Zoya Cusania

Information

**Birthplace**: The Isle of Ehrdice
**Allegiance:** Resident of Ehrdice but lives/works abroad with her husband Blateen and wolf, Marok.
**Born:** 434 AB
**Notable Traits:** Trained from birth to sail and navigate by the stars. As an Ehrdicey skjoldaru, Zoya has superior skill and experience with swords and shields. Loves to hear and tell tall tales accompanied by booming laughter. Like all Ehrdiceys, Zoya has a natural resistance to frigid temperatures.
**Notable History**: Zoya has explored large portions of the mostly uninhabited northern wildlands of Medehra.
**Titles/Aliases**: Skjoldaru of Ehrdice

“Zoya could gut a man just as fast as she can gut a fish, so ye should keep that in ye head,” were the words of advice Zoya Cusania’s fishmonger father gave her husband, Blateen, on their wedding day. Zoya’s above average height and muscle mass make her stand out even amongst other Ehrdiceys. Her powerful frame led her to pursue becoming a shieldbearer in her village’s skjoldaru, a local defense force. Warriors came from far and wide to train against Zoya’s shield skills only to go home with humility and awe. Though Zoya was temporarily satisfied with occasional practice skirmishes, she yearned for more.

Zoya never needed to use her skills in real combat while she lived on the Isle. However, her years of adventuring with Blateen and their loyal wolf, Marok, gave Zoya plenty of opportunities to prove herself on the field of battle. Zoya’s love for adventuring led her group to faraway lands filled with wonders she never dreamed of while growing up on the rocky coast of Ehrdice.

Zoya’s views on selling her sword differ from the majority of her countrymen. She refuses to fight in wars between foreign kingdoms or political entities. Zoya reserves her considerable talents for contracts involving the protection of at-risk populations such as remote villages or endangered species and/or peoples.