Luminosity

Tombs and Blades (Swords of the Cutlass Coast) (Lum & Poo)

Valerie was able to get to her feet with the help of Markus. "I'm... yes, I'm alright," she managed. She had to take a second to confirm that she was actually telling the truth. She wasn't bleeding from any wounds, but that orc had thrown and hit her with significant force, and there was still a pretty debilitating pain in her torso, one she hoped would pass soon. It lessened a bit with each slow breath she took in and exhaled, which was a good sign. Regardless, this was going to result in some bruising.

But she was alive and whole, and that was more than could be said for quite a few of the mercenaries. A few looked to have been cut down right where they stood when the attack started, finding themselves out of their leagues battling against a bold orcish raid. The smell of blood was heavy in the air. In the battle's immediate aftermath, Valerie could feel her adrenaline fading away. She began to feel a little sick to her stomach; it wasn't the first conflict resulting in death she'd been involved in, but that had been by far the worst. The orcs were capable of such unbridled violence. She had to lean back against the nearby wagon for support, but she at least avoided embarrassing herself.

"Eventful's one word for it," she said, once her breathing was a bit steadier again. Horrifying might have been her choice. The point of armed escorts for caravans was usually to discourage attacks from ever happening, and much of the company likely hadn't expected to get into a fight in the first hours of the trip, or at all. Now a great many of them would never see home again, leaving the strength of the survivors severely reduced. If another attack of that force came, they could easily be cut down to the last.

"Thanks for saving me, by the way," she said to Markus, a bit more subdued. Her hair had become a bit disheveled during the last stages of the fight. She idly worked to fix it. "I probably shouldn't have run off... took on a bit more than I could handle. But I thought the others needed the help." And she was probably right. It'd nearly cost her life, but she'd at least been able to cut off some of the orcs swarming the section, and delay the biggest of them as best she could.

Tombs and Blades (Swords of the Cutlass Coast) (Lum & Poo)

Valerie was able to engage the flanking monster before it could attack Markus, this time launching straight into an offensive of her own. The orc's skill with a sword was hopeless compared to Valerie's, lacking any form of training, and so after only a few blocked strikes it grew impatient and tried to make a counter of its own, but Valerie was the swifter, and impaled the creature on her blade, backing away swiftly to avoid its dying swings.

"I'm a quick learner," she replied breathlessly, to Markus's comment in jest about her being new. "I credit my excellent teachers." She was able to take their lives easily enough, what with their aggressive action and monstrous tactics. Her trepidation before the fight had given way to the rush of adrenaline being in the midst of it. There was no time to think in the fight, only time to react and move on instinct.

They continued the fight as a pair, felling the next immediate wave. Valerie had noticed the light wounds inflicted on Markus, but he seemed to have avoided anything too serious thus far. She herself had avoid taking even a single hit against the second group, and the hits from the shield-bearer before had shaken her more than anything. She felt fully recovered, if a bit short of breath. Their section of the attack had been solidly repulsed.

Others weren't faring as well. Up ahead, Eloryen was fending off two at once, and some of the mercenaries nearby him appeared to have suffered wounds ranging from debilitating to fatal. The orcs were gravitating away from where the resistance was fierce, and towards where they smelled weakness. Valerie was in motion without so much as a second thought.

"We have to help them!" she called, taking off and heading further up the column of wagons. She headed one of them off before it could arrive, briefly dueling the axe-wielding orc until she'd landed a fatal slash to its throat. After that, she sped towards Eloryen, causing one of the two menacing him to turn towards her.

This beast of an orc was at least two feet taller than Valerie, wielding a spiked mace already dripping with blood from another mercenary that had failed to avoid. She eyed it with alarm, holding her position and waiting for her fearsome opponent to make the first move. The mace came at her with startling speed, forcing Valerie to the side, putting the cart to her back.

It was a poor place to position, as the next strike was placed well, with not enough room for her to dodge backwards, and not enough time to duck so low. She blocked it as well as she could, but it was too heavy to turn aside. Valerie's arms rattled painfully as their weapons violently clanged together, the mace proving the victor. She stumbled a half step sideways and back. The next swing came upwards, looking to take her head clean off, and she only barely avoided it. With a hefty dose of luck, her swift strike of retaliation lopped off the orc's weapon hand.

Her monstrous enemy seemed to care little. It stepped forward, suddenly seizing her by the throat with its other hand. Her wind cut off, Valerie stabbed through the forearm of the limb choking her, but the orc only seemed aggravated. She was then thrown backwards forcefully, slamming into the wooden side of the cart and dropping in a heap. She gasped for breath on the ground, her head ringing from the impact. Come on, get up, she tried to urge herself, but her arms didn't listen at first, and she'd lost track of her sword. Was it still in the orc's arm?

