[CHAR] Yggdrasil Chronicles [A Dystopian Steampunk Resistance RP]

[TemplarKnight07]

Eadoin Kyros

(Eadoin, in his latest throw-away outfit and fully kitted out for a mark)

Name: Eadoin Kyros

Age: 28

Race: Human

Personality: A highly disciplined person, Eadoin can flip himself on and off at a moment's notice. Happy and jovial among his comrades and compatriots, stone cold killer in the next. This temperament is mostly the result of his life as a Reaver aboard an airship, which can at the same time be for long periods dull and boring if you cannot find ways to pass the time aboard, and at the next moment be a fight for life and death. He's friendly with his fellows, curt but polite with strangers, and utterly loyal to his superiors. Even when letting his mask down and partying or partaking in vices, he never feels comfortable enough to fully let his guard down, often making him a somewhat of an awkward guest for people who are not used to him.

Backstory: Born to a Tyberian middle class family with a factory foreman and seamstress as parents, Eadoin Kyros spent a fairly typical early life for boys of his age, with him getting a basic education via private tutors so that he could learn to read and write and have a basic knowledge required to be an active citizen (or at least as judged by Tyberian standards). His parents spent a few luxuries on him with some of the spare money they made, such as buying various books for him to read, his favourite being some of fictitious adventure novels that were becoming a growing genre, and drawing inspiration from the tales of mercenaries, explorers, traders, and soldiers aboard airships. He found himself enraptured with a career aboard an airship, exploring the exotic and far-flung landscapes of Yggdrasil, witnessing strange and foreign races in their own civilizations, and being part of an airship crew.

At the age of 18, Eadoin was presented with a stark choice on trying to obtain this future. His father, though a factory foreman in his day-job, had also signed up for the Tyberian Irregulars, a patriotic home-city militia trained in the unlikely event of conflict with another power, and impressed on his son to join as well if he wanted a career with action. Though a patriot as well for his city, Eadoin found the life of an Irregular to be dull and anything but exciting, after all if it were so exciting, why the hell would his father still be working as a foreman? Plus, Eadoin already knew of a more appealing prospect, mercenary companies. Several of them were based out of Tyberia and regularly drew fresh recruits to fill out their ranks to anyone who could afford their equipment, and in that year, Eadoin found that one such company, the Reavers in Black, were hiring. After foregoing his parents' best wishes and buying himself the gear and signing himself up on the Reavers' roster in an act of youthful arrogance and impetuousness, he shortly thereafter found himself climbing aboard the small but formidable Reaver Airship Raven, clad in the company's signature black and porcelain mask attire, sporting a repeating manalock rifle and a rucksack.


(The Reaver Airship Raven, at a private dock, preparing to disembark)

Once airborne, Eadoin and the new recruits were swiftly schooled in what they were going to be doing as Reavers. For although the Reavers were contracted out of Tyberia, that did not necessarily mean that their targets were only going to be foreign vessels. The whole reason the Reavers wore blacks, used private docks, and never actually mentioned the fact that they were based out of Tyberia in any way was so that nobody could actually hold Tyberia accountable for the actions of the Reavers, since a lot of what they did was not strictly legal. The Reavers worked for the highest bidder, and when business was slow and there was no bidder looking to pay them a decent sum, they resorted to piracy to fill their pockets. The Reavers had the whole panoply of nation flags and rival mercenary company flags with which to choose from to fly depending on whose territory they were in, who they were working for, where they intended to land, and who they were attacking. Their Commander at the time, one Godric Jackdaw, was as much a master criminal as much as he was a master strategist when it came to reaving, and he held many contacts in the Tan'Raga and other criminal organizations in other cities that he could fence or flip appropriated material over to for a good price. The whole reason for their signature outfit was to be both a terrifying image as much as a form of self-protection, the masks were hide personal identities, not block bullets.

