Post by Ringulf on Jan 13, 2012 2:14:02 GMT -5
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Profession: Ranger of Highcliff
Appearance:
Gender: Male
Profession: Ranger of Highcliff
Appearance:
Thrandin is only just five foot tall, but he is very strong. He is proportioned in what seams very closed to a square. He has short thick muscular legs, long strong arms with large hands. Thrandin is broad shouldered and has a long, powerful torso and chest.Personality:
He is just fifty years of age and has a bit of grey in his chestnut hair and grisly long beard. His comlexion is Ruddy but the redness tends to set off his bright blue eyes.
Thrandin is dressed in the customary woolen ranger garb in shades of greens and browns, the wool being a good protection and insulator from the damp foggy climate in Highcliff, but at times he uses a hood that comes down just below the center of his back and chest made of the same material as his ranger cloak. He also wears a leather Jerkin over his green tunic. for warmth and protection.
In his youth he was one of the finest wrestlers in all of Araluen, Now at fifty, he complains a bit about some aches and pains in his joints but allot of that has to do with the cold damp climate of the Northwestern portion of Araluen, and has not seemed to slow him down a bit.History:
Thrandin is a very good woodsman and outdoorsman, and he excels at climbing and traversing the arduous terrain that is his highland home.
The fife of Highcliff is small and rocky in most parts and he knows just about everyone in it.
He enjoys sailing and brisk walks through the fife.
Thrandin has a ranger pony named "Barrel" who is a shaggy little Blond stallion proportioned much like his master.
A bit of a "Jack of All Trades, Thrandin is able to be quite self sufficient. There is not very much that he can not do or make when he puts his mind to it. Though a good smith, he really excels at woodwork and leather working.
His thick hirsute hide seems to allow him not to feel the cold, but he does tend to overheat quickly and can be seen bare armed and headed, glistening with sweat and steaming from the head into the cool air.
Thrandin is somewhat of a loner and has no apprentice. His only true companion is a very old Raven named Croack (crow-ack) Who he calls "Croaker".
He has a rather antagonistic relationship with the bird and has been seen carrying on heated discussion with it, arguing, swearing and sometimes even laughing hilariously with it.
Many of the townsfolk think him a bit daft, or at least eccentric but hold their tongues, not knowing if the mystical abilities of a Ranger truly enable he and the bird to converse.
Out of earshot many call him the "Mad Dwarf" or simply "The Dwarf".
Thranduin pretends not to notice and really does not mind as it adds a bit to his image.
Born in Marshwood Fife, Thrandin grew up in the area north east of the port known as "the Strand".Additional Information:
It was said that his parents were part of a clan of "Wreckers", people that would light torches to draw unwitting ships to their doom along the coast then plunder them for thier goods and sell the survivers to the Skandians for slaves.
Thrandin will not confirm or deny this story, but when he was very young he was noticed by several now prominent Rangers and was set on the path to apprenticeship to the Ranger of Highcliff. At that time a rather elderly man.
Thrandin's mentor barely finished Thrandin's training before he took ill and finally, after many months, succumbed to pneumonia.
During this time Thrandin performed all the Ranger duties of the fife and cared for his Mentor and the old man's Raven untill his passing. Before the old man died, he, in an olmost ritualistic way passed Croak to Thrandin. It is said by many of the superstitious folk in the area that by doing this the old man imbued the bird with his spirit, which is why Thrandin seems to comunicate with it so well. Of course this could be utter nonsence and the chattering of old fish wives...but there are many strange things that even the enlightened can not explain.
When The time came for review and assignment, almost the entire town petitioned the Comandant to allow Thranduin to stay in the role he had performed for so long under his master's watchful eye.
Seeing the outpouring of respect and admiration from it's populace for Thrandin, the Corps decided it could find no better fit.
Thrandin has travelled on occasion and has been to war with Scotti and Skandian alike. He has assisted in the defense of Highcliff from coastal raiders and pirates and went to war against Morgorath and his Wargals.
He is a frequent visitor (when his duties allow) to both Norgate and to Marshwood, especially now that his old friend Ringulf has landed there. Many know him as dispite his diminuative stature, is a hard figure to ignore.
Along with his Ranger seax knife (which he keeps on the back of his belt in a right hand draw.) He caries a Longseax that is about 22 inches overall, a larger version of the standar issue model, and has the head of a raven carved on the pummel. He has a pocket on the front of his scabbard for his throwing dagger but it rarely ever comes out except to clean as in his hands it is next to useless. When he does find the need to throw a blade he throws the smaller seax which he does with surprising allactrity.
He also caries a long handled axe that he uses as a Multi-purpose tool.
He can use it as a one, or two handed weapon as the head is about the size as a throwing or hand axe would be. It is the perfect size for chopping and splitting most wood (though he also has a small carving axe or hatchet designed for finer work ) But the most helpful aspect of the implement is the fact that it is just the right height to be used as a walking stick/cane.
This is most helpful in the bad terrain or ice and snow or even when climbing.
When not in use, it slides into a tube-like pocket that runs the length of the right side of his quiver. The quiver is rather short, though his long arms and barrel chest give him a great draw with a 34 inch arrow. He choses to use a short flat bow with a high draw weight and pulls the 24" arrow to a knock point at the end of his bicept begining of his tricept. This rig is very effective and powerful at short and mediun ranges and Thrandin would rival his friend Ringulf, who he is very close to of all rangers, if it were not for his lack of experience with his unusual bow. The bow's design came from Rick Greenriver and was made specifically for him. It is shaped like a Planesman's bow, but it is much thicker and made of hew, backed with Hickory. It has a higher pull weight than even Ringulf's big longbow, but to the stout strong Thranduin it is just perfect. His upper body being so powerful, he can draw a large bow but has always had trouble with one because of his height.