She felt blood from the orc's stump of an arm drip briefly onto her cheek, before the monster lashed out with a kick that caught her in the chest and upper abdomen. Pain flared in her torso, and Valerie found herself unable to put up any immediate resistance. She just hoped her brave idea to run off and help wouldn't cost her her own life in a few seconds time.

Tombs and Blades (Swords of the Cutlass Coast) (Lum & Poo)

Valerie made sure to give Markus a bit of space before the fighting began. His hand-and-a-half sword would need some room to swing, and she would make good use of the space herself. Despite the numbers on either side, it was no true battle, but still it would be the largest engagement she had ever been involved in. There was only one way to find out if she was ready.

The sounds of fire and screams erupted before the clash even arrived, as Markus revealed his talent with magic. She hadn't expected spells from him, but they were certainly welcome. It wouldn't come close to turning the orcs back, though, and a group of them rushed forward, one near the front charging straight for Valerie. He wielded a great two-handed axe. She knew she didn't have a hope of blocking that kind of weapon, especially when swung by something so strong.

His opening attack was swift and rage-fueled, as she expected it to be. The orc struck downwards with the axe, a blow capable of splitting Valerie from shoulder to hip, but she didn't let any fear she felt keep her flat footed. She ducked and darted sideways, the blade whooshing over her head, and leaving the orc entirely exposed as the weight of the weapon carried on. Their armor ranged from poor to nonexistent, and big as they were, they would fall quickly enough when struck vitally. Valerie plunged her sword into the orc's side, the blade piercing in as though the orc's hide was no more than gossamer. Immediately he was stopped cold, and fell to his knees. She removed her blade and made the end quick for him with a downward stroke of her own that lopped off his head.

One down, nothing to it, she reassured herself, as her second opponent charged her. She could hear Markus struggling with one behind her, but there was no time to look. She backstepped, leaning away from a wide stroke of the crude sword the second orc wielded. He was too predictable with his next attack, simply slashing back the other way, and Valerie turned it, deflecting the blow neatly away from her before she slashed the orc's leg. Her blade bit deeply, and forced the wounded orc to a knee. Before he could retaliate her sword had pierced his heart.

Her instincts in battle were not as sharp as Markus's, and she failed to notice the orc approaching on her right flank in time. She made the wide slash when she did hear the footsteps, only for her blade's edge to bounce off the face of a shield made of wooden planks crudely nailed together. The shield then slammed into her body, the orc's momentum throwing Valerie harshly onto her back and driving the air from her lungs. The sky above that suddenly filled her vision was soon replaced by the orc and his sword, which he slashed down with. Valerie rolled out of the way just in time, but the orc was quick, and just as she completed the roll he brought his shield down again. The bottom rim of the wood struck her in the abdomen, prompting a gasping cough as she was pinned in place. Valerie writhed underneath it, but could not escape.

A bolt from a dwarf's crossbow struck the orc in the lower back just in time, weakening the pin on her, and Valerie was able to maneuver enough to stab straight through the orc's leg, bringing him down. A second stab through his throat ended him, and Valerie clambered shakily back to her feet, stumbling over to the wagon for support while she tried to catch her breath and regain her strength. It wasn't over yet.

Tombs and Blades (Swords of the Cutlass Coast) (Lum & Poo)

Valerie's pleasant thoughts of a friendly tavern and drinks with a new friend on the frontier were soon driven away by the harsh reality of the warcries. They were savage, guttural calls, of the kind of group of bandits or thieves would produce. Those groups wouldn't be so bold as to announce their presence before they struck. She shared the look of trepidation with Markus.

While he conversed with the dwarves, Valerie kept a watch on the slope, trying to make out their enemies through the trees. She could spot one here and there, but failed to locate if a mass of them were gathering at any single point, or if they intended to spread out as much as possible. The echoing of the shouts didn't help matters any, as the sound bounced off the trees on all sides, making Valerie glance warily in several directions, only to spot nothing.

She said nothing, for her throat had constricted somewhat, an unfortunate side effect of her sudden nervousness before the fight, to go along with the fluttering welling up in her belly. The repeated conflicts against bandits and the like had grown steadily easier, but she'd yet to test herself any further, until now.

Valerie found the chuckle and the grin from Markus to be somewhat astounding, going so far as to take her out of the swirling thoughts and worries in her own head. Perhaps she was worrying herself needlessly. She was very skilled, and neither Orcs nor Ogres would change that. That skill would see her through.

