Everything You Wanted To Know About Xenia’s Campfire
Girlz But Were Afraid To Ask
Maelora
“Nobody knows it
But you’ve got a secret smile
And you use it only for me
So save me
I’m waiting
I’m needing
Hear me bleeding
And soothe me
Improve me
I’m grieving
I’m barely believing…”
Semisonic; Secret Smile
Looks :
Maelora is startlingly attractive; with the kind of perfect, airbrushed beauty
that makes heads turn, jaws to drop and hearts to race. Gossamer-silky dark
hair hangs to shoulder-length (often worn in a single braid), framing a face of
delicate beauty, almost oval in shape, but lent both delicacy and strength by
high cheekbones and a slender neck. Her eyes are green and possessed of a
limitless depth from which flashes the hint of silver, with finely-painted
eyebrows, rising in arcs which mirror the slight sharpness of her ears. Her
skin is pale, but not white, rather porcelain cream, smooth and without
blemish. A sardonic smile tends to play on her lips, which are the colour of
cherries. On her tummy in delicate black ink is the ‘One Love’ symbol, written
in an ancient elven script, predating the time when the races were sundered.
She is slender, but nevertheless curvaceous rather than thin, and she
carries herself with the poise and grace of a dancer or an athlete.
She wears only black, like her consort, preferring a
lace-up bodice and ‘pedal-pusher’ shorts, worn with fingerless black gloves and
high leather boots. The only weapon she ever uses is a riding-crop or a whip.
Personality :
Neutral. Maelora’s naturally lawful tendency towards order
and strong rule contrast with her tightly-bound love of freedom and the
pleasure to be found in pain. She is capable of both kindness and
cruelty, but she does not relish the latter, and does not especially revel in
the suffering of others.
Maelora is complex, private and usually aloof; her
bearing is regal and dignified, the natural look of one born to rule. By
necessity, as a Queen, she keeps a barrier between herself and those she must
rule.
Perhaps only Ksenia sees her is she truly is, and is
privy to the emotions and fears behind her veil of rulership.
Relationships: Only Ksenia knows the elven-queen as a
person; Maelora has never loved before, finding the women of her people
untrustworthy and the men weak and repellent. Maelora knows only too well that
love is a double-edged sword, of how it can lead to heartache and betrayal, of
how it can turn even monarchs against reason, against their own people.
Passion, obsession and the bitter-sweet memory of betrayal runs through her
relationship with the human warlord, binding them together with both roses and
thorns…
History: Maelora has lived for generations of men,
born to rule since she was a young girl. The effort it cost her to uproot her
life and turn away from her beloved homeland left her disorientated and
vulnerable, and yet she also relished the sudden sensation of freedom and
opportunity. Now she rules in far-off lands, worshipped as a Goddess by feral
amazon warriors, watching her paramour carve out an Empire worthy of her name.
Religion :
Maelora cares little for Gods and Higher Powers, but she admits to some kinship
to the
Weeping God, Drrtzl, who is sometimes worshipped by
her kind. She is likely amused by her paramour’s
assertion that she is the ‘dark avatar’ of the Beauty-Goddess Lyredh.
Role: Maelora is Queen of Maelora ‘Ced, sits upon the
Council of the
Ksenia
(pronounced ‘Zen-ya’)
“Unravel me!
Tie this cord -
The very centre of our union
Is caving in
I can’t endure
I am the archive of our failure…”
Sarah McLachlan; Black and White
Looks :
Ksenia is of towering height and solid build, a woman of muscular grace and
athletic power. Her long, dark hair is just beginning to be streaked with a few
grey strands, which she tries to disguise (recently she has shorn her hair
roughly short to shoulder-length). A strikingly handsome woman, her features
are lined with the care and worry of her hard life- few would call her
beautiful, though she is undeniably attractive. Her most striking features are
her eyes- intense, mesmeric and startlingly icy-blue. A fair
share of scars mark her muscled frame, adding character to her rugged
good looks. She sports the same ‘One Love’ tattoo as does her beloved.
Ksenia’s wardrobe is bewilderingly large, and she
tends to dress for the occasion. Out of deference to her status as an honorary
Amazon, she usually wears a black leather version of the Amazon outfit, a
skimpy affair of animal-skins with tribal decorations.
She carries a battered old iron broadsword, believing
strongly that it is the woman, not the weapon, that
truly makes a warrior. She also carries a rather exotic throwing disc, called a
chakram, which is crafted in the shape of a yin-and-yang symbol, to
signify the forces of the Balance.
Personality :
Chaotic/Good. Ksenia chooses to call herself the ‘Hammer of the Goddess’,
although her earliest epithet was ‘the Raven’, because of her dark tresses and
the tendency for death to follow in her wake. Ksenia is a mass of
contradictions – a natural warrior who strives- not always successfully- for
peace. She tries to live her life as Lyredh would will it, but all too often,
her temper, misfortune and her warrior’s soul get her into trouble. Often
stern, brooding and dark, Ksenia yearns for Balance and harmony, but is never
likely to find it despite her attempts to be the ‘voice of reason’ in her
world. She is happy to lead, but also content to serve when needs be. She is
tolerant and understanding, and believes in a wide circle of allies and strong
friendships rather than official treaties. Ksenia tends to be brooding and
grim, a restless, tense woman who prowls like a caged
animal. Only in the company of close friends, or her beloved elven-queen can
she relax, becoming charming, warm-natured and likeable.
Emotional and passionate, Ksen is restless and likely
to prowl and sulk, and then explode with a violent outburst of emotion,
positive or negative. Despite her attempts to be diplomatic, she can be
painfully blunt and opinionated in her views. Becoming a mother to her beloved
baby Kei Feng has not blunted her aggression and tempestuous nature in the
slightest.
Relationships: Ksenia is besotted with her beloved
Maelora and endeavours to be her ideal partner, commander, herald and
bodyguard. Beneath her strong exterior, Ksenia is beset by doubts and fears,
and is mortally afraid of losing her lover again. She has a rocky track-record
with relationships, including her painful break-up with Gabriella and her
betrayal of Maelora at Fenway. She also had a brief fling with the Seeress Mei
Lau, but it seems this ended without the usual acrimony.
Ksenia is capable of close, platonic friendships too.
After the bitter split with her life-long friend Melila, she now looks to
Aethelu of the Horseclans as her surrogate younger sister. She greatly admires
the young woman’s quiet strength, determination, and diplomatic skills.
Secretly, she sees much of herself in the Agerian leader, and takes pains to
ensure that her friend does not suffer from the bitterness and anger which has
scarred her own life.
Ksenia cherishes her new baby daughter and is
determined to see that she grows up happy and without the tragedies that scar
her own life.
History: Ksenia was raised by centaurs, until some
incident drove her from her adopted tribe. Bitter and angry, she took to
banditry and was moderately successful until the young bard Gabriella persuaded
her to change her ways and converted her to the worship of the Goddess. Since
that day, she has been involved in various misadventures, and now strives to
build an Empire fit for her Queen.
Religion :
Though Her ways sometimes seem anomalous, Ksenia is devoted to the One True
Goddess (Lyredh) and considers herself the Champion of Beauty. She also
believes that Maelora is Lyredh’s earthly avatar, and is still trying to
convince her paramour of this… Recent events have eroded her belief in anything
save Maelora, and she possesses a hatred of extremist and dogmatic views,
whether at the poles of Chaos or Law.
Role: A consummate horsewoman (though she now fights
from dragon-back), Ksenia is the General of all Maelora’s forces and the
Commander of the Edge of the Labrys, the feared Amazon Pony Girlz, as well as
official liaison to the Horseclans of Ageria. She is the visionary and driving
force for the Campfire Girlz, and consort to the elf-queen Maelora. After
Maelora, hers is the senior voice in the entire Empire – although certain of
the Girlz (notably Cally and Najhara) would dispute her command.