All of the men had signed contracts, so there was no way of getting out of it, but were assured by Jackdaw and the veterans of the company that they'd be will rewarded if they stuck to it, and that they's still get exactly what they wanted: excitement, adventure, and all while earning a very nice pay check and serving a locally grown Tyberian enterprise. Eadoin, like most of the others was hesitant and skittish at first, but gradually came to not only be comfortable with the nature of the Reavers, but to get enjoyment out of it.

Thus, he stuck with the Reavers for dozens of trips as the years went on. There were big successes and several close calls. Dozens of comrades leaving, coming, and dying, and numerous engagements both perfectly legally sanctioned and more than a few under the table ones. All the while, he became better as a fighter, crewman, and more of a world-traveller as the Reavers sailed all across the skies of Yggdrasil.

After 8 years though, the Reavers hit some turbulence. The increased activity of the increasingly better-equipped Asgardian Navy, among others, to try and counteract acts of piracy had left Jackdaws nervous of pushing the luck of him and his company, and even though legal contracts were becoming more and more plentiful in the employ of nations as tensions appeared to be on the rise, the savvy Reaver Commander and his men were worried to take them. They knew of the return of the Zephyr, and had even spied several of the almighty giants from a great distance as they skirted through Imperial airspace, and knew that the increased activity of the Asgardians had to be tied to them. The Reavers were no cowards, but they were not fools to rush into battle against one of the best-equipped and largest navies in the world if the empire ever went to war with another nation.

So, to save face and not look like a company that turned down perfectly good contracts, Commander Jackdaw brought the Reavers home to Tyberia, where he formally issued a hiatus to him and his men, put their ship into storage, and took the Reavers in Black off the market as a mercenary company. That was the official story, the only real difference is that Jackdaw offered his crew all jobs working for the Tan'Raga instead of laying them all off, which most of them, including Eadoin, took.

Though now that the Reavers were no longer a formal unit, Eadoin was free to work for his new bosses in the Tan'Raga, offering his services as a Gat-man for the organization, a foot soldier who took jobs, didn't ask questions, and completed them on behalf of the bosses. They paid well enough, and this was the closest he was going to get towards emulating his earlier lifestyle for the foreseeable future. Eadoin had had too much of a good taste of how better life could be making money illegally to go back to working for the comparatively crummy jobs his parents had worked. He could go out and enjoy himself on all the pleasures the underworld could offer and afford a decent apartment as good as what his parents could afford on two salaries, though he sacrificed his family's morals to do it, he found that it was easier just to eventually stop associating with his family than to try and earn their gratitude. He would live his life his own way, and try to make the best of it.

He remained employed with the Tan'Raga for two years all the up to and during the occupation of Tyberia by Asgardian forces, where the criminal underworld reignited in a buzz of patriotic individualism and self-centered interest that Eadoin could get behind.

Skills and Abilities:

Professional Marksman: A crack shot with years of experience with a firearm both before when he was a Reaver and after when he became a Gat man, Eadoin is most deadly when he has a gun in his hands.

Professional Acrobat: From climbing and fighting aboard moving airships high in the skies, to scaling and running through the streets of Tyberia, Eadoin has gained a nimbleness on his feet for dealing with heights and a skill for pulling off jumps onto precarious surfaces that would leave ordinary people squeamish.

Journeyman Swordsman: Though he prefers guns rather than blades, Eadoin does possess passing training and experience in sabre fighting styles.

Journeyman Pilot: Reaver Crews often take other vessels as prizes, so crews need to have at least a basic grasp of pilotage if they're to be an asset. Eadoin can fly most standard vessels after several minutes of familiarization.

Journeyman Steam-Mechanic: Being a member of a crew of Reavers aboard a small airship, everyone needed to know how to fix the various components of the ship in a pinch rather than trust a single mechanic who could be killed in a single barrage. He can diagnose a problem and repair it with the right parts and tools.

