Nevada Esmeralda Valencia

*"I'd call myself less of a 'leader' and more simply a woman who knows things and knows how to apply that knowledge into getting things done."*
*~Nevada Esmeralda Valencia~*

Nevada Esmeralda Valencia is a natural-born Kumenza from northern Shahar-Eka who immigrated to Koldia. She is known as an information broker, having friends and associates across the continent that she goes to for information, which she either sells or shares with who she will, depending on the content. Much like Zak Dreggite, she is famous for "knowing things she isn't supposed to", and uses this information to great effect.

## History

### Early Life

Nevada grew up on the streets of Shahar-Eka's capital city, before gradually migrating to more northerly cities in search of better life opportunities. Eventually she made her way to Korziña where she spent her adolescent and young adult years, before heading even farther north into Koldia. She became close friends with several members of the Imperial Magus' University, particularly a young woman named Rozani, who was not nearly as young as she looked. As a highly respected scholar of knowledge, Rozani became Nevada's eyes and ears in the upper echelons of Zukuren society, being one of the few Kumenza to reach such a high social standing among the elves.

### Leto's Rebellion and the Elven Civil War

Nevada was an extremely important player in the Elven Civil War due to her prominence among Kerala's Kumenza population, who looked to her as a sort of leader and icon. She kept her head held high and did not compromise her virtues, although she was swift to notice that the dark elves began disappearing from Imperial Koldia. Her stand against the machinations of Emperor Mieszko and Empress Venera soon put a target on her back, and it was likely that if the remaining Kumenza (many of which were in respectable standing in Koldia as lawful and legal citizens) had not rallied around her, she would have been removed or exterminated much sooner.

While Nevada continued to fight the fight against increasing marginalization of her people, it was only after Rozani ended her neutrality that the pieces began to be set into motion. Nevada was son exiled from Kerala, and coincidentally this was around the same time that Leto birthed the idea of her rebellion. Her ambition for fair treatment of all citizenry earned the attention of many Zukuren who wanted friends and neighbors back, as well as some of the few remaining Kumenza, almost all of whom rallied behind Leto's cause. This in turn later became known as Leto's Rebellion, and triggered a massive civil war as a result.

Nevada was swift to rejoin the fray when she was able, and took the side of her fellow Kumenza with no hesitation. Her primary concern at first was Rozani, who had compromised her millennia-old reputation with the elves due to the stance she took, and so Nevada put a great amount of effort into clearing Rozani's name. It was also Nevada that managed to break Tzakani's neutrality on the conflict, and while she did not agree with Nevada's less-than-honest approach to some things, she realized that fighting this war in support of Leto meant that it would also keep pressure on her own social opponents.

### Raider and Hunter

Nevada joined up with California Sunanda Zendenga in a hunt against vampires in Sezonzé in the wake of Isikiro's Purge. While she did not see eye to eye with either side, she attempted to be one of several mediators in the conflict, and wound up diffusing several tense situations. She worked to keep the most belligerent individuals apart from one another, and worked as a hunter alongside California to help put the more feral ones down—an act that even the other existing vampires found themselves needing to do from time to time.

## Appearance

At 5'4" and 121 lbs, Nevada's figure and size are decisively average by Mencuan standards, especially when considering that many types of Zukuren and Renkida have average female heights in this range. Since Kumenza earned the nickname "dark elf" from having similar proportions to elves, who are the most populous race on Mencu, she is a "dark elf" in most literal senses of the word.

### Physical Appearance

As a natural-born Kumenza it is difficult to determine what races she shares the most traits with, although her slightly thinner, average-height build hints at Zukuren ancestry, and possibly Renkida blood as well. Her skin is the same dark grey as any other Kumenza, with the similar trademark silver hair and red-orange eyes. While the methods are not foolproof, the method by which Nevada manipulates the elements as well as the way she uses her arms and feet hint at a possible Madizi ancestor, although unlikely any Komera or Mizulen. Other races, such as Kuthawa, Todawa, or Shinzoka, are much too tall or robust, while races like Dorenzu and Serenghe are considerably too small. Nevada herself is unconcerned with her ancestry, and likes to think of herself as a Kumenza, given that she was born just as naturally as any other race on Mencu.

