Lakshmibai | Sepoy Mutiny

Name: Lakshmibai

Hair: Long, snow-white hair. A portion is tied into two braids. On the crown of her head, a small lock of hair curves in the shape of a crescent moon. Her bangs cover her forehead, while two small strands frame her face on both sides. The rest of her hair falls freely down her back.

Eyes: Slightly crimson. A dark red color smoothly transitions into a light crimson. The pupils are black and expressive.

Physique: Short, elegant build with slightly tanned skin. She has slender, graceful arms with subtle muscle definition. She possesses a small chest, visible abs on her stomach, and a petite waist and hips. Her legs are long and graceful. Her face is lovely with sharp, refined features.

Personality: A serious woman with a simple and steadfast character. She is very proud but not particularly bellicose. Despite this, Lakshmibai is wise and intelligent. If faced with a choice between war and peace, she will choose peace. However, if no choice remains but war, Lakshmibai will not be afraid; instead, she will enter the fray with pride and determination. Her goal is the happiness and prosperity of her people. If people are subjected to unjust wrath, Lakshmibai will turn to any power to save them. She treats superiors with respect and follows all orders, except those that contradict her principles. If she notices flaws in a superior's tactics, she will not remain silent and will point out the errors. The essence of the goddess Alakshmi, the goddess of misfortune, dwells within her. Lakshmibai rarely feels Alakshmi inside her body, but when Alakshmi’s divine essence leaks out, misfortune strikes Lakshmibai. Lakshmibai herself claims that she carries the essence of Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune.

Clothing: She wears a form-fitting, leotard-style bodysuit that tightly hugs her figure. The edges of the chest fasteners are red. She has a small collar with a gold border. A brown belt with a gold line running through the center sits tightly at her waist. Attached to the belt is a strap holding a scabbard for a Talwar, a traditional curved Indian saber. The Talwar's scabbard is black with a gold throat and tip, decorated with intricate patterns. She wears tight white trousers that emphasize her elegant form. Her footwear consists of high black boots with a low heel, reaching up to mid-thigh. She wears short white gloves on her hands.

Armament:

Musket: A long-barreled musket with a wooden stock, forend, and butt. The barrel is metallic silver-gray with gold inserts and patterns. The stock, butt, and trigger mechanism are adorned with golden Indian motifs.

Talwar: A long saber with an elegantly curved blade. It shines with silver, featuring a sharp and deadly edge. The hilt is made of gold. The guard has a characteristic knuckle-bow design, and the pommel is decorated with a small finial. The grip itself is black.

Backstory: Born on November 19, 1828, as Manikarnika, she was born in the city of Varanasi into a Brahmin family. Her father, Moropant Tambe, was an advisor to Chimandji Appa, the brother of the last Maratha Peshwa, Baji Rao. Her mother, Bhagirathi, died when the girl was only two years old.

In her childhood, Lakshmibai was a tomboy and restless soul. Despite women occupying a lowly position in Indian society at the time, she received a comprehensive education and great freedom, including training in martial arts. A vivid childhood memory is the moment she demonstrated her riding skills to her father—galloping on a horse with two Talwars in her hands, controlling the horse using only the reins held in her teeth.

At age 14, Manikarnika married the Maharaja of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rao. Following princely etiquette, she changed her name to Lakshmi. It was then, during the wedding ceremony at the Ganesh temple, that Lakshmibai first felt a divine presence within her body but chose not to speak of it. Despite the age gap, she and Gangadhar lived in harmony. Even after marriage, Lakshmibai was not forbidden from studying martial arts; moreover, Gangadhar allowed her to train his female servants.

In 1851, Lakshmibai gave birth to a son who tragically died at three or four months old—an episode she dislikes remembering. Soon, Gangadhar Rao’s health declined, and he was urged to adopt a child rather than try for another to save Jhansi for the family. He agreed just a day before his death, choosing a five-year-old relative named Damodar Rao. In his will, he requested the British authorities treat Damodar Rao as his own son and appointed Lakshmibai as regent.

Gangadhar Rao passed away on November 21, 1853. Lakshmibai observed mourning for only 13 days and, contrary to custom, refused to wear the white widow's sari, shave her head, or break her bracelets.

In the past, Gangadhar Rao's grandfather had signed a treaty with the East India Company, guaranteeing his descendants power in Jhansi in exchange for supporting the company's interests. When the Raja died, the East India Company, represented by Governor-General James Dalhousie, annexed the principality, claiming Damodar Rao was not a biological son. Lakshmibai protested through letters, citing the treaty and her family's loyalty, but her efforts were in vain. Lakshmibai was removed from power.

In 1857, when Lakshmibai was 29, the Sepoy Mutiny broke out. On June 5, 1857, the Jhansi garrison joined the uprising. Initially, Lakshmibai remained neutral, realizing that open defiance against an empire was suicide. She even secretly sent food and water to European refugees she couldn't officially shelter. However, after the British were killed by Sepoys at Jokhan Bagh, the British administration accused Lakshmibai of complicity in the massacre. With no other choice, she joined the Sepoys and took command of Jhansi Fort.

Despite her leadership, Jhansi fell to the British, who possessed superior Enfield rifles and artillery. While the Indian troops' melee weapons were superior, they were overwhelmed by firepower. Following the fall of Jhansi, Lakshmibai managed to survive and retreated to Gwalior Fort.