"Dobryj vyechyer, Father", replied Alina with some amusement in her voice as she greeted the priest. She removed her cloak, revealing her black and green skintight polymer knit outfit, with the praying mantis symbol of House Decados on her left breast. A small amulet at her throat hinted at an e-shield. She smiled at Salos, showing perfect teeth and small pointed incisors. "I am Lady Alina Petrovna of House Decados."

- later -

Gazing into the smoldering embers of the campfire, the young knight continued to tell Salos of her childhood. How her career began the moment she was born on Severus, and how sickly or weak children were often abandoned at birth; a weak infant would only make a weak adult, incapable of serving House Decados. With a dispassionate voice, she told Salos how strong children were taken from their parents and put into the care of a tutor, who raised the children and instructed them in the ways of House Decados. Young nobles learned early the importance of their role in politics, and loyalty to the Mantis banner was deeply ingrained.

She recalled her tutors from the Jakovian Agency, who taught her the art of war as a young child — from the necessities of self-defense to the basic principles of assassination, the intricacies of the duel, the violence of the gun, to the arts of the vendetta. She spoke proudly of her time serving on the Decados flagship, the ‘Nicholas and Alexandra', and how she was also taught the art of passive espionage and the value of information.

“Information is everywhere,” she smiled. “It is waiting to be gleaned from even the simplest conversation. One need only learn to be aware of it at all times, and fully focused when interacting with people.”


Alina was born on the Decados throne-world of Severus, at the inner court of Prince Hyram, ruler of House Decados. Her father was Baron Nicholas Petrovna, and her mother was Baroness Katrina Petrovna. Baron Nicholas was murdered by a Hazat assassin golem years ago, and Alina’s mother now dedicates herself to more and more outrageous body modifications. She has one remaining sibling, the foppish duelist Felix.

Alina started out like a typical noble of House Decados; violent, indulgent, sneaky, arrogant, and an all-round reprobate. Having grown up at Prince Hyram's court, she saw more than her fair share of grotesque horrors and cruelty, and it would take a lot to rattle her. As one of Prince Hyram’s many nieces, she was instructed to accompany a group of explorers to Vuldrok space, to learn more about the mystery of the fading suns.

During that perilous trip, she helped uncover an Antinomist plot against Emperor Alexius, for which she was offered a place amongst his Questing Knights. Much to the dismay of her Decados peers, she accepted. She was also rewarded with a small fiefdom on Malignatus, and this is currently being managed by her aged tutor, Kazimir.

Despite her youth, Alina has already seen many wonders, including the underwater cities of the Nizdharim on Hargard, the bustling markets of Criticorum, and even the fetid jungles of Ungavorox.

She normally travels with her confessor, Father Salos, her Vorox bodyguard Bada-Gar, and the Brother Battle named Kalas. The services of Father Salos are often required, as Alina is still far from the image of the virtuous Questing Knight, and she often has to control her temper and sarcasm when her Decados upbringing rears its ugly head.



Alina changes her looks as other as others change their clothes. She might sport new facial tattoos, skin color, hair style or even eye color, depending on her mood that day. But she always tries to maintain a sleek, elegant and well-groomed look. She is tall and well-muscled and moves with the arrogant demeanor of a Decados noble. No stranger to the dark alleys and slums of Severus, she also has a knack for blending in with the common people and criminals.

She normally wears polymer knit clothes of excellent quality in the traditional Decados colors of black and green. The emblem of a Questing Knight is usually also prominent. She owns an e-shield, a dueling sword, a blaster pistol, and a revolver, although most of those are normally carried by her Vorox bodyguard.