Yenta

"I am weary of spending my last days making tea and tending the fire. There is no purpose to it. I'm joining you because I can be worth someting to you, because it justifies my life again."

Profile

Yenta is a Lieutenant of the Fourth Order of the Gozen Shogunate, and Atma's grandmother, who has not seen her granddaughter since the start of her pilgrimage to become a Holy Knight. She is approaching her 75th year of age, and does not relish the idea of wasting away in a deathbed. According to the beliefs of the Gozen populace, it is preferable to die fighting for one's comrades and country, to have proved one's strength, rather than to have died of sickness and be seen as weak. Therefore, once Atma is in the party, Lynia also meets Yenta and convinces her to join her army.

Mechanics

Weapon

Yenta's weapon is not originally from Gozen; she wields what appears to be a Roman gladius with a heavy pommel, always at her hip even when bathing. Most of the time, the blade remains in its scabbard, serving as a blunt weapon with either pommel strikes or overhand swings aimed for the head. Yenta only draws the sword when she perceives someone stronger than herself.

Skills

• True Test of Worth - Damage potential is increased if opponent is higher level than Yenta.
• Pommel Strike - When countering, gain one additional strike before enemy's attack for 50% normal damage.

Recruitment

With her hood raised, Lynia taps her staff against the wood-and-paper door. Moments later, it slides aside, revealing an elderly woman clad in robes, with a gladius strapped to her hip. "Who are you that comes knocking on the door of a retiree?"

Lynia glances to and fro, ensuring that she is out of earshot of nearby soldiers. "I am Lynia, of the Kingdom of Caynea. An acquaintance of mine has told me that you might be of assistance."

"They were wrong." The woman makes to shut the door, but its movement is halted by Lynia's foot. "What business did you think that I would help with?"

"I seek able warriors, keen tacticians, and powerful magicians to ward off an invasion force from the south."

She looks Lynia over, clearly unimpressed by her outfit and appearance. She steps aside. "You'd better come in."

Lynia carefully steps into the modest-looking house. There is only the one room; each wall is dedicated to many purposes. The north wall bears five sets of hooks, in which an array of weapons lay at rest, save for two empty spaces. To the east is a simple fireplace, currently lit; on the opposite wall are a few scrolls written in an ancient Gozenjin script. The old woman gestures to a simple table with two stools on either side; Lynia takes her seat with a bow. "I am told that you were a Lieutenant of the Fourth Order, some time ago."

"Yes...but that was many years ago. I fail to see how I'd be much use, in my age. I am mostly limited to brewing tea and lecturing the Fifth Order conscripts." The leather-skinned lady sits on her stool, a hand firmly on the pommel of the sword that lays sheathed at her hip. "I had just finished a special brew a moment ago. Would you care to try some? I am experimenting with different types of powdered rice in the leaves," she adds, gesturing with her free hand toward the steaming pot over the fire.

"Thank you very much, m'lady." Lynia carefully pours from the pot into a small, shallow cup. "I don't believe I've heard your name."

"Yenta." She pours some tea for herself.

"Well, Yenta-"

"Yenta-sama."

"I apologize for interrupting you. Is 'Sama' your family name?"

"'Sama' is a title of respect." She gives Lynia a momentary glance, then resumes staring at the floor. "You're young. Maybe you don't understand."

"Understand what, if I may?" Lynia sips from her cup. The tea is strong enough that she shudders a bit as it trickles down her throat. It is a flavor that Lynia is not familiar with, though not altogether dissatisfying, in retrospect.

"Gozen fosters a culture of respect. You being from the south, maybe you have not had any dealings with us."

"I suppose that I haven't. My father is likely to blame." Lynia quickly realizes that she is still wearing her hood, and removes it.

"It is rare to meet a girl as innocent as yourself. I suppose I can forgive the occasional lapse in protocol." Yenta casually sips the tea without even flinching. "Your behavior is unlike any I've seen. Not even the Shogun's youngest daughter..." She trails off, lost in thought.

