Khalem Derros
Name: Khalem (pronounced KAY-lum) Derros
Race: Human
Age: Mid 30s
Hair: Dark, dirty-blond
Eyes: Pale blue-gray - almost hauntingly pale.
Occupation: Mercenary
Description:
Notes:
Hair: Shorn on the sides often holding a bit of stubble. Top is just long enough to be swept back, held in a tight, looping bun.
Eyes: VERY pale blue almost a blue-gray, a haunting (and haunted) pair of eyes.
Body: Strong and muscular. Taller than most men at 6'6". Broad shouldered. Solid, corded muscle. Heavily inked on the left pectoral, shoulder blade and arm - done in a mix of stylized knotwork or a bear and the actual representation of the animal. Script runs across the slats and ribs of his right side - ancient runic representing something he does not speak of. Calf muscles have heavy, Celtic-styled knot-work.
He also often paints a line of medium to dark blue woad over his right eye - running from his hairline to his jaw. These same colors sometimes compliment the work on his tattoos as well.
Piercings Two gauges on each ear lobe (first is large, but not too large second is smaller) Loop in the helix of the right ear, loop in the Tragus of the left ear. An Albert...don't ask. He probably won't tell
Dresses: Rough and rugged but well cared for. In public, it's often a worn leather jerkin that was made for his body. A thick, heavy leather belt a good three inches wide, held in place with two smaller straps and buckles. Loose fitting, blouse pants tucked into mid-shin leather boots, the embossing on the leather done to make them look like wrapped linen. The toes are split in the style of his people - but the instep and heel are both reinforced with leather-wrapped steel.
He does not generally wear armor - only a bit on his left arm, covering the tattoo - a customized piece that is a series of inter-connected leather plates, articulated to move with him - that run from pauldron to bracer and down to the back of his hand. A shield, if you will, for his off-hand.
History: Khalem was the youngest son of the leader of his clan - a semi-nomadic peopel who lived and prospered in the ruins beyond civilized limits. He completed a right of passage at the age of fifteen to earn his spot as a warrior of the clan, a swordman with the dreams of being the best ever.
While exploring one day, he saw the resplendent armor of a Boros patrol - and was intrigued by their bearing. They, in turn, were intrigued by his skill with a sword and physical prowess. They offered to take him along and, yearning for something more than clan-life...Khalem agreed.
He rose in the ranks to a middling position. While he could not be bought, he did start to enjoy some of the darker things in life - drinking, whoring, the occasional touch of drugs. He was good at his job but not afraid to relax, to enjoy life.
In his mid-twenties, a young paladin was assigned to be his partner. For the first few months he kept the kid clean and out of his social world The pally was a good kid. Smart. Funny charming. Eventually he found out what Khalem enjoyed and, in his naivety, the Pally thought if this outstanding man who brought in thieves and murderers could partake in a little vice, it must not be too harmful. Sadly, pally-boy had more courage and daring than brains or will and he fell. Hard. Eventually it killed him because he got into the things even Khalem would not touch.
This broke the soldier and he became more of a wandering mercenary taking an oath to bring the darker side of crime down, despite his love of certain vices (which he still partakes).
It's strange how a man of honor can be brought so low that even he cannot see the way out...