Aras grew up in Kalsgard, training with his family from as early as he could remember to be a bodyguard, just as every other man in his family had done for generations. He learned quickly that while he may not have been the strongest in his clan, he could outlast his peers whenever exertion was required. Aras' hearty willingness to take a beating in order to accomplish his aims bode well for his career as a bodyguard, as his father proudly told him on multiple occasions as he neared adulthood. Determined to make his family proud, Aras trained even harder to be the kind of durable fighter that could stand between his charges and whatever threatened them and ultimately outlast any foe.
When he finally came of age and had proven himself on minor jobs protecting local businessmen, Aras' kinsmen vouched for him to a team of explorers that were looking for someone of his nature. Aras eagerly signed on with this group of intrepid adventurers, vowing to protect them from any foe that dared stand between them and the artifact they set out to claim. The dreams of honor for his family and untold riches once the job was completed were strong within Aras' mind, and he enthusiastically took to his duties as they set sail.
By the time Aras and his new employers arrived at their destination, Aras knew two things with certainty: sea was boring, especially when nobody could be bothered to attack them, and his traveling companions were an insufferable lot. They complained about everything during their trip, and had succeeded in slowly chipping away at the young Ulfen's enthusiasm day by agonizing day. He was determined, though, to see this through. He would protect this lot and come home with his treasure, tell tales of his exploits to his bretheren, and prepare for the next job. These dreams, too, were to be shattered.
While Aras was ready to protect his employers against any challenge meted out by their foes, he was not prepared for protecting them from the elements. The desert climate they had arrived in wreaked havoc within their adventuring party, slowing down their advance over time. As their progress slowed, their food and water dwindled more quickly than they had anticipated before setting out. Before long, they were having to carefully ration out their supplies so as to mitigate the risk of running out completely. Aras would skip meals for a couple days at a stretch, willing to accept the complaints of his stomach over the complaints of his companions.
When they finally reached their destination, a tomb that held untold power, Aras rejoiced. Now, his companions would shine, he would protect them from any horrors the tomb held, and they would get their riches. The events of the past weeks would fade from memory, and he would be able to move on to the next job. What Aras was not expecting was that the man who was supposed to be an expert at disabling traps would trigger the very first one he came across. The result was the entire party being bombarded by a barrage of poisoned darts, dropping them all like ragdolls carelessly discarded after a child's playtime.
Aras woke up a full two days later, still feeling feverish from the poison his system had been slowly, but successfully combating. Seeing his companions were clearly dead, he took what he could of value and began the process of dragging himself back to civilization. A week and a half later of walking, then stumbling, and finally dragging himself through the desert, Aras found himself in the harbor town they had arrived in, parched and covered with sand in what felt like every pore of his body. After selling his dead companions' possessions for whatever water and food he could afford he signed on with the first ship out, not caring where he ended up next, but knowing he couldn't go home and show his face until he had somehow redeemed himself. After months of random travel, working whatever odd bodyguard jobs he could to get by, it so happened that Aras Vinter ended up in a tavern listening to a skull promise untold riches...
+1 to Survival, +1 to Fortitude Saves.
