First Name: Roderick
Last Name: Grayshaw
Appearance:
Race: Human (Damaran)
Age:
Age 20 in 1351
Born 4 Alturiak, 1331 DR.
Year of the Leaping Dolphin
Born under the Sign of the Eagle
and with Disseminating Selûne under the sign of the Fish
Those born under the sign of the Eagle are determined, resilient and ambitious. Good organisers, leaders and strategists, they are not deterred by setbacks, believing hard work, patience and persistance will triumph. They are loyal but reserved in showing affection.
Those born with Selûne under the sign of the Fish are artistic. They have lively, analytical minds and make inspiring teachers. Imaginative, they are radical and idealistic thinkers.
Height 6'0''
Weight: 180
Eyes: Dark Brown but carries within them a passionate flame.
Hair: Raven black, he keeps it tied in a ponytail.
Facial Hair Style: 5 o'clock shadow[/color]
Personality Profile: Roderick is serious, hard-to-please, and enjoys a good conversation. Roderick is proud of the fact that he is a Banite and flaunts it without regard to what others may think of him. He would rather admit that he is a Banite rather than hide it like a coward. To him, it is his life and soul. The very reason he picked up a sword is for the honor of his family and for the honor of his god. He would rather that people accept for who he is rather for what he would pretend to be. Roderick uses lots of word in daily conversation as he would like people to think that he is intelligent and charismatic. Roderick believes that people should get what they work for and he has a deep respect for those who treasure loyalty.
General Health: Roderick keeps a daily training routine so his physique is better than average. He is not as sturdy as your regular soldier because he typically spends more time devising battle strategies, studying the history of Bane, and cooking.
Deity: Bane (The Black Lord, The Lord of Darkness)
Initial Alignment: Lawful Evil, a focus on the lawful aspect but he can show wanton cruelty if he needs to show his authority.
Profession: Training to become a knight, current adventurer, bodyguard.
Base Class & Proposed Development: Man-At-Arms, Fighter, Blackguard
Habits/Hobbies:
Languages: Human, Tharian, Orcish
Weapon of Choice: Bastard Sword
Background: Hundreds of miles from the Sword Coast lies Zhentil Keep, home of an infamous mercenary organization 'The Zhentarim'. In this fortress lives Rorik Grayshaw, an officer in the Zhentil Army. Close to retirement, he decides to settle down and get married. His wife bears him two sons, the elder is Edgar and the younger is Roderick. Due to the Grayshaw family's long history of service in the name of Bane - Hodunus Blackhand, a cleric of Bane and a member of the Orthodox Church, tutored the two young boys. The two brothers spent hours time training with their father in the training room of their house. It was through both these training sessions that both brothers eventually found what their niche was. Edgar excelled at prayer and commanding Bane's holy power, and it was decided that he was to become a cleric of the Black hand. He would move on to join the Orthodox Bane Church. Meanwhile, Roderick excelled with his sword and thus it was decided that he would enlist in the Zhentil Army. On his 15th name day, Roderick was admitted straight into the Zhentil infantry.[/color]
Roderick's skill in battle, his way of influencing his comrades, and his long family history allowed him to rise in rank faster than his peers. At the age of only 20, Roderick was assigned underneath the dreaded Gunther the Reaver, who was one of two twin brothers named Gunther and Hradgast, both captured slave-barbarians who fought their way to becoming a respected Zhentarim Officers. They were freed by a powerful wizard named Heminon Jalgus, a member of the Transformed Church. As Roderick and his commanding officer, Gunther were complete opposites - an internal power struggle was inevitable. One being in an orthodox family and one being indebted to a Transformed, from the beginning it would prove that the two would not get along. Roderick, Gunther, and the others in his company would be stationed in Thar, a desolate place covered by masses of orcs. Through the next few months, Roderick would excel despite the brutal tendencies of his commanding officer. Gunther would whip his troops, including Roderick, for any minor reason to satisfy his bloodlust. It was through these whippings that Roderick would grow more and more hostile towards Gunther. However, Roderick honors loyalty, and despite the beatings, Roderick would always follow any command Gunther would give him. During battles, Gunther would disobey his own commanding officer and would charge ahead without thinking. It was only due to the sheer amount of power that he possessed that Gunther was able to get away with his defiant, bloodthirsty actions. Roderick was absolutely disgusted with his superior's inability to follow orders and was equally disgusted with the way that Gunther treated his own troops. Roderick would make the most of his situation as he would gather his companions to support each other through the tough winter months. At times, they would laugh and dance to get away from the monster that is Gunther. Inevitably, they would eventually be noticed by Gunther. He became outraged that Roderick would gather in secretive places and he grew suspicious that they were planning to take him down. "How do they follow him so easily? Why don't they give me the respect that they give him? I am their commanding officer, not he!" Gunther walked into their secret meeting place and grabbed Roderick by the throat. "How dare you plot against me?! Your great leader?! I will have your head!" It was through his shouting that Dread Captain Shulzur Harkin would hear the commotion. "Stop this instant! There is no time for conflict between us, you have orders to clear out an orcish encampment!"[/color]
It was on one fateful day when the sky was red like blood, Gunther led his squad of troops against an orcish stronghold to clear out a foolish orc chieftain named Gogran who wouldn't declare allegiance to Zhentil Keep. It was their mission to clear out all the orc forces and make them run and beg for their lives. He used a battering ram to smash through the gates of the fortress and ordered Roderick to lead the charge in his stead. During the heat of the battle, Gunther had created an opportunity to kill his subordinate. While Roderick was engaged in a one-on-one combat with one of the half-orc warriors, Gunther snuck up behind Roderick and lifted his falchion high up into the air. Through a stroke of luck (or perhaps a blessing of Bane), the stone of a catapult landed right behind Gunther, causing him to lose balance. Roderick hears the sound of a mighty crashing behind him and turns, only for Gunther to fall right on his sword.[/color]
It would not be long before the fall of Gunther the Reaver would spread to the rest of the Zhentil Forces and eventually to even the higher-ups. It was decided that Roderick would be put on trial for the murder of a commanding officer. Hradgast, Gunther's brother was absolutely outraged and demanded that Roderick's head would be put on a stake. Ultimately, due to Gunther's bad reputation, the incident was ruled an accident. It was through Edgar's advice that it was decided Roderick would transfer over to Darkhold to avoid the wrath of Hradgast. Darkhold was on the other side of Faerun and it would be difficult for Hradgast to follow him there. Roderick's father used his influence to make sure that Roderick was guaranteed a transfer and made it look as though Roderick was discharged to avoid suspicion of his disappearance and to make sure Hradgast wouldn't know where he was. The change would be difficult to Roderick for he would lose the honor he had earned and the friends he had gained. He must also travel far across the sea to get to Baldur's Gate, a place where Bane worship was illegal. Despite the difficulties, Roderick would make it through with his sheer persistence and devotion to Bane. A couple of months later, Roderick arrives at the Friendly Arm's Inn, ready to start a new adventure.[/color]
Goals: Join the Zhentarim, achieve knighthood, fight his way to the top of the social ladder, become a lord and achieve titles.
Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts: He practices Bane openly, with no fear. Hradgast has sworn revenge on Roderick for killing his brother.
