Renvall "Ren" Protego

Le Kingsroad — Les hors-jambes de Port Sesta
 

Renvall Protego a envisagé de tirer son épée pour se jeter sur la lame si le prince héritier devait continuer à parler de sa santé mentale.
Ce n'était pas le premier voyage du garçon au-delà des murs de la capitale, bien que cela ait été près d'une décennie depuis qu'il avait voyagé au nord de l'Estala. Ren se souvenait de l'odeur musty de Port Sesta, l'enfant de huit ans fermant la main de sa mère alors qu'il s'éloignait du navire. Ils avaient quitté leurs côtes ceruliennes pour cette terre au cou de l'hiver, et Greymont était enduit d'une brume blanche que sa mère appelait neige.
Ren avait fait du vélo entre la conduite de la barre et le repos au wagon pendant les quatre jours de voyage, regardant son gantelet droit alors que la main s'ouvrait et fermait un poing à plusieurs reprises. Ses cheveux sombres sont tombés sur le côté alors que sa joue était plate contre l'autre main, sa jambe gauche et son index tapotant impatiemment. Le vent frais n'a pas servi à aérer la chaleur de son armure noire, quelques gouttes de sueur dans son cou. Pendant qu'il montait avec Maïs et Eli, ils étaient flanqués d'un second wagon, où suivirent quelques soldats de la couronne.
"Cinq minutes," le chevalier a appelé de la barre, chevauchant le cheval à côté de Snowball.
Roulant sur ses épaules, Ren se redressa pour leur arrivée, ses yeux errant autour. Les vents accueillants de la mer étaient proches, un regard de neutralité sur ses traits alors que ses lèvres prenaient une respiration saine. « À peu près le temps de serrer une jambe », s'adressa-t-il au prince héritier assis en face de lui, son regard restant sur la route Kingsroad menant à Port Sesta.
Quelque chose ne va pas.
Regardant au-dessus, les ailes d'un wyvern déchiré à travers l'air, conduisant le garçon à se demander si Rhea a pu voir plus qu'eux. "Bloody enfer", l'un des soldats maudit à haute voix, les deux chariots venant à un arrêt momentané. Des groupes de gens éparpillés se sont blottis le long des portes, se concentrant sur quelque chose de l'intérieur des murs. "Qu'est-ce qui se passe là-bas, cette fois?"
"Peut-être que le gardien n'est qu'une conne," a suggéré Ren, jetant ses mains en l'air alors qu'elles croisaient contre son pectoral. Cela n'aurait pas été une surprise si c'était le cas; le mandat exigeait que le portier recherche la contrebande, et Port Sesta était toujours un centre densément peuplé.
Maïs se retourna vers le wagon derrière le leur, regardant au-delà des deux d'entre eux. « Continuons, » Ren entendit une hésitation dans la voix du chevalier.

Ursa

Port Sesta
 

Une femme avec une épée à sa ceinture était une vue rare. Une femme qui savait utiliser l'épée à sa ceinture était un joyau. "Et une belle femme..."
Ursa détestait les ivrognes. Pensant à la volonté de la couronne, elle avait été mise à rencontrer les Sans-Daunt dans l'establishment de backwater, se trouvant à l'extrémité de réception de la sérénade ivre d'un marin rempli d'haleine piquante. Cela avait été deux jours de trop de résider à Port Sesta pour la jeune femme. Ils doivent tellement apprécier leur voyage, pensa-t-elle, son retour contre l'un des piliers des tavernes que la nuisance se brouillait dans une lutte pour rester debout.
Soupirant, Ursa s'est battue du poste alors que ses bras tombaient sur ses côtés, s'éloignant et prenant place à une table vacante. Au fil du temps qu'elle avait été à Port Sesta, il n'y en avait pas d'autres qui faisaient apparaître qu'ils attendaient aussi l'arrivée des Sans-Daunt, et cela l'inquiétait un peu. Elle espérait qu'on ne s'attendrait pas à ce qu'elle dorlote le prince sur sa solitude; Ursa était un mot de vente, et elle n'avait pas l'intention de gagner son sac d'or par rien d'autre que de voir l'enfant à Rozel.

