Zels Character Archive

[Zelosse]

Krogier / Rune-tattoo Warrior

:Krogier Vanaal

---

---

Age: 55

Gender: Male

Race: Human

---

Personality: Fearless in the face of danger and relentless in the field of battle, he will rush to the aid of his companions at a moments notice with weapons drawn and a song on his lips. That is the way of his ancestors. Protecting those around him from harm. Hoisting a large oak spear with a green flag emblazoned with a golden bear, Krogier believes himself and the Denmother to be peerless pillars of their group.

Outside of combat and the glory of victory he is a gentle giant exploring the world beyond his forest home. Boisterous and friendly, Krogier is quick to toast the deeds of the day and retell legends of his homeland. Has a bad habit of getting overly rowdy or over-protective of his other traveling companion.

History:
The strong and noble forest folk are not limited to just the elves. Humans live in tandem with the forces of nature and dwell in harmony with the forces of nature, nurturing the forest with magical practices inherited from Dryads. At least that is how they explain it. In truth the people of the Black Forest were trained in the spiritual arts of communion to nature.

In time the Elves and Human tribes drifted apart, claiming their own territories in the forest. It was not a hateful relation with the tribes of humans and the elven settlements, merely a difference in interpretation of the wildlife. Peace was prominent among them first and foremost lest their potential war bring ruin to the trees.
Krogier is the eldest child born to the tribes eldest independent clan of Druids, their customs and training differing from the tribes many hunters. His communion with nature was deeply associated with the animals and beasts of the forest. Born with a strong body he was also trained by necessity to wield a weapon in the forests defense.

Raiders from the frozen north, Greedy humans from Averland to the east, and an ever present mire of rot have slowly creeped up to the Forests edge. The decay could not be bested or slowed but the humans could. Raiders from other tribes making their homes in the northernmost reaches of the Black Forest were ruthless. They would kill any animal they crossed, butcher the natives gathering in peace, even burn whole acres of forestland just to clear a patch for their towers and homes.
A betrayal that was often punished.

Krogier has lost kin to the raids, the humans, to illnesses previously unknown, and could abide it no longer. On an ill fated raid upon one of the keeps brought up by the raiders his party had been ambushed, slaughtered, herded into the untraveled southlands of the forest rife with rotting trees and the stench of corpses. Routed and left to die he wandered the forests path.
A cave amid the hills offered sanctuary from a growing storm as he ran, weapons in hand, to the entrance prepared to die. Abominations had stalked the hilltops for months. Inside he saw it. Weakened but not cowed was a brown bear larger than any he had seen. Its fur was matted with blood, mud, den littered with rotting meat it had been forced to consume.

The Denmother. A legendary story told by his ancestors had spoken of the titanic bear said to have birthed the species common to the forests now. Even at a glance Krogier would say he felt its noble spirit stare in defiance of yet another mere intruder to its dieing domain. Armed and armored he was a threat to be crushed.

The weapons were cast aside in an instant as the awe of such a being filled his spirit with new hope to survive as it had against the odds. His druidic teachings urged him to speak and he did, his voice carrying to the Denmother with clarity.
Months would pass as they built trust, feeding the bear with what little there was to forage until at last she could move. Could stand to her full height. To roam again. Weeks of fighting brought no relief from the pestilence consuming the forest and both knew something must be done.

The answers were not here, amid the mush of what was once home. Together they set out on the roads to learn of this unbreakable force smothering the trees.

Together, Krogier and the Denmother, joined along with any kind soul that had news of ill tidings. Any in need could depend on their aid in return for information.

---

Weapons - Every weapon he wields represents a friend lost on the road.

• Throwing dagger x5 - Hatchling crows lost to careless poachers felling trees on the border.
• Warhammer - Agnar Rockblood, a hunter from the Black Forests. Killed in an avalanche.
• Heavy mallet - Maira, the humble cook of his tribe. Tenderized meat and men.
• Longsword - Char, the wolfhound that served his parents its entire life. Faithful to the end.
• Woodsman axe - Arlo the cutter, single minded warrior peerless in combat. Brought low by a strange infection. Killed by his own hand in defiance.
• Shortsword - Karras. Even among the stalkers of his tribe she was exceptional beyond comparison. Had it not been for the sheer number of the raiders, none doubted she would have returned.

Magic

• Runic tattoos - Bound by druidic magic from his homeland, Krogier channels the energy of the earth itself into his body to enhance his natural abilities; Increased strength, speed, endurance, regenerative abilities. The tattoos under his skin and on the Denmothers fur alter in color depending on which enhancement is active.
• Beast tongues - Krogier speaks to animals of all kinds.

Other

• Denmother - Many criticize Krogiers lack of a formal name for his colossal companion. They are largely ignored. The great bear stands over 6feet when on all fours, towering over most everyone when reared up. With druidic tattoos and glyphs coating its fur, it can swipe through heavy armor like paper and bite through steel. Who would dare name something so majestic?
• Openly states that he and the Denmother are married.

---

Theme Song:

My Hider

[Zelosse]

Darkwraith imitation

"Watch your mouth. The dark has ears only the light can destroy."