Equipment:
-A Repeating Manalock rifle: A Reichlander invention, this bolt-action rifle can hold a small drum-sized clip of twelve cartridges that could be repeatedly fired before reloading. Very handy in fire-fights when there could be several dozen targets around. Eadoin has since added a scope and fitted it with quality wood stock and finishings for a well-maintained instrument of war.

-A Steam-powered Hand-cannon: Fitted to a bracer of hardened brass and steel, this steam-powered weapon can fire a single large shell before needing to be reloaded and re-pressurized. Though it is very silent compared to a black powder weapon its effective range is mitigated to anything within a couple dozen yards, if that due to the difference in force able to be generated by hot air compared to an explosive agent. The shells can be loaded with buckshot, solid slugs, or any other type of ammunition that can be fitted into a large shell.

-A Steel sabre: Simple and elegant, it is as well maintained as the rest of Eadoin's gear, though it has marks of retouching due to various actions having left it needing repairs over the years.

-Reaver Overcoat: Remnants of his time as a Reaver, he's still kept the the signature black uniform of his company and wears it generally when he's not on assignment, or for night-jobs. He keeps it in good condition, though its not very effective as armour.

-Brass-covered steel Optics Mask and greaves: Serving two purposes, one to protect himself and his identity, and two to serve a functional purpose as limited armour for the purposes of cover while still leaving him highly mobile. The mask in particular Eadoin can fit with a scope of dwarven-make for magnification.

[Vor]

Casimir Volk

(Casimir in his everyday travelling clothes)
Name: Casimir Volk
Age: 25
Race: Human

Personality: A friendly and talkative person, Casimir is always happy to strike up a conversation with almost anyone. It quickly becomes apparent that he loves the sound of his own voice a little too much and if someone doesn’t interrupt him he can go on for hours. His tales are, admittedly, interesting, but friends will begin noticing that he has a tendency to repeat them, often with a slight change in detail here or there. He can be a good listener when he wants to, however, and knows what to say in order to keep people talking. Casimir has a near-perfect memory and is able to recall even minute details with great accuracy, something which usually surprises those who don’t know him well. He has a strong sardonic streak and will never hesitate to make a joke at somebody else’s expense, especially if it’s in poor taste. Despite this he can appear very secretive at times, often growing unreasonably defensive if certain subjects are broached.

Backstory
Casimir Volk was born in the city-state of Beakhaven, a sizeable trading-hub to the north of Tyberia. His was a poor family, his father was a warehouse worker, while his mother worked as street-sweeper. Casimir had four other siblings and they never had enough food or clothing for everybody. It was a wretched childhood, as far as he can remember, spent digging through trash-piles in the slums and avoiding the bigger boys who’d take what little he had without much thought. As the youngest child his parents had little love for him, largely considering him a mistake and yet another mouth to feed.

It didn’t take them long to get rid of their unwanted child, though Casimir now considers this the best thing they ever did for him. When he was just eight his father introduced him to a well-dressed man and informed him that he would take him away in the service of the Patrician, Beakhaven’s ruler. Though he was just a lad at the time Casimir vividly remembers the moment and clearly recalls the joy he felt when he stepped out of the foul-smelling house. He also remembers the coin pouch which the man gave to his parents - he would later learn that they had traded him for the meagre sum of twenty standard roots.

At the Patrician’s palace he met other boys and girls from poor families, much like him. Nobody informed them of their purpose, but they were given a place to sleep, food to eat and new clothes, which was more than any of them had possessed in their entire lives. The very next day stern-faced instructors began tutoring them. They taught them to read and write, then moved on to history and geography, chemistry and mathematics – in short, all the subjects a rich child would be able to afford. This went on for four years and in that time they were confined to a restricted wing in the palace, away from the hustle and bustle of the Patrician’s quarters.

