[center][h3]Leif Raven-Stone[/h3][/center]
[center][sub]Male Nord | 31 | Shadow[/sub][/center]

[hider=Leif Raven-Stone]
[h3]Basic Information:[/h3]
[indent][b]Place of Origin[/b]: Windhelm, Skyrim

[b]Appearance[/b]: 

[img]http://data.whicdn.com/images/216323763/large.jpg[/img]
         Shoulder-length light brown hair, where the hair at his temples is drawn back into a braid behind his head, Leif shares similar features found in many Nord men, while rugged in appearance, he is far more handsome than some of his countrymen. With a pair of sky-blue eyes seated beneath a smooth brow, and twin set of bushy brows, his gaze is sharp, trained from staring at the sea and studying the skies for foul weather. A large grin splits his face in two, whether he is smirking, laughing, or simply engaging in conversation. One of the noted aesthetic features on his face, is a peculiar scar on his left cheek bone, marred in a skirmish during the Civil War. His jaw is hard, angular, and square. In the center of his face, a broad, aquiline nose, one that suits him, commandeers most of the attention, for it is slightly crooked.

         While not impressively tall, standing at 6'2", and weighing in at 185lbs, all of which is corded muscle, accrued from the hard-work of sailing, and honed throughout the course of the war. Having a lack of fashion-sense has earned him some irksome remarks from a particular seamstress in Solitude, so to speak, Leif doesn't bother with the latest fashions, as he believes that [i]fashion[/i] is for the fairer sex, and even then, it doesn't matter what a woman wears, for he's too busy undressing them with his eyes. Regardless, he is happy with a set of breeches, and a loose tunic. Were such a lucky lady to take a closer peak at the loosely strung tunic, they would note the bulging pectoral muscles beneath a swath of thick chest hair. He is quite the manly man in appearances. Hearing him speak for the first time, his voice is rocky, and masculine in every sense; even more impressive is his singing voice, though don't be alarmed when he belts out a blushing
sea-shanty about bedding some fair maiden. He could have been a bard if he'd wanted to.


[b]Background[/b]:

	Born in the icy city of Windhelm in 4E 174 on the twenty-fourth of Second Seed, to a modest family living in the Gray Quarter, Leif entered the realm of the living in a rather... dull manner. His parents were honest, hard-working folks that taught Leif the idea of never taking anything for granted, one he still adheres to this day. The snowy blizzards that plagued the northern-most city in Skyrim proved to be something that Leif treasured as a child, his favorite childhood past-time spent lobbing snowballs at unsuspecting victims in the streets. His father, Jorrlak, worked the local forge for many years as an apprentice, while his mother Sanja, ran a market-stall selling odds-and-ends from which she acquired from travelers passing through Eastmarch. Plentiful in food, Leif's parents saw to it that their only son never went to bed hungry. Carefully raised under his parent's guidance, they strove to make their son into an honourable man by instilling the beliefs of Talos in him at an early age. As the Dragon of the North, and worshipped across Skyrim, Sanja and Jorrlak saw to it that Leif attended the Temple of Talos on a weekly basis. He found relative comfort in Talos, and often sought guidance for his future, as a deep desire to become a proud Nord man fueled his fire.

        Upon reaching the age of fifteen, Leif overheard one evening, after retiring to bed earlier than normal, through the cracks in the floorboards, his mother's concerns for what Leif would become. In their eyes, they were proud of him. He had turned into a strong, healthy young lad, yet he wasted his time foolishly flirting with the youthful girls in the city; he expressed no interest in taking up any skill, whether it be learning alchemy, blacksmithing, or even enlisting in the local guard. Jorrlak could only soothe his wife's strained and worried nerves, reassuring her that Talos would Leif in the right direction, emphasizing that they must keep faith. For the rest of the night, Leif lay awake, tossing and turning, full of guilt that he might bring disappointment to his family after all. 

