Character Sheet:
Name: Ardur Bennor
Gender: Male
Age: 50
Origins:Ardur's family traces back to the bogs and swamplands of the Aterius marshes, a place where the small amount of solid ground was fought over and where people lived in raised cities. This was a lawless place where murders were plentiful, and a bounty hunter could live a comfortable life; if he didn't find himself on the receiving end of a blade first. The primary source of income here was found in trappers and fishers. There exist a plethora of native wildlife whos pelts are in high demand across the continent. As such, it is not uncommon to see a boat filled to capacity with skinned fur, meat, and fish roll into the docks.
Aterius sits as a bit of an enigma when compared to the other former nations. Its lawlessness was embraced by the ruling body. It thrived on having its hands in every jar, collecting some "taxes" to turn a blind eye to the rampant crime. Yet, despite the rampant corruption, the nation would prove to be the first sore that beset the Empire. The Empire launched its first attacks into the marshland fifteen years prior, sending boats filled with soldiers into the wet battlefields. The Aterius people were crafty, and their magic potent. From logs sharpened into giant spears that pierced the hulls of their enemy ships to their force and water mages using the natural elements of the bog to assault. And when they did make it to their floating city, the soldiers soon found themselves in a fight for survival as hardcore criminals and bounty hunters alike fought a dirty fight that exposed the invading soldiers to the brutality of the war to come.
The nation would fall after its third year of putting up a defense, forcing her people on the run. Eventually, they found themselves before the walls of the Saldonian Nation. In a rare turn of events, the Nation accepted these criminals and thugs into their nation, under one condition. Every able-bodied man or woman would have to fight the Empire. Many would heed the call. With there knowledge of the underground and their stealthy-by-nature ways, these soldiers have been utilized to significant effect in the stealth war.
These people range in height and appearnce, but a common characteristic of the native Saldonians are that they are usually shorter, standing between five feet five inches and five feet eight inches, with shorter but still pointed ears. They are evenly split between force and water mages, with some able to dabble in the use of both. The vast majority are no more skilled than an average mage, as they spend very little time studying the magic and instead have opted for learning through use. They can command powerful magic, but also the capability for their magic to consume them more readily.
Magic: Force mage:
Ardur is a force mage. While he has not spent much time studying under a master's, the streets of Aterius taught him enough. While his control of the magic can be subject to extreme swings in both power and precision, he can use it to deadly effects. From lifting an enemy helmet and inserting a knife into the exposed flesh to throwing them into spikes and other objects, Ardur is not a pushover when it comes to fighting.
The control of his magic is not very well defined, even with years of use. Lack of a master and of training have meant that he has had to learn through trial and error. He can count the number of times he has nearly been consumed by his magic if he uses both hands and a foot or two. This shows up in the heat of battle at times. With his thrown weapons wobbling through the air or outright missing their target altogether.
When he is in control, he can be deadly. He has been known to be as precise as lifting an enemy helmet or opening their visor before he thrusts a dagger or another weapon into the opening. More often, though, Ardur prefers to use his magic to supplement his own skill with blades. From pulling the legs out from under his combatant to ripping a shield from the arms of its soldier and bashing it against their helmet to mixed effects.
Appearance: Ardur always stood a head above his friends and family, standing close to six feet in height. He has two blue lines that are tattooed across his clean-shaven face. His hair is messy and long, with two braids twirling down in front of his ears. From his days fighting for Aterius, he has opted for less protective armor and instead wears a simple leather vest overtop a padded jacket and some commonly dyed pants. His clothes feature his signature patchwork repairs ranging from well down to entirely off style; Ardur is function over form. His boots are a durable leather pair that he has worn for years, stolen from the home of the Empire Commander, who had invaded his nation.
Personality: Ardur is as calm as the sea during a raging storm. His upbringing, combined with his years of combat, have left a cold, emotionless shell who's only goal is to survive. He has left friends to die, and this is something that does not dwell on his waking thoughts. Ardur is quick to distrust and slow to learn details about people's lives.
