[center][b][u]FIFTH ECHELON, 2ND LEGION, 5TH COMPANY, 9TH SQUAD[/u][/b][/center] [b]Sergeant Fyn Hunter, MARINE, Origin: Island of Talran, The Jadelyn Empire[/b] [hider=Fyn Hunter][B]Name:[/B] Fyn Hunter [B]Age:[/B] 58 (Looks 30 due to High Iskar treatment) [B]Sex:[/B] Male [B]Height:[/B] 6’3 [B]Squad Role:[/B] Marine [B]Appearance:[/B] General Appearance [img] http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2014/169/7/1/maric_by_nathanparkart-d7muxrr.jpg [/img] Armor [img] http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/170/5/3/leather_armor___dark___by_lagueuse-d69puc5.jpg[/img] Sword 1 [img] http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs41/f/2009/046/6/8/Longsword_by_sstheblacksmith.jpg[/img] Sword 2[img] http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/197/8/5/15th_century_english_longsword_by_grayeyedgringo-d3x164g.jpg[/img] [B]Origin:[/B] Island of Talran, The Jadelyn Empire. [B]Background:[/B] The Jadelyn Empire is a fairly new sovereignty, seeing as just 40 years before it was a collection of other kingdoms and nations. The Emperor Kinad, a native of Talran, with a set of loyal and skillful generals, admirals, and allies, as well as his right hand woman Valeria, set up an invasion into the mainland, creating what we now know as The Jadelyn Empire. He was the first person to come up with the Marine squad of sappers, marines, heavies, and squad mages that has become a popular novelty of the countries bordering the Empire. The only army that will come even close to mirroring the effectiveness of his marines would later be The Black Company. Hunter was born on the swashbuckling island of Talran, home to many pirates, mercenaries, and other individuals of questionable worth. His father worked as a fisher while his mom held an apothecary shop in the city. After an uneventful young teenage life, Hunter yearned to make something of himself – to see more of the world. That is when the future Emperor, Kinad, with his Admiral and Generals began to gather the famous 1st Jadelyn Army. Hunter quickly enlisted, to the dismay of his parents, and set out with them on the invasion of the mainland. Hunter served through the Tollusian campaign, fighting countless battles and finally claiming most of the mainland for The Jadelyn Empire. He soon became an expert of warfare, and became a strong advocate of the marine system. Reaching the rank of Captain quickly, and even becoming a stolid friend of the Emperor and his staff, Hunter continued onto the invasion force that will begin invading Gallaia and Koniria. This is when the Bloody Coup took place back at the Jadelyn Empire, when Valeria decided to usurp Kinad using her countless connections of assassins. After having disposed of the Emperor, Valeria wanted to make sure that any officers or politicians that were close to the Emperor, nicked the “Old Guard,” would disappear as well. New generals were placed in the 1st Jadelyn Army, which was at that time in Koniria. During one engagement, Hunter and his company were sent into the fray with promise of reinforcements. Landing on a coastal city port, Hunter and his company disembarked the ships and charged into the Konirian 3rd Host, obviously outnumbered. They stood their ground for as long as they could, and Hunter will never forget the lives that were lost that day. Some of his closest friends, some of the veterans he served all his life with died a meaningless death. Promised reinforcements never came. As Hunter called the retreat order, the company began to fall back to the ships. This is when, by order of Empress Valeria, the ships left the port before any of the soldiers can make it back. What happened next was a massacre. The Konirian were ruthless, as they should be defending their homeland. They wanted every one of the Jadenese soldiers dead. Hunter was one of the few officers who were not killed, but instead wounded and captured. After being held in prison for several months, with the Jadelyn armies and fleets, battered and torn by the paranoid tendencies of Empress Valeria, embarking back to the Jadelyn Empire, Hunter was given a deal for his freedom. Teach the Konirian generals and armies this deadly style of war that the Jadelyn Empire wages, with the use of sappers and marines. After spending a year in Koniria instructing the generals, Hunter left on friendly terms. Hunter then began traveling the world, taking small mercenary work where he can and trying to stay away from organized armies in the fear of what happened before. He is very unwilling to take any position of leadership, even with his superb set of skills for that, due to memories of comrades and soldiers that died serving under him. There then came a time when fellow soldiers in a small mercenary unit tried to kill him on the outskirts of Tysea. With the blade aimed at him missing by merely an inch, Hunter quickly slayed the attacker, before turning to find three more quickly charging at him. Throwing down a smoker he saved for emergency occasions such as this, the Talranian took down the soldiers. He then found a contract, signed by the Empress Valeria, which promised property and coin for Hunter’s head. Hunter cut off one of the assassin’s heads, beat it against rock to an unrecognizable shape, and then sent it to The Jadelyn Empire, with his old Jadelyn 1st army sigil, which he kept to that day, as fake proof of his death. The Talranian veteran now finds himself at The Alabaster City, finally safe from the Empress’s assassins, and signs up for the Fifth Echelon in hope of coin, and the chance to exact revenge upon the Empress. [B]Skills:[/B] - Remarkable swordsmanship skills that have been honed by decades of battle. A brutal, vicious, style that focuses on staying alive and decapitating the opponent. - Exceptional good shot with the crossbow, having practiced and used it in the Jadelyn Empire for so many years. - Leadership and knowledge of the strength, weaknesses, and techniques that can be employed by the diverse Marine squads. - Knowledge of the world, both the geographical and cultural aspects of it, as well as knowing the functions and lore of all the warrens and gods. [B]Reason for joining the Fifth Echelon:[/B] Coin and revenge. [B]Other information:[/B] [I]The signature below, hereby, signs up Fyn Hunter under the service of the Fifth Echelon Mercenary Host, for a period of three months. Fyn Hunter is allowed to freely leave before the three months, after being paid for the amount he or she served, only after the first major engagement. 