Colette’s always wanted something more with her life. Alongside her best friend Grancis, she gained a precocious, adventurous attitude that would quickly turn sour on those that attempted to limit her free-spirited behavior.
Gaining a reputation for the local troublemaker among the girls, she fully embraced a life of adventure and individuality, being the only young lady brave (read: masochistic) enough to join the boys in their rough and tumble life of fighting, racing, and sports. Even by usual “brave girl” standards, she showed a particular boldness that regularly matched those of the brashest fellows in her group – some boys claimed she had the spirit of ten girls, if not at least two.
This pleasant life all changed one day when her raiders of the regional overlord passed through her town. All at once, everything seemed to go wrong.
Her mother, Colette was certain, was in their family home when it was burnt to the ground. She attempted to rescue her, but Grancis went in after her and pulled her out – shouting that she never had a mom.
She wouldn’t accept it.
Injured and certain her mother was gone in the flame, she vowed revenge on the cause of the suffering: the raiders.
Stealing the town’s honored weapon, she kills the head of the raiders before, understandably, receiving the beating of her lifetime.
Just as the blade of her execution is weighed over her neck, Grancis steps forward, demanding they accept her in turn.
After a moment of glib bartering, the raiders accept to take the comely Grancis to the overlord as a new inductee for his harem. The town’s leadership and Grancis’ father are beside themselves with loss, but they’re unable to prevent the transaction.
Recovering to conscious the following night, Colette sneaks from the doctor’s house and sets off to trail the raiders back to the overlord’s keep.
After a stupendous joke of an assassination attempt, the overlord, an insidious demon with a gentle heart for the ladies, agrees to let them both go on the condition that they engage in a proper duel a year from then. If she wins, Grancis retains her freedom, but if she loses this duel, she will join Grancis in his harem for the rest of their days.
With a distrusting but willing partner in Grancis, she heads for the overlord’s space gate to go to wherever the road will take them. She’s committed in her pride to prepare for a year and then return to defeat the overlord.
She will avenge her mother no matter what – she can feel her guiding spirit pushing her forward.
Their use of the space gate crosses them over to one of the roughest places they could end up in: Wreckwind port – the prime township on The Eversea.
It’s here after another close call that they meet The Captain, which begins their adventures upon the suspicious, seasort crewed decks of the M.S. Nocturna.
