Shuttle's Shipyard

Sergeant Kalla Steelcord

3 min read

Sergeant Kalla Steelcord

A veteran sergeant of the Fringe Guard, known for her defensive prowess and steady leadership. She evaluated recruits at the Blood Bond Tournament and has since become the party’s primary Fringe Guard contact for field missions.

Quick Reference

Appearance: Muscular build, graying hair tied back in tight braids, multiple scars on forearms, always wears her Fringe Guard leather even off-duty
Voice: Deep, calm, measured — speaks like someone who’s seen it all
Mannerism: Unconsciously taps her shield with her fingers when thinking

Background

Kalla has served the Fringe Guard for over twenty years. She’s survived three major Edge incursions and countless minor skirmishes with parasites and rival yard infiltrators. She earned her nickname “Steelcord” after holding a mooring line by herself for six hours during the Breaking of ‘78.

Now in her forties, she serves as a trainer and evaluator at the annual Bloodbond Tournament. She’s not there to win — she’s there to see if the new blood has what it takes.

Personality

  • Protective: Will step in to defend weaker fighters if things get too dangerous
  • Fair: Judges people by their actions under pressure, not their background
  • Stern but kind: Tough exterior, but respects courage and creativity
  • Practical: No time for glory-seekers or show-offs

Connections

Wants

  • Find worthy recruits for the Fringe Guard
  • Keep the tournament safe (mostly)
  • Retire someday to teach knot-craft full time

Secrets

  • She’s starting to slow down and knows it — this might be her last year in the tournament
  • Lost her partner in the Breaking of ‘78, still carries his signal whistle
  • Secretly admires the Weft Brothers’ adaptive methods, though she’d never admit it to the Warpists

Combat Stats (Shadowdark)

Level 3 Fighter
HP: 12
AC: 14 (leather armor + shield)
Attack: +3 to hit
Damage: 1d8+1 (spear)
Movement: 30 feet

Special Abilities:

  • Shield Bash (bonus action): Push an enemy 5 feet or knock prone (STR save DC 13)
  • Defensive Stance: Once per combat, can give herself advantage on all defense rolls for one round
  • Protective Strike: If an ally within 5 feet is attacked, she can use her reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack

Story Hooks

  • Kalla notices a PC has natural talent and offers private training
  • She asks the party to investigate why so many young Guards have gone missing on patrol
  • Her old partner’s whistle starts ringing on its own during an Edge incursion
  • She needs help retrieving a lost shield from a dangerous area — it belonged to someone important

Quotes

  • “Stand firm. The edge tests everyone — better to fail here than out there.”
  • “Courage without caution is just another word for dead.”
  • “I’ve seen brave people and I’ve seen strong people. The ones who survive are usually both.”
  • “Your footwork’s sloppy, but your heart’s in the right place. We can work with that.”

In the Sessions

  • Session 02 (cf. Session 02): Debriefed the party after the parasite-nest clearance; paid 85 gold and issued Fringe Guard Signal Kits.
  • Session 05 (cf. Session 05): Co-briefed the Grimsby Gala infiltration alongside Banner-Mistress Juno; provided a crude map of Grimsby’s estate.
  • Session 06 (cf. Session 06): Arrived at the Slackline at dawn, right arm bloodied, with three Edgerunners dead (Tomass, Brell, Edda). Directed the party to the Filch Tannery cellar after Bram Fellweave’s confession. Took the Baron into custody at mission’s end.

Cross-Links: Fringe Guard · Edge Thread · High Edge-Warden Hem · Banner-Mistress Juno

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