Marian Redrain
Description
Marian is a striking, if hard-looking woman that has seen much in her life. Lean and long of leg, 'sinewy' is a better descriptor of her build than 'lithe'. Marian is strong, and tough, and resilient enough to take anything thrown at her. Her hair borders on sinister, with long, thick locks shaded so deeply red as to look burgundy. A thin scar bisects one eyebrow, continuing down over a sharp, high cheekbone. It calls attention to those flashing eyes, venom green and almond-shaped. When she smiles, it's most often a crooked affair, curling up just at one corner of her wide mouth. Her chin is strong, her hands and arms (and the rest of her, besides) crisscrossed with the faint scars that often decorate a knife-fighter. On clothes that show her midriff, she has two tribal tattoos, dragon and bear to commemorate her two marriages. Three tiny little bear cubs sleep at the foot of the roaring bear tattoo.
Personality
Marian Redrain, formerly Marian of the Green March and Valardin, is not a complainer. She endured much during her life as a prodigal from an Abandoned tribe, raids and battles with other tribes, Valardin knights, demonic hordes and once she even managed to tumble down a steep embankment while running drunk. She yanked out the branch that had stabbed into her thigh, dragged herself back up to the path (leaving a bloody trail behind for the joy of forest predators), and said fiercely to whomever or whatever might be listening, "I'm still here." A dozen times, she should have died. A dozen times, she refused. Despite her eventful life, and her personal sorrows, she maintains a surprisingly gentle manner. She doesn't pick fights, but she's more than willing to end them - though any youthful delight she felt in the display of her superior fighting skills has faded to weariness, and regret in the years after Valen's death. Her personal code of honor was perhaps a touch more wild and ferocious than what House Valardin at times was comfortable with, but her new House, Redrain, embraces this fierce warrior. Since the marriage to her new husband, Fergus, there is light back in her eyes and a smile on her face. Many remark she is the Marian of old, before the Tragedy of Sanctum struck.
Background
Marian was a member of the Green March Abandoned, a chieftan's daughter with several raids and duels under her belt (literally! She liked to hang trophies from her belt) when peace was brokered between their tribe and the Valardin of Sanctum. Of course, that's not the whole story. In truth, Valen, son of Radley and Prince of Valardin, was part of a hunting expedition that was captured by the Green March. Marian's father was determined to murder off the party and ransom the young prince back to his family. Fate had other plans. Marian found she admired the young man's bravery in the face of his captivity. He argued passionately for the lives of his men, and stated he could make sure the Green March, so close to Sanctum lands, could coexist in peace if he were released and allowed to make the case to the High Lord. Marian's father scoffed at this, but in secret, with his advisers and his daughter, he couldn't help but consider it. Other tribes of Abandoned had been growing withdrawn and strangely quarrelsome, and an offer of peace and inclusion couldn't be dismissed outright.
