Krysty Wroth
Encyclopedia
Krysty Wroth is a main character in James Axler's Deathlands
saga of novels. A skilled and talented combatant and markswoman, her primary weapons of choice are a snub nosed 5 shot .38 Smith and Wesson Revolver, her silver toed cowboy boots, and a small knife secreted on her person. She is a valued member of the companions' party for both her natural fighting abilities and her limited "feely" (precognitive) abilities.
She was initially introduced in the first book in the series, Pilgrimage to Hell
in 1986, and it was in that book that she established a mutually monogamous romantic relationship with Ryan Cawdor
, another main character.
In a land of hideous radiation-spawned disfigurements, malnutrition, and hard living, Krysty is something of an anomaly. She is a mutant
, though possessing a rare combination of beneficial mutant traits, unlike the myriad mutilated and deformed “muties” the party comes across throughout their travels.
Frequently referred to as a "Titian Haired Beauty," she is described as "voluptuous" and "striking" with her lovely physical appearance frequently cited throughout the series. Standing 5’10” (178 cm) she weighs in around 125 lbs (65.7 kg) and is said to have tight, lean musculature.
Krysty's most notable characteristic is her long red, semi-sentient animated hair. A result of her mutation, her hair moves of its own accord, seeming as though “stirred by an invisible breeze.” Her companions can often determine her state of mind by observing the state of her tresses, which will contract to a tight, skull-hugging cap in times of stress or strain or relax and wave lazily about when she is at ease. Her hair also has exhibited signs of reacting to subconscious stimulus, both from her unconscious observations and from her psychic gifts.
Cutting Krysty’s hair will cause intense, almost crippling pain, akin to the loss of a finger or toe to a “norm.” On the few occasions a lock has been severed by violent means, either via being cut or pulled, has left her in various states of debilitation from shattering agony to rendering her insensate or unconscious.
Krysty is shown to have vaguely defined psychic
abilities in many of the novels, though the exact nature of her gift and its implementation takes slightly differing shapes dependent on the book, the timeline, and the author. Its primary forms seem to be a sense of foreboding at impending danger or threats, the ability to detect other living creatures with some degree of sentient intelligence, the faculty to ascertain if an individual is lying or intending malice, and limited precognition: foreseeing some, though not all, of upcoming future events or challenges.
Trained by Mother Sonya (her biological mother) in the ways of meditation, spirituality, and bio-feedback, Krysty is a worshipper of Gaia
and apparently draws strength from the earth. In times of great jeopardy, she can utter a prayer to the Earth Mother (usually something along the lines of, “Gaia, help your daughter in this, her time of need”), and gathering her Chi, operate at levels far beyond that of a normal human. This power can come in the form of the strength to bend steel bars and snap chains, strike a man hard enough to literally decapitate him, or in one notable event in Shadow World (book 49), release a burst of bio-electricity.
Using these abilities leaves her drained proportional to the expenditure of energy. This can range in result from extreme lethargy to near-death comas, leaving her helpless and vulnerable. Subsequently, she is understandably reluctant to use these talents except in times of the severest of dire straits.
Krysty is the spiritual center of the group of survivors in the books: the character most driven to find a utopia of unspoiled land to live on, though as the series progresses this drive fades into the background. Her love for her friends, Ryan especially, is unwavering, and she desires more than anything to find a place that she and her companions can settle down and “finally stop the killing, stop the running.”
Deathlands
The Deathlands is a series of novels published by Gold Eagle Publishing. The first novel 'Pilgrimage to Hell' was first published in 1986. This series of novels was first written by Christopher Lowder, under the pen name Jack Adrian. Mr. Lowder became ill after developing the plot and writing most...
saga of novels. A skilled and talented combatant and markswoman, her primary weapons of choice are a snub nosed 5 shot .38 Smith and Wesson Revolver, her silver toed cowboy boots, and a small knife secreted on her person. She is a valued member of the companions' party for both her natural fighting abilities and her limited "feely" (precognitive) abilities.
