[hider=Renard Benoit]
[list][*][u][b]Name[/b][/u]: Renard Benoit
[*][u][b]Age[/b][/u]: 29
[*][u][b]Gender[/b][/u]: Male
[*][u][b]Race[/b][/u]: Hundi
[*][u][b]Rank:[/b][/u] Steel
[*][u][b]Appearance[/b][/u]: [url=https://cdn.donmai.us/original/80/c3/__iggy_sword_of_convallaria__80c378dd1995e113f0d98515d6d9e490.png]Renard is a lean example of the Hundi people, around 5'4" tall.[/url]
[*][u][b]Personality[/b][/u]: Renard is truly a byproduct of his parent's best efforts, bringing him reasonably in line with the traits Hundi are best known for. Honest to a fault, rarely even omitting things when asked directly, he does his best to maintain a cheery presence despite sometimes (oftentimes) being a bearer of bad news after an adventure or job ran into unforeseen problems. He treats anyone he is working with as fast friends, and is quick to put past events opposing someone behind him if it was a matter of work. Mercenary and adventure work could lead him to working with people he had fought not too long ago, so holding grudges was a hard thing to do while staying true to his path in life. He would face each challenge, job, or adventure with all he was able to muster, and once it was done enjoy the free time and coin this lifestyle earned. His view of life is one of fighting well, living well, and if need be, dying well.

Even in the middle of a fight, be it from a job or finding himself in another honorable duel, he keeps up this friendly, chatty behavior. He'll make remarks on an opponent's fighting style, metaphorically or literally poking at weaknesses with a grin and complimenting skilled opposition just as readily. He tries to avoid getting worked up in anger, or letting someone get into his head, though this is hardly foolproof for someone who wears his emotions as openly as he does. Still, by his own estimate, he considers himself friendly and easy enough to get along with. Whether everyone agrees with that or not is another matter completely, but as far as Renard is concerned that is beyond his control. He will do his best in life, and as long as he keeps doing so he can look himself in the eye and be content, though he won't rest on his laurels and will keep driving for every higher heights.
[*][u][b]Brief Backstory[/b][/u]: Renard is the son of two Hundi, his mother a knight in a minor Thaln house, having bested the best of the house guard to earn that position. His father was a mercenary who had been bested by his mother in a duel during his ongoing coming of age journey, who had joined a mercenary company joining in on the violence in Thaln for profit. The two would elect to depart Thaln before Renard was born, both their patron groups drifting into actions that the two stubborn, proud Hundi could not be party to and having a soon to be born son to raise. They returned to northern Ithillin, putting distance between them and their past, and soon after Renard was born.

Renard was raised with two different outlooks, though both colored by the Hundi way of life, as both his parents continued their own lives while raising him. His father, who had taken up a post as a local town guard, drilled him in the usefulness of hunting, of being able to be self sufficient, and a mercenary sort of honor in staying true to a job once agreed, no matter what. His mother, who had taken to assisting in the day to day running and rule of the town, drilled him in the use of spear, as well as tactics when fighting with multiple allies of varying skills. He had inherited his father's spry speed and sharp eyes, though she made sure to reinforce a more traditional knightly honor in her son to offset her husband's meddling. Despite butting heads routinely, they genuinely cared for each other and their son, ensuring Renard had a, by and large, untroubled if intensive upbringing.

Upon reaching his sixteenth birthday, Renard's family and friends came together to celebrate before he struck out on his coming of age journey. He chose to head north into Estival, much to the relief of his parents who had been worried he would choose to head south to find out more about his parent's past, and after receiving several gifts and well wishes, he departed with all his worldly belongings slung over a shoulder. Initially, he almost immediately ran into adventurer's while they were on the job, an Iron rank leading several Copper ranked adventurers on a mission that Renard accidentally finished for them, challenging the bandits after they tried to shake him down. Rather than immediately challenge the adventurers, he found himself sharing a campfire with them, talking about the Adventurer's Guild, the perks and lives they led as part of it.

This chance meeting set the tone for Renard's life, who immediately struck out for the capitol on his own since the group he met had a few other jobs to take care of before returning to report their success. Renard engaged in no small number of duels, ultimately coming out of them victorious and with a growing understanding of Estival by the time he reached the capitol and made a beeline for the Guild itself, intent on joining as part of his journey. Sure he could wander aimlessly, and see where fortune and fate took him, but a life as an Adventurer sounded far more appealing, and would give him the chance to actually be recompensed for his time and efforts. He was accepted after initial examinations and trials, assigned the Copper rank as appropriate, and this would begin his long career as an adventurer.

Renard always went for the most challenging jobs his rank would allow, aiming to prove himself and make good on his developing outlook on life, much to the chagrin of some of the less skilled among his rank who he ultimately ended up working with. Not that it stopped him from being friendly with his fellow adventurers, building a reputation of friendly and driven, and would continue pushing to advance in the ranks of the Guild. Reaching Iron in his early twenties, Renard would embrace the wider variety of jobs available to him eagerly, continuing to work steadily on his reputation. He would send regular letters home to his family, corresponding and informing them of his efforts, successes, and defeats, treating it all in stride. He never did end up losing a formal duel that would have led him to being married, something his mother was quietly sad to hear, though he still had plenty of time to have that change so she never brought it up.