Ksenia is also Craftslord of the empire- she is
trained in all manner of skills and can work wonders with her hands. She is an
exceptional rider and dancer, though she rarely indulges in the latter anymore.
She personally carries Maelora’s pennant into battle.
Gabriella
“But tell me…
Did you sail across the sun?
Did you make it to the Milky Way
To see the lights are fading
And that Heaven is overrated…
Tell me…
Did you fall for a shooting star?
One without a permanent scar?
And did you miss me while you were looking for
yourself out there?”
Train; Drops of Jupiter
Looks: Tall, square-shouldered and athletic, Gaby used
to be the image of a healthy farm-girl or buxom milk-maid. Now, her skin is a
pale leaf-colour, and her once reddish-blonde hair is a deeper evergreen. These
days she wears her hair cut short and neat in honour of Najhara. Like Ksenia,
she is an honorary Amazon, and usually wears a modified, brief leather outfit
that shows off lots of skin and her myriad henna tattoos. She is exceptionally
pretty, with huge eyes, flawless skin and perfect features. Naturally
curvaceous, she is slim and toned from hours of dancing and performing.
Gaby defends herself with a battle-staff; she carries
matched
Personality: Neutral/Good. Sweet-natured,
kind-hearted, and naïve, Gaby is a well-meaning, if impractical teenager. She
is driven to aid her fellow beings, but tends to try too hard and sometimes
rubs people up the wrong way. She is exceptionally giving and concerned, caring
passionately for all living things, and trying to see the good in everybody,
despite the evidence to the contrary. Gaby finds the world a bewildering and
hostile place, but struggles on regardless as the sole ‘voice of tolerance’
among the often-bitchy and borderline-psychotic Campfire Girlz. Gaby loves
music, singing, dancing, festivals, and all of the performing arts, as well as
spurious mystical and pseudo-spiritual beliefs. She thinks the terms
‘hippychick’ and ‘bohemian’ are compliments rather than insults.
History: Gaby grew up in a Farmstead on the edge of
the plains in the Northern Continent. Captured by Ksenia’s bandits, her utter
lack of worldliness mesmerised the embittered, lonely Warlord, and the
mis-matched pair fell deeply in love. For the last six years, she has stumbled
about with the Campfire Girlz, trying to make Lorasia a better place. Her death
during Ksenia’s feud with Najhara split the Girlz irrevocably, causing wounds
that have yet to be healed. She was resurrected by the remaining spirits of a
destroyed elven kingdom, and lives on as a dryad-like being, referring to
herself as ‘the Last Child of Laurienost’.
Relationships: Gaby is loving,
attractive and fantastic in bed. She falls in love easily, and as a classic
‘good girl’, she is fatally attracted to the ‘bad girls’ she meets, believing
that she can change them for the better. Her limitless optimism has worked- to
some degree- countering the worst excesses of first Ksenia and now
Najhara.
Role: Gaby is the Official Campfire Girlz liaison to
Ulminbore, a task at which she is ideally suited. Her gentle, earthy ways seem
very much in tune with the ways of the Giants, and in turn she has been
entrusted with the keeping of the sacred Golden Acorn. As
spiritual leader of the Leggy Gels of Lyredh, Gaby is the only non-warrior to
lead any of the Campfire Girlz’ forces.
Religion: Gaby is a very spiritual person, fond of
impractical wisdom and ‘touchy-feely’, sentimental mysticism. Of all the Girlz,
Gaby is perhaps closest to Lyredh’s ideals of Beauty, untainted by rage or
hunger for power. Committed to harmony and balance, she despairs of the
extremist adherents of both Law and Chaos.
Najhara
“This is the field where hundreds of people
Like poppies are bursting and marching with pride
Free… to stay
Free… to fight, to shoot, to kill…
This is the field where hundreds of people
Are burning like crosses and turning to ash
Free… to leave
Free… the hurt, the pain, the blame…”
The Violet Hour; Offertory Song
Looks: Despite her exotic name, Najhara is a
pale-skinned, fair-haired warrior-maid of middle years, an ‘ice maiden’ of
steely strength and fanatical devotion. She barely considers herself one of the
Campfire Girlz and keeps no Amazon traditions. She wears a brief scale mail
outfit, a halter top and skirt with a broad belt and a short cape. A padded
vest and cap protect her in battle. Her fair hair is cut short in what Ksenia
bitchily called the ‘ageing pixie’ look. Her clear blue eyes betray her
fanatical nature.
Her bastard sword was shattered in the battle that
claimed Gabriella’s life, but she now wields the Sword of the Exemplar- a
massive greatsword which most men would find impossible to lift, let alone
wield.
Personality: Lawful/Evil. Najhara is a dangerous,
violent woman with an icy, calm exterior. Although she is passionate in battle,
she prides herself on being in control of herself and her emotions. Believing
in the purity of her beliefs, she has no qualms about murdering or slaughtering
those who disagree with her. She has no problems putting entire villages to the
sword if they somehow offend the Goddess. Mercy and forgiveness are purely
alien emotions for her. To her credit, she can appear collected, dutiful and
serene, but woe betide those who do not measure up to
her standards of the Goddess. Her powerful charisma and fearsome reputation
assure her a good deal of respect from most who meet her.
A single-minded, stern woman, her few redeeming
features come from her relationship with Gabriella.
She hates Ksenia with a passion and longs for the day
when she will triumph over her bitter rival. For now, she builds her own
contacts and bides her time. Ksenia, for her part, feels nothing beyond mild
dislike and wishes their feud to be over.
History: ‘The Crusader’, as she likes to be known, was
formerly a soldier of Law, and honed her intolerant and bigoted nature in the
service of Lord Arkeen. Lapsing into fevered delirium, she began to see lights
and hear voices in her head that made her seek out the Goddess, and vow to
slaughter miscreants in Her name.
Relationships: Najhara took Gabriella from Ksenia,
mainly to prove herself superior to her rival. Despite her ‘better’ nature, she
has come to have genuine feelings for the teenager, although such soft,
sentimental thoughts often bother her. Gaby has done much to mellow her fierce
nature (as she did with Ksenia) but their relationship remains troubled.
Role: As leader of the Crusaders of Light, Najhara
lives to lead her embittered Crusaders into battle. She loves nothing more than
slaughtering ‘heathens’ and putting her enemies to the torch. Burning or
executing prisoners is a close second to ferocious battle. Najhara does not
obey any of the traditions of the other armies (she actively recruits male
warriors), and has only a passing familiarity with their alliance. She bears
grudging respect for Maelora, because she can be ruthless and cruel, but does
not consider Ksenia’s paramour to be a goddess deserving of worship.
Religion: Najhara was formerly a crusader of Lord
Arkeen. Although she professes to have abandoned the Rule of Law, she remains
very precise, ordered and militaristic in her approach, in stark contrast to
the Amazonz, who shy away from strict regulations. Old habits die hard. Her
personal view of the Gods is one of unattainable perfection, and she believes
that she must punish anyone who is not trying to live up to such an impossible
ideal.
Of late, she has thought hard about returning to the
fold of Law, perhaps embracing the ways of Aldaryn as a surrogate for Lyredh.
Tsianina (pronounced ‘Sharn-ina’)
“Strong inside, but you don’t know it
Good little girls, they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak
Could you be a little weak?
D’you know… what it feels
like for a girl?
Hurt that’s not supposed to show
And tears that fall when no-one knows
When you’re trying hard to be your best
Could you be a little less?”
Madonna; What It Feels Like For A
Girl
Looks: Tall and slim, Tsian is young, beautiful and
perfectly toned, with a figure that is the envy of all
other Amazonz. The current ‘golden girl’
and Bright Young Thing of the Girlz dresses in skimpy garments made from the
skins of jungle cats and the plumage of exotic birds, and looks every inch the
warrior-queen. She has long chestnut hair, olive eyes and a fair complexion.
