| Diana Walker - She was one of several drill instructors hand
picked to handle several dozen dwarven volunteers. Special instructors
like here were needed because of the unique (and rather belligerent) nature
of the volunteers. All the instructors were skilled at their jobs.
Walker stood out from the others in being able to bring any of her charges
through alive and fit. Hers were the only dwarves who (literally) survived
Bootcamp. The other dwarves had either been killed by their instructors
(for attacking them), killed themselves when not listening to instructions
during weapons training (amazing how much damage one does to themselves
when the do not throw the grenade when one pulls it's pin), or had
broken their fighting spirit (leaving only a hollow shell that pisses itself
at every loud noise).
Walker had figured, correctly, that once you made it clear to these
dwarves that you could take them in a far fight that she and her ways were
worthy of being listened to... that she was even worthy of respect and
honor! That perhaps human beings weren't as weak and pitiful as they'd
grown to believe over the years. That said, once she won them over, they
were converts.
Something of a cynic on religion, she always thought that religion was
nothing but a con game, but was able to keep silent (and from laughing)
when and her dwarven recruits were chosen to not only bring some dragon
treasure as a peace gesture between dwarves and dragons....but also some
long lost dwarven religious relics (arms and armor rumored to have been
forged by the head dwarven god himself).
Terra Prime being what it is, things went weird.
Seems that the Forge (that head Dwarven God) decided that Walker would
make the perfect Avatar and so shined down from the heavens and began speakiner
(and acting) though Walker. Walker had no recollection of the event, but
the eveidence of what happened were obvious enough. She'd soon find out
that the dwarven clan leader (as the rest of his clan) had become cursed
and became like the orcs they'd secretively allied themselves with. She'd
also found herself with a soft glow to the skin and looking like an idealized
eighteen year old version of herself.
Soon, she converted to the religion of the dwarves and became their
Empress.
As a young woman she had belonged to a street gang back Home in London
Sector and joined the Military to better her lot in life....as well as
fight for something more than just a few blocks of turf.
Walker is also a fanatical fan of Doctor Who and can quote word
for word and line for line almost every episode ever made on her world!
Finally, she and several others of her gang speak with a Cockney accent
to harken back to better times. It was a way to remember and celebrate
the past.
Tarin Gazin - Was Rift's right-hand dwarf, but now is the King
of his clan due to some fancy political footwork by using the gift and
promise of the ultra advanced art of Military metallurgy to entice his
(and other) dwarven clans to his point of view on things. The two are best
buddies even though Tarin has a touch of magic in him which makes him slightly
unstable sometimes. But of course this became moot with the passing of
the slipgates (since his magic touch was linked to that magical wonder).
Tarrin found religion while injured long ago, and with recent events with
Diane Walker (an actual...by all appearances.....avatar of the Forge....a
Head Dwarven God).....has helped lead his and other clans into a radical
transformation of dwarven society to mimic the ideals of Military life.
"Oh voy." mutters Eddie quietly.
"Hmm," Tarin Gazin murmurs, looking up speculatively at the human. "Mr.
Dean, before you judge, do know that the prophecy of the coming of the
Forge's Avatar told of a sweeping change to my people. Needed change. We've
always been warriors, but we had flaws.... 'Twas for the best, believe
me. You wouldn't like how things were before because.....well.
"We were very prejudice against non-dwarves," the shaven faced dwarf
finished up, sighing.
Eddie who hadn't really known what to think about, decides to shelve
any misgivings and take Tarin's word for it. For now, at least, that is.
Frankly, the young New Yorker was just too new to the scene to past judgement.
Still and all, this dwarf wasn't anything like the dwarves he'd seen in
Disney cartoons!
-
 The Empress
then moved on to tell about the others present.....
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