Post by blackfyre on Jul 26, 2015 5:22:15 GMT
Name:
Aofie Aneira
Age:
29
Nationality:
Rhodokian Hill Clansmen (Descendants of Nord migration)
Hair:
Dark Brown
Eyes:
Aquamarine
Facial Markings:
Old scars run from the corners of her mouth curving to look like a smile. (Example: Glasgow Smile)
Skin Color:
Pale
Height:
5'11
Weight: 155 pounds
Build:
Athletic
Body Markings:
Various scars mostly on her arms and hands. Various tribal tattoos mostly on her arms as well and a couple on her face.
Interests/Skills:
Archery, equestrianism, charitable causes, assisting new comers, learning about new cultures, maintaining social order.
Dislikes:
Arrogant and ignorant people. Banditry and any other illegal activities
Personality/Flaws: While she was an introvert and easily irritated most of her life Aoife has opened up more in recent years and is far easier to get along with over all. She feels very strongly for the poor and weaker people in society thus will often stand up for them even at great cost to her own health. This attitude extends even further to anyone she considers a friend. She also hates those who prey on others, and will go to great lengths to see justice done. This stubbornness has cost her dearly in the past Aoife has barely escaped death on a few occasions.
Strengths:
She is a skilled archer and has developed a strong upper body from years of training with bows. Her over all figure is very athletic she does not tire easily at all. Though most of her people are clumsy riders Aoife showed great skill and finesse while riding even from an early age.
Fears:
Failure to carry out justice, dying without a good cause, bandit gangs/raids.
Profession: Captain of The Watch
Aoife's people the Aneira Clan have a long history. Their original homeland laid within the mountains on the Nordic/Swadian boarder north-east of Praven and south of Tihr. Being so close to the Swadians their influence easily crept over the boarder in those early days so the Aneira Clan were some of the earliest converts to Makerism. This conversion never sat well with their fellow Nords leading to many conflicts in the following decades. Skirmishes became a way of life for all Clans that converted fighting each year for their very survival they refused to convert back and firmly believed the Makerist teachings never once faltering against their foes. Eventually these skirmishes would turn into an all out war as the Nordic Makerist banded together backed by the Swadian King Ulric III in an attempt to overthrow the Nord King Erik the Red Bear. This war was hard fought lasting four years with casualties on both sides high, but the Makerist Clans lost Swadian support after Ulric III himself fell in battle his death leading the Swadian Kingdom into a decade long civil war. With this support lost the Clans could no longer fight as they had and with mounting defeats they eventually lost the war. Facing conversion or death many of the Clans chose to instead flee south including the Aneira Clan. However their troubles were not over for the Swadian Kingdom was still locked in a bloody civil war, the Nordic Makerist were not welcomed anywhere in the Swadian lands so they continued to migrate south.
When they eventually came to the Rhodok boarder they numbered in the thousands some say as high as ten thousand so this was not some small migration the Serene Doge Valentino Zanotii could over look. It was a good thing Valentino was both a brilliant and generous man he made the Nordic Clans a deal, they would be allowed in if they could destroy the rampant and savage hill bandits that plagued the Rhodoks country side. Not only would they be allowed to stay they would be given this land they freed from bandits and each Clan would receive titles of Lordship over a fief. Although weary of fighting the Nords could not refuse such an offer and elected the Aneira Clan to lead them against the Mountain Bandits. Within months the bandits melted away unable to resist the Nords who fought like madmen with nothing to lose. Only small pockets of bandits remained throughout the mountain ranges. Serene Doge Valentino was so impressed by how swiftly the bandits were dealt with that when the Clans finally settled down in their new homes he offered a select few further prestigious titles eventually forming an Elite Nordic Guard within his personal army. Many men and even some women from the Aneira Clan have served and fought within the Elite Guard.
Equipment: Sarranid Mail Coif, Guard Armour, Splinted Greaves, Mail Gloves, Two Hander or Elite Scimitar, Siege Crossbow or Strong Bow
Aofie Aneira
Age:
29
Nationality:
Rhodokian Hill Clansmen (Descendants of Nord migration)
Hair:
Dark Brown
Eyes:
Aquamarine
Facial Markings:
Old scars run from the corners of her mouth curving to look like a smile. (Example: Glasgow Smile)
Skin Color:
Pale
Height:
5'11
Weight: 155 pounds
Build:
Athletic
Body Markings:
Various scars mostly on her arms and hands. Various tribal tattoos mostly on her arms as well and a couple on her face.