Finally the tutors were replaced by rough men, whose uniforms Casimir was now able to recognise. They were known as the Black Masks, a secretive group of spies working for the city’s ruler. Even the poorest kid in the most wretched slum had heard of the Masks – heroes to some, villains to others, but always having a place in stories and local legends. Beakhaven’s political arena was a violent one, the rich families locked in a perpetual struggle for power and influence. Information was the most valuable commodity and the Patrician ensured he remained in power by having the best spies around. The teenagers were informed that the very best of them would be selected to work for the Black Masks. For a child born on the streets this was a dream come true – the Masks enjoyed many privileges and, when not on a mission, led an easy life.

Needless to say all the children, Casimir among them, leapt at the chance. For the next six years they trained diligently and competed with each other fiercely. Throughout their training, the senior Masks kept reminding them that only the best would be accepted. There was no place for friendship or cooperation, which was viewed as weakness. After four years of relative peace and quiet, it came as a shock to Casimir and the others, but those that wished to succeed quickly adapted. Their regimens were brutal and many of the children perished – during training, in freak accidents, on assignments gone awry and, as hushed rumours had it, as a result of assassination among the students.

Of a group of about a hundred children, eventually only half a dozen or so remained. Casimir proved to be a survivor and stood as one of them, proudly earning the black mask he had worked so hard for. He was outfitted by the Patrician’s best craftsmen, given a new name and a small apartment to serve as a hideout. The next five years passed by in a blur - one assignment after the other, with little time for rest or anything else for that matter. His missions ranged from stealing trading ledgers to eavesdropping on some of the most powerful men in Beakhaven. It was hard work, requiring patience and daring, every mistake could be his last – when caught a Black Mask was sworn to take his secrets to the grave.

When he did have time to himself Casimir tinkered with various mechanical items he collected. It was a passion of his ever since he was a child and his newfound wealth allowed him to indulge in it. He especially enjoyed working on watches and, as time passed, began assembling some of his own. Another hobby of his was reading and he acquired many books, earning a reputation as something of a bookworm among his colleagues. They’d often joke that Casimir completed his missions quickly just so he could go home to read the latest novel he’d bought. It wasn’t far from the truth.


(Casimir in the trademark uniform of the Black Masks)

Casimir made a name for himself as a dependable agent - he was quick, quiet and could get the necessary information without resorting to violence. He had a way of people and had built up a network of dependable contacts, which were one of the main reasons for his successes. Casimir’s superiors acknowledged this and had plans for him, but that all changed with the coming of Asgard.

The empire attacked quickly and decisively, crushing any resistance. For all their boasts of seeing it coming and being prepared, the Black Masks and the Patrician’s forces were powerless to do anything. The city fell within a day, the Patrician was executed and his palace occupied. Asgard began a systematic purge of the old ruler’s servants, chief among them were the Black Masks. Casimir knew that he would suffer the same fate, so he used his contacts to smuggle himself away from the city. In under a week his old life was gone and everything he had worked for had disappeared with it. To his own surprise, Casimir wasn’t saddened – far from it. For the first time in his life he felt free.

He spent the next year and a half wandering through eastern Yggdrasil, never able to stay in one place for too long. The roots he’d saved up during his time in Beakhaven were dwindling, but he put his skills as a tinker to use in order to get by. He’d travel through villages, fixing broken items or making curious toys for children. Casimir enjoyed this life very much, much more than the one in his hometown. The former spy was now adamant that he would never do cloak and dagger work again. Instead he was driven to travel and experience all those things he’d read about in the books. What’s more - he decided that he would write all of it down. All his life he’d read other people’s books, now he wanted to have one of his own.

His travels eventually led him to Tyberia, a city he had heard much about. In a cruel twist of fate he arrived just days before Asgard did. Trapped in a foreign city, with no friends or contacts, between two warring sides, he decided to lay low until it blew over. It wasn’t long until the empire occupied the whole of Tyberia, forcing Casimir into an all too familiar dilemma. This time, he realised, he had no desire to flee. Casimir had tried to stay out of politics after the fall of Beakhaven, but as much as he didn’t want to admit it, it was clear that Asgard and their Zephyr overlords would stop at nothing until everything was under their dominion. Despite his better judgement he got in contact with the local resistance and soon found himself embroiled in the growing conflict.