Sa tête se tourna vers l'entrée de la taverne, alors que sa porte s'enfonçait brutalement. « Armes au sol, pleurs, » Ursa a levé un sourcil alors que l'auteur agitait d'abord une hache à travers la porte, balayant la pièce en s'approchant d'elle. Son œil a pris le flash d'un sigil sur leur manteau, se rendant compte que c'était un soldat anarque. L'agresseur a frappé son arme à travers plusieurs des tables en bois, incitant à la peur parmi les gens autour d'elle. "T'es nul? Les armes au sol, les armes! »
Demeurant assis jusqu'à ce que le soldat soit à portée de main, Ursa a surpris l'homme en tournant la table vers lui. Sa hache a été coupée à travers le bois avec facilité, mais à mesure que les attelles se désagrègent, la fin de son épée a interrompu son discours alors que le bord courbé a ouvert la gorge du soldat dans un mouvement rapide. Ses jambes ont cédé et son arme a craqué contre le sol, ses mains montant pour se couvrir le cou alors qu'il tombait.
"Restez ici," Ursa a instruit le peuple dans la taverne, retournant son woo dao à son fourreau et tirant l'épée de son dos, à la place. Elle était au courant de l'amnistie entre Estala et Anarcas, mais dans la confusion de l'entrée soudaine du soldat, il était évident qu'ils avaient l'intention de faire la guerre. "Trouvez un endroit où se cacher," a-t-elle ajouté, passant par-dessus le corps du soldat. Elle regarda les deux extrémités du couloir, ne voyant aucun signe de soldats supplémentaires et n'entendant aucun bruit d'une bataille autour de Port Sesta.
À la perte de la situation à portée de main, Ursa regarda autour de la taverne, gardant son épée prête alors qu'elle était un pied au-delà de la porte. "Je reviendrai quand je découvrirai ce qui se passe."
R E N V A L L P R O T E G O / / S E V E N T E E N
Character Theme: ginkiha — nightfall (short version)

