Name: Sir Yanin Glade
Ethnicity and species: Rodorian, human (white)
Sex/gender: Male/man
Age: 22
Physical build and appearance:
Sir Yanin Glade doesn't tend to leave the most approachable first impression. He is a notably tall man standing at slightly over two meters (6'8"), with a build that's neither narrow nor pronouncedly broad, neither overweight nor so thin one could see all muscles clearly defined through the skin. Rather, he seems well-proportioned and -balanced, naturally both strong and agile - an assessment which wouldn't be wrong. He furthermore keeps his training up very rigorously, if not outright fanatically.
It's, however, not necessarily his apparent physical prowess which tends to make people wary of him. It's far more his mannerisms, mien, way of expressing himself and, just perhaps, the vague impression that he might actually make use of said physical prowess if he did not get his way otherwise. Most of the time, his expression seems either blank, forced or mildly annoyed. Or very annoyed. And occasionally confused, though it remains unclear whether or not it isn't just his disbelief at your insistence on arguing with him.
He gives rather abrupt, confrontational impression, bothers little with social niceties, and seems to frequently disregard apparent power levels - that is, if he doesn't instead simply seem to mostly ignore you, and just absentmindedly give replies when directly addressed. He is equally likely to stare at you for too long and intently, or not bother looking at you at all. Incidentally, it would appear that any attempt to intimidate him in turn merely elicits a blank stare. The nicest thing anyone will generally say about him would probably be that at least he has a sense of duty.
Sir Yanin's complexion is pale - he doesn't seem to tan during summers, either -, with deep-set and contrastingly dark brown eyes and thick, nearly black dark brown eyebrows. With strong brow and strong jawline, his face appears almost rectangular, with an averagely proportioned, if slightly crooked nose. His hair is slightly lighter dark brown than his eyebrows, slightly wavy, and of somewhat ambiguous and varying length - maybe fifteen to twenty centimeters as of the present time. He's usually clean-shaven, though he might neglect to do so for a few days if he doesn't have to appear before people.
Languages:
Native Rodorian speaker, reads and writes fluently. (As a direct consequence, would be able to sound out any other language written in human cipher, though not necessarily understand a word of it. Unless it's Kirkinian, which is almost mutually intelligible with Rodorian.)
Can speak a fair amount of somewhat formal Fermian. A bit stilted and with an accent, but enough to get by on a general social event or business affair. Can recognize around two hundred symbols from the deigan cipher, but would probably be only able to reproduce around a quarter of those without error without a reference.
Magic:
Has never actually used any and doesn't seem to have any innate gift for it, but knows what some of the most common magical artifacts (especially weapons) look like and do in the general sense. Likewise can identify a few dozen most common runes used on runeswords, simply due to special interest in weapons, combat and warfare in general. Has affinity to magnetism, current strength of soul of about 0.32kWh.
Usual attire:
These days he can usually be seen wearing heavy long black hiking boots - chosen more for comfort than looks - and black pants, off-white shirt and silver-trimmed dark blue gambeson accompanied by a wide, black leather belt with a silvery buckle.
Attached to said belt are a couple of pouches, a dagger's scabbard on the right and a sword's to the left, both of the latter black leather reinforced with dark wood and silvery metal. Within the longer scabbard is a finely crafted steel longsword with a 108 cm blade resides (fullered, hollow grind). The two arms of the guard curve slightly towards the blade, and have the overall width of 20 cm; in addition, the guard comprises of two metal semi-circles on either side of the blade's base for additional protection. The total length of the guard, grip and pommel is 30 cm. The grip is wrapped in black leather, and the pommel is round. On closer inspection, one can see the pommel has a falcon holding a live strike-ready viper between its talons engraved in its butt, painted copper and black. The overall weight of the sword is 1.6 kg. The dagger is remarkably similar, just with a 26 cm blade, enough grip to comfortably fit one hand, and no semi-circular bits to its proportionally reduced guard.
Even when just minding his own business, he commonly opts to wear burnished steel plate cuirass, faulds and tassets atop his gambeson, as well as lighter, fingered gauntlets. If he knows he'll be in actual combat, or occasionally just when traveling, he'll be liable to don the rest of his full steel plate with heavier gauntlets and a visored conical helmet, with mail attached to the edge for neck protection. The cuirass of the plate bears the already familiar falcon-and-viper motif from his family coat of arms.
