Note: I am probably going to make some changes on this several times....and it it by no mean complete.
Harstard Dagarson, Barbarian1/Fighter2, CG, 24 years.
[sblock=somewhere in the northern edges of the Valley of Light]
The well-dressed clerk waved angrily at the peasant in front of him "Go away, man. I can't help you" Muttering, he turned around and ignored the protests of the poor man. "I can't believe how arrogant has those simple bigots became nowdays. There is simply no respect! How do they dare to pester his excellency the bishop for such trivial things as some crazy old woodsman getting a cold or something like that"
He frowned, hearing the excited -and strangely loud-voiced- protest of the church soldiers guarding the entrance to the temple ward of the city, around the western corner of the watch tower. The clerk quickly covered the ground behind him and the corner, already speaking: "Stop immediately this----" and there he stopped. In front of him there was a block of steel.
He slowly raised his eyes and realized with a startle that actually it wasn't a block of steel: it was an armor, covering the biggest creature he had ever seen in his life. To say the truth, it had a human head and face, but how could THAT be a human? The clerk Igror wasn't certainly a dwarf, (he actually was secretly proud of his height) but his head hardly reached the neck of the armored man.
As he raised his eyes, the giant looked than and directed him a flat stare. His blue eyes didn't show any emotion. Encouraged by the silence of the warrior, Igror overcame his awe, cleared his suddenly throat and was opening his mouth to say something...when he saw the axe.
His mind went blank. The time almost stopped while he was contemplating it's white-reddish 2fts in radius circle of steel that made the double bladed head of the axe. He couldn't see the entire shaft, but he noticed that the end of it nearly touched the ground...by....by the Light, that...that monstruos thing was almost bigger that the man wielding it!!!
He heard a distant growl, be he was too busy of thinking what would be the effects of a full swing of that blade on a human body to pay any attention. Just a look at the razor - like edges of the blade sent cold chills down his body.
He heard the growl again, and startled, realized that the man had said something.
-P...pardon me? - he muttered meekly.
-You are in the way, boy.
We shall admit that at last Igror found some courage (but that was probably his infinite pride and arrogance kicking in). He straightened his back, raised his chin, and carefully avoiding to look at the weapon, replied:
-Who are you, and how did you dare to push the our holy protectors out of your way? Declare your intentions, northerner.
The man pushed aside a part of his cloack, revealing -st. Pelor protect me, another weapon- and a large, wooden symbol. After a moment, Igror recognized the symbol and gathered a little bit of further arrogance.
-Ah, you should be the bodyguard of the Ethoran's Erukkan advocate, sent here in order to defend your brother from the accusations of offenses to a high prelate. Where is he?
-In front of you. Less talking, more moving away.- and with these words Harstard took the Lochaber Axe in his hands.
It was easy after that. The clerk quickly fled away, and the beastkiller quietly sat in front of the prison, sharpening his weapon with a whetstone, making horrible screeching noises until the guards surrendered and freed his brother...they had no rights to arrest him and they knew that perfectly. It was just a futile attempt by the bishop to shame the Erukkans, who refused to support him in his schemes. [/sblock]
[sblock]
Occupation & History:
The entire blame should be placed on Itherion, the teacher who had to educate the young son of duke Dagarson. Sure, the child's mother was not innocent too: it was she who insisted on bringing a southerner to educate their child. But it was Itherion who had a real fixation: according to him, only by speaking all of the languages one could rule wisely. And so he did: he forced the young Harstard to learn the trade language, Illum, Old Tongue and Confederation. He also tried some other languages later, but at that point the boy had already slipped past his clutch.
Young Harstad had a wonderful relationship with his father, the old bear Dagarson. He promised him to learn whatever that crazy souther idiot teached him for 5 years, and as a reward he would gain the permission to join the order of his father - the Erukkans - as soon as he was 15 years old. And that was how it was.
Ten years have passed since the introduction as a novice, and oh, they had been 10 wonderful years. Training, making solid and reliable friends, empowering one's own body and mind, defending humanking against the wolves - be it monsters, humans or priests.
Very soon, his brothers discovered with delight that thanks to his education he was an incredible insight and skill in chilling the hearts of men. Every huge warrior can intimidate, but not every huge warrior knows how to intimidate in a civilized way. Like carrying a freaking large lochaber greataxe and sharpening it.
He was also very skilled in ecclesiastic law, and gradually became a precious knight for his superior: when sent on a "diplomatic" mission as a bodyguard, for some reason the others were very malleable and willing to sign any treaty...as long as the encounter finished as soon as possible.
At the age of 25, he still is not married (even if he is quite fond of girls with a certain weight on the right places), but that doesn't particularly bother anyone: his father probably can still choke a boar with his bare hands.
Description:
Harstard is a 7ft tall man, with crystal blue eyes and long unruly blond hair, and bulking muscles. He wears a half armor and the most striking feature of his presence is his favorite weapon: A large lochaber greataxe. He has wrestled it from an ogre tribe leader, and it is made with a strange reddish steel. Once a priest told him that a feeble aura of magic emanates from it, but seemingly it has no apparent effect.
To say the truth, he doesn't always use that weapon: when fighting in tight quarters, he draws a heavy mace, and he also has a set of throwing axes. But the lochaber axe serves it purpose: scaring people.
He has a deep voice and usually a flat, calm face, and carries a huge horn, made from a strange and unknown animal.
He also rides a huge horse, quite intelligent, but really brutish horse, named Bodran. Whenever Harstard forgets to order Bodran not to do anything funny, he bites the man attending him, steps on his feets or runs away from the stable.
Characteristics and Skills
Freakish strength, great endurance. He simply demolishes his opponets with his oversized weapon. He also knows several languages and is quite versed in ecclesiastic law.
Values and Motivations:
He has a deep faith in the Light. He has, however, less respect for its church. He pays formal respects to his superiors out of the order, but he personally judges how worthy and reliable they are. He, as his brothers, is known to circumvent stupid orders and flatly ignore idiotic ones.
He is driven by the will to serve his order and the church. In his opinion, it has grown too soft and arrogant. A heir to a duke himself, he knows that southern nobles are useless: most of them, anyway.
He will strive to climb the hierarchy of the Knights of the Light, and he is also a little bit ambitious.
Ah, side note: he will start collecting weapons
Interactions:
Towards unknown, and neutral people, he is mostly silent and laconic. When confronted with even the slightest accent of arrogance, he reacts swiftly and humbles the opposing one.
Towards his friends, he relaxes and starts cracking jokes. He is capable of saying absolutely impossible things with a serious face. He also uses to make quick reasoning and summarize them to his companions with a couple of words, leaving them bewildered and not understanding.
Useful Knowledge:
His father, duke Dagarson. Several other nobles, and a great lot of Erukkan knights: he traveled a lot in the last 10 years. He also knows the bishop Bergstan, a former Erukkan knight.
Tactics:
Against big foes, or not heavily armored foes, charge and swing with incredible strenght. Or wait for them to charge and intercept them like a falling star.
Against better armored foes, he sacrifices a little bit of strength for more precision.
Rules:
I picked some non-standar feats, and I'll have to ask approval for them:
Barbarian substitution level (Complete champion): loses the enhancement of speed and gains the pounce ability
Cometary collision (player's handbook 2): as a standard action I can prepare an action. When an enemy charges, I may intercept him with a charge of my own, and I have a +2 to hit and +4 to damage
Bodran IIRC, a heavy warhorse costs 300gp. I'd like to pay him 500gp and get a bonus on strength: he will have to carry me, my armor and a lot of weaponry very soon
[/sblock]