	In a desperate attempt to placate his parents growing concerns for him finding a secure source of income, he volunteered his time down the road at Hollyfrost Farm, helping to plow the fields, and reap the harvests alongside another Nord man by the name of Tulvur. Simple and easy in nature, Leif enjoyed his time spent at the farm. Though Torsten Cruel-Sea owned the farm, he did not pay Leif for his hard work, instead, divvied up a percentage of the crops to bring home to his family. While this quieted his father’s concerns, the worried whispers of his mother continued; she blamed herself for failing as a mother, that she were the one at fault for not instilling a passion in her son. Frustrated with the displeasure of his mother, Leif, now seventeen, felt at a loss for once in his life. His parents provided a good life for him, and yet, he could not repay the favour. Did they see him as a spoilt brat? Why did Talos evade his weekly prayers for guidance in a time like this?

	By the time Leif turned nineteen on the twenty-fourth of Second Seed, on his birthday, he pulled out of hiding a satchel full of septims that he had gathered from odd jobs around the city, and headed out to explore the surrounding area. He left in the middle of the night, leaving only a short letter on his bedside table that summarized his reasons for leaving: [i]to leave the safety of the city walls, and to see what the world held[/i]. Pleasant weather in Second Seed allowed Leif to travel as far as Darkwater Crossing, by this point, he had run out of septims to carry on his expedition. There in the small mining village, he helped mine ore from Goldenrock Mine, and procured an agreeable profit from his hard labor in harvesting the corundum ore. Staying in Darkwater Crossing for only a matter of six months, Leif returned home to Windhelm, where he bought himself a steel longsword, and a suit of leather armor. Yet the first day back in Windhelm, after visiting the market, he learned the heart-breaking news that his mother suffered from Ataxia during his time away, though she swore she hadn’t received a bite from a skeever. Her lack of strength, and poor dexterity, forced her to close down her stall in the market, which then resulted in Jorrlak becoming the main bread-winner. Without the added income of Sanja, Jorrlak struggled to feed himself, and his wife. However, when Leif returned unexpectedly from his short expedition, Jorrlak greeted him with words full of anger, and frustration. How could he choose to run away from home at a time like this? How could he be so careless, and cause his poor mother such hardship? Furious with his father’s narrow-mindedness, Leif willingly purchased a potion of Cure Disease from the White Phial, and cured his mother. While he did not openly admit to his father, the regret he felt for leaving home so unexpectedly, he hoped that with being able to cure his mother, he would earn favor in their eyes again. This did not prove to be the case, as Jorrlak and Leif argued for hours, a sensible Nord man would not have left his family in a precarious position, and without the passion, would have found a well-paying job to take care of his own kin.

	Shunned, and angry, Leif left for the docks where he paid passage to Solitude on one of the ships in the harbor, called [i]The Courtesan[/i], with the last of his coin. Instead of departing at the docks in Solitude, as originally planned, Leif found a job amongst the other crew members on the ship, and spent the next eight years being a sailor. Encounters with daunting marauders would have dissuaded a younger Leif, but he had matured, somewhat, and found the brevity of the situations exciting. Over the course of time, one of the men aboard his ship taught him the art of swords, how to swing a blade proper, how to thrust, and how to parry oncoming blows, a man by the name of Halvar. The other members of the ship each carried a weapon to help fend off any unwanted foes. To Leif, the time spent onboard [i]The Courtesan[/i], were his favorite years in life, as he truly learned how to become a man. The frigid temperatures of the Sea of Ghosts during the winter months were perilous to handle, as the men aboard the ship raced against time to avoid the approach of the ice sheet that would soon cover the waters north of Windhelm, and leave them locked in the clutches of ice. Tales of men that were stranded on the islands dotting the Sea of Ghosts, and the horrors of how they fell prey to Ice Wraiths, or even worse yet, the tempting Horker’s that called those shores home, kept the men on their toes. 

	Through the years, Leif earned his keep aboard the ship, and grew to know the men well. He made fast friends with his fellow companions, Captain Atgeir Frost-Beard, Bjorn Strong-Fist, Halvar Rock-Jaw, and Orvar Red-Tree. On countless nights when they would dock in Dawnstar, or in Solitude, he found himself in the arms of a lovely lass that he managed to utter sweet-nothings too, and believed him. Halvar taught Leif the art of poetry, and more importantly, how to write his own name; the purpose solely being to teach Leif how to woo a woman proper. Not only did Halvar teach Leif how to read, how to write poetry and how to wield a sword, but Orvar taught him the wonderful art of Restoration. Leif became a subsequent pupil under Orvar, and with his guidance Leif learned how to heal wounds, mend torn muscles, and heal broken bones (though this still leaves him feeling rather weakened afterwards).

