Dayn Nigriso

[Dayn]

Race: Human Age: 27 (Fall 82, 483 AV) Gender: Male Height: 6’2 Weight: 194 lbs Dayn is tall and imposing, with sinewy arms, broad shoulders, and eyes like chips of ice. His close-cropped hair is slowly receding. From cleft chin to broad, square jaw, he projects a sense of solidity. The glint in his eyes is welcoming. No longer flushed with youth, he has an honest, attractive face, and is surrounded by a presence of vitality. His cheeks are often enveloped by stubble, or come winter, an unkempt beard. There is nothing meek in his countenance. He is erect and decisive, his every manner indicative of confidence. His body is a tapestry of scars, from his marred eyebrows to his ribs and left thigh – and yet, where skin is sheathed in a massive tattoo, he has yet to sustain a scratch. It swathes the entire right of his torso, including his arm. He wears a tunic and trousers under a suit of metal and leather armor, draping a heavy cloak of wolf pelts over his shoulders, along with a pair of broadswords. Dayn is quick to share his fire on lonely nights, whether it be with hunter, trader, or priest. He enjoys being in the midst of a crowd, especially when the ale is flowing. Rarely is his face devoid of a friendly smile. He always has a jest on the tip of his tongue, or a miza to spare for strangers who’ve fallen upon hard times – when he has money to spare, that is. Preferring to extend the benefit of the doubt to the others, Dayn is anything but a fool. He is cunning, yet roguish despite his breeding. He drinks, whores, and gambles, yet despite this profligacy, remains a devoted follower of Tyveth. Ever desiring to see more of the wider world, he is constantly on the move. Dayn is not an ambitious man, nor does he suffer an excess of pride. He is the portrait of an adrenaline junkie, embracing ever-greater risks to satisfy his craving. Near-death encounters are typical. Not only does Dayn enjoy leaping ravines and tracking dangerous beasts. He is a bare-knuckle fighter, using his prowess to earn a bit of extra money. However, he doesn’t enjoy killing. Dayn is a good person at heart, but he resists taking responsibility for his dealings. His greatest fear is of settling down, and as a result, he has panicked and left more than one lover with a bulge in her belly. He is troubled by these dishonors, yet is incapable of doing the right thing. Always one to say “petch that” instead of brooding for days on end, Dayn is not easily perturbed. He is calm of demeanor and supremely confident in his prowess, whether in combat, within the sheets, or during a match of verbal jousting. Dayn is the younger son of Davic Nigriso, a long serving, knight of Syliras, and his wife, Alys Brock. He and his twin, Areya, were preceded by another sister, Katrin, and a brother, Niles. Dayn was expected to become a knight, as were his siblings, and they spent much of their time playing with the offspring of other knights. Katrin was the first to become a page, followed by Niles. Davic had great hopes for his children, but he suspected the twins’ strengthening bond might prevent them from realizing their potential. He tried to keep them separate, but Dayn and Areya were defiant, enraging him with their trickery. Rule-breaking was a way of life for them, and discipline a lark. For his own part, Davic was shocked by their lack of reverence for the ways of his beloved order, for it was the thing dearest to his heart. No matter how long he ranted and raved, his great features stained crimson with rage, he could not prevail upon either of the wayward twins the significance of honor and duty. He was like the rest of their tutors, overbearing and self-righteous. Davic split them up as pages, but they earned such notoriety for their disobedience that even the other Nigrisos were reluctant to take them in, forcing him to keep them at home. Once reaching puberty, Dayn and Areya began to spend as much time with each as they did with their siblings, permitting Davic to breathe a sigh of relief. It didn’t last long. Now a squire, Dayn turned his mind to the rigors of becoming a knight. His patron, Ser Leofric Bole, was a capable knight who knew how to bring out the best in his wayward charge. Dayn liked Ser Leofric