Borith Zela

Human with humanoid features

Very fit but more lean than muscular

Lightly tanned skin

Shorter than average height

Stocky frame

Narrower shouldiers

More adgile than strong

Dark brown hair

Cut short but not styled on his head

He grows a La Mancha style beard (full, pointy gotee, full sides and mustache with all of it kept trimmed in lengh like representations of Don Quixote or the classic caballero/conquistador look.)

Medium density body hair on his chest, arms and legs

Facial shape: definately an oval-shaped face. It is long and narrow, kind of pointed with his narrow chin

Eyes: deep set brown eyes that have a little of an intensity to them.

Eyebrows: medium with brown eyebrows. The eyebrow bone is lower (not far in height above his eyesockets) and bumps outward from his forehead bones which further shadow and add dept to his eyes.

Nose: long (y-axis if looking from the side) and narrow, (z-axis) and a little prodtruding (y-axis)

Lips: thinner lips that seem to disappear behind his facial hair.

A long scar from the inside of his right bicept to his right elbow from battle in the north

Smaller scars on his thighs, calves and insides of his forearms from slashing or piercing wounds where his armor didn't protect him.

No scars on his face

Above Table

Moderately strong

Shorter than average

Handsome

Above The Table

Apparel as a officer or in a millitary capacity:

Steel breastplate: When he was in the millitary, he always donned a well worn but well maintained breatplate. Like the rest of his steel armor, it had a sliglt black tinting which took away from the reflection in direct sunlight. Byond that there was nothing particularly interesting or decorative about the piece of armor.

Seel paldrons and gauntlets: When Borith was headed to combat, he wore a set of tinted plate-steel paultrons and gauntlets; when he was not headed to combat or a dangerous situation he did not wear this part of his armor. The gauntlets and pauldrons which ran from the end of his breastplate down the outside of his bicepts and down his forearms to the end of his wrists. The set of overlapping plates were tied with leather to one another which provided the ability to flex and move more naturally than solid steel armor. They were also tied by leather straps around his bicepts and forearms so that they would not come off during intensive combat. The steel only protected the outer half of his bicepts and forearms, not the inside (kind of like a lobster's shell)

Chainmail and leather gloves: When Borith was headed into combat or a dangerous situation, he donned gloves with chaimail on the side opposite of the palm and leather everywhere else. The chaimail provided a level of slashing protection for the back of his hands while the leather provided a flexable grip for his weapons. They were tied into his gauntlets by leather strips and attached by straps around his wrists to keep from falling off during the sudden motions of combat.

Steel greaves: Whenever Borith wore armor, he always wore a set of steel greaves which extended from his hips, down his shins and over his feet. Like his pauldrons and gauntlets, they were made from overlapping plates of steel tied together with leather strips which provided flexability while walking and moving but great protection against slashing, piercing and bludgoning damage. The armor covered the front-facing half of his thighs, calves, ankles and feet. They were tied with leather straps to his body as not to come off during combat. It also contained a plate to protect his delacate bits, tied with a leather strip around the bottom of his torso to the back of the breastplate and to his greaves on either side.

Steel helmet: At all times, Borith wore his officer's standard issue morion helmet. It is a solid steel helmet with a steel brim around all sides to provide protection for his ears and from the elements. As he is an officer, he wears a red feather atop his helmet to indicate that he is a commander (as opposed to black to indicate that he is a junior officer or none which would indicate he is a common soldier.)

Cloth gambeson: Underneath his armor he always wore a light burgundy colored cloth gambeson or sort of padded cloth armor meant to absorb the force of bludgoning attacks against him. It almost looked like a normal cloth top with long sleaves but flared out like a skirt around the torso to provide freedom of movement around the legs.

Cloth underclothes: Underneath his gambeson, Borith typically wore a simple longsleve cloth shirt and long cloth pants, both dyed black. They were simple and effective in providing covering for any places that his armor might expose. He rarely had this part of his clothing exposed as it was considered soft and uncouth like having a part of your undergarments showing.

Leather boots: Borith always wore a set of tall, leather boots that stretched up his shin to just below the knee with a sturdy leather and wood sole. Although not quite armor, they provided a modest amount of protection agianst the elements and things like protruding sticks when riding a horse. He was also the most comfortable in boots as he wore them from the time that he was at tha academy, through all of the campaigns and even when he was not wearing any armor.

