Valerie was a long way from home. She was starting to get used to it, being out of her element. It was nice to walk down a street or through a small town without every passing villager knowing her face, knowing her name. Valerie Winter, or perhaps one of the nicknames bestowed on her. Winter's Daughter she had not minded, being the only girl of four children in her immediate family. The nickname her brothers had given her, Snowflake, did not sit as well. Thankfully there were few that used it, and none beyond the borders of her family's domain.

Those that had constructed Highmast and the other nearby towns had likely never heard of her kingdom, or its troubles. They had no reason to care. This place had its own share of troubles, as she'd quickly learned. There was no shortage of work, even for an adventurer as untested as herself. This caravan escort was perhaps the most valuable job she'd been able to land, though the wizard that had chosen the team had scrutinized her carefully, to the point where she felt uncomfortable, and not in the usual sense. She couldn't rightly tell what exactly he was trying to discern, but whatever it was, she'd passed the test, and now made her way through the streets in the morning, geared up and with her sword at her hip.

About half of the hired swords had arrived by the time Valerie did, gathered around the cart loaded with goods and set to depart the city. She overheard the tail end of their conversation, and strode in to join them. She'd seen most present when the wizard had chosen the crew, but there had been little time for proper introductions then.

"It's very strong indeed," she said, making her presence known. She stopped before the group, hooking a thumb under her sword belt. "And quite useful in the right hands. Could have lords and ladies bidding for the chance to own a supply of this. It's good you have an escort for the journey." She extended her hand out to the lead merchant. "I'm Valerie Winter. Pleased to meet you."

"Tobias," the merchant answered, gently shaking her hand. He looked about to say more, but the light-haired Elf spoke up instead.

"[i]Valerie[/i]," he said with a grin, "we didn't have a chance to meet earlier. My name is Eloryen." Valerie shook the Elf's hand as well, though her immediate impression was that he thought a bit too much of himself. Confidence was not such a terrible sin, she supposed.

The last of the men she'd also yet to meet, though of the mercenaries present before, he'd seemed among the few with some years of experience already under his belt. Hardly grizzled, he looked only a few years older than she, but Valerie knew how much a few years could change a person. How much they would certainly change her. "Valerie Winter," she repeated, extending her hand to the man.