She carries a longsword, but like Ksenia she likes to
fight unarmed when she can, employing her long legs and vicious kicks to good
effect.
Personality: Neutral. Tsian strives to embody the
Amazon virtues, and wishes to be a strong leader in
war and a wise ruler in peace. Many have likened her to a younger (and
prettier!) unspoiled version of Ksenia herself. She is passionately devoted to
the Amazon way of life, and to the
A consummate huntress and a promising warrior, Tsian
uses healing and nature magic, and is committed to upholding the beauty and the
delicate balance of her woodland realm. Her rapid progress has made her
slightly reckless and overconfident, but her sheer energy and enthusiasm have
pulled her through thus far.
She is devoted to the idea of perfection of mind and
body, and is busy inventing her own warrior’s creed of belief and
self-improvement with a view to teaching this to others. She is fanatical about
exercise and working-out, as well as purifying her mind and body alike.
History: This husky-voiced youngster was born to the
Relationships: Tsian is too young and too busy for a
relationship right now… though she has her eye on Thay’lyn, the dark elf mage.
Also, if she ever considers breeding, she believes that young Janus of the
Tribes would be a suitable match… And although she would never try to bring it
about, she considers that if Ksenia should ever die in battle, then as Regent,
she would be an ideal candidate for the post of Queen’s consort. Oddly enough,
if Ksenia ever learned of this, she would wholly approve of her ambitions.
Role: Tsian is the Knight-Regent of Maelora ‘Ced,
entrusted in running the settlement in the Queen’s long and frequent absences.
Although she is young and untried, Tsian takes her responsibilities seriously,
and tries to be a concerned and responsible leader, without becoming cold or
removed by the duties of leadership. So far, despite all the fears to the
contrary, she has done an excellent job, although her reign has yet to be
tested by crisis or war. She enjoys her position of trust as Knight-Regent, and
has no ambitions to overstep her position while Ksenia lives.
Religion: Although she now follows the ways of the
Goddess, Tsian is also devoted to the
Epiphany
Looks: ‘Piffany’s long blonde hair was previously
curly, but since her time underwater it has gone straight, and is now
embellished with sea-shells and the splendid Ocean Rider crown. The young
amazon always had trouble with her weight and tended to carry puppy-fat, but
since becoming a mermaid, a gruelling swimming regime has made her quite
svelte. Her pride and joy is her long tail, which tends to glimmer with
different colours in the deep waves.
Pretty in a ‘girl-next-door’ way, the former ‘ugly duckling’ now wears
sea-shells in her hair and carries herself with a
quietly proud bearing.
Personality: (Lawful/Good). Epiphany was formerly shy
and awkward, but has become far more regal and confident since her time beneath
the waves. Though certainly a fledgling ruler, she is trying hard to be a
fitting monarch for the sea-peoples and prove herself worthy of
History: Epiphany was barely tolerated because of her
amazon roots. Something of a loner and a misfit, she hated the cruelty and
venality of the Campfire Girlz, and found peace and contentment only with the
wild beasts, with whom she could relate on an instinctive level – though her
affectations only brought her further derision. Essentially abandoned to the
Mermen, she is aware that her former colleagues cared little for losing her,
and basically feels well rid of them. She is determined that if they ever want
anything from her, then they are going to have to ask very nicely…
Relationships: Epiphany found men shallow and other
women unbearably judgemental and cynical. The only relationship she has ever
wanted is with the beauty of the wilds and the creatures that live there. The only things she misses about live in land
are all the pretty Ponyz…
Role: Epiphany is happy and content with her life
under the waves, despite the inherent dangers it involves. She considers
herself independent from the Campfire Girlz, although Ksenia doubtlessly still
considers her a part of her beloved Queen’s empire…
Religion: The erstwhile Ocean Rider has never cared
overly for Lyredh, always owing her allegiance to Oshiana, the goddess of the
waves and Ponyz. She strives to prove herself worthy of her title and her
crown, and is passionately devoted to the well-being of the mermen.
Aunt Gemima
Looks: The largest member of the Campfire Girlz is
Gem, a middle-aged and rather mumsy-looking giant. Like all her Klan, she is
large of girth (of course!) with craggy, with disproportionate features,
somewhat reminiscent of the "faces" that can be seen in tree-trunks
and bobbing leaves... Aunt Gim has a somewhat thrusting, pointed chin; a
slight but steady smile of genuine mild humour, and bright eyes of sharp (if
somewhat oblique!) intelligence. She wears an expression of guileless
enthusiasm and trusting openness; under quite rough-cropped shortish hair, but
thick and bushy, and a somewhat backward-sloping forehead… (and
she still gets more dates than Joxar…)
Personality: Chaotic/Good. Gemima is odder than most,
being both an Ulmindale Giant and an honorary Campfire Girl. Gem is
dreamy-minded and peculiar as most of the Giants, with a love of nature, abstract
thought and lateral thinking. She mistakenly believes that Tinkruns Amok is a
genius for his insight into answering riddles and questions… one question
behind the last… Gem is fascinated by mysteries, puzzles, conundrums and
enigmas.
History: ‘Lektrik Aunt Gimima’ was one of the
Ulmindale Giants who joined the Girlz under a ‘cultural exchange’ with Ksenia’s
friend Melila. Trained as Mel’s replacement by Gregor, Gemima has kind of been
‘adopted’ by Gaby to serve as her mother-figure.
Relationship: Gem seems to get on with everyone.
Nobody knows her preferences for partners, but Gaby has patiently explained the
‘facts of life’ several times now, and what Gabriella refers to as ‘crystal
therapy’ is probably best left a secret…
Role: Gem has recently been transferred to Maelora
‘Ced to replace Sarrah as the tender of the sacred glades and healer. She
sometimes eases the tensions between humans and giants, but other times barely seems to know where she is…
Religion: Like all Ulminites, she believes in the
beauty of the Goddess and regularly attends Elron’s sermons.
Reynard
Looks: ‘The Fox’ is good-looking in a weaselly kind of
way, lanky and slim of build, affecting forest green and dandified shirts with
lots of frills. Sometimes he even goes as far to affect a feathered cap.
He has dark, tousled hair and a natty moustache.
Personality: Neutral. Reynard is a heroic spy, a
dashing rogue and a lady-killer… in his dreams.
In reality, he likes to get by doing as little as
possible, although he feels the female leadership takes a sadistic delight in
giving him the rotten jobs (he’s correct…). A capable thief and pickpocket,
Reynard likes to show off and impress the more impressionable Girlz (Janey and
Niamh). Most of the other womyn, the Amazonz in particular, consider him a
spineless reptile and do not hesitate to share their feelings.
Reynard is actually a decent companion in certain
company (read: male, drunk company…) and sometimes even manages to be as good
as he thinks he is.
History: Reynard was a drifting rogue, inveterate
gambler and con artist who drifted the coast around Port Royale for years. He
joined the Girlz with the idea of being some kind of Amazon sex-slave, but it
didn’t quite work out like that…
Relationships: Reynard has been unable to convince any
woman to even pretend to have a relationship with him, for any amount of
money. The sole exception is Valerias, who is not exactly fussy as to her
paramours. He likes Graydon a great deal, and likes to keep Joxar around just
to appear superior to the hapless imbecile.
Role: Reynard is usually selected for dangerous,
suicide missions, much to his chagrin and frequent protestations. He longs for
the day when the danger-loving Akemi is trained up to take over this role, but
for now has to grudgingly accept his purpose.