Interests/Skills:
Archery, equestrianism, charitable causes, assisting new comers, learning about new cultures, maintaining social order.
Dislikes:
Arrogant and ignorant people. Banditry and any other illegal activities
Personality/Flaws: While she was an introvert and easily irritated most of her life Aoife has opened up more in recent years and is far easier to get along with over all. She feels very strongly for the poor and weaker people in society thus will often stand up for them even at great cost to her own health. This attitude extends even further to anyone she considers a friend. She also hates those who prey on others, and will go to great lengths to see justice done. This stubbornness has cost her dearly in the past Aoife has barely escaped death on a few occasions.
Strengths:
She is a skilled archer and has developed a strong upper body from years of training with bows. Her over all figure is very athletic she does not tire easily at all. Though most of her people are clumsy riders Aoife showed great skill and finesse while riding even from an early age.
Fears:
Failure to carry out justice, dying without a good cause, bandit gangs/raids.
Profession: Captain of The Watch
Backround/History: (The Aneira Clan)
Aoife's people the Aneira Clan have a long history. Their original homeland laid within the mountains on the Nordic/Swadian boarder north-east of Praven and south of Tihr. Being so close to the Swadians their influence easily crept over the boarder in those early days so the Aneira Clan were some of the earliest converts to Makerism. This conversion never sat well with their fellow Nords leading to many conflicts in the following decades. Skirmishes became a way of life for all Clans that converted fighting each year for their very survival they refused to convert back and firmly believed the Makerist teachings never once faltering against their foes. Eventually these skirmishes would turn into an all out war as the Nordic Makerist banded together backed by the Swadian King Ulric III in an attempt to overthrow the Nord King Erik the Red Bear. This war was hard fought lasting four years with casualties on both sides high, but the Makerist Clans lost Swadian support after Ulric III himself fell in battle his death leading the Swadian Kingdom into a decade long civil war. With this support lost the Clans could no longer fight as they had and with mounting defeats they eventually lost the war. Facing conversion or death many of the Clans chose to instead flee south including the Aneira Clan. However their troubles were not over for the Swadian Kingdom was still locked in a bloody civil war, the Nordic Makerist were not welcomed anywhere in the Swadian lands so they continued to migrate south.
When they eventually came to the Rhodok boarder they numbered in the thousands some say as high as ten thousand so this was not some small migration the Serene Doge Valentino Zanotii could over look. It was a good thing Valentino was both a brilliant and generous man he made the Nordic Clans a deal, they would be allowed in if they could destroy the rampant and savage hill bandits that plagued the Rhodoks country side. Not only would they be allowed to stay they would be given this land they freed from bandits and each Clan would receive titles of Lordship over a fief. Although weary of fighting the Nords could not refuse such an offer and elected the Aneira Clan to lead them against the Mountain Bandits. Within months the bandits melted away unable to resist the Nords who fought like madmen with nothing to lose. Only small pockets of bandits remained throughout the mountain ranges. Serene Doge Valentino was so impressed by how swiftly the bandits were dealt with that when the Clans finally settled down in their new homes he offered a select few further prestigious titles eventually forming an Elite Nordic Guard within his personal army. Many men and even some women from the Aneira Clan have served and fought within the Elite Guard.
