Cartha Valentine

Cartha is a dancer and warrior of Sarenrae who specializes in her use of the flame blade, forcing enemies to drop their defenses or risk being burned by the Dawnflower's light. Despite her height, Cartha moves in battle with the grace of a dancer, often catching opponents off guard due to her agility. As a follower of Sarenrae, Cartha was an individual who was offered a chance at redemption, who views her work as an adventurer as atonement for her past involving the Cult of Lunar Whispers. Currently, Cartha is both a warrior and a mother of twelve children.

## History

Cartha was originally born in Senfalas, the product of an affair between an elven woman and an ifrit. While the younger generation of Senfalas has become more tolerant of other races, the lingering effects of the city's xenophobia impacted her as a child. Cartha found it challenging to make friends at an early age, but due to her mother's membership within the Cult of Lunar Whispers, was able to make connections there.

While the majority of the Cult of Lunar Whispers is a peaceful organization, there are extremist sects of the cult that engage in more secretive and dark practices than their contemporaries. As with most cults, Cartha became indoctrinated, originally lured into the cult by her loneliness and familial connections, and becoming so isolated from the rest of the world that she became unable to think for herself. Due to her natural strength, Cartha became a guardian for followers of Groetus who were more evil in their intentions, often being used to intimidate or deal with threats to the organization as they arose.

Of course, such extreme sects faced natural opposition, both from members of the Cult of Lunar Whispers, but other organizations that objected to their beliefs. It was during a raid by followers of Sarenrae that Cartha found herself defeated, handedly, in combat by a cleric of the Dawnflower. However, just when it seemed as though she was going to be executed, Cartha was offered a choice...to change her ways and leave the cult behind, or be slain. Originally motivated by self-preservationa, Cartha became a reluctant follower of Sarenrae but, over the span of decades, become a devoted follower, her eyes having been opened to the rest of the world by the Dawnflower.

Naturally, leaving an organization such as this cult had its consequences. Cartha lost her connections to her family and her friends within the cult, many of whom had been sent to hunt her over the years. It was during one of their attacks that Cartha was given a mark to symbolize her betrayal: a large scar crossing her face.

## Adventuring Career

After leaving the cult and undergoing training at a church of Sarenrae, Cartha began to travel the countryside, going city to city and doing what she could to help those she found along the way. There were many people who needed protection from bandits, a monster hunted, or another task that made use of Cartha's martial prowess. As she sought out a place to settle, Cartha spent some time in Ithaca, attracted to the kingdom's ideals and the city of Aries, where she was able to pursue one of her primary interests: the art of dance.

Cartha's first, most serious endeavor, was in the town of Luminelle, which had been dealing with attacked by undead assailants. Along with a team of adventurers, most of whom were far stronger and more experienced than she was, they ventured into the forest and managed to slay the undead invaders. They did not do so alone, however, with an angel assisting them in their efforts and even protecting Cartha as the battle intensified with the undead. While grateful for their assistance, Cartha found herself frustrated by how badly she needed protection, and vowed to work as hard as she could to get stronger.

For their efforts in Luminelle, Cartha and her allies were offered castles which, while in need of repairs, was a very enticing gift. Cartha had never imagined having a home of their own, and worked hard to turn the castle grounds into a home.

Despite her efforts to move past the Cult of Lunar Whispers, Cartha found herself pulled back to Senfalas after having been asked to help interrogate a prisoner. After intimidating a member of the cult's more extreme sects, and using her own experience to give him a dose of reality about his standing within the organization, she learned that they were planning a human sacrifice in the name of Groetus. With the aid of her fellow adventurers, they were able to interrupt the ritual. Having captured a necromancer, Cartha wanted to give her a chance at redemption, but due to the laws of Senfalas, she was placed in their custody and soon executed.

Cartha's most recent mission involved the missing adventurers that had been captured by the Hive. Though knowing little about these organisms, Cartha knew that time was of the essence if they were to be rescued, and helped to lead a team deep into the caverns of one of their bases. To her dismay, the captured adventurers had been corrupted, joining and fighting for the Hive. Overwhelmed by their numbers, Cartha and the rest of the team were forced to retreat, though she almost immediately began making preparations to venture inside again. This time, instead of leading a rescue operation, they would be planning to wipe out the Hive.

During the recent invasions by the giants, Luminelle's proximity to Darkwall meant that her castle was very close to where the they were centering their attacks. Though Cartha was not involved in the battle against the kings of the giant invaders, she did help defend the walls against other attacks.

## Becoming the Saber Wolf

Through a twist of fate, Cartha found what appeared to be an ordinary, but injured wolf cub in the woods near her homes. Healing the creature and thinking that he may serve as a friendly pet for her children, Cartha brought the cub with her. Unbeknownst to her, the beast was actually cursed by the demon lord Jezelda herself to serve as a component for a powerful wish. This curse also compelled nearby creatures to, whether they desired the wish or not, to wake and try to kill it.

