Just finished my character. I haven't spellchecked twice yet:
The Vanguard
Name: Kaedan
Age: 19
Appearance:
Kaedan’s body is a product of what the human will can achieve. Every bit of him is developed in muscle, he is a walking embodiment of strength. He was already blessed with a towering figure, and even with such height was able to sculpt a heavyset body, with every inch hardened flesh. Without his armour, Kaedan seems as though he has stepped out of a painting, or broken free from the casting of a titanic statue. With his armor he looks even larger, but most of his impressive body is hidden away within the metal surface.
The armour that Kaedan wears is thick, heavy, and simple. As a newly graduated neophyte (and now consequentially an initiate), Kaedan does not have access to the lavishly decorated and blessed sets of armour housed by his creed. Instead, what he wears is designed with only function in mind, and as such, looks dull and unimpressive from an artistic viewpoint. It covers all of his vital points with thick plated metal, and gives him a necessary amount of freedom of movement. He carries a one-handed battle hammer and a large tower shield, neither of which are particularly outstanding. On his back is a worn grey cloak, with tattered edges, as it was passed down from a superior. Most of Kaedan’s supplies are kept in an old leather satchel, which is tied around the back of his waist. His only personal belonging of value is a thick tome that hangs from the side of his hip. The tome is of a deep red colour, signifying Deliph. It’s thousand pages are of a stained yellow, and its cover has a few scratches. This is Deliph’s Book of the Soldier, which Kaedan has already memorized from his training as a neophyte. It is one of the many holy books which the followers of Deliph derive their knowledge from, and just like the others, it is a heavy tome.
His skin is tanned, like the colour of sand or dirt, and his eyes are a faded gray-blue. Kaedan’s golden hair is usually messy and unkept, and he supports the beginnings of a beard around his face.
Biography:
Kaedan is an initiate within the Brotherhood of the Cardinal; one of the many religious creeds dedicated to Deliph. This sect has only a few remaining monasteries scattered around the known world. Although their numbers are small, the Red Brothers, as they are sometimes called, have high ambitions and heavy expectations of those who wish to be in their ranks. One who comes across their monasteries will note the unusual number of boulders found within the yards of their churches.
From a very early age, children accepted into the monastery are trained to achieve strength far beyond their years. They exercise in many ways, most notably in pushing or lifting the large boulders commonly found around the monasteries. Weakness of the body is punished abruptly, but second chances are always given. The children are also expected to memorize heavy volumes of text, most of which is dedicated to Deliph’s wisdom, or historical excerpts from wars past. Weakness of the mind is also punished if a student fails to recite chapters accordingly. But just as with the body, there are always second chances given. With the heart, however, there is no room for error. The slightest misjudgement is enough to be met with death.
For the Brotherhood of the Cardinal, purity of the mind and soul are just as important as strength of the body. They achieve this in their pupils through rigorous indoctrination, and every member of the church, from the newest members to the most sacred elders, take part in meditative trances daily.
Due to his physique and lifelong training, Kaedan can carry all of his gear for long periods of time. But during combat, the impact of his gear is definitely noticeable. His armour slows him down and restricts his movement. This limits the amount of fighting styles that Kaedan can employ. Many of Kaedan’s brothers from his sect are trained to value strength over speed, which makes them apt in the roles of fighting in the front-lines to protect others. Like his brothers, Kaedan can call upon the divine favor of Deliph to bolster his capabilities, or support others, but his powers are very limited in this regard.
The toughest challenge for initiates to overcome is the pilgrimage. When a neophyte is ready to become an initiate, he must prepare to leave the monastery in search of strife and conflict. The Brotherhood of the Cardinal believes that only by fighting for good can the follower find Deliph. When a neophyte is found to be ready, his masters will tell him to make his preparations before allowing him to leave. Most students begin their pilgrimage at the age of 17, but Kaedan has only been granted leave for his journey at the age of 19. He does not know why his calling was delayed as such. Kaedan is just as devout as one would expect, and he spends most of his free time meditating or re-reading his holy tome, as any follower should. But unlike others of his kin, who are known for being harshly judgemental when it comes to moral actions, Kaedan is more willing to let things slide and let others be. The Red Brothers in particular have a vicious reputation for showing no mercy to those who have wronged, even to the point of savagery. Kaedan feels he does not share the same contempt for evil as his brothers, and for this he has been scolded and estranged by his masters and peers alike. As an orphan, he was found and raised by the Brotherhood of the Cardinal. There is very little he knows of the world outside the monastery walls. His monastery was from the deserts to the south-east, which explains the tan of his skin. Kaedan finds the absence of sand finding its way into everything he owns to be comforting, but is still having trouble adapting to colder winds.
