Garulf Windlance's page

About Garulf Windlance

Garulf Windlance
Male Human (Rohirrim) Fighter 1
NG Humanoid (Human)
Init: +1 Senses: Perception +3
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Hit Points: 12/12 (1d10+2)
Armor Class: 17 (+3 armor, +1 Dex, +2 shield, +1 style)
Saving Throw Proficiencies: Constitution, Strength
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Melee: Spear +4 (1d6+2)
Ranged: Light Crossbow +3 (1d8+1)
Special: Fighting Style (Defense), Second Wind (1/day, 1d10+1)
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Str: 15 +2
Dex: 13 +1
Con: 15 +2
Int: 13 +1
Wis: 13 +1
Cha: 12 +1
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Athletics, Intimidate, Perception
Tool Proficiencies: Dice, Vehicles (Land)
Equipment: Spear, Crossbow, Bolts (20), Wooden Shield, Backpack, Common Clothing, Crowbar, Dice Set, Hammer, Pitons (10), Rations (10), Rope (50 feet), Shattered Orc Sword, Sign of Rank, Tinderbox, Torches (10), Waterskin, 10 gp
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Background: Soldier
Feature: Military Rank
Garulf is still recognized as a captain among the Riders of the Mark. Lower ranking members will defer to him and he has the pull to requisition horses or equipment from them if necessary, though he loathes to do so while he is still in his self-imposed exile.

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Garulf was born in one of the many villages within the sprawling expanse of the Westfold. His life was much like that of any of the children of the Mark, growing up among the fields and hills. He, like many others, shared his people’s love of horses and possessed a natural talent for riding that quickly earned him recognition from many of his peers. When he reached maturity he jumped to join the army, becoming one of the famed Riders of the Mark. His skill and natural talent led to a steady rise through the ranks and by his late twenties he was a respected officer and captain among their ranks.

Roughly two years ago, a raiding force of Dunlendings, the savage people of the mountains, began to make attacks against villages on the edges of the Westfold, threatening the people of Rohan and burning or stealing everything in their way. These raids were not uncommon, but this band was particularly savage and fierce, pushing further into Rohan’s territory than any of the Dunlendings had dared in many years. Garulf was given the command to take a company of one hundred men and break the war band, driving them back into the hills and stopping their raids. Expecting a fairly one-sided fight, Garulf became overconfident, especially after two successful attacks that stopped raids in progress. Deciding to end the raiders with one move, he led his men to confront the savages in their camps. Unfortunately, this was exactly what the Dunlendings wanted. As the Riders passed through the foothills and forests of the area, they were set upon not only by the wild men, but also by a savage horde of orcs from the North that the Dunland war chief had forged an alliance with. Outnumbered, caught off-guard, and in the worst possible terrain for horseback combat, the battle was absolutely brutal for the Riders. Technically, they claimed victory as one of Garulf’s closest friends, Fraewine, managed to defeat the Dunland war chief in combat at the cost of his arm. Garulf himself killed the orc war leader in single combat, taking his shattered blade as both a prize of victory and a remembrance of his mistake. As the horde of wild men and orcs fled, barely a dozen Riders survived and of those alive, only half were in any shape to remain as warriors.

Garulf was commended for turning the tide of a hopeless battle, but the praise felt like ashes in his mouth. He had lost nearly a full hundred men due to his own arrogance and his best friend was crippled. Bitter and doubting his own abilities, Garulf left the Riders, eventually turning away from Rohan entirely in his shame. He took to mercenary work to win his bread, taking whatever job would move him further from his homeland. Until he can claim that he has repented and redeemed himself for his mistake and his failure, he will not return to Rohan without good cause so to this day he fights the best he can to prove, mostly to himself, that he is an honorable and skilled warrior and that he will one day find a way to make up for the lives lost under his command. Most recently, he has found himself guarding a caravan of merchants heading into the lands of Bree, though this contract ends soon and he is always on the lookout for new opportunities…

Garulf is a tall man, roughly 6’2”, in his early thirties. He has the look of a man who works hard and is outdoors almost constantly, with weathered skin and a constant tan from his travels. His body is strong and well-muscled, showing his frequent training. He has long blonde hair, usually kept pulled back in a ponytail to keep it controlled in combat and a small carefully trimmed beard. His eyes are pale greyish blue and have a hard look to them from his own determination and iron will. He has a large scar across his left shoulder from his last battle with the Riders, inflicted by the very shattered blade that he carries, and he occasionally rubs it, claiming that the scar gets sore when the weather is foul. He wears a fairly simple brown and grey outfit with his chain shirt, along with fairly high quality riding gloves and boots made of leather, a remnant of his time among the Riders, as well as a leather chest piece emblazoned with the symbol of the Mark. He carries a steel helm, also in the Rider’s style, though only wears it in serious encounters. He carried both his round shield and his spear across his back, allowing his to quickly draw them if he needs them, or to leave the shield if he feels the need to wield his spear in two hands.

Personality-wise, he is a steadfast and determined man. He rarely backs down when he believes he is right, often to the point of stubbornness, and has a strong moral compass to both help those in need and abide by his own moral code. He will never abandon a fight while allies or the innocent are potentially at risk, even at risk to himself, and he fights with an almost fanatical fury against those that threaten anyone he calls friend. He has no particular prejudices, save for his hatred of the ‘savages’ of Dunland and his dislike of orcs, though he has rarely met elves or hobbits and has only dealt with dwarves in the context of trade while repairing or purchasing weapons or working with caravans.