Niskra is a young half-orc woman with an almost cherubic human face set above a compact, powerful frame. Her cheeks are soft, her nose is small and blunt, and her lower tusks show whenever she smiles, which is often and usually at the wrong moment. Beneath her thin shirt, her shoulders and back carry the wiry definition of someone who hauls, climbs, and fights rather than trains for display. She moves with quick, economical steps, keeping her weight on the balls of her feet even while standing still. When waiting, she leans forward as though listening to the floor. Her hands are broad, callused, and usually busy with thread, wood shavings, or the edge of a cup. Three pale scars cross her left forearm in neat parallel lines, the lasting marks of a childhood punishment rather than a heroic battle. The unexpected contradiction is her laugh, which is bright, breathy, and almost girlish until the final rough note reveals the orcish depth beneath it.