Oak and steel lance: Borith's primary weapon was a six-foot long oak lance with a steel tip and crossbar. On the end of the lance which he held, there was a brass pommel which perfectly counterbalanced the entire lance and could be used to bludgon enemies.The primary mode of attack was piercing but could also be used to slash, budgon and sweep enemies from their feet. He could wield this as effectively from horseback as he could on foot and even in close-quarters situations. The lance was also a symbol of his rank as an officer who was typically mounted which meant a lance could be used to devistating effects.

Steel Longsword: Borith's secondary weapon was his longsword which he kept in a scabbard on his left hip.. This was primarily employed if his lance broke, if he was disarmed or if the situation was too difficult to wield the lance. The sword was standard issue, with a blade of about three feet in lengh, double sided and razor sharp. It had a simple steel crossguard to protect his hands and steel pomel that could be used to bludgon his enemies.

Steel dagger: Borith's auxillery weapon was a long, narrow steel dagger (about two 16 inches long and two inches wide at its base with a sharp taper to a narrow point) which he kept on a scabbard also on his right hip closer to the front of his body than his hatchet. This was primarily used in close combat with armored opponents as it could be thrust into gaps between armor plates and less protected areas that a sword or lance would not be easily able to strike. He did not use this weapon often but it was devistating when he did.

Hatchet: Although not a standard piece of equipment, Borith quickly found the usefulness of a good oak and steel or iron hatchet during his first posting in the north. He didn't use this in combat as much as he used it to chop firewood, forage, butcher meat and hack up roots when diging fortifications. It also doubled as a decent piercing and bludgoning weapon in close combat, especially if his dagger seemed too flimsy or there weren't obvious gaps in his opponent's defenses.

In a civillian or governing capacity:

Cloth Tabard: In civillian life, Borith's outer layer consisted of a cloth tabbard emblazened with symbols of the Imperial Crown and the Imperial Army. Especially as Governor-General, this was a symbol of his rank and authority when he wasn't in his armor (which was very hot in the climate of the Southwestern Frontier.) The tabbard was dyed dark blue with gold accents reminiscent of the Vranic flag. It contained the hand raising a sword (the symbol of the Imperial Vranic government) and a bear standing on its hind legs ready to attack (a symbol of the the Imperial Army), a rose and a star (symbols of his last military command and the standard of his governor-generalship.)

Linnen undergarments: Although not socially comfortable to Borith, he typically wore a linnen shirt laced in the front at the neck and linnen pants in the natural cream-white color underneath his tabard. They were breathable and cool in the climate of the Southwestern Frontier and culturally appropreate for his subjects (even if they were considered inappropreate back in Throne.) He got used to wearing them for the three years of his governor-generalship and they became more common to him than his armor.

Leather shoes: When out of armor and wearing civillian clothes, his tall leather boots looked very out-of-place so he opted to wear simple leather shoes instead. They were ankle high, open at the top and secured around his ankle by tying a golden cord which ran around the outside of the shoe just below the ankle with a small tastle at their end (which was the custom.)

Longsword: Although not officially in a combat role, Borith carried his longsword in its letaher scabard on his left hip when he wore his civillan clothes. He would have prefered not to wear this part of his outfit but it was required as a symbol of both his rank and of the Empire (as depicted on the Imperial flag.)

