[hider=Rûyk - a work in progress]
Name: Rûyk  

Age: 201

Gender: Male

Species: Orc

Kingdom of Origin: Haderlock

Physical appearance: [img]http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/183/d/4/orc_rider_by_thebastardson-d55pfn1.jpg[/img]
Rûyk stands 6'3'', just below average height for an orc, but weights a lean 237lbs - still possessing remarkable fitness and physique for his years. His hair runs straight, long and black, although flecks of grey have started to creep in. His skin is light grey, lined faintly with both the work of years and battle. His face is smooth, kept closely shaven - the only outstanding feature a scar which runs from his right cheekbone to his ear, part of which is missing. His smile is... "toothy", to say the least, but most striking are his eyes: deep set and almost unnaturally black - a quaint, unusual feature - but captivating to all who meet his stare. Lastly, his right arm is covered in a complete sleeve tattoo: a complex set of images depicting the major battles and conflicts in Rûyk's life; scarlet and black dominate, making for a striking conversation starter.

Attire: Rûyk was a former sergeant in the Nordavind, and due to his distinguished service - got to keep his ceremonial light plate armour. It has dulled somewhat, but in such times of need Rûyk has once again taken to proudly wearing his breastplate and helm, although he no longer sports chainmail beneath. To aid mobility, Rûyk wears a mixture of toughened leather and hide armour splinted with steel over key regions. His armour is light but effective - and importantly, still displays his old Nordavind sergeant stripes on the breastplate. If he would fight in anything, it would be this.
  
Personality: Rûyk can often come across as detached, stoic and dispassionate. This is often true, although passion and anger can be quick to stir in him when summoned, like an long silent mountain suddenly letting the world know it was a volcano all along... In his own way he is quite a caring man - he is certainly thoughtful, with a hardened sense of honour that intersects his decision making. Whilst a 'good' person, Rûyk is quite hard and calculating. He isn't dark or cruel as such, but if cruelty is a means to a greater good, then so be it. There was once upon a time when he enjoyed the bloodlust that came with battle, and while successes can raise a wry smile from that deeply preserved sense of humour, duty calls upon him far more than pleasure as he enters his twilight years. Rûyk's passion is in his family, his nation, his people and the service he has done for them - all other actions are a step in securing the wellbeing and prestige of these important parts of his life. 

Hobbies/interests: Rûyk has lived a soldier's life for a long time, and enthuses not only about military strategy, but its history. This is not to say Rûyk is an academic by any stretch, but he has an enthusiasm for understanding the great battles and conflicts of the past which resounds in his voice whenever the topic is brought up. Additionally, Rûyk has become fairly accomplished at the mandolin - quite an atypical feature when examined next to his battle-scarred appearance. He has turned his hand at an original lyric or two, but he predominantly plays simple folk music as a unpretentious means of entertainment.  

Backstory: Rûyk was born in the mountains of Talbour, in a settlement dominated by the iron mines. His father was a labourer in one of the great pits that ran deep into the belly of the land; his mother sended to the great shire-horses which pulled the heavy iron carts down into Maceron, to be processed by the steel works. As Orcs in a land dominated by humans, and working class Orcs in a feudal system at that, his early life was challenging - and it was only to get harder. His father died of Nocardiosis when he was only six, so spent the majority of his early childhood raised only by his mother. To better their chances in life, Rûyk's mother took a gamble: moving to Maceron - the capital of Talbour. She had worked with horses her whole life, and as Orcs live considerably longer than humans, had accumulated greater experience with them than most expert breeders and trainers. There was an arrogance, of course, within the system that procluded much in the way of career progression, but she managed to convince a horse trader to take her on as an aide. That trader just so happened to also sell horses to the great knights that were held up as heroic, mortal gods manifest as men, via the propoganda the kingdom propogated. 

In truth, Rûyk's life wasn't much better. They had a hovel in the slums and education stemed largely from his mother, but given that her own was limited, he was slow to pick up even basic reading and writing skills. Still, Rûyk grew to be strong, tough and street-wise in his own way. He joined his mother in working with the horses - seeming to possess an intrinsic affinity with them, on account of being brought up around them. He was 19 when an incident happened that would change his life quite profoundly:

A deal had been struck to provide two young geldings to the Knights of the Ram - the country's greatest warriors. Naturually, these two horses were of exceptional stock and breed - two rare diamonds amongst many thousands of lesser gems. The King's elite knights only took the best, so Rûyk was quite shocked when he was asked to accompany his mother's master to deliver them; the only issue was, they were not to deliver them to the castle barracks, but to the mountains where many of the knights were training potential recruits. The journey was long, but in riding the two geldings it was made much easier - each was a joy to ride. As they neared their destination Rûyk heard a distinct shout in the woodline: it interwove anger and fear - it was unique but strangely beckoning. Rûyk turned his horse into the woods, much against the advice of the horse trader: what he found was a scene unlike any other... A human knight, unmistakably a young Knight of the Ram judging by his armour, stood wth two dead men at his feet, bastard sword held in a defensive but poised position. Against and around him stood five more men; the knight's horse was dead, shot with several bolts that stuck out from its hide. The men that stood against him held out swords and axes of their own, inching closer but clearly cautious against the knight's skill. As Rûyk arrived he quickly understood and assessed the scene, but confirmed it when he saw the tribal tattoos which adorned the face of the agressors. They were noted and infamous bandits: the obsidian dawn. 