On top of everything else, a black hooded cloak might be worn - not so much for warmth (the gambeson is rather warm on its own), but rather to make him less conspicuous and as protection from rain.
Other equipment, rations and clothing (includes that carried by, but not associated with, his horse and mule):
1893 rodlin.
Soap.
Straight razor.
A small mirror.
Flint and iron.
Four candles (white)
A Glades' seal, additionally has initials Y.G.
Thread (white, black), needle.
Ink, quill, a couple dozen sheets of paper.
A leather-bound notebook.
A little bottle of oil, a whetstone and a rag.
Cloth that can be used as bandages.
Flask with strong alcohol.
Two knives more suitable for cooking and eating.
A fork.
Three spoons.
A small cauldron.
Two cups (clay).
A metal rod, about 60 cm long and a centimeter thick.
Smoked dried meat (~2kg).
Bread (4 loaves).
Two dozen sweet-spicy baked things (about a kilogram). Yanin calls them cookies, but that's probably not it.
Dried fruit (200 gr) and nuts (800 gr).
Salt and various spices.
Tea.
Two flasks of water.
A backpack and a canvas bag to fit everything that does not fit in the saddle bags.
Rope (~8 meters).
Tent (waterproofed canvas x2, rods, support poles).
A small hatchet.
Two blankets (human).
A flanged iron mace, 1.2 kg.
A halberd (iron), 185 cm length, ash pole.
An elm recurve bow (left-handed), 175 cm long, about 40 kg draw force.
12 iron bodkin-point arrows in a dark brown leather quiver, 5 steel broadheads stored separately.
A steel arming sword, 75 cm blade, 90 cm overall length, simple cross-guard, leather-wrapped oval grip, round pommel.
Shield, round, oak, iron edge, handle and center-bit, 60cm diameter.
Four pairs of socks (black).
A tabard in his family colors and symbolics (red and blue, diagonally, copper and black trim, copper-and-black falcon holding a copper and black viper between its talons).
Two additional pairs of pants (black).
Extra underwear (5).
Three off-white cotton shirts, two dark blue.
One dark blue silk shirt.
A copper-and-black-trimmed dark blue long jacket (or a very formal variant of his usual gambeson) with crimson lining.
Social status and family ties:
The Glades presently hold thirty-seven inhabited farms (formely fourty-three, but the withering has taken its toll) with their fields and lots, about three dozen hectares of forest (largely firewood), and a mansion with associated stables and a small orchard of its own, situated in Etlon. On local basis, they're decently well-known and respected, though some members of their family more than others.
The Glades' mansion and grounds are governed by Yanin's father (Tareon, 51), who has the reputation of an iron-willed and skilled combatant, strategist and negotiator (qualities which served the Glades well in achieving their current position), but also a rather ruthless and unforgiving man whom you do not want to cross. Though Sir Tareon is no longer in his prime fighting condition due to some old injuries, reduced training regimen and age starting to slowly creep up on him, he would still make a rather formidable opponent. Most people, though, will shy away from merely facing his rather imposing figure in a wrathful state.
Yanin's mother (Melone, 47) has relatively little input on the proceedings of the Glades' holdings other than the (younger) children's care and education (which is a matter she seems to have taken to her heart), as well as the managing of household servants. She's a quiet woman, soft-spoken and well-mannered, not fond of either confrontations or scheming. She stands tall and rather broad-shouldered - though no match for Sir Tareon -, but seems to be quite pale and often tired, frail rather than powerful, even more so in recent years.
Sir Yanin Glade furthermore has six living brothers (Jeran, 28; Elan, 26; Javien, 23; Gerain, 18; Marlon, 15; Adrian, 10) and three sisters (Eleanor, 25; Alaisi, 21; Ilene, 3). One of his brothers (Manin) died when he was an adult (at 24, three years ago). Melone has also underwent multiple miscarriages, at least two of which are semi-publicly known, more suspected. As she got older, her ability to conceive and carry to term seemed to lessen (as might have her general health, claimed those who had known her for a long time); Ilene's successful birth was a true surprise, but also came the closest to ending Melone's life out of her many pregnancies.
