Henrik Rodenberg

Excellent fitness maintained through constant physical training and patrol work. Shows wear from years of hard living but remains in peak fighting condition for his age. Back pain is managed but persistent.

Henrik's skin is rough and weathered, with calluses built up from weapon handling and manual fortification work. Bears numerous small scars from desert survival and combat encounters.

• Structure: Strong, angular jawline with high cheekbones
• Facial Hair: Well-maintained beard, trimmed close to his face
• Expression: Default stern expression that softens only around family
• Eyebrows: Thick and often furrowed in concentration
• Lips: Usually pressed in a firm line, rarely smiles

• Major Scar: Left temple to jaw, from Rootbound combat
• Tattoo: Small saltfolk protection symbol on his right forearm
• Bearing: Military-straight posture despite never serving in formal military

• Dominant Hand: Right-handed but practices ambidextrous weapon handling
• Gait: Purposeful stride, always aware of his surroundings
• Posture: Shoulders squared, ready for action
• Habit: Unconsciously touches the grip of his sidearm when stressed

• Enhanced Situational Awareness: Years of survival have given him almost supernatural ability to detect threats and changes in his environment
• Combat Reflexes: Lightning-fast reaction times in dangerous situations
• Weapon Mastery: Can field-strip and repair almost any firearm blindfolded
• Desert Navigation: Can navigate the salt flats and surrounding areas without compass or map
• Tactical Coordination: Natural ability to coordinate group defensive actions under pressure

• Style: Practical desert combat gear in earth tones
• Equipment: Always armed with multiple weapons, wears reinforced boots
• Symbol: Security Keeper's carved horn tip bound with leather, worn prominently
• Condition: All gear meticulously maintained and battle-ready

• Primary Weapon: Modified semi-automatic rifle, pre-Collapse military issue
• Secondary Weapons: Combat knife, compact pistol, brine spray bottles
• Defensive Gear: Improvised body armor from scavenged materials
• Tools: Radio equipment, binoculars, tactical flashlight, rope and climbing gear

• 2000-2028: Born and raised in a small Nevada town, learned practical skills from his father who was a local sheriff's deputy
• 2028-2031: Worked as a security guard at a mining facility when the Verdancy began spreading, met and married Corina.
• 2031-2036: Fled with other refugees to Espera with his family, established himself as settlement's primary defender.
• 2033: Corina becomes pregnant with their first son, Luca Rodenberg.
• 2036: The defining tragedy - Corina murdered by Rootbound soldiers during what should have been a routine scavenging expedition
• 2036-Present: Devoted himself completely to security, became Security Keeper, raised Luca as single father while maintaining Espera's defenses

Values Old World standard gender identities.

Henrik is heterosexual, and is not strictly against other types of sexualities, but carries biases and stereotypes from the Old World that he grew up with as a child.

High school diploma, self-taught in tactics and weapons through necessity and voracious reading of salvaged military manuals. He has a penchant for learning about history, and carries a lot of knowledge about World War II because of his German-American heritage, and his grandfather having served in the war as a Nazi. He also has practical education in desert survival and settlement defence.

• Pre-Collapse: Security guard at mining operation
• Early Espera Years: Informal settlement defender and patrol leader
• Current: Security Keeper on Council of Keepers, responsible for all defensive operations

• Successfully defended Espera against multiple Rootbound and raider attacks
• Established comprehensive early warning systems around the settlement
• Trained the entire community in basic defence protocols
• Maintained settlement armoury and weapons in perfect working order
• Raised Luca to be a strong, capable hunter and man, despite losing his mother

• Failed to protect Corina - his greatest failure and source of ongoing guilt
• Sometimes alienates potential allies with his distrust and rigid security demands
• Struggles to show Luca emotional warmth, despite loving him deeply