4 Silver coins a week of service. Bonus coinage or rewards may be given depending on quality of service or performance during engagements. Signature: FYN HUNTER[/I] [/hider] [b]Merek Harclay, MARINE, Origin: Mountmend, Essatar[/b] [hider=Merek Harclay]Name: 'Ser' Merek Harclay Age: 45 Sex: Male Height: 5 foot 8 Squad Role: Marine Appearance: [url=http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/109/0/0/ser_hazell_by_jedi_art_trick-d628j4i.jpg]Merek[/url] Origin: Mountmend, Essatar Background: Merek was born to a peasant farmer working on land rented from a noble who reaped just about all the wheat and whatnot that his father grew, leaving his father very little to maintain his tools after purchasing food and other essentials needed to live. As a result, Merek grew up with an innate hatred of members of the nobility because of the way the noble treated him and his family. The farm his family worked on was situated next to the small village of Mountmend known for the stone mine that it got its name from. Merek was often sent to the village to buy supplies and to sell the produce that the farm produced. This was where he met the man that would mentor him in the art of the blade. He bumped into the man when he was heading out to buy some food, he was a short old man. His hair was black with greying streaks at the sides and his gaze was as astonishing as a Medusa's. He met the man three more times after that. Twice when Merek was selling produce at a stall and once on the occasion that would see him made into a swordsman's apprentice. Merek was working the stall at the time. He heard shouting and commotion coming from the nearby mine and went to go check it out. It turned out that a part of the mine had collapsed and a few men were trapped in. Merek tried to help as much as he could, but in truth, nothing could stop what was going to happen next. The structure keeping the part of the mine behind them up weakened and eventually snapped, killing two and leaving 3 including Merek, the swordsman and a miner. The miner had a plan to dig their way out by working in shifts with the miner doing the longest shift. The only problem was that it was pitch black and accidents could be prone to happen if they were not careful. They also had no way to gauge the amount of time they had spent doing anything and so shifts were generally done until they were too tired to work and had to switch out. During his time in the mine, Merek and the swordsman talked often and eventually the topic of an apprenticeship came up. Merek disagreed at first, but the more he talked about it the more he was convinced it was a better option than continuing to be an impoverished farmer all his life. After he got out of the mine, he was eager to break the news to his father, but under the advice of his new mentor he decided to wait a few days before telling him. His father reacted rather badly to the news that his son wanted to go off with a strange man to learn how to kill people. Under much persuasion and a little bit of bribery from Merek's soon to be mentor Merek was soon ready to set out on his pilgrimage. They started by travelling to Suratar and buying Merek a shortsword there to train with. They then made their way down to Dissor while training all the time they travelled. They encountered very few enemies on the road much to Merek's disappointment. They stopped at Dissor where real action was found. They had entered a pub and had met a rather unsightly group of men fresh from a war they had pretty much avoided altogether by being placed in the rearguard of most fights. They began to act rather rambunctious which lead to Marik's mentor getting rather annoyed which ultimately led to a bar fight. This was Merek's first taste of real combat and to his delight, he actually got to stab someone. His mentor was quite hasty to get out of Dissor after the fight though and they soon arrived in Zend. Most of Merek's training took place there in his mentors home. They trained and occasionally took contracts up until Marik was in his 20s. He was then ready to go out into the world and make something of himself. At first he didn't really know what to do. He considered mercenary work, but ultimately decided on military work. He was placed in the vanguard of most battles and experienced combat first hand. He saw his comrades die around him and was lucky to survive a lot of situations he was put in. At the end of his military career he was paid fairly and was to be welcomed back if he ever wanted back in. By this point he was in his mid 30s and was very well trained with his sword. But he yearned to rest for a while and so he returned to his old village of Mountmend. When he arrived there he did not expect what he saw in the least. The village had been ravaged by invading barbarians of which the noble was too preoccupied to send men to fight. Merek had to get revenge in any way possible. He recruited what little men where left after the attack and launched an attack on the barbarian hoard. After successfully killing and driving out the small barbarian tribe, Merek's next target was the noble that taxed the village so dearly. When he arrived at the nobles estate he was caught off guard when the noble decided to reward him rather than fight him. As it turns out, the noble was too preoccupied with helping fight the war that Merek had just left to help the village. He was massively grateful for Merek's work and in return for it gave him a medium amount of gold and had him knighted as a Ser. Merek wasn't really sure how to react to this, he had never thought of himself as a noble and practically hated the lot, but then again, the title did come with a degree of respect that couldn't be gained from a name otherwise. He decided to accept the title and begin another pilgrimage. He done mercenary work for a while and has just recently arrived in Alabaster City. Skills: Merek has honed his longsword skills over the many years that he has fought. He is also very versatile when it comes to using a shield or not. He generally prefers to keep a round shield on his back for protection against archers and attacks from behind, but will sometimes use the shield itself if he is up against a particularly big enemy or against a barrage of arrows. He is also proficient with a longbow and carries one with him. Reason for joining the Fifth Echelon: An eagerness to get back into battle. Other information:[/hider] [B]Tal Etai, MAGE, Origin: Iman, The Jadelyn Empire.[/B] [hider=Tal Etai][B]Name:[/B] Tal Etai [B]Age:[/B] 19 [B]Sex:[/B] Male [B]Height:[/B] [B]Squad Role:[/B] Mage [B]Appearance:[/B] A swarthy boy of short but wiry stature, with hooded, hard eyes and thinly compressed lips. Some write him off as a runt, others see the cold gaze and recognize a gritty one. [B]Origin:[/B] Iman, Jadelyn Empire [B]Background:[/B] [indent]The bastard born of a low class prostitute on the streets of Iman, Tal was done little favor by his father, whomever he was, in being left to fend for himself on the streets by a disinterested mother that clouded her latent abilities for certain sorts of magics, never developed, with narcotics that also helped her not particularly care about her circumstances...or care for her son, for that matter. Tal was of sterner stuff built; he fell in with other children that stole things for others as a means of putting food in their mouth, though as he grew older and was recognized by a magic user that went by the street name of Whistle for his potential, he was put under the Whistle's wing...but used for much the same purposes. Tal was not content with Whistle's crumbs, nor willing to simply stay when it became apparent that Whistle knew little magic and would never be a decent tutor. Tal's mother finally took too much of her beloved drugs and died, freeing the boy from the tenuous ties of the streets. He left, looking for a tutor...and when it became apparent that he'd need money to secure one and the materials to increase his knowledge, he signed himself into a mercenary unit.[/indent] [B]Skills:[/B] [indent]Tal is a competent magic user that specializes in the use of effects from Meanas – he can make shadows dance and bend to lengthen shadows, but little more at the moment. As befits a former street thief, he has a good eye for weakness and marks. He is fairly decent with a knife – he knows where to stick it and he's not shy about twisting it in someone that thought they'd found a weakling.