She was initially introduced in the first book in the series, Pilgrimage to Hell
Pilgrimage to Hell
Pilgrimage to Hell is the first book in the Deathlands Saga of novels. Written by Christopher Lowder under his pen name Jack Adrian and published on May 1, 1986, it follows the adventures of Ryan Cawdor, Krysty Wroth and J.B...
in 1986, and it was in that book that she established a mutually monogamous romantic relationship with Ryan Cawdor
Ryan Cawdor
Ryan Cawdor is a fictional Deathlands character that first appeared in the novel Pilgrimage to Hell by Jack Adrian.-Ryan's life:Ryan is the youngest son of a powerful baron in Virginia. His middle brother, Harvey, is responsible for the loss of Ryan’s left eye after murdering Morgan, Ryan's eldest...
, another main character.
In a land of hideous radiation-spawned disfigurements, malnutrition, and hard living, Krysty is something of an anomaly. She is a mutant
Mutant (fictional)
The concept of a mutant is a common trope in comic books and science fiction. The new phenotypes that appear in fictional mutations generally go far beyond what is typically seen in biological mutants, and often result in the mutated life form exhibiting superhuman abilities or qualities.-Marvel...
, though possessing a rare combination of beneficial mutant traits, unlike the myriad mutilated and deformed “muties” the party comes across throughout their travels.
Frequently referred to as a "Titian Haired Beauty," she is described as "voluptuous" and "striking" with her lovely physical appearance frequently cited throughout the series. Standing 5’10” (178 cm) she weighs in around 125 lbs (65.7 kg) and is said to have tight, lean musculature.
Krysty's most notable characteristic is her long red, semi-sentient animated hair. A result of her mutation, her hair moves of its own accord, seeming as though “stirred by an invisible breeze.” Her companions can often determine her state of mind by observing the state of her tresses, which will contract to a tight, skull-hugging cap in times of stress or strain or relax and wave lazily about when she is at ease. Her hair also has exhibited signs of reacting to subconscious stimulus, both from her unconscious observations and from her psychic gifts.
Cutting Krysty’s hair will cause intense, almost crippling pain, akin to the loss of a finger or toe to a “norm.” On the few occasions a lock has been severed by violent means, either via being cut or pulled, has left her in various states of debilitation from shattering agony to rendering her insensate or unconscious.
Krysty is shown to have vaguely defined psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
abilities in many of the novels, though the exact nature of her gift and its implementation takes slightly differing shapes dependent on the book, the timeline, and the author. Its primary forms seem to be a sense of foreboding at impending danger or threats, the ability to detect other living creatures with some degree of sentient intelligence, the faculty to ascertain if an individual is lying or intending malice, and limited precognition: foreseeing some, though not all, of upcoming future events or challenges.
Trained by Mother Sonya (her biological mother) in the ways of meditation, spirituality, and bio-feedback, Krysty is a worshipper of Gaia
Gaia (mythology)
Gaia was the primordial Earth-goddess in ancient Greek religion. Gaia was the great mother of all: the heavenly gods and Titans were descended from her union with Uranus , the sea-gods from her union with Pontus , the Giants from her mating with Tartarus and mortal creatures were sprung or born...
and apparently draws strength from the earth. In times of great jeopardy, she can utter a prayer to the Earth Mother (usually something along the lines of, “Gaia, help your daughter in this, her time of need”), and gathering her Chi, operate at levels far beyond that of a normal human. This power can come in the form of the strength to bend steel bars and snap chains, strike a man hard enough to literally decapitate him, or in one notable event in Shadow World (book 49), release a burst of bio-electricity.
Using these abilities leaves her drained proportional to the expenditure of energy. This can range in result from extreme lethargy to near-death comas, leaving her helpless and vulnerable. Subsequently, she is understandably reluctant to use these talents except in times of the severest of dire straits.
Krysty is the spiritual center of the group of survivors in the books: the character most driven to find a utopia of unspoiled land to live on, though as the series progresses this drive fades into the background. Her love for her friends, Ryan especially, is unwavering, and she desires more than anything to find a place that she and her companions can settle down and “finally stop the killing, stop the running.”