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Discussion Main / LadyOfWar

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isoycrazy Lord of the Blue Star Since: May, 2011
Lord of the Blue Star
Jun 17th 2014 at 7:39:03 PM •••

I would like to propose this quote from The Dresden Files White Night about Lara Raith, mentioned on the page already, for the page quote:


Harry thinking: In that moment, Lara was more than simply a vampire of the White Court, a succubus, pale and deadly. She was a reminder of the days gone by, when mankind paid homage to blood-soaked goddess of war and death, revered the dark side of the protective maternal spirit, the savage core of the strength that still allowed tiny women to lift cars off their children, or turn upon their tormentors with newfound power. Lara's power, at the moment, hovered around her, deadly in its primal seduction, its sheer strength.

Edited by 99.55.213.146
illegalcheese X-14: Killer Cheese Since: Apr, 2010
X-14: Killer Cheese
Oct 21st 2012 at 5:56:10 PM •••

Is there a male equivalent to this? Grace in warfare is a bit of a distinction among men, too.

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captainpat Since: Sep, 2010
Oct 21st 2012 at 8:24:02 PM •••

Officer and a Gentleman. It's say so in the last paragraph.

illegalcheese Since: Apr, 2010
Apr 15th 2013 at 4:31:41 PM •••

An Officer and a Gentleman indicates military achievement and grace that is gentlemanly in nature rather than martial. Warrior prowess is mentioned as a possibility only in very positive portrayals. The only real similarity is a certain amount of social stature and serene appearance. Can't we do better than that?

Ctrooper2011 Since: Sep, 2011
Dec 5th 2012 at 2:18:54 PM •••

Would it be possible for a Lady of War to utilize a shield and still retain her gracefulness?

captainpat Since: Sep, 2010
Sep 7th 2012 at 7:52:27 PM •••

This page has way too many questionable and zero context examples. If there's an example here that does fit this trope then feel to place it back on the page with added contexts, or the correct context. Please remember that a Lady of War is a female fighter who retains grace and elegance in a fight or on the battlefield. How they fight and their demeanor in combat is an important part of this trope and should be mentioned in all of the examples.

Edited by captainpat Hide / Show Replies
ArcadesSabboth Since: Oct, 2011
Sep 8th 2012 at 11:05:31 AM •••

Thank you! I can tell you that the Middle-Earth examples are all wrong and don't use this trope.

Oppression anywhere is a threat to democracy everywhere.
captainpat Since: Sep, 2010
Sep 7th 2012 at 7:49:47 PM •••

    Real Life 
  • Saint Joan of Arc, at least in popular legend. Some historians have concluded that she was actually a charismatic standard-bearer with a talent for inspiring the troops.
    Jeanne d'Arc: I loved my banner forty times better than my sword. And when I went against the enemy, I carried my banner myself, lest I kill any. I have never killed a man.
    • Oddly the real life Joan subverted this trope in many ways unconnected with combat ability or leadership; far from being a princess she was an illiterate peasant girl and rather than elegant dresses she was famous for wearing masculine clothing.
  • In the case of Japanese history, look no further than Tomoe Gozen. And possibly many other Japanese females, since the daughters of the samurai were required to know at least the basics of self-defense (specially the use of naginata halberds, included in the dowries of said ladies) to protect their households on their own.
  • Mongolian women traditionally practiced archery. And horse racing. And horseback archery. From pre-Horde period to... our time. Their warriors' firm belief that even in the worst case their civilian relatives at home still can turn anything moving they'd consider as a threat into a hedgehog may or may not be one more factor that helped the Horde's campaigns to reach the Adriatic Sea.
    • At least some Mongolian women — those who showed the most aptitude in their training — went beyond defending the home front, and became full warriors, joining the men in battle.
  • Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. I refer you to her entry in Badass of the Week. 'nuff said.
  • Nancy Wake [1]. Newspaper reporter who escaped Occupied France to Britain after her resistance cell was betrayed, then parachuted back to liaise with another resistance group. Killed an SS scout with her bare hands to prevent his raising the alarm. Led 7,000 resistance fighters in battle against 22,000 Nazis.
  • Despite the general low quality of historical documentation, an argument could be made for Boudica of the Iceni Celts. Roman sources describe her as an accomplished warrior and charismatic leader, who commanded her troops from her chariot, accompanied by her daughters, during the Iceni and Trinovantes uprising. Some sources portray her as aristocratic, others as rougher and more passionate in her opposition to the Romans.
    • Unlike many Ladies of War, she was no Mary Tzu. The Romans, terribly outnumbered, simply crushed her revolt through superior armor, training, position, and a Celtic lack of command and control. Whether this was due to her mistaken self-assurance that her numbers were large enough, her army's lack of discipline, or a lack of understanding of strategy on Boudica's part is open to debate.
  • Excavation of ancient Celtic and Sarmatian graves uncovered evidence that women were buried with weapons, leading some archaeologists to believe that they were warriors of high standing. A thesis on this can be found here (opens to PDF file).
  • There may also have been female warriors amongst the ancient Scythians, based on archeological evidence (such as women found buried with weapons, with evidence of battle wounds on their remains, etc). Some say these warrior women inspired the Greek legends of the Amazons.
  • Shieldmaidens were Scandinavian women who chose to become warriors over a thousand years ago. While today they are mostly remembered as mythical figures, there is historical evidence that real female warriors provided the inspiration for these myths.
    • Vikings spent as much time raiding each other as they did raiding non-vikings and there would often times be occasions when a settlement was caught with most of it's military age men away at sea. Whether or not it was common for Viking women to be warriors per se, there was enough motive for them to learn how to minor in asskicking.
  • Sikelgaita, second wife of Robert Guiscard, accompanied her husband on his conquests in full armor and is credited for rallying the troops during a battle against the Byzantines.
  • Despite being a heavily patriarchal society, Imperial China celebrated many warrior princesses throughout their history, examples being:
    • Fu Hao was one of the wives of King Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty (circa 1200 BC) and also served as a military general and high priestess. She is reported to have commanded powerful generals and over 13,000 troops in various extended campaigns.
    • Lady Sun Shang Xiang of the famed Three Kingdoms Era. Though historical records suggest she was more tomboy rather than a true military commander. She did, however, profess a certain fascination for warfare.
    • Princess Pingyang of the T'ang Dynasty. In fact she actually helped her father, the Gaozu Emperor, found the dynasty to begin with by serving as "Lady General" (a special rank created for her **alone**)with an army of her own, the so called "Army of the Lady."
  • Artemisia, Queen of Halicarnassus in the Greco Persian Wars sailed in the Battle of Salamis in her own trieme. She was cunning and ruthless but at the same time she had a streak of style that makes it easy to see why sailors would follow her even though she was a Woman of Antiquity. Xerxes later remarked that during the battle the men had become women and the women men.
    • During the Achaemenid and Sassanid periods, Persia had a fair number of female warriors and commanders. Some women remained in positions of military authority as late as the Safavid period.
  • Albert-Barbe d'Ernecourt, a seventeenth-century French aristocrat who lead the local militia on over two dozen outings in defense of her village and the surrounding area during the Thirty Years War.
  • Queen Gorgo of Sparta (though subverted because she never went to battle herself). Actually not just Gorgo, all of the women of Sparta. Though there is not a great deal of recorded history for it, we do know that at the age of seven, just like the boys, they were sent to a training school. Which judging from the the women that came out on the other end, was just as hard and brutal. They were expected to be able to fight and compete just as well as any man. The chief example was Queen Gorgo (who was a Princess and sole heir to the throne of Sparta), while she never went to the battle field herself, she advised Sparta during the Greco Persian Wars.
    • That was because Spartan women were expected to defend the city while all the able-bodied men were away at war.
  • Ayesha, wife of the prophet Muhammad, commanded an army during the Battle of the Camel.
  • Æthelflæd Lady of the Mercians and her brother Edward fought the Danes at the Battle of Tettenhall. As she was the daughter of Alfred The Great, one would say that it's In the Blood.
  • Queen Catherine of Aragon (Henry VIII's first wife) found herself facing a war against King James of Scotland while her husband was fighting in France. Catherine rallied troops and sent them into battle against James's Scottish forces. She didn't fight herself because she was pregnant. Needless to say, she sent James's bloody coat to France as a gift to her husband.
  • One Rajput warrior in a battle with the Maratha's in India decided that the battle was lost and that therefore his job was to save his wife. When he got to her, he saw that she had set herself on fire to show that A) she considered him dead (because Indian women didn't commit suttee until then, and B} that he had nothing more to lose. Thus inspired he went back to the fighting-and died.
  • Lady Katherine Cochrane wife of genuine Blood Knight Sir Thomas Cochrane. Together they make a Battle Couple so Badass that they would intimidate Chuck Norris.
  • Antoninia wife of Flavius Belisarius accompanied her husband on campaign at times and was trusted with important duties. She naturally became an important character in a sci fi dedicated to her husband.

