Martin Keyroleth

From Greatelementrpg

Name: Martin Keyroleth
Sex: Male
Age: Twenty
Race: Human
Nationality: Keyroleth (Gee, really?)
Played by: Ian

Appearance: Martin stood at quite an average height, boasting a lean and agile figure over that of the typical brute. His high level of physical activity kept him a bit on the thin side, but he was certainly in no danger of starving! His face is still quite youthful, possessing smooth general features and a pointed chin. Despite his age he has a very serious look to him, one that suggests he’s not one to tolerate nonsense. On most occasions he wore loose clothing of dark colors, though when out and about he preferred to wear a simple black outfit under ornate and polished leather armor. Occasionally, when appearing with members of his family, he could be found in a more ceremonial suit of armor consisting of light plates and chain. Like the rest of his people Martin’s skin was deeply tanned, and his loose mid-length hair was a sooty black color. He preferred to let it run freely down his back and face rather than tie it up.

Background: A minor member of the royal Keyroleth family, Martin was born into a pampered yet ultimately superfluous life. Too far removed to ever have a chance at the throne, he was destined to be a simple noble despite his lineage. This allowed him a rather free childhood filled with the study of various things. As a young child he was taught things such as history, music, math, and literature, and as he grew into a young man he was trained in things like riding, speaking, strategy, and swordsmanship. During most of his earliest years there were few other children available to befriend, and so he quickly grew to prefer his own company to that of others. It was this social isolation that allowed him to focus so intently on learning, turning him into a rather talented youth. As he grew older Martin became quite aggravated at the state of his country, and at his total inability to do anything about it due to his unimportant position in its ranks. It was for this reason he was so glad to learn strategy, hoping to find a way to serve Keyroleth. Still, the chances of a war erupting were slim, and it seemed that his chances to make something greater of himself were rather slim. Little did he know that he would soon be granted a great asset in achieving that goal!

When he was fifteen years old he would experience a stroke of fortune that would change his life forever. While hunting with a cousin Martin would pursue a stubborn mark far from their home, following long after his partner had decided to turn back. Eventually he found his way to a great tunnel snaking down into the ground, one he assumed the beast had fled into. Investigation would reveal it to be some sort of shrine, though exactly what it was devoted to was not immediately apparent. The main altar of the shrine was marked with a strange symbol. A great deal of dust had gathered over it, leading him to innocently try and brush the surface of the stone to get a better look at what it was. Before he knew it his head would be filled with all manner of images and he would fall unconscious.

When he woke Martin found himself bearing a strange new rune on his left hand, one he was not familiar with despite his knowledge of runes. It would not be until he returned home that he learned of the power he had been granted. The Black Sword rune! It seemed so unbelievable that he had stumbled onto it out of sheer luck. Who would have thought that the rune his ancestor brought to this land had been stored in a strange underground shrine? Either way, it spelled great things for Martin... if he could learn to use the power granted by the rune.

Over the next few years he would spend a great deal of time learning about the rune, and also about the rivaling Bright Shield. As powerful as his rune was, if he had the other half it could contain unimaginable power! Maybe it would even be powerful enough to restore Keyroleth to its former glory, the state it had been in before the Sun rune ravaged its lands. Yes… and then he could turn it upon the Chaldean Theocracy. An eye for an eye, as they say.

Recently Martin has been far more active in the world, after unsuccessfully trying to gain hold of political power in his own empire. Though he commands some respect in the military he has no power among its rank, being forced to resort to calling on favors and even bribes to make changes. Seeing this as an uphill battle to gain power, Martin has instead decided to focus of a different aspect of his plan. Currently he is searching for the Bright Shield rune, mainly through the aid of information and old tales. He still keeps an ear open for news of his homeland, should the need arise for him to return and aid her. But, for now, he feels it is best to attempt to try and gain the power of the True Rune than fight a hopeless political battle. Martin hopes that the Black Sword will be able to help lead him to its rival, so he will not have to search blindly.

Personality: Most would find Martin to be a somewhat serious man, due to his blunt nature of speaking and general disposition. And while it is true that he is somewhat more rigid in character than most he is certainly not an unfriendly person. Those who would get close to him will find a bright and dedicated soul, though one burdened by loyalty and duty. He likes honesty and intelligence above all other traits, though loyalty is certainly very important to him as well. He does, however, bear a deep hatred for the lazy and unmotivated, finding them to be a waste of his time. The few that do gain his trust find themselves with an ally of virtually unwavering loyalty, however!

Wielded Weapons: Martin is skilled in the use of dual hook blades, something he was only able to master due to the lack of duties he had in his youth. While certainly not a true master of the weapons he was good enough to be dangerous in a fight. The two he uses have had their blades painted black to minimize the care they need to remain in top condition. At one point they had possessed long red tassels on their hilts, though when preparing them for travel he tore them off.

Runes: Martin’s left hand bears the Black Sword rune, and it is the only rune he has. He is a decent mage, though the full extent of his rune’s power still remains locked away from him for the time being. Due to the amount of time he has spent practicing with it, though, what he can do with it is still quite dangerous.