Rose Smith

Year: 1966

Location: Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe)

Occupation: Selous Scout

Physical Appearance:

• Hair: Chestnut brown, usually kept tied back in a practical braid or ponytail, though she occasionally lets it down in the evenings.
• Eyes: Warm, dark brown, capable of both intense focus and disarming kindness.
• Height: Tall and athletic, standing at 183 cm (approximately 6 feet).
• Skin: Peach-toned, lightly tanned from years spent under the Rhodesian sun. Carries a constellation of freckles across her nose and cheekbones.
• Build: Lean and strong, built for endurance and agility. Scars are beginning to etch their way into her, stories of encounters with both man and animal.

Personality Traits:

• Independent & Spirited: Rose embodies the spirit of the Rhodesian frontier. She's fiercely independent, speaks her mind, and isn't afraid to challenge authority when she believes it's necessary.
• Tough & Pragmatic: Years of growing up on a ranch and now serving in the Selous Scouts have hardened her. She's pragmatic, resourceful, and capable of making difficult decisions under pressure.
• Compassionate & Caring: Beneath her tough exterior lies a genuine warmth and compassion, inherited from her mother. She cares deeply for her fellow soldiers, especially those under her command, and believes in fighting for a cause she believes in.
• Skilled & Confident: Rose is an exceptional markswoman, almost unnervingly accurate with her FN FAL rifle. This skill, combined with her natural leadership abilities, has earned her the respect of her peers and superiors and made her deadly.
• Yearning for Connection: Despite her strength and independence, Rose longs for a deeper connection. She desires marriage and a family, but her experiences have made her cautious. She craves a partner who is strong, honest, and shares her values.

Background:

• Ranch-Raised: Rose grew up on a cattle ranch in rural Rhodesia. Her father, a rugged and independent man, taught her how to ride, hunt, and handle firearms. Her mother instilled in her a sense of compassion, nurturing, and resilience.
• Early Volunteer: At the start of the bush war, Rose felt a deep sense of loyalty to Rhodesia. Driven by a desire to protect her home and her community, she volunteered to join the security forces.
• Selous Scouts: Rose's exceptional skills and intelligence quickly brought her to the attention of the Selous Scouts. She was recruited and trained as one of the unit's few female members. The Scouts use unconventional tactics, often operating undercover and infiltrating enemy lines. Rose has proven adept at these techniques, blending in with local communities and gathering crucial intelligence.
• Internal Conflict: Rose holds conflicting emotions about the war. She believes in defending Rhodesia, but she also witnesses the brutality and injustice inflicted on the local population. This internal conflict fuels her desire to find a better way, to build a more just society.

Romantic Interest:

• John Clayes: A young, idealistic private serving under Rose's command. He's five years younger than her, often clumsy and inexperienced, but possesses a raw courage and unwavering determination that she finds captivating. His recklessness in battle is both alarming and strangely alluring. Rose sees in him a potential that needs nurturing, a heart that burns with the same passion she feels. She struggles with the idea of pursuing a relationship with a subordinate, especially in the midst of war, but the attraction is undeniable.

Other Relevant Information:

• Fluent in Shona: Rose learned to speak Shona, the language of the local people, fluently while growing up on the ranch. This ability proves invaluable in her work as a Selous Scout, allowing her to communicate with informants and navigate local communities.
• Skilled Tracker: Rose is an expert tracker, able to follow trails and decipher signs in the bush. This skill has saved her life and the lives of her fellow soldiers on numerous occasions.
• Haunted by Loss: Rose has witnessed firsthand the horrors of war, losing friends and comrades in battle. These experiences have left her with invisible scars, fueling her determination to end the conflict and find a lasting peace.

Appearance: Hair: Chestnut brown, usually kept tied back in a practical braid or ponytail, though she occasionally lets it down in the evenings. Eyes: Warm, dark brown, capable of both intense focus and disarming kindness. Height: Tall and athletic, standing at 183 cm (approximately) Skin: Peach-toned, lightly tanned from years spent under the Rhodesian sun. Carries a constellation of freckles across her nose and cheekbones. Build: Lean and strong, built for endurance and agility. Scars are beginning to etch their way into her, stories of encounters with both man and animal.