Background: (Rogues) Estrella Fernandez
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2026 10:43 pmBackground: 1 point Predecessor or Infamous Teacher
Mark: she'd originally planned on Predecessor, but can work with either and is happy to give you free reign.
Background - Mk2
Born in a small town in Torres north of San Juan along the coast of the Frothing Sea, Valencia Ruiz’s family plied their trades. Born of a union between Estrella’s father Alphonso from Torres and her mother Elmira from Gallegos, the family made the trip across Castille numerous times, trading, observing and learning – sometimes by land, sometimes by sea. Her mother maintained close relations with friends and family back home in San Gustavo, the one spot in Gallegos that was similar to the fertile Rancho Torres. Estrella studied at the Colegío de Santa Lucio and in the midst of celebrating her graduation that life took a turn.
Celebrating at a home with just her parents and some close friends of her mother’s she had stepped outside to appreciate the fresh air when the flicker of flames caught her eye in the window. Realizing it was not a candle she stepped back into a house rapidly filling with smoke. Pushing through to the living area she found a room in flames, smoke making it somewhat difficult to see. What was clear to her were two charred and burning bodies and two others gesturing and controlling the flames, small flames dancing in their eyes. She screamed at the unholy use of El Fuego Adentro and threw a heavy candlestick at one of them. While it didn’t hit, it did distract them and a figure shrouded by the smoke lunged and ran them through. The smoke getting thicker, she moved outside and was soon accosted by a pair of individuals who reassured her they had dealt with the fire wielders. They apologized for not getting there sooner. The older gentleman of the two seemed truly moved. Investigating once the smoke cleared Estrella confirmed that the burned and charred bodies belonged to her parents, and the two the strangers killed two of her mother’s friends who were visiting. They asked her what happened and she took a moment to consider. The friendship between her mother, Gaspar Sanchez and Nieve Rama was well known. They had all grown up together, had supported each other through difficult times and Estrella considered them family – tio Gaspar and tia Nieve. She’s not sure what happened, but believes it must have been an accident as she can’t imagine them turning on her parents.
She was recruited by the pair into Die Kruetzritter, the older of the two taking a personal interest in her. His name was Rafael Zevallos, and extremely well regarded for both his mastery of the blade and his skill as a teacher. When she demonstrated natural grace and instincts, Rafael committed to training her himself. He trained her in the ways of an assassin, but always with an eye to having her selected for the Phantom Guard. She was a dedicated student, her grief finding an outlet in mastering the skills of her new life. Her personal tragedy deepened her conviction and the righteousness of their cause. Her old life died the day her parents were killed and She felt it fitting that Valencia died as well. With that, Estrella Fernández was born.
Rafael drove Estrella hard, teaching her a broad range of subjects and skills – fencing, knife work, how to shadow, remain unseen or overlooked, stand watch for hours without losing focus, strategy, tactics, the lessons never ended. Rafael became teacher, mentor and father figure for her, embodying her new calling. She hunted and completed her first kill, then her second. While well suited for the role of an assassin, Estrella quickly proved she belonged among the elite. She had the raw talent and the drive to take her far. Within just a few years she was enrolled in the Phantom Guard and received the ring and training in Nacht. She passed both the fading and the shriving with flying colors. While training Estrella, Rafael was named Grandmaster and placed in charge of a sanctuary.
Though an active member, still Estrella would return and train with Rafael whenever she could. He had not taken a new dedicated student, his time more often spent refining the mastery of the elite than training any from recruit. He began teaching her the Torres sword style in honor of their shared former home, a style she picked up quickly. She returned from a mission to discover a new manager in charge of the sanctuary that Rafael had led. He had retired, though he hadn’t mentioned to her that he intended to. He had taken leave of the sanctuary for roughly a month before returning and announcing his retirement. Rumor spoke of a failed mission, a threat still at large or consequences of a poor choice too significant to stomach. Rafael himself will not speak of his absence or his decision to retire. Now a reclusive master swordsman he takes on the occasional student, though seems to be doing well off the pension given for past service. Estrella still visits when she can to continue her training, but she has been sent to Avalon to keep an eye on a pirate captain whom she’s told bears watching.
