Althea Ironheart

The Tale of A Rouge

• Origins

  The kingdom of Quu. A wonderful kingdom with bountiful resources and opportunities. If you’re born to the right class. But this is not a story of someone’s rise to riches. This is the story of a girls fall in to poverty. You see, Althea’s father was a nobleman. He owned properties in the lower-class district. I know what you’re thinking. A rich guy that owns the poor people. But it wasn’t like that.
  
  Arthur was a man of honor and believed that no matter who you were, you could do great things. He gave his community every opportunity to do such things by teach them how to run their markets more economically, teaching them new trades, and finally teaching them about the importance of discipline within their community. The more they policed themselves and the lower their crime, the lower their tax rates become.
  
  Arthur’s little mini kingdom was thriving and setting an example to the other nobleman. But it was also an affront to the class based architecture of the kingdom. On the night of the 15th, Arthur went to bed complaining of stomach pains. His last gesture was to his daughter, whom he hugged tightly. In his delirium he spoke to her. “It’s not who we are that make use what we are. It’s what we do. Remember that Althea.” This was the lesson from the night before. Why was he repeating that now?
  
  Arthur didn’t wake up the next day. But there was no time for morning as the other noblemen had come to the door with guards and papers stating they had proof of Arthurs treason and that his assets were to be turned over to the king. Althea was 6 years old and about to be put to death. But the little girl was brighter than they could have imagined. She saw the writing on the wall and made a break for it out the back window. She was never seen by then again. So ends the final chapter in a rich and youthful lifestyle with her father. Thus beginning the first chapter of Althea’s life in poverty.
  
  Althea had nothing to her name. In a class based society that basically meant you were a nobody. However, there were those loyal to her father whom knew her and took her in to their home. She bounced from home to home as the Nobel tried desperately to find her. Ransacking nearly the entirety of the poor sector looking for her. She was swift and her allies were many. One being a thief in a guild known as Shadow Claw. This was her final stop. As the Nobleman came to the threshold of the thieves den they demanded the release of the child. The leader simply chuckle which drew the offense of one of the Nobleman who drew his blade in response. “You don’t want to do that…” The leader warned. The Nobleman simply laughed and asked him just why he should cleave his head from his body. The leader whistled and an arrow pierce the sword arm of the Nobleman who dropped his blade. He and the soldiers looked all over but none knew where that arrow had been loosed from. “If I were you, I’d turn tail now. You have no jurisdiction here…” They did so, but with a promise to return and put an end to the guild once and for all. Thus, began the next chapter in Althea’s life. The chapter of the Thieves Guild, Shadow Claw.
  
  Althea was a fast learner. From the blade to the bow she was a natural. She told her that it was customary for nobles to be taught the blade styles of their ancestors. It was the mark of your heritage. Respect starts with how you handle your own. A couple of the thieves laughed at her remarks. But the leader saw in her the makings of something more. She was extremely charismatic and seemed to make fast friends with most of the guild. She earned herself the notoriety of being the guilds resident pickpocket. She could even pickpocket the other thieves within the guild. Which she did often as a trick and a show of trust and kinship as she always returned what she took.
  
  Althea was only just peaking in to her 20s when she was in line to be the next leader. “Althea, I trust the guild in your hands. I know that with you at their backs, the world will never overtake them. Remember that we’re a family. We steal only what we need and never-” Althea interrupted him. “From the poor. I know, I’ll make you proud Marcus.” On that note she was herald as the guilds new leader. Some of the new bloods were angry. But the veterans that knew her couldn’t have been happier. But that celebration was cut short as once again the nobleman returned to take from her all that she had earned. Or so she had thought when there was a call of disturbance on the frontlines. What came next, she never imagined.
  
  Soldier in the thousands rallied to the call. But that was the least of it as there was a woman dressed in ceremonial clothing on the frontlines tossing aside her comrades like they were nothing. Althea was smart enough to see the writing on the wall in this fight too. “We have to retreat.” Her second in command was taken back by her decision. “What do you mean? This is our home. We can’t just pick up and leave it all behind!?” Althea pointed out to the farther reaches of the battlefield to the woman who steadily advanced on their territory. “That is no ordinary mage. Look at her. Look at the way she kills. It’s like she has no concept of human life. You’ve heard the stories too Mathew. The Kings secret weapon? A powerful mage unlike the world has ever seen. Bred to show no fear, no remorse, and no mercy.” Mathew turned away from her to look to the distance.
  
  It was in that moment that a spell was released and the fighting stopped. Only for a moment. Everyone froze and the soldiers put away their blades. It was confusing at first, but then the results quickly manifested in to a night mare. Guild members began fighting each other. “You see now Mathew? She is making us wage war against ourselves. Do you see a smile on her face? Do you see joy or commitment? I see a monster we cannot hope to fight against. Not as we are Mathew. Not as we are.” Mathew was in tears but he called the retreat just as ordered. With more than half of their guild dead and half of that fighting for the soldier’s side, there wasn’t much to retreat.
  
  They took the back ally in to a tunnel and in to the sewers where they all split up. They had to make sure they wouldn’t all be killed if they chose to pursue. Which thankfully they didn’t. They seemed at peace with their victory in destroying the home of the thieves guild.
  
  Althea and the others met up one week later at a tavern called Lucky’s Inn. One of their last contacts with enough loyalty to brave the threat of treason and take them in. Only seven of them now remained. There was a long silence as they all drank to their fallen comrades. A long silence that was broken by Mathew. “Why did we run? We should have protected our home. Or at least died trying.” Althea threw down her glass and stood up. “And what would that have accomplished, huh? We’d have given them exactly what they wanted. The complete and total annihilation of the guild.” Another took stance against her. “Marcus would never have order us to-” Althea was quick to silence him in furious anger. “Marcus would have made the same call. We have lost the battle, yes. Many of our comrades have died. But we have not lost the war. He brought his war machine to our doorstep and slaughtered our family. We will bring the war to his doorstep and in turn take from him his kingdom. To the death of the king!” She said as she held up her glass. The other held up their glass as well. “but uh… how are we going to accomplish that?” One of them asked curiously. “You leave that to me… for now, do what you all do best and bring in some gold. We have a kingdom to overthrow gentleman. Let’s not keep destiny waiting.” She said as she raised her glass once more. “To the guild and our comrades. They will not have died in vein… not while we still draw breath.”
  
  This sets our story to where we are now. The Thieves Guild was not crush as the commander had reported to the king. They were still very much alive and with a new leader. Ever plotting against the king in the shadows of his beloved kingdom. Althea most of all. As he and the noble burned a special hole in her heart. The murder of her father and the trashing of her heritage. Now for the murder of her second family. They knew not where to draw the line and so she would draw it through their throats…