short side rather than a dagger.
- Tier 1 Padded armour - Her thick coat, cloth padded hood and the assorted leather pieces of her get-up offer a small amount of protection while allowing her quick feet and small stature to handle the rest.
- Non-weapon Field surgery kit - A set of tools typical of a 19th century surgeon.
- Non-weapon First aid supplies - Bandages, rubbing alcohol, a faint memory of the more common antidotes to poisoning.
- Non-weapon A round, shallow metal container - Paula does not speak of its contents. It looks to be faintly yellow, judging by the stains on the outside.