She nodded in return to Markus, drawing her own sword. It was rather simple in ornamentation for a duelist's weapon, and a noble's at that, but the craftsmanship in the cross hilt and the pommel were plain to see, as was the deadliness of the thin blade. She nimbly vaulted after her ally and settled into a ready stance on the far side, keeping herself mostly relaxed. Now came the ugly part.

Tombs and Blades (Swords of the Cutlass Coast) (Lum & Poo)

"Mm, thanks," she said, taking a small amount of the offered jerky. She'd already eaten breakfast back in Highmast, knowing well by now to take advantage of opportunities for well-cooked meals, especially before taking a job, or traveling. Valerie's own cooking was not entirely abhorrent, but she was no artisan, that was for sure.

She smiled slightly at his mention of using the wagons for a ride. "I'll be fine. One of the benefits of not lugging around the plate and mail." Valerie's gear was mercifully light, and she'd done all over her traveling thus far on foot. She knew how to ride, but wasn't particularly fond of it, and didn't actually own a horse of her own. It would've been poor form to steal own from her own stables. As a result, she was very used to hiking it on foot, and the journey would have to be very long indeed to tire her out.

Markus was proving to be more interesting by the minute. He'd appeared a more distinguished man than most, but it hadn't occurred to her that he might have noble blood as well. He looked very much the mercenary; perhaps she would as well, after a few years selling her sword. Valerie immediately found herself curious to know more. He knew some Elvish, too. She recognized the sound of the tongue, but knew not what he said. Very few Elves lived in Ardennia, and all who did conversed with her in the common tongue.

"Perhaps we can exchange stories over drinks then, after this job is through. You have me curious, Markus." He hadn't needed so much as a wink, either. Truth be told, Valerie hadn't found many people at all she felt she could really relate to since leaving. There was no guarantee that Markus was such, but she found him intriguing at the very least.

Of course, they would have to survive the Ogres and Orcs he spoke of, but it sounded like the odds of actually needing to use her blade would be slim. She rested a hand lightly on the hilt as she walked, all the same.
@POOHEAD189

Tombs and Blades (Swords of the Cutlass Coast) (Lum & Poo)

Sturdy shoes, a full pack, and clean weapons. Valerie had those down, at least. Her knee-high boots, like the rest of her gear, were finely tailored and well-suited for long journeys. She took particular care to ensure her clothing and equipment remained in excellent condition, and had more than enough funds for when she couldn't perform the maintenance herself. She always tried to keep around double the amount of supplies she expected she'd need in her pack. She'd quickly grown used to carrying it, and it could be discarded swiftly enough in the event that she needed to fight immediately. Valerie was well aware that her speed was her most valuable attribute, and the one most vital to keeping herself alive.

"That's what I said to the smith who forged it," she replied, when Markus complimented her sword. Baldrick was the smith's name, but he no longer toiled over special order pieces for the children of Lord Winter. Now he worked day and night to produce blades and armor for the king's army. A true shame. "Slash and sweep. I'll remember." Valerie was hardly offended at receiving advice from the man. After all, she'd just declared her own lack of experience, and would be the first to admit that she had a great deal to learn and improve on.

Markus was correct that she would do quite well one one one; there was scarcely a swordsmen within the castle walls of her home that could defeat her in single combat, and she'd made certain that they were giving it their all. She gave them a royal thrashing when she suspected otherwise. But groups of foes had naturally given her more trouble to spar against. And though she usually managed well enough in the practice ring, her opponents lacked the killer drive that she would see in true battle. She learned that much quickly enough from the bandits and other minor threats that she earned her modest experience on thus far.

"Truth be told, it's mostly chance that brought me here," she admitted, eyes wandering on their surroundings. The wilderness outside Highmast had a certain beauty to it that she appreciated. The forests were not as thick in her homeland, everything felt trodden over, as though a thousand people had been there before and would be again tomorrow. There was energy here, more of the unknown than the mundane. "I imagine my nobility is fairly obvious. Events in my kingdom forced me to leave, due to a decision I made. It's... a bit of a long story." She wasn't necessarily opposed to telling it, but they'd only just met, and that decision had been a rather personal one.

