Captain Deryn Fastblade
“The Idealistic Officer”
“We serve to protect, not oppress. If I forget that, I’ve failed regardless of orders followed.”
Quick Reference
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | 29 |
| Role | Military officer, Ironhold defense force |
| Personality | Idealistic, competent, increasingly conflicted |
| Challenge | Following Vask’s increasingly harsh orders vs. personal ethics |
Captain Deryn Fastblade - The
Idealistic Officer
Overview
Captain Deryn Fastblade represents Ironhold’s military at its best: brave, disciplined, competent, and motivated by genuine desire to protect people. She joined believing military service was noble calling, and under Vask’s command, learned tactical excellence, strategic thinking, and leadership.
But Vask’s orders grow harsher yearly: refugee rejections she questions, surveillance she finds excessive, preparations for offensive campaigns she considers unnecessary. Deryn follows orders (discipline demands it) but doubts accumulate. Is she protecting Ironhold or enabling authoritarianism? Serving or complicit?
This internal conflict defines her current state: capable officer caught between duty (obey orders) and conscience (question methods). She hasn’t rebelled, hasn’t resigned, but wonders increasingly if her loyalty to Vask conflicts with loyalty to Ironhold’s people.
Appearance
Height: Tall, athletic
Build: Military conditioning (strong, fast)
Hair: Short brown, regulation
Eyes: Determined, troubled
Bearing: Military precision
Uniform: Ironhold officer (immaculate), captain insignia, functional sword (well-used)
Background
Origin: Bright Reaches (minor settlement)
Family: Merchants (peaceful, honest)
Calling (age 16): Wanted to protect people (idealistic)
Joined Ironhold Military (256 S., age 18): Cadet program
Training: Excelled - Tactical aptitude - Leadership natural - Combat proficient - Principled (noted positively initially)
Promotion: Rapid - Lieutenant (age 23) - Captain (age 27) - Commanding 50 soldiers
Vask’s Opinion: Promising officer (competent, loyal… so far)
Military Career
Achievements: - Defended against Rot-Beast incursion (274 S.) - Led successful patrols (no casualties) - Trained junior officers (effective) - Respected by subordinates
Challenges: - Refugee screening duty (morally difficult) - Surveillance operations (feels wrong) - Preparation for Murk campaign (questions necessity)
Current Assignment: - Defense force commander (rotation) - Reports to Vask directly - Responsible for 50 soldiers
The Conflict
Duty Says: Obey orders, serve commander, maintain discipline
Conscience Says: Question harsh policies, protect innocent, serve people
Current Actions: Following orders (barely)
Internal Questions: - Are refugee rejections necessary or cruel? - Is surveillance security or oppression? - Would offensive campaign be defense or aggression? - At what point does obedience become complicity?
No Resolution: Wrestling daily
Vask’s Plans
Knowledge: - Aware of military buildup (participating) - Suspects Murk campaign (not confirmed) - Would have moral objections (if ordered)
Dilemma: - Refuse order = court-martial, disgrace, possibly execution - Follow order = attack potentially innocent people - What will she choose? (Doesn’t know)
Relationships
Vask: - Commander (respected militarily) - Questioned ethically (privately) - Obeys (so far) - Relationship deteriorating
Subordinates: - Loyal to her (good leader) - Some share doubts (whispered) - Would follow if she broke from Vask (maybe)
Fellow Officers: - Some similarly conflicted - Some completely loyal to Vask - Some opportunistic (don’t care)
Citizens: - Appreciates military protection - Some fear military power - Deryn tries being face of “good soldier”
Current State
Professional: Excellent (still performs duties)
Personal: Struggling (moral crisis)
Future: Uncertain - Continue and compromise conscience? - Resign and abandon duty? - Rebel and risk everything? - Find third way? (What would that be?)
Secrets
The Doubt: - Questions Vask (treasonous if revealed) - Discusses with trusted subordinates (careful) - Considering options (no decision yet)
The Plan: - If Vask orders Murk attack, she’ll refuse - Knows this means disgrace/death - Prepared to pay price (mostly) - Hopes it won’t come to that
The Alternative: - Quietly investigating other options - Could officers force Vask’s hand? (coup?) - Too dangerous to pursue actively (monitoring)
Quest Hooks
- The Order: Vask gives questionable order, Deryn hesitates (help her decide)
- The Patrol: Join her on duty (see conflict firsthand)
- The Rebellion: Deryn planning resistance (recruit party? Stop her?)
- The Refugee: She questions screening process (investigate together)
- The Campaign: If Murk attack ordered, Deryn refuses (defend her?)
- The Choice: Help her find solution preserving duty and conscience
- The Coup: Officers moving against Vask (her role?)
Related Topics
“I swore to protect Ironhold. But Ironhold is its people, not its ruler. If those conflict, which oath matters more?”
“Every order I follow, I ask: Does this protect or harm? Defend or oppress? When I can’t answer clearly, I know something’s wrong.”