[center][b]Name:[/b] Leon Thorne

[b]Age/Race/Gender:[/b] 23/Human/Male

[b]Profession:[/b] Wandering Adventurer Extraordinaire

[b]Appearance:[/b] Leon is a seasoned warrior whose body has been toned by years of training. Although he stands at an average 5’9 he is quite the force to be reckoned with. Leon has white skin with a mild tan acquired from his years of traveling. He has short black hair, kept to length so it doesn't fall into his face in the heat of battle. He has piercing deep green eyes, likened to a forest by some. Leon’s appearance is not by any means immaculate- he has been on the road for nearly a year and has a healthy layer of dirt on him. 

[b]Armor/Clothing:[/b] Leon’s attire is very much that of a traveler- draped around him is a dark green cloak with a hood that is usually pulled up around his face whilst traveling. Underneath this he wears dark pants and a leather tunic that obscures a white shirt. Leon opts not to wear heavy armor because he feels it restricts his fast paced combat style too much.

[b]Weaponry:[/b] Leon’s primary weapons are two steel swords that he wields simultaneously. Although some fighters find the use of two swords in conjunction awkward, Leon was raised using this skill and instead finds the use of two swords advantageous. In addition to this Leon is known to carry a knife strapped to his leg in case he is ever found without his primary weapons. Additionally he has three throwing knifes strapped along his chest. He isn’t great with at throwing the small knifes, but he can hit a target at short to medium range. Making more precision or longer ranged throws are difficult for him.

[b]Other Items:[/b] Leon carries with him a backpack that hold several traveling supplies. Among these, he has a map that he himself made of the majority of the Heartlands. He keeps several herbal remedies for various common diseases and sicknesses that one encounters in the wilderness, and some that aid the healing of minor wounds. In addition his backpack contains a canteen that is usually kept full of water, and a small amount of preserved meat. He also has a sharpening stone to keep his two swords well maintained. Dangling from his belt is small coin purse, which you can hear the healthy jingle of a small amount of money if you pay attention.

[b]Skills:[/b] Leon is agile and uses a quick combat style that emphasizes using a combination of superior footwork, sword handling, and rapid precision strikes to wear down an enemy and target their weak points. Leon knows the Heartlands, having traveled through them for the last two years. He's sure to know at least a few people in many of the towns and villages that dot the land. Leon is also very world-wise, and knows many things that pertain too surviving in the wilderness and general adventuring. It's worth noting that Leon isn't the most intelligent person- he's not dumb, but much of his upbringing was focused on learning combat. As such, he may not grasp some concepts as quickly as others, and his little knowledge of sciences, mathematics, or magic. It is also worth noting that despite this he has a good knowledge of history and local folklore, having been brought up with tales of ancient warriors and battles. 

[b]Abilities:[/b] Leon's skills lie in the use of his weapons, not in the use of magic.

[b]Personality:[/b] Leon’s outermost layer is that of sheer amicability. He is very friendly, and is more than eager to lend a helping hand to any and all. Because of this he has a unhealthy tendency to butt into others private business in an attempt to simply lend a helping hand. He is a sucker for the ‘damsel-in-distress’ cliche, and will definitely go out of his way to help a lady in need, or anyone in need for that matter. Besides this, Leon is usually very good at getting along with people and tries to make friends everywhere he visits. Leon has always had an unshakable wanderlust, more than likely due to his overly-restrictive childhood. Some, however, can see through Leon's outer facade. Leon is deeply depressed, although he prefers not to put his burden onto others. Leon has had a very unfortunate childhood, and blames himself for the death of his younger brother and his mother. Leon also feels regret for the murder of his father despite the fact that only killed him in defense of his brother. Above all Leon will do his utmost to protect his allies, friends, and loved ones, unwilling to feel the grief of loss again.

[b]History:[/b] Leon’s father was a famed soldier, known for his prowess in battle and his great strength. His mother was a healer of little fame, hailing from a small village to the north. Leon inherited his father's strength in battle, but did not carry on the spark of magic his mother had. Leon also had two brothers- one older and one younger. His older brother was always aloof and distant, and was always the strongest of the three brothers. His eldest brother stringently followed their father, paying little heed for his other brother's pain. Leon's younger brother had the gift of magic from their mother and never had a strong aptitude for the sword. Despite his son's varying strengths, their father treated them all the same- he was determined they would become soldiers, and would carry on the proud family name. It was to this end that their father put them through harsh training. 

Their father was a tough taskmaster, and would make his sons always work better to become stronger and stronger, often pushing them to hard. They rarely had time for leisure, and rarely were able to escape their duties, and if they did try to shirk their training they were harshly punished. Leon’s eldest brother was always their father’s favorite, being the strongest of the family, and when it came time he did enlist in the army as his father wished. Their father also had high hopes for Leon himself, for he showed the same natural talent as the eldest of the brothers, however, Leon was not interested in the soldier’s life and often tried to escape training, often leading to him quarreling with their father. Leon’s youngest brother was the runt of the litter, and faced the brunt of their father’s anger. Although his brother did try he could never satisfy him. And that was when their father's dark side came out. 

Leon was never quite sure how to feel about his father- at some points he did genuinely care for the boys, but sometimes he would take his anger too far when they couldn't meet his expectations. It was for this very reason that Leon killed his father. It was a cold winter morning some time after their eldest brother had left for war. Leon and the youngest were forced to train for hours, sparring against each other, training against dummies, and sparring with their father. Leon, of course, was doing just fine with the training, but his younger brother was another matter entirely. His younger brother fell behind, and couldn't keep up with his father's harsh demands. Their father was very angry with the brother, and decided to vent his anger physically. Leon's father beat on the boy. He didn't do it often, but when he did, it was painful. Leon was enraged, and only saw red. He wanted to protect his brother. So Leon raised his sword, and struck down his father. 

Leon was 17 when this happened, and on that day he left his home village and never returned. The burden of taking a life weighed heavily on Leon. He wandered for a time through the land, and eventually he found a steady living using his skills with the sword to help those in need across the Heartlands. He was determined to make up for his crime by doing whatever he could to help people. He took what people offered him, but never asked for a reward. It wasn’t until a year after that he learned his mother and brother perished in an attack on their village. He was convinced if his father was still alive, he would of protected the family, and they would still be alive. So now, with two more deaths weighing in on his soul, he continues his travels, heading towards Valuun Keep to investigate the disturbances that are taking place there..[/center]