Dame Cryssida Blackwood of Clan McKlaine

Knight Minister
Holder of the Silver Sun
Crown Companion

A Scottish lass with a big sword, hanging with the gypsies.

A page from Cryssida's journal

The red sun slips down the horizon and is swallowed by the sea. The
cool salt air runs its fingers through my hair letting me know that
the Lady Dark Water sails out from another exotic place towards home.
My father is a bridge builder and it would seem that his skill is
called upon even before the last commission is completed. Alhambra
has called upon him many times to help build the bridges that span its
great land and borders. I have looked on with curiosity and wonder as
my father works. For a bridge is more than that which connects the
land, it is a means to connect the people together. Families and
friends are brought closer, trade increases, and knowledge is shared.

Although my grandparents would have me spend time on my needle work
and learn the proper ways of a lady, it is the time spent with my
father on his journeys that have taught me the true ways of the world.
If I am to lead my Clan, as I am the last heir of McKlaine, than
there are far more important things that I need to know other than the
proper station of a lady. I must understand affairs of estate and far
more important than this I must understand the ways of war. I have
spent many hours with my practice sword, it is only now that I draw
steel and learn to dance to its song. Father is fearful of my looming
responsibility that lies ahead; he has never fully recovered from the
loss of my mother…

It is strange to think about my parents union. While the Scottish and
the English wage war, my father of English birth sailed to build a
bridge not far from my grandparent's home. It is there that he met
and fell in love with my fair mother. They were happy in those days
even though there were so many reasons to hold a heavy heart. My
mother died from complications during my birth. I have spent every
winter since with my grandparents and clansmen. It is hard to be away
from the land of my birth but the education I have received has been
priceless and will serve me well in times of hardship and in times of joy.

Long ago McKlaine was a clan of seasoned fighters, today there are so
few of us left. After our Laird Alexander Christian had fallen, it
seemed that the younger men had lost heart. Other clansmen have moved
on to other lands and others have hidden themselves to the rest of the
world. Hamish has held the clan together as best he could while the
rains beat down our crops and raiders had stolen our live stock. I
have been away far too long it seems and now there is much work to be
done.

A chill passes through me as the sky gives way to the night and I am
left wondering if I can help build the bridge that my Clan has been in
such need of for so many years. If I can bring them together once
more to stand strong and fight against this world's iniquities and
love harder than any have thought possible. Maybe then the banner of
McKlaine will be raised with pride and a cry will echo through the
night Nullius Pavet Occursum (we fear no encounter) and all will know
that McKlaine will not go quietly into the night.