PCs:Silver Fox
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Silver Fox is a Tyeduan Blackguard of Maleki, best known as a sell-sword and the leader of the Midnight Mercenary Company.
Origins: The Great Raven Clan of Tyedu
The Great Raven Clan was, until recent times, a small and rather backward tribe of Northmen who made their living from the fruits of the icy northern oceans, supplemented by hunting and gathering, limited crop cultivation and the spoils of the constant wars and raids between Northman clans. The Clan draws its name from their patron Spirit-God, the Great Raven, who, it is believed, acts as a guide and protector to the crews of the Clan's long-boats, hunting whales and other monstrous maritime creatures to support the tribesmen back home. Life is hard for all tribesmen, and all are expected to contribute as much as they can - man and woman, adult and child. The icy wastes and frozen seas are extremely unforgiving of those who cannot or will not support themselves or their fellow tribesmen.
The people of the Great Raven clan lived their quiet, dolorous existence until recent events changed matters to their benefit. The catalyst was a visionary hero by the name of Wolf. Wolf was not originally of the Great Raven, but had instead been cast out of his own clan years before as penance for some unknown misdeed. Instead of quietly accepting his lot, he grasped the opportunity with both hands. He left Tyedu altogether and forged a career for himself as a soldier of fortune. He travelled far and wide, bodyguarding here, training troops there, amassing a phalanx of friends and allies as well as considerable wealth. It was while he was serving as a bodyguard in the Kurathene Empire that he met his future wife, the daughter of a minor noble family named Helena. When Wolf finally came back to his Tyeduan homeland, satisfied with his exploits and wishing to settle down, he was adopted by the Great Raven clan. In time, this skilled and well-liked warrior would become the Clan's greatest Chieftain, ushering in a new age of openness and prosperity as he turned the tribe's nautical expertise and his own knowledge of southern tastes and commerce to the Clan's profit. Where the Great Raven had merely existed, they soon flourished, as ships carrying amber, furs, exotic fish, blubber and timber plied the sea-and-river routes into the marketplaces of the Kurathene empire.
While the Clan prospered, so did the Chieftain's family. With Helena, Wolf (now Great Bear, the honorific title of all Great Raven chieftains) had two children. The eldest, his daughter, he named Silver Fox.
Origins: Early Life and Education
As is expected of all tribesmen, Silver Fox learned to hunt, sail and defend herself. It was soon discovered that she was blessed with the gift of battle-rage, a trait the Clan's shaman noted as marking her for future greatness. While she enjoyed no privilege as the chieftain's daughter, she earned a reputation as a skilled hunter, a fine sailor, and a generally well-liked and valued member of the Clan. Her future was to lay away from her homeland, however. When she turned eighteen, Silver was sent for private tuition in Kuras, at Mistress Isabella De'Markesi's School for Young Ladies. Why this was so is ambiguous. Silver was informed by her father and his closest companions that Wolf wished to see her 'civilised', so that she could continue the work her father had started, opening up the Clan and turning it into a prosperous trading hub. Later events made Silver doubt this account.
Whatever the reason, Silver spent two unpleasant years in Kuras. She did not enjoy the experience, and is unlikely to talk about it, even with those who know her best. What is sure is that the experience marked her in a few notable ways. She learned to read and write, and to speak Common fluently, to accepted Kurathene standards. It also left her with a speech impediment - a marked hesitancy in speaking - and a general distrust of southern 'civilisation'.