Sir Jeran as the eldest son is expected to succeed Sir Tareon as the head of holdings; he is leaner in build, though, and while is undoubtedly steadfast where it matters, he does not seem to share his father's temper. He is overall a more diplomatic, more understanding individual; people have also described him as a nobler person, a gentleman rather than a soldier. Or a more idealized knight. The Falcon of Glades. Currently single.
The late Sir Manin, in turn, was perhaps his father's favorite son; though he was more of a shadow of his direct ancestor in his skills, their personalities were definitely matched. Curiously enough, in spite of them being similarly tempered (with Sir Manin being perhaps even the nastiest of the two), their mutual company seemed to have calmed both of them down, or at least gotten them in high enough spirits to have them make more concessions. Even his aspirations were close to his father's, and that's what eventually did him in - Sir Manin fell in armed conflict. Caught a crossbow bolt in the neck, with nary enough time to even fetch a healer. Tareon has been a lot more bitter, irritable after the fact.
Sir Elan is ... an "odd one", his father used to say. Which, in his eyes, meant bookish and quiet, at least until he found someone willing to listen a lecture on whatever got his interest most recently. Elan is otherwise rarely seen in social situations, and tends to spend time studying languages, deities and artifacts instead. His knowledge seems to have made him a decent conversationalist with whom it mattered, though - he is married to Lady Jeanette (23), a well-mannered noblewoman who has won both of Elan's parents' approval.
Lady Eleanor is much akin to her mother sans the health problems, though with a deeper interest in economy and finances, and some of her father's stubbornness. She is engaged to a Relimonian merchant, and thus rarely seen on the family grounds; it is typically assumed this arrangement will be out of practical considerations rather than something as fleeting as love. Sharper tongues might insist it's the numbers in her fiancé's books - others will say it's less to do with vanity and desire for wealth, and more with passion for playing the market in and of itself.
Sir Javien is neither here nor there. He is decent, but not exceptional at most things he does. More so out of lack of passion than intelligence - he's quite sharp, as far as wits go. He might be more hedonistic than most of his siblings, but bereft of scandals as he is, people don't tend to consider it a big deal, or worth noting. He is also one of the more social, charismatic and approachable ones, and seems to be overall well liked. Still single.
Sir Yanin Glade himself is a truly exceptional fighter, but otherwise not too noteworthy individual. People tend to consider him not really the amicable sort, nor, for the matter, too sociable - during events, he mostly kept to the side until he felt obliged to speak, and when he did, he was bound to be either laconic or confrontational.
Some suspect he is an incarnation of the darker side of his father, and perhaps a harsher man than either Tareon or Manin ever were - an impression that is further deepened by the fact that even Sir Tareon himself might be afraid of him. Not that he'd express it - but it is alleged to have influenced Yanin's early ascent to knighthood (at eighteen rather than the more typical twenty-one) and his eventual stationing further away in lieu of a more direct approaches to dealing with unfavoured offspring.
His siblings have varied opinions on him, though even Sir Jeran - who is one of those who quite like him - occasionally refers to him as the Viper of Glades. For about a half of the four years since his knighting, he has been a lieutenant serving as a head of guard (Fadewatchers) in Brow's Rest, Etlon, where people cautiously thought he was doing a decent enough job. They didn't consider him a likable individual by any means, but agreed he was reliable, got things done, and did not shy away from getting involved if it meant keeping people alive.
Sir Yanin is currently on leave from his guard duties due to personal reasons, starting eight days ago.
His middle sister, Alaisi, is quite the carefree soul who took early interest in the magical arts, and after a visit to the magical academy of Zerul City in her teenage years, it turned out she might have sufficient innate affinity for the powers of her soul to be worth nurturing. A few years later, she was admitted, and is presently studying there. Most people who encounter her like her; though she shares the Glades' more robust build, people used to always call the younger version of her "that sweet girl".
