Torea Sterling
“Hope is my shield, and faith is my armor.  I am vulnerable only to myself.”

     Torea wishes to lead by example.  She doesn’t feel it is her place to preach to those who do not follow the tenets of faith.  She cannot tolerate atheists.  With so much evidence of the existence of the gods, how can anyone deny their presence?  Atheists, she feels, are only slightly worse than the followers of the dark gods.  After all, at least they believe in something.  
     She is a devout follower of the Battle Maiden, one of the aspects of the goddess Andromeda.  As such, she is a virtuous warrior priest that fights on behalf of those who cannot do so for themselves to make the world a better place.
     Torea is intelligent, but has a bit of a reckless streak.  She is not obstinate, and if she is presented with a logical reason to abandon a course of action she will listen readily.  Otherwise she will push forward with the first plan proposed.  Patience, some fear, is a virtue she does not possess.  This could prove to be her undoing.  She has already had several close encounters, and has survived only by the grace of her God, and the skills of her allies.  She can be quite focused on a task to the exclusion of nearly all else.  Some can consider this focus as narrow-mindedness, others call it zeal.  Whatever you may call it, all agree that she is not one to confront when her eyes gleam with righteous anger.  
     Torea is a warrior of Andromeda, as such; some people seem to forget that she is also a woman.  She is keenly aware of the advances of men, but is unsure how to react to them.  Her social skills, beyond negotiations and other affairs of diplomacy, are stunted.  She is aware of this, and thus keeps herself sheltered further hindering social development.  Gathering information and diplomacy are her strong points.  A skilled orator; public speaking rarely fazes her.  But, engaging in small-talk or idle chit-chat with people she doesn’t know makes her uncomfortable and self-conscious.  It is the private moments without the support of her friends that seem to terrify her.  She often speaks to people in the military style of superior to subordinate, because that is what she is most familiar with, which makes others see her as stand-offish or aloof.  However, those she has grown close to she treats with great affection.  
     She is feminine; though she often doesn’t realize or acknowledge her own beauty (She has a ‘girl next door’ sort of allure).  She is also a capable leader.  She is more comfortable in martial situations than social however.  
     Clad in sturdy armor, with ornate epaulets (Shoulder Guards) that resemble winged angels with their wings wrapped protectively over her upper chest and back.  Plate armor covers her upper chest back, and legs.  Her sword is a straight bladed weapon, simple and functional, with glowing runes along the blade.  The cross guard has a diamond shaped sapphire set into the hilt where it meets the blade, and the cross guard is simple, functional and swept forward.   
     She wears a small ivory amulet of her goddess’ holy symbol that she wears around her neck on a fine silver chain.    
     Torea keeps her hair well groomed, and falls to just between her shoulder blades.  She keeps the hair at her temples braided and tied back, keeping it from covering her face.  Her eyes are a bright aqua color and often show her determination as well as her zest for life.  
     Torea is headstrong and determined, often taking charge with the first plan offered without thinking about her actions.  Torea places a lot of value in her friends, and would literally lay down her life to defend them