Nikolos
Nikolos is as much his own enemy as he is his own friend. While he is a kind-hearted soul – often rising to the aid of unfortunate folk, which usually places him between them and quite frequently overwhelming odds. This has given rise to those around him to declaring either his outstanding bravery or utter stupidity – either of which having an equal case.
He holds himself to no banner, disregarding most figures of authority or nobility as unjust and unforgiving. In his experience, those with power almost always abuse it.
But his life is spent mostly minding his own business, riding the wind where it takes him, planting his roots in no land, letting adventure find him as it wills.
Skills and Abilities
A seasoned traveler, there is very little Nikolos lacks as far as survival. Skills acquired working in his home village as a boy, and after as well once he broke free into the world with a group of travelers, built the foundation for his life abroad. From that which he was shown he learned and grew, skill such as shelter building, bow hunting, and fishing, which allow him to survive for a great deal of time between destinations.
During his time, he has been far from spared the harsh hearts of others, and through many a fight or brawl his fighting skills grew sharp. His confidence with a blade is quite evident, and rightfully so. A stubborn and hungry heart propels his desire to excel in that which he does, which inflates him even to the point of arrogance at times. But again, most who either fight him or see him fight view it as a well warranted boast.
Personality
Nikolos is a generous and kind-hearted person. He often prefers to give people the benefit of the doubt, to see past the evident flaws and allow the chance for their worth to be proven.
He is relatively laid back, rarely ever driven to the point of rage or despair. Instead, an endearing smile is most often given, and a light-hearted greeting. Difficult to offend, he is more likely to quip back and engage in playful discourse than clam up and stomp off – sometimes taking his retaliatory berating a little too far.
He is a confident man and can come across quite brash at times – especially with the help of a drink. It is not uncommon for his tongue to land him into a great deal of trouble.
He does hold himself to his own code of honour, one which is a relatively admirable policy to live by, albeit a little grey. He would defend the weak and the innocent yet steal from the rich and give to the poor. Slay the dragon for the sake of the people but leave the king to be burned or eaten – in most cases. While he has no love for those of nobility or power, he is not blinded by his dislike. He knows full well there are those who would do good with their power – and have, and of course allows for this exception.
What is clear about him is that he is a benevolent man, with a truly noble heart and the strength of a mighty warrior.
Biography & Lore
Nikolos was born to a widowed mother, his father killed by bandits’ mere weeks before his birth. There were three siblings before him, each hardly more than toddlers at the time. Due to the strain of being without their father, he and his brothers were forced to work far before they were ready – and his eldest brother lost his life from being overworked. Shortly after this, his mother delved into a terrible grief, and eventually she too was parted.
With only he and his older sister left, he took on the task of providing for her on his own. She too did what she could, but Nikolos insisted on caring for her to keep her home in relative safety. Their community was small, and though hearty men occupied this land the threat of bandits was ever on the rise.
For a few short years, hardly reaching into adolescence, they lived in relative but fearful peace. But such things could only last so long, and another attack large enough to threaten them took place and the village was decimated.
His sister was taken from him.
So, he joined with a group of adventurers who sought to defeat the bandits – pleading with them to be permitted. Only after the knowledge of his sister’s plight was made known was he accepted by them and left the home that had nothing more for him.
He never found his sister. The bandits were lost, and the venture was eventually disbanded. Though he maintained his search on his own for years, he eventually withdrew and gave up. He vowed to remember her, and to be as kind a soul to as many as he could, and defend him, just the same as he would do for her.
With nothing left, he decided upon a direction and went there, doing the same again and again as he either tires off the place he is, or it tires of him.