Aoife
One hundred and ten years after her people settled in their new lands Aoife was born. She was the bastard daughter of Alwyn Aneira a distant cousin of the main clan line and Brigh Donnell who died giving birth to Aoife. Aoife cannot recall much from her childhood at Glunmar (West Rhodok Republic) when she was just five her father packed up their things and set out from Glunmar with Aoife and her brother Delwyn who was older by four years. Moving from place to place her father Alwyn found it very difficult to hold down a normal job, he eventually gave up and settled to join a mercenary company called The Bold Bastards who numbered about two thousand warriors. Alwyn always felt bad that he could not provide for his children in any other way dragging them about Calradia from skirmish to skirmish. But the Bold Bastards were a tough bunch they rarely lost a battle and when they had it was not an easy victory for their foes. Through the years Aoife picked up a lot living with these mercenaries, marksmanship, riding, fencing and more. Within nine years of being with them her own brother officially joined their ranks even though he had proving himself a skilled warrior by only fourteen. These years Aoife looks back on fondly and all considered they were not so bad, that is until both her father and brother were killed in a huge battle against the Sarranids when she was twelve years old. This battle would go on to be known as The Day of Death. The Bold Bastards had just signed up with the East Rhodokian Army after hearing the newest Serene Doge named Arturo was eager to gain prestige and conquer lands from the Sarranid Sultanate. The first months of the war went fairly well the Bastard had proven themselves time and time again gaining the attention of the Serene Doge who had assigned them as his own personal Vanguard alongside the Elite Nordic Guard. With the momentum in the Rhodoks favour they decided to push further ahead with a dangerous plan. Arturo against the counsel of most his Captains split his army of fourty thousand in half with the intention of besieging Shariz as a distraction while the other half of his army rode east flanking around north of the Sarranid Mountain rang. Their mission was to capture Jameyyed Castle then push further south hitting many villages along the way until they would attempt to capture Durquba cutting the Sultanate in half. This plan could very well have worked but the one thing Arturo did not predict was the arrival of the Khergits on the Sarranid side. The Sarrans and Khergit may never have been the best of neighbours but it was within their own interest that they band together to stop Western aggression.
As the second half of the Rhodokian Army set off east to hit Jameyyed they had made it about half way there when a huge Khergit Army surprised them as they exited the forest near the village of Amashke. No one in their army was prepared for this, none of their forward scouts had seen a thing. If only they anticipated this for the Rhodoks were normally well aware of how cunning the Khergits were and how quickly they could appear seemingly out of nowhere. It was too late for ifs the steppe warriors were coming in on them from three sides they only had the forest to their backs as a defense. With just half their army formed and ready the Khergits hit their flanks hard as they kept the Rhodok front lines pinned. Eventually the Rhodok's flank folded from the left and a domino effect rolled up their line as men ran for their lives only to be swiftly cut down by the Khergit light cavalry. The Bold Bastard were surrounded they fought and fought holding together in a massive schiltron but the horse archers who rode around slowly whittled them down killing over half of the Bastards. In total over an estimated ten thousand people died in this battle another five thousand injured or captured, including Aoife who was hiding at the back of the army in a cart within the forest. Serene Doge Arturo was soon informed of this massive defeat and with the urging of his Captains and all the other Lords under him fell back across the Sarranid-Rhodok boarder ending his war once and for all. Arturo only ruled for two years after the war until he was assassinated by a rival family, he went down in history known as Arturo the Arrogant.
One hundred and ten years after her people settled in their new lands Aoife was born. She was the bastard daughter of Alwyn Aneira a distant cousin of the main clan line and Brigh Donnell who died giving birth to Aoife. Aoife cannot recall much from her childhood at Glunmar (West Rhodok Republic) when she was just five her father packed up their things and set out from Glunmar with Aoife and her brother Delwyn who was older by four years. Moving from place to place her father Alwyn found it very difficult to hold down a normal job, he eventually gave up and settled to join a mercenary company called The Bold Bastards who numbered about two thousand warriors. Alwyn always felt bad that he could not provide for his children in any other way dragging them about Calradia from skirmish to skirmish. But the Bold Bastards were a tough bunch they rarely lost a battle and when they had it was not an easy victory for their foes. Through the years Aoife picked up a lot living with these mercenaries, marksmanship, riding, fencing and more. Within nine years of being with them her own brother officially joined their ranks even though he had proving himself a skilled warrior by only fourteen. These years Aoife looks back on fondly and all considered they were not so bad, that is until both her father and brother were killed in a huge battle against the Sarranids when she was twelve years old. This battle would go on to be known as The Day of Death. The Bold Bastards had just signed up with the East Rhodokian Army after hearing the newest Serene Doge named Arturo was eager to gain prestige and conquer lands from the Sarranid Sultanate. The first months of the war went fairly well the Bastard had proven themselves time and time again gaining the attention of the Serene Doge who had assigned them as his own personal Vanguard alongside the Elite Nordic Guard. With the momentum in the Rhodoks favour they decided to push further ahead with a dangerous plan. Arturo against the counsel of most his Captains split his army of fourty thousand in half with the intention of besieging Shariz as a distraction while the other half of his army rode east flanking around north of the Sarranid Mountain rang. Their mission was to capture Jameyyed Castle then push further south hitting many villages along the way until they would attempt to capture Durquba cutting the Sultanate in half. This plan could very well have worked but the one thing Arturo did not predict was the arrival of the Khergits on the Sarranid side. The Sarrans and Khergit may never have been the best of neighbours but it was within their own interest that they band together to stop Western aggression.
