Magnolia

The Ruthless

Despite an upbringing among the few refined dignitaries in her homeland, Magnolia never quite developed the level of tact and social grace that her parents had hoped for. She wasn't trying to be actively rude per se, but rather couldn't hide how boring she found things like tea parties and dinners with the various nobles that her family needed to keep on good terms with. Her subtle eye rolling, poor posture and eagerness to excuse herself didn't go unnoticed by said nobles and often ended up offending guests more often than not. The more she fussed, however, the more her parents insisted that she show up to every function. (It was the only way they could think of to punish her, honestly.)

There was one social obligation her parents dragged her to that Magnolia absolutely adored, however; the dragon vs. dragon battles that took place in the coliseum. While her sister Iris would often cringe or turn away whenever a particularly nasty blow would land, Magnolia would hoot and holler at the top of her lungs. It was just so exciting! Magic! Mayhem! Unadulterated violence! There wasn't a single thing about the fights that didn't get her blood pumping and her imagination running wild. She'd often pretend that she was down in the ring, blasting opponents with a powerful slash of wind or skillfully dodging a vicious eliminate.

In fact, she often dreamed of being accepted into another clan where she could drop the ruse of being a high society lady and finally be a warrior herself. Much to her joy, when she was on the cusp of adulthood and needing to mate or find a trade, a mercenary of much renown travelled through her home- The Ferocious, a legend even among the extraordinary group of mercenaries to which he belonged. She wasn’t sure quite how it happened- it involved dinner, a slip of the tongue, and a shining through of her passion- but he took her on as an apprentice, and so she did find another clan where she could be a warrior. However, she soon found that being a high society lady was very helpful. She found her rusty politic and social skills, when shone up a bit, could do quite a bit of damage- especially when artfully partnered with her newfound ability to do violence.

She improved very quickly, between her array of skills and her ability to pick up new ones at the drop of a hat. Her drive, absolute focus after acquiring a target, and the brutal efficiency with which she completed her job, quickly earned her a reputation for being ruthless- and that was the title she received when she became a mercenary in her own right. Neo was very much like a father to her, and although she was no longer technically his apprentice, he would never stop being her mentor. Due to her position of prestige from the beginning, Magnolia never had to take jobs she didn’t want to (and Neo was keen on not traumatizing her), and although she’s one of the most dangerous of their group, she’s also arguably the most pure. She’s not disillusioned as to her profession- it’s startlingly dark at times, and she's had to make some very hard decisions, but she has a good heart, and makes good choices in bad situations.

Other Mercenaries of The Band (To Be Named)

Neo the Ferocious
Elfa the Barbarian
Monroe the Wild
Chishio the Brutal