@Shadow Daedalus & @Sterling, if you guys are still around, do PM me some time about those Zkreli shenanigans. I've been handling a lot of family stuff these past couple weeks and most of my scant free time was spent either writing sheets or watching Orange is the New Black. And anime. Sorry about that. But fear not friends! I have returned from the land of eternal silence with a completed character sheet! It's not my best work and it's probably wonky as hell, but feast your eyes and let me have all that scathing criticism.
"My brother was often prone to melancholy. Now I know why."
[ ♚ ] N A M E
[ ♚ ] A G E
[ ♚ ] G E N D E R
[ ♚ ] I D E N T I T Y
[ ♚ ] A P P E A R A N C E
[ ♚ ] P E R S O N A L I T Y
[ ♚ ] C H I L D H O O D
[ ♚ ] M O T I V E S
[ ♚ ] C R E D E N T I A L S
[ ♚ ] C O M P A N I O N S
[ ♚ ] R E L A T I O N S
V O R I K
"My brother was often prone to melancholy. Now I know why."
[ ♚ ] N A M E
Prince Vorik Magni Minhyr of Minhyriath
[ ♚ ] A G E
15/16 (Born during the Harvest Season of 551 AR)
[ ♚ ] G E N D E R
Male
[ ♚ ] I D E N T I T Y
Zkreli
[ ♚ ] A P P E A R A N C E
Standing at roughly 6'2" and still growing, Vorik is tall for his age even amongst the Zkreli and a tower compared to most everyone else. He has been told throughout his life that both he and his brother share a shocking resemblance to their mother, Ylva, particularly with their dirty blonde hair and striking blue eyes. However, where Erik retained Ylva's lean muscle and lithe build, Vorik seems to have inherited both the height and almost overwhelming body strength typical of House Minhyr.
The Zkreli are not known throughout Gaealia for their sense of fashion (you can't exactly wear flowing gowns in the middle of a marsh) and this is certainly the case for Vorik, who seems to dress more like a common foot soldier than a Prince, garbing himself most commonly in a simple pair of tough leather boots to go with a jerkin. The most "exotic" piece of clothing one might find in Vorik's wardrobe would be a long overcoat made from the fur of a warg worn over a doublet and embroidered with the sigil of his house on the chest.
After some years combating orcs, goblins, wargs and the like along the border of the Badlands, Vorik's body does retain a noticeable amount of wear from battle. Bruises adorn several sections of his body, his skin weathered and his hands calloused. Though this will no doubt change the longer he stays at the Conclave and away from the field.
The Zkreli are not known throughout Gaealia for their sense of fashion (you can't exactly wear flowing gowns in the middle of a marsh) and this is certainly the case for Vorik, who seems to dress more like a common foot soldier than a Prince, garbing himself most commonly in a simple pair of tough leather boots to go with a jerkin. The most "exotic" piece of clothing one might find in Vorik's wardrobe would be a long overcoat made from the fur of a warg worn over a doublet and embroidered with the sigil of his house on the chest.
After some years combating orcs, goblins, wargs and the like along the border of the Badlands, Vorik's body does retain a noticeable amount of wear from battle. Bruises adorn several sections of his body, his skin weathered and his hands calloused. Though this will no doubt change the longer he stays at the Conclave and away from the field.
[ ♚ ] P E R S O N A L I T Y
A popular phrase within Minhyriath regarding Prince Vorik is that the lad is "Larger than life and twice as tall." and Vorik has done his damnedest to live up to such a reputation. Bold, boisterous, loud, and loyal have all been words used to describe Vorik, both in and outside of combat. Truly, Vorik prides himself on being the first to rush into battle against the Zkreli's ancestral foe and first to raise a cup of mead in victory.
To the other lords of Gaealia, Vorik may very well prove to be too Zkreli for his own good. Depending on who you're talking to, Vorik is headstrong, stubborn, and reckless. Certainly not the traits one typically expects or wants from political leaders, though many hold hope that Vorik is a teenager being a teenager, and can subsequently "grow into his throne" so to speak.
The effects of his brother's death on Vorik's demeanor, however, have been pronounced. Whereas he was previously mirthful and merry, Vorik has become reserved and stoic. At his core, Vorik is a boy who, in his grief, is desperately looking for a purpose to live other than combating the monsters of his homeland and watching those around him fall. While traces of his former self now surface in the form of silent snark and jesting insults, perhaps being surrounded by his peers will return Vorik to his old persona.
