Aleen Dorne

> *"Evening, Captain. Haven't seen any Sterling sympathizers 'round here."* -Aleen Dorne
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## Summary

**Aleen Dorne** (she/her) was a disgraced hofflin paladin of Sterling, later turned Triumvirate-aligned traitor. She was the owner of the Broken Shield Tavern in Far Longwall during the Triumvirate's reign. She died fighting alongside several Black Rose soldiers against the united forces of Roigerdam and Sterling.

## Early Life

Aleen Carrotlace-Dukkat grew up in Ubbin, but soon moved to Leek-Lake to live with her aunts. Aleen's parents, Joshmere (he/him) and Naomii (she/her) had fallen badly ill, and weren't able to look after their daughter. Leek-Lake was quiet and uneventful, a charming twee place to raise a child, but nothing more. Her aunts, Charlee and Joeline, did their best to make life as fun as possible for the girl. Games of hopscotch, fishing by the lake, and storytime became a fun tradition. But the highlight was the trips to Ubbin every month. Aleen and her aunts would make the trip to Ubbin to see her parents. Eventually, those trips became less and less fun, as Aleen realised that her parents weren't going to recover from their illness.

One month, little Aleen was allowed to make the trip to Ubbin on her own - she was old enough now, at 12. So, she packed her things, and wore her best coat (a red one without any holes), paid the fare for the ferry, and enjoyed the sights on the way downriver. Cool evening air ruffled her red coat. The big lights of the city always looked so pretty at night. She climbed out of the boat, and strolled through the beautiful city to her parents' house. She knocked once, twirled her hair impatiently, and knocked again. The door opened weakly, revealing a sullen-looking nurse.

> "I'm sorry, Aleen, but they passed away last week. I thought you'd got our letters?"
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Aleen didn't say anything. She didn't even emote at all. She just turned and went straight back to the dock and hopped on the same ferry she'd arrived on.

## Sterling Adoption

Joined the Sterling Pyrusian school alongside many others, befriending a Tirrius Warren and Lyrinessa Gladeborn. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of Bothar's Shield-Knights. There, she trained in Bothar's methods of shields. This was a school of protection and defence, utilising no weapons. This, explained Bothar, was not just a fighting style, but a philosophy. Aleen didn't really understand this, noting that a thrown shield was particularly effective at disarming and disorienting foes. She'd also taken a liking to hiding knives on her person for a backup weapon, something Bothar disapproved of: "A Shield-Knight must show that they mean no harm. How can you do that if you are armed?" Of course, Aleen had a response for this: "Simple. I just won't show my arms."

## Deknighting

After breaking her Shield-knight oath, Aleen was made a knave, rather publicly, on the streets of Sterling. She had her shield ceremonially broken in twain, and she was told to keep the pieces until she could redeem them.

## Broken Shield Tavern

She moved to far Longwall to be as far away from Sterling as possible. She opened a tavern called the Broken Shield, and hung her shield up on the wall as a symbol of her defiance.

## Triumvirate Involvement

Aleen worked as an informant for Matthew Albair.