Borith Zela was born the third oldest male child of a minor noble family from southeast of Throne. He stood little chance of inheriting his family’s land so his father pushed him to train for military service at an early age. Borith was not a gifted fighter or particularly fond of battle but he pushed himself to fulfill his father’s expectations. Young Borith showed much more promise in negotiations, interpersonal skills and strategizing than he ever did with combat. Even with his penchant for strategy, he failed to adapt when his battle plans went arye and would often cry when his side lost the kids games that were meant to train future generals and admirals of the Empire.   At the age of twelve, he left his family’s home for the Imperial War College where he lived full time. Cadet Zela continued to struggle through martial arts training, weapon training and other martial skills. He enjoyed his few courses in literature and any time he worked with people from the edges of the Empire.   At the age of 18 he graduated from the War College he was commissioned as a junior lieutenant and received his first posting as an aide-de-camp to a senior general posted along the western frontier with Culestis. It was cold, difficult work, mostly overseeing clearning snow in the winter and digging fortifications in the summer but lieutenant Zela enjoyed it. He stayed far away from any sort of skirmishes or conflicts along the border as he was mostly stationed a half-day’s ride behind the lines. He was able to go home for long stretches of time when the border was peaceful.   At the age of 25, lieutenant Zela’s hard work earned him a promotion to full lieutenant. However, this promotion took him out of camp and moved him to commanding a company of men protecting the border. He was apprehensive about such a move but the front remained peaceful. He kept his men away from areas that others jumped at as provocation for skirmishes between the two sides.   One day he was not so lucky. Two regiments (five companies) of Culestin soldiers on patrol ‘accidentally’ crossed the border and happened upon lieutenant Zela’s single company. The two sides fought for about half-an-hour with heavy casualties on both sides. Lieutenant Zela found a way to cast Thomiturgy and showed the opposition leaders that they were actually in Imperial land not Culestian land. They had a tense meeting in the center of the battle before the Culestans pulled their forces back to their side of the border. To many of the soldiers it looked like lieutenant Zela fought several Culestan generals in open combat in the center of the battle before Borith scared them so much that they withdrew. The ultimate result was that the larger Culestan forces seemed to flee. Although not true, he became a war hero over night. Although his company lost the same number of the Culestans, the Empire declared it a great victory against Culestan aggression.   This notoriety earned lieutenant Zela a promotion the very next day. He was recalled to Throne where he was personally awarded a commission as captain and given command of a formation later known as the Company of the Rose and Star by the leaders of the Imperial Army. He remained in Throne for the better part of the next year as the Empire put together seven regiments of soldiers (including cavalry, heavy infantry and a detachment of siege weapons) which was to go south to quell a rebellious section of the Empire which declared de-facto independence many months prior. Captain Zela believed that just bringing his overwhelming forces and the authority of the Empire would end the rebellion without bloodshed.   He marched south from Throne, past the Spires and into the Southern Provinces. Once there, everything went horribly for his expedition. His men sold their rations for booze, order amongst the men became lax and some slipped away to their homes. It took twice as long for them to march through the southern provinces as it did through the northern ones. They spent far more resources than the Empire rationed and this rose eyebrows among the high command.   By the time his forces came into the frontier provinces the separatists seemed to run but actually waged a hit-and-run campaign against Captain Zela’s army. It took them much longer than even Captain Zela anticipated to get from the periphery of the separatist provinces to their core areas of support. Once there, they met fierce resistance from the Shekans and their allies. The majority of Captain Zela’s forces melted away and left him with only the most hard-core heavy infantry and veteran cavalry detachments. This was not enough for Captain Zela to win the fight although he pushed ahead anyway as he believed that one final push would split the Shekan forces and finally force them to concede ground. It did not happen and Captain Zela’s forces suffered very heavy losses. He finally ordered a retreat to the non-separatist provinces to regroup. The Shekans harassed his forces in a hit-and-run campaign even past the provinces in open revolt and into the provinces still loyal to the Empire. This created a huge embarrassment for the Imperial Army and the leadership of the Empire worried that more provinces could revolt at any time. Captain Zela frantically rode around the southern provinces, ordering the small bands of his solders (and former soldiers) to regroup in the relative safety of the Spires.   He begged his superiors to keep him in command of the Company of the Rose and Star which the begrudgingly did. He spend the better part of three months reorganizing his men, gathering more deserters and resupplying his forces for the next campaign which he was ordered to wage.   It was at this time that he met Abeni Laramar. He was impressed by their insight, how they could look right through a person and see who they truly were. Captain Zela and Abeni met several times in a casual capacity over this time. Eventually they convinced Captain Zela that it was of vital importance to hire good translators, who knew the Sheka culture and scouts who knew the terrain far better than he did. Although it seemed to be a sign of weakness, Captain Zela bucked to perception and built a staff of people who would help him do just that.   When he left three months later his forces were much better disciplined, better prepared and armed with the ability to better interact with the residents of the Southwestern Frontier. This time he was able to form alliances between those whom the Sheka and their allies alienated or who outright hated them. This swelled their ranks with good soldiers, who knew the terrain and the tactics used by the Sheka. This made them much more organized and efficient as they marched. They fought off many large Sheka ambushes and before long they established a supply corridor into the key Sheka provinces. With this new base of supply and stability, they established a fortified base from which they launched further operations. Eventually they whittled away many of the Sheka’s supporters and left only the most devoted to their cause.   From there, they launched a series of sieges against the remaining allies of the Sheka. It took time but they were able to shrink the provinces loyal to the Sheka to their core territory. Eventually they laid siege to Sheka Town. It took almost a year but the town succumbed to famine, drought and disease. His forces triumphantly entered the town but Captain Zela kept strict order and did not let his men loot the town.   When news reached Throne, it was greeted with celebrations across the Empire. Captain Zela was immediately recalled to the capital where he was promoted past several ranks and directly to general. He was made Governor-General of the former Sheka Provinces and told to pacify them to the imperial order. He ruled the provinces with justice and fareness inspired by his now-partner Abeni. The two married at a small military ceremony with high officers in Sheka Town.   He ruled the Southwestern Frontier Provinces for three years. He sensed that several generals were jealous of his success or felt threatened by him. There were also several officers moved under his command that felt he didn’t deserve to be promoted ahead of them. The political leadership in Throne was often shifting but seemed to generally acknowledge his success. He gained several supporters in Throne politics but this also made him a target of others. Yet he governed effectively until he was mysteriously recalled to Throne.   Once there he checked into a hotel near the Imperial Palace before he was abducted in the middle of the night. He was stripped of his titles, his authority and thrown into the Political Prisoner wing of the Fringe for the next month. He was not told why he was detained or how long he would be there. He was unaware that his capture was used to lure Abeni to Throne for their capture as well. Once Abeni was captured, the Empire conducted a private show trial in the prison with only a handful of top army officers in attendance. The tribunal found him guilty of treason and immediately sentenced him to death. He was very surprised to see that Abeni was imprisoned in the Fringe (in Block E) and forced to watch his execution. After being hung, drawn and quartered by Haymen his last words were to Abeni as he said “I will always be with you.”   Borith Zela died is disgrace and secrecy. The Empire concocted an official story that Abeni convinced him to be Emperor in his own right so he tried to usurp power but when it was found out and he was recalled to Throne, he deserted the Empire. The coverstory implied that he was alive and well, living somewhere in the Crater with Abeni.