Skills and Abilities:

• Adept Agent – Before leaving Beakhaven, Casimir was regarded as one of the Patrician’s most promising spies. Even though he no longer practices the craft, his instincts and skills remains as sharp as ever. He is stealthy and nimble, equally at home traversing rooftops or losing himself in a crowd. A quick-thinker, he is able to analyse situations and act calmly under stress. Casimir has a way with words and knows how to get people to share information with him, while revealing nothing himself. His street smarts allow him to identify almost everything worth knowing about a given city – whether it be the best place to rent a cheap bed, where to find illicit goods or who pulls the strings in the local Tan'Raga.
• Professional Hand-to-hand – Out of necessity Black Masks are expected to fight with whatever they have available, which is usually their hands and legs. As a result, Casimir is quite dangerous even when unarmed. He is well versed in various combat techniques, both offensive and defensive ones.
• Professional Knifeman – Casimir is deadly with knives, regardless of their shape or size. When threatened, a quick twirl of his butterfly knife is usually more than enough to deter potential attackers. If forced to fight he relies on his speed and knowledge of anatomy to end it with a single strike. He is equally skilled with throwing knives, able to accurately hit targets from a distance.
• Professional Picklock – Due to the nature of his previous work Casimir often had to gain access to places where he wasn’t supposed to be. As a result, he has extensive knowledge of various locking mechanisms and how to get past them. In recent times he’s turned those skills to locksmithing, helping people who’ve locked themselves out of their homes or fixing broken locks.
• Journeyman Tinker – Casimir’s deft, steady hands have proven to be capable of dealing with more than just locks. His main focus are watches, but over the years he’s taken apart toys, spyglasses, compasses, pumps, stoves and even a number of electrical devices. While he’s no master and a dedicated professional can easily outperform him, Casimir knows enough to get the job done when no one else is available.
• Novice Writer – Though still very much an amateur Casimir is quite enthusiastic about his writing. He practices whenever he has the time and is determined to one day be published.

Equipment:

• Butterfly knife– A masterfully-crafted knife with an engraved steel handle. It’s worn and the blade looks to be have been resharpened numerous times, but it’s kept in a prime condition.
• Steel dirk – A long, thin dagger of high-quality steel. Like the rest of his equipment, it’s well-cared for, but doesn’t seem to have been customised.
• Throwing knives – Knives balanced for throwing. Casimir usually has a number hidden about his person.
• Lockpicking tools – Torsion wrench, hook picks, ball picks, rake picks and everything else one needs to open doors. They’re kept hidden in an inside pocket, as such things usually draw unwanted attention from guards.
• Tinkering tools– An assortment of precision screwdrivers, tweezers, pliers and hammers, which Casimir uses to earn a living by repairing items. They’re kept neatly stored in a wooden box, each tool meticulously clean and arranged.
• Unfinished tome - Perhaps Casimir's most prized possession. A book he has began writing, detailing his notes and thoughts on his travels through Yggdrasil. Upon closer inspection one would notice ripped out pages, probably a result of Casimir's displeasure with the results he's produced. He zealously guards it and seldom lets anyone read through it.
• Black mask - A keepsake from the old days, the masks is a reminder of what he once was. Like the lockpikging tools, he keeps this safely hidden, as he never knows when he might run across a former foe.