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ArcadesSabboth Since: Oct, 2011
Sep 8th 2012 at 11:04:13 AM •••

nvm

Edited by ArcadesSabboth Oppression anywhere is a threat to democracy everywhere.
captainpat Since: Sep, 2010
Sep 7th 2012 at 7:51:13 PM •••

    Anime & Manga 
  • The Princesses Of Zahard from Tower Of God. Except for Repellista.
  • In Berserk, Farneze looks like this when she first appears, but turns out to be anything but. Casca during her time with the Hawks was also an example, at least until the Eclipse went down.
  • Infinite Stratos has Houki, Chifuyu, Cecelia and Charlotte.
  • Ryouko Kurosaki in Kemeko Deluxe .
  • Highschool Of The Dead has Saeko and Yuriko, Saya's mom.
  • Lady Snowblood who was also one of the inspirations for Kill Bill's O-Ren Ishii, pictured above.

  • Mion Sonozaki from the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni altverse sequel manga, Yoigoshi-hen. This also applies to her twin sister Sion, whose body she is possessing.
  • Zakuro-chan, Dokuro's little sister from Bludgeoning Angel Dokurochan.
  • CLAMP has Ladies of War all over the place in their series, two good examples of many being Karura of RG Veda and Amaterasu of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, as well as her differently-named RG Veda counterpart.
    • Magic Knight Rayearth Umi and Fuu (rapier and bow respectively) Even when the whole team gets their weapons switched for two-handed swords, they still fight like this...
      • Rayearth has many of those, actually: Caldina (Master of Illusion and swordswoman), Princess Tata (owner of a Whip Sword), and Princess Emeraude, who becomes a Yandere version of thos after unlocking her powers fully to kill the Knights for killing Zagato - when she wanted the girls to kill her.
    • Sakura Kinomoto becomes this when she uses the powers of The Sword to fight, contrasting with her usual Magical Girl Warrior approach as well as with Li Meiling's Cute Bruiser.
      • Arguably, also Ruby Moon. While they are non-gendered, as Nakuru they like to identify themselves as female...
  • Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing from Hellsing, who's more than willing to take to the battlefield when necessary.
  • In Code Geass, Princess Cornelia is a more vicious than usual example. The Black Knights have Todou's lieutenant, Nagisa Chiba. It's implied that Empress Marianne also fits the bill.
    • In one of the licensed novels, she uses heir Humongous Mecha to threaten a snotty fellow consort who was harassing her children...all without dropping her sweet, motherly attitude. Action Mom, indeed.
    • Implied again when the Knight of One, the strongest fighter in the Empire, noted that the only person who forced him to use a Geass in combat outside Kururugi Suzaku was Marianne.
      • Implied no more: when Marianne returns in the body of Anya Alstreim, she shows that being dead for eight years did absolutely nothing to degrade her piloting skills.
  • Crest/Banner of the Stars has several, including but not limited to Lexshue, Spoor (although she's of the more Axe-Crazy variety), and Loic. Lafiel is a very successful Lady of War in Training.
  • Dog Days gives Princess Your Majesty, Leonmichelle and Brische.
  • Erza Scarlet in Fairy Tail. Unlike most Ladies of War she tends to provide as much and more Fanservice as every other woman in this manga, as her magical power is conjuring various magic armors, most of which seem to be designed for making her sexier at least as much, as for enhancing her combat abilities. Word of God says that after getting fed up with the lack of pretty armor available she scared a major fashion designer into designing all her outfits for her. However, that does not prevent her from being one of the strongest warriors in the manga and the biggest resident Bad Ass.
    • Also Urtear, Ikaruga and Angel as villianous variants.
    • Juvia as well.
    • Kagura as a (for now) anti-heroic variant. (Her style of swordfighting is even similar to Ikaruga's.)
  • Freezing has Satellizer, Elizabeth, Chiffon.
  • Yu Lan in Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid.
    • Captain Teletha "Tessa" Testarossa is a Moe of War. She's not much physically, but she's one of the more dangerous tacticians and strategists.
  • Fushigi Yuugi gives us again a male example: Hotohori, the Emperor of Konan. It certainly helps that he looks like one.
  • The Gundam series has several.
    • Mobile Suit Gundam had one of the very first anime examples in Princess Kycilia Zabi, eldest sister and Evil Genius of the Zabi family. She's generally considered one of the highest ranked officers in all of Zeon, an excellent strategist and a noteworthy ship captain. Near the end of the series, she Assassinates her brother and The Starscream Prince Gihren to usurp command of Zeon, upon the grounds that he had just killed Sovereign Degwin and would've been executed anyway. This doesn't last long, however, before Char comes by and delivers a headshot with a BAZOOKA, through the shield of her flagship.
    • Zeta Gundam has the character of Haman Karn. Although initially the Man Behind the Man for the growing powers of Axis, she eventually becomes the full-on leader. She has an impressive mind for military tactics, but her skill truly shines on the battlefield, inside her trusty Quebely, in which she's able to defeat even Char Aznable.
    • Note that both of the above are rare villainous examples. Yoshiyuki Tomino seemed to really like this trope for his villainesses. Two examples coming from the fields of the good guys would be Lieutenant Emma Sheen, the Team Mom of the AEUG in Zeta Gundam, and Cecily Fairchild/Belah Rona from Gundam F 91.
    • Gundam Wing has Lady Une, Lucrezia Noin and Dorothy Catalonia. Relena Darlian gets a tiny honorary mention for shooting at Lady Une while wearing a white gown and for wearing a military uniform in both artwork and the second OP◊.
    • Gundam SEED has Cagalli Yula Athha. She's the Rebellious Princess of Orb who first infiltrates Heliopolis to discover evidence of Morgenrate's double dealing, then travels to war torn North Africa to fight as part of a guerrilla band against Andrew Waltfeld. She later meets Athrun Zala and nearly kills him on two occasions before falling in love with him. She pilots the Sky Grasper when fighting alongside the Archangel and eventually gets the Strike Rouge. After her father's death she becomes the commander in chief of the remaining Orb forces and fully becomes this trope. During the sequel she tries in-fighting and fails, temporarily becoming The Woman Wearing The Queenly Mask... but in the second half she resurges and solidifies her power, facing down Durandal first with her new golden Akastuki Gundam and later with the combined forces of the Terminal and the Orb space fleet. At the end of the series, she and her close friend Lacus Clyne are the most powerful people in Earth and space respectively all at the age of 18. Oh and she is the twin sister of the Ultimate Coordinator Kira Yamato.
  • Kikyou and Sango in Inuyasha, particularly impressive in Sango's case since, rather than any of the usual weapons, her weapon of choice is a pseudo-empathic Precision-Guided Boomerang bigger than she is. She does also have a sword, but seems to use it only as a backup weapon (along with an assortment of hidden blades and other neat tricks). Nevertheless, she is the Yamato Nadeshiko to Kagome's Plucky Girl. Not to mention Kagura, who's weapon is a pretty fan and her attacks are named after dances.
  • Shizuku Sango in Kampfer.
  • Weapons master Shigure in Kenichi The Mightiest Disciple.
  • Kore Wa Zombie Desu Ka has Seraphim, Yuu, Seras and Kyouko.
  • A number of females in Mahou Sensei Negima could qualify. Princess Arika in particular.
    • Kaede is also an excellent example, as is Setsuna.
  • Fate Testarossa in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, especially in later seasons. In Nanoha A's, Signum is even more so. Fate is a Fragile Speedster, while Signum has sufficient defense and attack strength to be a Jack of All Stats or even a Lightning Bruiser.
  • Mamoru Nagano. Due to his aestethic preferences most of his female characters are these, especially in The Five Star Stories. Almost all females there are both a) Action Girls, and b) Ladies of War.
  • Twilight Suzuka in Outlaw Star. She uses a wooden sword, but in her hands it performs little differently from a LIGHTSABER.
  • Pokémon has several female trainers who are very much like this as they command their Pokémon in battlefield. Some of them are: Erika, Jeannette/Kaoruko, Prima/Lorelei, the Kimono Sisters (sans the youngest, Sakura-chan, as she's too young and inexperienced to fit the trope, but is starting to get there), Katie/Kaede, Clair/Ibuki, Lucy/Azami, Anabel/Reira, Soledad/Saori and Cynthia/Shirona.
  • Lady Eboshi in Princess Mononoke. We actually get to see the warrior part first, when she shoots a giant wolf. Then we meet the lady part, and finally the warrior part emerges again in an attempted invasion of her town, and the fight against San, who was Raised by Wolves.
  • Ranma One Half has Nadoka Saotome, the title character's mom. A friendly, ladylike, calm woman who seldom isn't wearing her sword. However, her actual skill is debatable (and like much else in the series runs on Rule of Funny.) She's fumbled it often and nearly accidentally impaled people... and when actually wanting to do damage, has sliced through walls like butter.
  • Ai from Real Bout High School can be a brutal opponent, and is one of the only characters who can stand up to G... but she's far too shy and reserved for her own good.
    • The Hero, Ryoko Mitsurugi, tries to become one of these throughout the series, longing as she does to be "a great woman."
    • Ryoko's Rival Azumi Kiribayashi is very formal in every situation, and even uses a naginata.
  • Lady Oscar from Rose Of Versailles.
  • All of the dolls in Rozen Maiden qualify to some extent, none more so than Shinku.
  • Michiru Kaiou, aka Sailor Neptune, from Sailor Moon. An elegant, refined, rich, famous, classy, and beautiful violin player who has no problem kicking your ass by whatever means is at her disposal. In fact, in the manga she has a pretty devastating attack in which she uses said violin to blast enemies to oblivion.
    • Ami/Mercury is a bit of this when she gains more water blast-based attacks. In fact, she goes into Musical Assassin too with the Mercury Aqua Rhapsody.
    • Rei Hino/Sailor Mars would also count as one, at least in the manga. In the anime, she's more Hot-Blooded, but her favorite attack as of the Super S series is the very graceful Mars Flame Sniper, in which she elegantly summons a bow and arrow made of fire.
    • Setsuna Meiou/Sailor Pluto, owner of the pretty spiffy Garnet Rod.
  • Takane Shishidou, from Sora Wo Kakeru Shoujo.
  • Koon Maschenny Zahard from Tower Of God.
  • Astharoshe "Asta-san" Asran from Trinity Blood.
  • While Reiha and Miyu from Vampire Princess Miyu are Ladies Of Black Magic, Miyu's rival from the second OAV, Ranka, lands herself a spot here due to being both a puppeteer and a Razor Floss user.
  • Angel Salvia from Wedding Peach.
  • Reina Sohou from Witchblade, at least in terms of ass kicking. Otherwise, she's a laconic Hot Scientist with some serious social interaction problems. She's also an Action Mom by the way.
  • Karen/Cure Aqua from Yes Precure 5. She even occasionally uses a sword: it's not a rapier, mind you, but since the standard for Pretty Cure is fists, it's reasonably the local equivalent.
    • Heartcatch Pretty Cure has Yuri/Cure Moonlight, who fights in a considerably more graceful manner than her younger teammates and wears a flowing, elegant gown rather than a Mini Dress Of Power when transformed.
  • Yumekui Merry has Engi Threepiece.
  • Ishizu Ishtar of Yu Gi Oh. She may fight using card games, but she definitely fits in here.