Cisgender male: Borith's gender identity is the same as he was assigned at birth. He is a man with male physical and social characteristics.

Self-Image of Gender: Borith doesn't really care about gender identity as he prefers to see all creatures as equals and members of their species not divided by gendered traits.

Tutored at home for basic education

Imperial War College of the Vranic Empire

(former) Officer in the Vranic Empire

(former) Governor-General of the Southwestern Frontier Provinces

Executioner of the Fringe

Brought prosparity to the Southwestern Frontier Provinces

A respected governor-general

Restored order to the Southwestern Frontier Provinces

Successful aide-de-camp

Defeated a Culestan force five times his size

That he was used to manipulate Abeni into captivity

His capture and forced resignation in disgrace from all of his positions

His legacy as a deserter and the shame that caused his family

The failed First Campaign to Restore Order to the Southwestern Frontier Provinces

Post-traumatic stress disorder from his torture and execution

Seeing Abeni's capture

The knowledge of the pain and suffering that he caused his family

Open-minded

Perceptive

Quick-witted

Cautious

"I am a humanoid, therefore nothing humanoid can be alien to me": Borith ascribes to the ancient Vranic philosophy that all creatures are equal in their importance to Kurra. He recognizes the humanity in species that are on their surfice so disimilar to his own (like Tabaxi or Lizardfolk) but prefers to emphasize the common desire to improve their own lives, to love and the like over their differences.

Wholistic sense of morality: Borith takes a larger perspective on what is right and wrong than most people. He weighs what will help the most people and hurt the fewest when making decisions. He also tries to mitigate any negative effects of his decisions.

Flexable application of his personal morality: Although he has a personal sense of what is right and wrong, Borith prefers to keep a more flexable relationship to what should be done by him and by those who report to him. He is first and foremost a product of the Empire and the Imperial Army therefore he is used to being ordered to do things that he disagrees with. He does try to interject his own interpretation of his orders based on what he believes is right in any situation but knows he can't completely disobey orders.