	By the time the imminent war broke out in 4E 201, Leif finally returned home to Windhelm, not to see his family, for during his time away on the seas Jorrlak passed of consumption, and Sanja soon after of a broken heart only weeks later. His family home remained under lock-and-key, as septims were pinched with many citizens in the city, and none cared to invest in a home in the Gray Quarter, especially where filthy Dunmeri folk ran rampant. Soon after his return, he enlisted with Stormcloak’s, as he had no one else to turn to, nor anywhere else to go. Leif found it fitting to fight alongside his fellow kinsmen, as the Aldmeri Dominion had no authority bossing them around, dictating who they could worship, and who they could not. He felt personally insulted by the Dominion when they outlawed the teaching and practice of Talos, but those like him, were called to Windhelm to defend their beloved country from those blasted Thalmor. 

	Ironically, Leif Raven-Stone ended up in Sevine Varg-t’uk’s division, headed by Ralki the Bear, where the two became battle buddies in the midst of war. One could say that Leif shared a  mutual attraction towards the huntress, and in vain, attempted to woo her on several occasions. Of course, Sevine thought him to be joking. Who would dare to try to woo her? She had no time for love, especially when there was a war to be fought. Fighting side-by-side in many battles together, Leif and Sevine rescued each other from many close calls with death.

	When the war came to an end, Sevine and Leif parted ways, each promising to exchange letters, but none ever followed through, and for the next four years, Leif purchased his family home in Windhelm’s Gray Quarter district. He frequents the Temple of Talos on a weekly basis like he used to when he was a boy, and in the evenings, one can find him in Candlehearth Hall listening to the bard’s song. Although Thur, the Dragonborn was eager to make a massive army, the largest one in all of Nirn to be exact, Leif was rather hesitant about volunteering to join, as he was unsure if he wanted to pursue the fray of battle once more.


[b]Personality[/b]:

	When first meeting Leif, one immediately take notes of how loud he really is; obnoxiously loud, that is. He always seems to be shouting, and when he is drunk, the man is practically screaming till he is red in the face; not in anger, but from telling exaggerated stories, and with laughter and excitement. And the man does love to drink, though he is far from being considered an alcoholic. Some would call Leif a brash, and abrasive man, but this just comes from living on the sea in a ship with other men for long periods of time.

	He is a firm believer in Talos, and when Leif is encountering troubling times, he will fervently pray to his beloved God, often in private and way from interuption. Leif doesn’t have any problems with other races, despite Windhelm’s notorious treatment of the Dunmer in the Gray Quarter. Although, he is suspicious of Altmer's and Khajiit's alike. In truth, Leif is a man of good word and honor. He doesn’t believe in stealing, nor meaningless killings. If anything Leif is a proud, open-minded Nordic man, that has a passionate fever to woo all women in Skyrim. If he had not gone off to be a sailor, Leif would’ve had a promising life as a Bard, or even becoming a Skald. 

[/indent]

[h3]Capabilities:[/h3]
[indent]

[b]Skills[/b]: 
Two-Handed Blade – {Expert}

Light Armor - {Adept}

Speech – {Adept}

Mercantile – {Apprentice}

Restoration – {Apprentice}

Alchemy – {Apprentice}

Athletics – {Novice}

Acrobatics – {Novice}

Provisioning – {Novice}

[b]Weaknesses[/b]:

[b][i]Wooing Women[/i][/b] – If there is anything Leif [i]should not[/i] do, it is to woo women. Not that he’s bad at it, but it’s become a bad habit. Any pretty face he sees, and he’ll be whispering sweet-nothings in a woman’s ear in a matter of seconds. It’s cost him a few bloody noses from angered husbands, or more likely, from other suitors. He can’t seem to say no to any woman. In fact, Leif wouldn’t be surprised if some poor orphan child claimed to be his child.

[i][b]Fear of Snakes, Insects, and Spiders[/b][/i] – When Leif was a young boy, 8, he was bitten by a water snake when swimming in the river. Ever since, Leif has a profound fear of anything creepy crawly, and for such, you won’t find him cave-diving any time soon.