His sleep is haunted by the deeds of his past. Frequently, the bloody battles that erupted all across Aterius in her final days flash before his eyes. He remembers in detail the savage nature of the battle and the unspeakable horrors that were committed. He remembers the non-combatants being cut down as they fled. He can feel the terror of the enemy soldiers as they were dragged to a murky fate by the water mages. The battle may have ended long ago, but it still is a war being fought in his mind. The actions he has taken since have had added a burden though less in intensity. He has had to do horrible things, but they were for the good of his people and his new Nation.
History: Ardur remembers little of his parents. His father was a gambler, and a bad one at that. When his debts caught up to him, with his enemies pounding on their front door, he tried to fight back. He used every ounce of magic in his body but was quickly dispatched by the cutthroats. His mother wanted to avenge him and met a similar fate soon after. From then out, Ardur lived in a poorly run orphanage. Here he learned the tricks needed to survive in such a desolate place. From using his new emerging force magic to rob the coin purses of the more affluent citizens to training in the back alleyway of fighting.
As he entered his young teen years, he was adopted into an organized crime unit. He began committing crimes and waging small battles against other gangs. He continued to hone his magic and sword skills in the years that followed, eventually becoming a capable swordsman when his magic was in play.
Eventually, the Empire turned its eyes to the resource-rich area and began its invasion. Ardur, and every other cutthroat began waging a series of ambushes and brutal battles against their invaders. Ardur and his comrades were particularly adept at sneaking into the enemies camp as they slept, and killing a few in their beds. As the war waged on, and the sheer numbers began to encroach on the capital docks at Avala, Ardur found himself more commonly on the frontlines. In these last few months, Ardur lost friends and enemies who became friends alike at a rapid pace. As their enemy began to breach the walls, and the battle turned to a chaotic mess of magic and steel, Ardur and a large group managed to escape thanks to the water mages. They powered rafts that were able to move around the makeshift ships the Empire had created.
After many more skirmishes, and retreats through foreign lands, the survivors found themselves on the edge of the Land of Whispers at the gates of a Saldonian Nation stronghold. A deal was made. The Saldonian Nation would allow the survivors refuge, but they would have to serve in the upcoming war. Most agreed. Many became spies and assassins and began to terrorize the backlines of the Empire, and Ardur was no different. Over the years, he has had numerous close calls. Recently, he was saved by a fire mage and her soldiers and pledged his services to her if she would ever need them.
As his home fortress burned, and on the retreat once more, he found his services called into use by S'venia and will attempt to guide them back home using her map, and his skills.
Equipment: -Twin Swords:
Ardur has two swords, both made from the same forge with different hilts and handles. The first, named Fang, is a bastard sword that features a wider hilt and has a brown handle. This is his standard sword when it comes to dueling. It is off weight, but he is used to it and can wield it with one or two hands. The second is a curved blade with a knife-like handle. He will use this sword against lighter armored foes and has a proper balance. He has been known, in fits of madness, to use both at once. He gets tired very quickly.
-Common Clothes:
As always, the less impressive he looks, the better. His clothes are a mixture of bad patch jobs and various different materials. He does have a simple leather vest, and a padded jacket underneath that offers some protection. Still, he is better served, not taking any blows.
-Various knives and daggers:
Across his body, Ardur is covered in hidden daggers and knives that he uses for a change of pace (with some throwing daggers hidden inside his vest) or for his magic (small and thin daggers used to force into exposed face guards).
-A necklace from home:
Ardur wears a simple necklace from home. It is nothing more than a durable string with a pearl drilled to fit. No matter where he travels, he carries this memento with him.
-Pack:
His back is filled with various poisons and other nefarious devices. He has some tools used to extract information and carries enough coin to get by if he gets stranded behind enemy lines for long.
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