[/indent] [B]Reason for joining the Fifth Echelon:[/B] [indent]Need of funding to continue magical education and development of abilities.[/indent] [B]Other information:[/B] [indent]TBD[/indent] [indent][I]The signature below, hereby, signs up TAL ETAI under the service of the Fifth Echelon Mercenary Host, for a period of three months. TAL ETAI is allowed to freely leave before the three months, after being paid for the amount he or she served, only after the first major engagement. 4 Silver coins a week of service. Bonus coinage or rewards may be given depending on quality of service or performance during engagements. Signature: TAL ETAI[/I][/indent] [/hider] [b]Acele Gvene, HEALER, Origin: Dandia.[/b] [hider=Acele Gvene]Name: Acele Gvene Age: 22 Sex: Female Height: 5'5 Squad Role:Healer Appearance: Acele's golden blonde hair has been cut to shoulder length so she can keep it manageable, There is a sparkle of hope and friendliness in her blue green eyes, a sign she hasn't been hardened in battle, her skin is pale and smooth, And she wears Dark blue and gold robes with an ankle cut on them, Her cloak brushes the floor and the hood on her cloak keeps her face hidden. Origin: Dandian Background: Acele was born in small village called Tyree in Dandia only about 50 miles south of the Hylosian border. Her mother predicted the weather, her father was a hunter, and from that they had a happy family, they were always well fed and taken care of and most of all happy with what they were doing. As Acele grew older her mother started teaching her how to read and write, and her father taught her how to skin the animals he brought home, and how to shoot a bow. At about 13 years old Acele's father brought her out on a hunt and they found a bear caught in a illegal trap. (Dandia has some strict hunting laws, barring the use of claw traps.) Her father told her to stay back but she didn't listen, she could feel it's fear, and pain it's longing to get out of the trap, so she approached it and spoke to it in a soothing calming tone like a mother would speak to her child to calm it down, and amazingly it calmed enough for her to open the trap. Her father watched in awe, there was still one big problem though, the bear couldn't move it was too hurt by the trap to keep going. But it was at that moment another miracle happened, Acele put her hands on the bears wound and it healed enough for the bear to move again and flee back into the woods leaving an awestruck father and his daughter sitting there in the woods, when he shook the moment of awe Acele's father grabbed his daughter by the hand and rushed out of the woods back home. Once they arrived home he had his daughter explain to him and her mother about what happened, so she repeated to her mother what she did in the woods, her mother didn't seem upset or shocked about this at all she simply said "We need to send her to a teacher." Her father gave her mother a look and asked to talk to her in another room, so Acele was left sitting alone feeling like she was in trouble while she could faintly hear her parents arguing over what to do next, when they returned her mother was holding her cheek and her father was still steaming, Acele's father told her never to mention her abilities to anyone. And she listened and from then on things went back to normal in her life. About three years later shortly after Acele's 16th birthday Dandia and Hylos entered into border skirmishes, and where fighting over land, not wanting to get their daughter mixed up in the battle, her father finally agreed to send her to a teacher to learn how to be a better healer, so they sent her away to Blackrock in the Jadelyn Empire, there in that city was a school for people like her to hone her gift. The journey was long and it took several weeks to get there, when she arrived though she didn't even have time to rest before they threw her into her studies. She studied hard and learned everything she could on her third year there she received a message from her mother, the message spoke about how their village was destroyed and her father died in defense of it. Acele was heart broken but she didn't get the chance to grieve for her father as she was thrown back into her studies, on her fourth year the fighting between Dandia and Hylos ended, but she was told to keep studying and not to go home. There she studied for two more years, they told her she learned everything she could and that there was position open for a healer to a rich trader in The Alabaster city in Tysus, so she left the school on yet another journey. She traveled from Blackrock to The Alabaster city, it took a long time to get there and when she got there the position had been filled, so she had no job and barely any money left, so she went from inn to inn, in the city to gather information for anyone or any group looking for a healer, a man mentioned joining a mercenary outfit he also mentioned that there was one already recruiting down at the docks. So Acele made her way to the docks and found The Fifth recruiting station and signed up. Skills: Acele has skills in archery, a bow being her main weapon, she has a knack for healing but hasn't had a use for it yet, and has a empathetic link with animals Reason for joining the Fifth Echelon: She needs a job, and Money, but she also looks forward to the adventure. Other information:N/a [i]The signature below, hereby, signs up [b]Acele Gvene[/b] under the service of the Fifth Echelon Mercenary Host, for a period of three months. [b]Acele Gvene[/b] is allowed to freely leave before the three months, after being paid for the amount he or she served, only after the first major engagement. 4 Silver coins a week of service. Bonus coinage or rewards may be given depending on quality of service or performance during engagements. Signature:[/i] [b]Acele Gvene[/b] [/hider] [b]Cynric, MAGE, Origin: Dylad.[/b] [hider=Cynric] Name: Cynric (Sin-Erick) Age: 27 Sex: Male Height: 5’ 6” Squad Role: Mage [img]http://th07.deviantart.net/fs21/PRE/f/2007/233/2/8/Land_of_the_Blind_by_OmeN2501.jpg[/img] Origin: Dylad Background: Cynric had always been an inquisitive child, his father had always wanted him to grow up and become a great mage like his father had been. When Cynric showed promise in his classes his father pulled him out of school and home schooled him. Cynric was a fast learner and it wasn’t long before his father could not teach him anymore. As a result Cynric's father had to ask for outside tutors. Growing up this was all he knew. Learning was crammed in his face for his entire young life, knowing nothing but magic. Cynric soon became interested in life beyond books and tutors. Cynric looked out of the window one bright day and watched all the people outside enjoying the day. yet here he was stuck inside listening to the history of magic. The tutors voice grinded on his ears each syllable the tutor uttered was like the lyrics to a lullaby. His eye now shut his head slipped of his hand shocking him awake. Getting up out of his chair he flipped the table over looked at his tutor in the eye then blasted a hole in the wall. Leaving the tutors house he walked home. Without a single word he packed his things and left his home town, without even a goodbye to his parents. Cynric has now made a name for himself as a skilled mage and bounty hunter. Skills:[list] [*]Cynric is a lightning mage with his main warren being that of Aurelius. He can manipulate electrons in the air as well as his own bio electricity to create bolts of lightning, magnetic fields and beams of Ionized electricity. (To be expanded upon if needed) [*] Skilled Hand to hand combatant [*] Somewhat average weapon skill [/list] Reason for joining the Fifth Echelon: There’s only so much bounty hunting and mercenary work that Cynric can do, to sate his thirst for adventure and danger. Cynric see’s Fifth Echelon as the ultimate adventure and wants to test the limits of his magical prowess. Other information: (To be expanded upon if needed) The signature below, hereby, signs up Cynric under the service of the Fifth Echelon Mercenary Host, for a period of three months. Cynric is allowed to freely leave before the three months, after being paid for the amount he or she served, only after the first major engagement. 