[b][i]Prideful[/i][/b] - Whether he likes to admit it or not, Leif is very prideful, and believes that he has to prove himself to be worthy, of anything. It can be very hard for him to admit that he's wrong, when he's desperately trying to prove that he is right. He doesn't like to be considered a coward by any means, and adheres to the call of honor, and glory, like any atypical Nord man.

[b][i]Fool’s Love[/i][/b] – Leif is but a fool himself, but mostly because he seems to fall in love with every woman he meets. Not [i]every[/i] woman, but if she’s pretty enough, he won’t mind writing her a pretty poem, or showing her a good time. However, he believes in love at first sight, and if not careful, he can move from one woman to the next and not care about their broken hearts.


[b]Relations and Affiliations[/b]:

Former Stormcloak Soldier

Former Sailor of [i]The Courtesan[/i] 

- Jorrlak Raven-Stone - Father. [color=red]Deceased[/color].

- Sanja Raven-Stone - Mother. [color=red]Deceased[/color].

- Captain Atgeir Frost-Beard – {Captain of the [i]Courtesan[/i]}

- Bjorn Strong-Fist – {Favorite drinking buddy, sailor from the [i]Courtesan[/i].}

- Halvar Rock-Jaw – {Taught Leif the art of poetry, how to woo women, how to swing a blade, and how to write his own name; sailor from the [i]Courtesan[/i].}

- Orvar Red-Tree – {Taught Leif Restoration magick, sailor from the [i]Courtesan[/i].}

- Chieftain Ralki the Bear - {Leader of his squadron from the Civil War.}

- Sevine Varg-t’uk – {Battle Comrade from the Civil War; the one that got away.}

- Kaliri Uviria - {Battle Comrade from the Civil War.}

[hider=Opinions]

[b]Jorwen Red-Bear[/b] ~ "[i]Despite that magnificent beard, Jorwen has shown me a side of him I never expected. He has shown me something that I have never witnessed with my father. I cannot thank him enough for the kindness he showed me on that fateful night.[/i]"

[b]Solveig[/b] ~ "[i]So, as I have come to learn, she is actually the daughter of Jorwen Red-Bear. I pray that Talos keeps my rash words from finding his ears. Not to mention, do I see her taking a liking to that Sadri fellow? Oh yes, she reminds me of Sevine...such a fierce woman![/i]"

[b]Sadri Beleth[/b] ~ "[i]I'll have to thank him when we finish up at this cursed ruin, he did save my life after all. Also, I am rather surprised to see that he has conquered the heart of the beautiful Solveig. How she found him a suitable partner, I’ll never know[/i]."

[b]Rozalia Eathiel[/b] ~ "[i]Ah yes... the beautiful and exotic Rozalia Eathiel. Truly, she is as astonishingly beautiful as her namesake. I pray to Talos that she takes better care of her well being in the future, like that fellow Imperial, Sagax, she is rather reckless for my tastes. Perhaps, if I can manage to locate a rose, I shall give it to her as a token of my affection?[/i]"

[B]Rhasha'Dar[/b] ~ "[i]After Do'Karth, all Khajiits make me feel bitter.[/i]"

[b]Keegan Vasque[/b] ~ "[i]He is an Altmer... what else is there to say? He can wield magick, destructive at that, so perhaps there is something I can learn from him in the near future?[/i]"

[b]Sevine Varg-t’uk[/b] ~ "[i]Damn her for the wound in my heart. Damn her for breaking me, and for falling in love with that wretched cat. I cannot even bear to look her in the eye let alone utter her name.[/i]"

[b]Sagax Speculatus[/b] ~ "[i]I understand now why Sevine acts so motherly over Sagax and Roze, by the Gods. How reckless can someone be? He must have a deathwish.[/i]"

[b]Tsleeixth[/b] ~ "[i]At least he is not as bad as the Khajiit's. He is useful, since he breathe underwater. When I find the time, I must thank him for helping patch the hole on the Courtesan.[/i]"

[b]Do’karth[/b] ~ "[i]I hold nothing but contempt for him. He has brought great shame to Sevine, he is a manipulator and deceitful like any Khajiit.[/i]"

