Personal History

       The various banners of the Republican Guard are named after their garrison locations; the "Swidnik" banner takes its name from the village of Swidnik, situated on the outskirts of the Republic's capital. Unlike other units recruited from specific regions, this elite force tasked with guarding the capital draws its ranks from knights across the entire nation. The banner's most prestigious unit, the First Guard Regiment, frequently appears in public settings within the capital; consequently, its members must possess striking good looks and tall, well-proportioned physiques, serving as living advertisements for the Republic's knighthood and a dazzling sight within the capital's parliamentary district. Morian, the regiment's standard-bearer, certainly embodies these qualities, though her skin is unnervingly pale, and her eyes, which occasionally flash a sudden, startling red, can be somewhat frightening.

       Natural beauty cannot be monopolized by a handful of powerful clans; thus, young women from the ranks of lower- or middle-class knights often become prized assets. They may enter the First Guard Regiment through the sponsorship of local notables or adoption by powerful figures, acts generally hailed as displays of chivalrous generosity. In return, of course, they are expected to run errands, broker deals, and even enter into strategic marriages for their benefactors. Morian, however, refuses to be a mere pawn; she aspires to be the one making the moves. She is the illegitimate daughter of a great lord and a commoner; typically, a child born outside of a marriage to a legitimate wife or a sworn "battle-partner" cannot inherit knightly status. Nevertheless, the lord's childless widow adopted her.

       Having spent her youth navigating a world of haughty aristocrats, opportunistic squires, and shameless commoners, Morian has mastered the art of reading the wind and adapting accordingly. In public, she presents herself as a dignified and amiable "lady knight," yet she can be chillingly ruthless when coercing or manipulating her subordinates and squires. To her, everyone is merely a tool: she exploits the kindness of the good, flatters the vain, cajoles and intimidates the weak, and seeks to eliminate any perceived threat. As if that weren't enough, she secretly cultivated an EGO capable of manipulating others' minds through eye contact. However, the effect was always limited, likely because her own spirit and willpower were not as resilient as she had hoped. Still, successfully manipulating others gave her a sense of security and sent her into a state of giddy elation.

       Morian pulled every string she could to expand her influence and seize the right of succession. Yet, the pawns she could control were limited to a mere handful of individuals within the First Guard; her strength, political acumen, and mind-manipulating EGO were all too immature to command the respect or fear of those in power, and her repeated attempts to secure the position of Guard Captain came to nothing.

       This impasse left her frantic with anxiety. Then, she set her sights on Angela a wandering knight who had arrived in the capital viewing her as the final piece of her grand scheme. After all, what better tool could there be than a "Saintess" who was noble, holy, and powerful, yet utterly naive about the ways of the world? Naturally, it never crossed her mind that this saint would not only defy her control but ultimately become the very pillar preventing her own twisted psyche from completely collapsing...