Greed/large amounts of personal wealth

Cruelty and bullying

Prejudice

Gendered-prejudices, sexual orientation prejudices, racism

Service to those who need help

Service to his family

Service to Abeni as his partner

Service to the Empire

Savvies

Good interpersonal skills

Great at finding solutions to people's problems

Great understanding of military logisctics and supply

Good long-term strategizer and planner

Ineptitude

Language learning

Adapting to rapidly changing situations

Martial skills

Hunting, fishing and foraging

Likes

Kindness

Charitable giving

Physical intimacy

Alchahol, especially dark beer and fortified wine

Reading

Quiet

Cool tempretures/enviroments

The sight of forests, especially the pine forests of his youth

Lakes, especially in cooler climates (but not the Great Inland Sea)

Breads and other baked goods

Dislikes

Greed

Selfishness

Overly bustling/stimulating enviroments

War and combat

Hot enviroments

The ocean/seas

Lots of heavy/game meats

Charitable

Temperate

Calm

Charitable

Diligent

Honest

Patient

Compassionate

Forgiving

Humble

Just

Brave/self-sacrificing (when it is required)

Content

Curous/Open-Minded

Diplomatic

Shrewd/Discerning

Wise/Farsighted

Experienced Traveler

Great Overseer/Administrator

Complete lack of self-confidence or confidence that he can make his plans/vision for something work remotely in the way that he wants

Gullible

Lustful (which has gotten him into trouble before)

Shy (or more uncomfortable in some social situations)

Stubborn

Bouts of Meloncholy (depression)

Bouts of Excentricity (anxiety)

Relies on Liquid Courage (drinks before difficult situations)

Seemingly plagued by bad luck (but followed by a reversal)

Imposter Syndrome (from official praise of his actions when he really failed or was not the one to bring about success.)

Plagued by self-doubt

(a little) Hedonistic

Idealistic

Klutz/not physically coordinated

Lewd (in his personal life by Throne/Imperial officer standards)

Overly skeptical or pragmatic

Gets ahead of himself and then reals it back in

Mainstream Vranic Society (especially in the millitary): Borith is remembered as a trator to his people and morally weak due to his 'fleeing the country' at the behest of Abeni Laramar. He is seen as the example of a weak person, flawed and suseptable to temptation.

Among his family: Borith was disinherited after his titles and rank were stripped. His family publically disowned Borith but privately the situation is much more complicated. Some believe him to be a traitor but his immediate family don't buy this. They can't say anything publically that would contradict the official Imperial story but hold hope that he will come back or that the stain on his name will be reoved some day.

Southwestern Frontier Provinces: Borith's legacy is much different in the provinces that he once governed. They do not buy that he abandoned his post or that Abeni tempted him to run away because of how the two were so invested in the rebuilding and prosparity of the region. Although a rumor, they believe Borith was set up by the Empire to be replaced by someone who would syphon wealth away from the provinces and back to Throne when Borith refused. He is remembered as an honest, just and upright man, righteous even among the ranks of those he defeated.

(Former) Members of the High Imperial Army

(Former) Generals, staff officers and junior officers in the Imperial Army

(Former) Strong bonds with his soldiers both past and present

Members of the remaining Sheka leadership

Community members and minor nobles in the Southwestern Frontier Provinces

(Former) well-connected politicians and civillian officials in Throne

Friends and vassals of his family

The Zelas: Borith comes from a large immediate family and very large extended family mostly concintrated in the area southeast of Throne. Some of his family members are (or were) officers in the Imperial Navy, Imperial Army and minor civillian officials (like sheriffs, game wardens and judges.) They are not considered the most prestigious family nor the best connected but they have some influence and recognition in Vranic society.

The Morimonts: The Zela family is actually a cadet branch of the larger, more prestigious, better titled and better connected Morimont family. The current head of the Morimont family is a count west of Throne but not near the border with Culestis. The head of that family shares a great uncle with Borith Zela. Occasionally, and in times of great need, the Zelas appealed to the Morimonts as extended family to interceede on their behalf. The Morimonts have not often helped their extended kin but have come through in dire times in the past. However, they were notibly quiet in response to the many pleas from Borith's mother (who shares a closer relation to the Morimonts than Borith) after his imprisonment.

None: Borith accepted that the gods left Kurra. From a young age he believed that worshiping them or anything like the gods was foolish as nothing would come from it.

