Edana Dalrymple

Chapter One

Edana Dalrymple was the youngest child of a noble family, with 3 older brothers, a mother who died during her infancy, and a father with very strict ideas about what was suitable for a young lady of his daughter's station.

Edana found the pursuits her father thought appropriate for her to be tedious. Reading was boring, needlework a snore, chit-chat near unendurable. She preferred the more active pastimes of her brothers, but her father frowned upon such unladylike behavior. Swordfighting? Archery? A waste of time for the daughter he hoped would marry well. Edana's dream of becoming a knight and bringing honor to her family while crushing the skulls of evildoers seemed unattainable.

But, as all the suitable men seemed put off by her stature and social awkwardness, years passed and Edana soon found herself to be an old maid of 25. Her father reluctantly gave up his wish to see her married advantageously, and allowed her to join the church.

After years of dedication and training, Edana has finally become a paladin. She is determined to prove to her aged father that she has what it takes to be a knight.

Well, a paladin anyway.

Close enough.

Chapter Two

Edana's first foray into the world as a paladin (though one of very little experience) has been sobering. Her very first attempt to aid the weak led to her rushing off unprepared and nearly being killed, and she realized how overconfident she had been of her own abilities, and felt grateful to Abbot Gaius for his recommendation (nay – insistence) that she get help before setting off on her travels.

Her journeys and battles alongside her companions has further convinced her that she is simply not ready to go it alone. She feels keenly their lack of desire for glory and the pursuit of honor. How could they see all the evils in the world, and the opportunity to establish themselves as warriors of justice, and then turn aside to goggle over gold? Were the common people really so low-minded? Well then, so be it. If money is all that they love, then that's what they'll receive. Though, she hopes their pursuits will be at least somewhat profitable, monetarily speaking, else she doesn't know how she will pay them - bless their greedy little mercenary hearts...

With a twinge of bitterness and a smidge of resentment, Edana realizes that if she is to continue to pursue her goals, she needs the help of these money-grubbing heathens. Had she been free to pursue her true desire of becoming a knight, things may have been different. She could've joined other knights and found camaraderie and common purpose. But, here she was, a paladin, gritting her teeth and preparing to shed some of her nobler aspirations so that she could continue to pursue justice. Is that irony? She never was quite clear on how irony worked. Well, it wouldn't be the first time she had to make sacrifices in order to move forward. And with this new threat to the world, the need for action loomed large.

Onwards, to glory!

...And hopefully loot, for those low-born folk who care about such things.

Feh!