[hider=Terryn Hoffmann]
[center][IMG]http://i60.tinypic.com/2889qi8.jpg[/IMG]

[i]“Virtus Juvat Fideles - Virtue helps the Faithful”[/i]

[i]Terryn is an old looking man, covered in scars and wrinkles, with several remarkable and obvious features. One of these is his missing eye with a giant scar running over it, another are the three dots on his forehead. Another thing you will be quick to note about this peculiar man is both the large nosering he wears, and the Monarchist Cross he wears on his chest. It hangs from a study chain, something else entirely than other more refined jewelry, making it clear that this item is only there for purpose and symbolicism, and not to show off wealth, if Terryn was even capable of projecting something as subjective as 'wealth'.

The man dresses rather simple, as a soldiers wage is by no means a good wage. He wears a burgundy linen tunic that has golden trims on the sleeves and the neck, as well as the bottom part of the shirt. Over that he wears a long leather surcoat. The surcoat is tied together by metal pins, not unlike nails, that are pulled through openings in the other end of the surcoat, after which they have a cap placed over them to keep the surcoat in place. Furthermore the man wears a white linen cloth across his head, like a bandana, which is tied in a knot at the back of his head before draping into two somewhat long strands of cloth. The man also wears black and white striped pants, that flow into his boots, a rather simple combination really. His outfit is completed by several belts running cross his waist, to attach his sword to, as well as a half-sheath attached to his back that holds his greatsword. 

As for his body, the man is visibly muscled although age seems to have taken it's toll heavily upon the man. Never the less he is still strong and fit, able to properly fight to the best of his ability. It seems the loss of an eye barely made a change in that. The Monarchist Cross on his chest is also a testimony to his zeal - the man is very fond of the Monarch, and as such he is at the same time loyal to the king. The real question is whoever at what given time claims to be king.[/i][/center]

[hr]

[indent]【[U]Full Name[/U]】

[indent][I]Terryn Hoffmann of Col Melle[/I][/indent]

【[U]Aliases[/U]】

[indent][I]“Old Man,” “Old Fart,” “Commander Priest of the Black Shields.”[/I][/indent]

【[U]Age[/U]】

[indent][I]56[/I][/indent]

【[U]Sex[/U]】

[indent][I]Male.[/I][/indent]

【[U]Sexuality[/U]】

[indent][I]Straight, but with a healthy relationship with the Monarch.[/I][/indent]

【[U]Religion[/U]】

[indent][i]Monarchist.[/i][/indent]

【[U]Family[/U]】

[indent][i]Terryn has little family, only a brother in Cherwin, who has promised to Terryn to further the lineage of the Hoffmann family.[/i][/indent]

【[U]Birthplace[/U]】

[indent][i]Hoffburgt, the town.[/i][/indent]

【[U]Societal standing[/U]】

[indent][i]A lowborn man, but earned respect of the nobles through service in the Servants.[/i][/indent]

【[U]Former employment[/U]】

[indent][i]Veteran soldier of the Old Hounds.[/i][/indent]

【[U]Rank and role[/U]】

[indent][i]Acting commander of the Black Shields.[/i][/indent][/indent]

[hr]

[indent]【[U]Personality[/U]】

[indent][i]Terryn is a stern, brutal and unforgiving man. It's best not to cross him, or else feel his wrath. His zeal provides him with a healthy dose of discipline, while his years of service give him the idea that he knows everything better in terms of combat related issues. In reality, it turns out mostly he does. If looking for a comrade, Terryn is not the man to look to, as he realizes his position as acting commander all too well and although his regular, red blood obstructs him from being the actual commander, he seems to act like he [b]is[/b] the actual commander.

Not especially vulgar or anything, but never the less not afraid to speak his mind, Terryn can be blunt and rude at times, and respectful and kind to others. It seems to mostly depend on both standing and the way someone talks to Terryn. Being a Servant in early years, he is also filled with respect for noblemen and other noble-blooded peoples. He knows better than to disrespect them, something that's come with errors in this aspect before, as well as age. Whips, for those who disrespect nobles. Daggers, for those who disrespect equals. Normally one would opt for the whip, they are after all painful, but temporary. But Terryn is of the opinion, and knowledge, that while a whip may be temporary, the scars are permanent. A dagger is swift and painless, and ends your suffering, while a whip forces you to walk a marked man. Nobles are dangerous, but neccesary in his eyes.

Despite his general calmth, which seems to go paired with a snarky and authorative, old voice, Terryn is also capable of anger. And do not be fooled by his old body, he is capable of throwing a punch a 20 year old would wish he could throw. Never the less he is (usually) able to contain himself quite well and is clever enough (or carefree enough) to not be bothered by people attempting to pester him. But if you somehow manage to anger him, be ready for a hurdle of insults, punitive measures and an angry man walking around for the next week. And if there's [b]one[/b] thing true about military command, it's that if you make the commander angry, you do not only risk his wrath, you risk that of the entire company. Everyone will hate you for his anger.[/i][/indent]

【[U]History[/U]】

[indent][i]Terryn is a Hoffburgt man through and through - it basically runs in his veins. He was born there in a stinking shack, to a no-good father who was at the whorehouse every day, and a mother that liked to beat her children into doing as she wanted. Needless to say, Terryn was a little runt early on in his life, always running around the town making trouble for everyone. And he used to be quite cute, not that you'd say that now looking at the old man, but he got away with it often too. His father was at one point in time conscripted into service for the Broacien army, and after a few years he returned with a baby boy with him. Supposedly he had slept with numerous women, and produced a child. Terryn's mother didn't care, what's another mouth to feed? Not that much when you can't even feed the three mouths you already have.