• PTSD: From Corina's murder and subsequent combat encounters
• Survivor's Guilt: Believes he should have been with Corina on that fatal scavenging trip
• Hyper-vigilance: Constantly scanning for threats, difficulty relaxing
• Trust Issues: Betrayal by Martina's family members created deep suspicion of others

• Spatial Intelligence: Excellent at reading terrain, understanding defensive positions, and visualizing tactical scenarios
• Logical Reasoning: Strong analytical skills for threat assessment and strategic planning
• Pattern Recognition: Can identify behavioral patterns that indicate threats or deception
• Practical Intelligence: Highly skilled at problem-solving in real-world survival situations
• Limited Abstract Thinking: Struggles with theoretical concepts, prefers concrete, actionable information

• Believes in harsh justice and decisive action
• Community survival justifies almost any action
• Good people deserve protection; those who threaten them deserve no mercy
• Strength and preparation prevent tragedy better than hope or mercy

• Will never forgive anyone who threatens children
• Refuses to work with or trust anyone with Rootbound sympathies
• Cannot tolerate betrayal or abandonment of duty
• Will not discuss the details of Corina's death, even with Luca

• Primary: Protect Espera and its people from all external threats, especially Rootbound
• Personal: Ensure his son Luca grows up safe and strong
• Professional: Maintain Espera's defensive capabilities and strategic security
• Emotional: Seek justice/vengeance for Corina's murder, though he channels this into protection rather than reckless pursuit

• Excellent At: Combat tactics, weapons maintenance, threat assessment, defensive planning, reading people's intentions, survival in hostile territory
• Poor At: Emotional expression, forgiveness, diplomatic solutions, trusting new people, relaxing or taking breaks from vigilance

• Loves: Luca's laughter, the sound of well-maintained weapons, clear sight lines, successful defensive drills
• Likes: Strong coffee, quiet moments at dawn, Maelle's straightforward honesty, efficient teamwork
• Dislikes: Rootbound sympathizers, careless security protocols, wasted resources
• Hates: Anyone who threatens his family, betrayal of trust, the memory of Corina's death

• Loyal: Absolutely dedicated to those he considers family and community
• Protective: Will sacrifice anything to keep others safe
• Competent: Skilled and thorough in all aspects of security and defense
• Reliable: Others can count on him completely
• Strategic: Thinks several steps ahead, excellent tactical mind

• Vengeful: Carries deep grudges, especially against Rootbound
• Suspicious: Struggles to trust new people or situations
• Rigid: Difficulty adapting when his security protocols are questioned
• Emotionally Guarded: Rarely shows vulnerability, even with loved ones
• Paranoid: Sometimes sees threats where none exist

• Weapon Check: Unconsciously pats his sidearm when nervous or thinking
• Perimeter Scan: Eyes constantly move, checking corners and exits even in safe spaces
• Hand Position: Keeps hands visible and ready when talking to strangers
• Morning Ritual: Always checks all weapons and equipment before starting each day
• Sleep Pattern: Light sleeper who wakes at the slightest unusual sound
• Protective Stance: Positions himself between potential threats and people he cares about

Maintains strict personal cleanliness as part of disciplined lifestyle. Views slovenliness as a security risk - dirty equipment fails, and unkempt people make mistakes.

Henrik has served as Security Keeper since 2038 (Year 10 A.V.), two years after Corina's death. He was appointed when the previous informal defence coordinator proved inadequate during a series of raider attacks. His "reign" is characterized by the transformation of Espera from a vulnerable settlement into a well-defended fortress. Under his leadership, the settlement has never suffered a successful major attack, though this has come at the cost of some viewing him as overly militaristic. His authority in security matters is absolute, but he defers to other Keepers in their domains and to Maelle in overall leadership.

Relationship with Maelle Corvain: Complex professional relationship built on mutual respect but philosophical tensions. Maelle sometimes bristles at his reliance on force, but recognizes the necessity of his vigilance. He defers to her wisdom more than he admits, knowing she sees dangers he misses.

