The Storm Maidens

One with the Storm Lord

We are the tempest. We are the wrath of the Storm Lord.

— The Storm Maidens

In a country where women are generally seen as less-than, the Storm Maidens are an anomaly. This group of six women are the highly-trained personal guard of the High Lord Sybrant.

History

In 4741 EA, Lord Edwin Sybrant died after a short illness, leaving behind his wife, Coralie, and three young children. His heir, Kester, was only a few months old, which meant that Coralie was expected to rule until he came of age at sixteen.
Lady Coralie Sybrant was known for her deep distrust of men. After her husband's death, she shut herself and her children away in her chambers in The Needle, only allowing her ladies-in-waiting and the children's nursemaid to enter.
This led to a power struggle between her vassals, the lords all vying for influence over the region in her absence. This continued for two years. After a short conflict was sparked between Lord Reyne and Lord Erell - and with a larger civil war threatening - Coralie knew that something had to be done. She needed to take back control.
She sent for one daughter of each of her seven vassals. She then ordered the captain of her guards to train these women in the art of combat. These women worked hard, highly aware that the stability of the region's future would be determined by their success. Within six months, Coralie felt comfortable enough to retake control of her court with these women at her side.
At first, there was some controversy. Many of the Sybrant vassals believed that women could not be effective guards. The most vocal of the lords challenged the women to fight their sons, in an attempt to prove their point. The women won every single one of these fights, in part because the men did not take the fights seriously or were hesitant. After this, Coralie Sybrant claimed that her personal guards were blessed by Ather, the Monarch of Air. The women became known as the Storm Maidens.
Lord Kester Sybrant, when he came of age, discovered that keeping this deadly group of women by his side intimidated the other lords under his control. This cemented them as a permanent fixture of the High Lord Sybrant's court.

by enriquelopezgarre

Duties

The High Lord Sybrant is always accompanied by at least two of his Storm Maidens. They work in eight hour shifts, with a four hour overlap between each Maiden. If the High Lord is sleeping, the Maidens will either guard the door to his chambers or stand guard in his bedroom, depending on the needs of the individual High Lord.
During the time they are not on shift, the Maidens train, study, spend time in prayer, and have downtime where they eat or sleep.
The Maidens stay in service to the High Lord until they die or they are no longer able to protect the High Lord to the expected standard. If a Maiden retires, they remain with their sisters until their death, aiding in the training of their successor.

by Timothy Eberly

Daughters of the Tempest

Relatively early in the Storm Maidens history, they became a semi-religious group devoted to Ather, as well as to the High Lord. The claim from Lady Coralie Sybrant that the Storm Maidens were blessed by Ather was adopted into the Maidens' ethos.
As such, the Storm Maidens consider themselves married to the Monarch of Air. They take no lovers and bear no children, instead devoting themselves to battle and to the protection of the High Lord.

What man could compare to the touch of the Storm Lord? The stinging whip of chill wind and lashing rain against you skin?

— A Storm Maiden

Most of the young girls chosen to become new Storm Maidens have some measure of control over the elemental power of air, though exceptions have been made over the years. In general, many Storm Maidens fight with a mixture of martial skill and the Ruler of Air's power.
Each new Storm Maiden takes on the name of one of the original Storm Maidens, shedding her family loyalties to better protect the High Lord.