[spoili]
As per the challenge set before me, I will try my best to use a randomly generated character to fit these exercises. As such, here is mine:
This disgruntled, disfigured woman with an odd walk and a lust for power comes from a sleepy town by the swamp and is here for a short visit.
[/spoili]
Mara Sweet tilted her head, watching the two lovers during their "clandestine" meeting. They cooed at each other--words that made her want to kick them both in the shins. Although, she supposed one of them didn't technically have shins. What a strange thought. She'd never had the opportunity to kick a tentacle before. Always a first for everything. Cracking her knuckles, she began limping towards the couple, noting especially the signet ring on the young man's finger. The young lord had made a grave mistake coming here today.
As soon as she stepped into view, the sea woman gasped, pointing and letting out a strange sound meant to scare off predators. It was a rather weak defense mechanism, given that Mara wasn't a shark. The lord scrambled to his feet, drawing his rapier with as much gusto as he could muster. He took in her appearance, noting the more obvious bits first. The cloth wrapped around her eye, hiding the hideous scar that marred her otherwise "pleasant" features. The metal hand poking out of her left sleeve. And, of course, her limp--courtesy of her right leg being shorter than her left.
"What do you want?" he barked, standing tall with the authority of the king's nobility. Mara laughed.
"You've got three options, my lord. Pay me for my silence or watch your lady fish..." She drew a finger across her neck, a wicked grin across her face. The young lord, of course, took high offense at both options. After all, he had been trained from birth in manners of war and fighting. His rapier wasn't just for show! This bitch didn't know who she was dealing with!
Without a care for decorum, he attacked, striking for the intruder's weak side. Unfortunately, there was no side to strike, as Mara was no longer standing there. With speed that was simply unnatural, she moved to the sea woman, a dagger glinting before being pressed against her throat. The woman thrashed, tentacles reaching to strangle her attacker. It was no use, however, as some unknown force held them back.
The young lord gaped, real fear turning his usually tan features starkly pale. He fell to his knees, already forming the words to beg for his love's life. Mara smiled. "That wasn't so hard, now was it? Let's see...I'll take your shirt and jacket, your lovely leather boots, and all the gold you have on you. I know you've got enough to carry peasants over for months. Hurry up now...your lady fish is starting to irritate me with her squalling."
"I have a name, you bitch!" The sea woman snapped, her eyes flashing angrily. Mara waved her dagger in disinterest. She couldn't care less about their names or anything else. She just wanted her payment. When she had arrived in the nearby town and heard rumors about the lord's relationship with a sea woman, Mara knew she'd found an opportunity for some good ale money. Of course, it had all depended on whether the rumors were true, as peasantfolk were quite prone to making up wild stories to make their mundane lives more interesting. What luck that the bastards at the tavern had actually been telling the truth!
The lord threw the items at her, now shirtless and barefoot. Mara shamelessly took a moment to admire him, smirking in approval even though he glowered rather murderously at her. Chuckling, she removed the dagger from the sea woman's throat, picking up the items with surprising quickness for someone who had seemed to be limping before. With a mock salute and a laugh, she was gone before the lord could even raise his rapier once again.
When the young lord later inquired at the town about the strange woman with a limp and a cloth over her eye, no one seemed to remember her.