4 Silver coins a week of service. Bonus coinage or rewards may be given depending on quality of service or performance during engagements. Signature: Cynric [/hider] [b]Zyre Le Maitre, MARINE, Origin: Baellaria[/b] [hider=Zyre Le Maitre]Zyre Le Maitre [img]http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/bf/69/b4/bf69b43356d4ddc5050c6651f60013e4.jpg[/img] Age: 25 Sex: Male Height: 5'10 Squad Role: Marine Appearance: Zyre's most noticeable feature is a scar on his left cheek. He has striking green eyes and his brown hair is cut into a tight buzz cut, the buzz cut is accompanied by a light beard which he keeps trimmed and managed. His skin is of an olive tone and he covers all of it except for his face and head with clothing. He tends to keep the hood on his armor raised, the exceptions to this is when he is around close friends or in formal situations such as speaking to somebody of high regard. He keeps on him [url=http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/129/2/f/Twin_Short_Swords_by_Odinblades.jpg]two identical shortswords[/url], a [url=http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110128234729/dresdenfiles/images/7/79/Fluted_Dagger_01.jpg]dagger[/url] and a [url=http://images.send.com/22-901L.gif]crossbow[/url] with bolts. Origin: Baellarian Background: Zyre was born in the island city of Baellar off the coast of the Great Chthonad Wastes. His father was a guard who routinely protected caravans and ships which traveled around the area. As such his father was not around that often, most of the time away from home making money for the family. Due to this, Zyre was cared for by his mother who worked as nurse in a hospital in the city. His family itself did not live in the city, they lived outside of it, on the outskirts where it was much more affordable. His childhood was simple for awhile, he went to school, learned how to write, read and all the basic things a child is taught. He worked for a neighbor who was a cobbler when he was a teenager, up until the age of fourteen he spent much of his time working with the man, even getting paid a little for his assistance. His life was turned upside down when his mother was murdered while Zyre was away from home and his father was out on work. The man who committed the crimes was a former friend of his father who believed he was betrayed by Zyre's father in an issue involving payment over a guard job. Enraged and disturbed by his mother's death, Zyre swore revenge and within a week he tracked the man down and drove a knife into the back the murderer's neck. This sent him down the path which would lead him to become what he is today, an assassin and mercenary. His father returned home soon afterwards to grieve and care for his son. Zyre admitted to his father that he had taken revenge on the man, recounting the sight of seeing the life fade as the blade went through flesh and bone, along with how it just felt right extinguishing the life of a vile man who wronged him and his family. Zyre's father at first responded with surprise, then realized that his son was not a child anymore, so he immediately began training him in the art of combat. Soon though his father had to return to work and did just that, taking up a job escorting a boat across the Sea of Inara. Several days later, Zyre received a letter detailing how the boat his father was on had gone missing, likely sunk by pirates. The fifteen year old Zyre was saddened but he did not cry, instead remembering his father as a hard working man who taught Zyre everything he knew about combat. So he left home, selling his childhood home for whatever money he could get, then bought a sword and left Baellar, crossing over to the Great Chthonad Wastes, where at the age of sixteen he joined a mercenary group, faking his age. He was successful with the mercenary group, eventually being taught how to wield a shortened blade in each hand in combat effectively. He served a nitch as the mercenary band's assassin, he was the one who scouted ahead into enemy camps, slicing throats and shooting arrows into the enemies before they even knew he was there. After four years with the mercenaries, he left, taking a high paying offer to take out a political opponent of a man his mercenary group had worked with. He took the target out flawlessly, putting a bolt right through the man's heart. After that he began to get more and more offers, carefully choosing whatever ones he could make the most out of. He has spent the time since that first assassination moving from place to place, wherever the contracts take him. He became quite wealthy from the job while establishing a reputation as a very skilled assassin. The rumors of a wanted assassin only known as "Z", making their ways into the ears and mouths of people who were interested in his services. He found himself in The Alabaster City, then he heard the rumors of a mercenary group looking for any skilled persons to join them on a journey. This peaked his interest, so he strolled down to the docks and signed a contract, joining up with the band. He remained vague on any details that might identify him as wanted assassin, even though he doubted any of his new merc allies would try to turn him into the authorities, he'd be much more useful as one of them, watching their backs, his blades pointed at whatever enemies they would encounter. Skills: Zyre is very skilled in wielding two short swords in combat. His form with the blades relies on speed and reflexes over strength and brutality. He uses his quickness to his advantage, aiming the blades for vital areas on the opponent as well as weaknesses in their armor. He is also solid with a crossbow but prefers using his blades, seeing it as a more personal approach. He tends to stick to the shadows, or blends in with the crowds, though he can be very effective in direct combat. Reason for joining the Fifth Echelon: The promise of fame along with money, as well as adventure. Other information: N/A [i]The signature below, hereby, signs up Zyre Le Maitre under the service of the Fifth Echelon Mercenary Host, for a period of three months. Zyre Le Maitre is allowed to freely leave before the three months, after being paid for the amount he or she served, only after the first major engagement. 