Name: Grimlock Lifesbane (Formerly Randolph Beuller)
Age: 32
Sex: Male
Race: Human

Personality: Charismatic and light hearted, trained to honor the living and dead alike, Grimlock strives to uphold the values of the temple even after he has walked away from it. While he is often considered an angry or violent individual at first glance due to the appearance of his armor, Grimlock is a very friendly person. Self sacrifice and determination are the cornerstones of his life now.

Rarely backing down from an opponents challenge, Grimlock is known to be a bit of a boaster.

Backstory: A denizen of the underground city known as 'Avernus', built in a massive cave system below the fetid swamps far to the north. Rarely do people venture from to/from this place teeming with monsters and brigands. It is one such being that changed the path of Randolph when the weakened man wandered into the cavern systems.
Found collapsed on the smooth stones covered in wounds, young Randolph ignored the dangerous looking armor and focused on the dieing person inside. Three months it took for this silent man to heal from the many terrible wounds, every day he was treated with respect and no judgement by the clergy.
Their talks often became one of the darkening skies outside their home. Deaths on the roads, blades clashed on the regular, and assassins were hired to kill what an army could never approach.

Clad in armor made of wood, steel, and bone, Grimlock was one such assassin who had taken life for coin. In the darkness of the caverns is where the light had finally found him. Indebted to the kindness of the people and those of the faith in their slumbering gods he would teach the willing to wield a blade to defend their home, protect their families. Randolph studied the way of the sword alongside the ways of his faith.
When the man in strange armor fell silent for good he mourned the loss as one would a brother.

When the same fate took the life from his father it was time to make a decision. The temple needed a new high cleric to fill the position and it was Randolph left to decide what path he would walk.
The path of his father or the advice of his father.

Randolph dawned the outsiders strange armor and left the city under the mans name, determined to make the world remember a good mans name. Armed with the miracles of his faith and the strength of his arms he would meet destiny many times on the road.

Equipment:

• Faithful - More of an executioners chopping blade than a true sword but as Grimlock shows, it can be put to deadly use. Heavy as it is sharp this weapon can just as easily crush a foe as split them. Can be used effectively in one hand but is slower without two hands.
• Eternal Sun - A sacred piece of holy cloth worn by the highest ranking members of the sunken temples. It is their symbol of status, easily distinguishing them in the crowd with the pure white silk and gold thread. The piece of cloth is stained with dirt and a bit of old blood around its edges but retains its color.
  Grimlock can cast two spells with the use of his sacred cloth.
• Blessed blade - swiping the edge of his blade with Eternal Sun activates the holy magic imbued into the weapon, creating a trail of dancing sparks across its surface that shock enemies hit.
• Blessed body - Kneeling down and placing the Eternal Sun against his forehead, Grimlock releases a portion of the stored energy to increase his own strength temporarily along with a very minor regenerative effect.
  
  Only one of these two spells can be cast at a time.

Misc:

Life imitates art

[Zelosse]

"Odd" / Mid-range sharpshooter

---

---

Name

Age: 37

'Odd'

Species:

Human

Profession:

Marksman / Trapper

Personality:

There is never much to be said for Odd. This is a man focused solely on making it to tomorrow, living free and unrestricted. Someone with extreme patience and a steady demeanor capable of solving problems quickly and quietly before moving on to the next task.
People will warn you not to cross him and that's always good advice.

Biography:

I am born of man and woman, raised in a metal craft between worlds. We settled when I was young, young enough that I cannot remember the face of my mother and father when they died. Their screams do not haunt me as they once did and for that there is peace of mind out here among the stars.

There was a war.. Violent, bloody, taking a toll believed to be unfathomable from both sides. Were they soldiers following orders when they had me or did they flee to protect me. These questions have no answer and become the new nightmare to torture me in the restless moments of the night.
Yet we persist on.

The settlers took me in. Fed me, clothed me, taught me. Survival is to make use of what you know and learn what you don't. Any beast can be brought down with time and any world can be conquered if your goal is to see tomorrow. That is where people like me prosper.
In the wilds.

They named me long ago when I was still a child. But that name is gone to the same force that stole their voice and face from my memories, so now it is Odd. Like me. That is what the villagers called me when I first fired a weapon. It is what they said when I practiced over and over for years at a time to hit my targets.

'He's odd, for sure.'

I will find my home someday. I will take what I must to keep moving forward, one step and one shot at a time. The raiders who thrive on violence were 'home' for a time and got me the knowledge I lacked to survive on more than just my own planet. To survive on all planets. To take what is theirs and make it your own.

I was born to spill blood. So answer me and spare yourself the pain; Where do you keep your goods?

Equipment:

Sniper Rifle

A customized assault rifle turned into precision long range weapon, complete with built in suppressor. Single shot or burst fire at close range makes it a versatile weapon for discerning killers. Thanks to its light weight and small size it is ideal for those who roam the wilderness hunting big game.
The attached scope only his minor magnification and serves better as a close range indicator.

Hunting knife, kept razor sharp.

Relationships:

None. Allegiance to the survival of self over community.

Other:

Odds suit was stolen during a raid on a settlement three years prior, modified to be lightweight with a built-in facial overlay that provides air and a zooming lense. The entire suit itself is not a rare model or a very expensive one to manufacture, making repairs often very simple if brought in for minor fixes.
Odds has gotten a great deal of practice with the helmets zoom and voice commands.