[b]Marcel Gawain[/b] ~ "[i]He certainly is an odd fellow. Poor sod, his forehead looks twice the size with that receding hair line.[/i]"

[b]Daixanos[/b] "[i]He certainly doesn't seem to be a peculiar fellow, he did put up a mighty fight against Farid.[/i]"

[b]Raelyn Giordano[/b] "[i]She is a strange person indeed, though I have to admit, she is rather brave for going on the rescue mission on the frigate.[/i]"

[b]Elmera Sarandas[/b] ~ [i]”I feel sorry for her. Having a dwemer bolt lodged in her thigh is most unpleasant, I hope I have given her some comfort by healing her as well as best as I can.”[/i]

[b]Valen Alveul[/b] ~ [i]”He met a fate most unfortunate, may his soul rest wherever it is Dunmers go in the afterlife.”[/i]

[b]Niernen Venim[/b] ~ "[i]Her and I share a pain deeper than most folks could understand. She has a beautiful soul, her kindness is unfathomable. I never pictured having such a connection with a woman like her, much less a Dunmer. If I ever see her in need, I will be there to lend a helping hand.[/i]"

[b]Bharzak gra-Sharad[/b] ~ TBD

[b]Fulrog gro-Bash[/b] ~ TBD

[b]Piper Speculatus[/b] ~ "[i]Although Sagax is an uncomely fellow, what with his bone-thin figure, and his lack of taste in clothes, I wonder what his sister looks like? Perhaps she is much more fair to gaze upon?[/i]"

[/hider]


[b]Spells[/b]: 
Healing Hands 
Healing
Fast Healing

[b]Combat Style[/b]:

	Leif prefers to fight with a steel longsword, his very first sword that he's carefully kept over the years. It is heavy, weighing almost six pounds, but he is used to the added weight from using it from the last eight years. If one were to examine the longsword, they would find it chipped, and with many scratches. He also prefers the use of Light Armor, such as leather, because as he's noticed from his seafaring days, seawater will rust armor and swords if not kept well. He has a set of Light Armor he wears into battle, or on the seas, and it consists of a triple-layered breastplate; consisting of a hard-boiled exterior, two layers of leather woven and bound together, with a third layer of cotton padding to absorb shocks from blows, punches, and kicks. He also has a pair of hard-boiled leather pauldrons, and a neck-ring of chainmail.

[b]Other Capabilities[/b]: 

Sailing

Fishing/Hunting

Farming/Gardening/Homesteading

Women

[/indent]

[h3]Inventory:[/h3]
[indent]

[b]Cash[/b]: 77 septims

[b]Keys and Lockpicks[/b]:

x1 Key to Raven-Stone Home

x3 Lockpicks

[b]Clothing and Armor[/b]:

X1 Light Leather Armor Set

X1 Steel Helm

X1 Leather Bracers

X1 Light Blue Tunic

X1 Pair of Black Leather Boots

X1 Pair of Brown Breeches

X1 Leather Belt


[b]Weapon and Ammunition[/b]:

X1 Steel Longsword

X2 Steel Daggers


[b]Potion and Arcane Supplies[/b]:

X1 Potion of Cure Disease

X1 Potion of Cure Poison

X1 Potion of Restore Health

X1 Potion of Restore Stamina

X1 Potion of Restore Magicka

X5 Blue Mountain Flower

X5 Butterfly Wings


[b]Jewelry and Novelty Items[/b]:

X1 Amulet of Talos

X1 Silver Garnet Ring


[b]Books and Documents[/b]:

X1 Book of Yngol and the Sea-Ghosts

X1 Book of The Woodcutter’s Wife

X1 Snake Charmer's Journal


[b]Food, Drinks, Provisions[/b]:

X1 Leg of Goat (Turned into jerky)


[b]Bags, Pouches, Packs[/b]:

X1 Leather Rucksack with Wooden Pack Frame

X1 Large Pouch for Food

X1 Potion Holder

X1 Wooden Box


[b]Other[/b]:

X1 Skinning Knife

X1 Ink Bottle

X1 Quill

X1 Leather Bound Journal


[/indent]

[/hider]