Dame Amélie Sans-Dieu de la Roche-Blanche
Ethnicity: French
Allegiance: The Holy-Emperor Charlemagne
Profession: Knight
Age: 34
Height: 5'9”
Weight: 183 lbs
Appearance: Powerfully muscled, her body has been conditioned by over a decade of life on the road and at war. A blow from a sword-hilt broke her nose in her youth and it shows; she has a deep scar running from the right corner of her mouth to her jawline. Hair is brown and close-cropped, eyes dusty brown and small. Her posture betrays her lacking sense of self-worth. She wears a jack-of-plates covered in lacquered leather painted deep crimson, along with a full mail harness and hosen. She carries a heavy round-shield of Norman design, an arming sword, and a short lance that doubles as a spear in close quarters.
Skill-at-Arms: 5 (A decorated knight, she has fought in several battles across the countryside of France, participated in (and ranked highly) in many tourneys. She is, frankly, very good at killing people, which does little to ease her doubts about her soul's fate)
Wisdom: 3 (Taught to read and write as per her tutelage in the convent, schooled in the manners of court though she rarely attends when she can help it. Has studied the Scriptures in some detail.)
Magic: 1 (Despite her sincerest prayers, she cannot make contact with an angel willing to bless her, she does not understand and is supremely jealous of others who can work magic.)
Vitality: 4 (Well-fed through her youth, trained in the rigors of knighthood, well-used to traveling, she is exceptionally hardy and has thus far managed to avoid any serious injuries in battle.)
Wealth: 3 (She owns nothing but her equipment and horse, but she does not scruple to outfit herself with the best armor and weapons she can afford. She rarely goes hungry, and often gives to the poor after her other expenses are taken care of)
Other Notable Attributes: Was taught sewing, gardening, and singing in the convent, though she isn't particularly good at any of them. Working knowledge of equipment maintenance, horse-care, and the treatment of battlefield injuries. She is fluent in French, Latin, and Arabic.
Possessions: Destrier and barding, Jack-of-plates armor, Chainmail harness and cuisses, Arming Sword, Short Lance, Rondel dagger, Aventail helm with vizard, leather mantle, leather boots, plate gauntlets and greaves
Relationships: Phillipe (older brother, deceased), Alain (younger brother, monk), Lady Marguerite de la Roche-Blanche (mother, deceased), Lord Robere de la Roche-Blanche (father, vassal of Charlemagne), Sir Diodore de Saint-Pierre (her commander in the Knights-Errant), Dame Bradamante (her mentor at court and the knight she looks up to the most)
Social Rank: Noble, Knighted, Landless
Honor: An adherent to Christian ascetic principles when she can manage them, but her vows often prove too difficult for her to maintain. Likewise she is devoted to the code of Chivalry, and strives to act honorably in all things, but her temper often gets the better of her and she resorts to violence more easily than she is comfortable with.
Biography: She was born to the Lord and Lady de la Roche-Blanche, a prized vassal-house of the Emperor. She was extremely close with her brother Phillipe as a child, and yearned to follow his path into knighthood, but her father forbade it. At the age of 12, she convinced herself that she heard the calling of God and chose to join the Sisters of the Blessed Mary rather than accept a marriage to one of her father's allies.
Word of her mother's death giving birth to her younger brother Alain reached her in the convent. The boy survived, though she did not meet him for many years later. Every now and then, Phillipe would visit her, and she longed to leave to live with him in court, but he would not allow it out of honor for their father. When Phillipe was slain on campaign against the Saracens, Amélie was devastated. At the age of 15 she left the convent and went to see her father, declaring her intent to join the Poor Knights of Charlemagne's court. So broken by the loss of his son and wife, the aging man allowed her to go, and they have spoken only rarely since.
Amélie's time as a knight-apprentice was difficult, she felt herself clumsy and unskilled to the other more-experienced squires, but out of sheer diligence and lack of anything else to do with her life, she persevered and trained tirelessly for well on 6 years until she was finally granted leave to accompany her master to war. Proving herself in battle – she had become quite skilled by this point – she was shortly thereafter knighted and placed under the command of Sir Diodore de Saint-Pierre, charged to go forth as a Knight-Errant and right what wrongs she could throughout the empire.
So began her life as a knight, and though it brought her peace and fulfillment to bring aid to the weak, it was a lonesome existence, passing through towns and cities, rarely finding friends in those she lent her strength. Later came wars in the east, fighting the same heathens who had murdered her brother, and she won great glory there. Yet one by one her comrades-in-arms died around her until the Crusade was finally given up as lost and she returned with the French armies in defeat.
Afterward, she took up a more permanent residence in the Emperor's Court at Avignon, though she ever refused grants of land and titles of her own, preferring the life of soldiering. Here she met the Lady Bradamante, a Paladin of legendary deeds. They became fast friends and swore oaths of alliance. She remains Amélie's only true companion, though Bradamante is often carried away on great quests with the other Paladins. Amélie yearns to one day be esteemed enough to accompany her.
Through all her travels, Amélie has struggled with her faith in God and the church. The life of violence she has chosen conflicts with the gentle teachings of Christ, and she fears for her own soul for the blood she has shed. Even in the Holy Land, she found not renewed faith in God but only horror and carnage. She prays nightly for the deliverance of angels, but her prayers are denied, only further reinforcing her doubt in herself. In her heart, Amélie fears that she is an evil person, for all the good she might wish to do.
With the coming of the Living Saint, Jeanne d'Arc, Amélie saw in truth what it was she longed for, the blessing of Heavenly powers, knowledge and assurance in her soul that she is good, worthy. She has not found it. She looks to Jeanne with awe bordering on worship, amazed at the depth of the girl's piety, but at the same time, she resents her, and hates herself for feeling such jealously of one so holy. So far, she has been unable to work up the courage even to speak to Jeanne, if only to seek her blessing.
Personality: Amélie is reserved among strangers, feeling herself inferior to others and often uncomfortable even engaging in conversation despite her courage on the battlefield. When she does join conversations, she is blunt and forthright, clumsy in her speech despite her refined upbringing. She is reluctant to discuss religion out of her own misgivings. While she is at ease around other warriors, she cannot help feeling that it is a path that leads her away from God despite that it is the path she has chosen to walk. She is a loyal comrade, willing to risk her life for her allies and the defenseless. She tries to do good whenever she can, to make up for all the evil she feels she has done, but she knows where her talents lie. The best she can do is try to turn her sword upon the wicked and hope that God's judgment is merciful.