[vietmyke]

Elijah Quaid

Elijah Quaid - Child prodigy, Manaweaver, Asgardian Military Academy student

Name: Elijah Quaid
Age: 21
Race: Elf

Personality:
Quiet and reserved, Elijah is a confident, but often unspoken individual. His calm and collected demeanor is often mistaken for an uncaring and aloof disposition. Underneath his quiet persona lies an innate brilliance, a highly intuitive and calculative mind. Highly logical and orderly, Elijah shows visible disdain towards the use of trickery and subterfuge but recognizes it's usefulness in strategy. Efficient and analytical, but often accused of lacking outward compassion, Elijah is a competent tactician boasting considerable knowledge of theory, though lacking in experience. Strong willed and possessing an air of determination, Elijah is highly critical and will rarely hesitate to call others out on their shortcomings, often leading to him butting heads with others. Like many high-status elves, Elijah can at times be arrogant, haughty and overly prideful.

Background:
A child prodigy from the capital city of Midgar, Elijah is the only son of General Quaid, a prominent leader of the Asgardian military. His childhood was strict and rigid, and consisted of private lessons, tutors, fencing lessons, and statescraft among other things. Elijah and his father often butted heads while growing up, continuing even through his adolescence. Upon reaching adolescence it became revealed that Elijah was capable of weaving mana. In fact, he had an incredible mastery over mana not seen in many professionals twice his age. Taking private lessons from his father - another talented manasmith, Elijah quickly underwent training to master his full potential.

Proving himself to be an extremely talented manasmith, Elijah's father had him enrolled in Asgard's premier Military Academy, where his natural intelligence, and mastery over various skills propelled him to the top of his class. Elijah was offered positions in several Knighthoods, including the prestigious Knighthood of Blades, the esteemed Knights of the Lexicon, and the elf-exclusive Knights Arcana. Elijah's future was bright, and he had a variety of career options, all in high level military positions that he could enter right out of Academy. It was during his final year at the Academy when the Zephyr appeared, and subsequently took control of the Asgard Empire. Almost immediately, Elijah heard reports of secessionists and rebels breaking away from the Empire in protest to the Zephyr. All of these rebellions were quickly, and brutally put down.

Though Elijah never passed the cut as a diehard patriot, Elijah never seemed to lack loyalty to the Empire. It was all the more surprising then, when he suddently cut ties with the academy and left- an action that greatly shamed and angered his father. Disillusioned with the Asgard Empire and their Zephyr overlords, Elijah retreated inwards to himself and left the city of Midgar. Fleeing with his belongings in self-imposed exile, Elijah left central Asgard in search of the fringe kingdoms. Eventually finding himself in Tyberia, Elijah soon became involved with a secessionist movement within its borders, where his military knowledge- while lacking experience and physical applications, would prove most useful.

Skills:
A child of nobility and the son of a general, Elijah is talented in a wide berth of skills. From statecraft to strategy, Elijah has been educated in diplomacy and military tactics. A trained fencer and swordsman due to private lessons throughout his childhood, as well as the Asgard Military Academy, Elijah is a capable fighter, as well as tactician. With his natural affinity with the world's Mana, Elijah is a talented manasmith. Capable of throwing bolts of energy from his hands, to relieving the injured of mana radiation and injuries, a testimant to his mastery over mana is his ability to create and maintain a solid blade of energy around a focus.

• Professional Swordsmanship - A top student at Asgard's prestigious Military Academy, as well as trained from a young age, Elijah, while lacking in battlefield experience, has been trained extensively in fencing and bladesmanship, and has at times been able to best several of his instructors in combat.
• Adept Manaweaving - A manasmith of considerable note, Elijah has a natural natural affinity with the world's Mana. Capable of throwing bolts of energy from his hands, and relieving the injured of mana radiation and poisoning, a testimant to his mastery over mana is his ability to create and maintain a solid blade of energy around a focus.
• Professional Strategist - A child prodigy, an heir to nobility, the son of a general, and a skilled student of a prestigious military academy, Elijah is well educated in diplomacy and military tactics.
• Journeyman Statescraft - While educated in statescraft and policy making as a child and through his time at the military academy, it is clear that statescraft was not one of Elijah's focuses.
• Journeyman Marksmanship - While trained with manalocks as every student at the Asgard Military Academy was, it is clear that it is not one of Elijah's main suits.

