Description:
Hilde - Human (Changeling) Bard / Warlord hybrid:
6' statuesque, blonde with piercing, crystal blue eyes (looks as if she hails from the northern territories). Her skin is pale like the finest alabaster, and without blemish or sign of wear or battle. She carries herself with a regal quality, and all find themselves instinctively following her commands.
Clad in hide armor, brandishing a light shield and longsword. She packs light, and has a fastidious way about her...constantly preening herself and gear, and maintaining her blade to a razor's edge.
Her changeling aspects are not immediately known to the party. She rarely uses them, and when she does it's usually a very subtle change.
Background:
Hilde remembers having been a shieldmaiden and consort for the powerful MageLord Hungerda. She was trained to be a bodyguard, an entertainer, and an expert on history/culture/arts/philosophy/etc.
Hilde was among a small group chosen to serve a special and honored roll, known as a "Keeper". She was preserved alive in a special tomb that was programmed to eventually awaken her, so she could tend to the estate should her master require her service...countless years later.
Hilde was found and awoken by Linus as he was exploring some catacombs in the mountains of Rockridge. She told him of her mission, and gathered her possessions. Linus explained, in a rather blunt manner, that her beautiful home was gone and "probably at the bottom of an uncaring and treacherous sea".
He further added that she was lucky that her tomb hadn't been completely stripped bare by tomb raiders, as they had delved and cleared most of the surrounding catacombs. He noted that they perhaps were too superstitious to venture too far into this cavern given the terrible horrors reported to have come out of it over the years.
Linus noted that he had gathered the final clues he needed to locate his Uncle's estate (who was a great master of the arcane in his time). He looked over the assembled map and determined with great concern, that the estate was in what is now known as the "Chaos Scar", a dangerous place that had been ravaged by years of magical storms.
Linus reasoned that he would need to gather supplies and probably some protection to venture into the "Chaos Scar" and safely return. They could gather a team and set off from a small Camptown to the east.
Hilde agreed to come along, realizing that her duties could wait. Ruins, after all, rarely need managing, and she had not the wealth or where withal to rebuild the glimmering city she once knew.
Once the party assembled, Hilde wasted little time in getting the group structured and organized for comfort and efficiency in camping and travel. She proved a natural leader, and with few words, had the group operating like a fine machine built for travel.
