Brakus Tyrdalin's page

Brakus grew up near the town of Senara where he was introduced at an early age to woodcraft and the art of banditry. His teen years were spent among The Devil’s Claws, a moderately successful band of thugs who preyed upon those traveling local roads as well as the rivers Iseld and Malvesa. Under their first leader, Opella the Shade, the gang enjoyed years of success while staying beneath the notice of local authorities. After her death however their new leader, Yarus the Hammer, took a more brutal approach to banditry. He greatly increased the frequency and bloodiness of the group’s attacks which had the benefit of bringing in much more coin but also brought notoriety.

It was less than a year into his reign that the reprisals began. The Claw’s were quickly shattered and splinter groups scurried off into hiding. Chelaxian authorities are nothing if not thorough however and continued to hunt down those who fled. During one such raid Brakus was on watch when he became aware of the impending attack. Realizing there was no chance of victory he slipped off into the shadows of the woods rather than alert the camp. The slaughter that followed proved his assessment correct and the hellfire employed during the fight left little to identify or even number the corpses.

Having no intention of testing his luck Brakus decided it was time for a change of both location and career. Traveling southwest on foot along roads he used to harass gave him plenty of time to consider his situation. The recent demonstration of House Thrune’s power made it clear to him that invoking their ire was a fool’s errand. Plying his skills in the great house’s service would bring favor, reward and riches. So it was that when Brakus finally reached Longacre he spent the majority of what was left of his resources to license himself as a slave hunter.

It seemed the general unrest in town made it an ideal place for those who wished to avoid too much scrutiny and therefore an excellent place for those who hunted slaves. Though still new to the profession Brakus has now completed a few contracts and has begun to make a name for himself at the expense of those he drags back to their sadistic masters.

Brakus stands at an average height for a Chelaxian with black hair and brown eyes. His style of dress and weather worn skin speak to a life lived mainly out of doors. Worn studded leather armor covers his chest and thighs and is in turn covered by a dark green cloak. An old beat up backpack is slung across his shoulder, bulging and patched. He is obviously armed with a full quiver of arrows and sword hanging from his hip while a longbow rests easily in his hand.

1. Brakus is concerned only with his own well being but knows the value of allies and acknowledges that there is strength in numbers.

2. Brakus respects strength and is fully willing to ally himself with powers greater than himself if he feels it will be to his benefit.

3. While he understands that laws have their uses, Brakus’s views are tempered by his upbringing among bandits as well as the “survival of the fittest” lessons he learned from the natural world. Rules are well and good in the cities but in the wilds all bets are off.

4. Brakus is most comfortable when operating away from society among a small group of like minded individuals. He thrills in the hunt and in out thinking his opponents.

5. Having spent years under Opella’s leadership and witnessing the rapid collapse of the Claw’s under Yarus, Brakus is a believer in subtlety and long term planning.

1. Choosing to tie himself to House Thrune, Brakus seeks to gain favor within the organization in order to gain power and wealth for himself.

2. Brakus see's life as a brutal and ultimately short endeavor that is maintained only through ones wit, strength and ability. As such his main focus is on keeping himself alive and keeping enough coin about to sate his desires.

3. Brakus is a hunter at heart and takes great joy in bringing down prey. He is always interested in finding more challenging foes to hunt.

4. Though he has yet to find direct evidence, Brakus suspects that the Bellflower network is operating in or near Longacre. If he can uncover the organization he feels it would greatly improve his standing within House Thune.

5. I’d like to use the character to explore playing an “in it for himself”, minimal concern for others type which is very different from my usual chaotic/neutral good characters. If it fits with the campaign I think it might be interesting to have Brakus end up with a nemesis of some sort (perhaps someone too strong to take early on or that eludes his attempts to kill/capture him). Perhaps something in the spirit of the sniper duel in Enemy at the Gate.

1. Brakus has a tattoo on his right forearm marking him as a member of the Devil’s Claws. The image, four stylized claws in a semicircle, is unlikely to be known by most but none-the-less he takes pains to keep it covered by his shirt and bracers.

2. Yarus and his cronies orchestrated Opella’s death and later, when they realized House Thune’s agents had turned their attention to the Claws, sold out their fellows by providing information about the gang and later the hidden camps that the fragmented groups tried to disappear to. Though believed dead by Brakus, Yarus still lives.

Filar Vitrolus : Filar acts as a broker for contracts to recover escaped slaves in the area. Since coming to town Brakus has worked with the tiefling and so far the pair have brought each other success. Though he is often looked down upon by others in town for his heritage Brakus, having grown up near Senara, is more accepting of his mixed blood and in fact favors working with him as it gives him more leverage over his broker.

Lilanne Calpine : Although Lilanne ostensibly makes her living selling vegetables and repairing cloth goods it's a well known secret in town that her true vocation is prostitution. Her good looks have made her popular among many in Longacre including Brakus. It didn’t take him long to realize that in addition to her other talents Lilanne has a penchant for acquiring interesting bits of information about local happenings. These days he’s as likely to be paying her for the information she can provide as he is her other services. Over time the two have become if not friends at least trusted contacts.

Tibus Swiftblade : A former member of the Devil’s Claws and one of the few people Brakus ever considered a friend. The two grew up together in the gang, working together on many occasions. When the initial attack came they fled in separate groups and each now assumes the other dead.

Swain Godersfoot : A slave kept in Nyshire, Swain has always bristled against his lot in life and so when the opportunity finally presented itself he fled his masters holdings and set out East hoping to disappear into the Whisperwood. Unfortunately for the fleeing halfling news of his escape reached Longacre before he did. Brakus took up the contract and was soon dragging Swain back in chains. When he was finally returned to his master Swain swore vengeance against his vindictive owner and the man who brought him back to this despicable life with each lash of the whip.

1. Brakus unconsciously fidgets with the inside of his right forearm when he’s nervous.

2. Though he hardly notices, Brakus often quotes bits of advice and sayings he picked up from Opella in his youth.

3. Brakus much prefers to make his own arrows and is rarely satisfied with those others have made.