Equipment:

• Elijah's Coat - A battlecoat often worn by top ranking Academy students. These coats are made of thick leather and are often treated with special magics to make them more resilient than everyday longcoats, making them capable of being worn into battleThese coats are often a sign of status in Asgard Military units. Several Knight Houses also give their own personalized coats to prospective members. Elijah's Coat is from the Knights Arcana and is warded to provide him further protection from mana based weapons.
• Einherjar - An ornate, ivory sword hilt without a blade. Elijah uses this sword hilt as a focus for his manasmithing abilities. The most common application of Elijah's mana weaving abilities are made manifest in the sword blade he conjours. The blade, while quite wide, is made of pure mana, and is therefore nearly weightless. The blade is capable of cutting through most non-resistant materials with ease. The hilt features a mana crystal in its pommel to provide extra energy when needed.

[Varromere]

Vrarok Adalsteune

[Vrarok, 35, pictured with his 'third wife' Kara]

Vrarok Adalsteune

---

Age: 56
Race: Dwarf
Personality: If one were to ask somebody close to Vrarok Adalsteune what the dwarf was like, the answers would not paint the prettiest picture. While a loyal friend to those who can tolerate the chaos, Vrarok embodies the concept of a larrikin. He has never responded well to authority, being quick to remind anyone that tries to lord over him that he is worthy of equal respect, a tendency that has become habitual since his dealings with elves and humans. However, believing you are worthy of respect and behaving in a manner deserving of it are two different concepts entirely. Vrarok acts before he thinks, if he ever thinks. He is a reputable deviant, a rogue in many regards, defying any restraints that others may cast upon him. His recklessness, impulsive spirit and often destructive personality have credited him with a moniker that coincides with his own personal philosophies and beliefs; to many, the dwarf in the jade cloak is known as “the Anarchist”.

Backstory: Vrarok hails from the dwarven stronghold of Idunn, known also as the Black Bastion. With its smouldering forges and wicked onyx spires creeping out of the Ivuldiruuk (‘mountain of smiths’), the city boasts an impressive subterranean fighting force in the form of the Black Guard. It is in Idunn, and within the ranks of the Black Guard, that our story begins.

Vrarok was born to the Clan of Adalsteune, the founders and imposing crown of the Black Guard. As the son of the Magnara of Adalsteune, Vrarok was born into a life of expectations and responsibilities. From the time he could walk, his mother wanted him groomed and prepared for the grit and the grime that all dwarves taking the black are accustomed to. He was given two tutors: Sidi, who educated him as befit the son of a noble, and Kuvar, who taught him the ways of combat and how to hone his one true love in life – the gun. With Sidi, he would study history and engineering in the vast stone halls of their manse, but with Kuvar he would learn how to fight. Despite enjoying many freedoms and adoring his tutors, Vrarok was defiant and forever intent on doing as he pleased. As a child, he was afforded leniency in his desires, a luxury that he would later be deprived of.

As the winters faded into spring, and the young dwarf matured, his talent for marksmanship had drawn the eye of his mother. She watched closely as her child grew into an adult. Unbeknownst to him, his entire future had been mapped out, a cage of politics, war and responsibilities hewn for him by his mother and her advisors. Upon his fifteenth winter, he was to join the Black Guard. On his sixteenth, he descended into the bowels of Ivuldiruuk for the first time.