Mark: she'd originally planned on Predecessor, but can work with either and is happy to give you free reign.
Background - Mk2
Born in a small town in Torres north of San Juan along the coast of the Frothing Sea, Valencia Ruiz’s family plied their trades. Born of a union between Estrella’s father Alphonso from Torres and her mother Elmira from Gallegos, the family made the trip across Castille numerous times, trading, observing and learning – sometimes by land, sometimes by sea. Her mother maintained close relations with friends and family back home in San Gustavo, the one spot in Gallegos that was similar to the fertile Rancho Torres. Estrella studied at the Colegío de Santa Lucio and in the midst of celebrating her graduation that life took a turn.
Celebrating at a home with just her parents and some close friends of her mother’s she had stepped outside to appreciate the fresh air when the flicker of flames caught her eye in the window. Realizing it was not a candle she stepped back into a house rapidly filling with smoke. Pushing through to the living area she found a room in flames, smoke making it somewhat difficult to see. What was clear to her were two charred and burning bodies and two others gesturing and controlling the flames, small flames dancing in their eyes. She screamed at the unholy use of El Fuego Adentro and threw a heavy candlestick at one of them. While it didn’t hit, it did distract them and a figure shrouded by the smoke lunged and ran them through. The smoke getting thicker, she moved outside and was soon accosted by a pair of individuals who reassured her they had dealt with the fire wielders. They apologized for not getting there sooner. The older gentleman of the two seemed truly moved. Investigating once the smoke cleared Estrella confirmed that the burned and charred bodies belonged to her parents, and the two the strangers killed two of her mother’s friends who were visiting. They asked her what happened and she took a moment to consider. The friendship between her mother, Gaspar Sanchez and Nieve Rama was well known. They had all grown up together, had supported each other through difficult times and Estrella considered them family – tio Gaspar and tia Nieve. She’s not sure what happened, but believes it must have been an accident as she can’t imagine them turning on her parents.
She was recruited by the pair into Die Kruetzritter, the older of the two taking a personal interest in her. His name was Rafael Zevallos, and extremely well regarded for both his mastery of the blade and his skill as a teacher. When she demonstrated natural grace and instincts, Rafael committed to training her himself. He trained her in the ways of an assassin, but always with an eye to having her selected for the Phantom Guard. She was a dedicated student, her grief finding an outlet in mastering the skills of her new life. Her personal tragedy deepened her conviction and the righteousness of their cause. Her old life died the day her parents were killed and She felt it fitting that Valencia died as well. With that, Estrella Fernández was born.
Rafael drove Estrella hard, teaching her a broad range of subjects and skills – fencing, knife work, how to shadow, remain unseen or overlooked, stand watch for hours without losing focus, strategy, tactics, the lessons never ended. Rafael became teacher, mentor and father figure for her, embodying her new calling. She hunted and completed her first kill, then her second. While well suited for the role of an assassin, Estrella quickly proved she belonged among the elite. She had the raw talent and the drive to take her far. Within just a few years she was enrolled in the Phantom Guard and received the ring and training in Nacht. She passed both the fading and the shriving with flying colors. While training Estrella, Rafael was named Grandmaster and placed in charge of a sanctuary.
Though an active member, still Estrella would return and train with Rafael whenever she could. He had not taken a new dedicated student, his time more often spent refining the mastery of the elite than training any from recruit. He began teaching her the Torres sword style in honor of their shared former home, a style she picked up quickly. She returned from a mission to discover a new manager in charge of the sanctuary that Rafael had led. He had retired, though he hadn’t mentioned to her that he intended to. He had taken leave of the sanctuary for roughly a month before returning and announcing his retirement. Rumor spoke of a failed mission, a threat still at large or consequences of a poor choice too significant to stomach. Rafael himself will not speak of his absence or his decision to retire. Now a reclusive master swordsman he takes on the occasional student, though seems to be doing well off the pension given for past service. Estrella still visits when she can to continue her training, but she has been sent to Avalon to keep an eye on a pirate captain whom she’s told bears watching.