Initiative: + 3, Senses: No special senses, Perception + 4
Background:
Spike never knew his actual parents, being found as an egg near the southern shore of Ember Lake by 2 children (Henry Shacklefern - 3 Years old and Ava Shacklefern - 2 Years old). When they brought the egg home to show their widower father (Jacob Shacklefern),he saw how excited they were over the egg and supervised them hatching it. When an odd looking lizard first poked its head outside the egg, the father wanted to release it into the wild, however the children threw such a fit that Jacob let them keep it as a pet. The children smiled in glee and decided to name him spike, due to the dorsal spikes running along his spine. Within the next couple years Henry and Ava raised spike, were greatly surprised when he stood up on his hind legs and called Henry and Ava dad and mom!
Their father Jacob was greatly concerned over this surprise, finding Spike to be dangerous, but due to not knowing what he was and if he could survive on his own, decided to raise him along with his two children. The rest of Spike's childhood was fairly normal, with the Shacklefern family living right outside the town of Nybor, which is used to unusually races, tho Spike was still given odd looks everywhere he went. Jacob taught his children to hunt, and gather. Spike would use his allowances to buy books and literature, being fascinated by the world, and also curious as to what he truly was. Once Spike was 18 years, him and Henry joined the town guard wanting to help protect their community.
They spent 3 years in the guard before Spike was kicked out for being too quick to anger whenever someone would insult or attack Henry (one case being a chicken thief punching Henry when being questioned, resulting in Spike biting his arm almost tearing it off). Deciding it was best to leave and go find work and purpose, Spike decides to head to Kaer Maga. On his way out, Henry and Ava hug Spike, and give him a going away present, a specially designed short sword(Gladius), heavier than usual to accent Spike's strength, with Ava engraved on one side of the blade, with Henry on the other, so that he would never forget his true family.
Personality:
Spike is a very intelligent lizard, loving to learn new things, most seen in how he loves to read and learn about new cultures. He believes in being nice and good to people, however working in the guard, as well as his own aggressive nature have made it so he is not quick to forgive those that have wronged, especially if they wronged someone close to him. While being intelligent he still has an almost wild air about him, most seen when he is angered, for no matter how much his adoptive parents tried to get him out of the habit, whenever angered or aggravated he tends to get bitey. Due to people treating him as weird and unnatural during his childhood, he tends not to make friends often, however when he does he forms a close bond with them.
Combat:
Spike, after being heavily trained in the guard, has grown heavily fond of shields, loving how heavy they feel attached to his arm, and they way they feel when bashing and enemy(he still has a little viciousness in him). He's grown fond of focusing on his shield for defense and offense, waiting for his enemy to make a mistake before striking with his sword.He is somewhat knowledgeable in using a bow due to hunting with his family during his childhood. Also from hunting, and the various books he's read of anatomy and war, he's very skilled and accurate at knowing where and enemies vital spots are, as well as being able to learn how something acts just by studying them for a short amount of time. When angry or otherwise too focused on the fight, will incorporate biting into his attacks.
Through the many times taken on hunting trips, Spike has developed basic survival skills, and techniques to remain hidden.Spike has also learned some very basic arcane knowledge, mainly due to his interests in dragons started by reading a book he bought from a traveling merchant. His study of dragons lead to his discovery of the Draconic language, which seemed somehow familiar in a way, and he was quick to learn it. He also learned basic healing from studying medical books, and part of what he's learned as a child and from working in the guard. Thanks to his working in the guard having to deal with criminals, he developed the general knack for detecting the motives of people around him by watching their body language.
Feats:
Improved Shield Bash
Traits:
Adopted - Shield Bearer (+ 1 Damage with shields, Once a day as a Free Action provide a + 2 Trait bonus to an adjacent ally's AC) Helpful (Aid another bonus increased to + 3)