    Comic Books 

    Fairy Tales 
  • In "Costanza / Costanzo", Costanza combines all the ladylike graces, and great learning, with this. It helps when she's Sweet Polly Oliver.
    And over and above all these excellencies she mastered completely the art of war in learning how to gentle horses, and to handle arms, and to run in the lists as if she had been a strong and well-trained man-at-arms and not a damsel. In jousting, indeed, she was so skilled that she ofttimes came out of the contest victorious, just as if she had been one of those valorous knights who are held worthy of the highest honour

    Fanfiction 
  • Rarity in The Immortal Game. As she puts it, she is easily capable fighting the best when it comes to bladecasting... and she looks fabulous while doing it.

Edited by captainpat
captainpat Since: Sep, 2010
Sep 7th 2012 at 7:50:48 PM •••

    Film 
  • Avatar has Neytiri.
  • In The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Susan Pevensie (otherwise known as Queen Susan 'the Gentle') is most definitely a Lady of War.
  • In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale's Muriella tries to be this, but her only fights are a training session with Tavish at the beginning and a short magical duel with Gallian at the end. When faced with Fallow and his men, she simply runs away, letting the wood nymphs handle them.
  • O-Ren Ishii in Kill Bill, pictured above, and also the Japanese character she was based on, Lady Snowblood.
  • In Sherlock Holmes, Irene Adler usually wears victorian dresses and walks with a grace about her. However, she is very adept with a dagger and if you are not careful, you could end up naked and handcuffed to a bed.
  • The Star Wars movies. Padme Amidala from the prequels participates in aggressive negotiations when given no other choice.
    • Her daughter, Leia, naturally takes after her.
  • Underworld Selene (Kate Beckinsale). Who said gun slinging can't be elegant?
    • Also her spiritual predecessor of sorts, Sonja, though she goes for more traditional longswords... and dual wields them!
  • Wuxia films. Pretty much a standard character class:
  • Marion Loxley in Ridley Scott's version of Robin Hood is shown fending off poachers with her excellent archery skills and can hold her own against the invading French soldiers in a sword fight. She sleeps with a dagger too. Oh and she does it all while wearing long dresses.
  • Serafina Pekkala and the rest of the witches in The Golden Compass in their three minutes of screentime make for one awesome Big Damn Heroes moment.
  • Nina Yashenko in Silk Stockings. At 16, she was "the head of an anti-aircraft gun crew." Two years later, she was "the captain of a woman's tank corps" in the Soviet Union in World War II.
  • Elizabeth: The Golden Age makes Elizabeth I into one of these. Historically accurate to a point at least, although she didn't actually fight.
  • Agent Peggy Carter in Captain America The First Avenger is always the classy lady with perfect poise, who steps toe-to-toe with the most grizzled Army generals.
  • Weird example, but Mothra of Godzilla fame. Sure she's a gigantic insect, but she's quiet, respectful, plays mom to both her own larva and the people of her island, acts as a mix of The Smart Guy and The Chick in team-ups, is probably the smartest monster in the series, and is genuinely friendly to people. She's very feminine in appearance as well (being you know, a giant butterfly), and in terms of badassery, well, she killed Godzilla in one of the movies, something that creatures like King Ghidorah can only dream of.
  • Snow White becomes one in Snow White And The Huntsman.

    Literature 
  • Good Omens has, well...War. The sexy, elegant incarnation of destruction and combat. She fights only once, when she gets her sword after centuries of waiting, and that is described very, very briefly. Carnage, however, does not even enter into it.
    • Though Lucy certainly qualifies when she matures, even learning the bow herself so as to lead troops into battle instead of remaining simply The Medic.
  • Mitrian, after receiving training from Rache and Colbey in the Renshai trilogy.
    • The Renshai tribe is pretty much built on this.
      • Averted with most other tribes, leading to Mitrian running away from Santagithi's Town.
  • The majority of major the female characters in Dragaera. Especially Aliera and Sethra Lavode.
    • Though averted with Daro, Countess of Whitecrest. Her prowess with a sword is implied, but in the only scene in the entire saga in which she has a sword on hand she is almost immediately whipped by the assassin there to kill Khaavren.
  • The Old Kingdom series. Sabriel grows into this role over the course of the first book. Her successor tends a little more towards the "magic" side of the Abhorsen's Magic Knight-like role.
  • Eowyn from The Lord of the Rings. Even before she disguises herself as a man to fight in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, she makes it clear that she knows how to handle herself in a fight, since the women of Rohan are trained in swordplay to defend their homes. Arwen was set up to be a Lady of War in the film adaptation of the first book, but her plot fizzled in the second and third, where she remained mostly off-screen.
    • In The Silmarillion, Arwen's grandmother, Galadriel, actually was one in canon.
      • According to one version of Tolkien's drafts, elven women can fight as well as men and the only reason they don't is that it reduces their elven healing powers.
    • Luthien Tinuviel. Not only does she rescue her beloved by defeating Sauron in a contest of magic but together they steal a Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth himself. Luthien was the most beautiful being in the history of Middle Earth and she was the baddest of badasses. With Beren she founded a loooong line of mortal and immortal folk one wouldn't want to mess with.
    • In the Book Of Lost Tales version of the Fall of Gondolin, Idril is one, fighting with a sword to defend her young son.
  • Queen Selenay from Valdemar, when she has to be.
  • In The Bible, there's Judge Deborah and Judith the widow. Possibly Lady Yael as well.
  • The Tortall books by Tamora Pierce, Keladry fits this trope perfectly. Alanna is close, though she's more like a Magic Knight who happens to be female. We also have all the Yamani women, which makes sense since the Yamani Isles are basically the Tortallverse's equivalent of Japan.
    • And in the prequel Beka Cooper Trilogy, we have Lady Sabine.
    • And Queen Thayet, and most Yamani women.
  • Holding the Zero by Gerald Seymour. Meda, the charismatic Kurd peasant girl.
  • Nasuada, leader of La Résistance in The Inheritance Cycle.
  • Vorkosigan Saga
    • Jennsen Rahl
    • Verna Sauventreen
    • Nicci and the other Sisters of the Dark.
  • The Star Wars Expanded Universe has Tenel Ka the princess, and later Queen Mother, of the Hapes Consortium. She trained in her mid to late adolesence at the Jedi academy at Yavin IV before taking the throne in early adulthood.
    • Even more so than in the films, Leia can switch between effortlessly gliding through galactic high society, and dicing baddies with a lightsaber.
  • Rhian from Godspeaker Trilogy by Karen Miller.
  • Miss Gard from The Dresden Files. While there's very little finesse about a massive axe and a huge Viking-style shield, she certainly has the personality down. Being a Valkyrie helps.
    • Murphy, too, what with the refined fighting style, compact but deadly-accurate gun, and the katana.
  • The Bennets in Pride And Prejudice And Zombies. It's the natural path to take when turning Pride and Prejudice into a zombie-packed action fest.
  • Bananach, also known as Lady War, from Wicked Lovely. Her title says it all, really.
  • In Seven Men of Gascony, Nicholette is a cantiniere(wine-seller) with a French infantry regiment. She was raised on campaign as a girl camp follower , and knew all the tricks of surviving by the time she was sixteen. In the she is romanticized as being ladylike and graceful as well as hardy fitting the romantic picture of cantiniere's . Real Life ones of course were nothing of the sort, though they were tough gals as indeed they had to be.
  • Hulik do Eldel in The Witches Of Karres by James H. Schmitz. Beautiful, graceful, tough, resourceful, and ladylike. (Does not particularly like being chased by robot spiders. Shreds the baddie who does so.)
  • Discworld's Lady Sybil. While she spends most of her time darning socks and trying to get her husband to eat right, she makes a point that women in her family have quite a history with this trope:
    Lady Sybil: Sir Reynold, in the Year of the Lice, my great-grandmother once cooked, personally, a full dinner for eighteen in a military deboubt that was entirely surrounded by bloodthirsty Klatchians, and she felt able to include sorbet and nuts. My grandmother, in the Year of the Quiet Monkey, defended our embassy in Pseudopolis against a mob, with no assistance but that offered by a gardener, a trained parrot, and a pan of hot cooking fat. My late aunt, when our coach was once held up at bowpoint by two desperate highwaymen, gave them such a taling-to that they actually ran away crying for their mothers, Sir Reynold, their mothers. We are no stranger to danger, Sir Reynold.
    • Also, she raises dragons.
  • Lady Maigrey Morianna in Margaret Weis's Space Opera series The Star Of The Guardians. Cool, composed, beautiful plus a master swordswoman and an ace pilot.
  • Yambu, the Silver Queen, is this in the Books Of Swords. She is fairly earthy in her manner, however, at least for a queen.
  • Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time is full of these. From the various holders of the title of Amyrlin Seat (mostly), to several warrior queens, to Faile, and Elaine. Most prefer to be generals.
  • Antonia, Irene, and Shakuntala in Belisarius Series. Shakuntala is a very well developed variation of a classic Wuxia princess(in India rather then China), Antonia is a charming SocialExpert and Irene is a cunning intriguer and strategist but is not afraid to personally come close to the sight of blood from time to time.
  • Queen Olof of Saxony from The Saga of Hrolf Kraki is used to leading her warriors on in battle.
  • Queen Kraka of Ragnar Lodbrok and His Sons leads an army of 1,500 mounted warriors to pillage Sweden in revenge for the death of her stepsons.