Religion: Reynard was once a lay-member of the
Yves
Looks: Yves has long, straggly brown hair and usually
affects a sullen pout. She scrubs up well in a party dress, but usually goes
without cosmetics. She is comfortable in armour, but these
days wears a rather exotic green halter-top and a silk skirt worn low on
her hips.
Personality: Chaotic/Neutral. Yves is a
deeply-troubled young woman. She strives to act like Gabriella, although she is
a nervous, skittish and potentially-violent creature. She claims to be atoning
for terrible deeds committed in her past life. She has bouts of very serene,
peaceful behaviour, then suddenly explodes in a hissy
fit, or a stream of expletives and abuse. Most people give her a wide berth-
she is difficult company at best, being prone to mood swings and haughty
whining, followed by expressions of contrition.
History: Yves claims to be Ksenia’s daughter, although
this is clearly not the case. She claims to be an ‘avatar of the Goddess of
War’ and was possibly a member of some brainwashed warrior cult. Little else is
known about her past, though she is clearly a talented fighter.
Relationships: Yves is currently learning level-headed
words of wisdom and guidance from, er, Cally (insert punchline here). The pair have been flirting since Cally split from Amarys and her
influence has been oddly positive thus far. Around Cally, ‘Yvie’ is far more
stable and fun-loving, and tends to sulk without her. She also gets on well
with Akemi, another one of Ksenia’s misguided
‘daughters’.
Role: Yves is presently bodyguard to Gabriella,
despite the fact that she’s not the sanest kitten in the Campfire Girlz basket…
Religion: Yves is learning the ways of peace and joy
to be found in Lyredh; she was previously a worshipper of some deranged maniac
God of War like Clanggedin.
Calypso
Looks: Cally is gorgeous by any standards, narrowly
being beaten by Maelora and probably edging Gaby and Tsian in the beauty
stakes. Cally has wavy hair, long and blonde, and blue eyes with an unnerving
stare. She has an even, perfect tan and a stunning figure, exposed by cutaway
black studded leather that serves more as eye-candy then armour. She is a lot
more dangerous than she looks, her expression sweet, even angelic-looking, with
a disarming air of innocence about her.
Personality: Chaotic/Evil. Cally is, to put it mildly,
‘not nice’. Psychotic and sadistic, Cally enjoys hurting other people and
causing pain, discord and stress. Although she enjoys burning things and
physically pulling things apart, she has learned to enjoy subtler torments and
mental torture as much as causing physical pain. She is a master of arch
insults, catty comments and offhand bitchiness, very much representing all that
is nasty about the female of the species. She is a particular danger to Small
Furry Animals, which has earned her the undying enmity of Sarrah and Epiphany.
She likes to flirt with danger, pushing the limit as to how much she can get
away with. She is perverse in her tastes and enjoys giving or receiving pain.
History: Cally was an angelic cherub as a child who
enjoyed torturing animals and burning things down. Before she could ever be
caught, Ksenia’s bandits burned down her village. Cally was the only survivor,
and the Warlord was wracked with grief at her misdeeds. Although Ksenia blames
herself for the way Cally has turned out (and hence lets her get away with most
things short of murder), she would have likely turned out psychotic anyway.
Relationships: Having grown tired of Amarys, Cally is
starting to play with the fractured mind of Yves. She also respects Maelora and
rather likes Najhara. Cally is something of a bully and prefers to pick on the
weak and vulnerable types like Joxar or Epiphany.
Role: Cally likes to chop things up in battle and
loves to burn things with magic. Unofficially, Ksenia sees Cally as her
punishment for her misdeeds, and Cally doesn’t like to disappoint her.
Religion: Cally has some affection for Kauron, but her
real love is burning things, and so pays her respects to Shargash above all –
although she’s not especially religious.
Aeriel
Looks: With her flowing red hair, enormous eyes and
fabulous assets, Aeriel is the ‘cheerleader’ for Maelora ‘Ced. The most she
ever wears is a pair of sea-shells to cover the aforementioned assets, her long
and beautiful tail requiring no adornment.
Personality: Lawful/Good. Aeriel is shy and skittish,
but is coming out of her- ahem- shell as the months go by. She is
delicate and sensitive, and is upset by nasty jokes about her tail. She
sometimes swims out at sea, and pines for her aquatic home, but some theatrical
part of her actively enjoys being the centre of attention.
History: Aerie was given to the Girlz, after much
persuading from Ksenia, in return for giving Epiphany and the Crown back to the
merfolk.
Relationships: Aeriel is adored by everybody. And the
Campfire Girlz are hardly put off by the thought of her being half-fish…
Role: She mostly exists to cheer the inhabitants of
the city, with a number of performing tricks and singing routines, and she
often sunbathes sans seashells. All of which are excellent ways of
improving the settlement morale.
Religion: Oshiana, obviously.
Sarrah
Looks: An elegant and comely elf-maid, Sarrah has long
fair hair, tanned skin and a melancholy expression. She usually dresses in
pastels or forest green dresses, split up the side, eschewing weapons and
armour save her oak staff.
Personality: Lawful/Good. Sarrah is recovering from
the horror of seeing her elven-home and her friends destroyed. Though naturally
strong-minded and a survivor, the experience of seeing her home aflame and
friends eaten by goblins has left mental scars upon her. Sarrah’s husband was
one of the first murdered by the goblins, and she
nurses a strong hatred for all Chaos-kind. She is grateful for her rescue by
the Girlz, and happy to find a new life amidst the
She fears Maelora greatly, and is troubled by her
incredible influence over Ksenia.
Relationships: Sarrah enjoyed a peaceful and idyllic
life behind the Wall of Ribbons before the Goblins came, and a part of her
still wishes she had died with her husband and her people. It is not impossible
that she might find love again, if the right man came along.
Role: As Life-Priestess to the Girlz, Sarrah is
doctor, midwife and healer to the Amazonz, and has enormous responsibilities.
Religion: Aldaryn. She cares little for the Balance,
and would probably join another elven colony if an offer came along.
Thay’lyn
Looks: Thay’lyn might be considered beautiful if she
did not live constantly in the shadow of Maelora. No-one would give her a
second glance next to the elven queen, and the
unflattering comparison rankles slightly. The dark elf is quite comely, being
tall and very slim, with creamy complexion, slanted eyes and gently-tapering ears.
She dresses in fashionable gowns of black silk with red satin underwear. She
has tattoos of flame-bursts upon her arms and her tummy.
Personality: Neutral/Evil. Thay’lyn is coldly
practical and amoral. Like most dark elven women, she is interested in power
and loyal only as long as her leader is strong. Although trained as a
Battlemage, Thay’lyn is subtle by nature and prefers cleverness and trickery to
outright violence and confrontation.
History: Thay’lyn has been one of Maelora’s
handmaidens ever since she was a girl. She joined her Queen when the Night
Watch left Morlock ‘Ced, and her cleverness brought
her to Ksenia’s attention. Forbidden by Maelora’s law to train as a warrior,
she learned the arts of magic instead.
Relationships: Thay’lyn is very intelligent, and feels
contempt for those who are intellectually limited (that’s a fair few of the
Girlz…). She respects Maelora’s strengths, and admires Becks, with whom she
frequently works on ‘mundane’ tasks like supplies and provisioning. She is
fascinated by the studious Aaron, despite him being a mere male. She would
happily defect to another army if she thought she could get away with it; but
she’s smart enough to realise she knows too much and that Maelora will have her
killed if she ever tries it.
Role: Thay’lyn would like to be a diplomat, in the
‘femme fatale’ style. She just about accepts being used as a flamethrower, but
feels stifled and resentful of the stupid tasks that she is usually given, like
accounting or presiding over the Big Sister farce.
Religion: Thay’lyn respects no higher powers, and
privately sneers at those who do.
