Titan

Delara is the daughter of Gelpas Ranblade, Captain of the Ravenford Guard. She has two brothers: Bret, a year older, and William, a year younger. Her mother, Dema, died giving birth to Will, so Delara has no real memories of her. Gelpas brought his children with him to Ravenford Keep while he worked, and so Delara was more or less raised there by the Lady Gracelynn and the castle servants. The young Lady Andrella became almost like a sister to her, the two girls raised and tutored side by side.

When they were old enough, Gelpas started all three of his children on lessons at arms, for he believed that everyone, man or woman, should learn to defend themselves. All three took to the sword and shield, but Delara pulled ahead of her brothers when she reached puberty and hit a massive growth spurt. She shot up past even her older brother, Bret, and with that height came inordinate strength.

There had long been rumors of “Titan” blood on her mother’s side of the family—Dema herself had stood 5’8”. Soon Delara could best her brothers with the sword, even two on one, and her prowess bred friction between them, especially with Bret. It was Bret who coined the nickname “Titan,” and he did not mean it kindly. Before long the whole town was calling her that, though no one dared do so in front of her father.

Delara grew apart from her brothers, and from Andrella as well, for the young lady had become more interested in jewelry and fashion, which held no appeal for Delara. Instead, she found friendship with two other girls whom most of the town considered outcasts. Xelda Sheenarn, granddaughter of the half-elven merchant Pheldan, had lost both her parents in the dragon attack on Ravenford some years before. She was looked down upon not only for being a half-elf, but for spending her life with her nose in books.

Her other new friend was Kailay Finespun, the tailor’s daughter, who had also lost her father in the dragon attack. Kailay was a pretty little thing, but she was boy crazy, and the boys in town did not care to be chased, so they tended to shun her. Kailay had originally set her sights on Delara’s brother Bret. When that didn’t work out, she and Delara became good friends.

When Bret and Will eventually joined the town guard, Delara balked at the idea. Most of the boys she had grown up with were now in the guard, and she wanted no part of that group of “knit-wits.” So when Brundon Twyll breezed into town looking for mercenary work, the two of them quickly hit it off. Brundon did not see Delara as some tall “freak,” but rather as a force to be reckoned with. He was one of the only men, other than her father, who treated her as a person.

When Brundon suggested they go into the mercenary business together, Delara jumped at the chance. Taking on her childhood nickname of “Titan,” she and Brundon began taking jobs around town and swiftly made a name for themselves. Her choice of profession drove something of a wedge between Delara and her father, but that did not stop her from following her own path.

Brundon and Delara became good friends, forever kidding and joking with each other. Though Brundon can be something of a ladies’ man, he has never crossed that line with her, and when the two are being serious, he treats her with the greatest respect. Still, though she would deny it, Delara has grown very fond of the roguish tracker.

Their success as mercenaries continued until caravans began disappearing in the Bendenwoods. Delara wanted to go and investigate, but Brundon thought it a fool’s errand, making excuses about the size of the wood. When she then wanted to join one of the caravans, her father flatly refused to hire them for the job. The whole affair left Delara bitter.

So when the Heroes came to town and wanted to hire her and Brundon, Delara leapt at the offer; it had been a while since the pair had landed a good-paying job. Brundon dragged his feet, plainly trying to hustle the newcomers for more money, but Delara would have none of it and took the job on the spot. Brundon grumbled about it afterward, until Delara shut him up by offering him her share of the pay.

It turned out to be a wild adventure. Delara had never faced such daunting adversaries, nor fought beside such brilliant comrades. Lloyd, in particular, intrigued her. The two warriors were kindred spirits who could talk weapons and fighting for hours, and the things Lloyd could do in battle were truly amazing. Delara thoroughly enjoyed traveling with the Heroes, but in time she began to feel she was losing her edge beside Lloyd. That was the last straw, and it spurred her to follow an old dream.

Delara resolved to set out for the Wind Tower to the west and apply to become a Knight of the Rose. It was not an easy decision, especially when she confronted her father, but in the end she won his blessing. What truly surprised her was that Brundon chose to come with her. It made her feel strangely warm inside that her partner would stick by her side, even though it took them both away from what could have been a lucrative career. Now she only hoped she could cut it as a Knight.