and worked as hard as he could to earn the knight’s respect. He learned how to take care of his equipment, to plan ahead, and most of all, to keep a level head. He was also a fair hand with strategy and languages, which led Davic to begin maneuvering upon his behalf. Leofric, who had already tasted this hunger for power, tried to protect Dayn from his father’s plotting. Davic was embittered by his own failure to rise to the higher ranks. He placed a great deal of pressure on his wife and children, who strained to keep in his good graces. Niles, who was outshone by Katrin, held a particular resentment for their father. Areya was also discontent, and Alys, who had come to despise her husband, withdrew from reality. Dayn was often at odds with Davic, and often used his relationship with Leofric to distress his father. After a time, Dayn began to wonder if he really wanted to become a knight. He was tired of being told what to do and when to do it. It was his father’s wish that he should embark upon this path, after all. Leofric, sensing that his squire was troubled, tried to help to the best of his ability. It was to no avail. Dayn was growing into a man’s body, and with it came a man’s desires. He began to drink and wench, relishing the taste of freedom from his father’s tyranny. He broke nearly every rule on the books, earning a steady flow of chastisement. Leofric was unwilling to give up upon him, but Dayn was so weary of the squire’s life that he ceased to care. He wanted to see the world, to wager his future on the flip of a coin. Soon, it emerged that Dayn had fathered a child out of wedlock. This was the last straw. He was expelled from the order at seventeen, bringing dishonor upon himself and his family. Dayn regretted what he’d done to the ones he loved, but he knew it was for the best. Leaving what coin he had for the upkeep of his bastard, he said his farewells and embarked into the unknown. Dayn set his sights upon Sunberth, joining a caravan along the way where he was hired as a mercenary. He was excited by the dangers that lurked in the wildlands. It was the first time in his life that he’d done something that he wanted, and he enjoyed every day trudging through muck and sleeping rough under the stars. However, he’d gotten himself into more than he bargained for. Shortly after arriving, a gang of thugs attempted to rob him and Dayn was soon backed into a corner. By chance, he was saved by Petyr Gilding, a partner of the Rusty Shield, a group of mercenaries and artifact hunters. In addition to Petyr, it included Askar, known as One-Eye, the sisters Eva and Anya, a thief named Fent, and Saif, a half-Benshira reimancer. Petyr proposed to induct Dayn into the Shield as an associate, a decision the partners ratified after some debate. They were a motley bunch, but Dayn was quick to make friends. As a relatively well-known and sizeable group, the Shield was able to find relatively steady work. Dayn became a partner after Fent was killed in an ambush, slightly more than two years after joining the group. Yasmin, an associate, was the next to meet Dira’s embrace, followed by Calder, her replacement. Askar retired to Nyka after a few years and Saif left to pursue a woman, leaving Pyter, Eva, Anya, and Dayn along with a new partner, Baldred, and an associate, Lorna. By this time, Dayn had seen much of the Sylira region, been to the city of Yahebeh in Eyktol, Alvadas and Karjin in Taldera, and even ventured as far as Avanthal. He’d seen twenty-five years by then. Pyter unearthed rumors of a treasure while they were in Avanthal, and Dayn supported the decision to search for it as they headed back to Syliras. Now the de facto leader of the group, Petyr led them across the wind-swept tundra and pine forests, into the crags. Dayn kept his swords to hand, remaining wary of the beasts that stalked the nights. It was evident that game was scarce, and he feared that it was only a matter of time before he and his partners became the hunted. Petyr echoed his concern, but explained that they’d gone too far to turn back. He was right, of course, but it wouldn’t have mattered either way. Dayn was woken one night by the howling of wolves in the distance. He threw more wood upon the fire and went to