Amarys
Looks: Her flame-red hair is her most notable feature,
which is why it seems all the more baffling for her to crop it short and dye it
peroxide blonde. Amarys is comely enough, not truly beautiful but attractive in
a quirky way. Her pouty face resembles Yves enough for them to pass as sisters-
though Yves is not an Amazon, and Amarys is.
History: Long a promising warrior and admirer of
Ksenia, Amarys initially tried to replace Gabriella as Ksenia’s sidekick. She
had the honour of being the first Campfire Girl to meet Maelora, and introduced
her to Ksenia… thereby scuppering any chance of replacing Gaby in ‘the Raven’s’
affections…
Once touted for Tsianina’s role as Ksenia’s heir, she
fell in love with Cally, and into a spiral of narcotics and despair.
Personality: Chaotic/Neutral. This is one troubled
amazon. Always a show-off and a grandstander, a bang on the head from her
ex-lover left her with a split-personality, in which she thinks that she is
‘Cleo’, a freedom-fighter from a land scoured by the Xorg…
For all her psychosis, Amarys has a wry wit and a
disarming, cocksure charm.
Relationships: Disastrous. She fell hard for Cally,
only to be dumped with painful force when the Warlock tired of messing with her
mind. On a platonic level, she likes Akemi, Antea and Meridiana as friends.
Role: For all her disturbed manner, Amarys is a
talented all-rounder. Not actually an Amazon by birth, she has nonetheless
lived among them for many years and is respected enough by her Sisterz to lead
them in battle. She is happy to fight her foes with bow, spear or blade.
Religion: Hard to say. Ostensibly, she ascribes to the
same skewed view of Lyredh as a warrior-goddess as the rest of the Amazonz.
Alti
Looks: Alti is oddly attractive despite her sunken
eyes, pallid skin and middle-years. She keeps herself physically in good shape
and has a nice figure. Her voice spoils it a bit, sounding like nails scraping
down a blackboard or a bird flying into a window. She likes the low maintenance
look, favouring a dark shawl and a headdress made from an elk’s skull, complete
with horns. She can dress up for parties, surprisingly, and looks fine in
revealing silks of silver or grey.
Personality: Chaotic/Neutral. Alti tries to be evil,
but her heart isn’t in it. Fascinated by death and decay, she studies mortality in all its forms. Her creepy manner and
macabre interests mean most people shy away from her, and give her a wide
berth. She is usually subtle, even shy, but when aroused has a genuinely filthy
and profane manner of expressing herself. Only Yves knows more rude words.
History: Alti’s tribe warred with the Amazonz, but the
shaman is prepared to let bygones be bygones.
Especially when the alternative was going to meet her
maker and study death at uncomfortably-close quarters…
Relationships: Her only real friend was the
equally-ostracised Epiphany. She’s mostly happy with her dead things for
company… Most of the Amazonz find her presence repellent, but necessary to do
all the foul jobs no-one else wants to do.
Role: As Keeper of the
In times of war, and only when the city is attacked,
it is her job to raise the spirits of dead Amazonz to inhabit their bodies to
protect the village.
Religion: Grusar. She finds much comfort in his
dispassionate, non-committal form of worship.
Valerias
Looks: With her plentiful cosmetics, piled-up
curly-blonde hair and penchant for wearing pink underwear and nothing else, Val
likes to think of herself as a ‘blonde bombshell’. Unfortunately, most of the
Girlz think she looks like a cheap hooker or a porn star. The males of the
tribe, being less discriminating, adore her.
A life of excess is only just beginning to take its
toll upon her natural good looks. Valerias has large blue
eyes, smooth skin, and fine hands with long false nails. She is proud of
never having done a day’s work in her life.
Her figure is very curvaceous, soft and unmuscled.
Much to her annoyance, now Janiya is put in charge of
the Sanctuary, she is forced to abandon her usual fripperies and wear something
slightly more practical- in this case, tiny leather shorts and a cropped amazon
vest with intricate carvings.
Personality: Neutral. Valerias is shallow, vain and
self-obsessed. She has the brain of an amoeba, and the sex-drive of a rampaging
rhinoceros in mating season. She is a complete narcissist, and is prideful and
catty, given to abusing her power in petty ways and bitching about her rivals.
She enjoys the status of being High Priestess, and likes to lord it over
others.
She likes to use drawling, trendy slang when she speaks,
and her voice is very irritating.
History: Valerias was gifted to speak with the Goddess
since she was a girl. Raised as a ‘vestal’ in the
Relationships: She is well aware the Amazonz feel
contempt for her, and that hapless males fawn over her. Valerias is selfish and
has no concern beyond her own desires (and perhaps to do the will of the
Goddess as long as it doesn’t involve breaking her nails). She picks up, wears
out, and discards her lovers with casual ease and contempt. She finds Janiya to
be irritating and unwanted competition.
Role: Ostensibly ‘High Priestess’, Valerias resents
the fact that she is forced to tramp about the wilderness with smelly horses
while her pupil stays at home, playing with the Sanctuary.
Religion: Valerias actually understands the Goddess
like few others. She represents the fey, flighty and facetious elements of the
Goddess Lyredh, in much the way that Ksenia embodies her creative,
self-destructive virtues.
kathryn
‘Black Kat’ melosa
Looks: Kat is no longer in the first flush of youth,
but she possesses a hard-bitten attractiveness accentuated by the wonders of
cosmetics. Now that she cares for her looks, her tough, windswept dark looks
remind many of her crew of Ksenia. Her brown hair is lengthened by long braided
extensions of black and dark red. Her eyes usually flash a stormy grey when she
is emotionally taut (which is often). She exudes a no-nonsense sexuality,
dressing in tight black leather trews with tie-up sides, a brief white shirt
and a lace-up bodice that shows off her cleavage. She has the tattoo of a black
cat on her right buttock, and doesn’t mind showing it off. She wears wickedly
spiked, thigh-high black leather boots and wields cutlass and whip with equal
aplomb.
Personality: Neutral. Forsaking her lawful traits, Kat
is a full-blooded Amazon who serves as the ‘skipper’ of Gabriella’s crew.
Tough, daring and reckless, she leads by example and is swift to offer praise
or recrimination. She pushes herself hard, and expects others to measure up to
her efforts Not
shy of a little intimidation and violence, she is quick to put the younger Gels
in line, and is respected by all. Her motto is ‘have fun,
work hard, play hard’. She
possesses a wicked sense of humour and a tendency to take her bad moods out on
her enemies. She loves to torment the prisoners and make them ‘walk the plank’. She speaks in a sharp voice that leaves no
‘salty seadog’ cliché unturned.
History: melosa’s distant kin were rulers of the
Amazon tribes of old, although kathryn does not seek
to rule herself. In the past, she has served as both soldier, and guard in a
women’s prison, occupations that have only hardened her steely resolve and
penchant for discipline, in all senses of the word. Gaby’s ‘restructuring’ of
her personality has left her an upbeat, sexually-predatory woman who has lost
none of her penchant for violence, aggression and discipline.
Relationships: ‘The Kat’ likes to have a ‘girl in
every port’ and isn’t the sort to commit. If she really likes someone, she’ll
keep them around as a ‘cabin girl’ for a while. She isn’t above dallying with
the female prisoners, if they’re up for it… Around men, especially the Giants,
she likes to act like ‘one of the boys’ and tries to prove she can drink, fight
or wench as hard as any man.
She works well enough with Gabriella, respecting her
views in peace-time as long as she is allowed a free hand in war. The young
Bard is technically her superior, but all the Leggy Gels really look up to Kat,
and Gaby is wise enough to let her lead in battle. She considers Yves a spoiled
whiner despite her obvious fighting abilities.
Role: Kat leads the troops in battle, and prefers to
fight on deck than on land. While no longer possessing a death-wish, she likes
to take risks and perform daring feats to inspire others. As an amazon, she
feels that honourable death only comes in battle.
