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Alexander von Carstein
Road worn and weary, a stranger from an unknown land is seen to arrive in town seeking shelter, warmth and food. Though clearly a healthy, able bodied and adult man, he takes up this demeanor as an older, poorer cripple in order to attract less attention than if he were seen as "strong" or "leader material". Instead, he is just another face in the crowd.
Appearance
Alexander is a tall man with a balanced and efficient frame, upon which is draped muscle, sinew and flesh that has seen many decades of hard-earned living and yet is still strong and swift. Calloused hands, corned feet. Old creaky knees and rattling shoulder parts.
That's just the easy stuff. Many are the battle-scars and old wounds that this highway-man has nursed through dark and lonely hours in the night, where no-one else is around to hear you or help you. When all you can count on is the sweat of your brow and the blood of your heart.
A shock of obsidian black hair is most oft combed back or else shaved with a knife's edge. His dark hair rarely grows past the shoulders, but more importantly it is properly cared for and oiled so as not to become a liability or nuisance. He ritually trims his hair before a battle, or whenever it needs trimming.
Last but certainly not least are the tattoos and engravings all over his body, even including his face. These are anything from shapes, to symbols, to words and numbers written in at *least* half a dozen tongues. One particular tattoo is like a vertical ribbon starting from his forehead and going to the cheekbone on the left side of his face -- the markings are said to be a way of seeing into the future, or was it the past?
When the Old Wanderer walks, soft chimes and bells jingle with his every step - a consequence of jewelry or charms thread into his hair or on his clothing. These little charms and several other noise-makers are secreted away in his hair and on his person. A sort of reverse alarm, that would hint to others of his approach -- if they knew how to listen.
At his hip rests the scabbard of the Bloodthirster. On the index finger of his left hand a signet ring fit for a noble house with the image of a Wolf. His garb says "well to do traveler with potentially shiny things to steal", and yet he is road-wise and good at hiding such signs from malcontents looking to profit on the unawares.
That's just the easy stuff. Many are the battle-scars and old wounds that this highway-man has nursed through dark and lonely hours in the night, where no-one else is around to hear you or help you. When all you can count on is the sweat of your brow and the blood of your heart.
A shock of obsidian black hair is most oft combed back or else shaved with a knife's edge. His dark hair rarely grows past the shoulders, but more importantly it is properly cared for and oiled so as not to become a liability or nuisance. He ritually trims his hair before a battle, or whenever it needs trimming.
Last but certainly not least are the tattoos and engravings all over his body, even including his face. These are anything from shapes, to symbols, to words and numbers written in at *least* half a dozen tongues. One particular tattoo is like a vertical ribbon starting from his forehead and going to the cheekbone on the left side of his face -- the markings are said to be a way of seeing into the future, or was it the past?
When the Old Wanderer walks, soft chimes and bells jingle with his every step - a consequence of jewelry or charms thread into his hair or on his clothing. These little charms and several other noise-makers are secreted away in his hair and on his person. A sort of reverse alarm, that would hint to others of his approach -- if they knew how to listen.
At his hip rests the scabbard of the Bloodthirster. On the index finger of his left hand a signet ring fit for a noble house with the image of a Wolf. His garb says "well to do traveler with potentially shiny things to steal", and yet he is road-wise and good at hiding such signs from malcontents looking to profit on the unawares.
Skills and Abilities
In descending order of most Educated / Competent / Mastered:
1. Trained mage in the schools of Biomancy, Necromancy and Tattoo Magicks.
Less so trained in other magic schools, although with time and effort he could choose to learn almost anything one can imagine learning. Has a rather specific dislike of / towards the school of Divination. Alexander prefers to believe that we are in control of our own destinies, believing we should limit fortune tellers and hedge witches peddling talk of fate and destiny to only the worthy few.
2. Handy with a sword and even just knives. Too handy. Two humble steps backwards please, unless you like being within easy distance of a blade. Just in case one of those hidden ones was put there for you specifically. What is the saying? 'Always carry a knife into any room, just in case you have to kill everyone in that room. Or if there's cake.'
3. Learned polyglot that can speak fluently and even read in many different tongues. Persuasive when he wants to be. Some might say exceptionally so.
4. Alchemist / Gardener, both by actual practical routines of sourcing, activating and delivering poultices and potions and by mere fascination and love for things that grow green and tall and strong.
5. Speaker for the Dead. Bread and butter of his "business" as a traveling hedge-sorcerer. Every town always has someone who wants to tell off that one uncle they never liked one more time before they kick the bucket too. Then I'll sell their nephews and nieces a way to talk to their elders, and so the cycle shall continue.
