Spirits of the Earth

Name: Karl Martin Gustav Mandel
Age: 38
Sex: Male
Species: Human
Ethnicity: Connlaoth
Height: 5'10"
Occupation: Noble, Knight, Monster Hunter
Residence: Eisenmark, Western Orchy, Connlaoth

Physical Description
Karl is a predictably fair man; his pale blond hair and blue eyes being common features among his family.  However, his thin features are often concealed by a thick but well-groomed beard.

Coming from a wealthy family, he dresses well, favoring expensive fabrics, dark hues and intricate patterns.  Karl is often found in fine doublets and breeches, occasionally worn under a wool overcoat.  He can generally be found wearing his favored longsword over his left hip and a rondel dagger on his right.  He has a flanged mace which he sometimes carries as a badge of office.

He favors two suits of armor: a lighter harness for battle features lighter pauldrons, thinner plates and a burgonet with cheek guards and a retractable bevor; his heavy competition harness is much thicker, with an oversized left pauldron and solid frog's mouth great helm, bolted to his cuirass to protect his neck.  Both are expensively made, bearing a similar blue-black finish and trimmed with brass edgework and fasteners.  He will often fight from the saddle of an armored destrier, which may have a pair of pistols holstered in the saddle.  Like a growing percentage of Connlaoth's knightly class, he also wears a short wheellock arquebus, normally hung from a baldric over his left shoulder.

Personality
Karl is guided by loyalty: to his overlord, to his family and to his duties.  Things beyond these narrow realms of interest are generally assumed to be meaningless.  He cares little about the Church, the Grand Duke or the war on magic.

Much of the time, he conducts himself in a tense, careful manner.  He prefers to listen rather than speak, considers himself painfully uninteresting outside of his frequent "hunting trips," and easily comes across as guarded and standoffish.  Many young housekeepers have mistaken his silence as severity, running off to their senior servants for comfort.

There are remarkably few rumors regarding his sexual activities - which breeds far more unsavory rumors regarding his inclinations behind locked doors.

He is an avid hunter, particularly fond of wild boar and spiced venison; he often eats wild game every week.

Abilities

• Mordecai: Karl is a Mordecai outside the direct service of the Grand Duke.  He is able to nullify the working of magic inside of an approximate range of 1,000 meters.
• Horsemanship: As a knight and noblemen, Karl was expected to learn horseback riding from an early age.  This included fighting from horseback and as part of a cavalry formation.
• Polearm: On horseback, Karl is familiar with the use of spears, used for not only hunting and combat, but also for competition in the joust.  On foot, he tends to favor a short winged-spear for its greater agility.
• Longsword: When his spear or glaive is unavailable, he favors a two-handed cut-and-thrust sword or estoc, the latter often worn on the battlefield rather than daily life.
• Grappling: When lacking his spear or sword, Karl can defend himself with his bare hands through the use of takedowns and submission holds.  These techniques can be further supplemented with the lethal addition of his dagger.
• Marksman: Karl will generally ride into battle with a pair of long saddle pistols as well as a wheellock arquebus.  The latter is superior in general, his pistols mainly suited to close quarters.
• Falconry: Karl is an avid hunter and falconer and keeps such a raptor as a pet.

Relationships

• Gustav Mandel (Father) - Open to adoption (Name subject to change)
• Martina Mandel (Mother) - [Deceased]
• Alexis Mandel (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=24530) (Sister)
• Retinue - Fellow Knights and Men-at-Arms
• (Open to extended family)

History
The Fell is a dangerous and twisted place, plagued by unspeakable horrors the likes of which the empires of Le'raana could not even hope to imagine.  To answer such threats, the House of Mandel has stood as a part of the bulwark along Connlaoth's western territories.  Karl Martin Gustav Mandel was born to inherit that legacy and responsibility.

As was expected of him, the young noble studied war, politics and etiquette; all things he would need to know when he rose to take his father's place as Margraf - a day that seems to be fast approaching as the now 60-year-old man hands over more and more authority to his son.  This has put more pressure on him to find a suiter and sire an heir, something he has neglected due to his focus on the Fell.

Regarding the war, he has remained neutral.  Given the importance of his battle against the creatures of the west, he and many along the western Marches have been afforded some freedom from their duties to the dukes.  This suits him well, as he finds the creatures of the Fell a far more persistent threat than mages.

However, if called to the war, he will reluctantly rally his considerable forces eastward.

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