Religion: Kat’s odd view of Lyredh as a
warrior-Goddess is rather contentious to say the least… but few mention it to
her face. She has some tolerance for Sh’voon as God of Pirates, but it’s not in
her nature to bend her knee to a male, even a god.
Mei Lau
Looks: An elegant, well-preserved oriental woman in
early middle-age, Mei Lau has long, straight black hair, saffron skin and
slanted eyes. She is always immaculate and precise, and favours
brightly-coloured robes in exotic style.
Personality: Neutral/Good. Mei Lau is scatterbrained
and dizzy by nature, but genuinely sweet-hearted and loving. She considers
herself the ‘den-mother’ to, well, everything really, but especially
cute-looking things with scales (Tatsu, Aeriel, Ysadrayal). Mei Lau was
separated from her children after they were born, and her mothering instinct
has turned into something rather unnerving and utterly suffocating.
A pleasant, unfailingly upbeat woman, Mei Lau is
irritatingly cheerful and happy, and even in the worst situations she is quick
to try to cheer up her crestfallen companions. A little of her goes a long way.
She is fond of wise-sounding - but ultimately meaningless - snippets of Eastern
lore.
History: Mei Lau hardly knows what day of the week it
is, so her past history is somewhat hazy, to say the least. Somewhere along the
line, she had at least one child, from whom she was parted very early on. From
her accent and dress, she is clearly from some foreign land.
Relationships: Mei Lau had a brief fling with Ksenia
some years ago, which ended amicably (everything is amicable with Mei Lau). She
evidently had a lover or husband along the line to father her children,
although in classic style, she can’t recall who it was.
She likes virtually everybody, easily finding excuses
for their failings. She especially loves the kobolds, the Ulmindale Giants, and
Aeriel the mermaid.
Role: Mei Lau takes various mind-altering substances
that allow her to see distant horizons. She tends to scout for the Girls
without ever leaving her tent or her pool. She also keeps the various armies in
communication with one another.
Religion: Mei Lau thinks proper deities should be
irritatingly ambiguous and cryptic, so she has some favour for Lo-kee, but as a
water-lover, she also likes Oshiana.
Niamh (pronounced ‘Neev’)
Looks: Niamh is quite stunning, with her smooth,
dark-olive skin, elegant cheekbones and lustrous dark hair. She is very tall
and very straight, with a graceful walk and a courtesan’s posture. She wears a
jewel upon her forehead, and brightly-coloured silks in scarlet and azure, of a
cut quite different and far more revealing than Mei Lau’s. Her flat belly and
long limbs are covered in exotic tattoos (copied by Gabriella, though she
doesn’t know what they mean).
Personality: Neutral/Good. Niamh is very agreeable,
attentive, bright and submissive in nature. She is concerned for the well-being
of others, and always tries to help her adopted clan-mates. Her accent is heavy
and her command of language hesitant, though she is excitable and fluent in her
own tongue.
‘Niamh’ is not her real name; it is Melila’s
celticized corruption of her real name when she tried to pronounce it. The name
has stuck, as the young girl doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by
correcting them.
History: Niamh comes from a strange, far-away land, a
realm of caste systems and strong spiritual beliefs. She was the youngest bride
of a wealthy merchant, scheduled to be put to death upon his demise. Rescued by
Ksenia, and promptly forgotten about, she has wandered among the Girlz almost
unnoticed for four years. Her time is coming…
Relationships: Niamh is so placid that she is liked by
all. Exceedingly pretty and docile, and trained in exotic love-arts, she has no
problem finding companionship.
Role: For years, Niamh has picked plants and tidied
things, woven cloth and prepared food, utterly content with her role. She has
discovered that her companions love her spicy, foreign curries and breads, and
she is more or less permanently in charge of the cooking. Recently, she has
experienced a strange vision and has left her companions to search for a lone
hermit in the wilds of the
Religion: Cosmic Balance. A believer in a balanced,
tolerant view, Niamh respects all the Lawful and Neutral Gods, and has yet to
choose a patron.
Akemi
Looks: Akemi looks like Mei Lau, only younger and
prettier. Slanted, almond eyes, creamy skin, and finely-chiselled features make
for a very attractive young woman. She wears her straight, dark hair cut to
shoulder-length in a bob-style. She feels as comfortable in formal gowns as she
does in the short black silk kabuto she wears to fight and train. Her
toned body is conspicuous by its absence of tattoos- they are given only by
achievement, and she feels she has yet to make her name and deserve these.
Personality: Neutral. Akemi is a pleasant,
well-balanced individual (well, at least she was before she joined the Girlz).
Adhering to the tenets of Law, she also possesses a strong individual streak
that balances out nicely. She is inquisitive, well-mannered and graceful by
nature. When she gives her word, she is bound to it by her blood-oath.
History: Akemi was born in a distant land, and has
come seeking her mother, the seeress Mei Lau, from whom she was separated from
a young age. Raised in a monastery, she does not know who her father was.
Hearing about her mother’s past relationship with the former bandit-queen, she
assumed (stupidly) that it was probably Ksenia.
Relationships: Akemi tries hard to get on with her
fellow Girlz, although she does not share their predilections for female
company (again, not yet!). She has mostly been involved in weapons-training,
and the only person she has had the chance to get close to is Yves. Since her
incarceration in the Dollz House (she assumes it’s some tribal rite of passage)
she has also become friendly with Janiya.
Role: Happy to fight with or without weapons, this
young martial artist is trying to increase her skills as a stealthy assassin.
Being a skilled warrior and very loyal, Ksenia has appointed her bodyguard to
Maelora for when she is not present beside the elfqueen.
Religion: Cosmic
Balance. Akemi likes the idea of distant, unknowable gods,
and tries not to put any one Deity above another. Ultimately, she
believes that men should rely upon themselves, and not some divine force.
Janiya
Looks: ‘Janey’ looks like the younger sister of
Valerias… only prettier (Jani has yet to indulge in the drinking, sex and
constant partying that is beginning to erode the High Priestess’ looks).
Looking like the archetypal ‘prom queen’, she has buttery tanned skin, long and
fluffy blonde hair and large blue eyes with long lashes. She dresses in pure
white silk gowns or skimpy ‘temple girl’ outfits. She also wears pink fluffy
bunny slippers.
History: Jani was always the prettiest girl in her
village on the plains. On several occasions, her good looks and trusting nature
led her to get involved with dubious cults, and she invariably ended up on an
altar as a virgin sacrifice. Fortuitously, she was always rescued in the nick
of time by some grinning heroic type. Realising that her career as a virgin sacrifice
was going nowhere, she answered a ten-year-old advertisement to join Ksenia’s
bandits (as a virgin sacrifice…). Her search led her to the Campfire Girlz, and
a big Sanctuary to play with.
Personality: Neutral/Good. Jani is sweet-natured and
kind, though she is no smarter than Valerias. She is by nature trusting,
innocent and gullible. She is something of a religious maniac, always pestering
her disinterested superior and preaching to the troops.
Relationships: She is wed only to the Goddess, and
takes her status as ‘virgin priestess’ seriously. She likes Valerias, but is
too much the ingénue to realise this is not reciprocated. Although they have
nothing in common, she has struck up a friendship with Akemi. She enjoys the
company of Uncle Meet, the old caretaker whom Ulmindale have assigned to the
Sanctuary.
Religion: Jani is a Goddess fanatic, and delights at
the freedom she has within the Sanctuary.
Ysadrayal
Looks: Ysadrayal is a kobold, and looks typically
scaly and inoffensive. A bit bulkier than his scrawny cousins, he suffers from
a skin condition that causes his pelt to moult, so he covers this up with a
russet-red tabard and a battle-harness to hold his javelins.