    Live Action TV 

  • Maid Marian in some versions of Robin Hood, notably the 2006 BBC series, in which she provides an interesting contrast to Djaq, the Cute Bruiser. Though the Lady of War is usually the elder of the two fighting warrior-types, in this case the refined Marian is definitely the younger of the two women.
  • Firefly/Serenity has Inara. An elegant, graceful, cultured, highly educated and very feminine, glamorous woman, she's trained in sword-fighting, a skill she once tries to teach Mal. She has some unarmed combat skill, which we get a brief glimpse of in "Our Mrs Reynolds" and in the film, she reveals archery skill. It's also possible that graceful River Tam will also develop into this in time, given her own training.
  • "Princess" Yaeko in Heroes.
  • Susan Ivanova from Babylon Five. She is very pretty, and her uptight manner just makes her more attractive. She is also very classy and dignified in bearing. But not one to be triffled with.
    • Delenn too, though she is officially a diplomat. She is one of the most ladylike ladies of war in fiction but she can be remarkably ferocious.
      • Actually she is quite a bit more then a diplomat; she is The Woman Wearing The Queenly Mask. It is hard to pin down her exact status at times, not least because that varied with the vagaries of Minbari politics. We know she was a Satai and was once considered for head, as well as once making herself head by blackmailing everyone else with attempted Self-Immolation. She is also Entil Zha. We don't know her other titles though she obviously has a lot of official clout in the religious caste. It is safe to say that with her official and unofficial power she is the most powerful woman in Minbar.
      • Ivanova seems more warlike and Delenn more ladylike on the whole. Susan has something of a militaristic bluntness to her which Delenn doesn't have; Susan looks odd in civvies for instance, and often acts as One of the Boys. Susan is a soldier, no ifs ands or buts. Delenn is an aristocratic Proper Lady; she is also The Heart, though that makes it all the more striking when she is being a Badass Princess.
  • Ziva David from NCIS.
    • Also Kai, the North Korean assassin from S7 Ep7, "Endgame."
  • Rommey from Andromeda. Heck she was a gigantic warship!
  • Amanda King from Scarecrow and Mrs. King. She is seemingly gentle and timid but she can be remarkably effective at covert warfare.
  • Doctor Who's River Song keeps a cool attitude, while making even the Daleks beg for mercy.
  • Chuck has General Beckman.
  • Teyla from Stargate Atlantis fits this trope, able to kick ass in a long skirt just as well as in fatigues.
  • Morgana from the BBC series Merlin is quite literally a Lady, and she can kick your ass.
  • Nikita from the CW show Nikita fulfills this trope with her beautiful clothes and flowing hair. Sometimes her partner, Alexandra Udinov, crosses into this trope as well.
  • Star Trek: TOS: The female Romulan commander in "The Enterprise Incident".
    • Captain Kathryn Janeway of Star Trek: Voyager is definitely one. She's also unafraid to get her hands dirty when the situation calls for it.
  • Battlestar Galactica: Sheba and Serina.
  • Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" Mackenzie, USMC and Hello, Attorney! from JAG.
  • In Chinese Paladin, heroine Ling'er's character development is growing from The Ingenue into one of these. Other full examples include her mother, and General Nan Man.

    Mythology And Religion 
  • In Babylonian Mythology, Ishtar was a goddess of love and war.
  • Sekhmet in Egyptian Mythology.
  • In Norse Mythology, Freyja was a goddess of love, beauty, fertility, magic, war, battle and death. Freyja receives every other slain Norse warrior after a battle. They dwell in her field of Fólkvangur, whereas the other half goes to Valhöll, Óðinn's hall.
  • In Biblical Mythology, you have Deborah, the 4th Judge of Israel and someone so badass that the male general she appointed refused to go to war without her.