1. Trained mage in the schools of Biomancy, Necromancy and Tattoo Magicks.
Less so trained in other magic schools, although with time and effort he could choose to learn almost anything one can imagine learning. Has a rather specific dislike of / towards the school of Divination. Alexander prefers to believe that we are in control of our own destinies, believing we should limit fortune tellers and hedge witches peddling talk of fate and destiny to only the worthy few.
2. Handy with a sword and even just knives. Too handy. Two humble steps backwards please, unless you like being within easy distance of a blade. Just in case one of those hidden ones was put there for you specifically. What is the saying? 'Always carry a knife into any room, just in case you have to kill everyone in that room. Or if there's cake.'
3. Learned polyglot that can speak fluently and even read in many different tongues. Persuasive when he wants to be. Some might say exceptionally so.
4. Alchemist / Gardener, both by actual practical routines of sourcing, activating and delivering poultices and potions and by mere fascination and love for things that grow green and tall and strong.
5. Speaker for the Dead. Bread and butter of his "business" as a traveling hedge-sorcerer. Every town always has someone who wants to tell off that one uncle they never liked one more time before they kick the bucket too. Then I'll sell their nephews and nieces a way to talk to their elders, and so the cycle shall continue.
Personality
Alexander is typically reserved and distant, but is more than able to keep up a conversation and run circles around half the people who would bother trying to speak with him.
Find him in a good mood by waiting until you hear that thunderous laughter of his. Then hope you can sneak one in between his ribs, a little sticker to say "hey, real world calling! pain! ouch!" and then he'll come back to ground level. Usually. Whether that is good for you or bad for you remains to be seen.
A bad mood is when he hasn't laughed in a while. Sadly, sometimes it can be a long while between such laughter. Alexander considers a life without laughter to be not worth living.
Find him in a good mood by waiting until you hear that thunderous laughter of his. Then hope you can sneak one in between his ribs, a little sticker to say "hey, real world calling! pain! ouch!" and then he'll come back to ground level. Usually. Whether that is good for you or bad for you remains to be seen.
A bad mood is when he hasn't laughed in a while. Sadly, sometimes it can be a long while between such laughter. Alexander considers a life without laughter to be not worth living.
Biography & Lore
Alexander von Carstein is a wandering monster-hunter, witcher, soothesayer, rain-maker, shaman and warlock all rolled into one. Sporting a strong frame and a custom-tailored underplated surcoat for those especially claw-friendly creatures, he roams from kingdom to kingdom, from tribe to tribe, simply allowing the paths of life to unfold before him as if he had nothing but time and nowhere to go.
All aboard, then?
Sometimes going by the True Name "Selzurius", Alexander von Carstein makes his living on the road. His personality helps see to moving on swiftly from even the most grateful hamlets and burgs. It is one thing to defend Humanity and the innocent against those things which stalk us in the dark of night.
It is another thing to live amongst Humanity and their ilk long enough to realize they are no better than the beasts braying out in the forests for blood and darkness.
So Alexander threads the eye of the needle right in between both worlds. More than just a man in more ways than one, but not really part of society - not even with a family. The other side of course is where he walks in the footsteps of monsters and fiends, burning that which he finds unclean and slaying those who he deems unworthy.
A loosely-stapled piece of parchment on the local taverns and work-wanted boards revealed several hand-drawn renditions more or less depicting the following offer of contract and service.
"Monster Hunter, Witch Slayer, and vanquisher of Bogeymen. No exorcisms. Fees are set on a case-by-case basis. Investigative services are also available at a reduced cost if no damage needs to be done.
I will investigate the evidence fully, so anything you want me to know you'd best be up front about it or keep reading someone else's shot to the wind. Good luck."
All aboard, then?
Sometimes going by the True Name "Selzurius", Alexander von Carstein makes his living on the road. His personality helps see to moving on swiftly from even the most grateful hamlets and burgs. It is one thing to defend Humanity and the innocent against those things which stalk us in the dark of night.
It is another thing to live amongst Humanity and their ilk long enough to realize they are no better than the beasts braying out in the forests for blood and darkness.
So Alexander threads the eye of the needle right in between both worlds. More than just a man in more ways than one, but not really part of society - not even with a family. The other side of course is where he walks in the footsteps of monsters and fiends, burning that which he finds unclean and slaying those who he deems unworthy.
A loosely-stapled piece of parchment on the local taverns and work-wanted boards revealed several hand-drawn renditions more or less depicting the following offer of contract and service.
"Monster Hunter, Witch Slayer, and vanquisher of Bogeymen. No exorcisms. Fees are set on a case-by-case basis. Investigative services are also available at a reduced cost if no damage needs to be done.
I will investigate the evidence fully, so anything you want me to know you'd best be up front about it or keep reading someone else's shot to the wind. Good luck."