Character Name: Katalmach
Race/Species: Half-Orc (Other half human)
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Role: TBH
Skills/Traits:
- Warrior - Simply put, Katalmach fights. He lacks the finesse of a trained fighter nor the cunning of your typical swashbucker, but he knows how to stab with the pointy end and hack with the sharp end. He's no stranger to pain and can burden armor easily. If there's anything unique about his fighting style, it's that his shield is arguably a deadlier weapon than his blades are. He can not only block and parry, but he can disarm, shove, and crush his enemies with his smashing board.
- Relentless Endurance - Katalmach is a tough man even out of armor. A blow that would have normally been lethal may not be, though he still dies like any other man. It just takes a bit more effort than usual. His tolerance for pain is almost as great as that of armor too, taking on cuts, bruises, and stabbings like a champion.
- Brawler - Even without weapons and armor Katalmach is no helpless fighter. He'll rip and tear with his teeth, smash and crush with his fists, and could wrestle a bear if he has to. Even more agile foes ought to be wary around him; one mistake and you're in his grips, and then it'll be the end for you. Katalmach is notable skilled in grappling, and even the most agile of foes would have immense trouble avoiding Katalmach's grasp, and even more trouble to escape once he has his hands on you.
- Stealthy - For a man of his stature Katalmach can be surprisingly subtle. He utilizes his strength in aid his stealth, often infiltrating even while carrying a heavy burden, or simply staying still and out of sight until he can get pass or get the drop on his enemies. For Katalmach, seeing him in battle can be frightening. But one should truly be scared when they don't see him at all.
- Fearsome Presence - There's just something about an orc that seems to unnerve most people, and Katalmach has no qualms using it against them. While normally too soft-spoken to really sound intimidating, Katalmach prefers to skip the threats and go straight to harming others, allowing him to replace his lack of charisma with feats of strength. Even when others try to scare him, Katalmach does not easily waver, whether it be from a mighty warrior or a rich and powerful noble.
- Chef - Katalmach was actually part of a cooking college before his dive into piracy, and is thus quite an excellent cook. He'll figure out how to make something palpable with whatever scum and scraps he could find. He's also quite knowledgeable about various dishes that can help fend off illness and diseases, and has an eye and nose for food quality. He knows when something is about to spoil, and when consumables are poisoned.
Weapons: - Francisca - A battle axe sturdy enough to withstand the rigors of combat, but also balanced to be thrown. While Katalmach typically doesn't throw it except in emergencies, he's still quite a shot with it.
- Short Sword - A sidearm in the event Katalmach is ever deprived of his axe. A small blade capable of cutting and stabbing.
- Cetsus - This studded leather and metal gauntlet can be used to augment Katalmach's punches, making even his fists a deadly weapon. Simply worn like a glove, the only way to remove this weapon would be to literally disarm Katalmach.
Physical Description: Katalmach stands at an average height of 5'10, smaller than most orcs but just about the right size compared to most humans. He has a lean but solid build, putting more emphasis on endurance over strength. That being said he's still quite strong, at least compared to humans. He wears his hair into long dreads which he typically has hidden inside of his helmet, but lets flowing freely when not in combat. He has olive skin, somewhat fair thanks to his human half, making him resemble someone who may be human but with an odd skintone. His eyes are a piercing red, a notable trait of his orcish heritage, though his teeth are surprisingly human. Not a single tusk or extra sharp tooth anywhere. He seems to maintain them well considering they're quite white.
Armor: - Breastplate - Katalmach owns a heavy but sturdy breastplate, with pouldrons and tassel included. He typically wears this breastplate over his garments to provide extra padding and some minor protection, mostly from the elements. He keeps it well maintained. He also wears a helmet along with this armor: it's a practical full-faced helm to ensure that blows to the head are deflected or at least absorbed.
- Shield - A large wooden round shield made of sturdy cypress wood, backed with thick leather hide, and bound with bronze bands to keep the shield solid, while ensuring that the sea doesn't rust the metal away. At the center of the shield is a single protrusion which can be used to not only deflect strikes but also pummel enemies.