    Tabletop Games 
  • Magic The Gathering
  • Forgotten Realms
    • Alusair Nacacia Obarskyr, also known as "Steel Princess" and later "Steel Regent" of Cormyr. While her father still ruled, she wrote the "Field Guide to Tactics" for her army — backed up by lots of personal experience. About from the age when she was able to ride she was largely absent in the palace except on official occasions... which was good for everyone involved.
    Hell on horseback, all ego and fury, with talent to match. Every time she comes home, bets are heavy among the kitchen staff as to how long it'll be before she and her father get into a row about politics that breaks half the goblets and platters!
  • In Warhammer 40,000, female Inquisitors and Imperial Guard officers tend to fall into this category, as do some Sisters of Battle and most female Eldar (their dwindling numbers mean that all Eldar must be able to take up arms if their Craftworld is threatened, if not as a full fledged Aspect Warrior then as part of a Guardian militia). The Sisters as a whole, however, like to avoid this, as they tend to be scarred, muscular, and carry the same heavy weapons into battle as the all-male Space Marines.
  • Legend Of The Five Rings is all over this trope. There are entire schools dedicated to turning out Lady of War samurai, most notably in the Unicorn and Lion clans.
  • Exalted has, among many other exemples, Tepet Ejawa◊ the Roseblack, Dragon-Blooded general and member of House Tepet. Loved by her troops, popular in the Realm and considered a threat in the bid for succession.

    Toys 
  • Bionicle
    • Most Toa of Water would qualify really, but in the later seasons there was less action-adventure type combat and more Beam Spam, so it's less obvious.