4 Silver coins a week of service. Bonus coinage or rewards may be given depending on quality of service or performance during engagements. Signature: Zyre Le Maitre[/i] [/hider] [B]Iver Magsin, MARINE, Origin: Suixo, The Jadelyn Empire [/b] [hider=Iver Magsin] [b]Name:[/b] Iver Magsin [b]Age:[/b] 20 [b]Sex:[/b] Male [b]Height:[/b] 5’9” [b]Squad Role:[/b] Marine [b]Appearance:[/b] Iver has a medium, muscular frame with long arms and legs. He has rough, squared features with a small beard over his chin and cheeks. His wavy hair is a light, sandy brown color and is kept at a medium length barely reaching the middle of his ears. His eyes are a slate grey color. [URL=http://s243.photobucket.com/user/nacron/media/Iver_zps367e1a6e.jpg.html][IMG]http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff9/nacron/Iver_zps367e1a6e.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [b]Origin:[/b] Suixo, The Jadelyn Empire [b]Background:[/b] Iver was born to simple parents; his father was a tailor and his mother was a simple housewife who helped run the shop his father founded. He grew up in a relatively normal household until the age of ten when his father was drafted into the military and killed on the frontlines as another nameless footsoldier. After this turn of events, Iver’s mother attempted to run the shop herself with little success. Iver tried to help her out as best he could by being a courier, but he was paid very little for his work. Iver continued his work until the age of fifteen. He had saved a small bit of his pay ever so often throughout his work until he saved up enough to buy a sword for himself. After he bought the sword, Iver enlisted in the city guard. With his new job, he was able to provide better for his mother and have a sense of purpose. With his new job came more money and with more money, Iver was able to hire tutors to teach him the subtle arts of politics and map reading. He caught on and learned quickly, rapidly becoming a well spoken young man with a desire to travel, but he was held back by his mother needing his aid. Iver was freed of his burden, however, at the age of nineteen when his mother died of disease. After mourning her, he took what he had and set out on his travels, which proved to be more expensive than he first thought. After his money ran out, Iver was effectively stranded at The Alabaster City when the Fifth Echelon came to town and began recruiting. [b]Skills:[/b] Iver is most skilled in fighting with his longsword, which has a handle longer than normal to give him more reach and flexibility in battle. He is also adept in throwing knives, which he has five of strapped to his side. Iver’s non-combat oriented skills consist of tracking people and animals as well as diplomacy and map reading if the situation should ever arise. [b]Reason for joining the Fifth Echelon:[/b] Money and the prospect of adventure. [b]Other information:[/b] The signature below, hereby, signs up [b]Iver Magsin[/b] under the service of the Fifth Echelon Mercenary Host, for a period of three months. [b]Iver Magsin[/b] is allowed to freely leave before the three months, after being paid for the amount he or she served, only after the first major engagement. 4 Silver coins a week of service. Bonus coinage or rewards may be given depending on quality of service or performance during engagements. Signature: [i]Iver Magsin[/i] [/hider] [b]Ana Valerius, SAPPER, Origin: The Jadelyn Empire[/b] [hider=Ana Valerius][b]Name:[/b] Ana Valerius [b]Age:[/b] Thirty-Four (34) [b]Sex:[/b] Female [b]Height:[/b] Five-Feet-Nine-Inches (5'9) [b]Squad Role:[/b] Sapper [b]Appearance:[/b] [img=http://33.media.tumblr.com/5d9251ace99da82e2e36bf4e51c162ed/tumblr_n4k669vUNR1rfyiu4o1_1280.jpg] [img=http://th09.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2011/187/3/d/sketch___hunter_by_sugarsweet_chocolate-d3l74l1.jpg] [b]Origin:[/b] The Jadelyn Empire [b]Background:[/b] The daughter of a pair of merchants, Ana traveled a lot as a child, and even as a young adult. Over her years, she has seen much of the Jadelyn Empire, Dylad, Lacomyn, and Tysus. Many sights were seen and cities visited, but nothing excited the young girl as much as seeing the soldiers march along the streets, protecting the weak and innocent from all sorts of dangers. Her parents warned her that this wasn't what soldiers actually did, but she refused to believe them. What else were soldiers supposed to be, if not these great protectors and mighty warriors? At the age of fifteen, Ana left her parents, taking a good portion of supplies, and headed out to join the armies of Jadetyr. They refused her, on account of her age, and sent her away. Not willing to be refused, she applied in several different cities, using up her supplies. Finally, she arrived in Tysus, and settled in one of the smaller cities. Her application was sent in, and denied once more. On the verge of giving up and without supplies, Ana settled into one of the lower class inns and mulled over her application, the denial stamp across it. An elderly man approached, looked it over once, and commented that even if she were of age, she wouldn't have been accepted anyways. Rather than take the insult sitting, she stood and through a punch at him. The way he dodged and slammed her into the table seemed like child's play. When things cleared up and introductions were made, he invited her to join his small mercenary band. Ana was stuck with a job that none of the men in the group wanted to deal with - explosives expert. Well, she was the apprentice to the explosives expert. A grouchy man of only forty who despised being stuck with an apprentice. He never warmed up to her, even though she was the epitome of a perfect student. Perhaps that was why he disliked her. She provided no challenge to his authority, even though she would often question the ethics and morals of the other mercenaries, and even the soldiers who they signed up with. Over the next ten years, she became an adept in the the arts of using explosives, and when her mentor finally managed to blow himself up, she was given the job of being the expert. At thirty, she broke off from the mercenary group, leaving behind only a moderately skilled apprentice and the journal of her old instructor, filled with details of handling and instructions from his own experiences. She freelanced for a while, but considering that the explosives she'd acquired (read: stolen) from her old group were in a finite supply, she knew that she'd need to take an a job with a larger army. With a cart filled with what was left of her explosives, she made her way back to Tysus after a long time gone, and went to Alabaster City to apply for the army once more. Now she knew better than to think of soldiers as the white knights of legend, but as the gritty old bastards they really were, and considered herself to be one of them. When she arrived, she went to the booth that the Fifth Echelon had set up to take on mercenaries, she filled out the contract quicker than most others Thus, her life with the Echelon began. [u][b]Skills:[/b][/u] -An adept in the knowledge of handling and using explosives. -A fairly good shot with a crossbow, though the change from firing explosives and bolts does leave room for error. -Competent use of a dagger. -Decent with a shortsword. [b]Reason for joining the Fifth Echelon:[/b] Because being a freelancer costs more than she makes, with the prices of explosives so high and the amount she'd need to charge customers so that she could survive and break even in price for the explosives is high enough so that her employers might as well hire three or four other mercenaries. So, it'd be better to join up with a large group that would keep her supplied until she decided it's time to leave. [b]Other information:[/b] Ana has a moderate supply of burners, crackers, and sharpers, but has a lack of smokers and only a single cusser, which she has adamantly refused to use up to this point, and will probably continue to hoard it until her life depends on it. In fact, she seems loathe to use any of her explosives, but isn't foolish enough to hoard them. Well, not all of them. She also enjoys smoking tobacco from a pipe, so long as she's nowhere near her explosives. [i]The signature below, hereby, signs up Ana Valerian under the service of the Fifth Echelon Mercenary Host, for a period of three months. Ana Valerian is allowed to freely leave before the three months, after being paid for the amount he or she served, only after the first major engagement. 