Relationship with Luca: Deep paternal love that he struggles to express openly. Proud of his son's strength but fears losing him as he lost Corina. Protective to the point of being overprotective.

Relationship with Martina González: Grateful for the happiness she brings Luca, but maintains cautious distance. Appreciates her stabilizing influence on his son while remaining wary of her family connections.

Relationship with Martina's Family: Deep distrust and suspicion. Believes they deliberately abandoned Corina to Rootbound forces, possibly even set her up. This creates tension in his acceptance of Martina.

Professional Relations: Works closely with Hornbearers and other defensive personnel. Respected but sometimes feared for his intensity and uncompromising standards.

Henrik's relationship with faith died with Corina. Raised nominally Christian, he now views religion as a luxury for people who haven't seen real evil. He believes the desert itself is the only honest god - harsh, unforgiving, but fair in its brutality. Salt is sacred not because of mysticism, but because it literally keeps them alive. If there's an afterlife, he hopes to see Corina again, but he's not counting on it. His prayers, when they come, are bargains offered to the desert wind: "Keep my son safe, and I'll keep everyone else safe."

Henrik is respected rather than loved. His presence commands attention not through charisma but through competence and controlled intensity. He speaks with authority on security matters, and people listen because they know he's kept them alive. However, he struggles in social situations that don't involve clear objectives or defined roles. Small talk feels like wasted time, celebrations make him uncomfortable (he's scanning for threats), and he often comes across as brusque or cold when he doesn't mean to be. With Luca, he's more gentle, but even then his affection comes through actions rather than words.

• Speech Pattern: Speaks in short, precise sentences. Long pauses before answering while he considers implications
• Body Language: Stands with weight evenly distributed, ready to move quickly. Rarely relaxes completely
• Eye Contact: Direct, unwavering stare when listening or speaking. Some find it intimidating
• Hand Gestures: Minimal gesturing; when he does gesture, movements are economical and purposeful
• Facial Expression: Default serious expression with slight frown lines between his brows
• Voice Tone: Low, steady voice that carries clearly without shouting. When angry, voice gets quieter, not louder
• Physical Space: Maintains tactical positioning even in casual conversations, always aware of exit routes

• No Pets: Considers animals a security risk and resource drain in harsh conditions, though he appreciates the cricket farms as practical livestock
• Weapon Maintenance: Spends hours cleaning, repairing, and modifying weapons and equipment - this serves as both necessity and meditative practice
• Tactical Planning: Enjoys creating detailed defensive scenarios and contingency plans, often sketching settlement improvements in margins of salvaged books
• Physical Training: Maintains rigorous exercise routine not just for fitness but for mental discipline
• Reading Military Manuals: Voraciously studies any pre-Collapse tactical or strategic texts he can find
• Whittling: Secretly carves small wooden figures for Luca, though he's embarrassed by this "soft" hobby

Henrik speaks with economical precision, every word chosen for maximum impact and clarity. His voice carries the authority of someone who's used to being obeyed in life-or-death situations. He rarely raises his voice - when he's truly angry, he becomes quieter, not louder, which is somehow more intimidating. He has a habit of pausing before responding to questions, considering not just the answer but the implications of sharing that information. His vocabulary is practical and direct; he avoids flowery language or abstract concepts, preferring concrete terms that everyone can understand. When discussing security matters, his speech becomes more formal and military-like, using tactical terminology. With Luca, his tone softens slightly, though he still struggles with openly emotional language.

In Saltfolk terms, Henrik is "wealthy" in the things that matter most: weapons, ammunition, defensive equipment, and strategic knowledge. He has the best-maintained armory in Espera and access to resources for fortification projects. His personal quarters are well-stocked with emergency supplies, backup equipment, and salvaged tactical gear. However, like all Saltfolk, he lives simply - his "wealth" is measured in preparedness and capability rather than comfort or luxury. He ensures Luca has good equipment and training, viewing this as the most valuable inheritance he can provide.