Tobias Beltor

Tobias is a very tall man, standing at over 2 metres tall in his common form, and slightly smaller in his human form. He is very physically strong and has great stamina and endurance, although this has diminished slightly now that he's not always actively training or on missions, and instead more focused on governing.

In Arthesia, it is very rare for the local Shapeshifters to force themselves into their human forms, and most of them simply let their body stay in their common forms. For Tobias, this form includes deer-like ears, nose, tail, and partial deer-like legs, including hooved feet. By far, his most striking non-human feature is his massive set of antlers, which adds more verticality to his already impressive stature.

Like the vast majority of residents of Arthesia, Tobias is a Shapeshifter. More specifically, he is a Deerkin shapeshifter, which means that he's able to transform partially or completely into a deer, or in his case, a stag.

Childhood

Tobias was born on the 19th of February, 334 Ac. Both of his parents were Shapeshifters, his mother being a Wolfkin, and his father, a Deerkin. He, and his two younger sisters, Alice and Eleanor, were raised by both parents, but primarily their mother, as their father was the chief of the Redrock clan, meaning he was often absent for various reasons. As the son of the current chief, Tobias spend most of his childhood and teenage years going through rigorous training in order to prepare himself for the inevitable fights he would be forced into by challengers seeking to claim his father's position once he would leave it vacant.

Becoming Clan chief

Unfortunately for Tobias, that day arrived much sooner than he, or anybody else expected. In October 351, his father, along with 4 others warriors, were caught by Gysian mages during a raid on the City of Lerast, and executed 2 weeks later. Fueled by both his immense grief, and his determination to not let down his father even after his death, Tobias managed to defeat all 9 challengers to his father's title, and thus he, at the age of 17, became the chief of the Redrock clan.

Preparing for war

While other clans who's members were executed sought revenge, Tobias was more cautious, understanding that the Kingdom of Gysia was way to powerful for them to take on alone. Despite redrock's non-participation, other impacted clans would launch a raid on Lerast, and then on the northern Gysian countryside. This would provoke the wrath of Gysia, who declared war on all other clans south of lake Ghoro, which included the redrocks, in spring 252.   Despite the very bad odds against him and his clan, he rallied his warriors to defend his territory. His mother's clan, the Greyclaws, pledged their support and the Blackbeaks, a nearby Birdfolk Shapeshifters birdfolk clan who clan chief was a childhood friend of Tobias's father, sent spies to locate the Gysian forces, and after seeing the size of Gysia's army and reporting it back to the two other clans, proposed an alliance with the Redrocks and Greyclaws. Tobias agreed, and called upon the other chiefs in the region to discuss an alliance with their clans as well. While many of these clans hated each other thanks to centuries of petty territorial wars, most agreed that each of them alone wouldn't stand a chance, and so agreed to an alliance, which included 7 clans.

Gysian-Arthesian war pt.1

Tobias's first battle would occur in early september, just outside of his childhood village, and despite he and his allies trying their best to push back the Gysians, they were unable to do so. Tobias had to watch his village burn at the hands of the Gysian army. However, during that lost battle, another one was won in Lerast, which had been successfuly breached and many of its defendents killed.

Skilled strategist

This had been Tobias's plan all along, which he had proposed to the other alliance leaders during their conference. While many clan leaders had been skeptical of the young Deerkin's strategy, they completly cahnged their tune after its resounding success. The other chiefs of the alliance recongnised Tobias's skills as a strategist and he unnoficialy came to lead the alliance.

A country is born

Tobias and his allies used the success of his plan to rally most other clans in the region that had remained relunctant to join the war effor until then. An even larger conference was held in the City of Forno, a large trading town belonging to the Greyclaws. There, the Arthesian Confederacy was proclaimed, and Tobias was named its temporary leader for the duration of the war.

A new war plan

Tobias would spend the winter of 353 developing a new plan to deal a desisive blow to the Gysians. In April of 353, he finaly got the chance to enact it as Gysia invaded again. Tobias lead a small force to confront the Gysian army. A long battle ensued, in which Tobias's forces held strong for hours, but eventualy had to retreat due to exaution. The gysian army followed closely behind them, unaware that Tobias was leading them to his trap.

Gysian-Arthesian war pt.2

As night approched, Tobias's forces reached a clearing surrounded by thick woodlands that hid the rest of the Alliance's forces. When the gysians entered the clearing, the arthesian warriors pounced on them. Despite the fact that about a third of the Gysian army managing to sneak away, the battle was a resounding Arthesian victory, which elevated Tobias to a national hero. He, with the help of his allies, would negociate peace with the Kingdom of Gysia and end the war. With the end of the war, Tobias's new position and title as High Chief of Arthesia was up for grabs.

The High Chief remains

Tobias, despite being only 18 years old, defeated numerous other clan chief vying for the title and position. However, many also opted not to claim the position, judging that Tobias was already a good enough candidate that had managed to unite a deeply divided region into a single country.

Peace returns to Arthesia

Tobias, now officialy High chief of Arthesia, would oversee the construction and expansion of the City of Forno's infrastructure, so it could accomodate its new role as the country's capital. This included an arena to host Boyeken Battles, and the construction of a defensive wall and guard towers around the city.

The love of his life

2 years into his reign, in 355, he would meet a lynxkin warrior woman by the name of Hanna at the city's market. The two would quickly hit it off and start dating. Hanna would move into Tobias residence a month later, and the two would become an official couple with a marriage a year later, in july 356.

His family

The couple would have 4 children. The eldest, a lyxnkin boy by the name of Liam, would be born on the 11th of April, 358. The second eldest, Lea, a Deerkin girl, would be born on the 3rd of July, 260. The second youngest child, Elias, a deerkin boy, would be born in on the 17th of August, 261, and finaly the youngest, Matteo, a Lynxkin boy, would be born on 29th of march, 264.

During his teenage years, from 13 to 15 years old, Tobias was a warrior in training for the Redrock clan, and he officially became a full-time warrior at 16 years old, participating in raids and guard duties. This was short-lived however, as the death of his father occurred the next year, and as a result, he became the chief of Redrock clan at 17, and then at 18 years old, Arthesia's high chief, which he still is to this day.

While many in Arthesia and elsewhere would probably say that Tobias's biggest life achievement was the role he had in uniting dozens of historically disunited tribes together to form this new country, as well as his leadership of it for the past 15 years. For Tobias However, his greatest personal acheivement is the family he created. While he his proud of his role in the creation of the Arthesian Confederacy, his marriage to Hanna, and his 4 children, Liam, Lea, Elias, and Matteo, are by far what he considers to be his biggest personal achievement.

The first traumatic event in his life occurred when his father was taken while on a raid, and later executed. Thankfully, time and other events in his life helped him mostly get over it. Another source of trauma is his memories of the War against Gysia, and the many friends and colleagues he lost on the battle field.

While at the start of his reign as High chief, all of his attention and motivations revolved around protecting Arthesia. However, since his marriage to Hanna and the birth of his kids, his attention has revolved around them instead and his motivation to keep Arthesia safe has become a much more personal one since.