Sipritualism: Later in life and through Abeni's influences, Borith began to see how the spirits of all things were connected to one another. To him this did not amount to a religious belief and he would never consider himself a member or believer in Egunisímo. It was more like the awareness how threads come together to form an Arachni's web. But he did not performed special rituals as Abeni did.

Charismatic: Although not the most extraverted or traditionally charismatic, there is something likeable and endeering about Borith Zela. It is an ease and charm that comes off effortlessly when he is around people.

Self-effacing: Borith preferes to make jokes at his one expense because he feels it is awful to poke fun at others. It also belies the lack of his confience in expressing or executing his ideas.

Very polite and well manered: In all circumstances and with all people, Borith is exceedingly polite. He only takes what is offered to him, he often leaves gifts for those who have hosted him, he uses polite words and treats everyone with respect no matter who they are.

Stands tall, errect, shouldiers back, face forward and looking outward as if he is on sentury duty at all times

They tend to move their head and eyes to look directly at whomever is speaking, no matter how lowly the person is with the implication that they have Borith's full attention.

He brings his hand to his chin when he is thinking

Sometimes he also strokes his beard

Other times he puts one finger over his lips and taps them, especially if he is actively thinking about a difficult situation.

When he speaks, he does not gesture with his hands or shift his body in any discernable way.

Sometimes it doesn't look like he is breathing because he breathes very shalowly (as he was trained to do when on guard duty and in formal millitary displays)

Far-Strider: Borith's horse which he recieved upon his promotion to officer. Far-Strider was a patient, calm horse but with a fast gallop and seeming bravery (more than Borith.) Far-Strider may not have been the brighest horse as he often disobeyed Borith's commands and charged right into the thick of combat. This made Borith appear more heroic than he actualy was but terrified Borith every battle. Far-Strider died of diease during the retreat after Borith's first attempt to re-conquer the Sheka.

Lashka: Borith's second horse which he recieved when he returned to the Spires after his failed first campaign. Lashka was a firey horse, often difficult to control and anxious to gallop. Unlike Far-Strider, Borith managed to keep him from charging into the thick of combat but Lashka often reared up, trotted and showed-off despite Borith's wishers. Like Far-Strider this made Borith seem much more dashing and heroic than he actually was. He was depicted during the enterence to Sheka Town by a famous artist reared up on his back feet with Borith heroically bransishing his sword. The reared up part was true but Borith did not brandish his sword in a heroic way, instead he held on for dear life to the large, charger horse.

Lower pitch

Moderate, almost quiet volume for his natural speaking voice

Powerful amount of volume when he needs to

Warm character to his voice

Neutral/'Throne' acccent (or whatever an accent for someone from the heart of the Empire would sound like)

Vranic dialect of Common

Clear pronounciation

Fond of asking if someone understood, if his orders were clear or if they heard him (not because he is pompous but because he expects peolpe to not take him seriously.)

Fond of saying "go with luck" and "go in peace" when departing.

Gives very fond, warm welcomes to those whom he knows (and he knows a lot of people.)

Swares a moderate amount, typically in the presence of his men or outside of politie social settings

Fond of the praises damn and shit

Very rarely swares in politie social settings

Lower nobility: Due to the circumstances of his birth, Borith was always considered a part of the lower nobility of the Empire. This afforded him a small amount of prestige and opprotunities that he would not have enjoyed otherwise. However, in Imperial society this was completely divorced from the amount of wealth which he held.

Modest wealth: In life, Borith was only modestly wealthy. He enjoyed a small anual income from his family's lands but not the share of his eldest brother. Nor were his family's lands particularly profitable as their land primarily profited from the growth and sale of staple crops like oats and barley. He lived off of his millitary salary and in military camps, slowly saving money up for his life after the army. He was never considered poor but he was not considered as wealthy as most tradespeople, guild members, merchants and the like. This changed when he became Governor-General. He earned a handsome percentage of the profits made from his governate. He opted not to pocket these earnings but to create a small in-case-of-emergency fund for Abeni and him then lent or invested the rest of his earnings (at 0% or 1% interest) to people who needed money but would not take it in the form of a gift or offer from the Imperial government. So he never really gained personal wealth (if the massive amounts of money he lent out were set aside) but enjoyed a comfortable existance in his life.