She is... currently my favorite. No reason! Ok, that's a lie. Writing her has been a fun 2-hour pastime that cannot be repeated anymore. I like her in a way that makes it a pity she will never be a playable character in a role-playing game. I have created a monster, not because she is ugly, but because she is an abomination in a collaborative story. Well, I'd still love to be proven wrong about this matter, though. [Hider=The Combat Maid] Name : Alexandria Species : Human(?) Gender : Female Age : 22 Place of Birth : [u][b]Apperance[/b][/u] [hider=combat maid][img]https://i.imgur.com/73bXpF2.jpeg[/img][/hider] Perhaps the most notable aspect of Alexandria's overall presentation is the reinforced maid uniform she wears almost every day. She has dark hair with a distinct shade of blue, styled in a simple ponytail that reaches her waist. In front, her fringe ends in the middle of her eyebrows. Neat and functional. Alexandria has a beautiful face, though it is almost devoid of emotion; there was no luster in her ocean-colored eyes, as if no soul ever existed behind them. Beyond that, Alexandria looked physically well. Standing at 180 cm with an athletic body, the young woman carries herself with the fluidity typical of a trained servant, but with a haunting certainty to her gait. [u][b]Personality[/b][/u] Alexandria is stoic and does not fully understand the necessity of showing emotion. She is a perfect maid in technical level; she speaks softly and formally, her etiquette is impeccable, and she can differentiate all kinds of dining spoons with her eyes closed. Yet she is cold and soulless, like a dwarven engine that does its function as intended, not because it is passionate, but because it was designed to Before being saved by the Paladins of the Order and taken under Dr. William Schult's guardianship, Alexandria had been treated as an unfeeling and unthinking tool. The conditioning was ingrained so deeply that Dr. Schult theorized it was physically wired into her being and could not be erased by simply removing her slave mark. As a result, Alexandria often appears literal-minded and somewhat naive. This leads to significant difficulties in navigating social interactions; she rarely initiates a conversation and cannot properly register or express empathy beyond what has been taught, making her seem distant and insincere. However, whenever the situation calls, she instinctively jumps in to help, whether asked or not. It remains uncertain whether this behavior stems from a genuine kindness or is simply a habitual impulse. Although she may appear impassive, Alexandria is by no means intellectually impaired. She learns things quickly and has demonstrated sharp acumen during intense situations. Her ability to self-learn became more pronounced after Dr. Schult's passing, as circumstances forced her to become more tactful and independent. The last directives from her late master were particularly helpful in that regard. The maid is still working on it, and there is still a long way to go. [b][u]Brief Backstory:[/u][/b] [hider=Alexandria's dossier #1: The beginning] Ten years ago, Dr. William Schult was asked to examine a very peculiar waif the Paladins had just rescued from a mad alchemist's dungeon. As a psychiatric practitioner, the task was not unusual for him. Ex-Slaves in particular often need help reintegrating into society, and as a staunch supporter of The Order, it was only natural that he helped to the best of his ability. The paladins described her as 'troublesome' despite their efforts to give proper care. Fortunately, they said, she was calmer now after her slave mark was removed. The doctor could only imagine what she was like before that; the paladins never specify. This girl had no name, seemed to be no older than twelve, was borderline mute, and could only understand a few words. During the interview, she maintained a lethargic disposition, like a defeated caged beast that already awaits its demise. There was no way the order could let her roam free in this state, and even less so to accept her in their academy. The girl had no relatives, and finding a foster parent to adopt her seemed to be a tall order. Not counting the maids who regularly work in his mansion, Dr. Schult had been living alone long enough since her wife's passing; he is already in his mid-seventies and had never considered the possibility of having someone to take care of; that was just troublesome for all parties involved. But sometimes things just happened. He did not remember exactly why he decided to be her guardian. Was it pity? A whim? Or part of Gods plan? He didn't know for certain. [/hider] [hider=Alexandria's dossier #2: The Name] [i]"Are you... master?"