stand guard with Anya, only to discover that the wolves were moving nearer to the camp. Rousing the others, they sought to prepare a defense, but the wolves were upon them in a flash. Anya and Petyr were torn to shreds during the first rush, and Baldred was badly hurt. Dayn and Eva managed to force the wolves back, but they remained on the prowl, their numbers growing with every passing moment. As Baldred bled to death, he urged the others to flee. Dayn and the others did just that, hacking at the wolves that dared to stop them. Eva was borne down in the confusion. Dayn and Lorna only managed to escape because the beasts were too busy devouring the corpses of their partners. However, neither was able to the spot the crevasse that crossed their path, leading to a thirty-foot drop. Dayn was fortunate to sustain nothing worse than a sprained ankle and bruised ribs. Lorna wasn’t so lucky. Her lung was punctured, and she later drowned in her own blood. Dayn spent the night in the crevasse, then erected a cairn of rocks over her body and headed for Syliras. Since the demise of the Rusty Shield, Dayn has kept busy on the caravan routes. He spent a few seasons mourning the dead, but eventually realized that life goes on. Every so often, he pays visits to his family in Syliras and his twin in Zeltiva. Areya, who also decided the order wasn’t for her, left to devote her life to the study of magic. Katrin and Niles have both earned the respect of the other knights, but while Dayn’s dishonor has faded in their minds, Davic has never managed to forgive him. Skill Start Trained Total Threads Broadsword 30 - 30 - Unarmed 18 - 18 - Tracking 11 - 11 - Heavy Crossbow 6 - 6 - Religon (Tyveth), Wolf Slaying Common, fluent Vani, basic Shiber, broken Item Description Gained Memory Stones (14) Flat stones with words, numbers, and short, cryptic phrases carved into them. They belonged to Dayn’s grandfather, a knight who disappeared many years ago after losing his mind. Heirloom Broadsword (2) A pair of heavy swords with ring-shaped pommels, worn grips of red leather, and short, curved guards, worn in scabbards over Dayn’s back. Starting Dagger A bone-hilted blade, worn in a scabbard on Dayn’s belt. Starting Heavy Crossbow An unwieldly, yet fearsome weapon. Starting Bolts (18) Standard, leather-fletched quarrels, enclosed by a small quiver. Starting Studded Leather A set of tough yet supple armor, studded with rivets, that protects the torso, shoulders, and thighs. Starting Back and Breast A pair of scarred plates, devoid of luster, worn over leather armor. Starting Helmet, spiked A conical, wool-lined helm with nasal guard, cheek protectors, and a curtain of mail to protect the neck and throat. Starting Gauntlets, spiked Metal-and-leather gloves with spikes on the knuckles. Starting Cloak A heavy, mottled garment of stitched wolf pelts that nearly reaches the ground. It is fastened by a plain bronze pin. Starting Set of travel clothes A pair of dark trousers and a thigh-length tunic, mended in several places, worn with a plain belt and calf-high boots. Starting Set of spare clothes A plain red tunic and brown trousers. Starting Waterskin Useful for carrying water. Starting Rope Fifty feet of hemp, used for any number of purposes. Starting Flint and Steel For making fires or throwing at squirrels. Starting Traveler’s Stock A thick paste that can be made into soup. Starting Belt Pouch It holds things. Starting Pack It holds heavier things. Starting Sack, empty It holds other things, but can also be useful for kidnapping. Starting Cooking Pot A small, fire-blackened vessel with a missing handle. Starting Bedroll For sleeping and other activities. Starting Flask, hip For cold nights and warm nights. Starting Dice, silver For screwing your kids out of their inheritance. Starting Whetstone Because it’s tiresome cutting off faces with a dull knife. Starting Tent, one person Hopefully it doesn’t rain. Starting Item Gain/Loss Total Starting Funds +100 100 Cashed Shelter +500 600 Starting Goods -294.15 305.85 * Note: Dayn keeps about 15 mizas in his purse, and the rest of his wealth in a drawstring bag of gems around his neck. Among the Jamoura - 12th of Summer, 507 AV Getting in a lather (Daeva) - 20th of Spring, 511 AV