Sibella the Steppe's Sword
The Steppe's Sword Sibelle Marakha
"I have understood a great deal in this, you have made it clear that the Adventurers will be used in a war standing. The Steppe however, administrator, has not sent any forces across our border."
Sibella turned then to Nozol, the old man stroking his beard seemed to be frowning, she had heard that the Wardogs and the Lord's Blades had already accepted their role and were moving to assault strategic locations. It made sense for the Wardogs they would always be first but Grayon had been almost certain the Lord's Blades would not capitulate. Ciem the Lioness of Barrows was in the Binding so the discussion had gone to Serrin Var. This was odd but the acceptance had many reeling.
"I understand the confusion but Imperial intervention has kept the Steppe to it's own lands. They have been working with members of Premier to protect our precious nation."
"Sorry Nozol but we have no interest in participating at current. We have contracts already signed and require completing. Ingmennium has a Frost Giant Problem and the Elgasian Banditry Issue is ever ongoing so no."
I said that cooly and directly. He shouldn't be coming to me anyway I wasn't in charge. We have always gone by committee in the Masters but truly the decision fell to Demeter, she was the leader after all was said and done. Moreover, I had little sway and was bound to Tabax with Tia, Golrin, Jadir ad Yengo.
"I'm afraid that it is required. The Tabax job has been annulled as has the Elgasian banditry and the Frost Giant issue has been solved by Whimper. Leaving you free for additional duties. Mistress Vivienne herself has a contract and only hopes you will consider it."
"So it is like that, the cutting of resources, the isolating of each group one by one and press ganging of adventurers. It is a simple plan. That however wont be so simple. Next time instead of threatening and trying to divide perhaps come to the guildhall. We are done."
...
The others confirmed the contracts we nulled. That said we hadn't been idle. Jadir had talked to the Sneak-Thieves about this, them and the Friends but each had found something interesting a contract requiring really three members of premier perhaps more if there was no exaggerations and as such the three groups in there entirety would take this contract. A contract given by the Queen of Algenon in association with The Knights of the Stag and The Noble Council of Algenon. This contract is private. This contract isn't guild sanctioned. I don't like it but we are relatively desperate. It is easy to show a brave face to a pawn of the administrators but they do hold the country and determine the contracts.
"Sibella do you understand?"
I focus on Tia who was explaining the logistics as agreed. I had read over the briefing and have a good idea of the routes and conditions so I nod. My mind is too focused on the implications. The Steppe have not attacked, The Empire may not have even sent troops. Yn'Vay is either being exploited or is assaulting the Steppe unprovoked in either case true war will follow. Should we really leave to deal with another nations problems. The alternative is to bend to the administrators. This is a situation without a positive solution. Still the problem in Algenon is real.
...
The darkness is overwhelming this prison for that is the only thing it can be has unleashed monstrosity after monstrosity. The seal is still in place for the deeper recesses. The Firbolg have said they were the guardians of the prison. They are true monsters, they destroy villages and devour people, to think any think them benevolent. They come from within so the more likely they are the prisoners.
...
The fight continues. It is harder than one expected. They keep coming. We manage them. Our tactics had to shift day by day. These golems, these Warforged are endless. They adapt to us, they learn our strategies, they know the way we act together. We have been changing our groups hitting them in ambushes using assaults we haven't rehearsed. We can still overpower them but it becomes harder. If we can't stop the flow then we will be overwhelmed eventually.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
She is at the peak of physical fitness. She is quick and unrelenting. She has managed to match the physicality of the members of premier but is lacking the pure power and technique behind the most powerful warriors.
Body Features
She is handsome as a woman. She is a hard woman. Her muscles are tight. Her strength is evident.
Facial Features
Her face is hard, sun worn and beaten. This said she remains rugged and strong.
Special abilities
She seems to have a knack for learning opponents abilities and adapting strategies on the fly. Her mind is flexible and unperturbed by the changing of events.
Apparel & Accessories
Wears Banded mail with leather coverings. This shields her from most problems. She usually carries an Yn'Vian Buckler and an Imperial rapier. She also wears a duelling cape and a large Steppe hunting knife.
Specialized Equipment
Her rapier is lengthened slightly thicker and with a larger hilt and an extended handle. Her buckler is also lead weighted at four points wherein they can break bones.
Mental characteristics
Gender Identity
Female.
Sexuality
She is attracted to men in general but has been disappointed in the past. She knows she has a position now, she knows she is fashionable to love. This has hardened her heart and made it hard to express herself earnestly.