"It's not like I ever had a choice, anyway."
 O R I G I N
Race: Beorc
Nameday: Year 598, Feltsa the 13th
Birthplace: The Island—Kingdom of Rozel
 I N F O R M A T I O N
Class: Squire (Sword) ⇨ Gallant (Sword)
Squire — Young aspirants clung to the fleeting dream of knighthood, they are fierce swordfighters on-and-off horseback, and incur zero penalties to their fighting ability when dismounted. When mounted, they are affected by anti-armor and anti-cavalry weapons. When dismounted, they are affected by anti-armor weapons. A variation between the Sword Knight and Mercenary classes.
Gallant — Decorated knights with courage in heart and steel in hand, they are champions to none but the steed they ride, their ascension an echoing fable. When mounted, they are affected by anti-armor and anti-cavalry weapons. When dismounted, they are affected by anti-armor weapons. A variation between the Sword Paladin and Hero classes, lacking the ability to wield axes.
Height: 5'9
Weight: 170lbs
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Morning blue
Complexion: Fair
Body Composition: Lean
 P E R S O N A L I T Y
Sharp-tongued and quick-witted, Renvall is more an outsider to the grandeur that is the upper echelons of society, cynical and disillusioned with his path and the world around it. The young boy stands against the principles of tradition, loosely abiding the tenets of chivalry through his own core of beliefs as a human being. His choice of reticence, at times, may cause him to distance himself from others, where he would rather muse among his own thoughts. He is known to dislike optimism, preferring to view things from a realistic standpoint rather than cling to hope.
Where he does not pose a problem in socializing, Renvall is prone to speaking without a filter when his beliefs are thrown into the equation, preferring to be the approached when it comes to ordinary conversations. When it comes to women, he feels more open to speaking with them, where his playful side can be heard. That being said, he adheres to the common association in holding immense contempt for the Laguz, viewing them as sub-human savages and tying into his stubborn nature. While the boy may come off as impolite and disrespectful at times, his quiet demeanor speaks more of his deepest emotions; when his name is called, his heart will show.
 B I O G R A P H Y
Renvall Protego had very faint memories of his earliest childhood moments. His father, only known to him from his mother by the name of Percival, was a Rozelian Islander, bound through an illicit union that led to his parents' mutual separation. Camellia Protego, a knight-in-service to the Island—Kingdom of Rozel, was his mother. He was granted her family name, as opposed to his father's.
Only two years of age during the War of the New Leaf, Ren only recalls witnessing the arrival of the suitors from other nations, and his mother's depature to escort Lady Ceiya to Anarcas. As the Island—Kingdom of Rozel chose to remain neutral in the conflict, Camellia Protego was called to arms as Cesadas launched a surprise attack on the Cilan Quay, to which the Rozelians were forced to secede the island in exchange for their ceasefire.
Unaware of his elevation in the status quo due to his mother's title, Ren was always looked upon in a peculiar manner, the child's choice of friends being that of the common folk outside of the palace. The court officials often criticized his lack of interest in 'noble manners' and the like, leading his mother to regularly scold the child into 'proper mannerisms'.
There came a time where the court marshals regarded Renvall's disregard for debonair behavior to be dishonorable, leading to his mother's dismissal from her service to Rozel. While Camellia did not blame the eight-year old for his wish of a simpler life, she viewed his refusal to listen as a failure, and would continue to place pressure upon the boy.
Being a known name around the continent of Aralea had its advantages, and Camellia Protego soon found herself sworn into the service of Estala. Even as Ren was thrust back into the life of the upper class in addition to a newfound responsibility as an older brother, he continually mingled with the commoners throughout his years, whether they were his everyday source of mischief or his solace from an inescapable life.
Ren continued his tutelage as a page to the Estalan family, albeit with disdain. One morning, within the company of his mother and half-brother, Walden, in the busy marketplace, a thief attacked Walden to the surprise of the crowd around them. When the thief revealed itself to be a Laguz of the Tiger Tribe and the bystanders refused to arm themselves in retaliation, the twelve-year old drew his mother's sword from her own scabbard instead.
With little expertise in swordsmanship, Ren could only direct the attention of the beast towards himself, the Laguz delivering a scarring wound before retreating. While this moment would spur the Estalan court to grant him a squireship, he felt that this would only set him further down a path that he never chose to walk, and for the years to come, this remained to be true.
 F A M I L Y
Father: Percival — Unknown
Mother: Camellia Protego — Alive
Half-Brother (Younger): Walden Protego — Alive
 I N V E N T O R Y
Steel Sword, Vulnerary
 O T H E R
Goes by "Ren" for short. The name of his horse is Snowball. Growing up among the islands, Ren has a knack for fishing and enjoys being at sea, and dislikes extremely hot weather. He has a notable scar running down the right breast in the form of a tiger's claw.
M A I Z E B E N S E N / / T H I R T Y - F O U R
Character Theme: Koven — More Than You (Unplugged Version)