Personality: Neutral. He is peaceful and
non-judgemental. Ysadrayal is convinced that all humans in general and the
Campfire Girlz in particular are insane. He thinks, however, that there is some
wisdom is trying to learn their odd ways, and perhaps enduring their strange
culture is some part of a test. As a kobold, he is patient and prepared to put
up with all manner of abuse. Unusually, the Amazons treat the kobolds with a
wary deference and the only torments they inflict are those caused by being the
kobold’s neighbours. Usually quiet, Ysadrayal (his name means’ dragon-queen’
and he hates it) tends to yelp when frightened and wag his tail when happy (he
ends up doing more yelping than wagging…).
History: Why his band was chosen by the Ulmindale
giants to endure the company of the Campfire Girlz is something best left to the
philosophers, but Ysadrayal endures his lot with good grace and bemused
tolerance.
Relationships: Ysadrayal is pleasant, but tends to
hide when the Girlz are about. He is particularly afraid of Mei Lau, who is
crazy about him.
Role: Ysadrayal is that rare animal, a kobold warrior.
No great shakes in battle, he prefers to use his javelins to throw than stab,
and prefers not to have to fight at all. He is aware that not all his band share his tolerant views, and has to watch for
mass-defections or kobolds sneaking off. The dwindling numbers concern him, and
Ksenia has promised him an injection of new blood soon. He hopes she doesn’t
mean it literally.
Religion: Lyredh. Ysadrayal prefers picking flowers,
watching animals, and crafts to fighting, but does his best for his Goddess.
Tamara
Looks: Short, slim and slight, Tamara makes up for her
build by being loud and having a big mouth. Her dark hair is set in long
braids, and she wears small skirts or tight shorts with tiny black crop-tops,
all in black. She prefers to go barefoot. Pretty rather than gorgeous, she
likes to wear lots of anklets and wristbands, and shake them when she dances.
Personality: Chaotic/Neutral. Tammy is a
typically-rebellious teenager. She is mischievous, sarcastic and quick to pick
fights- and equally quick to hide behind someone else when her victims
retaliate. She likes to break laws for no reason and challenge the conceptions
of others.
Like Gabriella and Valerias, she likes to use slang,
but hers has a harder, street-edge.
Wise beyond her tender years, she can be abrasive and
opinionated. When ‘Princess Superstar’ dances, she is electrifying; when she
stops moving and starts talking, she is merely irritating. Deep down, she is
lonely and just wants attention and to feel loved. The Girlz are now a
surrogate for the gangs she ran with as a kid.
History: Unusually for the Girlz, Tammy had an urban
upbringing in Lofton and is very street-wise. She was always annoying her
conventional parents and getting into scrapes and misadventures, running with
gangs and indulging in petty crime. Dancing was and is her only talent and her
only release. When she heard that Ksenia was back in town after three years,
she decided that she would be her new bardic side-kick now that Gaby has
grown-up.
Relationships: Tammy (her parents
nickname which she detests) likes to be different- so in the Campfire Girlz
this means she chases men. The Amazonz are just too ‘foxy’ to ignore
though, so she chases them too. She is trying to insinuate herself in Ksenia’s
affections- although the Warlord tolerates her, the other Girlz generally find
her a nuisance.
Role: Tamara is cheerleader for the cavalry, although
she loathes horses. ‘Princess Superstar’ has an approach to musical movement
that could make most men faint. Her jailbait looks and raw sexuality make up
for the fact that she is far from the usual busty blonde dancer.
Religion: Tammy’s approach to Lyredh is a bit
different, but all entertainers must pay homage to the Lady of Beauty.
Joxar
Looks: A lanky, thin yokel with a bewildered
expression and bad hair, Joxar does not strike fear into his opponents (he
doesn’t even scare the kobolds, in fact). He wears armour that looks as if it
has been hand-fashioned out of cooking utensils and chamber-pots.
Personality: Neutral/Good. Joxar cares for his fellow
man and means well, but is horribly inept at everything he tries. He seldom
lets this get him down, being upbeat and far too stupid to know when he’s out
of his depth. He likes to try to impress the Laydeez, but ends up invoking
mostly derision, scorn, or maybe pity from the kinder-hearted Girlz.
History: Joxar’s successful career as a Village Idiot
was interrupted when Ksenia’s bandit gang seized him, mistakenly believing that
he was someone of importance. Quickly realising their mistake, they let him go,
but did not bother to take him back. Useless with directions, Joxar had no idea
how to return, and was adopted as a kind of mascot. His new companions found
his willingness to take risks that no sane person would attempt to be a valued
asset.
Relationships: Some of the kinder Girlz take pity on
him and indulge his foolishness (although that’s all they indulge…). He
is mostly in love with the sweet-hearted Gabriella, but every pretty girl (and
even some ugly ones) can turn his head. The more unpleasant elements in the
Girlz ridicule him, and Cally openly uses him as a punching-bag- though he
strangely seems not to mind this. His only real friend is Reynard, who
cultivates his company in an effort to make himself
look good in comparison.
Role: Joxar is ideal for all the rotten jobs that
no-one else wants to do. Sometimes, they make up titles to make him feel more
important (like ‘Honoured Guardian of the Latrines’). Whenever a suicide-mission
is required, Joxar is unfailingly ‘volunteered’. By sheer chance or ‘fool’s
luck’, he has thus far survived.
Religion: Joxar tries to honour the Goddess, but no
Deity as yet claims responsibility for his creation.
Antea
Looks: The sister of the exiled Prince Jalal al-Din
(well, that’s what she tells people he is…), Antea has slightly exotic looks,
with long dark hair, a deeply tanned complexion and eyes full of eastern
promise.
Fascinated with Amazon culture, she likes to dress in
as little as possible, usually the classic ‘chainmail bikini’ beloved of
fantasy artists everywhere- nicely accented by thigh-high black boots. She
loves to sunbathe to perfect the ‘bronzed warrior-goddess look’ (her words).
Personality: Chaotic/Neutral. Flamboyant, slightly
amoral and aggressive, Antea considers herself the equal of any woman and the
superior of any man save her big brother (or warlord Arislan). She is devoted
to both the Horseclans and the Amazon way of life, and acts as a joining
between the two tribes. She is a restless, active type who likes to compete,
and to make love or war, and hates to idle around. While she is not a crazed
berserker in a battle, she is very enthusiastic, and her defence tends
to consist of hitting her foes before they hit her.
History: A promising squire of House Sericana of the
Horseclans, Antea leapt at the chance to live among the Amazonz for a time and
learn their ways. Aware that she is being given special treatment, she is
striving hard to be a good amazon and fit in with her new sisterz.
Relationships: Good-looking and predatory, Antea likes
to ‘play the field’ and enjoy tempestuous relationships. She enjoys the company
of both women and men (though the latter are in short supply among the Campfire
Girlz), and if her lovers squabble over her, all the better. She likes her
half-sister Meridiana and the company of most other Amazonz. Even melosa treats
her with grudging respect for her utter commitment to battle. She still carries
a torch for the mighty Ksenia, but there’s the company of many other impressive
warriors to enjoy.
Role: Antea is being trained to be an amazon heroine,
one who leads her sisterz and fights dangerous monsters.
Religion: Antea is as yet undecided, but is warming to
the idea of Lyredh as a passionate warrior-goddess.
Meridiana
Looks: Trimly-muscled and co-ordinated, Meridiana, is
half-sister to Antea, and has a much lighter complexion and blue eyes. She is
tall and sporty, with the build of an athlete rather than a warrior.
She dresses more demurely than her half-sister, in a
dark studded leather halter, fine chainmail skirt worn low on her hips, and
knee-high metal reinforced leather boots. Even this is more skin
than she is used to showing, but she accepts it as par for the course.