To the other lords of Gaealia, Vorik may very well prove to be too Zkreli for his own good. Depending on who you're talking to, Vorik is headstrong, stubborn, and reckless. Certainly not the traits one typically expects or wants from political leaders, though many hold hope that Vorik is a teenager being a teenager, and can subsequently "grow into his throne" so to speak.
The effects of his brother's death on Vorik's demeanor, however, have been pronounced. Whereas he was previously mirthful and merry, Vorik has become reserved and stoic. At his core, Vorik is a boy who, in his grief, is desperately looking for a purpose to live other than combating the monsters of his homeland and watching those around him fall. While traces of his former self now surface in the form of silent snark and jesting insults, perhaps being surrounded by his peers will return Vorik to his old persona.
[ ♚ ] C H I L D H O O D
Born the second and final child of King Andor III and Queen Ylva, Vorik grew up idolizing a brother, Erik, three years his elder. Growing up in Minhyriath where battling Orcs and Goblins and Wargs was nearly a daily occurrence, one wouldn't expect a Prince to have such a positively merry disposition, but Vorik looks back on his early years very fondly, remembering his lessons in arms with his father and the yearly feasts that would be held at Spiderstone. Vorik was, in his own mind, relieved of the pressure of inheriting the Kingdom as a second son and as such reveled in the pleasures of the warrior lifestyle the Zkreli hold dear.
While he certainly had to attend no less lectures and training sessions than most any noble, the majority of Vorik's childhood was spent either roughhousing with the other children of the castle (his brother included) and exploring the forests around his family's holdings. While his father certainly didn't approve of such excursions, well, Kings are often busy, and a clever enough Prince could find a way out of the castle regardless.
One such trip saw the Minhyr brothers and their group of young adventurers set upon by a pair of goblins. Chaos ensued, and while almost everything else was a blur, Vorik remembers that Erik had been thrown to the ground by one of the monsters, and he'd reacted by throwing himself into his brother's assailant. Now, one wouldn't expect an eleven or twelve year old boy to overpower a goblin, but smashing one's head in with a rather large rock isn't outside the realm of possibility. All Vorik knew was that he had to protect his brother. When the band was collected by some of his father's men, Vorik certainly did not want to inform the King of the day's events. Unsurprisingly, Andor was furious.
When his elder brother reached his sixteenth birthday, their father saw fit to bring Erik alongside him in a campaign into the Orc Badlands. Vorik refused to be left behind while his father and brother rode out to battle. Despite being only thirteen at the time, Andor permitted Vorik to come with them seeing as the boy clearly wasn't going to take no for an answer. Vorik took to the army lifestyle immediately and proved himself capable on the battlefield, spend his days fighting beasts and his nights laughing and drinking with his countrymen in camp. Such idyllic times, if one could call them that, would not last.
More than a year later and amidst news of a new chieftain rising in the southern marshes, Andor had Vorik and his brother take a force of roughly two hundred men to survey and report on the severity of the situation. What they found, however, was an odd thing indeed, an Orc fortress. While Erik sent word to their father for reinforcements, Vorik believed that the best course of action was to launch a surprise attack on the fort. While Erik had vehemently disagreed and was strictly speaking the company's commander, Vorik roused almost half the men to his cause and stormed the gates only days after their arrival.
Compelled to follow, Erik found Vorik roughly twenty minutes into the battle while chaos still raged around them. From the fort's main tower emerged the largest Orc Vorik had ever seen, half a head taller than any chieftain and twice as fierce. The duel that ensued would see Erik dead and Vorik battered, but breathing. Reinforcements had arrived in the midst of battle and saved every man that yet lived from the Princes' token force.
Overcome with grief over the death of his brother, Vorik laid down his hammer and returned to Spiderstone after reporting back to his father. Erik would be buried in the crypts underneath the Minhyr family's ancestral castle a fortnight later, with his name carved into the massive slab of runic stone dubbed the Wall of the Fallen. It was his first command.
Now, with some months removed from Erik's death, Vorik has been unknowingly enrolled to study at the Conclave by his father, and expects to arrive any day.
While he certainly had to attend no less lectures and training sessions than most any noble, the majority of Vorik's childhood was spent either roughhousing with the other children of the castle (his brother included) and exploring the forests around his family's holdings. While his father certainly didn't approve of such excursions, well, Kings are often busy, and a clever enough Prince could find a way out of the castle regardless.