"This kind of work calls to me, I think. I've always been adventurous, excelled in my training, and a great many people can benefit from my skill and my sword. More than I could hope to serve at home. As for Highmast... there's opportunity here, and that often means danger." She wondered sometimes if her altruism was foolish, or reckless. She didn't exactly need the coin from this job, though her funds had been slowly dwindling since she left home. The danger of the work was undeniable, too. But she believed she was capable of facing it and overcoming it, and she'd yet to be proven wrong.
@POOHEAD189

Tombs and Blades (Swords of the Cutlass Coast) (Lum & Poo)

Valerie regarded the Elf with a look approaching amusement as he whispered his intentions to his friend Markus. A poor excuse for a whisper, considering that she was standing right in front of him. Still, he seemed the sort to flirt in jest and as a compliment, rather than simply making blunt advances. It was tolerable, if not particularly endearing.

"It's alright," she said easily, after Markus apologized for him. Her family's status combined with her position as the only daughter had led to a rather large number of similar unwanted advances. Eloryen's was not the most subtle of them, but it was far from the least, all the same. Valerie had never been able to approach romantic relationships easily, what with all the unnecessary trappings thrown on anything she might attempt. Thankfully, her parents had been kind enough not to force anything upon her.

"Friend of yours, I take it." It only made sense, if he felt the need to apologize for him. The caravan was soon moving out, however, and Valerie stepped to, keeping pace with Markus and the rest as they made their way out of the city. The morning was peaceful, the air comfortably warm, with only a gentle breeze gracing them.

Valerie reached up and pulled a few wayward strands of dark brown hair from her face, tucking them behind her ear. "Have you been a mercenary long?" she asked of Markus. The Elf hadn't made the best impression, but Markus so far struck her as an amiable man. "My experience is still just a matter of months, I admit. I've trained ever since I was a girl, though."

Tombs and Blades (Swords of the Cutlass Coast) (Lum & Poo)

If you want/need to specifically control any NPCs, let me know. Figured it would be okay to juggle them, so to speak, otherwise.

Tombs and Blades (Swords of the Cutlass Coast) (Lum & Poo)

Valerie was a long way from home. She was starting to get used to it, being out of her element. It was nice to walk down a street or through a small town without every passing villager knowing her face, knowing her name. Valerie Winter, or perhaps one of the nicknames bestowed on her. Winter's Daughter she had not minded, being the only girl of four children in her immediate family. The nickname her brothers had given her, Snowflake, did not sit as well. Thankfully there were few that used it, and none beyond the borders of her family's domain.

Those that had constructed Highmast and the other nearby towns had likely never heard of her kingdom, or its troubles. They had no reason to care. This place had its own share of troubles, as she'd quickly learned. There was no shortage of work, even for an adventurer as untested as herself. This caravan escort was perhaps the most valuable job she'd been able to land, though the wizard that had chosen the team had scrutinized her carefully, to the point where she felt uncomfortable, and not in the usual sense. She couldn't rightly tell what exactly he was trying to discern, but whatever it was, she'd passed the test, and now made her way through the streets in the morning, geared up and with her sword at her hip.

About half of the hired swords had arrived by the time Valerie did, gathered around the cart loaded with goods and set to depart the city. She overheard the tail end of their conversation, and strode in to join them. She'd seen most present when the wizard had chosen the crew, but there had been little time for proper introductions then.

"It's very strong indeed," she said, making her presence known. She stopped before the group, hooking a thumb under her sword belt. "And quite useful in the right hands. Could have lords and ladies bidding for the chance to own a supply of this. It's good you have an escort for the journey." She extended her hand out to the lead merchant. "I'm Valerie Winter. Pleased to meet you."

"Tobias," the merchant answered, gently shaking her hand. He looked about to say more, but the light-haired Elf spoke up instead.

"Valerie," he said with a grin, "we didn't have a chance to meet earlier. My name is Eloryen." Valerie shook the Elf's hand as well, though her immediate impression was that he thought a bit too much of himself. Confidence was not such a terrible sin, she supposed.

The last of the men she'd also yet to meet, though of the mercenaries present before, he'd seemed among the few with some years of experience already under his belt. Hardly grizzled, he looked only a few years older than she, but Valerie knew how much a few years could change a person. How much they would certainly change her. "Valerie Winter," she repeated, extending her hand to the man.

Tombs and Blades (Swords of the Cutlass Coast) (Lum & Poo)

Valerie Winter

Name: Valerie Winter
Age: 24
Physical Appearance: Valerie's appearance seems very well put-together, almost embodying her background of nobility with a soft delicateness offset by steadiness, confidence, and inner strength. She has fair, unblemished skin, pale blue eyes, and long, dark brown hair most often secured in a low bun with a moderate amount of loose strands flitting about her face. Her height is a few inches on the tall side, and her physical build is slim and lithe, with subtle muscling visible where her clothing hugs her body. Obviously not a powerhouse of strength, but capable and in excellent condition.

