Lira Dalmere

Lira is of average height for her people and with a personality that makes her stand out in any crowd.   By those who know her Lira is described as quick-witted and spirited, her teasing manner makes her a darling to the regulars that visit The Iron Tankard, a tavern located near the garrison of the Imperial Guard. Lira takes pride in managing the chaos of a busy tavern, balancing plates, tankards and drunken patrons with ease, it helps that she has a sharp tongue when provoked but always delivers the jab with a smile that softens the blow.   She is fiercely loyal to those she cares for and will more often than not let a struggling patron get a plate of food for free or tend to some homesick soldier. Especially the soldiers have a soft spot in her heart. Being born into a tavern-owning family, she grew up amid the sounds of clinking tankards, drunken laughter and brawls, and even as a young child she would help her family out in the tavern or sometimes just sit near the counter, more than one drinking song has been "composed" in her honour. Her father, once a member of the Imperial Guard, opened the Iron Tankard once he retired and married Lira's mother, her mother passed away when Lira was still young, leaving Lira, her older brother and their father to take care of the tavern. Her early exposure to the atmosphere of the tavern has likely turned her into a good listener, keeping patrons entertained or providing a sympathetic ear if needed. As the years passed, Lira became a fixture of the tavern, her presence comforting the patrons as much as the warmth of a good fireplace on a cold evening. Her father now spends most of his time at the back of the tavern, taking care of the books and making sure the storage is full, her brother joined the legions and was recruited into the 8th Legion, Casa Nicia.  

Daily life

Often up and about before sunrise, she helps prepare the tavern for the first customers, typically soldiers or guards trapping some breakfast before reporting in for the day. Mornings are typically spent scrubbing the tables she didn't get to the night before, polishing tankards and checking in with her father, making sure they have everything they need for the day around Midday, the tavern is again filled with soldiers and guards going for some lunch. Over the years she have developed extremely fast reflexes and she moves between the tables, dodging outstreched hands and quelling brewing arguments with a sharp word or a glare that could kill. Towards the evening, she might join in with the laughter, singing along with the songs of the tavern and bantering with patrons who try and always fail to win her favour.  

Reputation

Among the Imperial Guard who are the most frequent patrons of the tavern, Lira is well-loved. The soldiers often joke that she can be scarier than even their own Decaris and that some of her jabs cut deeper than any swords, its a badly kept secret that most of the soldiers admire her her her strength and charm.   Due to her being a good listener, she often knows the regular soldiers better than their own commanding officers and she will more often than not give the soldiers good advice, like seeking help if they begin to gamble a bit to much or if they have a sweetheart somewhere in the city, she will give the soldier some good advice in that regard.    While it's known that Lira can take care of herself, the tavern is arguably the best-guarded building outside the Imperial palace, with often a handful of soldiers or guards drinking there.  

Quirks

Keeps a small dagger strapped to her calf, a gift from a regular patron as a "just in case," she has never had to use it but her smiling knowingly when troublemakers try their thing, keeps them away.   Despite her usually confident demeanour, she has a habit of tucking loose hair behind her ear on those rare occasions when she gets nervous.   Lira knows dozens of soldiers by their name and their stories and every time they walk into the tavern, she makes a point of greeting them personally, a habit that have earned her many loyal friends in the Imperial Guard.