One such trip saw the Minhyr brothers and their group of young adventurers set upon by a pair of goblins. Chaos ensued, and while almost everything else was a blur, Vorik remembers that Erik had been thrown to the ground by one of the monsters, and he'd reacted by throwing himself into his brother's assailant. Now, one wouldn't expect an eleven or twelve year old boy to overpower a goblin, but smashing one's head in with a rather large rock isn't outside the realm of possibility. All Vorik knew was that he had to protect his brother. When the band was collected by some of his father's men, Vorik certainly did not want to inform the King of the day's events. Unsurprisingly, Andor was furious.
When his elder brother reached his sixteenth birthday, their father saw fit to bring Erik alongside him in a campaign into the Orc Badlands. Vorik refused to be left behind while his father and brother rode out to battle. Despite being only thirteen at the time, Andor permitted Vorik to come with them seeing as the boy clearly wasn't going to take no for an answer. Vorik took to the army lifestyle immediately and proved himself capable on the battlefield, spend his days fighting beasts and his nights laughing and drinking with his countrymen in camp. Such idyllic times, if one could call them that, would not last.
More than a year later and amidst news of a new chieftain rising in the southern marshes, Andor had Vorik and his brother take a force of roughly two hundred men to survey and report on the severity of the situation. What they found, however, was an odd thing indeed, an Orc fortress. While Erik sent word to their father for reinforcements, Vorik believed that the best course of action was to launch a surprise attack on the fort. While Erik had vehemently disagreed and was strictly speaking the company's commander, Vorik roused almost half the men to his cause and stormed the gates only days after their arrival.
Compelled to follow, Erik found Vorik roughly twenty minutes into the battle while chaos still raged around them. From the fort's main tower emerged the largest Orc Vorik had ever seen, half a head taller than any chieftain and twice as fierce. The duel that ensued would see Erik dead and Vorik battered, but breathing. Reinforcements had arrived in the midst of battle and saved every man that yet lived from the Princes' token force.
Overcome with grief over the death of his brother, Vorik laid down his hammer and returned to Spiderstone after reporting back to his father. Erik would be buried in the crypts underneath the Minhyr family's ancestral castle a fortnight later, with his name carved into the massive slab of runic stone dubbed the Wall of the Fallen. It was his first command.
Now, with some months removed from Erik's death, Vorik has been unknowingly enrolled to study at the Conclave by his father, and expects to arrive any day.
[ ♚ ] M O T I V E S
Andor had a variety of reasons to send his sole surviving child away from Minhyriath. One not in the know would no doubt assume that principal among them was, well, making sure he still had a surviving child. But, nonetheless, Andor seems to have sent his child halfway across the continent chiefly to take his mind off of the death of his brother and away from the constant threat of the Orcs. Time will tell whether or not the idea proves a success.
[ ♚ ] C R E D E N T I A L S
Diplomacy: The recently made Crown Prince of Minhyriath is diplomatic in so far as he can make rousing battle speeches and feels at home amongst the raucous laughter of a Zkreli mead hall. While he was educated in courtly manners as befits all royalty, Vorik can be described as crass and vulgar to outsiders. While this serves him more than well amongst the people of his native Kingdom, Vorik has yet to become acclimated to the political climate of the Conclave.
Faith: Vorik never paid much mind to his religious studies growing up, retaining as much knowledge as one would expect of most commoners, which is to say, he knows how to say a prayer to Gaea when prompted to and has at least memorized the scant holidays in which he enjoys partaking. For the majority of his life he went through the motions of rituals and prayer with no questions asked, his brother's death has caused something of a crisis of faith for Vorik. He has begun to ask himself the existential questions such as "What does it all mean?" and "What is it all for?", and so far, he hasn't enjoyed the answers he's come up with in regards to life's purpose.
Intrigue: The vast majority of the Zkreli have no penchant for the dishonorable workings of spies, assassins, and the like, and this extends to Prince Vorik. If Vorik can't handle the problem in an honest and straightforward fashion, odds are he won't face the problem at all. Besides, have you ever heard of someone spying on an army of Orcs? None of those stories ever end well.