Equipment/Other - Fur Outfit - Tough furs to ward off the cold air and provide some minor protection against cuts and scraps. Comes with a loincloth, belts to carry his weapons, and well made leather boots with iron cleats.
- Soap - Katalmach carries three types of soap: a jar of dust he uses to clean his teeth, a bar meant to wash his body, and a liquid soap to clean his equipment. Some might consider him a dandy for bothering with hygiene, to which he'd reply with a quick and sudden strike to their offensive faces.
- Cooking Utensils - A kit that contains an iron pot, an iron skillet, a ladle, a skewer, a wooden cutting board, a cutting knife, an iron tripod for the pot, a packet of tinder, and a small selection of local or otherwise easy to find seasonings. With these basic tools he can cook up most anything he can get his hands on.
- Mess Kit - A plate, bowl, cup, fork, knife, and spoon, made of bronze. Each item has a small hole so that they can be tied together using the included leather cord.
- Rucksack - Something to carry all of his things in.
Mental Description/Personality: Katalmach is a simple man: He does what he wants and what he wants is to live, enjoy himself, and take care of his friends. Sometimes he wished that he had more complex motives or aspirations, but truthfully he is a man lead by whimsy and desires. Fairly kind but very aggressive, this contradiction is best demonstrated in his willingness to take care of people who treat him well, and how quick he is to fight anyone who'd displease them. That being said Katalmach is a petty man and would have no issues murdering someone simply because he disagrees with them, and especially if they annoy him with no recourse. Worse if they have something he wants. A self described "marauder", this jolly man is nonetheless a murderer and thief, and he's quite happy with that.
Goals/Apirations: Live gloriously, have a beautiful wife, many children, and maybe a boat of his own one day.
Background/History:Much like the man himself, Katalmach's history is not very complex nor exciting. While he is indeed born between the breeding of an orc and human, it was his father who was a human and his other was the orc. Both were soldiers serving in the same army and grew to respect and admire one another, and eventually settled down together. When Katalmach was born his father returned to battle as a mercenary to make money for his family while his mother was a huntress, often taking Katalmach out on hunts so that he may learn how to fend for himself. It was from his mother that he learned the subtleties of stealth, and eventually how to slaughter animals by whatever means necessary. Katalmach's father was quite a soldier of fortune and eventually afforded enough money to actually send Katalmach to school, gaining a primary education normally reserved for the rich.
His youth in school was surprisingly average despite his heritage. Bullies and blowhards were quickly dealt with by Katalmach's fists, and those who tried to take vengeance against him or his family would learn that his mother had no issues shooting down thugs in cold blood, and neither cared for the money or nobility that they caused trouble with. Seeing that they couldn't be cowered nor killed, most wisely gave Katalmach a wide birth through his childhood, which suited him just fine. He could focus on his studies, which his mother made sure he did. That being said book learning wasn't really something that interested the boy very much, except when he reads tales of great heroes and adventurers who embark on epic journeys to slay great evils or create mighty nations. It was through these stories that Katalmach's own desires started to manifest and grow.
As a young adult Katalmach continued to study and worked on culinary skills thanks to a chance meeting with a royal chef. Katalmach was just doing some hunting as a hobby when he saved a dandy looking many from an aggressive boar. Katalmach then helped the man hunt for his quarry, a rare white buck, and even showed him how to cut the deer to get the best slices of meat. Seeing the potential in the orc, as well as being thankful for his timely rescue, he was recommended to a college and went about learning how to cook. He was a decent chef, but he often found much ridicule by his fellow students and teachers, who gave him many back-handed compliments due to his race. It eventually got to the point were Katalmach started to neglect his studies and joined a rather shady group. At first he only joined because they were hosting fight pits, where Katalmach would often attend to blow steam off and learn how to fight better. It was through this group that Katalmach honed his skills in combat, and then he started to use money he made cooking to buy himself some equipment. It wasn't long before he saved up enough money to purchase himself a solid ax, a handy shortblade, a sturdy shield, and some extra equipment. All he needed was armor, which fortunately he inheritated from his father: both his breastplate and his helmet. Once equipped, Katalmach severed ties with the college and went looking for a ship in need of a warrior.
Relationships:
Parents - Still alive, but only his father is aware that Katalmach had become a pirate.