Armor/Clothing: Her light-weight gear functions well enough with her style of combat and of fashion, and indeed, she finds the blend of noble elegance with mercenary ruggedness somewhat appealing, and some part of her even desires to stand out clearly from common sellswords. The high quality tailoring and craftsmanship speaks volumes about her history, or at least gives away that she wears clothes and gear more expensive than a common mercenary and adventurer just starting out should be able to afford.

Starting with her upper body, Valerie wears a long-sleeved and thin undershirt close fit to the point of a second skin. Over this she wears some actual protection, in the form of a light but sturdy leather breastplate to protect her heart and lungs. It was custom tailored for her and fits extremely well, secured around her neck and lower back. It cuts off just below her ribs, sacrificing some protection for the sake of full flexibility and range of motion.

Her leggings are closely fitted and comfortable linen, with some extra layering of leather around her thighs, hips, and waist to better protect her upper legs. Buckled loosely around her waist is her sword belt, as well as a decorative sash of dark blue silk with golden floral patterns. The sash flutters down from her right hip, partially concealing the hilt of the long, thin dagger sheathed there. Her boots are made of soft leather, designed more to be comfortable than tough, and are buckled below the knee, and again at the ankles.

Under her clothing she wears a pendant with the snowflake emblem of her family, secured on a very thin golden chain.

Weapons: Valerie's primary weapon is a thin, extremely sharp sword, most suited for dueling engagements but functional enough in other styles. It packs a surprising bite, given how quickly Valerie can strike with it, either thrusting or slashing, and can pierce many armor types. It's not a fragile weapon, either, and can block or parry incoming strikes if she needs to. Valerie can wield it with either hand (technically right handed, but she's very ambidextrous) or with both for added strength.

Her sidearm is a long, thin knife at her right hip, which she can wield in either direction front or back, but will only do so in the event that she is somehow disarmed of her sword.

Combat Overview: Speed, decisiveness, grace, and fluidity define Valerie's style. She's very well trained in the use of her weapon, and knows well how to make the most of situations with skillful deflections that turn blows aside rather than stopping them cold, and open up holes in her opponent's defenses for her to exploit. Her offense is swift and precise, and rarely forces her to overextend on the attack and expose vulnerabilities. On the defensive, Valerie is light-footed and agile, able to dodge most attacks lacking swiftness, while parrying attacks strong in speed but lesser in strength. And while she prefers single combat, she's both swift and aware enough to handle multiple enemies of lesser skill simultaneously. At full strength, Valerie is a deadly enemy to fight, with the speed and precision to turn small mistakes from her opponents into lethal ones.

She still has significant weaknesses to overcome, most stemming from her overall lack of actual experience in battle as opposed to rigorous training. Underhanded tactics can catch her off guard, and fighting hand to hand or grappling are both particular weaknesses of hers. Her physical endurance has not often been tested, and her choice of extremely light armor doesn't help much when she ends up getting hit. Despite her determination, she can only endure a limited number of wounds.

Personality: On the outside Valerie is quiet, calm, composed, an excellent picture of nobility. Inwardly she feels very passionately about causes she puts herself behind, something that can sometimes show in the heat of a conflict. She's quite sociable and kind with the majority of those she encounters, and tends to be both understanding and forgiving of others. She does, however, retain some aspects of her upbringing, and is just a touch vain.

Her morals are quite strong, and indeed drive her to do things that have little benefit for her to offset the risk. She believes the position of power she was born into gave her a responsibility to help those beneath her, rather than a right to rule over them.

History: Valerie is the third child of four of the wealthy and powerful Winter family of the kingdom of Ardennia, and the only daughter. While not in line to rule the kingdom, her family watched over a large swath of diverse land with farms, towns, forests, rivers, and small mountains. Her kingdom, however, had an expansionist king with dreams of conquering their northern neighbor and expanding his domain. After years of military swelling and building of tension, war was declared following a loosely conceived insult against them, likely fabricated for an excuse to attack.

The Winter family was called, and answered. Valerie and her brothers had been trained among other things in the art of war, and were to serve as commanders of varying levels in the army. Valerie, however, refused the call, bringing some shame upon her family and soon forcing her to leave her home. She traveled far from her kingdom's borders, using her honed skills with the sword to pay her way in adventuring, which she took to naturally. Her experience thus far is limited, but it has served to build up her confidence, and reassure her that she made the correct choice in leaving her home behind.