Magic: While his brother had shown particular curiosity to, Vorik holds a fundamental distrust of Magic and those who practice it. Magical tomes and places of study are, unsurprisingly, almost nonexistent in Minhyriath, and as a result most Zkreli know next to nothing about it. In simple terms? If magic can somehow aid him in the slaying of Orcs or taming of Wargs, Vorik may very well learn more about it someday, but for now? He'll focus on the more mundane methods. Namely his hammer.
Martial: Despite his young age in comparison to the Realm at large, amongst the Zkreli, Vorik is already a man, and to be a man in Minhyriath is to be a warrior. Vorik's first encounter with goblins occurred not long after his twelfth birthday, and before he knew it he was marching in the army of his father against petty Orc chieftains. Where his father is undoubtedly a man of tactical brilliance, Vorik's primary strategy in combat seems to be "Rush in and overwhelm the opposition." and while that attitude does wonders in inspiring the men around you and has so far proven quite effective for the young Prince, it won't win him any marks in exams. Though trained and talented with a Zkreli hunting bow, Vorik's weapon of choice is a tall, spiked war-hammer.
Stewardship: As a teenager raised in a land permanently deadlocked in war, Vorik has at least learned the fundamentals of overseeing the resources of a marching army, though he has openly admitted his personal disdain for numbers and mathematics. He has been known to say that in Minhyriath, there are only two numbers worth counting, the number of enemies, and the number of casualties.
Faith: Vorik never paid much mind to his religious studies growing up, retaining as much knowledge as one would expect of most commoners, which is to say, he knows how to say a prayer to Gaea when prompted to and has at least memorized the scant holidays in which he enjoys partaking. For the majority of his life he went through the motions of rituals and prayer with no questions asked, his brother's death has caused something of a crisis of faith for Vorik. He has begun to ask himself the existential questions such as "What does it all mean?" and "What is it all for?", and so far, he hasn't enjoyed the answers he's come up with in regards to life's purpose.
Intrigue: The vast majority of the Zkreli have no penchant for the dishonorable workings of spies, assassins, and the like, and this extends to Prince Vorik. If Vorik can't handle the problem in an honest and straightforward fashion, odds are he won't face the problem at all. Besides, have you ever heard of someone spying on an army of Orcs? None of those stories ever end well.
Magic: While his brother had shown particular curiosity to, Vorik holds a fundamental distrust of Magic and those who practice it. Magical tomes and places of study are, unsurprisingly, almost nonexistent in Minhyriath, and as a result most Zkreli know next to nothing about it. In simple terms? If magic can somehow aid him in the slaying of Orcs or taming of Wargs, Vorik may very well learn more about it someday, but for now? He'll focus on the more mundane methods. Namely his hammer.
Martial: Despite his young age in comparison to the Realm at large, amongst the Zkreli, Vorik is already a man, and to be a man in Minhyriath is to be a warrior. Vorik's first encounter with goblins occurred not long after his twelfth birthday, and before he knew it he was marching in the army of his father against petty Orc chieftains. Where his father is undoubtedly a man of tactical brilliance, Vorik's primary strategy in combat seems to be "Rush in and overwhelm the opposition." and while that attitude does wonders in inspiring the men around you and has so far proven quite effective for the young Prince, it won't win him any marks in exams. Though trained and talented with a Zkreli hunting bow, Vorik's weapon of choice is a tall, spiked war-hammer.
Stewardship: As a teenager raised in a land permanently deadlocked in war, Vorik has at least learned the fundamentals of overseeing the resources of a marching army, though he has openly admitted his personal disdain for numbers and mathematics. He has been known to say that in Minhyriath, there are only two numbers worth counting, the number of enemies, and the number of casualties.
[ ♚ ] C O M P A N I O N S
Oddly, Vorik has been sent to the Conclave without a typical retinue. The Prince is more than used to taking care of himself, and perhaps his father wished for him to be completely and utterly removed from the situation in his homeland and left to his own devices during his education.
[ ♚ ] R E L A T I O N S
(I still need to fill this out with non family members and all that. Jinkies.)
King Andor III Minhyr: The current King of Minhyriath, only child of the old king Bjorn and Vorik's father who inherited the throne of Spiderstone from his father in the year 547 AR at the age of 15. Andor is well liked by his people and considered one of the wisest of the Minhyr Kings. During Andor's reign, the Zkreli of Minhyriath have had a remarkable amount of successes in their inherent war against the Orcs, even pushing into the Badlands for the first time in generations.
