by Carteeg Struve, Psycha Durmont, & Joe Mashuga

“Noragaen Veliya, Second Protector” by PsychaDurmont

Noragaen Veliya (Nor’-ah-gane Vehl-ee’-yah) (12/4/376 AD – current) succeeded Jermon Cavlin as Second Protector of the Midland Guard. She was appointed to the position by the Great Sovereign Lord Montegron at the end of 420 AD. The Second Protector has blue eyes and auburn-brown hair streaked with gray, and she stands at a height of 5’6″ with sizable shoulders that hold her muscular frame. Although never beautiful, she has been described as slightly handsome in her youth. The formation of crow’s feet and jowls in recent years shows that middle age is not being kind to her.

Born Noragaen Falecohvo, she was raised in Mauritand several miles outside of the capital Losojadan, in the town of Josal. She is the second daughter of three in a family of horse breeders. Although not rich in the strictest sense of the word, her family was very well off compared to others in the immediate area. Noragaen’s older sister Hannean became an expert rider in her teens, and her younger sister Chonae became an expert in weaponry. Noragaen trained herself in both and matched her sisters in their respective skills. As Hannean was raised to take over the family business and Chonae went off to seek fame and fortune in the world, Noragaen remained in order to help defend the town from those of lawless ilk and the occasional raids from across the border by the strange cat-race and, in a few cases, the bakali.

In her mid-twenties, Noragaen came across a group of Midland soldiers who were under assault from a group of mercenaries working for the Elder Dragons. Rushing to the soldiers’ aid, she ran down several opponents with her horse and wounded three others before the tide of the battle changed in the soldier’s favor. Unknown to Noragaen, these soldiers were members of the Midland Guard who were secretly searching for information on the Volumes of the Prophet. She assisted the injured and helped bury two of their number. As the party rest that night, she stood guard for them. In the morning they went their separate ways, but the leader of the troupe would later submit her name for invitation to the Guard. Four months later in 402 AD, the Falecohvo ranch was visited by the Guard seeking her entry. Noragaen accepted the honor.

She did not jump up quickly through the ranks, but she was promoted consistently and regularly as she proved herself assignment after assignment. Soon the man who made her enlistment possible, Meggad Horda, requested that she be brought into small tight circle of those hunting for information on the Volumes. The request was accepted.

At the age of 30 she married Rafin Veliya, an expert weapon and blacksmith who worked directly for the Midland Guard. Three years later in 409 AD, she was given leave to birth her daughter Dalyang Veliya. Although a competent mother, she quickly returned to her duties with the Midland Guard. However instead of participating in distant searches for the lost Volumes, she was re-assigned to the unit guarding the safety of Montegron himself. Eight years later, in 417 AD, she led the unit that guaranteed the Sovereign’s protection. During this time her family’s horses, now being bred under the management of Hannean, became the preferred the stock for several of the riders within the Guard. When Second Protector Jermon Cavlin died in his sleep in 420 AD, she was both shocked and honored to hear the Sovereign name her Cavlin’s successor. She has sworn to do what she can to uphold the security and unity of the Midlands.

Gaming Stats

3.5 Edition

Female Midlander human fighter 7/Midland guardsman 4
LN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +7; Senses Listen +9, Spot +7

Defense

AC 23, touch 13, flat-footed 20 (+9 armor, +3 Dexterity, +1 natural)
hp 98 (11d10+33)
Fort +16, Ref +10, Will +8; ever honorable
Defensive able defender, uncanny dodge

Offense

Spd 20 ft.
Melee Judgment +15/+10/+5 (1d10+4/19-20) or
mwk longsword +14/+9/+4 (1d8+2/19-20)
Ranged heavy crossbow +14 (1d10/19-20)
Special Attacks direct troops, favored enemy (humanoid [minotaur] +2), inspire courage (+2, 2/day)

Statistics

Str 15, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 16, Wis 13, Cha 9
Base Atk +11; Grp +13
Feats Alertness, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword), Honor-Bound, Improved Initiative, Leadership, Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack, Trample
Skills Craft (blacksmithing) +5, Diplomacy +3, Handle Animal +9, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +5, Knowledge (geography) +5, Knowledge (local) +7, Knowledge (nobility & royalty) +11, Listen +9, Move Silently +1, Ride +13, Search +5, Sense Motive +7, Spot +7, Swim +0
Languages Aquan, Common, Dwarven, Hudieran, Sylvan
SQ dragonmetal sanction (full plate), favor +2, keep a wary eye
Combat Gear boots of haste, gloves of arrow snaring, potion of cure moderate wounds (2); Other Gear +1 dragonmetal full plate, Judgment (dragonmetal bastard sword), amulet of natural armor +1, cloak of resistance +2, mwk longsword, heavy crossbow with 20 bolts, signal horn, signet ring

Special

Weapon Judgment is a bastard sword crafted by Noragaen Veliya’s husband Rafin Veliya upon her being appointed to the position of Second Protector. The sword’s blade and much of the hilt is made of dragonmetal. The ends of the hilt and the bottom of the pommel are adorned with designs of gold, platinum, dragonmetal, and iron. At the base of the blade, iron plate strips are impressed with images of a sword completely wrapped within vines, berries, and leaves.