Mielan Ploe

## Overview

Mielan Ploe, a Bendonite woman and a distinguished Mercenary Operations Specialist, navigates the volatile landscape of the Callaxian Civil War with an exceptional blend of skill, thrill, and pragmatism. While her official designation aligns her with the Mission Vanguard, she primarily identifies as a soldier of fortune, engaging in high-risk, high-reward combat scenarios. Mielan's career, spanning a variety of factions including private groups and two Mission space worlds, is driven by an insatiable curiosity and an unwavering pursuit of unique challenges. This led her to seek out her current position amidst the ongoing conflict on Callax, a "primitive" world. Despite the political implications of the war, Mielan's interest is not in ideological debates over interventionism, but in the tactical complexities and potential lucrative outcomes of warfare.

## Physical Appearance

Mielan, a Bendonite of the paper-white skin variant, showcases her lineage with short, jet-black hair and eyebrows. Her physique, although petite, is notably muscular, embodying her formidable combat abilities. Notably, she carries the iconic long, pointed ears of her race, serving as potential improvised weapons when needed. Mielan is particularly adept at fedfoe, a Bendonite martial art that makes extensive use of the ears.

## Early Life

Born as an only child on Bendon, Mielan is the offspring of an infamous mercenary, whose demise during a raid when Mielan was 17 significantly impacted her life trajectory. Despite her mother's ongoing grief over her husband's dangerous occupation and subsequent death, Mielan followed her father's footsteps but ensures to prioritize her personal safety and maintain a strict ethical code.

## Career

A veteran mercenary, Mielan's career is defined by a relentless pursuit of high-stakes jobs. Known for her leadership in battle and strategic acumen, she is an invaluable asset to the Mission Vanguard in the Callaxian Civil War. While her experience includes serving private groups and diverse Mission space worlds, it is her deliberate involvement in the Callaxian conflict that stands testament to her adventurous spirit and interest in the dynamics of warfare in various settings.

## Personal Life

Mielan, despite her mother's disapproval, firmly clings to her perilous profession, always on the hunt for the next challenge. Her competitive streak is further accentuated by her relationship with her childhood friend, Faepen Drie. A Bendonite engaged in AI-augmented accounting for struggling businesses, Faepen consistently warns Mielan about the dangers of her work, cautioning her against falling into the same fate as her father. Mielan, however, refutes his apprehensions and encourages him to embrace a more adventurous lifestyle. She relishes in the juxtaposition between their lives, enjoying how her daring exploits contrast with Faepen's more mundane pursuits. This incessant quest for excitement extends into her hobbies, with Cloak & Chalice, a popular live-action role-playing game, being a significant favorite. Contrary to the Xian tradition of using a scenario only once, Mielan is not averse to reusing them, leading to an interesting dynamic with scenario writer, Xeth Xiantra.

## Beliefs and Views

Despite her engagement in a politically charged conflict, Mielan holds no strong views about interventionism. Instead, she values the thrill, complexities, and potential financial gains of warfare. She firmly believes in learning through firsthand experience, finding books and other traditional forms of learning insufficiently stimulating. This echoes in her personal life too, where activities such as watching television or films fall short of capturing her attention. Mielan's worldview encapsulates the idea that life is an adrenaline-fueled adventure to be lived in the moment, and she champions this philosophy in every aspect of her existence. Like so many other Bendonites, she is an on-paper adherent of Servism who doesn't actually give religion or spirituality much thought at all.