Riz Hawkwood

Riz Hawkwood (リズ・ホークウッド Rizu Hōkuuddo), also known as Liz Hawkwood, is one of the main characters in Puella Magi Tart Magica: The Legend of "Jeanne d'Arc". She is one of Tart's companions and close friends. Riz was the grandchild of an Italian hero who had turned traitor. Her grandfather was named John Hawkwood, and he was the leader of the White Company Mercenaries. He tended to work for various landowners and nobles and would work for the enemy of a former employer so long as the price was right. The Visconti family had arranged for their daughter to marry Harkwood, and that's how the Viscontis gained control of the White Company. But later, Harkwood betrayed the Viscontis and brought them to ruin. Riz was born into the Visconti family as the granddaughter of a traitor and thus endured a harsh childhood. As part of her agreement to become a magical girl, she wished to be the one from whom a new, true hero would spring. For her, this was a wish that could not be granted until that condition was fulfilled. But since this was the price of her contract, it should have actually come true. So Kyubey set out with Riz in search of her hero and while they met many girls with talent, in the end none of them turned out to be the hero that Riz was searching for. Many of these girls would die at the hands of witches, some transforming into witches themselves. Due to these journeys and experiences, Riz learned much about the magical girl system and would later impart some of this knowledge to her compatriots Tart, Melissa and Elisa. It was not until she encountered Tart that her wish would be granted.