[/i] There was a bittersweet feeling when Dr. Schult heard that. It had been almost a year since he swore to be this girl's guardian, and he had tried every method in the book to stimulate the girl's cognitive abilities and lift her spirit. It was bitter because, despite all his efforts to express compassion and establish a familial bond, she chose words that echoed her previous circumstances. However, it was also sweet because it was the first time the girl had initiated a conversation. Not wanting to disappoint her by correcting her on her first question, Dr. Schult instinctively replied with a yes. Dr Schult thought their new ways-of-calling wouldn't stick, and he could always iron it out later. But days passed, and the girl patiently waited, not for compassion but for his command. Naturally, he tried to take back what he said, and that would result in the girl standing motionless outside of her room all day, staring into empty space with vacant eyes and repeating the very same question every two hours. "Master, what is your command?" It went on for an entire month, and with each passing week, the repeated question became more of a plea than an acknowledgment of duty. Having had enough and fearing that the girl might harm herself if continued to be ignored, Dr. Schult relented. He started to give her routines, or orders, in the little girl's own words. Recognizing her dedication to help the maids and whoever she came across, he decided to name her Alexandria, as her only interest seemed to be helping others. He hoped that one day her desire to help would stem from genuine passion rather than a senseless obedience. Considering that he would mostly be busy managing his enterprise, He would enlist the help of his head maid, Inge, to teach her language, writing, and all the importance of being a maid. Well, [i]as long as she is happy, she can roleplay all she wants[/i]. That was what Dr. Schult thought when he finalized the arrangement. Later, on his deathbed, he wondered if he had made a mistake on this one. [/hider] [hider=Alexandria's dossier #3: Past life] Years had passed, and Dr. Schult had witnessed both Alexandria's talents and her difficult circumstances. However, a significant question lingered in his mind: Who was Alexandria before she was enslaved by the mad alchemist? What about her parents? The Paladins did not disclose much during the early days when he took her in, and they seemed somewhat reluctant to answer his inquiries. So, Dr. Schult decided to try again, this time through formal means. When the letter arrived and he read it, he found himself regretting that he had asked. From what they could gather in his ransacked underground workshop, Alexandria's mother had been subjected to countless experiments since her conception. The mad alchemist referred to her as a means to create a unique specimen, describing it in his own words as "the perfect, unstoppable killing machine." Tragically, she died while birthing Alexandria. In his journal, the mad alchemist lamented this terrible loss but insisted that the plan must continue. Not even a newborn was spared from his cruelty. She was immediately immersed in an alchemical solution, injected with various experimental concoctions, and marked as a slave. Since she could walk, her entire world was mostly a three-by-two cell, and she spent most of her time inculcated, tested to her limits, and punished when mistakes were made. Dr. William Schult balled his fist, letter and all, and tossed it into the fireplace. He hoped there was a special place in hell for that Mad alchemist. [/hider] [hider=Alexandria's dossier #4:] It was a warm afternoon in mid-July when Dr. Schultz finished reading the letter from the Order. He had grown pale, and his voice was husky. The age had been catching up on him, something he had already seen coming a couple of years ago. That letter explained why The Order cannot accept Alexandria into their cadre. One point detailed that while she finished every assigned task impeccably and passed all the tests with flying colors, the Order felt that her conviction was not genuine from the heart. Another point in that letter was retelling her conversation with the Cardinal, who explained that we are all servants of the Creator, and then she asked, if He was our master, where could she meet Him? The exchange went out of hand when Alexanderia asserted that she only follows a master whom she can see, talk to, and feel. The news almost gave him a ticket straight to afterlife. "Master, are you in pain?" Alexandria, the maid asked guilelessly. Schult raised his palm while his other hand picked his nose bridge. [i]Why...[/i] he lamented. "Is there anything I can help with?" There was no answer from the old doctor. "Master..." [b]"Would you give it a rest already, dumb maid!?"