Keira Sturmknell

Keira Sturmknell
Class	Magus (Laughing Shadow hybrid)
Occupation	Treasure Hunter
Tier	Trainee
Ancestry	Orc
Heritage	Hold-Scarred
Alias(es)	N/A yet
Pronouns	she/her
Age	mid-late 30s
Height	6'1"
Relatives	Papa Sturmknell
Status	Alive
Player	tiresieas (tire)

Keira Sturmknell is an Associate of the Round Table, seeking glory in combat and to build a treasure collection.

Born in the wake of the Collapse, Keira's ancestral stronghold was ravaged and her tribe scattered to the winds. Her mother died in childbirth while traveling with a refugee caravan. Her father was traumatized from seeing the Collapse firsthand, and from the death of his wife, and despite his best efforts, was really unfit to be a single parent to a rambunctious Orc daughter. Their refugee caravan was brought under the protection of a certain Wizard, who offered the group protection and a safe land, in exchange for their labor to cultivate the land. Keira's father, and then eventually Keira as well, were primarily tasked with clearing the woods - back breaking physical labor. This budding village lived and breathed the motto of "if you don't work, you don't eat", and this had extended even to the young children. Keira and her dad survived famine and long winters, but as a young woman, Keira began to yearn for freedom, and as many teens do, began to rebel from her father. Around 17-18, having suffered enough disgrace to her young pride, Keira enacted her plan to leave the village she spent her life helping to build after a public humiliation from the Wizard. Late into the night, timed for when he would normally be drinking and demonstrating his machismo, Keira snuck into the Wizard's house, anticipating his spells to have weakened thanks to inebriation, and stole his spellbook before running away with her meager belongings. On the run, Keira figured out his spellbook was encrypted, so she simply tore out the pages, and kept the intricate binding for herself.

Over the next decade, Keira spent her time traveling. She discovered her affinity towards the finer things while delving into an old Dwarven fortress and discovering jewelry she assumed was abandoned during a Collapse. However, despite the appeal jewelry had to her, Keira instead ended up pawning much of it off. Unlike at the village, Keira enjoyed no steady employment, and in addition to keeping herself fed, she also sent money when she could to her aging father - partially due to her instinct as a child who did still care for her father, and partially due to guilt for having impulsively left him on his own. Much like in the hard times at the village, Keira survived long periods of time without reliable access to food, or more commonly, to money to get food.

Stories of Onadbyr spread quickly after the city was re-established, and tales of Associates were often exchanged around campfires Keira shared with strangers. It wasn't until hearing about Onadbyr's expeditions to Lancaster that Keira's interest was piqued enough to consider making her way to Onadbyr. A city like Lancaster would likely have had plenty of riches and treasures, and tales of Associate's expeditions only became more extravagant. To a freelancer like Keira, this seemed like a perfect opportunity. A few years before arriving at Onadbyr, Keira finally sat down and began studying magic thanks to a different wizard she spent time alongside. With help from her partner, Keira learnt how to use her limber body and affinity for combat alongside magic in order to learn the art of being a Magus. The old spellbook binding she kept as a trophy became her own new spellbook, featuring crude illustrations of magus combat and general tactics for a duelist. Among the illustrations are crossed out drawings of the vague figure Keira drew as her stand-in wielding various weapons, including a classic sword and shield combo, twin blades, and a glaive, before finally settling on use of a whip to maintain distance like a glaive, while maintaining the versatility of a single handed weapon. Keira's partner helped modify the whip into the Scorpion Whip that Keira currently wields. Keira is currently studying different combat tactics to enhance her combat abilities.

Keira has been attempting to stay in contact with her father over the years, but shortly before settling into Onadbyr, return letters stopped arriving. After so many years and moving around so much, Keira isn't sure where her village is in relation to the city and hasn't been able to arrange for a visit.

Skills

As a Magus, Keira is skilled both in the arts of wizardry and combat. As is typical for a Laughing Shadow Magus, Keira is quick on her feet and adept with her whip, thanks to her bodily conditioning from a young age she can even reliably attempt to trip, disarm, or reposition her opponents. She's also handy, if she's not studying, she can be found often making carvings. An interest in Talismans may spring from this habit of hers. Her hardiness and years spent surviving has also made her much harder to put down, much to her opponent's dismay.

Personality

Keira is straightforward, fierce in combat, showing no mercy to any enemy, and shows "typical" Orcish brutality to those fleeing from combat. She is serious, but not humorless, having a dry sense of humor. Keira has been seen exasperated by some of the more eccentric Associates and situations she's found herself in. Keira is smart, but perhaps not overly intuitive when it comes to applying her intelligence.

In regards to a certain frog she won't be seen in the same room as, Keira would find Pomba to be a ridiculous little creature, but find respect in his martial prowess.

Expedition History

* = Log written by Keira

Fall 225/January 2024

• Component Collection 10
• Gnome Ann's Land
• Star Pit: King of the Kobolds *

Winter 225/Feb 2024

• Recall *
• Gnome Ann Left Behind

Mar 2024

• Fallen Star
• Making a Name for Yourself
• Threads on the Loose III

May 2024

• Cooking By The Book: Monkey Madness *