4 Silver coins a week of service. Bonus coinage or rewards may be given depending on quality of service or performance during engagements. Signature: Ana Valerian[/i] [/hider] [b]Jayda Wolf, MARINE, Origin: Wastes of Algulalk[/b] [hider=Jayda Wolf]And here's one for the latter :) finally finished up that Marine. EDIT: ninja'd :( [B]Name:[/B] Jayda Wolf (Also known as Black-Wolf Jayda) [B]Age:[/B] 26 [B]Sex:[/B] Female [B]Height:[/B] 6'03" [B]Squad Role:[/B] Marine [B]Appearance:[/B] [img]http://safebooru.org/images/234/17586fd3581bc4851e28a22fe449ba329104ca40.jpg[/img] [B]Origin:[/B] Wastes of Algulalk, in a small unmapped mining village called Aelren. [B]Background:[/B] Born in the arid, bandit-ridden wasteland known as the Wastes of Algulalk, Jayda had to make a decision all Algulalkians had to make early in life, especially the ones in tiny villages like Aelren. Learn to fight, or learn to do some major-league ass-kissing when bandits came to raid your home. Jayda, for one, opted for the former. Her parents were blacksmiths, so there was seldom a shortage of weapons to train with. In particular, Jayda took after swords and bladed gauntlets. And so she trained. And trained. At the ripe age of sixteen, Jayda joined in with Aelren's local militia. The locals deemed her phenomenal. She had a natural instinct for combat, and after the first couple of bandit raids, evolved into a cunning commander. However, just as with food or weapons, all good things go bad someday. Jayda went really freakin' bad. She began to see her fellow militiamen as incompetent; unfit for combat. She left Aelren for good, taking a sword and a right-handed bladed gauntlet from home as she did so. Jayda became a lone bandit, whose viciousness and cunning began to give her followers. By age twenty, the Black Wolf Bandits were the talk of Algulalk. But theirs was a short reign of terror. When Jayda (infamously known in the Wastes as "Black-Wolf Jayda") and her "pack" began taking their raids out of the Wastes of Algulalk, they were marching into territory that was neither sparsely populated nor ill-prepared for bandit raids. While Jayda did become proficient enough to raid effectively in Suratar and neighboring regions, more and more of her men were either quitting or dying. By the time Jayda and her Black Wolf Bandits got as far south as the Zhathazari Desert, the rumors and their reputation were petering out. About a month ago, the Black Wolf bandits began making attacks on the City of Brass. The first two went relatively well...which by that point, only meant nobody in the pack had died. On the third attempt, every last Black Wolf Bandit was either killed or captured, Jayda among the latter, effectively ending her reign of terror for good. Jayda's captors decided it would be a waste to put a talented warrior like her to waste if they could help it, so she was given three options. Become a guard, become a mercenary, or become a corpse. Many cityfolk were outraged at the notion of Black-Wolf Jayda becoming a guard, so they demanded she pick from the other two options instead. Jayda opted for the mercenary option, as opposed to hanging by the neck until she died. She was escorted to The Alabaster City, where she now must either sign with mercenaries or be sentenced to death. The pay may not be like what she made as a bandit leader, but she's still alive. Whether others like it or not. [B]Skills:[/B] Jayda is well-versed with both swords and bladed gauntlets. [B]Reason for joining the Fifth Echelon:[/B] The alternative was being hung. [B]Other information:[/B] [I]The signature below, hereby, signs up [u]Jayda Wolf[/u] under the service of the Fifth Echelon Mercenary Host, for a period of three months. [u]Jayda Wolf[/u] is allowed to freely leave before the three months, after being paid for the amount he or she served, only after the first major engagement. 4 Silver coins a week of service. Bonus coinage or rewards may be given depending on quality of service or performance during engagements. Signature: [u][b]Jayda Wolf[/I][/b][/u][/hider] [B]Seán Uidhir, HEAVY, Origin: The Jadelyn Empire[/B] [hider=Seán Uidhir][b]Name:[/b] Seán Uidhir [b]Age:[/b] 28 [b]Sex:[/b] Male [b]Height:[/b] 6'9" [b]Squad Role:[/b] Heavy [b]Appearance:[/b] [img=http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/077/9/7/warlord_by_tamplierpainter-d3bw04a.jpg] [img=http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/320/e/a/scars_by_elguaricho-d5l5znz.jpg] [b]Origin:[/b] [b]Background:[/b] Twenty-eight years ago, in the northern mountains of the Jadelyn Empire, there lived a large muscular lumber jack and a tall woman who cared for him. They did not live too far away from civilization nor did they live to close. Combining the lumber jacks strength and coffin like frame, and the tall woman, you get Seán Uidhir. A boy that would grow to love honor and glory, who loved to earn his respect instead of having it handed over to him. However, the road would not be easy. His love with war would spark in the orphanage that he was held at after his parents had lost their lives to a few trained bandits. It is in the orphanage that he will realize he must go off on his own for a time. The years in the orphanage were slow, annoying to Seán, and absolutely a waste of time. Seán believed he was able to handle the real world by himself. When he was of age, Seán was able to be a blacksmiths apprentice for a few years. He would leave, only learning how to fix up minor damages done to weapons and armor. This would be a useful and important skill later on in life. Seán would travel the city and rack up money to the best of his ability. He had a decent amount, and just when he thought his work would pay off, nobles demanded his silver. Seán refused four times before the city guard was called upon him. The group of nobles claimed that he hand over the silver at that moment and time, if he refused he would lose his hand and he would be thrown into the dungeon. Seán didn't have a choice, he wanted to keep a clean record. He had done nothing illegal in the past and he was not gonna change it right then and there. Seán quickly took the nomadic way of life to an extent. It was when he stumbled across a cabin that his love for being a heavy would start. From the age of twenty to the age of twenty-eight, an old man whom was ex-military and at one point a mercenary would take Seán under his wing. Years and years of training that would only make Seán stronger would undergo throughout the years. It was rough work, a lot of blood and sweat would fall to the ground below him. He quickly realized that this old man was setting him on the right path, the path that was laid out before him for many years. The path of Seán's destiny would be extremely visible when he was twenty-eight. Especially