Valerie Rush-Babbling

**Nation**
 **Born**
 **Titles**
 **Beliefs**
 **Signature**
 **Relatives**
 **Shield**

Lady **Valerie Rush-Babbling** is a young paladin in the service of House Varganous. She is the newly enfeoffed Countess of Rook's Hollow in the Duchy of the Deadlands.

Born to a noble Gilnean family, Valerie was cast out by her parents and took up the life of an adventurer. Since early 634 K.Y., she has served House Varganous in Duskwood and neighboring territories.

## Personality & Beliefs

Valerie's disposition can be described as cheery and irreverent. Although she has all the affectations of someone raised in the aristocracy, she clearly does not take herself (or anyone else) too seriously. She is a youthful idealist who does not easily compromise what she believes in with the hardships of reality. Her considerable compassion and generosity are counterbalanced by her occasional vanity and lack of sense.

## Description

Valerie stands about 175.25 cm (5 foot 9 inches) in height. She has fine, elfin features which could be described as "aristocratic", and light brown eyes verging on amber-orange. Her hair is cropped short in a slight coif. Her build is athletic and slightly muscular, with her arms being particularly strong. She habitually dresses in dark colors, in a fine style, at least on those occasions when she is out of her armor.

## Biography

Valerie was born in 613 K.Y. in the Headlands of Gilneas. Her father, Lord Zander Rush-Babbling, held land near the Greymane Wall. Valerie was Lord Zander's and Lady Druella's only child, although she had cousins. As a rambunctious girl who loved horses and exploring the countryside, she got in a lot of trouble from time to time. Her parents hoped that a career in the priesthood would mellow her out, but ultimately could not convince her to commit. When she was still young, the Shattering occurred and Gilneas became a nation in exile. The Rush-Babbling estate was lost in the process and the family (with its Lord and Lady both afflicted, although Valerie was not) went to Stormwind.

In her late teens, Valerie caused a certain embarrassment to the family which saw her cast out and disowned, and the position of heir apparent to the Rush-Babbling fortune passed on to a male cousin. She took her prized stallion Beauchamp with her, and took up a career as an itinerant adventurer, alongside four friends of various Alliance races. They would spend much of the next few years delving caves and fighting kobolds and gnolls.

At 20, Valerie came into the employ of House Varganous of the Deadlands. Due to her specialty in healing prayers, she proved useful in a number of battles, and ultimately took the oath of a Dusk Warden (one of House Varganous' sworn paladins) at the Rookery in Rook's Hollow under the supervision of then-Count Xzavier Mildenhall. After several more months of proven service, she was enfeoffed Rook's Hollow by Garlan Varganous II at 21.

## Titles

### Countess of Rook's Hollow

As the Lady of Rook's Hollow, Valerie oversees the settlements of Ebonhill, Clearhollow, and Rook's Retreat. Valerie was elevated to this title in 634 K.Y., taking over from Count Xzavier Mildenhall, her superior among the Dusk Wardens, when he was unable to continue in the position.

### Dusk Warden of the Deadlands

The Dusk Wardens are an order of paladins sworn to the Holy Light and House Varganous. Their duties are to protect the Deadlands and act as guards for the clergy residing in the Duchy. Valerie was sworn into the order at the Rookery in 634 K.Y. and is presently the most senior of the order aside from Lord Mildenhall himself.

## House

Having been disowned from the Gilnean Elder House of Rush-Babbling, although still retaining her family name, Valerie became the founder, head, and sole member of the new House of Rush-Babbling of Rook's Hollow upon her accession. She has yet to name an heir or adopt any others into the House, and is unmarried.

## Relationships

Valerie still sees her old adventuring party from time to time, although she no longer travels with them since the start of her service to House Varganous. She has had no contact with her family in a few years and is estranged from them. Having made a number of friends in the Deadlands, she considers her comrades there her new family, while looking up to Lord Garlan as an example of what a noble ought to be.