AGE: 22
WAR NAMES: The Raging Dragon and The Black Knight
P.O.B: Dragons Rock, Tyra
DESCRIPTION: Fairly small with short, very dark hair. Pale skin and blue-green eyes. She isn't so much slim as very well toned, with a well defined six-pack for a stomach. Also has what are considered large biceps from hefting a heavy sword all day, but she is fortunate enough to retain the look of a female instead of a butch male. It's nicely summed up by saying she's mean, tough and strong. Small, white scar above her left eye. Has a wolfish grin and a predatory air. Wears black plate armour (usually with the visor closed) most of the time but can sometimes be seen in breeches, shirt and high black riding boots. Wears a pair of golden spurs all the time. It is a curious fact that Alex, despite her Tyran birth, has a Scanran accent.
HOBBIES: Playing the violin; chess; dressage; reading; fighting and open combat; swearing and making sarcastic comments.
PERSONALITY: Is rather reticent, brooding and 'on guard.' She is inclined to be quick-tempered and often violent. Spends most of her time out of human company and so is rather solitary. Alex's temperment is capricious at best, she can go from dead calm to blazing fury in a heartbeat, but this temperment also means that she borders on depression at times. Has a very deep, true love of combat, honour, victory and war. To her, war is the absolute flowering of chivalry, totally glorious.
STRENGTHS: Is a superb figher and is extremely proficient with most weapons - lance, mace, hunting & throwing knives etc. but is especially skilled with sword, axe and longbow. Alex has a natural feel for a sword, which makes her a dangerous opponent. Her own sword is called Valiance and has been in her family for generations. Physically quite strong. Intelligent and highly educated from her noble birth. Loyal to the bitter end.
WEAKNESSES: Alex lacks 'social skills.' She finds it incredibly difficult to communicate with people and especially strangers. Alex rarely opens up to people and suppresses emotions rather than show vulnerability. Her quick temper means that it takes very little to set her into a blind, killing rage which is difficult to coax her out of and dangerous to anyone getting in her way. Anger often clouds her judgement. Alex is slightly homophobic, though she is working hard to overcome this.
ANIMALS: Diablos, an 18hh, black, Tyran war-stallion. Diablos is best avoided by strangers due to his tendency to kill; Song of the Breeze, a Gyrfalcon; and her black, Scanran Elkhound named Sabrehagan.
SERVANTS: Fernando and Julio. They have a palfrey each. Fernando's is a palomino and Julio's is a chestnut with flaxen mane and tail.
BRIEF STORY:
The first born of Archduke Erich von Staffenzig of Dragons Rock and Elaine of White Ridge, Alex enjoyed a noble and rather priviledged upbringing. Erich is a kind, open-minded man and from the first he set about teaching his daughter the ways of combat. It wasn't difficult; Alex had a natural feel for the sword and took quickly to the martial arts. Erich himself has a small taste of wild magic for hoofed creatures, most notably horses and deer. It is hardly surprising then that his stables should be the finest in Tyra and Alex could ride before she could walk.
Growing up with only one true born sibling, her younger brother Heinrich, Alex became a rather reticent person who never socialised well, who was more often to be found chasing down a wild boar than at a party, mingling with people she didn't know or care for. In a round about way Alex was becoming the perfect warrior - she made no attachments, as the proverb runs, "she made her mind her friend."
Alex trained to be a knight with her Uncle Ivan, Lord of Shore View. When she was knighted she rode off on a quest and subsequently became a Knight of the Falcon's Wing. Soon afterwards she left Dragons Rock, now carrying Valiance and the Von Staffenzig crest proudly, to pursue her calling as a Free Lance. She took little with her - Sabrehagan, Diablos, Valiance, her weapons, her armour, two servants and Song of the Breeze.
Eventually Alex found herself in Corus, a city that was unfamiliar to her. She chanced upon the inn and entered in the hope of learning about some local feud or battle. The inn became her "base" and she returned quite regularly.
This led to the inevitable fact that she should become accustomed, and even fond, of some of the members. Quay, Saffia, Isis, Leila, Taja, Lyra, Asreena, Sorin and Jilie number among those she cares about most, and war god help anyone who messes with them in her presence! However she still doesn't really let anyone in in, let anyone really know her - both an asset and a drawback. It is well noted that those she counts as enemies usually stay so, she has an extraordinary inability to forgive and forget. You mess with Alex at your peril, you have been warned, "mercy" is not a word in Alex's vocabulary!
UPDATES: Alex has turned herself over to a completely military life now and as such was forced to expand her entourage considerably. She now has:
- A 17hh black courser stallion called Haspel to ride when travelling so that Diablos is always fresh for battle. Haspel is a strong, willing, very swift mount, who shares some bloodlines with Diablos, and while he lacks the destrier's aggression, he can be somewhat taciturn and unruly with strangers.
- A dark grey Scanran Elkhound called Smoulder, a younger brother of Sabrehagan and just as mean.
- A greatsword that she carries in a scabbard across her back
- Three pack horses, all geldings, comprised of two dark bays and a liver chestnut
- A full set of black, spiked, platemail armour (Note: There are no spikes on her boots)
She also has a new hobby - weapon and armour-smithing