when the man had given Seán the armor piece he would always wear for many years. The old man had taught Seán what it meant to be big and scary, to strike fear into the hearts of enemies. The last journey Seán would make with the old man would be to Alabaster City, where he would lead Seán to a booth. The man nodded his head. Seán stood in line for a while, but when he got up front, he read the contract he was handing, he looked back to the man who was no longer there. Seán looked back at the contract and with quill in hand signed the contract. It was at that moment he became part of the Fifth Echelon. [b]Skills:[/b] -Can do minor repairs on weapons and armor -Great in combat using a sword and shield -Can use fists if he does not have a weapon on him [b]Reason for joining the Fifth Echelon:[/b] He is simply following where his life had taken him. Where his destiny had taken him. [b]Other information:[/b] Shield [img=http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2013/364/3/2/shield_wip_by_crovv-d704m4e.jpg] Sword [img=http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs44/i/2013/086/b/d/the_sword_by_laxsiber-d1zubis.jpg] [i]The signature below, hereby, signs up [b]Seán Uidhir[/b] under the service of the Fifth Echelon Mercenary Host, for a period of three months. [b]Seán Uidhir[/b] is allowed to freely leave before the three months, after being paid for the amount he or she served, only after the first major engagement. 4 Silver coins a week of service. Bonus coinage or rewards may be given depending on quality of service or performance during engagements. Signature: [b]Seán Uidhir[/b][/i] [/hider] [B]Xavier Hawthorne, HEAVY, Origin: Surra.[/b] [hider=Xavier Hawthorne]And thus I bring into life our second heavy. I am sure the mages should be happy now. Name: Xavier Hawthorne Age: 32 Sex: Male Height:6'4" Squad Role: Heavy Appearance:[img]http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/1f/4e/0b/1f4e0b2882f7607d34903f6658121785.jpg[/img] Origin: Surra Background:Xavier's life wasn't an easy one in the town of Banth. His father crafted weapons and armors for warriors and inducted his son into the buisness early. By the time that Xavier was sixteen, he had been taught how to forge weapons ranging from a simple iron dagger to an iron zweihander. Yet, Xavier felt the call of adventure and asked his father if he could leave to see other kingdoms. When Xavier's father told him no, Xavier took flight with a bundle of equipment his father had crafted. Life steadily became worse for Xavier as he traveled from Banth to Gond, the capital city of Gond. When the battered, beaten and almost starving Xavier arrived in Gond, he was faced with a lack of food and housing. The streets of Gond were not a kind place for the young male. The rare hand outs and odd jobs that Xavier worked barely allowed him to pay for food. Xavier finally managed to find a job as a guard. Xavier went through a month worth of training before he was allowed to even guard the walls of Gond. Xavier faced little battle and did nothing more than arrest the occasional theif. He advanced slowly through the ranks of the guards until he reached the position of sergeant. After reaching the rank of sergeant, Xavier faced heavy prosecution for being an outsider. There was a time when Xavier was charged with assault while arresting a man who caused a bar fight, the punishment was a brand put on his left hand. The distictive brand forever marked Xavier as a criminal and forced him out of Gond with nothing more than a few pieces of silver to his name and a set of armor and a long sword. The twenty-seven year old warrior wandered out of the enclosed lands of Gond and traveled through Tysus for a few years. Xavier was working as a salesword for anybody who would pay him the most. It was by fate that Xavier came to the Alabaster City. His last 'master' had payed him half the amount after hireing him and the last half was to be payed to him when he came to the Alabaster City. Yet, when Xavier showed up, the man who hired him had never shown up. It was just an accident when Xavier stumpled upong the Fifth Echelon's booth. Skills: -Xavier can craft and repair certain weapons and armors. -Xavier is somewhat good with a sword and shield -He is good at rating the quality of weapons and armor. Reason for joining the Fifth Echelon: Xavier joined the Fifth Echelon because he found its gurantee of payment agreeable. That and he wanted to find out more about other portions of the world. Other information: Xavier has wiwth him a simple shield and iron forged sword.[img]http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/070/f/6/3D_Shield_by_FlyingApplesaucer.png[/img] [img]http://www.uniqueideas4gifts.co.uk/pics/lord-of-the-rings/witchking-sword3.jpg[/img] [i]The signature below, hereby, signs up Xavier Hawthorne under the service of the Fifth Echelon Mercenary Host, for a period of three months. Xavier Hawthorne is allowed to freely leave before the three months, after being paid for the amount he or she served, only after the first major engagement. 4 Silver coins a week of service. Bonus coinage or rewards may be given depending on quality of service or performance during engagements. Signature: Xavier Hawthorne[/i] [/hider] [b]Viktor, MARINE, Origin: Rabad, Kordish Tribe.[/b] [hider=Viktor]Name: Viktor Age: 26 Sex: Male Height: 5'9” Squad Role: Marine Appearance: Medium- lightish build, Still toned and kept trim from years of practising his trade, Bald with usually clean shaven face though during certain missions and theatres that is hardly something that can be reliably done every day. So more often than not he has a fairly rough appearance. His Chestnut brown leather armour is in layered plates covering his chest, back, shoulders, And fore-arms. Well worn and cracked gauntlets cover his hands, Stained over the years with a multitude of substances but most commonly wine and blood added as another colourful page of his past is written. Some similar stains can also be found on the soles of his boots which are made of a similar toughened leather as his armour. A simple leather helm acts as both a helm and a simple mask to obscure his face during combat and at the very least protect against glacning blows and half-hearted shots. A simple and faceless piece but it serves it's purpose until he can get something made specially for him and of far better material. Though his cheeks are still mostly visible. For weapons he can usually be seen with a Spear of some kind, He currently enlisted with a Glaive in hand. A six foot pole topped with over a foot of wickedly keen and elegently curved edge that ends in a savage looking point for stabbing. The bottom of the glaive also has a simple spike as both an emergecy weapon but also common with most (well made at least) pole-arms to help set the weapon against a cavalry charge. Aside from the usual travelling pack and it's standard contents he carried a long Dirk on his belt as a secondary weapon and for butchering the animals he hunts. A light crossbow and a simple quiver of a dozen bolts hang from his belt. Origin: (Rabad, Kordish tribesman of the Sky Ponies, willing to take name suggestions on that one) Background: Viktor was born In Rabad amongst one of the many tribes of Kord. He was fortunate enough to be born into one of the more liberal tribes. Ones that were willing to trade the goods they gathered such as exotic skins and precious stones that were largely worthless