[Hider=The Ant of Diligence]
[center][h1][color=8A2BE2] Aelwin Lelland [/color][/h1][/center]
[center] [IMG]http://i68.tinypic.com/15s09wy.png[/IMG] [/center]

[color=8A2BE2][b]Human Name:[/b][/color] Aelwin “Al” Lelland

[color=8A2BE2][b]Title:[/b][/color] The Ant of Diligence

[color=8A2BE2][b]Sex:[/b][/color] Male

[color=8A2BE2][b]Age:[/b][/color] 28

[color=8A2BE2][b]Occupation:[/b][/color] Head Guard of Yhiwell

[color=8A2BE2][b]Personality:[/b][/color] Extremely hard-working ([i]obviously[/i]) as well as ambitious, Aelwin is stubborn enough to reach any goal he sets to himself. His focus tends to be single-minded and his belief that the ends justify the means may very well leave some unpredicted consequences in his wake. Aelwin prefers to work under some sort of a superior or at least alongside a trusted companion, because those are the only type of people who can stop him from making regretful mistakes on his path to success. Al can be surprisingly charismatic, inspiring people (especially if they’re already somewhat like-minded) to put in their share of work, and do so eagerly. Lassitude in both himself in others is certainly a pet-peeve, to the point where it isn’t uncommon that Aelwin overworks himself, which leads to stress induced headaches more than he would like. If he has any subordinates, he is willing to cut them [i]some[/i] slack, especially if they prove to produce the desired results, however Al will gladly bear down on an underperformer with strict harshness.

[color=8A2BE2][b]Appearance:[/b][/color] Standing at 5’11, Aelwin is fairly muscular, though more to the side of compactly sinewy rather than outright brawny. He has a tanned skin tone and short dark blonde to light brown hair and is trying to grow out a decent beard. His eyes are such a light hazel that they seem almost eerily like amber. Al prefers to wear darker coloured cloth and leather materials, though due to his occupation, he also adds on a hauberk, a York helmet, and his sword and shield, of course. Though even off-duty, he would at least keep his sword in its usual place on his belt, for personal safety.

[color=8A2BE2][b]Fighting Skills:[/b][/color] He’s well versed in using the traditional longsword and shield combination, mixing in the occasional kick, punch, or throw when necessary. As a combatant, he can and will either disable or kill opponents swiftly and efficiently, to the point where some might call him a killing machine, though his allies tend to appreciate his skill and dedication. He’s comfortable fighting even when mounted on a horse, and can perform acceptably enough with a bow.

[color=8A2BE2][b]Special Ability:[/b][/color] [i]Toxikinesis.[/i] Aelwin can generate various poisons (including drugs, both medical and recreational) from his body, most typically by transforming his blood, breath, or saliva into a toxin or venom. If he has an idea of what the effect(s) of the poison should be, he can create it, even if he doesn’t understand its properties as a scholar might. He’s definitely immune to his own creations, but any naturally occurring or man-produced poisons are not necessarily as harmless – his body does automatically try to neutralize them and eventually builds up resistance, but nonetheless, if a quickly working lethal toxin were introduced to his body (especially if he were asleep or otherwise compromised), he would have to consciously dedicate all his mental and physical resources (entering a somewhat meditative trance, if you will) if he had any wish to counter it successfully. Another benefit from this power is that he can always reverse the effect of his own poisons on the victims he subjected to them if he acts swiftly enough. He could do the same even with a poison from some other source (that is, not one of ‘his’) if he were familiar enough with it.

[color=8A2BE2][b]Backstory:[/b][/color] Aelwin was born in the Kheales Kingdom, which lies some ways North of Reever and is perhaps a third of its size, mostly consisting of farmers, hunters, and miners. Aside from Yhiwell, the kingdom’s capital which is ensconced snugly against part of a mountain range full of rich minerals (and is also Kheales Kingdom’s only source of magic crystals apart from trade), the rest of Kheales is a place of simple and modest living, almost to the point of poverty.

Aelwin was born to a tavern wench and a hunter and helped both of his parents from as early as he could. The trio had meagre lodgings and Al’s father was often driven to poaching, since the legal ways didn’t get them fed well enough, especially once Al’s little sister, Signe, was born when he was 5 years old. Not that Aelwin was aware of his father being a criminal, until he was significantly older. Either way, Al spent his youth helping provide for his household, eventually picking up essential skills (such as writing and reading) doing odd jobs for the town-folk in exchange for tutoring, since the only official schooling in Kheales cost a pretty penny. Whatever little time remained to him, Aelwin spent dutifully with his sister, playing with her or teaching her or just looking after her in general.

When he was old enough, sometime upon becoming a teenager, he set his eyes on becoming part of the militia or one of the guards, since both forces often went to face bandits outside and had a fairly nice income, especially if they managed to “reposes” whatever illegal loot the criminals happened to have on them. When Al mentioned his ambition to his father, however, his sire took his son aside and told him of his poaching, not so much as to forbid him from pursuing his wish as it was to caution him regarding the situation. Aelwin thought about the warning, but ultimately decided that if his father was so worried of being discovered, having his son “on the inside” might even turn out to be helpful.

Aelwin in time managed to reach the lofty position of being one of the personal guard to the prince, the heir apparent of the Kingdom. Over the years he had provided as much money to his family as they allowed – an amount he personally considered meagre, but his blood-kin refused more. He understood, of course he did; if they took any more, their neighbours and even good friends might grow too jealous, and his parents wanted to stay in their hometown and preferred the nearby folk’s goodwill over a richer lifestyle. At least Al had been able to pay a good chunk of his sister’s dowry with her full knowledge and agreement, as she apparently loved the rather shrewd businessman she was with and didn’t mind moving closer to the capital (and consequentially, to a somewhat better off city than her hometown had been). 

Once Aelwin was so close to the prince, a man by the name of Andres Philip Sherriden, he worked on befriending him, with the thought of bettering the Kingdom by influencing the prince to be more sympathetic to the common folk’s woes. However, Al soon learned that society didn’t change as easily as he might have imagined nor as quickly as he might have hoped. Nonetheless, he invested part of his income to various projects that caught his eye, often discussing what might benefit the state (especially regarding security) with Andres, who became King two or three years after Al had entered the man’s service. 

In the end, Al’s elevation to the position of a Head Guard was a very matter-of-fact event and didn’t really change Aelwin’s efforts. He began to fear he was spreading himself too thin, exactly a situation his dreams (those that he knew had to belong to his past lives) had warned him against. When he was 25, his first niece was born, a girl named Elisa, and Aelwin dedicated a significant part of his free time to be a good uncle to her. When he was 27, he was fully awakened to the fact that he was The Ant of Diligence, and what exactly that meant for both him and the world. The overload on that day happened in the middle of his work-day, and it being assumed that he had over-worked himself (again), only this time with more dire effect, his Lord and the King of Kheales ordered him some time off to get well-earned respite. Now, a year later from that incident, Aelwin knows he will have to leave his home, his liege, and his family. All to hopefully protect them from what might otherwise be the end of the world.
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