Johan Reinhart's page

Lithe and strong, Johan walks with long strides and a quick pace, switching his leather rucksack from hand to hand. His clothing he chooses for comfort and ease of travel. It is dark-colored and well-worn, but good quality: a wide-brimmed slouch hat to stave off the sun’s heat, a crimson bandana around his neck sometimes pulled up over his face in dusty environments, often-mended woolen breeches, mud-stained leather boots, and a long brown duster coat that only partially conceals his weapons. The hilt of a dark-metal blade and a horn longbow displaying eagle feathers protrude from the back of his coat.

Sparse facial hair on his chin and cheeks and an unkempt mop of black hair protruding from his hat show Johan’s indifference for personal grooming, at least for aesthetic reasons. His striking purple eyes and clearly Elven ears (more prominent than most half-elves he knows) draw frequent comments of interest or praise, which he swiftly, but courteously, dismisses. To Johan, function is much more important than form.

As a result, Johan is perceptive, intelligent, and deeply sympathetic to the struggles of other people. He strives to find items of historical and magical significance with a goal of enlightening the uneducated and helping the unfortunate. If an artifact would prove dangerous in the wrong hands, he has no problem doing what he can, even outside legal methods, to prevent wanton destruction. Of particular interest to Johan are items belonging to people who, at crucial times in history, displayed remarkable bravery.

Though he cares for others and seeks lasting bonds of friendship, Johan finds it difficult to talk about his emotions. This is partially due to his pragmatic nature, but it is more a result of something that even he doesn’t understand. Johan can unlock power from items with strong psychic bonds to a past bearer, but in so doing he invites a portion of that person’s memories and emotions into his psyche. Though he is passionate about the items that he bears, the fractured nature of his personality from the items’ influence makes it difficult for him to articulate on matters of the heart.

As a result, Johan is perceptive, intelligent, and deeply sympathetic to the struggles of other people. He strives to find items of historical and magical significance with a goal of enlightening the uneducated and helping the unfortunate. If an artifact would prove dangerous in the wrong hands, he has no problem doing what he can, even outside legal methods, to prevent wanton destruction. Of particular interest to Johan are items belonging to people who, at crucial times in history, displayed remarkable bravery.

Though he cares for others and seeks lasting bonds of friendship, Johan finds it difficult to talk about his emotions. This is partially due to his pragmatic nature, but it is more a result of something that even he doesn’t understand. Johan can unlock power from items with strong psychic bonds to a past bearer, but in so doing he invites a portion of that person’s memories and emotions into his psyche. Though he is passionate about the items that he bears, the fractured nature of his personality from the items’ influence makes it difficult for him to articulate on matters of the heart.

Lithe and strong, Johan walks with long strides and a quick pace. His clothing, arms, and armor is an amalgamation of different styles, borrowing from the variety of cultures he’s encountered in his travels. Sparse facial hair on his chin and cheeks and an unkempt mop of black hair protruding from his hat display his indifference for personal grooming, at least for aesthetic reasons.

His striking purple eyes and clearly Elven ears (more prominent than most half-elves he knows) draw comments of interest or praise, which he swiftly, but courteously, dismisses. To Johan, function is much more important than form.

His expedition was out of food and low on water, and deadly predators were closing in on their position. He gave his compass to his companions, saying it was foretold that whosoever possessed it could always find their way home. ‘I know this jungle,’ he told them. ‘I’ll find my way home without it, and I’ll drive back the beasts first to give you the time you need.’ Return he did, but the remaining members of his party, along with the compass, were lost to the unspeakable dangers of the jungle.

Recognize this? It belonged to one Ser Godfrey, in days past. It’s called the “Untested” because, though many challengers both humanoid and monstrous sought to defeat him in combat and claim his weapon for themselves, he never had to resort to battle.

The half-elf tests the balance of his blade a few times as the would-be robbers continue their advance, slower now and with less confidence.

Yes, legend has it that his voice was more beautiful than the nightingale—any who heard him would weep from joy, repent their sins, and strive to live righteously . Sadly, I’ve no talent for song, so It’s even more important for you to change your ways like those swayed by the good Ser Godfrey’s verse. If you don’t, I’ll be forced to send you to your final rest.

You’ve a good eye, friend. It once belonged to a woman so smart, she could discern what events would occur before they occurred! She foresaw an army of demons descending upon her city, laying waste to everything in their path. Her insight also provided her with the means to destroy them! You see, the demons knew of her abilities and wanted to use them for fell purposes. The woman offered her soul, intellect, even her name up to her gods to spare her people. In their wisdom they complied, but in so doing even the memory of her was wiped from the minds of those who had long sought her counsel. She wandered the streets, babbling and insane, begging for scraps while those she saved spurned her and cursed her very existence. Sometimes it is better to be ignorant, no?

Very well, Johan! If that’s the price of your skill in senet, you’re welcome to it. Here’s to your Nameless Sage! The men raise their glasses and drink solemnly.

The slight man’s breathing is labored as he reaches into his vest and produces a ruby the size of a child’s closed fist. Here—it’ll be some time before the drake returns, and there’s yet another tunnel to the exit. Take this to market, sell it, and give my half to my family. Make sure they know it was me who talked you into this job, I don’t want ‘em holding any grudges.

Johan takes the gem and shakes his head, trying to dig the rubble out.

Markus coughs up blood, and speaks again: No sense in both of us dying, I’m not gonna tell you again. But before you go, I gotta say, of all the things we’ve seen, mystical and valuable, I’ve never seen you without that cheap ring of yours. I know it means something to you, ‘s one of those objects you can draw power from, but you never speak of it. Sate a dead man’s curiosity--whose was it?

Johan crouches, taking the man’s hand and nods slowly. It belonged to a unique woman—the bravest the world’s ever seen. Her husband hadn’t returned from some trip for over a year and they’d fallen on hard times, and she had many mouths to feed at home. She spent her time working what jobs she could and scrounging whatever food she could. She’d been beautiful, and strong, but she wouldn’t eat a morsel of food that could’ve gone to her kids. She wasted away slowly, from both toil and lack of food, but she didn’t want her kids to worry. She told ‘em the ring filled her belly with all manner of delicacies and she was too full to eat with them. ‘It only works on adults, I’m afraid, so you can have it when I’m older’. She passed not two days before the children’s father returned, but she’d seen them through their hardships.

Gives me hope for my family, grim as that story was. Tell me—what was her name? Markus’ question is barely audible, so Johan moves closer.

To me, it was always ‘Naneth’—it’s Elven for ‘Mother’ Johan squeezes his friend’s hand as his breath fails, closes Markus’ eyes, then takes off at a run for the exit.