A sweltering summer day was coming to an end, and two laborers, having chopped a fair amount of wood, took a well-deserved rest on a stump.
-- So, what's happening with the master's daughter? Any plans to marry her off?
-- Marry her off? She's still too little for that... Eh, just wait until she grows up—what a beauty she'll be...
-- Well, that's none of our concern. She's a bird of a different flight than us anyway.
-- Eeeeh, if only one could rise in the world! Imagine, if we were rich—we could easily marry ladies like that! Beautiful, with manners... Not like our women!
-- Well, I like mine just fine...
-- But yours limps!
-- So what of it? At least she knows how to cook. And anyway, what are you thinking? "Rise in the world," look at him...
-- I heard the new king is going to issue a decree... Oh, wait, isn't that the lady over there? -- one laborer pointed.
-- Where? -- the second turned around. -- No, that's not her. Some widow, all in black... Where is she heading?
-- I'm telling you, it's her. I recognize her gait! She's going to the smithy for some reason.
-- To that Ilinar fellow, Romsan? Hm...
-- Let's go take a look!
-- No way, what are you talking about?
-- Come on, come on! -- the speaker nudged his companion.



Work in the smithy was in full swing, as two Nozenroth commoners quickly discovered by cautiously peeking through a black, soot-covered window. It was hard to see anything: just two silhouettes and the heat of the forge. But when the hammer wasn't striking and the bellows weren't working, same fragments of conversation could be overheard.
-- Hold the workpiece tighter! Honestly, you're like a child!
-- I am not a child, I am a lady.
-- Yes, yes, of course, a lady! -- the smith laughed, but his laughter was short-lived. The strike of a hammer and a scream followed:
-- Ow!!
-- What is wrong with you!!! Did you hurt yourself?
-- No...
-- I tell you again and again, and you do it your own way! That's it, we're finished for today!
-- But we only just started!
-- And I say we're finished! Otherwise, next time you'll definitely kill yourself. Look, you've already burned through my apron! Do you think I run an apron-tailoring business here? No!
A pause ensued for a while until the "lady" spoke:
-- Romsan...
-- M?
-- Won't you tell me more about Grevan?
-- Well... I will. Listen. Hm, -- the smith paused to think. -- I probably already mentioned how Grevan taught many Ilinars to use fire. In those dark times, fire served people for warmth and cooking... Few knew that by heating a furnace to the intensity of a lightning strike, one could smelt metal and create a sword that would be more useful against wild monsters than dozens of torches! But that was not enough for the Great Grevan. He not only taught how to forge weapons but also demonstrated by his own example how to use them so that even the most terrible monsters were defeated! So, once, an entire tribe of Ilinars got lost in the mountains while trying to find a new asylum. They wandered for many days; many perished from cold, others from hunger, and some, exhausted, slipped and fell into the abyss. Then, in one mountain, they discovered a cave and decided it would be their asylum, at least for a time, before moving on. Upon entering, they stumbled upon strange ropes, hung such that they could not walk in the dark without tripping over them or breaking them. And then a monster, resembling a giant spider, leaped from the darkness... The monster sensed its webs twitching and breaking and immediately rushed for its prey!
The girl gasped in fear, and Romsan continued.
-- But then, like a whirlwind, Grevan flew into the cave! With one blow of his glowing battleaxe, he severed the monster's hideous head, and it, flashing with eight eyes, shot out of the cave like an arrow! They say it still lies at the bottom of the canyon... And as for the people who had fallen into that unfortunate place, Grevan warmed them and fed them... The spider's insides were very filling, you know!
-- How disgusting!
-- Ha! When you're starving to death—you'll eat worse than that. Then Grevan led them all out of the mountains, and the people of that tribe found themselves a new home...
-- How I wish I could be like him! Saving people, forging weapons... Hunting wild monsters...
-- You'd better hurry home instead, or your parents will start worrying, hunter.
-- Oh, come on...
-- Go on, go on, I'm not joking! The forge has cooled, the stories are over.
-- Goodbye, Romsan! -- a female silhouette headed for the exit.
-- Well, bye, Erephir.

