Sheula Ralom'pa

BackgroundScorn, anger, battle lust, and fierce independence define the very essence of Sheula Ralom'pa, Bariaur proxy of Va'sha Battlefleece. However, these are just half the values held by Sheula's deity, values usually tempered by the calming influences of honor, courage and truth. This imbalance may be why Sheula was banished from Battlegrim. Battlegrim is Va'sha's realm, managed by Klorn "Foehammer" Warhorns, Va'sha's only recognized proxy and Sheula's sworn enemy.

Sheula seethes with anger when she thinks about her banishment. It was because she's a doe. It's because the bucks, especially Klorn, cannot accept that females can wield power and fight and destroy enemies. It is their rigidity in adhering to outdated values that keep the Bariaur from having a real homeland. It is through battle and battle alone that the fate of the Bariaur will be decided. And if necessary, Sheula Ralom'pa will bring that battle to all who oppose her, be they two-legged or four. At least this is what she tells people.

Ysgard, thirty years earlier. The shaman is assisting Jer'la Ralom'pa in the birthing of her first kid. The flock gathers and the father, Jeluka Ralom'pa, the flock's proud war chief, waits patiently, praying to the holy power Nor'bah that his wife and unborn kid live through the evening. Jeluka has waited many years for this moment. His first wife died, childless, after five years. His second wife, Jer'la, has not given birth in the seven years he has been her mate. His own prestige and his family line are being decided in this narrow little tent. Because of this, Jer'la's pregnancy became the event of the year.

After seventeen hours of intense labor, a small head appears from within Jer'la. Tiny horns can be plainly seen as the little one emerges. "It's a buck!" Jeluka Ralom'pa yells. Jeluka gallops through the camp, yelling to his friends and flock, tears streaming down his face, "It's a buck! Come see the new Ralom'pa; my little one!" The shaman assists in pulling the kid from his mother. It seems intent on staying put, in the only place it knows as home. Finally, out slides the lithe little body and the does in the birthing tent let out an audible gasp. The little one, the hope and dream of Jeluka Ralom'pa, is a doe! It's a disgrace.

A doe with horns, although not entirely rare, seems to be born even less in the rough plane of Ysgard. What many cutters don't know is that when a doe with horns is born, most of the time she's quietly drowned in a river or lake. Thus birthing is a private affair, usually only involving the mother and the shaman.

Sheula Ralom'pa never really knew her mother or father, and no one was willing to speak to her of the horrible things that her father did to her mother that night, or the things that he did to himself when he was finished with her. Instead, her grandparents on her mother's side raised her. They openly blamed her for the death of their daughter, the destruction of their family, and worst of all, the theft of the flock's chief. Sheula Ralom'pa had an unhappy childhood, to say the least. But that's not so unusual. Sheula spent her time training as a warrior, fighting the insults, destroying the prejudices, obliterating her opposition, until she was the undisputed warrior of her flock. Then they asked her to leave. It seems vengeance and anger are not acceptable Bariaur values, whereas prejudice and sexism are fine.

Sheula Ralom'pa left for Battlegrim, the War Mother realm of Va'sha Battlefleece, a place for warrior does, especially those scorned for their horns. Here she learned of "The Blessed Fury," not only the name given to Va'sha, but the blind battle rage where she found peace. The Fury became Sheula's form of meditation, where she was most happy, where she excelled, where the taunts and insults faded away. Sheula even created a new weapon, the Sog'ma-k'ton, a brutal weapon based on the G'wrn-k'ton, but with razor sharp axe blades on both ends. Sheula insulted the holy G'wrn-k'ton, the symbol of Va'sha, by commenting on how blunt and unbalanced it was, like the brainbox of a buck. Instead Sheula created the finely balanced instrument of death, the double axe bladed Sog'ma-k'ton. The weapon was spurned for its "sissy" name and banned in Battlegrim after several accidents involving other wielders, unable to control its intense twirling motion. The Sog'ma-k'ton literally fits Sheula's personality. Ma means mother or the feminine in Bariaur. Soga is the root of the word society, or group. The Sog'ma-k'ton is literally the "group of women weapon," which fits in well with Sheula's anti-male bent and great distrust of bucks.

In the end, even Battlegrim could not contain the rage and fury of a lifetime of scorn, ridicule and hatred. Soon Sheula rose in her power and stature and found that, as with her own flock, there was no room for her here. Sheula left to roam the planes, to find her way among outsiders. Unlike the many warrior bucks, who fought half as strongly as her and had their destinies determined on the battlefields of Ysgard, it seemed Sheula's destiny was to live out the rest of her days as an outcaste.

DescriptionSheula cares little for her appearance, save that her weapon be sharp and shiny. She goes topless, an ancient Bariaur tradition among warrior women, one that's rarely practiced nowadays. It's a practice that embarrasses and annoys bucks and does alike, who find it crude and unsophisticated. Sheula wears no armor, like her goddess, yet she is far from defenseless. In battle she twirls the Sog'ma-k'ton as she slowly wades into battle. The axe blades slice and maim anyone foolish enough to approach her. Once she's cleared an area, Sheula screams her war cry and heads in one direction, destroying everything in her path. Then she turns around and starts again. Most Bariaur don't approve of her tactics, as she usually disrupts battle formations and plan, but when in a tough spot, they at least appreciate her battle prowess.

Motivation"The Blessed Fury" is all Sheula cares about. She yearns to embrace The Fury, both her goddess Va'sha and her mistress, the sweet taste of battle. Sheula can usually be found on a battlefield, usually on the side of good, preferably on the side of Bariaur. Secretly, Sheula doesn't care who wins these battles, she only wishes to embrace The Fury and to be welcomed back by her goddess. On the battlefield Sheula often thinks of her goddess: Maybe She will watch this next battle. Maybe She saw that move where I severed that hill giant's arm. Maybe I can go home again. Are you watching me, mother?