to them but they quickly discovered were very valued to the so called 'civilized' lands and it's people. They were able to take and trade these worthless things(to them) in exchange for Better quality leathers, Horses, And weapons and a myriad of other tools and essentials that were often of far better craft than they could make themselves. Their more 'puratin' brotheren in the other tribes who often shunned the weakness of the city walls and the stench of the crowded streets and slums. But this willingness to interact and deal with the outside world gave the tribe the strength and means to grow. They learned of new weapons and how to use them. They learned how to manipulate greed of soft metals and shiny gemstones. They also quickly found out that the nearbye lands of Hylos were almost always looking for mercenaries they could hire. With each Baron and count being responsible for the raising, equipping and paying of the Forces to protect his own lands there was naturally a semi permanent air of mutual distrust amongst the lords of Hylos, each having access to what was essentially a private army loyal to his lands and himself. With the armies of the Counties and Baronies only standing shoulder to shoulder when the threat of the entire kingdom was looming over them. As such Mercenaries were quite the valued commodity between the Barons as men who didn't wear the colours of a particular county could be written off as bandits or any such rabble if they failed or succeeded in their task. Few suspected the wild tribes of kord of all things would descend into their homes. His tribe had several interactions in particular serving the county of Holstmarch in the Northeast of the kingdom. The tribe would often give the service of a few strong warriors in exchange for weapons, food and livestock of all kinds. Viktor himself was hired for any manner of dealings from a simple raid to take and control the mines inside a rival Baron's lands or destabalize his authority over a region in some way. It was During this time that Viktor took his current name. Because it was a common enough name he encountered in the Holstmark but also because it was a name the people outside his tribe could pronounce. And he supposed it had grown on him over the years. He also learned many of his skills campaigning within these lands. The horses they traded and bought were valuable for so many reasons and riding them became a skill most tribesman had ot learn. The constant forrays against guards and hired bandits helped hone combat skills for many like himself. New fangled machines like crossbows, gears, watermills. These were wonders to his eyes and marvels of engineering he could never have imagined much less seen on the plains of Kord. And of course there was also the ever loved discovery of wine and ale. But eventually the barons that were hiring the tribe grew to frequent and bold in their demands and the king had to step in and condem their actions. Of course the Barons were quick to lay blame on the Tribesman. To try and rub the stains from their hands and feign innocence or even intimidation. One going so far as to say they held members of his lands hostage and he was only complying to their bloodthirsty demands to save innocent Hylosian lives. The tribe knew well enough when their welcome had run out. But it hardly mattered to them at this point. They never set foot fully within Hylosian borders save a few dozen at a time so, powerful Horses laden with tools and necessities that made them far better off and defendable against the many other tribes that would undoubtedly try to steal their good fortune from them. They retreated into the plains of Kord where no Hylosian king could touch them or differentiat them from any other tribe. But there were a small handful that did not retreat into the plains with their family. They had a taste of the wider world, of the sights and experiences it could offer and it stirred him and others like him to part with their tribe, with countless promises to return to the evening fires with tales and items gallore of far away lands and unimaginable sights to be seen. With new stories to share and feats to enrich the history and honour of the tribe. He spent another year within the bounds of Hylos. Doing largely the same work he was doing before though on a much smaller scale. And with the king breathing down the Baron's necks since it got very nearly out of hand the number of and coin earned from such ventures started to become slim. He quickly took the step to move on From Hylos and take the stand upon hearing of Mercenaries gathering to do the same work he had come to enjoy so much. The coin he did earn from the days with the tribe bought him as much equipment as he currently owns. Skills: Skilled with Pole-arm combat of a small handful of styles, and taking advantage of agility that lighter armours can provide. Though he is not against donning a breastplate or chainmail with little inhibitions, But he can wear heavier if the situation warrants. His discomfort and unfamiliar gait speaks plainly enough for how his abilities suffer while doing so however. He is also a good climber and enjoys personal hobbies such as Scrimshaw and whittling. It makes him a few coins to sell a piece every now and again. Enough for him to replace tools, buy the bones and tusks needed (usually there is some dead animal that is able to part with something.) if necessary and a drink or two. He can hunt, Having had to forage for food enough times in his life to pick up the do's and don'ts and how not to shoot ones self in the foot with a crossbow. And butchering the animal may be an altogether unsavoury experience at times, but not one he is incapable or unwilling to do. intermediate riding skills as well. For horses only He can control the beast provided it isn't unreasonably hot tempered and even ride into battle atop it and hopes to save up to buy a fine warhorse of his own. A pure thorough bred, as fast as the wind and stronger than iron. One he can armour and have lash out with hooves of steel, cracking skulls and crushing ribs. But a more common beast will suffice until than. Either taken from an enemy corpse or purchased. Reason for joining the Fifth Echelon: Money is tight, And freelance work is drying up recently. Seeing that most seem to be hiring groups such as this as the years pass in stead of a mass hiring of individual mercenaries this seemed like the best option. That and he is hardly farmer material, not does he wish to spend his youth and waste his hard earned skills doing as such. Someday maybe he will that that picture-esque retirement with a good woman and a full purse. But not today. Other information: Viktor surprisingly enough carries a small mouse with him as a pet. He usually tries to keep some form of a pet at hand. Most are surprised that a warrior would bother keeping such a pet when most would keep hounds or birds of prey. But for all the toughness and bar brawls and less than gentlemanly personality he enjoys keeping it around. The signature below, hereby, signs up Viktor under the service of the Fifth Echelon Mercenary Host, for a period of three months. Viktor is allowed to freely leave before the three months, after being paid for the amount he or she served, only after the first major engagement. 4 Silver coins a week of service. Bonus coinage or rewards may be given depending on quality of service or performance during engagements. Signature: Viktor [/hider]