Edited by captainpat
captainpat Since: Sep, 2010
Sep 7th 2012 at 7:50:20 PM •••

    Video Games 
  • Inphyy from Ninety-Nine Nights.
  • Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda series, on the occasions when she fights alongside Link, contributes as The Archer. In Super Smash Bros., she's either a Glass Cannon sorceress or a Fragile Speedster Ninja, depending on her form.
  • Nariko from Heavenly Sword.
  • The Final Fantasy series.
    • Final Fantasy VI has General Celes Chere.
    • Final Fantasy IX has both a heroic version, Freya Crescent, as well as a villainous before her Heel–Face Turn version, General Beatrix. Every time you have to fight her, it's a Hopeless Boss Fight, where she knocks you down to 1 hit point and leaves you utterly defeated. She then subverts Good Is Dumb by briefly fighting on your side later and being even more powerful.
    • Final Fantasy XII has Ashe, although with an outfit like that, the "not a sex symbol" bit is rather dubious. Then again, that game also had Fran, so it's relative.
      • Judge Magister Drace. It doesn't get more Lady of War than the highest-ranking military authority in the Archadian Empire, decked out head-to-toe in armor, and so devoted to justice and to the Law as to call out Vayne, the recently self-appointed autocrat right to his face.
    • Also from the same game, the Templar Knight Meliadoul, very fond of destroying your weapons and armor with a single hit when you first meet her.
    • In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Vieras were somewhat less Stripperiffic than in Final Fantasy XII and could wield only rapiers, katanas, and bows for physical damage.
    • Frimelda Lotice from Final Fantasy Tactics A2 also fits this trope.
  • The Atelier series.
    • Fee, from Atelier Iris 2, her dainty weapon being twin blades.
    • Kyrielich from Atelier Marie.
    • Katarina from Atelier Violet.
  • Mia and Gardenia in the '.hack//'' franchise, as well as Endrance, in a way.
  • Sumire Kanzaki from Sakura Taisen is a high-class and ladylike naginata-user. Maria Tachibana, the stoic but genteel gunwoman, might also count. Bow-wielding Hanabi Kitaoji definitely does.
  • The Fire Emblem series has MANY of these:
    • The Akaneia games have Caeda, Minerva, Palla, Catria, Linde and Athena. Additionally, through the reclassing feature in the remakes, even the white mages can become this.
    • Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War has Lachesis, Fury, Ethlin and Ayra. And their daughters (Nanna, Phee, Altenna and Lakche, respectively) follow the suit (though Lakche may almost be more of a Cute Bruiser, what with her rough attitude).
      • In the same game, Fury's sister Mahnya! And Mahnya's Evil Counterparts Pamela and Deetvar, too. Made very ironic when Pamela actually kills Mahnya.
    • Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 has Evayle, Selfina, Misha (who happens to be Deetvar's daughter), Amalda, Olwen, Eda, and Nanna again. Mareeta is half this, half a Cute Bruiser.
    • Fire Emblem: Sword of Seals has Igrene, Miledy, Princess Guinevere (in the Trial Maps only) and Yuuno. Sue, Wendy, Thite and Thany can be promoted into this.
    • Fire Emblem: Blazing Sword has Lyndis, Fiora, Louise, Isadora, Falcoknight!Florina and Sniper!Rebecca.
    • Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones has Princess Eirika, Syrene, Princess Tana, Vanessa, Marisa and Selena Fluospar. And Ismaire, if you unlock her.
    • In both games of the Tellius canon, Lucia, Tanith, Sigrun, Astrid, and Titania. Elincia becomes one by Radiant Dawn, although she's definitely a White Magician Girl in Path of Radiance.
      • Nephenee uses a Blade On A Stick, has enough speed and skill to described as graceful easily, and according to Ike, looks like she's "about to keel over". (She ain't)
    • General Petrine of Daien is a villainous example. She's fast, elegant, and utterly brutal.
  • Suikoden
  • Many characters in the Soul Series, but especially Taki and Ivy Valentine.
    • Hildegard von Krone◊ in SCIV, however, takes this trope and runs with it beyond the horizon.
      • A custom female character in III and IV and be this. Make a strong yet feminine voice, give her a kickass weapon and some armor, and you have yourself a lady of war.
  • The Dead Or Alive series has a few, but most notable is Helena, whose win quote mentions elegance.
  • Lise from Seiken Densetsu 3, who wields a spear as her primary weapon. She seems to be modeled after the Valkyries of Norse Mythology. Her first light-aligned class is even called "Valkyrie".
  • Bastila Shan from Knights Of The Old Republic.
  • In Mega Man X8, one could say Layer fits in this category, not only for how she wields a rapier when you unlock her but also for how her style of navigation focuses on tactics and strategy against your opponents.
  • Princess Alexia from Wild ARMs XF also falls into this trope as a Mighty Glacier with a tragic past. Her Pimped-Out Dress even features armor.
  • Mazzy Fentan from Baldurs Gate is a Lawful Good halfling lass with a posh accent. She is dangerous. To a lesser extent, this also applies to fighter/druid Jaheira.
  • Tyrande Whisperwind is probably the only known Lady of War in the World of Warcraft thus far. The rest of the Action Girls of the series have taken different aspects (Jaina is a Badass Bookworm, Maiev has gone into Knight Templar territory, Sylvanas is now Dark Action Girl, though her sisters may still qualify).
    • World of Warcraft's Lady Liadrin, the Matriarch of the Blood Knights, can also qualify.
  • Aribeth from Neverwinter Nights, before and after her Face–Heel Turn.
  • Halo Reach gives us Kat.
  • Several characters from Valkyrie Profile, most notably the Valkyries themselves. The only times they get defeated in-story are either by other Valkyries, Freya (the patroness of the Valkyries), a party headed up by a Black Magician Girl, or an angry anti-hero empowered by the goddess of the underworld. And the last one is implied to be because Lenneth let him win because she felt guilty.
  • Dynasty Warriors and the other Koei hack and slash titles have a few, including Yue Ying and Zhen Ji.
  • Meladee and the temporary party-member Kutz from Brave Story: New Traveler. Meladee uses dual swords and actually wears armored skirts. Kutz, in the short time that you can use her, uses a whip and has one special attack where she can halve the opponents HP. Both Meladee and Kutz are the chiefs of the Highlanders in their divisions and it is shown that they have a friendly rivalry between them.
