Description: While not a beauty of the ages, Ida has a way about her that commands attention. It could be her tall, strong, statuesque bearing, muscled and toned like a true warrior. It could be her brilliant, beautiful smile that lights up her chiseled face. Her rich dirty blonde hair often is pulled back in a practical tail, keeping her face free. Her quiet brown eyes sparkle with life when she works in the forge or the fight ring, giving her a youthful countenance. Her laugh rings, deep from the belly, warming the heart. As a whole, she is beyond more than the sum of her parts, a striking woman, in every sense of the word.

Personality: Ida is a simple woman, with simple pleasures in life. She doesn't have much time for fancy things, and doesn't envy the nobility their political games. She loves the feel of moving her body, using her strength to create arms and armor, or any forged thing. She loves the feel of fighting, of hitting and being hit, though never out of cruelty or anger. She's very aware of herself, and the potential harm she could cause, and it gives her a gentle spirit in a lot of ways. She's rowdy and raucous, but has no taste for using her power to bring others harm, and she certainly does not tolerate those that do. People are too much fun to mistreat, and there's no satisfaction in an unworthy competitor.

Background: Ida Ferron is a skilled blacksmith, hailing from a small hamlet not far from Sanctum, and had spent as much time making and fixing arms and armor as she had repairing plows and horse shoes. She married young and had children young. Two boys and a girl. Her husband was a soldier in the Valardin army, and though theirs was no great love, he was good to her and honored her and she has no regrets. That their marriage was very cordial and polite, made his death in combat five years after they wed easier to bear.

At a glance the strong woman is the very image of a hardworking, polite, plain spoken Valardin commoner. Her profession was not her true love though. Ida was the premier Pugilist of the West Marches. A student of what the Valardin like to call 'the sweet science' she was recognized as one of the very best bare-knuckle boxers in the West. After dusk there were many a night where she would fight all comers by flickering lamp light, and while her record was by no means perfect, if you were to ask someone to name a fighter that's beat her twice, they probably could not give you a name. Even now, she is notable for not only her raw power, gained from working steel between hammer and anvil, but also for her technical precision, and for having a sense of showmanship that does not come at the cost of fair play and sportsmanship. In short, she is the perfect fighter to appeal to Valardin sensibilities.

She was much loved because of it and basked in the attention, which lead to great success as a smith because there are quite a few knights and lords that want to say their sword was crafted by a champion. Even Prince Edain was an ardent fan in those seemingly simpler times. Her children grew old enough to become apprenticed and moved on to live with their respective masters, and with little desire to remarry, she decided it was time to live a little and see how good she could really be before age could catch up to her and younger fighters passed her by.

In 1003, she accepted a job to be one of the Valardin smiths in the City of Arx, and planned to work hard, play harder, and prove she was one of the best fighters in the land. Despite the dark times that were just beginning to dawn on the horizon, Ida couldn't help but smile and look forward to the adventures she would find.

The years in Arx have treated her well. Knighted by Prince Edain, now Highlord of the Oathlands, in May of 1005, he named her the Hammer of the West. Her shop prospered early on and she has made great strides in perfecting her craft. She still fights, but her times in the ring aren't what they had been several years ago. Ida is more often seen teaching others the sweet science than going toe-to-toe with them. That isn't to say she wouldn't get into the ring, by any means; it's more that the course of her life has changed. Between being knighted and the requests for weapons from some of the city's greatest citizens, the time for late night brawls by lamp light has grown slim. She has served as an Assistant Guildmaster for the Crafter's Guild, forged House weapons, and become a Knight of the Templar Order. Her cast iron integrity and passionate devotions to both Jayus and Gloria seem to be leading her ever onward. There is still much work to be done, but then Ida is no stranger to hard work.

Relationship Summary

Sibling:

Austen - Best Brother

Acquaintance:

Alrec - Brawling companion

Isolde - Charming princess

Victus - Exceptionally blunt warlord

Gareth - Terrifying Grayson, inquisitor

Fergus - Interesting Redrain prince

Aurelian - Quiet Valardin prince, scholar

Alis - Superb princess and knight

Freja - No nonsense warrior princess

Arn - Direct duke and general.

Anastasio - Skilled healer

Lola - Boroughs born apprentice

Rowan - Wild pseudo-son

Eirlys - Charming Greenmarch

Fiachra - Cautious Greenmarch Lord

Sophie - Amazing Princess and healer

Niamh - Kind Greenmarch, Champion

Monique - Mischievious, fun Lady of Greenmarch

Rymarr - Serious Lord Commander, King's Own

Nadia - Lovely Duchess

Friend:

Edain - Generous sponsor

Acacia - Charming, fun, generous entrepreneur

Dawn - Lovely, favored Grayson

Joscelin - Gifted jeweler, dearest friend