Education
She started her studies at five years old, she was home schooled by both mother and father. Her mother was more academic in nature teaching her the basics of literacy and mathematics. Her father, a respected warrior in the clan of the Horse taught her in swordplay, riding, trapping, hunting, falconry and tracking. She learnt and absorbed all things voraciously, she grew into any topic without surcease. Her mother pushing her with rigorous scientific thought, accounting and taxations whilst, her father had her practice archery and begin mastery over war-craft. She had exhausted her parents teachings by eight years of age and learnt the basics of a number of artisan trades throughout the clan until her father died at 9. With this and a foreign born mother the clan started to disregard the young girl and their existence became more and more terse. Eventually they moved to Yn'Vay in which Sibella studied the Yn'Vian arts at the foreign school for immigrant children in the town of Charmosian's Decision. She learnt the language slowly but her understanding of topics outside the scope of her peers allowed her to prove herself to many who had no prior education to speak of. She competed in the Yn'vian bladework tournament. Using what she had learnt an melding that with the Yn'Vian styles of bladework she developed, Akkar Kei (The Journey of Sands) fighting style. This sweeping and evasive based style allowed her to outmanoeuvre her opponents and resulted in a victory. This being noted she was permitted at 13 to attend The Swordancers academy. This school was based in the creation and perfection of sword styles. She attended for a single year before her mother fell ill. She was permitted a leave of absence to care for her mother.
Employment
At 14 with practically no money besides a scholarship to the Swordancers academy an offer came from the Masters of Destiny Adventurers company. This would represent a job that she thought monstrous. It involved a number of prospective adventurers and some from the trainee schools assaulting a nest of Bulletes. These creatures are usually tackled by a group of no less than 4 seasoned adventurers. Sibella, managed to slay one but the bloodbath that followed follows her to this day. signing a contract with the Masters of Destiny gave her enough coin to pay for her mothers treatment. This said it has done nothing to grant Sibella a life she wants. The group is relatively tight but she remains an outsider due to the superiority. The others see her as a valuable tool she believes whilst chasing naught but gold and glory. This said she has stayed with the group and not sought to have her contract annulled after her mothers recovery. She recently has taken up training in the arts of the blade, which while profitable in itself, she has redistributed her additional earnings to assist with immagrant families and their situation.
Morality & Philosophy
She believes in a world of reciprocity, a world in which everyone acknowledges the help they receive and offer help in return. She has though, seen a great deal of betrayal. She has seen a great deal of problems, a great deal of pain and understands the dark.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
She is currently stuck in a bit of a fix. She has given her mother security. She has a reputation to be proud of. She has reached a level of proficiency her father would be proud of and yet... She needs more. She requires more.
Social
Contacts & Relations
She has worked with all of her group but is separated from them. Safra and Yengo are different. She has fought behind them and there is a kinship there. Safra helped her with the raid on the Vin smuggling operation out of shaded bay. There they fought side by side and meshed very well. They have trained ever since and got to greater heights by helping one another. Yengo however proved himself incompatible with her more measured approach being direct and quick to act. She however has seen his passion and desire to help and he in turn saw she was true to that same cause. This has bound them together in comraiderie.
Family Ties
She loves her mother and revers her father. She has protected her mother as best she can and leans on her whenever she needs it.
Religious Views
She doesn't worship the Gods. She has in the past turned to the Cinders in her time of tragedy, The Champion in times of great need and The Fury once in a time of great unrelenting anger.
Wealth & Financial state
Her wealth has become abundant enough to sustain an affluent lifestyle if so required. She has built this layer of protection as without wealth one is pushed down in Yn'Vian society. She isn't trying to influence anything and keeps her coin away from investment and risk and maintains it in trust with Valent and Balk.
Alignment
Lawful Neutral
Species
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
The Steppe's Sword
Year of Birth
6625
23 Years old
Circumstances of Birth
Born to an Egalitairian mother, she was both premature and sickly but managed to cling onto life with a fierce determination.
Birthplace
The Upper Reaches
Children
Current Residence
Sandstone Manor
Gender
Female
Eyes
Deep brown eyes reminiscent of the hard earth baked in the sun.
Hair
She keeps her hair to shoulder height as she dislikes it being overlong, she keeps it tied back like the horsewives and washer women to keep it away from her eyes and to focus on her task.
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Her skin is paler than many of her kin, less weather beaten and even when exposed to the harsh wind prone to tearing around the fingers.
Height
5' 8''
Weight
13st 4 ibs
Quotes & Catchphrases
"I was told the world works to bind people in place. My father died and we were forced to the bottom. From there with my mother's help I climbed. That may be true and I may now stand with a name and a rank in the most prestigious group in this country. Yet the way they look at me reminds me I am still of the Steppe, I am still of the dirt and winds, I am still a foreigner and no matter the heights I'll reach they will never forget that."
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
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