Lynia sniffs the teacup in front of her. It almost has no scent at all, but she feels her sinuses become clearer as she inhales. "Yenta-sama, I have not been forthcoming with the whole truth. I am the only daughter of King Bermand of Caynea. For eighteen years, I rarely left the palace, and never left the capitol. Last year, I learned of my father's plans to expand northward, annexing every territory he could. Except that this campaign is not just King Bermand's. It is the work of a devil from my country's past, the Ice Demon Lord Kasiell."

"Lord Kasiell?" Yenta ponders the name for a moment. "I have only a vague recollection of this name..."

"He is a figure from old Caynean history. Some four hundred years ago, he held claim to most of Lower Shantania, until one of my ancestors defeated him. But Kasiell yet lives, and again desires to conquer." Lynia sips her tea again; she still shudders, wondering if there is alcohol in the brew. "Lord Kasiell and King Bermand are in league together, and have already razed much of the lower plains."

"To fight an army, you will need an army, not one soldier." Yenta references a Gozen proverb.

"An army contains many soldiers, but is built one soldier at a time," counters Lynia, with a verse from the Caynean Guard's Manual. "My resistance force contains many experienced soldiers and fighters of many specialties. Each individual soldier has their place, as would you, should you be inclined to join."

"I do not feel as if I would be of much help," repeats Yenta. "I was once a soldier, once a lieutenant, but now I am but an old, frail woman. I've only a few short years left of my life." Yenta downs her tea in a solid gulp. "The Shogunate has not seen a major war for most of my lifetime. I served my Shogun well, fifty years ago; even reached a position in the Fourth Order. But those days are past, and I've no desire to see my Gozen at war again."

"But war is already brewing beyond the bounds of your country," urges Lynia. "The Shogunate may be in danger soon enough."

"Your cause is not mine," Yenta snaps, glaring at Lynia over the table. "As far as the Shogun and his Second Order are concerned, Caynea's problems are not Gozen's concern. The tacticians and generals all agree that the war will end without having reached us."

Lynia swallows her tea and carefully places the clay cup on the table. "Yenta-sama, with respect, the Shogun's tacticians are wrong. It is not merely Caynea's problem. Kasiell's legions are due to make their advance northward within the week. Gozen might not have the chance to decide whether to support us or not."

"Then the Shogun is who you must speak to. Not a foolish elder of the Fourth." Yenta sighs and stares at the floor again, barely hiding the tears welling up in her eyes. "There is little I can do for you at this point. The most I would have been able to afford you was a chance to send your plea through the Orders, through my granddaughter in the Third Order...but I've not heard what has become of her."

"Your granddaughter?"

"Her name was Atma, a captain of the Third." She looks away, towards the wall of scrolls. "It is almost disgraceful that my grandchild should hold a higher Order than myself, but I was happy for her nonetheless."

"Yenta-sama, your granddaughter yet lives."

Yenta looks back at Lynia and wipes the tears with her sleeve. "She's alive? My Atma is alive?"

"It was she who mentioned you and your expertise in the sword. I believe you could be a great help, even if only as an instructor."

"Why just an instructor? Have you no faith in me?"

Lynia trips over her own tongue. "I didn't--I...I'm very sorry, Yenta-sama. I did not mean to discount your abilities, but...did you not say earlier that you had only a few years left? Why throw them away in combat? Why not stay behind the lines, educating and training the recruits?"

"My people don't believe in staying behind the lines." Yenta pulls the gladius from its scabbard and gazes into her reflection in the blade. "To refuse a march...that's the coward's way. We believe that it is more honorable to die in a fierce battle, for the good of someone else, than to die uselessly in a safe haven."

"Then, you would be willing to fight and die for my cause?"

"Ordinarily, I'd hear something like what you've said and declare you too selfish to be worth serving as a lord. But you...there's something to you and your cause. I'm intrigued. I would hear more of your story someday."

"As long as it shall take, then. I only hope that you will survive for long enough for me to tell it to you."

"I'll take that as a challenge," says Yenta as she returns her gladius to her hip.