Name: Malkus
Appearance:
Malkus is actually rather lanky. He lacks the bulk and mass of most orcs, but is still notably strong for a man his size. He has two notable accessories that he always wears: a tattered leather cloak and a tribal mask. The cloak was what was left of his old smith banner, which he now wears in remembrance of his old life. The mask is also from his village: it showed that Malkus is a half-orc, as he lacks the tusked teeth of like other orcs. This was actually a point of pride in his village, as it showed that he was part of two worlds. He generally wears whatever is appropriate for the weather, though he has a high tolerance for the cold and thus can deal with wearing less to deal with colder weather.
Race: Half-Orc
Age: 25
Homeland: Rhodok Republic
History: Malkus was born in a remote orc village in the Rhodok Republic called Oshu'Gun. Under the protection of Count Gharmall, the orcs of Oshu'Gun came to the Rhodok Republic to escape slavery from the Nords. Malkus was among the first generation of orcs born in this village, his parents being an orcish huntress and a Rhodok warrior. Though not formally married, the two loved one another like husband and wife, and Malkus' father even took the young orc to his home city to train and learn a trade. Malkus became an apprentice under a military smith, first starting with simply buckles and nails, but by the time he became a young man Malkus could forge a sword or even a set of armor. Entering adulthood, Malkus returned to his home village and opened up a smithy, where he mostly makes tools and equipment for the farmers and miners, but occasionally gets a hefty commission to forge a weapon or shield. For a short while, life was good. Simple, but stable. Food was abundant enough and the mountains would provide safety to the villagers. Or so Malkus thought.
One winter's night, war horns awoke the orcs of Oshu'Gun. Many of the men grabbed what weapons they had, spears, axes, and clubs, to see what was going on. What they saw was an army of Swadian knights ready to invade the village. Everyone tried to evacuate, taking whatever they could, but before they could leave the village the Swadians attacked. They came charging down the mountainside with lances ready to skewer any orc too slow to get out of the way. Malkus barely had his boots on when he saw what was happening, and did his best to escort some of the women and children to the forest to hide from the invaders. He didn't stay and fight like the rest of the orcs. He was... Too scared. By the time morning came, all that was left was ruins and corpses. The swadians had broken into everyone's homes and stole anything of value. Food, metal, cloths. What was left was whatever was on the dead orcs, or trampled underfoot. The survivors didn't have much of anything to reclaim. The best they could do was bury the dead. From Malkus's shop, all he found was the tattered remains of his banner and a few broken tools.
The refugees went to the town of Yalen. It was the closest town to Oshu'Gun. There Malkus was able to find some work thanks to his old contacts, but it wasn't going to be enough to survive. He was barely making enough to stay in the city, which was growing more and more overpopulated due the refugees from the countryside coming in. Malkus needed to do something different. Something to survive in these wartorn times. And so, with what little money he had, Malkus made himself some armor and a weapon, and would become a mercenary.
Skills:
Polearm and Shield - Trained by his father, a Rhodok spearman, Malkus is proficient with using polearms such as spears or halberds alongside shields. The Rhodoks are known for their impenetrable shield walls and pike formations.
Crossbow - Another weapon that Malkus learned from his father. Crossbows are more common among the Rhodoks over bows, and Malkus knows how to handle them efficiently.
Unarmed - While most know how to throw a punch, Malkus was trained by his father, as well as a lot of personal experience, in more refined hand-to-hand techniques. In particular Malkus knows how to grapple armed men down to the ground, as well as how to hit them to keep them on the ground permanently. If all else fails, even if he lacks tusks he can still tear out a man's throat with his teeth.
Metal Smithing - Malkus spent much of his youth learning how to smith metals, from iron to gold, and can craft various things out of different materials. He also knows how to work wood and leather a bit, such as making shafts for polearms or harnesses for armor.
Trading - Another part of Malkus's training was knowing what is the right price for his goods on the market, and reading the market to make the most out of his products. Had he more money to invest Malkus could've become a merchant.
Inventory Management - Malkus can be quite tidy when it comes to organizing his things. Not only that but his orcish physique enables him to carry heavy loads, which combined with his organizational skills can help him carry a deceptive amount of goods.
Equipment:
Smithing Tools - A set of tools Malkus can use to make or maintain his equipment. While he can maintain most gear with just these tools and a campfire, to make anything he would need a proper forge.
Banded Iron Armor - A breastplate with shoulder guards and an armored skirt made of humble iron. Not the most complex or strongest, but good enough for a sellsword.
Spiked Targe - A simple but deadly shield with a cluster of spikes at the center. It can be strapped to Malkus's arm to leave his hand relatively free to hold small objects, such as a torch or dagger.
Poleaxe - The most expensive thing Malkus has. This poleaxe is designed to be able to slash, smash, or stab all in one weapon. A hefty weapon that normally would require the use of two-hands, but Malkus is capable of using it with one, though using two-hands lets him use more power per swing.
Travelling Clothes - A robust outfit consisting of sturdy boots, pants, a tunic, and some gloves. Also comes with a belt that he can hang objects off of.
Rucksack - A heavy duty backpack that carries everything that Malkus needs. Food, supplies, excess equipment, and anything else he can fit in or on.
Other: Malkus's parents died when he was a young man. His mother succumbed to a disease she caught from some bad game meat, and his father died in a battle against sea raiders. Both of them are buried back at Oshu'Gun underneath a tall oak, where they first met. Malkus has some family in the Kingdom of Nords, orcs who weren't able to escape slavery, as well as some human family in the Rhodok capital of Jelkala, though from what Malkus was told by his father, he wasn't very close to them.
Malkus has a passing interest in music, knowing a few poems and such when he lived in the city as a youth. While he never developed the ability to become a bard he can at least play a beat and hold a note.
Despite not being much of a professional solider, Malkus has killed before. It was in Oshu'Gun when he first opened his smithy. His business was doing well enough that it got robbed by thieves one night. Thanks to his neighbors the thieves weren't able to get anything the first time, but since then Malkus was paranoid and began to stay up late at night to catch them. One day after feigning leaving the village, he caught the thieves and attacked them. He killed the leader with an axe to the skull, and cut down two more before the rest of the gang ran away. Later the village militia managed to capture them and executed them for their crimes. Since then Malkus has grown a more accustomed to killing, though even he knows his limits.
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