Name: Halyn LaKruz
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Race:Human

Appearance: Halyn is a tall, well-built young man with somewhat fair skin and deep sapphire blue eyes. He stands a bit over six feet in height, with the majority of his body consisting of tightly toned muscle. He has broad shoulders and good posture, giving him a confident, sturdy appearance. Halyn's hair is a deep shade of red, reminiscent of rust, and is somewhat long, walking a fine border between passable and unkempt. His bangs are cut roughly above his eyes, with the sides and back reaching just beyond his shoulders. Halyn's left eye is covered by a coarse black eyepatch that is tied neatly beneath his hair. The young man's facial features are surprisingly soft given the hardened nature of his body. Though not feminine, his visage holds a boyish tint, further emphasized by his lack of facial hair. A single scar, thin and clean, runs up the right side of his face from the bottom of his jaw to the midpoint of his cheek. This mark, along with the eyepatch, seem somewhat out of place on the face on which they reside, though they do supply a bit of masculine compensation to their wearer's naturally youthful appearance.

Clothing: Prior to heading to his destination, Halyn used some of the coin he had earned from his mercenary escapades to purchase clothing befitting the climate of his homeland. On his head, Halyn wears a round hat made of thick black fur. The hat fits snugly, covering his ears and providing a considerable amount of warmth. LaKruz also wears a long cloak made of the same ink-black fur. The cloak, which appears to have been permanently borrowed from a large bear, is thick and cozy, perfect for the long trek through the mountains leading to Geltreis. It reaches the midpoint of Halyn's shin, and is somewhat loose-fitting. The garment fastens at the neck with a silver brooch bearing the emblem of a two-headed elk. The symbol originates from the LaKruz family crest, and was likely taken when Halyn left the country and kept close for many years. 

  Beneath the cloak, Halyn wears a jack of hard, dark brown leather. The garment is sturdy, and somewhat inflexible, fastening with a series of small steel buckles beneath the left armpit. Though nearly useless against sharp piercing weapons or projectiles, it provides a fair amount of protection against some slashing weapons. It was acquired during the young man's time as a mercenary, and has a worn outline of a moth stitched in white thread near the center of the chest. Beneath the jack, Halyn wears a simple shirt of white silk with a row of silver buttons running up its center. The article is long-sleeved and loose fitting. The sleeves are tucked into a pair of leather gloves that Halyn wears on either hand. The gloves are rather long, running nearly to Halyn's elbows. They are sturdily constructed, and seem to have been used thoroughly.

   At his waist, Halyn wears a simple belt of black leather with an unassuming silver buckles. His trousers are also simple, bearing no obvious signs of affluent craftsmanship. They are made of soft cotton dyed black, and are comfortable enough to facilitate a long journey on horseback. Halyn's boots seem to have been expensive at one point, though their leather has been broken in and worn down quite a bit. The black footwear extends to his mid-shin and bears a slight heel with pointed toes. By and large, Halyn's apparel seems far more suited to his identity as a soldier-for-hire than it ever would for his existence as a rich merchant's son. To those who might have known him before, this, combined with his more hardened appearance would make him seem almost like a new man.   

Weapons/Belongings: Halyn's primary weapon is a greatsword that was forged for him by a friend during his time in the White Moth Mercenary Company. The sword is quite large, reaching nearly five feet in length and weighing about six pounds. The weapon bears a long, elegant blade forged from high-quality steel. The blade is honed to near razor-sharpness on both sides and tapers gracefully from its hilt into a fine point. The blade is nearly two inches across at its widest point, with a fuller running down the center for the majority of the weapon. The sword bears a semi-circle shaped guard made of solid silver, with an engraving of a two-headed elk carefully carved into its surface on either side at Halyn's request. Past the guard, a portion of the blade is wrapped in leather dyed dark blue. This allows the use of half-swording techniques, making the otherwise large and unwieldy weapon a useful tool even in close quarters. The grip is made of sturdy oak, wrapped in the same blue leather as the ricasso and  decorated with a winding strand of silver wire. The greatsword's pommel is a circular piece made of silver, inlaid in pearl with the image of a white moth. While traveling, Halyn typically keeps the sword slung over his back in a rugged sheath made of several layers of hardened leather. While the weapon itself is a borderline work of art, the sheath is purely focused around functionality, with little in the way of adornment.


  Besides his greatsword, Halyn carries a hunting knife just under a foot in length at his side. The hilt is carved from some kind of horn or antler, with a steel cap at it's end serving as a pommel. It's guard is a simple rectangular block of steel, reaching just far enough to protect the user from sliding their hand onto the blade. The blade itself is single-edged and made of steel, curving into it's point. The knife is obviously more useful for utility, but it can also serve as a simple, yet effective weapon in it's own right.

Personality: Halyn's life experiences have each helped in their own way to shape his personality into the man he is today. He comes across as rather confident, though not outright boastful. He is more than capable of polite conversation, and has trained himself to remain somewhat tactful, though he is unwavering on issues he holds dear. He is not quick to escalate a situation over trivialities, but is more than prepared to fight for what he believes in. During his time with the White Moth Company, he learned a great deal about 'picking his battles' both in a literal and figurative sense. In general, Halyn is fairly personable, though there is a rage buried deep within him that he hides as well as he can. Ultimately, he seeks to do what he thinks is right, and is willing to do whatever is necessary to reach his goal. This drive is hampered by his own code of honor, and he sometimes has difficulty with the turmoil between the man he wants to be and the goal he wishes to achieve.

History: Halyn comes from a long line of timber merchants native to Geltreis. An old and noble family, they trace their lineage back to the city-state's foundation. For hundreds of years, they held a spot among Geltreis' elite, gaining a considerable amount of prestige and wealth in the process through a thriving timber company. Through shrewd business tactics and a wealth of connections outside of the country, the family was able to maintain their place in the worlds of both politics and business without much difficulty. When the city-state's elite began to discuss the proposition of joining the Arcarti Empire, however, the LaKruz family protested. 

Halyn's grandfather, then the head of the family business, spoke out against the prospect, insisting that the city-state's independence was at the core of its success. His arguments fell upon deaf ears, however, and the public reputation of the family began to falter as the country assimilated into Arcartus. Standing upon the same principles, and disgusted at the new order of the country, Halyn's father spoke out against Arcartus, even going so far as to encourage armed revolution from the Empire. This act of rebellion decimated the public reputation of the family, and they became outright ostracized by the community. Overcome by frustration, Halyn's father eventually took his own life. The then-teenaged merchant's son left the country shortly thereafter, heading west in search of something he felt his father had lacked.


   Eventually, Halyn joined the White Moth Mercenary Company, a somewhat well-known, though small, band of soldiers-for-hire. He spent several years with the company, traveling around the world and learning a fair amount about the arts of war and diplomacy. He ascended the ranks within the group, becoming well known by his brothers in arms for having a tongue as sharp as his blade. After many years, he retired from the company, a shocking decision, especially given his age. He returned to Estovet and set forth towards his former home, hoping that somehow the things he had learned would help him achieve what his father and grandfather could not: the return of an independent Geltreis.