[/b] he fired, having already reached the end of his patience. A flurry of regrets came crashing down hard to tell if it was of his doing or circumstances. He had entertained Alexandria's whim for nearly ten years to the point he had embraced it instinctively. A perfect maidservant she was, dutiful and diligent despite her inherent shortcomings. But that was not what he really wanted, never will... and this was not the future he wished upon her. He was disappointed, angry, and confused, and Alexandria is the only person present in this room; she never talks back, just accepts, an easy target for him to lash out. "You want to help? Go ahead and deal with those lawyers. They will tear you apart like ravenous wolves. Mark my word! The moment I die, they will gnaw my estate piece by piece. They will toss you out like nothing. What would you do without me, hah?! Do you think making tea, baking a cake, and cleaning a piano with one hand can impress them? Change their mind, give you room, and let you stay?" The maid did not answer. Despite her trademark impassiveness, she had learned not to be literal in this kind of situation. As he observed the flicker of grief in her otherwise vacant eyes, his anger started to dissipate. He had been needlessly harsh with her. "I am sorry, it's not your fault," he said raspyly, gesturing for her to come closer as he stood up from his chair, enduring an urge to wheeze so this troublesome maid wouldn't barrage him with unnecessary concern. "You have grown," he said as he stroked her silky, bluish hair. "I will miss you when I am gone. Will you miss me too?" Alexandria blinked slowly. There was a pause, and a tiny hint of sadness remained in her eyes, but the maid did not know what to do with it. It causes a boiling pain in her chest. She acknowledges the pain, but never understands why it needs to be shown; it is to tell her something is wrong, and he knows this wrong was about her master's health deteriorating. There was nothing she could do about it, and she had accepted the pain, "I will await your return, master," she said finally. Dr. Schult smiled. "That's my daughter." [/hider] [hider=Alexandria's dossier #5:] Dr. Schult's premonition turned out to be correct. Just a week after his death, several lawyers hired by his distant relatives began their efforts to claim his estate. Fortunately, he had managed to secure some funds to ensure that Alexandria wouldn’t end up on the streets. While the amount wasn’t large, it was enough to buy the maid a house near the city limits, with some leftover funds that those greedy lawyers couldn’t touch. It would be declared to be Alexandria's entire salary while working as a maid in his mansion, and while the designations in that arrangement were not at all to his liking, it was the only way. [i]Dear Alexandria. If you read this, I am already on the other side. I know you wouldn't weep, but I know how heavy this is to you. Do you like the house? You earned it. Keep it well, keep it tidy, like how you did in the mansion, even without a master to serve. You are the master of yourself now. It's time for you to see the world, its good and its bad. I know you can handle it. I always know. I have also sent a letter to the Branch Manager of the Adventurer's Guild, letting them know that you will be coming. Should have made an effort to befriend that guy a decade ago---who knows, you might earn the rank Iron on the first try. Ha! But I think copper is okay; everyone has to start somewhere. Find friends you can rely on, be careful, and walk with dignity. That was my final command to you. I know you may need this advice until you become someone who no longer requires guidance. Lastly, I know there were hurtful things that I said in the past. I was confused, like everyone else. Perhaps, just perhaps, he entire maid shenanigans was your way of saying thanks, and that was your only way of expressing it. I shouldn’t have mocked gestures that came from goodwill. I was wrong, and I sincerely apologize. Keep doing what you’re doing, and thank you for staying with me for the past ten years. Sincerely, Dr. William Schult[/i] [/hider] [u][b]Equipment:[/b][/u] - A Zweihänder. Nothing special about this greatsword except that it was made centuries ago and has withstood abuse from Alexandria's brutal training. Pretty durable considering she swings that thing like a toothpick. They don't make things with this quality anymore - Medium-size backpack [u][b]Skills:[/b][/u] Alexandria is inhumanly strong. She is capable of lifting objects much larger than herself without breaking a sweat. She can use a wide array of melee, but a greatsword is her main choice of weapon. Her moves are not by any means clumsy, but it was clearly unpolished, which even a journeyman swordsman could see all the errors and openings. Consequently, her strong physics also contributes greatly to her overall durability. Alexandria can take the heaviest hit that would knock the strongest out. She is also less susceptible to ailments such as poison and paralyzing substances and spells. This part was like the result of the alchemist's conditioning. [/hider]