Battle of Amashke aka The Day of Death
As the second half of the Rhodokian Army set off east to hit Jameyyed they had made it about half way there when a huge Khergit Army surprised them as they exited the forest near the village of Amashke. No one in their army was prepared for this, none of their forward scouts had seen a thing. If only they anticipated this for the Rhodoks were normally well aware of how cunning the Khergits were and how quickly they could appear seemingly out of nowhere. It was too late for ifs the steppe warriors were coming in on them from three sides they only had the forest to their backs as a defense. With just half their army formed and ready the Khergits hit their flanks hard as they kept the Rhodok front lines pinned. Eventually the Rhodok's flank folded from the left and a domino effect rolled up their line as men ran for their lives only to be swiftly cut down by the Khergit light cavalry. The Bold Bastard were surrounded they fought and fought holding together in a massive schiltron but the horse archers who rode around slowly whittled them down killing over half of the Bastards. In total over an estimated ten thousand people died in this battle another five thousand injured or captured, including Aoife who was hiding at the back of the army in a cart within the forest. Serene Doge Arturo was soon informed of this massive defeat and with the urging of his Captains and all the other Lords under him fell back across the Sarranid-Rhodok boarder ending his war once and for all. Arturo only ruled for two years after the war until he was assassinated by a rival family, he went down in history known as Arturo the Arrogant.
Slavery
After the battle Aoife was sold into slavery she had a few masters who were vile men capable of almost anything to anyone and it is this part of her life she wishes have blocked out. After four years of this she was sold off to a wealthy old Shariz merchant named Behram Abaci who proved to be a very kind master. Behram treated all of his slaves very well compared to most other Masters, and he soon recognized Aoife's abilities. He set her up as his own personal guard even giving her command over the security of his massive manor. Aoife served Behram loyally for five years nearly dying at one point while stopping an assassin from killing him in his personal chambers. When the day came that Behram was on his death bed he had requested to see Aoife. On that very day Behram granted Aoife freedom and gave her a large sack of gold coins to buy herself a house and slaves of her own when he was gone. The freedom she gladly accepted but the gold she requested instead be given to the poor of Shariz, Behram granted her this last request. When her former Master had finally passed on Aoife stayed one week in the manor to mourn but also help oversee the transfer of all Behram's possessions to his various friends and family. Behram's own son Yusuf had asked Aoife to stay in Shariz perhaps even marry a wealthy man but Aoife could not do this she was determined to set out on her own and relish her freedom on the road.
Freedoooooooooooooom
Aoife found herself in the same situation her father had years back, for seven years she had trouble holding down normal jobs and did not want to join up with mercenaries she had been there and done that. So she continued to travel around Calradia visiting many of it's major cities and carefully avoiding Khergit lands. One day Aoife had a bit of luck while chatting with a drunk man in Dhirim he began to speak of a valley far off which was mostly lawless and without much order. The people struggled against bandits, bickering factions, and poor farm land but it at least had plenty of ore within mines. The next day she set out once more using the directions given to her by the drunk man. The directions were not so accurate as she was set off course a few times until eventually.. finally.. she arrived to The Valley of the Swamps. The Valley was exactly as the drunk man had described it lawless and poor. Determined to bring order to the land Aoife rode into the main city of New Zendar where she met a sad a pitiful man named Paul. Paul was suppose to be Captain of the Town Watch, but over the years grew weary and tired of his job. When Aoife questioned him further he told her that he wished to leave this land and did not care what happened to it. Offering to take his job from him he gladly accepted, the next day when Aoife woke she noticed her coin purse was missing and so was Paul. When she questioned people one woman said she had seen Paul leave early in the morning on a merchant galley. Aoife vowed to herself that Paul would pay some day but now was not the time to think of vengeance. It was time for action and recruitment, she would transform this Town Watch into a Valley Watch to help protect the innocent of the entire valley.
(Valley of the Swamps - WIP)
Equipment: Sarranid Mail Coif, Guard Armour, Splinted Greaves, Mail Gloves, Two Hander or Elite Scimitar, Siege Crossbow or Strong Bow