  • The character of Jeanne D Arc. (naturally: see the Real Life examples below.) Also her childhood friend Liane who, by game's end, if you complete the Bonus Dungeon to get her back, is the most powerful character in the game.
  • Mortal Kombat
    • Kitana's best friend Jade may count too.
    • Jade blurs the line between this and Action Girl. One could make a strong argument for Ashrah as well.
  • Princess Yggdra and several others in Yggdra Union.
  • Colonel Corazon Santiago from Sid Meiers Alpha Centauri is the elegant Latina security officer of the UNS Unity, and now the leader of the Spartan Federation: a heavily armed and superbly trained faction of dedicated survivalists who see no problems with running a police state.
  • Resident Evil has Ada Wong.
  • In Tales of Vesperia, Estelle is a mix of this trope and White Magician Girl. On one hand, she's the healer of the party, a naive noble with a mysterious power, and is probably the girliest member of the party. On the other hand she's a well-trained fencer, has unusually high defense for a magic-using character, and is generally depicted as a competent fighter.
    • Judith from the same game counts as well: a well-spoken, calm Krytian that fights with spears and graceful moves and jumps. However, she's also the Ms. Fanservice and seems to enjoy battling a little too much.
    • In Tales of Innocence, Ange, the refined and motherly young lady, is similar to Estelle: a White Magician Girl with good melee abilities. However, she specializes in very fast knife slashes and acrobatic artes. And she still pulls it off while wearing a dress and heels that look way more impractical than Estelle's.
  • In Lightning Warrior Raidy, Raidy is the H-game equivalent to this. She's actually a pretty nice girl when she's not beating the crap out of something, and is even very worried about the women she rescues from sexual torture, but get her in combat (or meting out justice to a female boss she just won against), and she goes full blown Knight Templar on them.
  • As Pokémon Trainers go, Erica and Sabrina (from Pokémon Red and Blue), Clair (from Pokémon Gold and Silver), Winona and Glacia (from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire), and Fantina and Cynthia (from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl), would fit this.
  • In Mercenaries, Jennifer Mui is a diplomat's daughter, typically very reserved and professional (at least compared to her coworkers, especially Mattias), and is said to enjoy the finer things in life. But tick her off (or have a high enough price on your head, with "high enough" meaning "any"), and she will wreck everything standing in between you and her, even if that includes a global superpower. In the first game, she did not conform to standard action game female protagonist dress code, but does in the sequel.
  • Selan from Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals. Her status as a Lady of War is constantly talked about in the game. Also subverted in that, although she's skilled enough with a sword to put up a good fight even against Maxim who is the main character that she ends up pairing with, she's primarily a magic-user.
    • This is even more obvious in the remake
  • Sarah Lyons from Fallout 3.
  • Grolla Seyfarth from Rosenkreuzstilette. It helps that the third boss in Sepperin's castle, Raimund Seyfarth, her grandfather, was the war hero of the holy war that happened prior to the events of the series.
  • In Valkyria Chronicles, Selvaria Bles is a villain example of this. She is a capable army commander and has huge powers in her disposal power that she also has) and is pretty much an invincible force in the battlefield, unless your army has other 'invincible force' (Alicia), you're pretty much fucked with her.
  • Dragon Age II has Aveline Vallen, a stoic, (Ferelden-born) Orlesian shield-maiden. Much to the dismay of the fans, she is not romanceable. A Female!Hawke who isn't a Mage also counts after regaining her noble title in Kirkwall. And there's also the Big Bad Knight-Commander Meredith.
    • Actually, Meredith subverts it big-time with her Big Damn Heroes rescue of Hawke near the end of Act II when she hacks the head off a Qunari Saarebas. Grace and elegance be damned!!!
    • Female Mage Hawke actually might qualify, being polite and soft-spoken up until the point where you give her reason to sling a fireball at you and beat you senseless with her staff. Its also worth noting that when fighting in close quarters she literally resorts to sparring with what is essentially an enchanted quarter-staff. Most of Mage Hawke's combat style actually shows they are highly acrobatic and athlethic in nature, likely due to the fact that as an illegal mage, Hawke would have to know how to defend themselves without resorting to magic.
  • Arguably, any of the female player characters in Jade Empire... Radiant Jen Zi, Scholar Ling, and Wu the Lotus Blossom... also qualify for this trope, as well as one of your possible followers, Silk Fox, who turns out to be Princess Lian.
    • Dawn Star is a better example, Silk Fox has some differences when it comes to personality.
  • In Mass Effect 2, Miranda begins as a high-ranking terrorist with access to operational details. By the end, she can lead the suicide mission without taking casualties. And she was trained, raised and engineered, by both her father and her employer, to be the perfect woman. If you like her, you can romance her.
  • A Paragon Female Infiltrator Shepard could fit this trope as well.
  • Ridley, Elwen, Alicia, Lenneth Valkyrie, and Natalie from Radiata Stories.
  • Alicia from Bullet Witch is a combination of this and Black Magician Girl.
  • Nel Zelpher, Maria Traydor, and Mirage Koas from Star Ocean 3.
  • Eris from Drakengard 2. She wields a spear, is decked out in full plate mail, and before her Character Development, had some Knight Templar tendencies.
  • Street Fighter
  • Tales of the Abyss has Tear, Legretta and Natalia.
  • The Zerg queen from Starcraft certainly projects an air of graceful power that is absolutely deadly.
  • Rynn from Drakan.
  • Lady Opéra from Solatorobo.
  • Sgt. Byrd in Spyro The Dragon: Year of the Dragon commands an entire army of female hummingbird soldiers. Who are also French. They're graceful, brave, and incredibly loyal to their commander.

