Lauren Steelgaze

Ag: 6B
Dx: 7C
En: 8A
St: 9A
Re: 6C
Pe: 4B
Sp: 8D
Pr: 8A

Melee: Long Sword of Distinction; Dmg: +9
Missile: None; Dmg: 0
Armor: Plate; Def: -5
Shield: Horse; Def: -4

Description: The mysterious woman known as Lauren Steelgaze holds many secrets, some of which she doesn't even know. Though rumored to be Steel Brightblade's only offspring, she is in fact the illegitimate daughter of Ariakan, the first commander of the Dark Knights.
Against his knightly code, Ariakan once cavorted with a lowly slave at Storm's Keep, only a few months before his death at the High Clerist's Tower. When the high priests of Takhisis discovered this after the war, they at first intended to kill the woman and her unborn child as a sacrifice to bring back their goddess. However, upon consideration, they decided that such a potential warrior would better serve Takhisis' cause alive than dead. Since the mother was of little use to them, once she had given birth to Lauren, the Dark Knights cruelly lead her to the scaffold where she would be punished for her crimes against Ariakan(they had discovered what little benefit doting mothers gave for the Knighthood after Sara Dunstan tried to persuade Steel Brightblade from his destiny).
When the anguished mother had only one breath left, she uttered the name, "Lauren", and died. This puzzled the high priests, for they had assumed her offspring to be male. Yet when they inspected the baby, they found it to be, though strong and healthy, a female, unworthy to carry the crest of their lord. Nonetheless, as soon as she came of age, the Knights of Takhisis subjected Lauren to the rigorous warrior training due to all applicants of the Knighthood. She proved to be far more suited to the role than they had ever dreamed. Lauren was intelligent, strong, athletic, loyal, and competitive, all traits the Dark Knights favored. However, she was also willful and unyielding, more likely to throw off the yoke of subservience than adhere to it. Obviously, this gave the militaristic and obedience-bound Knights of Takhisis pause. In spite of this, Governor-General Mirielle Albrena herself chose to sponsor this determined youth, more so because of Lauren's resemblance of her own personality than her blood line.
Throughout her life, whenever Lauren Steelgaze inquired about her lineage, Albrena would answer in brief, vague statements, such as, "the daughter of the Knighthood," or "of the blood of Takhisis". One informed of the situation could tell that the answers Mirielle were not entirely false; bits of truth could be gleaned from each. Ariakan was known as the father of the Knighthood, and his mother was supposedly the goddess Zeboim, the tempestuous daughter of the Dark Queen. The only item from Lauren's mother the Governor-General allowed to be bequeathed to her was an ancestral locket, with her mother's portrait inside. This perplexing artifact only added to her confusion.
At the age of twenty-eight, Lauren became the youngest Knight to ever attain the rank of Lord Knight of the Lily, the highest level of authority in that order. After seeing how different the Knights were from the stories and history lessons she'd been taught, though, the woman was shocked. The old Knights were honorable and just, seeking to increase their goddess's influence on Krynn. In Takhisis' absence, though, her knights became disorganized and oppressive, their only clear goal to have the world at their feet. The once profound term "honor" now had an empty meaning. Inevitably, Lauren Steelgaze became disgusted not only towards the Knights under her command, but disillusioned toward the Knighthood as a whole. Late in the Dragon Purge, she discovered a secret compartment in her locket, within which she found a document from her true mother. It detailed the story of her meeting with Ariakan to the birthing of Lauren, right up to the moment of her death.
Maddened beyond reason, Lauren renounced the Order openly, pointing out how much the deceiving Knights of Takhisis had become as dishonorable as their foes. Defiantly, she stormed out of Neraka with a talon of loyal Knights disenchanted as she was. Only five of them reached the outer gates, and one more died of arrow wounds a mile down the road. Once safely out of the Dark Knights' realm, Lauren and her followers burned their armor and weapons, though she kept her sword of station, which was blessed by her great grandmother, Takhisis.
Though her father founded the Knights of Takhisis, Lauren hates what they have become; she blames the Governor-General for perverting their purpose to serve her own ends. She has some respect for the other knightly orders, the Knights of Solamnia and the Legion of Steel. But she feels they are too soft to become major military powers. Currently, she is traveling to the Citadel of Light to seek inner peace; it is hard to cope with the fact that everything you once knew was a lie. Her greatest fear is that Goldmoon will not admit her, maybe even attack her.
Regardless, Lauren must always stay on the move, for a team of Dark Knights led by her rival, Damian Nightsword, follows her every step.

Game Information: As a rogue knight, Lauren Steelgaze enjoys a automatic trump bonus when combating Knights of Takhisis, including melee and missile attacks, surprise, and initiative attacks. She also gains a trump bonus when using a Presence action while impersonating a Dark Knight(her code of honor labels this as dishonorable, however), and also when conducting melee attack while riding a mount. In retrospect, she is constantly hounded by the Knighthood, particularly the Lily Knight Damian Nightsword. Because of her hatred towards the Dark Knights, she must achieve an average Spirit action, opposed by the Knight or leader of the Knights' demeanor score, to keep her from initiating battle with them once she sees them, no matter what the odds. Unlike other rogue knights, strong-willed Lauren does not face a no-trump penalty when resisting mysticism.
This woman's unique lineage also lends a few advantages and disadvantages to her disposal. As the sea goddess Zeboim was her grandmother, any card Lauren's player plays to perform a physical action in or under water becomes an automatic trump. She can also stay underwater safely for ten minutes, though every minute after that requires a challenging Endurance action. Takhisis's legacy gives Lauren a +2 bonus when resisting sorcery, dragonawe, and dragon breath. However, no card played to attempt a Presence action with sea elves(the Dargonesti and Dimernesti elves loathed Zeboim)and anyone whose nature score is lower than 4 is ever trump(except when resisting mystic spells). She also suffers a -2 penalty when resisting mystic spells dealt aginst her by a mystic with a nature score of three or lower.
Lauren has exceptional hearing. She leads a small band of rogue Knights in her campaigns(unless they are killed).

• Three Rogue Knights: Human adults, various demeanors, Adventurers. Co 7, Ph 8, In 5, Es 6, Dmg: +7(long sword), Def: -6(target shield, chain mail), also missile weapons(crossbow/ +5).

Appearance: Though many men would consider Lauren attractive, her chiseled features bear a cold beauty. Almost never smiling, her blue eyes are as hard as the steel that describes her name. She wears her long, flaxen hair in a great braid that falls down her back, though she tucks it under her helm during battle. Tall and thin-framed, she bears many muscles as proof of her long years of training. Lauren's skin is well tanned and her hands bear many small scars from expert swordplay. She places practicality and functionality above formality and pomp, so she is much more likely to wear full battle armor, or at least leathers, instead of a dress(even at sword point).

Created By: Matt DeBias