Appearance: A self made and well traveled badger of respectable wealth, Artyom Barkov appears to the world as a successful merchant; His blue coat is worn but very well tailored and made from good material, his glasses have long left their little imprints on his muzzle and his pants are a dusty cream color that compliments his coat.
Those who take a closer look through will see that being a successful merchant isn't as easy as some might think; His shoes tend to be comfortable and worn, suggesting that he has worn them a lot while his legs are clearly well toned muscle. There are almost always bags under his eyes, suggesting one or more sleepless nights and he is a lot more lean then someone as wealthy as him should have been. Becoming a successful merchant takes time, hard work and sacrifice and Artyom has clearly done all three.
Overview: Born in Loratok, Artyom's parents ran a local pub called The Eastern Coach; His father owned the pub and was the face of the operation while his mother was largely in control of the finances and the book keeping behind the scenes. The pub itself never fully thrived, but despite its humble nature it provided Artyom and his sisters with a wonderful childhood that even to this day he wouldn't have traded for all the wealth in the world.
The war wasn't something that Artyom really understood until he was older and could look back on things in hindsight. It was just... there. Some dark and horrible boogieman that cast its dark and corrupting shadow over everything, even if the fighting itself was a long way off. Worried for the safety of their children, Artyom was sent off with a friend of his father because he was the eldest at the time in order to see the world (and most importantly, get out of Uskary) and learn how to be a successful trader, learning about other cultures and how to make a living in the world.
The Eastern Coach was hit by artillery fire several months after Artyom had left, killing all inside instantly.
Unaware of the fate of his family, Artyom took to his studies with great zeal. He adored the cultures of other places, saw horrors and wonders that would stick with him for the rest of his life and made a great deal of friends and contacts along the way. What caught his attention the most through was simply the level of advanced technology that was present in other nations that simply weren't back home; It was a market that he could easily see developing if someone was to spearhead it and he could see the profit that such a venture could bring.
Almost a decade after he had left Uskary, Artyom returned to his homeland after the war had ended... and saw the price that it had demanded for himself first paw. Visiting the ruins of the Eastern Coach and seeing the graves of his family... it left scars on his soul that would never fully fade away. He turned to the local priest for advice and guidance through the dark months after his return and with time he was able to... come to terms with what had happened. Not get over it or properly move on, but at least reach a point where he could carry the pain while he lived his life.
Radio Lizard:
Name: Nikolay Martyn Species: Swift Fox Age: Thirty-seven
Clothes make the man, and Nikolay Martyn is a man like no other. Tall and lean, he is charming and capable of selling his wares to just about anyone. If you want clothes that make you look like an honest, hard working, down to Earth peasant, you can go to just about any tailor in all of Uskary. But if you want something a little different, something exciting, something that marks you as the intelligent, powerful, classy individual that both you most definitely are, you go to Nikolay Martyn. Think cloche hats, pleated skirts, and flapper dresses. For the men? Denim, silk, and let me tell you, fashion has discovered the crossroads between practicality, innovation, and looks--zippers.
Nikolay is a fast-talker who does everything with confidence.
Honestly, Nikolay dislikes both Uskary and fashion but the money this gig is raking in is too good to pass up. He has to play his cards carefully as his methods of procuring his wares are less than legal. What keeps him safe is his popularity. No Nikolay, no questionably sourced fashion.
He chums around with those seeking to overthrow the nobles, painting himself as a merchant seeking the equality of the classes by enabling the common man to dress like the equals they are with the noble classes. Of course, were those people successful, there would be no nobles wishing to distance themselves from the common folk with high fashion, nor would there be commoners to market to.
He frequently dines with those who wish to see a free market- shouting from the rooftops that he is an independent merchant who despises how he’s been forced to sink to shady measures by the restrictive society he lives in. In reality, less restrictive international trade would undoubtedly put an end to the money he’s raking in, which he is very aware of.
The militant groups? He avoids those as much as possible. He's had his fill of death.
Nikolay has no hard affiliation yet, and probably won’t until he is either forced to make a decision or an option comes along that will increase his profit margin more than the current situation. For now, he does his best to cover his own ass by chumming with every group he can. After all, everyone in this world is just in it for themselves, some people are just more honest and aware of it than others, and Nikolay Martyn is nothing if not honest. Well, with himself anyway.
The Narrator:
"Wolfs, Bears, Eagles and Hawks hear my words! Our Fatherland was betrayed and backstabbed by weak and cowardly fools. Mice, Toads and Hedgehogs rule our city's and sell our goods. Doves and Hares own the farms and demand that we, loyal sons and daughters who bleed for the Fatherland pay them for food!
I, Boris Urtus ask you, Does the bear have to listen to the deer? Does the wolf care about the opinion of rabbits? When will the strong finally awaken? When will we claim this land which is ours by right? I say today Brothers and Sisters!
Today you can take the place you deserve!
Name: Mayor Boris Urtus
Species: Eurasian brown bear
Age: 36
Appearance: A hulking mass of brown fur and dense muscle, Boris is considered large even for his own species. When in public he most often wears a dark green uniform like most senior members of the A.N.O. A number of scars he got in the battles he fought slither through his brown fur. His gigantic paw is often found resting on the pommel of his large, ornate saber, giving him generally a very menacing appeal.
Overview: Born to a family with a proud history as warriors, knights and soldiers Boris future was clear. He was the second son and even though the times were tough his family managed. While growing up Boris quickly made a name for himself simply through strength and brutality. When he joined the army of Uskary he rose quickly through the ranks. After the external conflicts weakened and the fabric of society crumbled and the livestock disappeared Boris was disgusted. He felt that his beloved fatherland had been destroyed by bureaucrats, laziness and weaklings. He wowed to return it to order and strength. He and a few of his brothers in arms and soldiers he commanded forged a small paramilitary group which would later be transformed into the A.N.O. Urtus was the most high ranking of the founding members and as such was given the leadership. It helped that no one would have dared to challenge the bear for his rank. In the months following that Urtus and his group began recruiting former military members and disenfranchised prey animals. They also made quite the name for themselves because of their brutal behavior against anyone that was weaker and smaller than them.
Boris truly thinks of himself and his comrades as superior. He truly believes that might does make right. Many consider him to be brutal and sadistic but the truth is that he finds no joy in hurting other animals. He also is in no way opposed to it, Boris just sees it as a chore, like cleaning up a house. To call him unintelligent would also be wrong, he is quite unimaginative and not very interesting but he has the cleverness and tactical knowledge of a military commander.