Sabine Valkyrie: Born: 2 Leonis, 5E 2499; Sabine is 151 years old and 7ft tall at the beginning of the book ‘Doomslayer,’ by Lord Michael Ravenheart. Sabine is a Colonel in the elite military Order of knights known as ‘The Nightshade Division.’ Seven feet tall and wielding a magickal broadsword named Krimzin, Sabine is a menacing foe, but an invaluable ally. To watch her in battle would leave you mesmerized. Called a tigress, Sabine is stubborn in her pursuit to destroy her enemies. She is a highly respected officer who is loved by her troops. With an unyielding tenacity Sabine knows how to get things done. She first became a knight at 16 y.o., one of the youngest in aldari history. Sabine squired for her lira, the Queen of Themis-kyra and the Lady of her House, Tumarra Valkyrie, from the age of seven and after an especially harrowing trial of martial skill during a mission on the Crown Island, Sabine was given the laurel crown and knighted on the spot. Through those heroics, many hailed her the daughter of Ares Himself and she was given a special bloodmetal sword called Krimzin, believed to have been fashioned by the du’ahlin god Hephaestos. Sabine also found a mysterious stone called the Illium, the origin of which has never been discovered. This stone would be integral to the strength of the Seven Sisters, and although thought lost after the ‘Battle at Garnet Springs,’ would eventually end up in the hands of Lady-knight A’lonna Ravencrest over 5600 years later. Sabine is constantly plagued by Battle Sickness, or Battledemons, which is their form of PTSD. Sabine had two sisters, one younger than her, and one older, named Arumina and Aradia, respectively. Arumina unfortunately was murdered by orcs during the fall of Themis-kyra, the Amazon homeland. Sabine’s horse is named Cloudfire.

Camille Drakanos: Born: 19 Tauros, 5E 2504; Camille, ranked a major in the Nightshade Division is 6’-3” tall. Camille was born to Duke Arlen and Duchess Metis Drakanos of the farming fiefdom Drakan on the Amazonian island of Themis-kyra. Having squired for Sabine Valkyrie, Camille is the Colonel’s most valued and oldest friend. She is a natural, nurturing leader and skilled in weapons almost as proficient as Sabine herself. Some might contend that Camille is the true leader of the Nightshade, since Sabine’s real leadership comes most during battle, while Camille is the one who manages the cohort during the interim between ‘missions.’ Her whole family, including her lira and ata, plus her two younger siblings were killed during the fall of the amazonian homeland of Themis-kyra, and she has never forgotten that ill-fated time, nor forgiven the orcs. Camille wields a massive mace called ‘Lycus,’ named for an ancient Amazonian philosopher. Camille has a horse named Dracomir.

Clarissa Valkyrie: Born: 13 Gamelia, 5E 2524; Clarissa is 6ft tall and her rank is Captain. Her mother, Duchess Clytemnaestra is sister to the Lady Tumarra Valkyrie, which makes her Sabine’s cousin. She was a ranger for some time before becoming a healer, learning from the healing druids called, Ovates. She follows the pathways of the gods Hygeia and Asclepios. She is alert and caring, and inquisitive. She chooses to step back to any situation and make her own observation before judging. She once squired for Camille and was present at the Fall of Themis-kyra. She is one of the most proficient archers in history and not too long after Themis-kyra’s evacuation she inherited the bow called ‘Wolven,’ (named for the hunting hounds of the goddess Artemis) which had been crafted by expert bowyers and Dragonsmiths and made from the bones of a dragon named Fireclaw, who died in The Fall. Her horse is named Artemis.

Kiera Ophiuccus: Born: 7 Leonis, 2538; Kiera is 6’-6” tall. She is ranked Sargent, a lower ranking than some of the younger sisters, even her former squire Lana, due to Kiera’s inability to conform and follow orders. A thorn in Sabine’s side, and the two constantly butting heads, Kiera is aptly named ‘The Wildcat.’ She was born to the Baroness Krissa Ophiuccus of Themis-kyra and the Baron Vestus Valkyrie and is cousin to both Sabine and Clarissa, the latter of which she squired herself for. Kiera is a heavy drinker, a gambler (Especially when it is her life), a hedonist and a philanderer. She was knighted at a young age after the battle and the Fall of the Amazonian homeland of Themis-kyra. She wields a giant, double-bladed battleaxe called, The Mistress of Hades and was trained by Clarissa to be a very proficient ranger. Kiera’s horse is named Scout.

Lana Nicolo: Born: 9 Astraea, 5E 2579; Lana is 6’-4” tall and is ranked a Captain in the Nightshade cohort. Lana’s parents come from the religious barony of Nicolopolis, their home city, and Lana herself has grown to become a warrior priestess devoted to the goddesses Athena and Nike. She squired for Kiera and many wonder if it were not the other way around, due to her extreme wisdom and her former liege-knight’s lack thereof. She was born to the Baroness and Baron Grianne Nicolo and Ulas Vesta. Lana is pure and selfless, self-controlled and serves both as the moral compass and counselor for her sisters, she is best known for her weapons, the longsword Bloodletter nand the log bone-whip Hiss. Lana’s horse is named Drtiftmere.

Athena Morrowind: Born: 22 Krysophoros, 5E 2594; Athena is 6’-3” tall and is ranked Lieutenant in the Nightshade Division. She is one of three daughters of Duke Icthion Valinor and Duchess Helen Morrowind.. Athena’s eldest sister Tima is heir to the family fiefdom (not that there is much of that after the fall of their homeland.) Athena is the former squire to Lana Nicolo, which gave her a healthy respect and veneration for the gods. Athena is the chief strategist of the Nightshade divison, and an astounding engineer, honouring her namesake, the Goddess of wisdom, strategy and engineering. History will attribute her to the design that would eventually become the bloodmetal Speedsaddle, although it was claimed that this design was handed down to the hero Marlena Valinor, an apparent relative. She is expert with many weapons, namely the spear and a longsword named Melanchole. Athena’s horse is named Justice.

Marlaya Morrowind: Born: 3 Krysokeros. 5E 2625; Marlaya is 6’-1” tall and is the youngest actual sister of Tima and Athena, daughter of Duke Icthion and Duchess Helen. She is 25 years old at the beginning of the book Doomslayer, and recently knighted after squiring for her sister Athena. Marlaya is a romantic dreamer who is still too young to embrace pragmatism and practicality, wishing to someday marry and have many children. Though she is a freshly- knighted woman, she has grown training for war and has developed into a very talented fighter under the tutelage of not just her actual sister, but the other sisters in the Nightshade cohort. She can wield just about any weapon but owns a magickal sword called, Shatter. She is the inheritess to the legacy of the Seven Sisters, although her life will come to an end at the same battle that claimed theirs, the epic battle detailed in the bardic edda, ‘The Road of the Seven Sisters.’ Although Marlaya was given a horse by her lira named ‘Cloudfire,’ he was killed in the flight at Anviil and she was given a new horse from Lady Emmilar Thurber named Evenride.