Darkonian Kargatane Record
- Known Name: Mirela Ironfoot
- Race: Dwarf
- Apparent Age: Mid 160s (human equivalent mid-40s)
- Birthday: 7 November 588 BC
- Height: 4'0"
- Alignment: Lawful Neutral.
- Affiliations: Ironfoot Clan, Leiksburg mines.
- Religion: The Silent Keeper.
- Character Class: Wizard (Transmuter).
- Place of Origin: Mr Ghakis, Barovia.
- Player/Type: NPC
Appearance
Mirela Ironfoot is a striking figure, not just because of her physical appearance but due to the aura of quiet strength and resilience that surrounds her. She has long, light brown hair typically tied in a neat braid, complementing her pale, almost alabaster skin. Her hazel eyes, always keen and observant, reflect the wisdom she has accumulated over her many years. Though she bears the short, stocky build typical of dwarves, her legs have grown thin, resembling those of humans, a testament to the muscle atrophy resulting from her years as a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair. Despite this, her presence is anything but diminished; she exudes an air of authority and determination that commands respect.
Mirela is dressed in practical, yet finely crafted dwarven clothing—a dark crimson tunic that hints at her arcane capabilities while serving the practicality of a working woman. The tunic is adorned with subtle arcane embroidery, indicating her calling without being ostentatious.
She is normally observed seated in a sturdy, intricately designed wheelchair that stands as a testament to her resourcefulness and expertise in magic. The wheelchair, crafted from darkwood and reinforced with metal and mechanical components, is inscribed with dwarven runes that suggest its arcane nature. The wheels of the chair, engraved with magical symbols, glow with a soft, mystical light when activated, hinting at their enchantments and the power she wields. A spellbook rests on her lap, and she holds a magic quill, ever ready to jot down new spells, notes, or cast a spell at a moment’s notice.
Background
Mirela Ironfoot was born on November 7, 588 BC (Barovian Calendar), into the Ironfoot clan. Her parents were Darkonese dwarves who migrated south and settled in the Balinok Mountains of Barovia a few years before she was born. Raised amidst the rugged beauty of the mountains, Mirela grew up in a clan deeply rooted in mining and craftsmanship.
Mirela's early life was marked by her industrious nature and love for her family. Although her father was a cleric of The Silent Keeper, she did not follow the family calling into divine service and instead married Thrain Ironfoot, a strong and kind-hearted dwarf who encouraged her passion for invention and jewelry. Thrain made her his partner in both marriage and his mining business, with Mirela quickly becoming the brains of the operation - managing the financial aspects, and using her engineering and blacksmithing skills to find inventive ways to improve their mining productivity. Mirela dived into having a family with the same zeal and ambition as any endeavour, and together, they had seven children: Gorrin, Varek, Garlin, Beldin, Toren, Eldrin, and Orin. Their life was filled with the joys and challenges of raising an unusually large family and contributing to the prosperity of their clan through their mining efforts.
The defining moment of Mirela's life came during a fateful mining expedition. A group of ravenous vampires attacked her family's mines, and the situation quickly became dire. Mirela devised a desperate plan to use explosives to trap the vampires in a rockfall. Thrain and a few brave dwarves held the vampires at bay, giving Mirela time to set up the explosives. The vampires realized the plan earlier than expected, and Thrain and his comrades fought valiantly to keep them trapped.
In a desperate bid to save her husband, Mirela stayed too close to the blast zone. The explosives detonated, successfully collapsing the mine and burying the vampires. However, the explosion also caught Thrain and the dwarves holding the line, killing them. Mirela was buried under the rockfall, and although she survived, the lumbar region of her lower spine was severely damaged, fracturing several vertebrae and compressed nerves. Her children and the remaining miners dug her out, but by the time they could take her to more proficient healers, the damage had become irreversible, at least by the limited magic they had access to and, with Thruin dead and the family operation in shreds, no financial means to seek more powerful healers in other realms. This left Mirela functionally paraplegic. Whilst she retained most sensation and partial ability to move her toes and feet, she was unable to walk ever again.
Determined not to be a burden, Mirela constructed a sturdy wheelchair and refused to let her disability define her. She performed exercises to build her upper body strength and quickly adapted to using a wheelchair in the mountainous terrain. Seeking a way to continue contributing to her clan, she turned to the arcane arts. Under the guidance of an Ironfoot sage, she began studying Transmutation magic, mastering the art to empower herself and aid her community, and eventually enabling her to enchant her wheelchair, transforming it into a magical battle-chariot that provided both increased mobility and combat advantages. Though she kept its magical capabilities low-key, revealing them generally only to her family or trusted allies, her resilience and resourcefulness became an inspiration to those around her. She became the family matriarch and leads the family with determination that would make Thrain proud, although deep down she still loves and misses her husband every day, and cries in her loneliest moments when she thinks no-one is around.
Although she was respected by the Ironfoot clan, Mirela's embracing arcane magic did not settle comfortable with many, as dwarves traditionally distrust arcane magic - and so she took the decision to aid the clan by taking her children and moving to the lower areas of the Balinoks in order to establish trade links with Barovian villages. For years, they avoided Leiksburg because their sages' divination magic revealed something otherworldly, very powerful, and utterly evil resided there. However, a few months ago, this dark presence disappeared without a trace. Curiosity and bravery led Mirela to travel to Leiksburg and establish links with the village. This endeavor resulted in her and her family being put in charge of the Leiksburg mine. Using their experience and new miners brought in from outside as labor, they renewed operations and aimed to improve on previous efforts. In return, they were not only given fair salaries and authority over the mine but also provided with a family manor house in Leiksburg.
Personality
Mirela is a woman of indomitable will and sharp intellect, qualities that have seen her through both personal tragedy and the challenges of leading her family and managing the mines near Leiksburg. Despite her physical limitations, she has never allowed herself to be defined by them. Instead, she uses her vast knowledge of transmutation magic to overcome obstacles, both literal and figurative. She is deeply protective of her family, particularly her seven sons, whom she has raised with the same strength and determination that defines her.
Mirela is known for her no-nonsense attitude and her ability to remain calm under pressure. She possesses a keen mind for strategy and logistics, essential traits for someone managing a mining operation in the dangerous terrain of Barovia. While she can be stern, she is also fair and compassionate, especially to those who prove themselves worthy of her respect. Her injuries have not made her bitter but have instead fueled her desire to ensure that those around her, particularly the vulnerable, are protected and cared for.
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Social Style
Mirela commands respect wherever she goes, not just because of her noble lineage but due to her actions and the way she carries herself. She is a woman of few words, preferring actions over grand speeches, which has earned her the loyalty and admiration of those who work for and with her.
To gain her favor, one must show competence, loyalty, and a willingness to work hard. Mirela values those who demonstrate these traits and is likely to offer her help and wisdom to them in return. However, she has little patience for those who whine, complain, or shirk their responsibilities. She is also fiercely protective of her family and will go to great lengths to ensure their safety and well-being, even at great personal cost.
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Signature Quotes
- "Strength isn't just in the body—it's in the will to keep going, no matter what life throws at you."
- "Magic is as much about precision as it is about power. One wrong move, and you can bring down an entire mountain."
- "I've seen too many good men and women fall to pride. Remember, there's always something to learn, even from the lowliest miner."
- "The earth is stubborn, just like us Ironfoots. But with patience and the right tools, even the toughest rock will yield."