Grim Views

((A piece of artwork I once found that is identical to the way I imagine the character looking. Being a fan of "low" fantasy, I prefer more realistic depictions of people, so you'll notice a lack of crazy-oversized weapons and the like! The ragged red tabard even looks sort of like the Scarlet Crusade one that Arrachtas wears without fail.))

Full Name: Arrachtas O'Connaill

Titles or Nicknames: Knight-Captain of Lordaeron, Scarlet Crusader.

Age: 32 (at time of death)
Race: Forsaken
Gender: Male
Hair: Dark brown
Eyes: Cobalt blue (a result of his Death Knight rising)
Height: 5'6
Weight: 120 lbs. (Corpses do not weigh much!)

Notable Physical Features: His features are quite withered, his skin (what remains of it) like old leather. His face, and indeed most of his body, are a hodge-podge of remaining flesh, accompanied by wide slashes of bare bone. Unlike most Forsaken, the areas where flesh no longer lingers on his corpse are not due to decay, but rather are due to battle injuries sustained in his last fight as a mortal being (the fall of Lordaeron).

Weapons: Dilseacht, his two-handed mace.

Place of residence: O'Connaill Manor (the ruins thereof, on the northern coast of Tirisfal)
Place of Birth: O'Connaill Manor
Known Relatives: Father. No contact for some years.
Companion: None.
Religion/Philosophy: Once a Paladin, though he was never very devout and was quite critical of the Light, and of the Cathedral's teachings. His life philosophy is based upon loyalty and reason, above all else. He views undeath less as a curse and instead as something few men ever get - a second chance to see his aims accomplished.

Occupation: Knight, for all that title has any meaning any longer.
Known Associates: Albasta, Kergal. Two adventurers whose paths he has crossed many times.
Known Nemesis: Humans - nearly all of them.

Special Skills: Prowess with a sword and gross physical strength. Arrachtas compensates with these for what he lacks in self-control (of which he lacks a great deal).

Positive Personality Traits: Loyalty, above all else. Ability to reason, and encyclopedic knowledge (a result of a proper nobleman's education at a young age).
Negative Personality Traits: Lack of self-control; his ability to reason and his normally calm nature are entirely forsaken when his passions (of all kinds) are aroused.
Theme Song: Benjamin Breeg, by Iron Maiden. (I usually find this an odd question, but this song fits with its theme of seeking to cope with and to rise above the burdens of one's past. If anyone enjoys some heavy-ass riffing, here's a pro-shot link to Iron Maiden performing it live in front of 50,000 odd people http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIqY9yEEQVI )

History Before The Grim: Arrachtas was born the only son of an old and noble family, though one whose best days were well behind it, its political clout and wealth largely gone save for the family manor and stories of better days. Raised mostly by his father, an accomplished ambassador to Gilneas, Arrachtas enjoyed the priveleges of a noble birth, even if he was not able to enjoy it as much as those from family's whose wealth still remained. When Lordaeron came under assault, and people began to be slain in the thousands, his temper got the better of his usually sound judgement, and he became one of the very first knights to pledge allegiance to the Scarlet Crusade, believing it to be the only possible saviour for Lordaeron. A zealous (arguably obsessed) patriot, Arrachtas (even though now dead) still believes that Lordaeron can be restored to its former glory, even if its citizens are now Forsaken.

At odds with his mortal life in the Scarlet Crusade, Arrachtas is a man unsure of how to come to terms with what he was, and what he is now. Arrachtas wears heavy Scarlet chains that wrap around his entire body, and which clank at his every movement; each link represents a single life that he took in his time as a knight of the Scarlet Crusade - lives he still believes were worth taking to free what is still his home. It must also be said that though Arrachtas laments what has befallen Lordaeron, he is neither distraught nor angered at his own undeath, but is (in contrast to many Forsaken) grateful for what he perceives to be a second chance to liberate his fatherland.

History In The Grim: Arrachtas is new to The Grim, but signed his name to their ledger in the belief that they are a force that may yet assist him in truly liberating Lordaeron from the Scourge, the Humans that still assault its gates, and any future threats.

((Great choice of theme song and fits the character perfectly.  It's too bad you can't really use this as the character art piece:))

http://www.ironmaidenwallpaper.com/rein ... reeg_1.jpg

((Hah! Thanks. The lyrics are great, if ya give them a read some time. Agreed on the picture, too. Eddie is always priceless . I always like to think that my love of good metal makes me one of the "cool" teachers.))