Paulinus Ratarion's page

1st:Oracle of Life; Mystery (life), oracle’s curse (wolfscarred face), orisons, Revelation (Life Link), favored class HP, toughness

In 4675 AR, the twenty year old Bennicus Ratarion began his career as a mercenary soldier. He was the son of a Shackles pirate and a colonial Sargavan dock prostitute. He was hired (mostly due to his great size) along with many others by Baron Utilinus to go and combat the Mzali pushing their way westward towards the River of Lost Tears. He fought under General Taurinius, the Grand Preator of the Sargavan Guard. The disciplined life of a soldier suited him well, and Ratarion took to it with gusto. After the Mzali were driven back across the river, Bennicus decided to stay in Kalabuto to work as a mercenary guard there. He enjoyed it and the pay was good. A few years later things with the Mazli kicked off again and Bennicus saw a lot of guerrilla conflict between 4678-4684 AR. He established himself as a strong and reputable mercenary and earned a lot of money doing it. When the Mzali sacked Kalabuto in 4684, he was nearly slain in the battle. In the aftermath, having lost his home and nearly his life, he decided it was time for him to find another line of work. He used the money he'd saved to buy a barge, and began to run cargo for the Gold Crown Shipping and Mining Company.

Bennicus immediately did well for himself, growing in wealth and power and moving up within the Company. He took to socializing with the upper crust of Eleder, from whom he hid his lowly origins. He began courting Jocasta Egorius, a cousin of the new Grand Praetor, Ezio Egorius. They suddenly married a few months later, the bump in Jocasta's belly letting everyone know why. Despite the unrest and conflict in the eastern half of the country, the demand for Sargavan goods was just as high as it'd ever been to the north, in Avistan. Bennicus was now a wealthy man, and his marriage to Jocasta along with his contacts in the Sargavan Guard from his soldiering days had cemented his place in Eleder's aristocracy. In 4690 Paulinus was born. His birth coincided with the second sacking of Kalabuto at the hands of the Mzali and unhappy Kalabuta natives. His inhuman nature was clear from the moment his parents first beheld him. He had the face and fur of a wolf pup, on the body of a little baby boy. At first Bennicus was horrified, and Jocasta was crying. He assumed it was because she had been unfaithful to him with some monster, and this was the result. As he grabbed his sword, unsure whether to stab his wife, or the vile thing she'd just produced. Jocasta begged him to wait. She explained that in her family there were occasionally born those blessed by the gods. She was crying tears of joy, not shame. The blood of the immortal Agathions flowed in their son's veins, and he would be destined for great heroism, like all the other Wolfscarred that had come before him. Bennicus could see the truth in her eyes, and though he still felt uneasy he apologized and wept tears of relief.

Despite his appearance, Paulinus was raised as all the other rich boys in Eleder are. He was provided with private tutors from the time he was small in all subjects. Most of the subjects were totally uninteresting to him. True to his mother's prophecy, the only thing that really interested him was the study of religions. He wanted to know everything about the gods, and his divine relatives. He felt strongly called towards Abadar as the god of law and commerce. Abadar's tenants of following fair and just laws that would lead to prosperity for all struck a deep chord with Paulinus. When he was ten years old in 4695 he was sent to board at the temple of Abadar in Eleder, to further his education in religious doctrine, law, divine magic and how to conduct business wisely. He had a strong appreciation for all life, and was a genuinely good child. Paulinus spent much of his time working healing magic for a minimal fee amongst the poorest of the native workers he could find in Eleder. Despite his lack of training, divine healing magic flowed freely through him. The more he helped people over the years, the more magic he was able to muster. He saw how unfairly the Mwangi were treated, but also how they suffered under the weight of their own "savage and ignorant" ways. He developed a passion for helping them through education and by fighting for them to have equal treatment and rights in their own ancestral land.His somewhat radical political beliefs (for a colonial) came naturally to him, as his appearance and race already made him an outsider amongst his peers. He could empathize with the Mwangi peoples being treated differently because of the way they look or talk.

When Paulinus was 17 years old, in 4702 AR Mzali warriors sacked Kalabuto for the third time. Paulinus had finished his education at the church, and attained his majority. He decided it was time for him to do something more proactive than healing the sick. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of his "uncle" (first cousin once removed) Ezio Egorius, in the Sargavan Guard, where he could make a real difference some day. His family and church contacts ensured Paulinus's entry into the guard, but he quickly showed that he deserved it through merit. He developed a reputation as an incorruptible guard, who always did the right thing. He even worked as a cheap doctor in his off time, and volunteered to patrol the areas of Eleder where the poorest workers lived. He spent several years in his role as a guardsman, becoming a trusted Sub-Praetor.

It is now 4710 AR and Paulinus is 25 years old. A few months ago he was approached by his superiors about a delicate mission that would take him away from Sargava for a time. He expressed interest, having always wanted to see other parts of the world, and then was told the details. He was to board a ship called the Jenivere and take it north to the chelish port of Corentyn, where he would deliver a message to a Sargavan spy there. He would need to keep as low a profile as possible, and so would pose as a guard and company liaison for a shipment of pineapples. Paulinus gladly accepted and went with the Jenivere north to Corentyn. The mission went smoothly and now he's on his way back to Eleder. The way north had been full of excitement and new things, but the way back south is seeming to take forever. Paulinus can't wait to get home to report his success.

Lawful; Paulinus will never willingly break a just law. he defines unjust as policies that are counter to the flourishing of life.

Honest; Paulinus doesn't lie. He may deceive people for the good of innocents, or leave information unsaid, but he will never utter direct lie.

Honorable; Paulinus always keeps his promises, won't fight an unarmed or helpless opponent, won't use poison and won't kill unless forced to.

Loyal; Paulinus put his friends and family before himself, and would gladly die for them. He is also a patriotic Sargavan and very loyal to his homeland.

Friendly; Paulinus likes to meet new people. He tries not to be rude or overly judgmental.