Kaenan Drakmarien

Life
Kaenan Drakmarien, (pronounced Kay-nan),was the youngest son of Lord Gascar Drakmarien. His mother was Lady Maria Ackard. He had two elder brothers, Petraeus and Devyn. His elder sister, Flavia, was married to Julius Syrion two years before he was born. His mother died a week after giving birth to him.

He was born during The Fall, in which House Drakmarien was all but destroyed.

After the Great River Massacre, during which his father, older brothers and one of his uncles, as well as the entire Drakmarien host, were killed, Thaedred Sevorica took the throne and declared House Drakmarien traitors. To avenge his eldest son, who was killed during the Siege of Regalis, King Thaedred marched north into the Highlands to destroy the Drakmariens once and for all. He besieged Taranis for four weeks before the fortress was finally overwhelmed. Lord Gascar's youngest brother Vaeron, who did not march south with his brothers, managed to smuggle Kaenan out a secret posturn gate, accompanied by a few retainers.

Knowing King Thaedred would never stop hunting the last of House Drakmarien, he fled south, aided by the hill clans. Vaeron managed to cross Hastyria undetected. He fled across the Gap and into Gallika. From there he travelled southwards towards the Narrow Sea.

He took ship across the sea to the great islands of the Midlands, from which his ancestors had come over 400 years earlier. When he arrived at the city of Tyrantur, he and his men took up with the mercenary company, the Black Shields.

Kaenan was raised from infancy in the camp of the warrior. From the time he could walk he was taught to ride. From the time he could run, he was taught to wield a sword. All the while, his uncle Vaeron rose in the ranks of the company. By the time he turned 13, Kaenan was already a skilled swordsman. Still too young to fight in battle, he spent his time as squire to his uncle, as well as speaking to the other men of the company, learning all he could in the art of war.

At some point during his childhood, Kaenan met Dasco Stone, a child of similar age. The two quickly became close friends and thought of each other as brothers. For a long time the two were inseperable.

By the time he was 15, Kaenan had developed a proficiency in the Jor'uun fighting style, which involved the use of two swords simultaneously. A famously difficult technique to learn, few ever truly mastered the style. It was a style popular among gladiators, who literally had nothing else to do apart from train and fight, and the infamous Luna Sisters.

In the same year, Kaenan killed his first man in battle when the company camp was attacked by mercenaries from a rival city state of their employer. Dakov, a veteran of nealry 30 years in the company, witnessed Kaenan in action and later told Vaeron that "the boy is one of those very few, a killer of men."

From then on, Kaenan served as a soldier in the company. He was the youngest ever to earn his simple black shield, the distinctive symbol of the company. A year later his uncle Vaeron, now 41 years old, retired. The company gave him a lodge in the hills outside Ethium in return for his 16 years of outstanding service to the company.

Eventually, Kaenan and Dasco, along with several other members of the Black Shields, split off to form their own company, the Black Hands. Together with his comrades, Kaenan travelled extensively, following the money. He even got as far south as the Riverlands, fighting against the fanatical followers of

Personality
Kaenan is known for his rugged personality. He values honesty and honor extremely highly. However, growing up in the soldiers camp didn't generally allow much contact with the opposite sex, outside of a brothel. As such his brutal honesty can often come across as uncivilised and ungentlemanly. He has a relatively calm temperament, although in battle he becomes a different beast entirely. In comparison to his easy going nature, in battle Kaenan becomes almost elemental.

His uncle Vaeron often laments that he didn't bother to teach Kaenan some manners worthy of his bloodline. He is often blunt to the point of rudeness.

Kaenan is known to to judge people on what he has seen himself. People often find it hard to relate to him because they often have to prove themselves to him. However, once he is convinced of someones honor or competence, he is fiercely loyal.

Equipment
In battle, Kaenan wear black plate armour on his arms and shoulders. He also wears iron greaves. Underneath he wears a layer of chainmail. To protect his chest he wears a leather cuirass with iron studs. He wears a full face helmet, with a unique black horsehair crest running from front to back.

His primary weapon is his bastard sword, Ironwing, which would normally be used with two hands, but, because of his height, Kaenan wields with one. He usually carries a shield, but if he loses it or simply discards it, he will unsheath Redsteel, a unique single-edged shortsword created specifically for him. The name originates from the appearance of the blade when Kaenan uses the Jor'uun technique, covered in blood.

Kaenan also carries a long curved dagger and small knife. Kaenan has the ability to use almost any weapon with some level of proficiancy.

His favourite warhorse is the jet black stallion, Havoc.

Appearance
Kaenan has shoulder length black hair, which he usually has tied back. His eyes are distinctively dark, so much so the the pupil is nearly invisible. He has the square jaw and natural pale olive skin of his ancestors, although after years of living in the Midlands, his skin is quite tanned. The left side of his face is marred by a forked scar running from his cheekbone directly down to his jaw, while on the right side an inch long scar runs vertically down above his eye, splitting his eyebrow. He usually wears a light black beard on his face.

The most distinctive feature, after his eyes, is his height. Kaenan stands at 6 foot 5 inches tall. His body is covered in thick cords of muscle, the result of a life in combat. His height and his immense strength allow him to wield his two-handed bastard sword with one hand.

He has a black version of the dragon from his House Sigil tattooed on his back. His body is covered in scars, the result of innumerable battles and fights.

His uncle Vaeron often comments that Kaenan looks almost identicle to his father, his height being the only real difference.