Renard's last job as an Iron ranked adventurer would be dealing with bandits who had settled on the Estival/Ithillin border, which should not have been anything unusual for the group of Iron ranked adventurers to handle. It turned out that the reports had not been accurate, and the bandits were more experienced than expected, turning the fight into a rather pitched, dangerous affair. Renard challenged the bandit leader to a duel in an act of desperation to prevent the capture or worse of his allies and him. It took some goading, but the agreement was made, the loser's forces would surrender to the victor, with everything that entailed. His allies were in no shape to argue, and while already worn down from the prior fighting, Renard threw everything he was into the fight. He would rather die than let his allies down, and despite significant injuries, he did manage to lay low the bandit chief for good before he collapsed from exhaustion and injury.

The remaining bandits surrendered, turned over to local guard forces, while the rest of his group helped Renard to a healer so he could recover from his injuries. It was a slow trek back to the capital, though a message reporting the outcome had been sent ahead of them. By the time they got back, Renard had recovered from the worst of his injuries and was able to greet the waiting news in good shape. He had his rank increased to Steel, though he was cautioned to consider other options than a do or die duel in the future, and he celebrated with his fellow adventurers before they moved onto their next jobs. 

Renard would continue to prove himself as a Steel ranked adventurer, taking on harder jobs whenever possible, continuing to write home regularly between jobs. He had his eyes set on Silver next, ready and willing to do what he had to in the effort of reaching that next rank in his career, writing eagerly about his excitement and drive to continue bettering himself and reach that next level of recognized capability. 

[*][u][b]Equipment[/b][/u]:
[list]
[*] Light Spear - A custom spear commissioned to celebrate Renard's coming of age before departing on the traditional journey to gain valuable experience in both combat and life abroad, the spear is, understandably, the pride and joy of Renard's otherwise modest possessions. Incredibly well balanced, ideal for either one or two handed use depending on the situation and need, and reinforced along its length for both striking with the spear head, in either thrusts or slashes, or striking blows with twirling motions. It was fashioned to suit Renard's preferred style of fighting, and he always keeps the weapon within arm's reach whenever possible.
[*] Dagger - A longer example of its kind, with a slight curve and single edge, Renard keeps this blade handy for both utility and combat, though it is otherwise unremarkable.
[*] Throwing Knives - A bandolier of knives that Renard picked up after learning how to throw knives as part of tavern games, and he now maintains a respectable number of them in an easy to access manner. They are balanced and made exclusively with throwing in mind and not well suited for actual use in melee fighting, to give him an edge when approaching a fight or catching someone off guard. Plus, they are useful for the aforementioned tavern games to win a few bets or to keep himself entertained.
[*] Personal Belongings - Renard typically travels with all his worldly belongings at any given time, which consists of a sleeping roll, small tent (though more of a tarp than tent proper, mostly to keep the rain off him), a comb and grooming supplies for his tail and hair, any money he has earned, as well as a small set of cooking implements for preparing food he either catches or forages while adventuring, or brings with him when going places where forage and hunting is not viable.
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[*][u][b]Skills[/b][/u]:
By and far Renard's most developed and noteworthy skill, he is an accomplished wielder of the spear, though by his own admission he would not call himself a master yet. Capable in both one handed use, whether paired with a shield or just to keep an open hand as necessary, or in two handed use as he prefers, the Hundi employs an acrobatic, high mobility style of fighting. Constantly moving, swaying, probing and evaluating his opponent in the opening strikes and skirmishing, he leans on the strengths a spear offers over other weapons of choice and treats each fight like a dance. While ill suited to fighting as part of a tight formation, his style shows its worth in skirmishes and duels where one is not expected to work in tight, shoulder to shoulder tandem. 

In addition Renard knows how to use a dagger in close when he can't bring his spear to bear effectively, though this is often in an effort to create space to bring his preferred weapon to bear. He learned to throw knives initially as part of tavern games and ways to pass the time when nothing else needed done, giving him an eye for putting well balanced knives where he wanted them to go. While lacking both the reach and force a proper option for ranged fighting might have, they are quick and handy in a pinch. Beyond this, as far as combat related skills go, he is capable of maintaining combat footing and pacing for extended durations, a combination of endurance and control over his expenditure of stamina, to keep up with opponents he might not otherwise best in sheer skill alone.

Thanks to his father's drills and continued practice, Renard is capable of supporting himself and several allies when cut off, or otherwise unable, to rely on normal supplies. He can put his spear to good use hunting, and he is also capable of foraging and scrounging up food and clean drinking water when its available. Add in his father's cooking lessons as part of this broad skillset and you get a Hundi who is confident in being able to make do far from civilization whenever needed. His mother ensured that he has at least a basic understanding of tactics, though these are fairly straightforward, and he does often end up slotting himself into a battleplan better than coming up with one on his own. At least if that battleplan involves more than bringing everyone's strength to bear directly.
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