Cord

Overview

Cord is an extramuros machinist and the sib of Fraa Erasmas. Traveling with his small company to find Orolo, she supplies practical know-how, steady driving, and field repairs. Drawing on a background in heavy fabrication, she helped pivot the route north by inferring an over-ice approach toward Ecba and the ruins associated with Orithena.

Appearance and Traits

Direct, capable, and deeply practical. She thinks in terms of tools, parts, and procedures; prefers machines that can be disassembled and repaired; and stays unflustered under pressure. Plain-spoken with quick, dry humor and an affectionate bluntness with close companions.

Roles and Actions

• At northern staging stops, reviews images with companions and presses for specifics about a large excavation; once Ecba is identified, reasons that an over-ice sledge route is the likely way forward and pushes preparations for deep-cold travel.
• Helps re-equip the convoy for extreme conditions: sources winter tires, replaces coolants and lubricants with low-temperature formulations, repacks gear, and repairs a balky stove to keep the team fed.
• Works closely with Ganelial Crade on vehicle upgrades while Sammann researches the route and compiles posted logs.
• On the polar sledge train, helps stage gear and remains with the vehicles when Erasmas transfers to a small smuggler sledge to bypass the port; she takes custody of his books for safekeeping and sees him off.

Relationships

• Fraa Erasmas: younger sib; she backs his search with candid advice and steady logistics, and at the split near the sledge port she gives him a brief, affectionate sendoff and holds his books.
• Yulassetar Crade: a wilderness guide who joins the journey; Cord travels with Yul and the two appear to be a couple, collaborating closely on outfitting and driving.
• Sammann and Ganelial Crade: frequent collaborators in route-finding and mechanical preparation; Cord bridges Sammann’s information work and Ganelial’s hands-on logistics.
• Rosk: previously a liaison-partner; reported as no longer together.

Current Status

With Yulassetar Crade, Sammann, and the Crades on the main sledge train bound for the port. The plan is to deboard, drive south into milder country, then swing west to Mahsht to rendezvous with Erasmas, who proceeds separately by sea.