***

Until recently, this arena served as sadistic entertainment for the Teyosans, but even now, with new owners, fundamentally little has changed. A black-haired Elulu-Suen stood on a height and addressed all the others who flooded the stadium:
-- All these people were unlucky enough to be in the southern lands when our warriors were there! Their friends and comrades humiliated themselves by admitting they were tresi, slaves, just to guarantee their lives. But these people you see now claim that they are more Worthy. And they are given a chance to prove it—or move to the lowest rank, even lower than tresi, namely... -- Elulu-Suen raised his hand as if expecting an answer from the listeners. -- Namely, the dead!
The crowd roared with laughter. Meanwhile, the shackles were removed from the prisoners and they were led onto the arena, where a large pile of weapons for every taste lay. However, most humans and non-humans possessed none. The same applied to the young red-haired girl, but her companion, a sturdy Ilinar smith, immediately took a large one-handed hammer.
-- Just like in the smithy, but I can swing this in battle too!
-- Romsan, I don't see my parents. You said they should be among these people!
-- I did! They would never have agreed to go into slavery voluntarily... We will find them, I promise you, Erephir! But first we need to deal with this survival test of theirs...
Meanwhile, Elulu-Suen continued:
-- Perhaps you thought we would force you to fight each other and enjoy the spectacle... Mistake; we are not interested in a fight between children, old people, and invalids. So we have picked a more interesting opponent for you!
The iron gates at the opposite end of the stadium opened, and four pairs of gray, faceted eyes looked out at the prisoners. Very soon the owner himself appeared—a huge spider, not so much hungry as simply terribly angry, because its Suen masters did not treat it very gently.
-- Let the fun begin! -- and the stands roared, frightening the giant arthropod even more and causing it to lash out in rage at the huddle of humans and non-humans, sending most of them flying. The same fate befell Romsan, but he quickly oriented himself, stood up, and took off his suspenders.
-- What are you doing?
-- Watch and learn! -- the smith tied the suspenders together and ran toward the monster, leaped onto its back, and threw his homemade lasso around its neck. The monster lunged sideways, but could not immediately shake off the sturdy Ilinar. Meanwhile, Romsan began working over the spider's head with his hammer as if it were an anvil in a smithy—thump, thump, once more!
Unfortunately, the Ilinar could not stay on the spider's back for long: the beast threw him off, managing to catch him in mid-air with its jaws. Blinded and disoriented from the blows of the heavy hammer, the spider began to dash around the arena, searching for its enemies... The humanoids cowered in fear in the corners, but then the red-haired Nozenroth girl took a sword and set an example for everyone, bravely charging at the giant. Erephir's lips prayed to Grevan to help her...
Together with the people inspired by her example, and with the help of Grevan, they overcame the spider. To the horror of young Miss Darwening, it soon became clear that the monster's jaws were venomous, and Romsan, who had effectively saved all their lives, would not recover from this ordeal. He died without even regaining consciousness, so Erephir could not say goodbye to this brave man.



A new person arrived in the capital of Ilinar, wealthy Covellia. It was a girl, clearly young, but who had already seen much. She wore first-class, perfectly fitted plate armor, and a battleaxe could be seen on her back.
-- What, is it really too late to sign up for the tournament? Eh, what a pity, -- said the Nozenroth woman upon hearing the news in the coliseum. Well, at least I'll place some bets then. What are the rules? Aha... And where can one hunt monsters around here? -- she asked with a charming smile. -- What? You only know about the Teyosans? No, that's not interesting; that's not what I meant! Eh...
She stepped outside the walls of the coliseum and breathed in the Ilinar air. How different it was from everything she had felt before! It was the air of change. She would certainly become like Grevan, killing monsters and helping people. No, not just that—she would become the best smith and the best monster hunter in Ertenia! She just had to hurry, quicker-quicker, or time would be lost! Her parents will be proud of their daughter, and Romsan will be proud of his apprentice, but not a minute can be wasted, otherwise someone else will forge all the swords and kill all the monsters! Hurry!

___________________

Nationality: Nozenroth

Religion: Grevan (+7 Strength +7 Consciousness, craftsman, various smithing perks)

Other: Elutan (Ability: "Assault" — instantly closes the distance to the opponent and attacks)

___________________

Martial Arts

Physical Training
MOV +3
HP +(5*Endurance). (2)

Scout
Initiative +1
MOV +2
Ability to quickly gather information about the surrounding area.(1) (1)

Knight

Armor Proficiency
Movement penalty in heavy armor reduced from three to six. (1)

Ram
Each cell traversed in one direction increases the damage dealt for the next attack by 20% (1)
REQ: heavy armor ✓

Two-Handed Weapons

Two-Handed Weapon Technique
Penalty when using two-handed weapons is neutralized. (1)

Harbinger of Death
Strength=+% ACC
Strength=+% DMG (2)

___________________Parameters

Strength	32
Endurance	40
Agility	15
Perception	29
Consciousness	18
Magic	0

___________________

Inventory:
- Erephir Linel Darwening's armor (heavy, maximally upgraded and fitted armor, with a rare property of not restricting the wearer's movements)
- Helmet of Unstoppability (immunity to movement-slowing effects. If Revan allows, it would also be good to have some resistance to various paralyses)
- "Bonebreaker" two-handed battleaxe (extremely high-quality weapon, pierces knight armor and giant arthropod shells)
- "New Life" two-handed sword (gives the owner additional protection from their mana, gradually restores health and mana)
- Field gear (flint and torch, rope, other useful trinkets)
- Money earned from work in the smithy and monster hunting. Also, winnings from bets at the arena.