Fanche Weir (pronounced FAN-ch WEER) is a Tortallan commoner who lived during the 5th c. HE. She lived as a refugee at Haven during the Scanran War, was a member of the rescue party that Keladry of Mindelan led, and then became headwoman of New Hope.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Fanche married Gothar Weir when she was younger, but the date is unknown. It is presumed that she had children with him. As Weir is derivative of the name Weiryn, the god of the hunt in the north, Gothar might have been descended from hunters. Instead, he was the local miller of Goatstrack,[2] a village of Tortall.
The Scanran War[]
Scanran raiders attacked Goatstrack in the October of 459 HE. They killed the miller, Gothar, and the couple's only daughter. Thirty-seven people died in the entire attack. Fanche mustered the remaining villagers and was able to bring them to Fort Giantkiller and saved 58 lives in total. She and her people were sent to live at Haven under Keladry of Mindelan.
Fanche at first was displeased that they were to be led by a knight who had just became one the Midwinter before. She made her opinions known to Lady Keladry, expecting the younger woman to fight back or show a noble's scorn or apathy. Kel never did, and ignored Fanche's backhanded comments. Throughout the time, Fanche was pursued romantically by Saefas Ploughman, a trapper. Fanche began to think well of Keladry when the first killing devices attacked Haven, and Kel was able to keep her head both figuratively and literally. Fanche and Kel began to have a good friendship, although she was always a bit snippy.
In early June, while Keladry was away at a meeting with Wyldon of Cavall, the district commander, Haven was attacked by Scanran raiders led by Stenmun Kinslayer. They brought killing devices and killed over 60 people. The remaining hundreds were enslaved by the raiders and brought away from Haven. Fanche was one of these slaves.[3] As a prisoner of Stenmun, Fanche kept needling him, which made Saefas nervous as he had really begun to care for Fanche.[4] After the adults were rescued—the children were being brought to Blayce the Gallan—Fanche insisted on going with Kel to rescue the children. Saefas came along too.[5]
Fanche participated in the battle that took place at Fief Rathhausak against Stenmun and Blayce's men. She survived, although not many others did. She was with Kel when the other woman woke up and helped her drink some water. Fanche accompanied all the survivors and children back to Tortall.
After New Hope was constructed in the late summer of 460 HE, Fanche was elected headwoman under Commander Keladry. As New Hope is more like a fortified town rather than a refugee camp, it is assumed that it will still be around after the war ends.
Physical description[]
Fanche is described as stocky, with brown, heavy lidded eyes. Her nose was broad and fleshy at the tip, and she had deep lines in her face due to age. Her lower lip was much fuller than the upper. At first she wore black wool in order to signify her mourning for her family.[2] She wore a ring of black braid around her finger, signifying that she was a widow.[6]
Personality and traits[]
Because of the deaths of her husband and daughter, Fanche became very bitter. She is honorable and fierce, however, and makes sure that all the refugees under her watch are treated equally. She smacked Yanmari, a female refugee, at Haven for trying to take food from the orphaned children and feed it to just her own.[7]
Fanche also does not see the good immediately in people, and believes that they must earn their way into her good graces, like what happens with Kel. Once that friendship formed, they were incredibly good friends, and Fanche respected the young lady knight immensely.
Appearances[]
Fanche only appears in Lady Knight.