"For what it's worth, I felt sorry knowing that you didn't have a chance against me."
 O R I G I N
Title(s): Sir, The Dauntless
Race: Beorc
Nameday: Year 581, Kreille the 20th
Birthplace: Blackwater, Anarcas
 I N F O R M A T I O N
Class: Hero
Height: 6'1
Weight: 202lbs
Hair Color: Dark brown
Eye Color: Brown
Complexion: Fair
Body Composition: Muscular
 P E R S O N A L I T Y
As dauntless as his nickname may suggest, Maize can actually appear to be quite the opposite; in the warmth of his home and the halls of his kingdom, he is a loving husband and father to his wife and children, and a frequent jester to those who call him friend. He does have a casual swagger to his tone through the accomplishments that he has claimed, although he himself does not wish to reminisce of those times, showing a stout opposition to killing without a worthy purpose.
While Maize does enjoy fighting of all sorts, he judges the strength of the individual through their own morals and their actions beyond fighting. Like most knights, he holds himself to the code of chivalry, and respects honor and loyalty out of others. He will only use violence if it is to combat violence, not wishing to spill unnecessary blood over any matter. The knight has a habit for attempting to instill these principles and lessons on others, showing an immense care for younger children.
 B I O G R A P H Y
Life was not all that difficult for Maize Bensen and his family; despite the inclement weather conditions, his father, Mael Bensen, was able to cover the expenses of their livelihood through his mercenary work, possessing many ties to the crown in Blackwater, Anarcas. He was the younger twin to Hassan Bensen, which would later lead to many feuds over who was superior over the other in whatever regard.
By the time the twin brothers were strong enough to hold a blade in their hands, Mael intended on grooming his sons to serve in the Anarcasi Army, putting them through questionably intense training throughout the tundras of Anarcas. They would accompany their father on their first mercenary work at the age of fourteen, and later that year, they were sent into the recruitment drive for the military.
Despite all of his father's emphasis on fighting as a career, Maize himself was not keen on the profession as a killer, and went through the process with many reservations. While he decided to go into the servitude as a squire towards knighthood, his brother would drift from his life momentarily after their separation. Wishing to uphold the law instead of committing what he considered to be barbaric, he sought to hone his swordsmanship ahead, becoming quite the skilled fighter and duelist by the time he turned nineteen years of age.
Watching the fever rise to a pitch between the warring kingdoms concerned Maize greatly, who had been known as a vocal conscientious objector to the war. He would later recount this conflict as 'nothing but a cesspool of selfish murder, the lives of countless people lost over some man's lust.' He holds a grudge towards all of the involved parties to the present day, including his own King Erigan.
As a protector to the realm of Anarcas, Maize was called upon to fight against the Estalans, though their efforts were crushed under the mystical might of the Archsage. While his liege lord fell in the melee that ensued at their castle's gates, he was but the sole survivor of this battle, forced to surrender his service to Anarcas. Within the palace, he would also be among the few to bear witness to the burning of Theodorus and Jaedal.
As shell-shocked and disturbed as he could be, the conflict would only take a greater toll on Maize as he attempted to search for his family, only to find that his mother and younger brother were missing, and his twin brother, Hassan, had slain their father, who had intended on surrendering to the Estalans. This caused the young man to cut down his twin brother, only to bask at his own hands; the hands of a kinslayer. With his dying breath, Hassan Bensen revealed that their mother intended to return to her tribe in Ibion.
While Maize was forced under the servitude of Estala for the remainder of his years to come, he would lighten to the once-hostile kingdom over the times of reparation, though he would remain a squire until his mission to Ibion in search of his mother. The journey would turn for the worst as they were ambushed by a raiding party of tribesman, crippling Sir Lunis, the knight that he was serving under.
In their captivity, Maize was thrown into an arena of sorts, forced into a pit fighting routine for others' entertainment at the expense of his and Sir Lunis' own survival. By the grace of the goddess, the swordfighter survived through the countless rounds of duels to the death, which would grant him his freedom. They rode back to the Estalan capital where Sir Lunis preached to the council of the young man's actions, his speech spawning the nickname, The Dauntless.
In addition, Maize was anointed as a knight of Estala at the age of twenty-three, becoming one of the youngest to ever be knighted in Estalan history. Since then, he has served the crown well, and has been appointed as the guide to Crown Prince Eli Estali in their mission to Rozel.
 F A M I L Y
Wife: Miranda Bensen (nee Leylal) — Alive
Son (Older): Maize Bensen II — Alive
Daughter (Younger): Amaranta Bensen — Alive
Father: Mael Bensen — Deceased
Mother: Su'lon — Unknown
Brother (Older Twin): Hassan Bensen — Deceased
Brother (Younger): Mendes Bensen — Unknown
 I N V E N T O R Y
Iron Blade, Hand Axe, Elixir
 O T H E R
His nickname is a not-so-safeguarded secret, and on occasion, he is formally addressed in futility as The Dauntless Sir Maize. Loves to eat corn, and dislikes storms. He has many scars along his arms and body, scattered slashes and cuts from battles long past.