Katherine Espair

Full Name: Lady Katherine Annelise Espair (maiden name is Adjorn)

Nickname: Skinny Chick or Kat Espair

Race: Half-Elf

Unit: Outer Circle member of the Black Company

Location: Currently fights in Esgaroth, a new realm near to Arnor

Favored Fighting Style: Archery

Skinny Chick has been watching the sport for over four years. In 2006 she finally was given a bow and marched out onto the battlefield with the Black Company. Currently living in Esgaroth, she has slowly nurtured a band of fighters there with the help of Olos.

Outside of fighting, Kat enjoys chatting online, rpgs, D&D, and dancing. She has a romantic interest in Olos of the Black Company and enjoys shooting at the archery range with him.

Character Bio:

Skinny Chick was born Katherine Annelise Adjorn to a wealthy elven merchant and his human wife. They moved to the land of Esgaroth upon the death of her grandfather whence they inherited a large amount of land and a title. Lord Adjorn of Esgaroth had three children and favored the first two equally until his son was born six years after Katherine. Daughters are never as much consequence as sons and the girl and her sister found themselves immersed in a world of women's activities. The Lady has an excellent understanding of drawing and dance with much enjoyment in a leisurely walk or a good book. In the mind of her parents, education was of high priority and Kat moved away to be educated miles from home. While there she met the scholar Bard Exavior Espair and fell in love for the first time. The two were inseparable and she left such little time for her studies that she was sent home.

While home schooling, the Lady began a courtship that lasted a few years and ended in a marriage that would be brutal to her self-esteem and what friends she had. He would allow her no friends and little interests outside of himself. She helped in his studies and gained an education in diplomacy. It was at this time that she began sending letters to acquaintances, such as Freswinn the Guildhearted, whom she would later become good friends. It began to stabilize her and while the bard was off studying in great halls or wooing women, she returned to her education by visiting centers of art and pursuing libraries.

During this time she came across the Black Company for the first time, and was disgusted by the idea of mercenaries while envying them their chosen freedom. It was in her acquaintance to Winblades that she began to relax her confidences and talk about her trials as a wife to a bard. It also led to Exavior's displeasure. She was not dependent upon him anymore.

The diplomatic bard wished to punish her and allow himself to set his eye upon other women with a wish to annul his wedding vows. He announced her as "self-liberated and unfaithful," tossing her to the street as if he himself had been the victim. Kat Espair's will to live led her to stealing for food and coins. Upon picking the pocket of a man who was walking around the market place, she managed his coin purse and spent the money upon food. The man turned out to be Connor Silverstorm and as payment for the money she had taken, he put her to work in a shop selling domestic items such as blankets and pots. While the company remained in town, Katherine worked to repay Connor and after payment she stayed on to support herself.

Time passed and the company moved. The initiative was hers as she packed up and wandered in the wake of the company with the women. The men laughed at her slender physical appearance and dubbed her 'skinny chick' for it. It took little time for her to acclimate to it and wear it as a badge of pride instead of insult. In her heart Katherine wanted to fight on the field; she brought water and helped sew clothing while wishing she too could swing a sword. The dreams of a warrior danced in her sleep, and of course when she told those close to her she was laughed at.

A day came when Katherine recieved a letter offering her a safe home in exchange for her continuing her education. Lord Adjorn missed his eldist and invited her to retake her position there beside her siblings. She would return for free room and board as long as she remained active in choosing her lot in life. The Lady had to go.

Katherine felt lost as she left the Company. Fergus had been kind and occasionally had people write letters for him to her, but it was not the same. While once again in Esgaroth, Katherine began to meet people and create friendships that she had been missing. It was joyous.

Upon hearing that the Black Company had come closer to her land for a contract, the Lady went out of her way to create a small group of bodyguards and went to visit them. It was a refreshing happening and she repeated it several times after. In time she found Olos to be a good friend and it blossomed into a romantic interest that shook her home life. Kire Adjorn, the Lady's brother, disliked the company and went out of his way to see that Olos was banned from moving near their manner. This and many other adventures have left Katherine hating her brother in ways she did not think possible. A diplomat known as Freswinn has since been staying in Esgaroth as well in order to persuade neighbors not to kill the young man. Katherine's early acquaintance with the diplomat has encouraged her to invite him along on journeys to visit the company. In time Olos gave Katherine the formalized lessons she was missing in archery and a bow to shoot with. The Lady has done her best to practice and hopes to be considered an asset rather than a hindrance now upon those in her way.

At this moment the Lady leads a group of fighters from Esgaroth. In time perhaps some will join the Black Company, but for now only Katherine Espair wears the Outer Circle sash.