    Visual Novels 

    Web Comics 
  • Many of the characters from Drow Tales could fit the bill, but Sil'lice's cold (pun intended) demeanor, haughty pride in her nobility, refined comportment in combat, and just how lovely and shiny her armor is, makes her the best Lady of War to be seen so far.
  • In Gunnerkrigg Court, Jones seems to be more of a diplomat than a fighter, but she can still win fights against people twice her size. She doesn't have a weapon of her own, preferring instead to disarm her opponent and use their weapon. Or just block it with her face.
  • Mamma Gkika from Girl Genius wears a huge, elaborate red dress with a brass bodice corset, maintains bars for both Jaegers and tourists. She has yet to be seen in an actual combat, but stopped cranky Gil just fine; later Oublenmach who entered her bar with a gun and hostage had her awakened too early in the morning and wound up in Neck Lift.
  • Jill, a Villain Protagonist from Darken, manages to combine this with Black Widow. She fights wearing a dress containing hidden armor and using bladed fans.
  • Zara, the main character of Legend Of Setar, fits.
  • Tonya from Gold Coin Comics.
  • Derrexi Tzelan from Nahast: Lands of Strife is the eldest daughter of a noble family who ran away to join a warrior order. This is obvious enough that even characters who are probably unaware of her heritage call her 'Lady Tzelan'.

    Web Original 

    Western Animation 
  • Elita One from Transformers Generation 1.
    • Arguably a better example is Beta from the Season Three episode Forever is a Long Time Coming, combining take-charge leadership and combat prowess with her rocket-launching crossbow.
  • Avatar The Last Airbender
    • Avatar Kyoshi's manner and bearing fit the trope as well, and her devotee Suki looks like she'll grow up to be one.
  • The Legend of Korra also follows this with Cheif Lin Beifong and Asami Sato.
  • The Skysurfer Strike Force member Sliced Ice.
  • While Mulan spends most of the movie as a Sweet Polly Oliver, she graduates into a Lady of War as soon as the disguise comes off. The Emperor of China even gives her a job as a strategic advisor.
  • In Blazing Dragons, Princess Flame is a skilled fighter, in the third episode winning a tournament in which the winner will win her hand in marriage, and soundly defeating Count Geoffrey in the fourth episode (ending with him nearly being crushed under a rock). Also, in the second episode, she has knocked out Evil Knight 3 with a mace and held Flicker up with one arm while wearing plate mail.
  • Princess Celestia of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic gets a moment of this in the second part of the season two finale when she engages in a Beam-O-War against Queen Chyrsalis.
  • Warrior Princess from Adventure Time.
  • The title character of Yolanda Daughter of the Black Corsair.

DracoDei Bach. Sci. Mechanical Engineering Since: Oct, 2010
Bach. Sci. Mechanical Engineering
Aug 27th 2012 at 2:50:07 PM •••

Why was Rarity from My Little Pony removed in favor of only listing Celestia? It seems to me that Rarity would qualify, being both dignified and adept at violence when things really do go that far.

Christian Furry Brony D&D gamemaster & homebrewer Hide / Show Replies
Telcontar MOD Since: Feb, 2012
Aug 28th 2012 at 1:58:28 AM •••

I don't exactly see Rarity as a deadly fighter.

That was the amazing part. Things just keep going.
Trotzky Lord high Xecutioner Since: Apr, 2011
Lord high Xecutioner
Nov 5th 2011 at 8:52:29 AM •••

Re Mongols, natter deleted

  • Probably more Action Girl then Lady of War. Only a few Mongols could have learned stylish behavior on the steepes. Of course that depends on what Mongols considered stylish.
    • Dude, don't be prejudiced. The Dakotah Indians lived on the steppes of North America; yet they had a very sophisticated culture. Why couldn't the Mongolians? Have you seen their alphabet? It's downright pretty.
    • "Dude" don't use cliche insults. Accusation of racism is fighting words and is unimaginitive besides. It was just an estimate and in any case neither you or me would be very stylish after years on the steepes.

Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!
ThatHuman someone Since: Jun, 2010
someone
Jun 26th 2011 at 11:23:00 AM •••

Removed this stuff from the Fullmetal Alchemist example because it seemed a bit long and some of it was Natter-y in tone. The rest of the example is still there, though.

  • Elegant. Always. Oh, and she's beautiful, though too scary for any of her men to consider her a breath of feminine fresh air.
    • I personally liked her murder of the general she pumped for information about the Philosopher's Stone conspiracy, which she set up to drop him into wet concrete under her fortress. She threw the bloody glove after him.
  • She does tap out of the battle after she and her little brother (Major Alex Armstrong) take down Sloth. Those were, to be fair, pretty bad wounds, and it's not like she lies down and moans or anything.

something Hide / Show Replies
Stoogebie Since: Apr, 2011
Jul 20th 2011 at 2:42:41 PM •••

Well, I get why you took out the natter and all, but why discount Olivier Mira Armstrong as an example?

And then, Stoogebie proceeds to actually read the whole post, and thus feels rather embarrassed for being an idiot...again.

spike12 Since: Nov, 2009
Dec 19th 2010 at 9:58:48 AM •••

Why is O-Ren Ishii's image replaced with Sasami from Tenchi Muyo?

ChrisX ..... Since: Jan, 2001
.....
Aug 7th 2010 at 6:47:53 PM •••

These days, people has been adding examples of 'Women Who Fought In War' or 'Hot Female Soldiers' into Lady of War. Do you think it's another definition of Lady of War? I don't think so... Soldiers are more of efficiency and force rather than reserve and dignity.

For instance, in Go Go Sentai Boukenger, Sakura, a Tall, Dark and Bishoujo ex-soldier, is thought to be a Lady of War. Now, I haven't watched Boukenger fully, but does she move with quite the grace? If not... then she doesn't really count. I'm sure this is not the only example, though, so do correct me if I'm wrong.

Let's hear what you thought.

Hide / Show Replies
Barano Since: Jan, 2001
Aug 8th 2010 at 11:50:19 AM •••

I agree. I just deleted Hungary because while she's a fighter she's not exactly a "lady" and she's hardly a Lady of War. (I also added a real example... if it was up to me her picture would grace the page.)

Edited by Barano
ChrisX Since: Jan, 2001
Sep 17th 2010 at 6:47:51 PM •••

I think we may need to rename this trope. If the title is 'Lady Of War', then it might attract unknowing people to think that "This trope is for women who fought in war!". We need to emphasis the femininity, classiness, dignity, grace and elegance of the character in the title so it doesn't get misused.

Edited by ChrisX
helterskelter Since: Nov, 2009
Jul 30th 2010 at 12:11:12 AM •••

The entire trope seems to be defined around being female. Yet, I see some male examples. Do we have a Spear Counterpart example?

I vote for removing any male examples on this page, since that seems to defeat the purpose of this being called Lady of War. Tropes like The Crown very often apply to women, but aren't limited to them.

Hide / Show Replies
Iaculus Since: May, 2010
Jul 30th 2010 at 2:51:50 AM •••

Yeah, chop the male examples. This is for dignified, graceful female warriors only.

What's precedent ever done for us?
Koveras Mastermind Rational Since: Jan, 2001
Mastermind Rational
Mar 9th 2010 at 12:29:18 AM •••

Can we perhaps add all the discarded picture suggestions, including Signum, to Lady of War (image links)? I was kinda fond of that picture, in fact...

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