### Clothing

Nevada prefers dark blacks and purples with grey or silver lining, as many Kumenza do. She is most commonly seen in a black shirt with long loose sleeves under a deep purple vest, a matching black skirt, and heavy knee-length boots. She usually has a purple headband around her forehead, although it does little to hold her hair back. She occasionally pulls it into a high ponytail, but her hair is so thick and long that it still looks wild and untamed, bouncing with her every step and movement. While her elemental affinity is Earth, she still tends to wear shoes or heavy boots and does not often use her feet to create or absorb elemental aether. This preference for footwear and the lack of common Forming styles seen among the Komera and Mizulen reduces the likelihood that she has any ancestry from the aforementioned races, and her physical build is too different and distinct from most of the others.

## Personality

While not an entirely lawful or honest individual, Nevada does deal justly with those in her circles, and shows great concern for any placed under her care. With many of the marginalized Kumenza in Kerala looking up to her, she was willing to compromise her own reputation to help them and keep them safe during the events that led up to Leto's Rebellion. After her friend Rozani risked her position and respect in the Imperial Magus' University, Nevada took it on herself to shield her friend's reputation, and took the blame—and the fall—for Rozani's actions, despite Rozani's protests. This is a consistent trait of hers that many of her close friends get upset by, for while Nevada is happy to selflessly throw herself in danger to protect a loved one, she often does not consider how these friends might feel were she to perish.

Boundlessly curious and armed with a sharp wit and a wicked sense of humor, Nevada has all the makings of an adventurer as well as the same antics of a Jalenga, and indeed she reveres them like many Kumenza do. In her endless quest of "learning things she's not supposed to know", she has travelled much of the known world, from the far reaches of the Vasantur Archipelago to the western reaches of the Krippan Empire, and from the southern spans of Sacrisola, all the way to the Great North, well past the Sayenzi Greatwood. She has also traversed great lengths of many underground and subterranean kingdoms, including most of Lower Korziña, as well as the realm of the Talaki, making friends (and enemies) all along the way, and learning secrets of all kinds, for better or for worse.

## Abilities

### Elemental and Magical Capacity

Nevada's elemental talents primarily lie in the element Earth, although she prefers to use her magic, particularly her gift of foresight. This is one of the leading factors as to why this woman has a reputation for "knowing things she is not supposed to", although she does not use this ability nearly as much as people accuse her of doing. While her general intuition is the primary culprit for most of the secrets she discovers, her ability as a Seer has also served her well in learning a great many secrets. However, she seldom uses this ability to peer into the minds of others and more simply to follow up on leads and other intel.

### Combat Prowess

While she has attunement to an element and some moderate magical abilities, Nevada prefers hand-to-hand combat, with swift reflexes, amazing sleight-of-hand, and a pair of fists and boots that can pack quite a hit. Although she prefers not to engage in combat in the first place, she is not afraid to get her hands dirty, and will fight dirty in combat with little to no hesitation, preferring to rush her opponent and get right up in their face before they can react or realize what she is doing. She is a popular tavern brawler, and has earned the respect of travelers and seafarers alike, particularly among the Madizi.

### Other Talents

Nevada is a very charismatic woman, easily rallying Kumenza to her cause during the Elven Civil War.

## Trivia

* Nevada has an uncanny ability to tell if a person is from The Archetype or one of the Facsimiles, having called out Kada, Zoroka, and Aveline, as well as Nessa and Rozani.
* Nevada's friendship with California is a reference to the two U.S. States with the same name, and being geographically adjacent to one another.
* 4497 being Nevada's birth year is a callout to her Reference Number, which is #497.
* Nevada is one of a few characters that have visited different worlds, notably the 197th and The Archetype.
* At 121 lbs, Nevada is the same weight as Tzakani, although is slightly taller.

## See Also

* Leto's Rebellion
* California Sunanda Zendenga
* Renkida Vampire Crisis
* Elven Civil War
* Zak Matu Dreggite
* Arza Kadi Serénez
* Dezna Kadi Serénez