Athena Dracos

Athena Dracos, known as Drake, was thirteen when she left her family of brahmin-herders to make her own way in the wastes. With five older brothers, an apathetic, embittered father and no mother to speak of, Drake learned early that if she was going to have a place at the table, she was going to have to fight for it. When one of her brothers killed the other and then turned his rage on Drake, she beat him to death with a fire brand and then ran for her life.

Life on the road was hard for anyone on their own. For a young girl, it was impossible. She thought herself lucky when she caught up to one of the travelling caravans and met a man who called himself Jackson. He was kind to her and taught her about the world, about fighting, and about survival. Jackson wasn't doing anything out of a sense of altruism, however, though it was years later before Drake ever came to understand how twisted and malevolent a man Jackson really was. Another relationship ended in violence; Drake killed Jackson while defending herself from one of his rages.

On her own again, Drake was stronger and more determined than ever. At 20, she became a rare female recruit for Talon Company, a league of professional mercenaries. Earning respect was slow because of her gender, but Drake was gifted and experienced, and eventually earned a reputation as a lethal, if cold-blooded, soldier.

Recently, some of Drake's old contacts out in the Wastes have communicated rumors that Jackson has been seen at Duke's Travelling Emporium. It's impossible, of course, but after the third occasion of hearing the same rumor, Drake opted to take leave from Talon in order to investigate the matter herself. After all, if Jackson IS still above ground somehow, it's only a matter of time before he goes looking for the woman who (nearly?) put him down.