Lady Karla Gabel

The bronzy -- and unusual -- shade of this woman's red hair does little to nothing at all to soften the impressive cut of her figure and the intimidation her presence exudes. She is tall, not only for a woman, but even for a man, and though still feminine in form, her body sings of martial prowess like a choir performing a holy melody in a finely arched chapel. Her eyes are a dusky shade of blue and her skin, though kissed by no small amount of battle scars, is tinted just a shade away from snow white by the sun.

Karla Gabel grew up in the town of Lest and received a knightly education. Being that House Gabel has not had to worry about external threats to its land in quite some time, much of her time was therefore spent training, staying in a general state of readiness, attending tournaments, or visiting court in Sanctuary. She was enthusiastic about the Cult of Valon from an early age, and frequently seeks counsel from its priests.

In 628, as part of her cousin, Bernd's, then the heir apparent to the duchy, move to remedy certain issues within the duchy, Karla was placed in charge of a small number of knights tasked with ensuring there was no subversion of House Gabel's rule of the duchy. While violence against unruly vassals may not be the most desirable of outcomes, the prospect of it can certainly effect a change in behaviour. It is not quite a constant task for Karla, and she still has time for other matters. Still, every now and then, she and her squadron will show up to a noble's estate, panoplied in House Gabel's colours, eat their food, appropriate their private chambers as billets, and remind them of their obligations, and then set off on their way again.

Karla is stern and righteous. While many Adanan nobilities adhere to the Cult of Valon to some extent or another, Karla is dogmatic in her outlook. What to others might be a calculated exercise in suppressing noble dissent is to Karla no less than a divinely-sanctioned duty. House Gabel is in power in Southreach, and therefore its nobility should follow through on their obligations appropriately. If they do not, then they must be reminded. If someone decides to slight her cousin by reneging on their commitments, she has no difficulty with cracking down on them. For all that, for those who do stay in line, Karla is a steady, even - occasionally - welcome presence.

She is not naturally disposed towards being particularly social, but it does not stop her from attending Sanctuary, both because the centre of the Cult is there, and because her house does after all require a presence at court. She is no less stern on these occasions, though she is consistently, almost exceedingly, polite.

Karla is a competent knight, and an intimidating presence.