Tur-Ahrun
Tur-Ahrun, commonly referred to as Thorn, was born in the far reaching wilds and raised in the deepwood alongside his clansmen to be a trailblazer and pathfinder. He is a ranger, having dedicated himself to exploring the world of Arethil, intent on bringing back news of the wider world to his kin. Like many of his Clansmen, Thorn has a strong sense of what is right and wrong, however it differs from what civilized folk might consider lawful or just, far more concerned with moral reasoning than legality.
As a young man, he formed a spiritual bond with a Vulture he named Geron he rescued from the jungle. When he happened upon an egg laying on the jungle floor with no nest insight, Geron hatched and quickly took to Thorn in a brotherly manner. The bird, now an adult buzzard, shares a limited mental link with the ranger and the two seem to be able to understand one another. While Thorn would be considered polite if a little rough around the edges, Geron is mischievous and a trickster.
Appearance
The man known as Thorn stands a little taller than the average man with a lean, but athletic build, and broad shoulders. Thorn has shaggy dark brown hair on his head a few early strands of grey mixed in on the sides of his head, similar to his eyes which are greyish in color, but appear golden brown in sunlight. He normally has stubble on his chin and jaw, his beard having flecks of grey and red adding to the color of his face. He has a few scars on his knuckles and arms from minor injuries in his youth, the only one standing out is one that appears to be a series of burns from a lightning strike on his left hand up to his forearm. On his arms and chest he has some black triangular tattoos that are primitive in appearance, as though crudely done, but these are covered by his clothing.
Geron is a Turkey Vulture on the larger side, with a wingspan as wide as Thorn is tall and weighing around three kilograms. Like all of his kind he has a bald head and ivory beak, possessing dark brown body feathers and light grey colored pinions. Due to their Bondedness, Geron and Thorn have matching grey eyes, though Geron's are far better than his human companion's. The bird's legs are tattooed with rows of black triangular shapes, similar to the ones on Thorn's arms, as a marking that the pair are bonded in the Vel Duras culture.
Geron is a Turkey Vulture on the larger side, with a wingspan as wide as Thorn is tall and weighing around three kilograms. Like all of his kind he has a bald head and ivory beak, possessing dark brown body feathers and light grey colored pinions. Due to their Bondedness, Geron and Thorn have matching grey eyes, though Geron's are far better than his human companion's. The bird's legs are tattooed with rows of black triangular shapes, similar to the ones on Thorn's arms, as a marking that the pair are bonded in the Vel Duras culture.
Skills and Abilities
Thorn is a well rounded individual, not excelling at any one skill but possessing knowledge of many. He is capable of using his favored weapons, sword, shield, and bow with significant proficiency, though no one would call him a man of the hood or a master swordsman. He can ride a horse, track an animal, forage for food, he understands the basics of herbalism and first aid, and can read and write. This survival knowledge comes from a lifetime spent in the wilds, learning how to live in and traverse such harsh lands.
Magic
Thorn is practiced in a limited form of magic related to nature. His skills are rudimentary, even most novice mages would likely consider him a poor mage, however his abilities provide the Ranger with a level of utility while on the trail.
He is able to do things such as create sparks to light a fire, quickly purify water, mend objects, and other minor druidcrafts like making flowers bloom or leaves bud. Often this costs things like ensuring he has the supplies to repair an object, has flint which is chipped away to create sparks or some pitch which is consumed to make a flame. When he casts magic he does so by focusing the currents through the objects in question, causing them to crumble or rust in some manner. For some things he requires a moment or so of muttering and focusing, even a minute in order to cast even basic incantations.
Thorn has shown some skill with healing, though he prefers herbalism over curative magics for a number of reasons. Chief among these is that in order to heal others he must take on some of their pain himself or transfer them to another with arms reach. Healing a knee injury might cause his own knee to develop a persistent ache or if severe enough a limp, setting hard limits on to what wounds he is able to heal without debilitating himself or another. Sometimes he is able to use this to pass the injuries on to an animal or friend, but even still life threatening wounds are too much for him to outright cure, stabilize perhaps.
