Calida Ironhand
The Smith
APPEARANCE:
Calida, or Cali to those she trusts, is well known for her unorthodox looks... and occupation. Her time as a smith has been a major factor in her general look and style, influencing everything from her hair style to the clothes she wears. She keeps her hair close cropped for the most part in an attempt to keep it from ever catching flame,she does keep one side longer as a small statement of her femininity however. As for clothing she tends to wear tight leathers mixed with light chain to help avoid serious burns... not that its always effective. Her entire body is crisscrossed with burns both large and small from her work.
Still though she is considered one of the more beautiful women in her village, even if her muscled physique and abrasive attitude are generally off putting. The only thing not particularly intimidating about her is her height... at 5'5 there aren't many who would worry about her overpowering them. They should.
PERSONALITY:
Cali is cocky, brash, and fiery, smithing is not only an occupation for her... its her passion. Her art. She is at her best when creating something, whether it be a simple hoe or a new set of armor it is of no difference to her. She puts her all into anything she does and everyone knows it. Not everyone accepts the fact that a woman can be a smith... But she soon rectifies such misunderstandings often with a fist or the leg of a chair... for she is also a notorious drunkard.
When she is not at her family smithy she can often be found carousing at the local tavern, holding her drink with the best of them. She takes insult from no one and jumps into fights, only when she is smithing is her fiery, rambunctious nature calmed.
History:
"A smith must be made of a steel harder than any other, if they ever wish to shape it for themselves."
Cali was born into a well of family, her father was the best smith within miles, making him the favored smith for many of the nearby villages. It was his hard work and the respect that he earned with it that allowed her to take her own special path in life.
The man was blessed with 3 daughters... yet no sons. Cali was the youngest of these. Her father was a proud man, quick to anger but also quick to forgive. He seemed to run as hot as his forge, only to suddenly cool as though splashed with a bucket of water. To Cali he was the greatest man alive. Her sisters were taught to cook and clean. To watch the house, mend clothes, do all those other womanly things... but Cali was able to avoid that detestable life by a chance of fate.
Bjorn, her father, was known to keep any oath once uttered. On the begetting of his third child he had proclaimed proudly to all the village," Come what may, this child shall be my heir." He had made the oath on a seers assurance that his next child would be male. He and the seer were sorely mistaken. Cali came out a girl, beautiful and perfect... but also fierce. Her first cries seared the ears like the peal of the greatest hammer blows, her father had proudly proclaimed that her fingers already held the strength to bend iron if she so wished. Though disappointed that his newest child had been a girl, Bjorn had not been discouraged about the oath he had made. For the Ironhands always hold to their oaths...
He brought Cali up as his own special girl. He taught her all she might need to know about the craft, letting her learn the same as any son might. She grew up to be hot and fierce like her father... her personality simmering as the coals in a forge. Any who saw her would say," Ironhand blood always runs hot." Though... Not everyone was talking about her personality or her skills.
From the moment Cali could walk she enjoyed the taverns of the village. The boisterous laughter. The carousing. And most especially the fighting...
When she was a young girl she would often hang around the doors and windows watching and listening. She learned many things in her frequent eavesdropping sessions... many things that most would rather girls not know. She got an introduction to violence and... other things early. And that's just how she liked it. Regular brawls with the village boys showed that her time smithing had payed off, giving her strength enough to fight boys and even full grown men, many times her size.
As she grew she began to frequent the tavern even more, now being old enough to hold her drink... but she was not just growing older... she was also becoming more and more beautiful. Over the years she had to beat sense into more than one handsy bar patron and she relished every single chance. She honed her brawling almost to a fine art, and nearly funded a full retrofit of the tavern due to all the furniture she was forced to replace.
Recently however, her life has hit a serious hitch. Her father died... Her mother remarried... And Cali lost her forge...
Her mother had always been against teaching Cali to be a smith, clinging to the idea that she should be raised as a proper lady. That she need marry and run a house. Have children. A life that Cali certainly did not want. But when her father died and her mother found a new husband... she had no choice. According to the law the forge was her stepfathers by marriage... and so was Cali. Her mother tried to turn her into a proper woman. To show her etiquette and manners... Cali would ha
ve none of it. the one time that her stepfather attempted to enforce her mothers will Cali beat him handily, nearly wrecking the forge in the process.
Her sisters were already married. Her father dead. Her mother a traitor. And her forge... gone. Cali, fierce as ever, merely shrugged. She gathered up the tools she could especially her prized hammers... and she left. One last stop at the tavern was the last tip of the hat to her village and her old life before
turning away for something new.
Skills
Smithing is Cali's first and foremost passion... she has spent much of her life learning the skills required for the forging and maintaining of various weapons, armors, and tools. Her training is not quite complete however... She still has much to learn, and is quite happy to do so. Her second passion you may ask? Brawling. She likes a good scuffle to let out the steam, regularly starting up fights and contests of strength just for the hell of it. Lastly and most obviously... shes an amazing drinker. Her hardy constitution allows her to drink most men under the table with ease. Bottoms up~
Abilities
Cali has a good eye for metals... When one looks at a sword most people merely see a lump of metal made into a shape... Cali sees the imperfections in that blade, and knows exactly how to wield it so that it is less likely to break... or hit it so that it does. She often uses this to good affect when forging and reforging items, making more durable items.
The main ability that makes her stand out though... is her immense strength. For one of such a compact size she has the strength of a much larger man... Though for a woman she has a serious lack of grace, often moving with a slow swagger rather than a dainty step.
P.S. Once again sorry for mistakes and or crappy quality of storytelling... Been awake for 32 hours now I think 0_o
P.P.S. I figure I gave her too much power... I shall fix that when i'm... whats the word?
...
AH. Lucid. XD