Personality: Neutral. Compared to Antea, Meridiana is
more calm and precise. Some liken them both to fire and ice, but Meri is not an
especially cold person, just more collected than her sibling. She is precise,
accurate and methodical, using her skill and flair as much as strength and fury
to win battles.
Like Antea, she is competitive and throws herself into
all the Amazon contests.
History: Half-sister to Antea, Meri is a promising
young Horseclan girl who is learning the ways of the Campfire Girlz.
Relationships: Meri may be quiet, but she’s far from
shy. She is openly gay and enjoys affairs with many of her sisterz but doesn’t
like to boast or ‘kiss & tell’ about her conquests (though she doesn’t care
for the rumours regarding her and Graydon, and thinks they might have been
started by Antea). She has the admiration of most of her fellow Amazons.
Unusually, Meri is not a man-hater and can respect male warriors, although
she’s not interested in them as paramours.
Role: Because she is precise and perceptive, Ksenia is
considering having Meri trained as an archer, and trains the troops in missile
fire with Amarys.
Religion: Meri likes the more ordered, precise aspects
of the Goddess Lyredh, as patron of craftsmen and creators.
Leela
Looks: Leela is thin and rather plain compared to the
gorgeous Gaby, but loves her stunning sister and has never felt jealous of her.
She has long, mousy brown hair and a pale complexion, dressing simply despite
her high station as ‘Merchans’.
Personality: Neutral/Good. Leela is simple, caring and
considerate. Not wishing to share in heroics or danger, she is content to stay
and watch over Lyredh’s smallest (and scaliest) charges.
History: Gabriella’s younger sister was content with
her life with the Foragers, until she was drafted in at short notice to replace
Gaby as Official Campfire Girlz liaison to the kobolds of Ulmindale. It was
planned to cover her in green dye and have her impersonate her sister, but some
sort of accord was reached before this terrible fate became necessary.
Relationships: Leela would like to get married some
day (to anybody, she’s not fussy…) and start a family of ‘Merchans’ but she is
content enough with the friendship and company of her small charges.
Role: Leela gets the vague feeling that her colleagues
have forgotten she exists, but is content with her role, and has come to love
her tiny, simplistic charges. She is very careful that her human compatriots do
not exploit ‘her’ settlement, and spends her time writing a journal about her
experiences and the life-style of small and scaly things.
Cyanne
Looks: Athletic blonde beach-bunny Cy
is currently the only Amazon to have natural fair hair. Tall and strapping in
the amazon tradition, she exudes health and fitness, with sculpted muscles and
tanned skin. She presently wears her fair hair in braids but is equally happy
wearing it loose. Her name comes from her cornflower-blue eyes that were
striking even when she was a child, and are almost a match for Ksenia’s baby-blues.
Even for an amazon, Cy has a
liberal interpretation of wearing clothes, and she usually trains and works out
naked. Yet to prove herself as leader or warrior, she presently lacks tattoos
but intends to rectify that in the near future. The rumours that she fights au
naturel are sadly untrue; she dons amazon armour like all the other Girlz
if facing an armed opponent.
Personality: Neutral. Laid-back but stern in battle, Cy is dry and laconic by nature. She is a natural soldier,
happy to lead or serve as the circumstances dictate. The Amazonz call her
‘Sarge’ and enjoy her tough-but-tender approach to keeping them in line. When
called upon to do so, she has a surprisingly harsh, mean streak when she feels
the Forests or her Amazonz are threatened. She idolizes the Bearer Ilshren and
tries to act just like her. She is more warlike and aggressive than the
Knight-Regent, impatient at the slow progress of building defences and
mobilising the
History: Cy is a long-time
friend and mentor to Tsianina, the second of the Forest-born Amazonz to come
forward and join the Girlz. Like Tsian, her amazon roots can be traced to
colder climes in the North where her tribe once fought
Alti’s people.
Relationships: Cy feels
closest to Amarys, sharing her sense of humour. Unfortunately, she takes her
delusions seriously, and is very concerned about the threat of the Xorg. She is
an old friend of Tsianina, and serves the ambitious younger woman as best as
she can.
Role: Cy tends to deputise
for Tsianina when the young Ranger is not around. If anything happens to Tsian,
she is aware that she will be Knight-regent. Mostly, she deals with the
day-to-day training and military aspects of the city (such as they presently
are), while Tsian tends to deal with the more political and organisational
aspects.
Aaron
Looks: Slight and rather ineffectual-looking, Aaron is
a typical elven male with the pale skin and dark hair of his people, the latter
of which is worn quite long. He has a mild, even bland, expression, and soulful
eyes. He dresses simply in deep purple robes that mark him as the Queen’s
Counsellor. There is little immediately
striking about him, save the vague good looks of all the fair folk.
Personality: Neutral. Aaron cares only for his beloved
Queen, and does not usually involve himself with anything else. He is polite,
distant and mild-mannered, to the point of seeming meek and forgettable.
Perhaps no-one save Maelora knows what his true
personality is like. Aaron has an incredible, if impractical, store of
knowledge, and his amazing mind is even sharper than
Maelora’s. He is wise and patient, and she is known to take his advice very
seriously.
History: Aaron came from a noble house, and was in
fact betrothed to the elven-queen from an early age. Maelora obviously did not
return his affection, and he contented himself with
serving his beloved monarch as an advisor and friend. Aside from the Night
Watch, no-one save Ksenia knows the truth of this.
Relationships: Aaron is quiet and fey, a true enigma
to the Campfire Girlz, who appreciate his servile manner to the Queen while
still being unnerved by his otherworldliness. He is treated with wary respect
and mostly left to his own devices. He clearly adores Maelora, but does not seem
to resent Ksenia in anyway… or if he does, he dares not make it obvious. So
far, he has not clashed with the will of the Queen’s Consort, and she has
rewarded him with access to the Princess and a higher profile among her forces.
Role: Aaron was raised to bear the Queen’s child, and
Ksenia has agreed that he should be tutor and mentor to Princess Kae – a role
he desires above all else. Aaron has also been trained as a Sage so he might
put his incredible skills to some practical advantage. He is entrusted with
keeping the knowledge of the Girlz and writing their histories. Ksenia is
pleased that this task falls to an ‘outsider’ so as to be more subjective than
one of her own.
Jenine
Looks: The Captain of Maelora’s personal guardians is
actually a male, a typically-intense looking young elf with a stern expression
that always seems to be on the verge of scowling. He has dark hair and clear
green eyes, and thin features that belie a steely strength. He dresses, like
all the Night Watch in dark garb with Maelora’s symbol upon his shield and
light armour.
Personality: Neutral. His natural inclinations to
Chaos are subsumed by his highly-disciplined nature. He is a soldier first and
foremost, and few know anything of his personality beyond this. He seems to radiate
a vague air of displeasure, as if he considers humans, giants and kobolds
rather beneath him, but no complaint even crosses his lips. He lives to serve
Maelora and is fanatical in her defence.
History: In a matriarchal society, some male children are
given a female name in the hope of developing ‘female’ characteristics like
beauty, strength and intellect. This painful stigma was given to Jenine, who
seems to resent the world for his misfortunes but his iron discipline and
training would never permit him to utter a word of protest. With a
single-minded devotion, he strove to become the Captain of the Night Watch, a
title bestowed upon him personally by the elfqueen- and one he uses in
preference to any other.
Relationships: In two years, the Captain has hardly
uttered a word to the Campfire Girlz, and even Thay’lyn and Tsianina have
failed to prise his secrets from him. Maelora trusts him to do his job, and he is greatly respected by his men. The Amazonz
regard him rather warily, pleased at his deference to the Queen but unsettled at the thought of men – even non-humans- bearing
weapons.
Role: In battle, he commands Maelora’s personal guard of the Night Watch. When the Queen is visiting ‘her colonies’ (Ksenia’s words…) he acts as her personal guard, although he shares that role with Akemi.