On rare occasion he will make use of fulgurite, trapped lightning, arrows. These arrows contain within them a single lightning bolt trapped in stone, chipped into an arrowhead. By clutching the arrow head and speaking an incantation he is able to fire the arrow and when the head shatters or strikes a target the lightning bolt escapes, striking that spot and disappearing into the sky. This leaves his bow hand in severe pain, paralyzing it for a time afterwards, sometimes breaking his wrist in the process. This leaves a scar along his left hand, appearing like forked lightning burns along up to his forearm. After unleashing lightning in this way, the scar will blacken as though charred for several days.
He is able to do things such as create sparks to light a fire, quickly purify water, mend objects, and other minor druidcrafts like making flowers bloom or leaves bud. Often this costs things like ensuring he has the supplies to repair an object, has flint which is chipped away to create sparks or some pitch which is consumed to make a flame. When he casts magic he does so by focusing the currents through the objects in question, causing them to crumble or rust in some manner. For some things he requires a moment or so of muttering and focusing, even a minute in order to cast even basic incantations.
Thorn has shown some skill with healing, though he prefers herbalism over curative magics for a number of reasons. Chief among these is that in order to heal others he must take on some of their pain himself or transfer them to another with arms reach. Healing a knee injury might cause his own knee to develop a persistent ache or if severe enough a limp, setting hard limits on to what wounds he is able to heal without debilitating himself or another. Sometimes he is able to use this to pass the injuries on to an animal or friend, but even still life threatening wounds are too much for him to outright cure, stabilize perhaps.
On rare occasion he will make use of fulgurite, trapped lightning, arrows. These arrows contain within them a single lightning bolt trapped in stone, chipped into an arrowhead. By clutching the arrow head and speaking an incantation he is able to fire the arrow and when the head shatters or strikes a target the lightning bolt escapes, striking that spot and disappearing into the sky. This leaves his bow hand in severe pain, paralyzing it for a time afterwards, sometimes breaking his wrist in the process. This leaves a scar along his left hand, appearing like forked lightning burns along up to his forearm. After unleashing lightning in this way, the scar will blacken as though charred for several days.
Personality
Thorn is a quiet individual around strangers, happy to let them talk and just listen to learn about those around him. He has a general concern for others, especially those he considers to be innocent or helpless, though his morality allows for nature to take its course. In his mind someone preying on others within the confines of the law is just a smarter type of bandit, but he doesn't expect anyone to go out of their way to help someone that got themselves into trouble. Once he warms to someone, he is known to be witty, though he considers himself to be funnier than he actually is. His humor is mixed with jabs at the expense of others, however once he has decided to like someone Thorn is reliable and can be counted on to help them no matter the cost to himself.
Geron on the other hand is almost entirely selfish, a hungry buzzard who will beg, trick, or steal from others to get what he wants. Its normally comical in a mischievous sort of way, and he doesn't mean any harm from the antics, but it can be annoying to others. He has a sweet side, often as a way of buttering up those he thinks will give him food or candies, but it can be genuine.
Geron on the other hand is almost entirely selfish, a hungry buzzard who will beg, trick, or steal from others to get what he wants. Its normally comical in a mischievous sort of way, and he doesn't mean any harm from the antics, but it can be annoying to others. He has a sweet side, often as a way of buttering up those he thinks will give him food or candies, but it can be genuine.
Possessions
Thorn carries a Type XIIa Sword of well crafted steel, normally on his hip or across his back in a black leather scabbard, a round steel-banded shield, and a laminated bow. He often carries both bodkins and broadhead arrows in a quiver across his back, using them when suited. Normally, he carries a few arrowheads in a pouch of Fulgurite and silver for dealing with dangerous creatures or spirits. His armor and apparel is that of simple chainmail hauberk, leather bracers and greaves, along with a travelling cloak and leather jerkin. Other simple things such as a compass, sundial necklace, and a journal in which he writes about his adventures when he can.