Name: Cylus
Age: 52
Race: Human
Mark of the demon: the palm of his right hand is blackened.
Profession: Sword Instructor
Appearance: This is what he looked like when he was at Verion. Now his hair is greying and his skin is aged.
Bio: Cylus' early life is not all clear to him, he knows he was born in the east. Not long after he was born his village was raided by marauders. During the attack his immediate family was murdered. He was not unlucky to be found and adopted by a traveler who went by the name Vilgor. Vilgor was from the west and was regarded for his skill with a blade, he had aided the village in running off the marauders before discovering a child of just a few years in age among the rubble of a demolished home. Vilgor adopted the child and named him Cylus but gave him no surname for in the east tittles take the place of surnames.
By the time Cylus had reached twelve years in age Vilgor had told all of this to him. After hearing what had happened to his family and most of his village Cylus resolved to learn all he could in order to defend what he cared most about. He requested an apprenticeship from Vilgor, who by that time was a swordmaster, to which Vilgor accepted.
Cylus spared with Vilgor for five scattered hours a day for the next ten years of his life. At which time he left his home and moved to the west where he joined the military. His military life was droll, he taught swordsmanship to new recruits and took bow lessons from another instructor. He had only been in a few skirmishes this all changed when news of what was happening at Verion reached (the city in which the military is based, I realize that I don't know which one it is?).
Cylus never lived in Verion. He wasn't there visiting either. He was a soldier twenty years ere, a ranger. He was skilled with a bow, but it wasn't his weapon of choice. He followed the way of the sword, not for lust of battle or a greed for power but rather a means to protect the things he cared most about. This eventually lead him to join the military, his skill with a blade was recognized and he was tasked with instructing soldiers in swordsmanship. He had seen little battle until the twenty year Verion conflict. Cylus was sent, along with other soldiers, to aid Verion in their battle with the demon and orc hordes.
In twenty years of battle many soldiers had gone mad with hell-spawn tormenting them in their nightmares if they were fortunate enough to sleep. Cylus had managed to keep his mind but acquired many scars to prove his involvement.
The last day of the battle was both relieving and terrifying, the battle had waged for hours that day, the rhythm of battle was all too familiar to him; parry, lunge, sidestep, roll, swipe . . . The war had no hope from the beginning twenty years ere. But on that day, the final day, what little hope the warriors had had been burned. The King was slain and moral broken, the commanders ordered a retreat, but that didn't mean the battle was over.
Cylus had been near the front lines of men defending Verion when the order was given. The horde did not relent but surged forward to purge the city. Sword drawn Cylus fought his way to escape. A sword is an extension of myself, not a tool, not a weapon, but me! Thoughts raced through his head while he fled as they had throughout the entirety of the battle. The high ground has the advantage. Use my surroundings to my advantage. Duck, parry lift, drag, lunge, back-step.
An officer was knocked off of his horse. Cylus swiftly mounted the beast and rode away from the battle. He didn't stop until the horse could no longer ride. He later found that the palm of his right had was burned.
Equipment:
Clothes
- Cloth shirt and pants us
- Leather bound sandals
- Dark grey cloak
- Straw hat
Weaponry
- Katana
- Recurve bow with quiver of arrows on his belt
Misc
- Small medicine pouch on belt
Other: Currently Cylus resides in Astoria teaching swordsmanship to those he deems worthy. Most of his equipment is for travel.