Onyx the Indestructible

*“People who claim that they're evil are usually no worse than the rest of us... It's people who claim that they're good, or any way better than the rest of us, that you have to be wary of.”*

-Onyx

## History

The warrior who would later go by the name Onyx was born in the district of Korvosa in the city Dragonsmouth. The details of her origin story, including her birth name, are shrouded, but at some point shortly before the fall of Korvosa she was initiated into the Gray Maidens. The immanent death of Queen Ileosa during the War of Korvosa put an end of Onyx's training, and she never underwent the indoctrination and facial scarring that characterized her veteran comrades. Nonetheless, Onyx remained a loyal member of the Maidens, joining the Scarlet Rose company founded by Filarina Grantsleim and mantaining the worship of the archdevil Moloch, General of Hell.

At some point, Onyx would strike out on her own path, becoming more and more interested in the mysteries of hell as she walked a path of damnation. In this she was encouraged by Captain Qualins Rachmirol of the Erinyes Company, who told Onyx that "she walked a path of fire." Onyx would found her own company of Gray Maidens, the Onyx Amaranth, composed of initiates such as herself.

Onyx won her name during the Feast of Blades, where she emerged as the champion. Gallow the Underhanded, not knowing her given name yet knowing the name of her company, named her Onyx the Indestructible, a moniker which stuck.

Onyx was an integral part of Lord Mistmoor's alliance against the Children of Adam, but had in fact been an enemy of the cult before Mistmoor's involvement. Out of disturbed curiosity, she was one of a small few - including Galar Insabatius - who investigated Doc Anderson's experiments.

The Onyx Amaranth and their commander played a pivotal role in the Battle of the Warehouse District, helping to purge the Erinyes Company of the Children of Adam in this ranks. After witnessing Vox's betrayal of his followers (and hearing the urging the spirit within her sentient sword), Onyx turned on the former Pontiff of New Arendur, ordering him shot before decapitating him. She heard his last words, but kept them to herself.

Onyx played a part in the death of Doc Anderson, though she fell and had to be revived during the battle in the Lab of Prometheus.

As her company expanded, Onyx built a fortress called Viridis Castle in the Lower District and forged an alliance with Stornheist and the Border Guard. Initially greeted with distrust, the the Onyx Amaranth hunted bandits and behaved with rectitude and discipline. Many young women, drawn by Onyx's example, would make the trip to Viridis Castle and pledge fealty to the Gray Maiden.

During the power struggle in the Southside Slums between Gallow the Underhanded and Jack the Winner, Onyx entered as a contestant in the Blood Den Arena and used her position to leap into Gallow's booth, knocking him unconscious, cutting off his right hand, and severing her company's contract with him. Having additionally lost the majority of his highest-ranking gladiators in battle with Jack and seeing his empire crumble around him, Gallow quietly took his own life. It was preferable to be seen as having been simply killed by Onyx.

## Personality

Onyx believed in the darkest ideals of the Gray Maidens, and openly embraced the worship of the General of Hell, Moloch. Despite this, Onyx had little respect for her god, and believed that she always had to be on top. She had a clear goal to achieve immortality by becoming undead, and eventually killing Moloch himself. When asked if that would be enough, Onyx replied that unless stopped, she would have to go on and try to become the undisputed ruler of hell, before turning her armies on the heavens. She willingly admitted that she was more likely to die gloriously in battle trying, and expressed satisfaction with this fate.

Ruthless and devoid of empathy, Onyx observed the deaths of civilians with detachment and considered the murder of children acceptable as long as it served her ends. She considered her own followers expendable, and did not mourn the deaths of her brothers-in-arms. She hated the powerful as well, mocking Erik Herk as a mere kobold and suggesting that even Qualins Rachmirol was weak. Onyx held the Children of Adam in contempt as well, deeming them "the wrong kind of evil" and quipping that "they had no taste."

To the extent that Onyx had virtues, she was never pointlessly violent or cruel. She did not come to rash decisions, or act from a place of caprice. Brave in battle, she was loyal to her allies and willing to brave great danger to protect them. Even so, there was a hubris in this protective impulse - the armor-clad, shield-bearing Onyx shrugged off blows and bullets in a contemptuous display of her own might relative to her frail compatriots.

Onyx firmly believed that the city of Dragonsmouth had no laws but that of might and strength, and berated anyone who suggested that the city's power structures were anything but illusory and legitimate.

Onyx refused to tell anyone her birth name, choosing to sign the name of her company instead when absolutely necessary.