Astoria had always had a keen sense of justice, though she didn't know where she got it from. Her upbringing? Her heritage? Or was it just who she was? She felt it, deep in her soul, when people were bad and how mad she would get when innocents were wronged. And she was fierce to those wrong-doers, and merciful, merciful in giving them a quick death.
Astoria was also beautiful. She had long wavy blonde hair that curled around itself at the ends, bright blue eyes and full lips. It was as if Dibella herself had blessed Astoria. Astoria was of Nord decent, so her skin was as pale as it was fair, and soft. Though many would let her looks fool them, she was an expert at the sword and shield, and when engaged in combat she would never hold back, and never back down.
Astoria's armor and weapons were also unique. She didn't know who forged them, or how it came to be. No smith recognized the work and the only thing she knew about it was it was passed down to her from her mother. The suit of armor shined of stainless steel with intricate designs and maximum protection. She had work it ever since she'd come of age, and it had been like a second skin to her. It also had a fully closed helm, concealing her identity. Her sword was also intricately designed, the hilt adorned with flawless sapphires, and no smith had ever been able to determine the material it was forged out of. Her shield was also a masterpiece, the face designed with that of a legendary and mythical creature, a griffin.
She had no home, no profession, instead she traveled from town to town helping those in need and collecting bounties on bandits that plagued the area to keep herself fed and pay for a warm bed when available. Though she would never call herself a bounty hunter, she was simply doing what she could for the greater good and protecting those who could not protect themselves. She couldn't remember how long she'd been traveling alone, months? Years? However long, she had not remembered. This isn't to say when in resting in a village or city she wouldn't relax at the local tavern, have a few drinks, and talk to the bartender, she wasn't above gossip.
Astoria considered herself a true daughter of Skyrim, and so when she heard reports of nearby patrolling Thalmor, she always took it upon herself to go out of her way and destroy them. Though revenge was a wickedness in one's heart as her mother had told her many times growing up, she would never forget the image of the Thalmor raiding her childhood home, torturing and killing her mother and then burning it to the ground. What she was doing wasn't revenge, she told herself, it was justice.
So when she was passing through Kynesgrove and overheard some villagers talking about a Thalmor patrol taking a prisoner to an abandoned prison to the southwest, Astoria knew she needed to go. Not to save the prisoner, though if they were innocent she would free them, but because the Thalmor were a plague, and she was going to rid the country of their illness. Astoria packed her belongings, checked her gear, and set off for the abandoned prison said to be along the river to the southwest. She wasn't sure what their numbers would be like, but that had never stopped her from charging into a situation head first before.
After a day's hike she found her objective. An old imperial prison, crumbling beneath itself. It was settled in such a way that anyone not exploring off the beaten path would miss it, as it was almost hidden by the nearby waterfall. Astoria gave herself a moment to check her armor and sharpen her blade before taking a deep breath and traversing across the river to make it to the ledge on the other side, and the only entrance she'd noticed.
As she infiltrated the prison she was immediately greeted by several Thalmor guards who were quickly cut down, they were no match for the strength of her sword and her heart. So… the tip was good at least, Astoria thought to herself and she continued deeper into the prison. She finally came across a room of holding cells and cut down the last Thalmor in her way. Seeing a key on the nearby table, she grabbed it and began inspecting the cells. In the last cell on the left a man was standing there with his hands wrapped around the bar.
"Who are you? You're not with the Thalmor, are you? Quick, get me free from here before more come." The man pleaded, he was clearly bloodied, bruised, and beaten. Probably starving as well. As Astoria looked over his body as he was wearing only trousers she noticed many scars along his otherwise well-sculpted body. He was clearly a warrior too, and a victim of the Thalmor. His accent. She'd never heard anything like it before it was rather…. enticing.
"Easy now, I'm here to help." She said, though her helmet muffled her voice. She reached for her pocket and grabbed the key she'd picked up earlier "Why are you here?" she asked as she fumbled with the lock for a moment.
"The Thalmor invited me to high tea, what do you think?" the man snapped with sarcasm, when Astoria stopped trying to unlock his cell the man sighed and ran his hand through his messy brown hair, "I don't know. A Justicar ambushed me outside of Falkreath." He told her.
"Don't worry, I'll free you." She said again working the key into the lock. After messing with it for a moment she heard the click of the lock and opened the door and walked into the cell, going over to the man and leaning as she examined his wounds. She lifted her hands and gently touched his back as her hands glowed softly, a warmness filled and spread through him. "Be still, I'm a healer, let me help you." Astoria said as she mended his wounds. She was in no way a mage, but she was skilled in restorative magic.
"A healer? That's a special gift you have." He said, sounding very appreciative.
Astoria said nothing as she worked on his wounds, after a moment, satisfied with her work, she stood back up. "Come on let's get you out of here." She said offering her hand and helping him to his feet.
"Wait, there's one more thing." He said as Astoria pulled him to his feet, "One of the Thalmor got his hands on my sword, I know I've got no right to ask, but I could use your help getting it back."
He hadn't needed to ask, any reason to kill more Thalmor was good enough for her. "Of course, follow me and stay close." Astoria said as she readied her sword and shield. "This sword that important to you?" Astoria asked waiting for the man to catch his bearings.
The man chuckled a bit, "This isn't me being sentimental. They kept asking about it … if it's important to them, they shouldn't have it." The man said and Astoria agreed with him. Any weapon of specialty in the hands of the Thalmor should be taken, by force.
"Where did he go?" she asked.
"Headed deeper into the prison, and with luck, he's cornered like a rat." Astoria smiled under her helm, she was liking this man more and more. They headed deeper in the prison before coming to a living room with a dead end and a Justicar waiting. Though he put up a bit of a fight, he was cut down by her sword. After that she collected the mans arms and armor. She took a long look at his sword, it was as unique as her own, a katana with intricate writing inscribed along the blade, though she knew not what they meant.
Astoria tracked back to the holding cell where she'd told the man to wait. "I have your sword; that Justicar won't be a problem anymore." Astoria said handing him the sword hilt first.
"Son of a bitch had it coming." He muttered under his breath. "I can't thank you enough, I know you didn't have to help me."
"What's the story with this sword?" Astoria asked, curious if he could tell her more about the writing on it.
He chuckled again, "The question on everyone's mind, even mine. The sword belonged to my mother; I never knew her but it's my only real clue to finding out who she was." At this, Astoria felt a sort of personal connection with the man, two warriors, both their arms passed down to them by their mother's, neither still alive she assumed from what he was saying.
Astoria waited as the man put his armor back on and sheathed the sword to his back before escorting him out of the prison and back onto the main road where she planned to say her goodbyes and wish him luck, though he stopped her before she could go.
"Listen, I owe you my life, and I'm not a man who's comfortable being in debt." He started, "Id be glad to fight alongside you until that debt is repaid." He said holding his hand out, "Name's Kaidan, what's yours?"
Astoria thought about it for a moment, who was she to refuse this man's desire to repay his so called debt? She certainly didn't see it as one. Astoria grabbed his hand and shook it before reaching up and taking her helm off, her blonde hair falling around her, and watching the change of expression on Kaidan's face go from curious to surprised to amazement at the woman standing in front of him.
"My name's Astoria, I'd be glad to have you fight alongside me." She said with a smile. At that moment the two of them knew not of what fate had in store for them or what destiny they would weave together.