The mines beneath the city covered many leagues, a labyrinth of dark tunnels and undiscovered treasures waiting to be liberated from the rock. However, life as a dwarven miner was dangerous, and in recent years the ratoskr presence had grown. Their attacks were more frequent, and the miners (while capable of defending themselves), required additional protection. This had always been the charge of the Black Guard, to best the darkness, and to battle whatever monsters may lurk within it for the good of Idunn. Vrarok detested it. It was a life of routine, of obeying and listening, of constant violence and vigilance. Hours were uncounted, and days and nights had blurred into a singular torment. When one was not resting, he was patrolling, or fighting, or grieving for the loss of a comrade. He spent three years in the tunnels until a particularly catastrophic encounter with a ratoskr almost ended his life. By his mother’s decree, he was to be withdrawn from the depths to recover in the city. When he awoke, he was free from the nightmare and the skittering dark. He was relieved, until he discovered that he had been taken from one hell and bound into another: marriage.

As the eldest son and heir to the Clan of Adalsteune, he had a duty, one that he was to fulfil immediately. His mother had arranged for him to marry the daughter of the city’s thane, a deal which would ensure the continued prosperity of Idunn. His refusal was met with an ultimatum – marry, or return to the depths until death. Overwhelmed by the chains his mother had ensnared him in, Vrarok abandoned the black and fled the city. With him, he brought his blunderbuss and axe.

The next year, he wandered alone until he found the city of Tyberia. It was a metropolis, a mixing pot of races and creeds and cultures. It was so foreign to him, so bizarre, and yet he fell in love with it almost instantly. When he first arrived, he made a living as a mercenary and a guard-for-hire. However, the temptation of shadier dealings pulled him in, and soon he had established himself as a prominent criminal. His talents found him in the company of the Legion of Lead, a mostly dwarven gang linked to the city’s underworld. For years, he worked alongside them, earning a share of their profits and establishing quite a reputation for himself. However, his dealings with them were tenuous at best, and his chaotic nature often jeopardised delicate operations. His recklessness and the trail of destruction he often left behind him led to him almost being arrested on multiple occasions, barely escaping each time. Despite all of this, his love for the city had never faded. He had freedom, a life liberated from responsibilities and expectations and restrictions. He answered to no one but himself, and had complete control over what he did and who he associated with. For him, it was bliss.

Yet, when Asgard invaded, things in the city rapidly changed. Perhaps it was his love for the city, or perhaps it was the anarchist within the dwarf that compelled him to join the revolutionaries and encourage any and all defiance against the empire. Whatever it was, Vrarok Adalsteune has made the city’s liberation his personal mission.

Note: Following his departure from Idunn, during his year of solitary travels, Vrarok began personalising his blunderbuss. He began referring to it as “she”, and named it Mordare. This habit would manifest with all of his guns, as well as the notion that they are his ‘wives’.

Skills & Abilities:

• Adept Marksmanship: From the moment he could hold one, Vrarok Adalsteune has been honing his talents as a gunner. In his youth, he preferred the close-range capabilities of a blunderbuss, but now he enjoys the comfort of a rifle.
• Professional Axeman: Though his proficiency with an axe has waned with his age, he is still able to swing one well enough to hold his own against most. That being said, he is still more at home with a rifle.
• Professional Engineer: As most dwarves are, Vrarok has a mind wired for ingenuity and artifice. His skills as an engineer have allowed him to build his own rifles and help him make a profit.
  Journeyman Miner: He was never too good at being delicate and extracting precious ore and stones. That being said, show him a gemstone or mineral and he's likely to know exactly what it is and how to work with it.

Equipment:

• Valkhyr, the Winged Woman: a rifle of his own making, this is the fifth gun he's owned. Valkhyr is long and beautiful, with a glistening golden barrel etched with silver filigree. It is capable of firing from quite a distance, allowing the owner to use it from a safe distance.
• Great Axe, Mithril: A long and heavy single-edged axe that may appear small to most, but to a dwarf, it is of an ideal weight and length to hack and slash enemies. It is forged with mithril and shimmers with a slight emerald hue when light hits it.
• Vrarok's Jade Cloak: his oldest possession is a jade cloak that he first purchased in Tyberia. He wears it almost all of the time, and it holds great sentimental significance to him.