Cartha awoke late in the night, finding herself clutching the club in her arms, trying to kill but, though she was able to resist. Her children, however, were not so fortunate, and when Cartha took her eyes off the cub, she would see her children having slain the creature. Using their wish, they would travel to the demonic realm of Jezelda. Distraught over the fate of her children, Cartha became a shadow of her former self as she worked tirelessly to find a way to get them back, and the wolf cub was gone.

Eventually, Cartha did find her solution. Defeating a fellow warrior of Sarenrae in a contest (one who happened to be a genie-kin), Cartha was granted three wishes. Using it, she brought the cub back to life, undoing its curse and the wish that had caused it to vanish. Her children were returned, forgetting what had transpired. Cartha used her final wish, she asked for the cub's curse to be transferred onto herself, turning her into a werewolf with diamond-like fur.

## Awakening the Ashen Wolf

Unfortunately, demon lords hold long grudges, and once Jezelda had her sights set on Cartha and her family, it was destined to come to a head eventually. During a mission, Cartha was attached by a squad of werewolves lead by a figured who called himself the "Werewolf King." Though her allies managed to save her, while she was distracted, Cartha's home was attacked, and eight of her children were kidnapped by the cult of Jezelda.

Cartha was issued a challenge. To come alone, face the Werewolf King in combat, and rescue her family. After saying goodbye to her fondest allies in the event she failed, Cartha arrived to face the man who kidnapped her children in battle. Despite her effort, and even a boon granted to her by Sarenrae herself, she lost. However, in the midst of the battle, a shocking reveal was made: all this time, the Werewolf King was her brother.

Cartha's family had long been followers of Jezelda, unbeknownst to her, and wanted her family to join their ranks. Cartha was captured in the Abyss, subjected to weeks of agonizing physical and psychological torture. While it was possible for Jezelda's followers to use her magic to force Cartha to join Her ranks, instead, the wanted to convince her to join their ranks willingly.

The fact is, Cartha's faith had never been more vulnerable. She called out to Sarenrae, begging her not to save her, but to spare her children, but it was all for naught, and in her mind Cartha became convinced that the Dawnflower had spurned her. That for all of her work, fighting to redeem herself, in reality she was little more than an expendable foot-soldier to her goddess. And soon, Cartha's mind became more open to the idea of switching sides.

## The Alpha

Her mind having been warped and corrupted by Jezelda, Cartha developed a new outlook and philosophy on life. There were two types of people in the world...predators and prey. And because she had been weak enough to be captured and lose her family, she had been prey. And she refused to allow herself or her family to ever be viewed in such a fashion again.

Cartha, and the section of her family loyal to Jezelda, became known as the Pack, with her taking on the title of Alpha. Gifted a castle within Jezelda's Abyssal realm, Cartha trained her children to become powerful, devoted, and deadly followers of Jezelda, with the goal being that her family would become strong enough that they would never be taken advantage of again. She wore black armor personally empowered by Jezelda's cult, and became known to many as the "Ashen Wolf."

Cartha's first goal was establishing a home on the material plane, and to do that she vowed to conquer the Werewolf Clans to the north, starting with the mighty Fenrir clan. Thus far se has been successful, becoming Alpha of one of their sects, the Tämjare clan, after defeating their previous leader in combat.

## Becoming Mythic

For some time, Cartha had found herself being drawn back to Aldermore by the plight of its people. The citizens had begun to vanish, being kidnapped by monstrous, undead constructs that seemed to be harvesting their souls for their own uses. Her and her allies would investigate these disappearances, bringing her into conflict with the many dark beasts responsible.

Eventually, Cartha's struggles would bring her into contact with the Rider in Black, a beast that Cartha did not feel she fully understood, but one that seemed to relish his mission to harvest the lives of innocents. Having found a doll and journal belonging to some of the children among his victims, Cartha flew into a rage, unleashing every ounce of power she had on her foe.

Thanks to the work of her and her allies, the Rider was defeated. However, as a being who was summoned, there was still another, dangerous power lurking in the shadows that she knew she'd eventually have to deal with. Sarenrae seemed to smile upon Cartha's deeds and her other actions, and though she did not understand it at the time, this was when she was selected to not just be one of the Dawnflower's warriors...but one of her paladins. However, her primary focus at the time was offering prayers and a burial for the children lost.

## Appearance

Cartha is a woman whose body seems to embody two identities. As a dancer, she is graceful and agile, with long blond hair and tan skin that have often caused her to be viewed as an exotic beauty. This is often at odds with her role as a warrior, whose height, musculature, and scars covering her body tell the story of a woman who has fought for most of her life. These dynamics in her appearance, as well as her relationship with the Dawnflower, has lead to some individuals referring to her as the "Scarred Rose."