One of the scant negative points against Andor's reputation is, oddly enough, his marriage to Queen Ylva. Betrothed to a noblewoman from Lothloryen at a young age, Bjorn's sudden death and Andor's subsequent marriage to a common poacher caused political relations with the only other Zkreli Kingdom on Gaealia to deteriorate for some time.
Queen Ylva (530 AR - 551 AR): Born in the area surrounding Spiderstone, Ylva was a rather small Zkreli woman who fed herself on the game of the Kingswood until, one day, she happened upon the hunting party of King Bjorn and then Prince Andor themselves. While the punishment for poaching was typically conscription into the offended Lord's army, Ylva challenged Bjorn to a contest of archery and won her own freedom and was offered a position in Spiderstone as a hunter. Smitten, Andor would spend the next several months kindling a relationship with her, and upon his father fell victim to pneumonia at the age of 47, the two were married only weeks prior to his coronation.
A small woman at only 5'7", pregnancy was not easy on Ylva, and although they had vowed not to have more children after giving birth to Andor's first son and heir Erik, a few years later, Ylva began showing signs of pregnancy once more. Bedridden for almost two months, Vorik's labor would last almost an entire day, and sadly, his mother would not live long after the delivery.
Andor and Erik were emotionally devastated at her passing, and the former speaks of her sly smile, fierce determination and quick wit whenever she happens to be brought up in conversation, which has become more and more fleeting.
Prince Erik Arvid Minhyr (548 AR - 566 AR): Vorik's now deceased brother was everything his younger sibling was not. Reserved, responsible, and small. Where Vorik was undoubtedly born for the battlefield, Erik seemed more comfortable in the family library than in the reigns of a warhorse. When he was young, Erik once made a request to have a Wizard brought to Minhyriath as to teach him magic, though he was rejected. There is no doubt that the Minhyr brothers held much love for each other despite their near polar opposite personalities. Vorik still holds himself personally responsible for his brother's death, though he refuses to talk to anyone about the experience.
King Andor III Minhyr: The current King of Minhyriath, only child of the old king Bjorn and Vorik's father who inherited the throne of Spiderstone from his father in the year 547 AR at the age of 15. Andor is well liked by his people and considered one of the wisest of the Minhyr Kings. During Andor's reign, the Zkreli of Minhyriath have had a remarkable amount of successes in their inherent war against the Orcs, even pushing into the Badlands for the first time in generations.
One of the scant negative points against Andor's reputation is, oddly enough, his marriage to Queen Ylva. Betrothed to a noblewoman from Lothloryen at a young age, Bjorn's sudden death and Andor's subsequent marriage to a common poacher caused political relations with the only other Zkreli Kingdom on Gaealia to deteriorate for some time.
Queen Ylva (530 AR - 551 AR): Born in the area surrounding Spiderstone, Ylva was a rather small Zkreli woman who fed herself on the game of the Kingswood until, one day, she happened upon the hunting party of King Bjorn and then Prince Andor themselves. While the punishment for poaching was typically conscription into the offended Lord's army, Ylva challenged Bjorn to a contest of archery and won her own freedom and was offered a position in Spiderstone as a hunter. Smitten, Andor would spend the next several months kindling a relationship with her, and upon his father fell victim to pneumonia at the age of 47, the two were married only weeks prior to his coronation.
A small woman at only 5'7", pregnancy was not easy on Ylva, and although they had vowed not to have more children after giving birth to Andor's first son and heir Erik, a few years later, Ylva began showing signs of pregnancy once more. Bedridden for almost two months, Vorik's labor would last almost an entire day, and sadly, his mother would not live long after the delivery.
Andor and Erik were emotionally devastated at her passing, and the former speaks of her sly smile, fierce determination and quick wit whenever she happens to be brought up in conversation, which has become more and more fleeting.
Prince Erik Arvid Minhyr (548 AR - 566 AR): Vorik's now deceased brother was everything his younger sibling was not. Reserved, responsible, and small. Where Vorik was undoubtedly born for the battlefield, Erik seemed more comfortable in the family library than in the reigns of a warhorse. When he was young, Erik once made a request to have a Wizard brought to Minhyriath as to teach him magic, though he was rejected. There is no doubt that the Minhyr brothers held much love for each other despite their near polar opposite personalities. Vorik still holds himself personally responsible for his brother's death, though he refuses to talk to anyone about the experience.
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