It's been a long time now that Cynvia, or Cynv as I like to call her, is accompanied me on the many adventures we've have together. During these long journeys, we have enough time to learn more about each other. I was able to tell her about my life before the manor, the work I did, if I can call it a work, and the multiple talents I possess, but the most important thing in all our discussions was that I had the pleasure to learn more about this new companion who now assists me in my travels. On the other hand, in spite of all that I have learned about her, I still have the feeling that I still have a lot to discover. Cynvia is not really the type of person you can read like an open book. She always keeps a secret up her sleeve, a hole in her story, but I don't hold it against her, I understand. After all, I've done the same thing many times. I imagine that I'll be able to find out more about her when we'll have crossed wind and tide side by side and that she'll trust me more.

But anyway, let's get to the heart of the matter. Cynvia Bluesea, her full name, is a purebred arctic vixen with a totally white coat who was born in the small village of Icywind 25 years ago. For those who don't know, Icywind is a northern village far away and isolated from the rest of civilization. It's not an easy village to live in, so I'm not surprised that such a harsh environment has created such a strong personality in her. A personality that allowed her to become the second captain of Icywind's only ship, taking the place of the former captain when he lost his life in a particularly violent pirate attack. For the next three years she sailed her ship, which she renamed the "White Fang", without any problems until the day of her 25th birthday anniversary. On what should have been a beautiful day, a violent storm unfortunately sent her beloved ship into the calm waters of the mirrored sea. Leaving her as the sole survivor on the ice floes of the Silver Shore, it was at this point that she tried to find her village by walking from the shore to her home. This event was extremely significant for Cynvia. When we discussed the subject, it was obvious that she felt very guilty and responsible for this huge loss. She definitely wanted to repay this debt to her village no matter what the cost. Even at the risk of her own life. She could hardly bear this disgraceful failure. After all, for her, this crew were not just sailors. They were neighbours, friends, family who all disappeared beneath the freezing waves of the mirrored sea. Leaving on those frail vixen shoulders the weight of a mountain. This weight is her greatest motivation to follow me in my adventures. The gold needed to buy a new ship can be easily obtained if you forget the danger and morality of the thing we do, but for her. No danger, no monster or enemy is big enough to stop her. She does not give herself the right, saying that to stop would be like another failure. This phobia of defeat seems to cause a legendary ferocity in her that I have never seen before. I had already had a taste of it at the manor, but I didn't think it was at this level. Let's just say she's not the type to let anyone walk all over her. Oh no, she's not. I've seen her break the wrists of poor drunks man just because they were a bit too indiscreet towards her. She's really not the type of person you want to bother for no reason, but on the other hand, she seems to be listening to me and calming down more and more as time goes on. I think she is beginning to understand that violence is not always the best solution as she claiming. On my side, I must admit that I am also learning a little from her. Sometimes you have to fight for what you really want. Not always running away when you have the chance. We have a lot to learn about each other. On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised to see a slightly more feminine and gentle side to her. She knows how to use her feminine attractions combined with pretty sentences when needed, but if the target resists these beautiful words and what we want is on this person. I don't think that person have long to live. For her, charm seems to be a card that makes it easy to get what she wants. I have seen the efficiency of this when she go us a very nice discount at the Aberstram smithy. All this with a few well placed words and a few provocatives gestures. She also quite talents with number and insight about people, so even if she still has a lot to discover about what is behold the sea and her village, she still quite intelligence. With our combined talent, we will be an amazing team.

As for the fight, Cynvia fights with a sword that is too big for her. We weren't sure what it was, but the blacksmith told us it was a big bastard sword, made for species bigger than us, like bears for example. He offered to buy it, but Cynvia wanted to keep it. So we didn't need to buy her a weapon. I have my doubt about where she get it since she had it when we left the manor and when I asked her about it, she only said "You know where I got it". I've got a big suspicion. especially after what happened there, but on the other hand... Finder keeper, so I didn't really look any further. But that still mean the weapon is too big for her, she can't even wear it on her belt like I can. The weapon is too long and rubs on the ground. If she puts it on her back, it's not really better. Sure, it doesn't rub on the ground, but it's almost impossible to draw without my help. Which is not very convenient when you are about to be attacked. So she held the weapon in her paw, ready to draw, dropping the holster on the ground to get into a fighting position as quickly as possible when things got hectic. Then, when the danger is finally over, she finally retrieves the scabbard to sheath her sword and we continue on our merry way. The only time she puts the weapon behind her back is when we have to walk all day, even in town she keeps the scabbard in her hand, ready to draw for a fight or just to intimidate if the need arises. It's a very... peculiar technique, but I can't really argue with her about the effectiveness of it. She's ready to fight in record time, so I'll let her do it... until we find a sword that fits her better...

Also, at the blacksmith's, we took the opportunity to buy her a little more protection than what her old captain's clothes gave her. Which was really not hard to beat... Before buying it, I had her try on my chain shirt with my leather armor, but she didn't think it give enough protection. Which was a pity, she seemed to be agile and fast in that armor. So the blacksmith had her try on a plate armor, but she could hardly move freely in that heavy armor. It was definitely too heavy for her. So, after this long trial session, she finally went with an in-between. She took a breastplate with a chain shirt and two forearms. The whole thing was complemented by a pair of reinforced boots. This armor offered her protection in the most critical areas without crushing her under the weight of the metal.
On the other hand, she is really not gentle with her equipment. I can understand her, it's logic, a fight is not a good time to pay attention to material objects, but sometimes I really wonder if she voluntarily uses her armor to see the limit of it. Let's just say, she has no problem taking a hit in her armor if it allows her to give one. Attack is the best defence as she says. So I have to regularly maintain her armour. Fill in the gaps, debone it. That sort of thing. I guess she use it out a lot faster than I do because of her fighting style, which is not at all similar to mine. She's so close that she could, and already has, bitten her opponent, whereas I'm at the end of my blade. I prefer a mode mediculate fighting style, analyzing my opponent to strike in a weak spot but for her. She has a more beastly side to her, striking in several directions until her enemy makes a mistake and she can slash him with her weapon. Personally, it makes me laugh. She uses her sword both way, with one and two hands. She tends to use her heavy sword with both hands when she wants to strike with all her might, but if she need to reflect her opponent strike, she will tend to use the weight of the blade to redirect the strike to the ground, giving her the chance to use her free hand to grab her opponent and put him in a bad posture, or take an object on him. One time, I saw her take a flaming vial from the bandit's belt before stepping back to throw it at him, causing him to catch fire. She is quite mobile on the battlefield, but I can see that this kind of weapon and armor remains heavy on her shoulders. The movement with the weapon is slow and demanding for her. Even though she doesn't complain, I can see that after a fight, her muscles are hurting. I don't know why she just doesn't take a weapon that fits her better. It's not like we didn't find one on our way, but hey. It doesn't matter. She's still an excellent fighter.

Unfortunately, blows and wounds are a daily part of any fight, but I'm glade she has a better resistance to pain than me. Of us two, she is the one that receive the more hit and she is the one that complain the less about it. She only moan from time to time, especially when she receive the blow, but that it. She didn't complain even when her forearm armor cracked after a powerful blow. Her arm swelled up so much after that that she couldn't put anything on it for a good week, even with the help of a scrub. It's a good thing I was stubborn and forced her to put a splint on, otherwise her arm will probably still hurt her every day.