However his father's conscription refocussed Terryn's eyes from being an annoying kid making trouble, to becoming a soldier. At this point in time he was unfamiliar with the Servants, so he simply played with sticks, beating other kids around and pretending to be a soldier. This was enough to sate his lust for soldiery for now. 

At the age of six, his father and mother took him to the Monarchist church where he first met with the word of the Monarch. He fell in love instantly, and was visiting the church every week pretty soon after. He became a firm believer throughout the years, wishing to become a Robed Sword at one point in time (his lust for soldiery hadn't dissapeared) but ultimately was invited by the king, who at that point in time was still largely in touch with the town, to join the castle guard. After a few years of service the king approached him with an offer. The Servants had asked for able hands to join their ranks, as some Servants had died in battle with Sawarimic raiders lately, and they needed to replenish the ranks. Terryn, who was only 18 at this point, was offered a position by the king, since he was a good fighter and a firm believer.

Obviously, Terryn said yes and together with 7 others rode for Coedwin, to take the oath of Diligence, the oath of Virtue and the oath of Honor in the same night. With his 7 companions from Hoffburgt, and 14 others from other area's he was allowed into the ranks of the Servants. He served dutifully in Coedwin for several years, and was then sent out on missions that went across the border. Soldiering this way was never boring and he enjoyed this time very much, spending time abroad in Cherwin and the Sultanate, to spread the word of the Monarch, and to protect the priests that were there. After 20 years of serving, he was deemed too old for the Servants and was demoted to a more bureaucratic position in the Servants, holding a title of office master in the barracks of Coedwin. This didn't satisfy him, so he asked them to release them from his oaths and return him to the castle of the king to resume his duty as his guard.

Naturally, they complied, since Terryn had been a good Servant for the time he had spent there, and was not exactly a type for office work anyway. He travelled back with another companion that had been released from his oath while the 6 remaining Hoffburgt Servants remained at Coedwin, working either in the office or training new recruits. Upon arrival he was placed back in the castle guard, serving for 3 more years until the king had to place him in the Old Hounds. This company of veterans was in need of a good officer on the fields to lead the momentum of battle into the streams that were required, and Terryn seemed to be the man natural for this.

Ever since he had served under the Old Hounds, doing his duty to the king, marching around Broacien fulfilling the lords bidding. However now that the Old Hounds were defeated in the battle of Priscen Cross, which he was there to witness and fight in, he's returned to the Hoffburgt and accepted the kings' new task of setting up the Black Shields.[/i][/indent]

【[U]Dreams, short term goals, and fears.[/U]】

[indent][i]Terryn's dreams are to, one day, be knighted and elevated into noble blood. Ofcourse, this is a poor man's dream, but with Terryn's extensive record of service it's plausible for him. Another dream is to start a family, still, but given his old age this is highly unlikely. 

Short term goals for Terryn are to get the Black Shields into shape, creating a new company of able individuals, and to drill them into proper soldiers.

His fears include dying in battle (any sane man has this fear, in his eyes.) After all a fearless man is careless, and careless men lose their lives. Furthermore he fears the death of the king, not only because the king is a good man to him, but also because it would destabilize the entire kingdom.[/i][/indent][/indent]

[hr]

[indent]【[U]Skills[/U]】

[indent][i]Besides his obvious skills in combat, he has some training with religious subjects from his time in the Servants, as well as knowledge on how to combat the Sawarimic raiders. From his time with the Old Hounds he's learned some leadership skills, but leading is hard for an old fart like Terryn, who is not even that nice to begin with.[/i][/indent]

【[U]Martial prowess[/U]】

[indent][i]Quite skilled, but old age and a missing eye hampers his ability. Able to hold his own, no less, but any opponent that knows what he is doing will play to the weaknesses that Terryn has.[/i][/indent]

【[U]Combat style[/U]】

[indent][i]Terryn is well trained, and as such is taught a block-and-counter style of fighting. First, he will wait for one to strike, before blocking the strike and countering it with his own strike. However he has chosen a more laid back style now where his sword is the company, and his shield is their bodies. With this, I mean that he doesn't like to go into the fray anymore. His fear of death, and his disadvantages, are too great for him to effectively ensure his survival.[/i][/indent]

【[U]Weaponry[/U]】

[indent][i]An arming sword in a sheath, attached to his belt, as well as a greatsword on his back. No hidden weapons aside this.[/i][/indent]

【[U]Armor[/U]】

[indent][i]Terryn used to have a simple outfit of armor - a cuirass, metal shoulder pads and metal greaves. However, now it makes no sense for him to wear those as he will be leading from the back, not the front, and directing the battle from behind the lines. As such he sticks to his daily wear for armor, which is at the very least somewhat protective due to the leather.[/i][/indent][/indent][/hider]