Staci showed up in her smithing attire, simple leather armor and an apron, ready to perform the task for which she had been hired.

The Captain of the village militia had asked her to come and make some armor and swords. It would take about a week to fill the order, and she was to be provided with room and board during that time.

As she sat back, taking a break from hammering away at the metal, a knee-high shock of golden curls and wide blue eyes appeared over the edge of the anvil.

"Whatcha doin'"? asked the young daughter of the Captain.

"Making some armor and weapons for your Daddy and his soldiers," she replied.

"How ya do that"?

"Well," said Staci, "I take some metal like this... and make it really hot... then I put it on the anvil... then I take my hammer and go BANG BANG BANG BANG"!

The little girl squeled with laughter as Staci comically tapped the anvil with her hammer and yelled "BANG BANG BANG BANG" again.

A much louder sound startled them out of their laughter... a violent explosion rocked the small barn where the anvil and forge were placed.

Dust... and smoke... and fire... and pain... a lot of pain.

Staci knew that many of her bones were broken... she gasped desperately to get air, but precious little seemed to be coming.

Suddenly, a there was a great whooshing sound and the fires in the barn were extinguished. A calm green light filled the small building.

In the center of the light was a the form of a man, she couldn't distinguish any features. He reached down and placed his hand on her forehead.

Cool relief flooded through her... she felt her bones knit back together and her lungs refill with air.

The man took her hand and placed a ring on her finger, it was some sort of strange green metal and bore a symbol she had never seen before.

"Help them," said the man.

"wha.. How? What can I do"?

"Help them," he said again... and then vanished with a flash.

Staci regarded the ring and Emerald energy flowed around her. She knew... somehow she knew that she could command it.

She hefted a large timber with one hand and flung it away... underneath she found the little girl, unconscious, but apparently unharmed.

Staci concentrated and commanded the Energy to form a battle steed which she then mounted. She observed that she was now clad in green armor, with the same symbol as on the ring, emblazoned above her breast.

Tendrils of verdant energy wrapped around the little girl and lifted her up to Staci, and she trotted out of the ruined barn. She set the child on the ground outside and solidified a barrier around her to keep her safe.

Looking around, she saw the cause of the chaos... a Blackthorn Juggernaut, spewing fire and magick in a wave of destruction.

Staci summoned the Emerald Energy again, and formed a spear so dense, it appeared black. She charged out after the Juggernaut, headless of her own safety. With a mighty CLANG, her spear rang against the armored beast. She was satisfied to see a deep gouge in the metal, and foul steam issued forth.

But now she had the monster's complete attention. It wheeled around and spat fire at her, then struck with it's mechanized arms. She staggered back, stunned, but uninjured. Her horse and spear both vanished, as her concentration was broken.

The monster moved quickly in her direction, determined to mow down the being who had damaged it. Having no other options, Staci leapt into the air... and kept going... up... and up. She looked down in amazement as the ground receded below her... she was... flying...

An idea occurred to her... she formed another spear from the energy and performed a somersault in the air. Now facing the ground again, she willed herself down with greater and greater speed. She collided with the Juggernaut and felt the spear penetrate it's thick metal skin... through the gears and machinery to the once human pilot in the middle of the contraption. The Juggernaut died with a sickening scream, as blood and black oil spilled out on to the ground.

The villagers cheered and came running out. Smiling behind her helm, she waved to them, and willed herself upwards, back into the sky. Once out of sight, she willed herself to be invisible, and drifted back down, behind the ruined barn. She clambered inside and made herself visible again.

The Green Armor was gone, she was dressed again in her smithing gear. She affected a limp and staggered out of the building, as villagers came to check on her and the girl. She listened with a smile as they told of the Emerald Gladiator who had saved the village, and then flew off into the sky.