Amelia "Rose" Hart's page

Amelia was the second child born to a small family, from a small trade post turned small town (no more than 1000 people likely, a portion of which are passing through) between Kenabras and much of the southern world. Her family were well off, as far as most in the town were concerned. They had large tracts of fertile land, and often had others help work and till it in return for a share of the produce. And for her part, Amelia grew up in relative comfort, even having enough time on her hands to learn to, at least somewhat, play a violin from a traveling bard that stayed in the town for a few months. He even left her his instrument when he left. Despite all this, she still spent a fair portion of her time helping with chores and more labor intensive work, since her brother had always been rather sickly, with a lower tolerance for strenuous, physical, activity. Contrary to him, Amelia proved surprisingly capable at physical labor, able to go the long hours of hard work needed in such a life, and still have the energy and desire to run and play with her friends. This carried on from childhood, through her teenage years. Eventually, she was renowned as one of the strongest, most resilient folks in the town. This, along with an almost unearthly beauty and dark crimson tinted hair had earned her the moniker, "The towns Rose", and many took to calling her by the name "Rose". Which she tolerated.

Of her friends, two stood above the rest, Maia Locke, the lone daughter of a retired crusader. And Geoffrey Brocker, the son of an Absolom merchant seeking to take advantage of the crusades and make a fortune. Maia, was two years older than Amelia and like her father followed the faith of Sarenrea. Geoffrey, Amelia's own age, was a boy engrossed in tales of knights and heroes, much to his fathers chargrin. This love of tales of heroic deeds and knights was shared by Amelia, and they often pretended to be such heroes together and both had plans to go off one day, join the crusades, and live the legends.

However, her rather peaceful life would soon be dyed in blood. As many are when living close to the worldwound. At the age of 13, she and a group of her friends were playing along the edge of the town, near the woods at twilight. A stick breaking, the shaking of a brush the only warning to ensuing bloodbath. A demon, a Hezrou, erupted from the nearby treeline, and tore into the one adult watching the children, feasting in a ravenous fervor. In seconds, before even the children had had time to process what had happened, it turned towards them, and in an instant, almost as if it hadn't even needed to move, was among them and had one of the 3 other children in its grasp. They scattered as a spray of blood splashed across their faces as it had its feast. Though Maia had managed to keep her, Amelia, and Geoffrey together as they ran covered in blood. However, this only made them a larger target for the demon. It appeared in front of them, as if out of thin air. The only thing that saved Geoffrey was a rock which caused him to trip as the demon grabbed for him. Maia shoved Amelia away, yelling for her to run before pulling out a small dagger her father had given to her. The dagger was suddenly set alight with a golden hued flame that glowed almost as if from sunlight. The demon paused, yet Geoffrey was petrified in fear, unable to stand, or even tremble. When the demon reached for him, Maia swung wildly, and for another brief moment the demon seemed to take a step back. However it soon let out a laugh that haunts Amelia to this day. The demon swatted Maia aside, sending her sprawling away. Acting on sheer instinct and adrenaline, Amelia ran up and grabbed Geoffrey, forcing him to stand and began to pull him away. Suddenly, there was an intense pain in her left arm, then nothing, then she felt a hot liquid running down her side. She stood in shock, looking at her arm hanging loosely, almost severed clean off. She began to feel dizzy, all the while that horrible laughter seemed to echo from everywhere. The demon went in for the final strike, but as it stepped forward Amelia heard it growl in surprise. She managed to see a battered and bloody Maia leaning on the monster, her dagger buried deeply in its side as it seemed to burn the creatures flesh. Time seemed to freeze as the demon turned with a fury on Maia, and there, on her face, Amelia saw a smile... where was the fear? She saw a warm light, before a cold wind snuffed it out in a single blow. Amelia fell to her knees as Geoffrey seemed to finally find his feet and flee sobbing, leaving her there. The corners of her world were going black as she silently watched on in shock as the demon approached her. It seemed to be savoring this, she thought to herself. She thought she saw a man running towards them, as the demon stretched out his hand to grab her. Her world went dark to the echoing laughter of a creature made from pure evil.