Cartha stands at about 6'4 and trains her body daily, giving her a rugged, athletic appearance. She has blond hair and tanned skin owing to her Ifrit father, though her appearance often causes folks to suspect that she is simply a human. She is generally accompanied by two doves (the holy bird of Sarenrae) who ride into battle with her inside of satchels.

Since becoming a follower of Jezelda, Cartha spends most of her time in her werewolf form, with white fur and glowing red eyes. She is taller in this form, standing almost seven feet tall, and her renewed focus on training only enhancing her physique. Even outside of her werewolf form, Cartha retains many beast-like features, She has ears on top of her head and long scars that now cross over her entire body.

## Personality

Cartha views herself as a woman who focused on more physical pursuits, be it dance or her training as a warrior. As such, her mind has not been honed to the same degree, and though her straightforward, simple approach to things often allows her to point out things others forget, she often relies on other, more intelligent party members, to explain things to her. Cartha often comes off as brash and confident, even in the face of danger, though she does show fear when it comes to her family or what may happen to them if her missions are not successful. When dancing, Cartha can be aggressive, and is often disappointed by those unable to keep up with her. Cartha can be stubborn, and is often unwilling to consider other options until she is positive that the job she is doing at the time is done. Her two birds, Albert and Fenix, are generally spoiled by her, and are prone to being overfed. On the battlefield, she is very protective of her allies, and tends to put herself between them and any source of danger. Cartha does not enjoy discussing her past with the Cult of Lunar Whispers, but does show empathy towards those with similar experiences. Given her own ongoing tale of redemption, Cartha wants to offer the same chance to others to change their ways and improve their lives.

After being captured by Jezelda, Cartha became far more animalistic and bestial in nature. She projects an aura of strength and power as the leader of the Pack, and is an intimidating presence wherever she goes. Underneath this facade, Cartha struggles internally with the guilt of having failed to protect her family. She is accompanied by a new animal companion and familiar, two wolves, including the wolf pup she had initially rescued and taken the curse from.

## Friends

Alcor - Cartha's lover and the father to her children. In Cartha's words, he was the only man who could keep up with her on the dance floor.

Ulysses Brokenrock-Hawall - The former leader of Ithaca, and a man who has helped Cartha early in her adventuring career by crafting her equipment. Cartha admires him for his skills and his ideals.

Shahrhae - Cartha's adorable adopted daughter, she may just not know it yet.

Prince Ali (former Prince at least - Cartha once found Ali to be a reliable ally. However, when his infernal corruption became public, naturally Cartha was concerned, warning Ali to either seek redemption or face her in battle the next time their paths crossed.

Emily Arcturius - Ali's brother. Despite her relationship, Cartha trusts Emily far more than her brother, and feels she is a reliable ally. However, she hopes that she is not corrupted by her continued contact with Ali.

Ansel Blacktush - A mage who often seems to be allied with Cartha in her missions. She has found his magic to be invaluable, even if she does not always agree with his methods.

## Aspirations

* **Redemption -** Having been offered a second chance by a follower of Sarenrae, Cartha views her quest for redemption as never-ending, working tirelessly to atone for her past. She also wants to assist those who followed a similar path as her to have their own second chance at life.
* **Protect her Children -** As the mother of twelve, Cartha fights to protect her home and her family from the many beings who would seek to do them harm.
* **Improve her Skills -** Cartha never forgot the battle where an angel had to protect her from hordes of undead. She never wants to feel so helpless again, or be the sort of warrior that constantly needs protection.
* **Fight the Cult of Lunar Whispers -** Cartha recognizes the damage done and the threat posed by this cult, and she wants to destroy its more extreme sects and free those worthy of redemption.
* **Destroy the Hive -** Having fallen in battle to the Hive before, Cartha is determined to end it's existence, even when others seem focused on more pertinent threats.
* **Protect the Pack** - Cartha wants to turn herself and her family into warriors that no enemy force would ever threaten again.
* **Revenge -** Cartha wishes to kill her brother for kidnapping her family.

## Fighting Style

Cartha is a fighter who emulates Sarenrae's teachings. She wields the flame blade (a scimitar, Sarenrae's holy weapon) in combat, and is aided by two doves that follow her at all times. Cartha's fighting style is a mixture of strength and agility, and she often catches opponents off guard with her grace. She excels at revealing an opponent's waypoints (feints) and use her blade to overwhelm her foes. Cartha prefers to utilize fire in combat, but having faced numerous foes who resist this element, she has become capable of transforming her flame blade into other elements. She prefers to fight on the front-lines, with her body between her allies and their foes.