Family: Rûyk is widowed. He had a wife, Brenna, who was 14 years his junior. They met when Rûyk was 42, still relatively young: he was a castle guard and she a member of the kitchen staff. Their first affair was electrifying, and from there their relationship grew closer until the two intertwined their lives so much, only death would part them. Unfortunately, many, many years later - it did. They had lived their whole lives together - she was his greatest support in their upheaval from Talbor, throughout his military campaigns and through a myriad of lesser plights. She died at 178, when Rûyk was 192; it was a cancer which claimed her - one so strong it took her quickly, which was itself a blessing. The effect is that Rûyk carries a shadow within him, hidden deep. He gets on - such is his way and that of his people, but life is a little colder now - all joys more faint and fleeting. 

In their marriage Rûyk and Brenna had two children: M'algluk - his eldest son, now aged 117; and Frella - his daughter, now aged 38. Both are independent in their own way: M'algluk, being far older, chose to carve his path in one of the most prestigious careers open to an Orc - the route of a master smith. His son works in Juvegol, in the royal armouries making weapons and armour for the castle guards and the elite of the Nordavind. To say that Rûyk is proud of his son would be an understatement. 

His daughter was brought into the world much later, when the two were settled in Haderlock. Rûyk was still in the Nordavind and had just completed a ranging assignment, leading the 'iron wolves' scout regiment against a band of minotaurs which were encroaching too far in the forestland that lined the great Frost River. Rûyk blames the excess of minotaur blood which stirred his loins when he arrived home the night his mission was finished - they certainly hadn't planned another child, but fate conspired to produce one. Frella was a delightful child, and is the happiest part of Rûyk's life in many ways. Frella has her own fisheries business, catching and selling the unique and highly prized Frost River Cod - arguably the finest fish to taste in Tithe - or so she says. 

Relationships: N/A. Rûyk has not moved on, truly, from the death of Brenna - his soul mate. This is not to say it will never happen, but there is no one special in his life at present. 

Weaponry: Rûyk has a fine array of weapons, collected over his time as a soldier and warrior. His large weapon is spear, which doubles up as a lance. The weapon is approximately 3 metres in length, made of fire hardened ash and galvanised with dragonbone, which also forms the exceptionally sharp tip. Secondly, Rûyk carries a one handed battle axe, made of hardened steel. Finely crafted by Orc smiths, it has a sharp bladed side and a deadly spike on the other, similar to most warhammers - and designed to puncture plate armour. Finally, Rûyk carries a small 6'' dirk blade for last resort and a collection of 10 throwing knives, kept in a leather satchel on his waist. His aim is... pretty good, for an old Orc!

Abilities: Rûyk is a veteran soldier, having experienced more campaigns, battles and skirmishes than anyone else he knows, with a few notable exceptions. He is a tactician and strategist of note, bringing his experience to bear on situations on a macro and micro-level. He can read an unfurling battle like a book, just as he can read the body language of a foe before he strikes, anticipating blocks and counters instinctively. His skill with the blade as a heavy infantry line troop is equal to his strength in the saddle as a light dragoon; Rûyk is a very well rounded combatant. He has also retained his impressive strength, being far stronger than most men (although nothing quite like a Minotaur, or other such massive beings). Finally, Rûyk is a very capable smith, making many weapons, pieces of armour and shields himself.
 
Weaknesses: Rûyk used to be pretty quick, but age has slowed him some. While he gets by on anticipating moves, he has found himself half a second behind the pace of a strike once or twice recently, and whilst nothing fatal has happened, it concerns him. Also, as an Orc he isn't always nuanced with the finer elements of diplomatic speech: a sword is a sword, a spade a spade - rhetorical weaving isn't his thing. 

Companion: 'Cressida' is a 9 year old black gelding; Rûyk purchased her as a foal and trained her himself, and as such, they have a superb relationship. She is 15.3 hands tall and weighs 1200 lbs; lithe, strong, responsive and courageous - she is an excellent mount for a former member of the Nordavind.
 [img]http://www.laidget.com/images/full/2013/04/01/black-horse-wallpapers-gri_black-horse-25.jpg[/img] 

Other: 
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Please feel free to offer a critique as I'm writing this.