Nolqa Axebite

Nolqa Axebite was the fourth thane of Clan Axebite. The daughter of the previous thane, Nolqa came into her thanedom by tragedy, when Zhoraska the Red Matron burned down Timberhall, with much of her clan, including her mother – the previous thane – inside.

Appearance

In 68 2A, Nolqa Axebite was perhaps too young to be a thane and certainly too young to witness the death of her mother by dragonfire. She wore her soot-black hair, untouched by gray, in a single braid down one side of her face and held together with an opal clasp of exquisite manufacture. This was the only ornament of value on her, for she often wore heavy furs and wools, such as a logger might wear, so necessary against the biting chill. No tremendous weapon had she but instead a simple woodcutter's axe, scavenged from a nearby lumber camp. In her cold blue eyes burned a need for vengeance against the winged wyrm that doomed her family.

History

First Age

Born in 815 2A and raised during the long reign of her mother, Thane Bazadi Axebite, Nolqa never seriously considered the possibility that she would inherit. She was trained and apprenticed to her mother in all the ways of rulership but her mother, called the Battleaxe, would rule another century or three before her time to step down finally came.

Second Age

When Dûnya Dragonbane began her crusade in 53 2A, Nolqa followed her career closely, for the slumbering Zhoraska laid a heavy shadow over Nolqa's corner of the world and many spoke against the day when the Red Matron would awaken and burn the forest to cinders. Stll a young dwarf in many respects, Nolqa longed for the day that Dûnya would turn her eye northward and come to slay the mother of dragons.
Unfortuantely, Zhoraska stirred before the Dragonbane had the chance. Descending from a clear sky to wreak a bloody revenge on Timberhall in 68 2A, Nolqa was away from home when the fire began. Rushing home and marshaling what rescue she could, she managed to save many of the clan but could not locate her mother in the choking flames and smoke. When the entire hall came crashing down, she knew she was too late.
Taking her people into the hills, she attempted to seek refuge at Snowperch but was turned away by Zazem Bracebow. Forced to dwell in the hills in an improvised camp, more pine-devils emerged from the forest, seeking to finish them off. To make matters still worse, black bloat swept through the ragged survivors, reducing their numbers still more.
Only the timely arrival of Chimera and her mercenaries saved Clan Axebite from complete extinction.

Personality

Once a rambunctious youth, Nolqa was forced to mature quiet suddenly and assume responsibility for what remained of her clan. She went from carefree to careworn overnight, answering questions about shelter and supplies, negotiating with rival thanes and burying her dead before she quite understood what happened. At her core, however, Nolqa wanted one thing above all – revenge against Zhoraska for the devastation she'd wrought.
One facet of her youthful enthusiasm hadn't faded, however. She still harbored a childlike hope in Dûnya. To Nolqa, Dûnya represented justice, heroism and a crown that cared for the small people beneath it. She idolized the rebellious queen and was beside herself with the thought of working alongside her to achieve the vengeance she felt she righteously deserved.

Campaigns

The Menagerie

• Khûm: Upon reaching the Menagerie camp, the Commander's Tent met Nolqa Axebite and gave her word of Dûnya's capture, which she could scarcely believe (Chapter 10). Nolqa also attended the council of war in Snowperch and, thanks to Remorhaz, she was rescued from the cocktrice venom that nearly petrified her (Chapter 13 – 14). In thanks to Remorhaz, Nolqa confided in him that there was allegedly a hidden bunker beneath Timberhall, where the Menagerie could spring on the wounded Zhoraska from surprise (Chapter 15).

Name: Nolqa Axebite
Ancestry: Dwarf
Title: Thane
Born: 815 1A
Reign: 68 2A – ? 2A
Height: 4'0"
Weight: 140 lbs
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue
Alignment: Chaotic Good
First Appeared: Khûm – Chapter 10