Gerain is a knight still in the making, apprentice to one Sir Marcus, an old acquaintance - not quite a friend - of Sir Tareon. As Sir Marcus was also Jeran and Yanin's (but not Manin's or Elan's) master, he does seem to hold some reservations towards the boy, just in case he turns out more like the Viper than the Falcon. Chances are, the former managed to bruise his ego quite a bit. In practice, Gerain is at once akin to both and neither. He lacks the warmth of Jeran and the brash straightforwardness of Yanin, and falls somewhere between the two in combat prowess and manner, but is probably a better battle tactician than either of the two, rivaling or even surpassing Sir Tareon himself. People seem to think that in him, nature has found the perfect balance between his two older brothers. Gerain himself is not too fond of the comparisons with his siblings, and would rather be considered as his own individual.
Marlon is just barely too young to be on a path to become a knight - as is generally expected of the male members of the family -, and as such, has merely regular physical training (as opposed to Yanin, who did start full combat training early) and is mostly focused on his education. More than anything else, he seems to share just about equal passion for numbers and magic. A decent enough young guy, if with a bit of a short fuse when distracted.
Adrian is still too young to formally do anything much besides receiving education. Seems to have a fondness for animals, though. Especially, for some reason, the monstrous sort. His parents are not particularly happy with that particular obsession, though they've permitted him access to some copies of the Deo'iel texts (in the hopes that it would facilitate interest in reading, at least), and offered to grant him a hunting dog and his own horse sooner rather than later. A proper, full-sized one, as Sir Tareon does not believe in ponies.
Ilene is barely more than a toddler. At best, she knows how to use a fork, talk as a child would, tell which letter you're pointing at, and sing a bit. Nevertheless, she's her mother's current dearest and her "miracle child".
Jeran, Javien and Yanin presently have squires; Elan insists that he does not possess the time for matters of that sort. The mansion has about four dozen various servants and other folk permanently on its ground (including stable workers), as well as three dozen guards on site and patrolling the wider grounds.
Additional notes on abilities and skills:
In addition to being able to read and write, Yanin can also do a decent amount of calculations if given time and (preferably) something to write things down on.
He has also been educated in etiquette (even though he doesn't always seem to know how and when to put it to use, or simply doesn't bother to), knows who most of the important people are and how they relate, knows a fair amount of history and lore, especially about current and past military and various associated organizations, orders, knighthoods and martial practices, knows some about materials, trading and in general the appropriate values of things, some about the different creatures of the land, and other varia. In spite of his lack of enthusiasm in learning it all, it would appear that at the very least his memory is quite good.
Where Yanin excels, though, is combat. Before he was granted knighthood at the age of eighteen, and in spite of never taking part in larger tournaments, he managed to locally acquire minor reputation for it, having rather quickly bested his mentors, and later, any volunteer challengers who wished to try their hand against defeating him, without a single defeat.
The past couple of years have also lent some experience into investigative work and fighting non-human combatants. Most recently, he's seemingly been a bit bothered by something, and to someone especially attuned to magic, his soul might sporadically feel fainter than usual, and spells cast near him weaker, if they don't fail by unraveling and fading away entirely.
Name: Prince
Species: Horse.
Sex: Male (gelding)
Age: 8
Physical build and appearance: A "white" horse - actually gray, as indicated the off-tone of his mane, tail and socks. 173 cm or a notch over 17 hands tall. Allegedly Thoroughbred, though Yanin suspects he's quarter draft horse - too stocky for a full Thoroughbred. As it makes him better suited at carrying him and his equipment, his owner does not mind. Jordan is inclined to agree on both points.
Associated equipment: A well-made horned black leather saddle and saddle bags with matching stirrups and bridle. Silver details. A light blanket and a winter blanket, both silver-trimmed black. In addition, there's a blue-and-red light blanket, trimmed in copper and black - the Glades' family colors. Prince is shod (studded). In addition, a feeding bag, brush, comb, washcloth, lead rope (stored).
Note(s): Effectively Yanin's 16th birthday present.
Name: Bread
Species: Mule
Sex: Female
Age: 4
Physical build and appearance: A bay mule with a darker dorsal stripe standing about 150cm at the withers.
Associated equipment: Has a blanket, harness for bags, bridle, a feeding bag, brush, comb, washcloth, lead rope (stored).
Note(s): Bought recently, when leaving the guard outpost.