She awoke a week later, laying on a cot in an unfamiliar place. A man muttering deep in prayer next to her. She instinctively went to check her arm, it was there, somehow, it was still there. Though it felt slightly weakened, and there was a terrible scar running almost the entire length of the shoulder blade. She sat silent for minutes before tears came. Slowly at first, then as if a dam gave way, a river.

After that, she learned she was in kenabras, where the hero that saved her by killing the Hezrou had taken her. Where she had been healed, and by a miracle, managed to keep her arm. She remained distant for months after the event, she seemed devoid of emotion, and over that period voiced many troublesome thoughts about uncaring gods. It would be Maia's father that would finally break her from her stupor. With a little support, and a little hard love he managed to seemingly bring Amelia back.

"SO what, you're just going to quit and sulk? You're just going to let my daughters sacrifice go in vain? Were you even her friend?!" How that statement had angered Amelia, how it had filled her with indignation. He didn't know, couldn't understand! Yet, as the anger left, she realized suddenly. She had felt something again. And as she realized this, and her temper cooled she realized how foolish it was to say he couldn't understand.

She would return to Maia's father, and after a talk, she agreed to let him teach her how to fight. Many of the lessons she received she held close to her...

Keep your eyes open, focus! React only to threats, if every stray movement causes you to flinch you'll never be able to avoid real attacks! No! Again! If you can't trust your eyes, trust your gut!

He shouted as he circled her

No! keep light on your feet! If you let enemies create distance what good is your sword! Never plant your feet, always be ready to move! Good! Again!

He would even blindfold her at times.
What happens if an enemy causes you to lose vision? Demons have supernatural sight in the dark. Are you just going to quit?! Use your senses! Hear the enemy's footsteps, feel their presence! They won't always fight fair, be ready!

He also managed to restore a modicum of faith in the goodly gods, not mending, but covering up enough to redirect the anger she felt towards them to something else more deserving. In the end however, she gave little praise to the deities, for it had not been them that saved her, it had been other people just like her.

Today, Amelia has joined on the crusades as a fresh recruit. The tragedy from her past turned into a driving force for her. She would never let that happen to another could she help it. To her dismay however, Geoffrey did not join. Ever since the incident, she had watched him grow more and more like his father. It infuriated her, how could he? After what Maia had sacrificed for them? She and him had a large the day she formally signed on. Her pushing him to follow her, and him trying to convince her not to sign on and to come with him. They hadn't spoken in the following weeks since.

She also had a quiet thought in her mind in addition to all the others. A small one, but one that was there, right below the surface. Now that she was to be a crusader, she would surely see the wonders and deeds that the gods performed to defend them. She would surely see what kept their eyes and attention from her and her friends those many years ago. She'd see first hand how wonderful the gods like Sarenea and Iomeade were, like Maia and her father believed they were.

Like her, her brother Had joined the crusades, though he discovered his gift for magic, and has been sent to better hone his abilities with it.

Fiery, driven, Antagonistic, overbearing, and independent all can be used to describe Amelia, but so can friendly, caring, Determined, passionate, supportive, and protective as well. She has a mind set of if you don't do something, then no one will. If everyone is watching, no one is. She has reservations about the gods, having seen little evidence in her life of their greatness, the only real gift being her left arm. And even then, it was a person, just like her, that had given that. She however is determined to see for herself what inspires others so. She is not one to give up or quit, and is openly dismissive and almost hostile to those that do. Though that is, largely, because it frustrates her because she knows they can do better. (Like Geoffrey) Or because them giving up endangers the well being of others. That isn't to say she doesn't try to inspire them, but that was never her strongest suit.

Still, "no one has more heart than a hart." Has become a common saying for her and those that know her. She is hard working, and comes off as rough and abrasive. Though, she does have a truly tender and soft side to her. Often showing it to children, or those going through particularly rough times.