Lady Eleanor Brightfire (3.5e NPC)
| Female human Knight 13 | |
| LG Medium Humanoid Human | |
| Init/Senses | +4/Listen -1, Spot -1 |
| Aura | Bulwark of Defence, Vigilant Defender |
| Languages | Common, Elven, Dwarven |
| AC | 30, touch 12, flat-footed 30; Shield Block +2 (+11 armour, +5 shield, +2 natural, +2 deflection) |
| hp | 103 (13 HD) |
| Fort/Ref/Will | +5/+4/+7 |
| Speed | 30ft. (6 squares) |
| Melee | +3 flaming burst bastard sword +20/+15/+10 (1d10+7 slashing +1d6 fire/17–20 x2+1d10 fire) or |
| Melee | Masterwork Dagger +18/+13/+8 (1d4+4 Slashing/19–20) |
| Base Atk/Grp | +13/+17 |
| Atk Options | Power Attack, Combat Expertise, Ride-By Attack |
| Special Actions | Knight's Challenge 8/day (Fighting Challenge +3, Test of Mettle, Call to Battle, Daunting Challenge), Shield Ally |
| Combat Gear | 3 potions of cure serious wounds |
| Abilities | Str 19, Dex 11, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 14 |
| SQ | Knight's Code, Armour Mastery (heavy) |
| Feats | Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword), Endurance, Power Attack, Combat Expertise, Quick Draw, Mounted Combat, Trample, Ride-By Attack, Improved Critical (bastard sword) |
| Skills | Handle Animal +18, Intimidate +18, Knowledge (nobility and royalty) +18, Knowledge (History) +10, Ride +18 |
| Possessions | combat gear plus the Brightfire family sword (+3 flaming burst bastard sword), +3 full plate, +3 Heavy wooden shield, Amulet of Natural Armour +2, Ring of Protection +2, heavy warhorse, military saddle, several noble's outfits, signet ring, jewelery worth 1000 gp. |
Other information
Background
Lady Eleanor Brightfire is the only child of the Brightfires, a minor noble family. She was always inspired by heroic tales, told by her father, Sir John Brightfire, of her forebears' deeds fighting against evil. Her imagination centred itself on the family's ancestral sword, enchanted in a far-off time by a priest rescued by one of Lady Eleanor's ancestors. Eleanor faced opposition from her father's younger siblings, who were very much of the view that women were not fit as warriors. However, Eleanor's personal magnetism and charm, as well has her not inconsiderable natural skill, managed to persuade her father to train her in the ways of the knight. She was a quick student, learning the battle skills as quickly as she did the rules of courtly etiquette. Finally, she was deemed ready to be knighted.
Some time after this, her father was taken seriously ill. Knowing he would die soon, he began to write his will. The young Lady Eleanor was to be given the family's estates, leaving his brothers, her uncles, with nothing. Eleanor, however, was having none of it. She wished to become a knight-errant, like in the stories of her youth- but feelings of responsibility towards those living on her land would never allow that. Finally, her father capitulated, and agreed to bequeath the lands to his eldest brother, Sir Robert.
However, on the last day of her father's life, tragedy struck. Knowing the end would come soon, Sir John resolved to face it with the ancient sword of his forebears in his hands. Lady Eleanor, going to fetch it, came back with tears streaming down her face. The sword had been stolen!
Sir John, his last breaths escaping him, made his daughter swear an oath to reclaim her family's heirloom. She left at once.
A long quest ensued, but the details of that cannot be recounted in full. Suffice it to say that Lady Eleanor recovered the sword- and her honour- and defeated many evils. She was rewarded for her exploits with a grant of land by the monarch of the realm, and now splits her time between her small estate and what she sees as her duties as a knight, leaving the estate in the capable hands of her steward, whom she first met while seeking the sword of her grandfathers.
Personality
Lady Eleanor is noble, but somewhat impetuous and proud. Any insult to her honour as a knight and a gentlewoman- or indeed, the honour of any of the less martially inclined ladies of the court, as is her chivalric duty- is met with a formal challenge and, more often than not, the surrender of her opponent. Her beauty and quick wits have made her very popular at court, although some conservatives resent that a "mere woman" should reach such a station. Only the most foolish say as much to her face, as the inevitable result of such an action is the clash of steel on steel, and she is one of the greatest warriors of the court...
Equipment
At most courtly functions, Lady Eleanor will wear ordinary dresses. Years of adventuring have taught her never to be without a weapon, however, so she always keeps a pair of masterwork daggers disguised as hairpins in her hair. Her AC in these situations is: AC:14, Touch:12, Flat-footed:14.
Note
The reason I haven't said anything about the adventures is that I haven't done them yet... The concept originally came around as a PC, from thinking about the attitudes to women that seem to come out in my (mostly male) gaming group, and I wanted to challenge them a bit (literally, more often than not), but I haven't actually started the campaign yet. This is how I see Lady Eleanor afterwards, however, although I've filed off all the serial numbers so she can be used in almost any setting. She can work well either in a courtly situation, perhaps in a more social campaign, as either a friend or rival to the party, or in the wider world, hunting down monsters, villains and knaves, and perhaps laying a bit of smack down on any unwary PCs!
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