Marnia Helgar

Marianne Frederique Helgar

Marni was born in the baggage train of a company of sell-swords, to a mother who died of consumption in a beautiful seaside town, too poor to pay for a doctor. That day she vowed to never let that happen again to the ones she loved…

…or at least that’s the story she would tell new recruits, drinking buddies, and prisoners consigned to her guard detail. 

Marianne Frederique Helgar was born to a minor remote noble lord, a 5th born daughter with no social or political value but to be married away as a minor prize to some hedgeknight or bannerman. 

So she said slag that, and set off as a prodigal from home at the ripe age of 17, with a stolen horse, a purse full of money, and the best education money could buy in both sword, horse, and manners. 

Her new education began in earnest and very quickly she frittered her stolen fortune away on women and loose living. All came to a head when she tried a harebrained scheme to hire a mercenary band to help her unseat a local lord who she claimed was unjustly taxing a small town’s inhabitants. 

But when her reputation got around to the mercenary captain, her plan fell to pieces and her fiduciary inconstancy landed her in a difficult choice based on her broken contract; torture before the lord, slavery to the mercenary band, or death. 

Or so it seemed, but she called on a half-forgotten clause in the hastily written contract; single combat to the death as collateral. 

A surprising fight commenced, where the willowy teenager proved a hale and worthy swordsman, and before the fight was concluded she had struck one too many lucky blows, and as her final blow fell she turned it aside as the captain’s blade took her eye. 

So it was that Marni “Dot’s-her-eyes” joined up with and cut her fame with the mercenary company before leaving to make her fortune and experience new wonders in the new world.