Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Age: 28

Race: Human; Damaran

Sex: Male

Date of birth: Marpenoth 17 1334

Place of birth: Zhentil Keep

Alignment: Lawful Evil

Patron deity: Iyachtu Xvim

Profession: Mercenary

Classes: Man at Arms, Blackguard, Rogue, Fighter

Primary language: Damaran

Secondary languages: Undercommon

Physical description

This tall Damaran man was built like a fortress wall. equipped with broad shoulders and a statuesque muscular frame; he was an intimidating sight to behold.
The man had fair skin and blond hair that was shaved along the sides and kept longer atop attributing to a militaristic look.

Dark brown eyes were filled with a scrutinizing and cold gaze that greatly focused on whatever he happened to be paying attention to at the time.
The mans face carried features that made him stand out as naturally pleasing to the eyes but in addition to that his apparent self care made him conventionally very handsome. Clean shaven, well maintained skin, and his clean golden locks of hair all contributed to him as a paragon of virility.

With him he carried an ever judging and oppressive presence. The air around him seemed to grow heavier and the space around him quieter in an uneasy feeling of dread especially to those who were in opposition of him.

The Damaran spoke with a deep and steady voice that carried itself an authoritative tone that commanded respect and fear with easy.
The man could perhaps best be described as a monolith of totalitarianism.

Psychological description

Best defined by his qualities: discipline, restraint, and unmoving devotion to hierarchy and tradition. Despite not having a noble birth; Krauzer carries himself as a knight would: immaculately maintained, rigid in posture, and mindful of conduct. Krauzer believes that appearance and decorum are an outward reflection of his devotion to order and tyranny. The Damaran's holds an absolute conviction towards law and authority. According to Krauzer: order is not a societal construction but the very framework that holds reality and civility together. Krauzer is both educated and methodical; pursuing activities that sharpen the mind and body alike. Favored activities include: reading, martial arts, military theory, and chess. Krauzer's personal philosophy can be best described as Machiavellian. Truly believing that 'the ends justify the means' and that the ultimate goal of achieving true tyranny is worth the cost; no matter how many corpses it takes. Krauzer firmly believes that it is 'better to be feared than loved' and he revels in that fear. Pairing his brutal and efficient martial prowess with psychological warfare. Krauzer will often execute enemies or place the corpses of deceased foes on display by means of impalement. Enemies skewered upon wooden stakes are a testament of not only his cruelty but to make his 'dominion', his conquest. For Krauzer, hopeless feelings of dread educed by fear is the greatest weapon in his arsenal. Krauzer believes freedom is a corrosive force that must be replaced with unity, and tyranny is a necessity.

Religious views

Krauzer has from the time that he was young held a very special relationship with the temple of Bane. Ultimately Krauzer owes everything he has and has become to the Black Hand. There's just one small problem: Bane the Lawgiver has perished. A difficult reality that Krauzer has come to accept in recent years; Krauzer worships and gives patronage to Iyachtu Xvim recognizing Him as the heir to the vision of tyranny and as his patron. Despite his devotion to the Godson; Krauzer will never forget the Father. In memorial Krauzer keeps a Black Gauntlet emblazoned on his shield to remind himself always of the God who saw him grow into the man that he is today. Krauzer's faith in the dogma of Iyachtu Xvim is absolute and he would strongly consider himself an crusader for tyranny. Prayer is an important part of his life that is kept more in quiet contemplation, and by personal actions. Respectful and acknowledging of his station he is aware he is not a priest and would not dare to try and claim the qualities and responsibilities of one.

Family

Name: Klaus Tzarkov (PC)
Status: Alive
Description: Klaus is the smaller and younger of the two Tzarkov brothers. As far as the both of them are aware they are the only blood relations that they know of and it's quite possible that they aren't even truly related by blood at all. Both of them arrived at the orphanage together but Klaus always looked to Krauzer to protect him, and in return Klaus served Krauzer's interests. When they left the orphanage they found work together as mercenaries. Klaus made a name for himself as an effective marksman who became accustomed to assisting Krauzer from afar.


Name: Vladim Tzarkov (NPC; Adoptive Father)
Status: Deceased
Description: Priest of Bane. Vladim Tzarkov primarily looked after both Krauzer and Klaus after they were orphaned. It was through Vladim that Krauzer received an education and learned the tyrannical ways of Bane. One of Vladim's greatest strengths was his ability to weave stories. Vladim used tales of great conquerors and knights to inspire the grander image that Bane represents. Carefully written propaganda sculpted Krauzer into the man he is today. Not unlike the very boy he raised; Vladim was pious and a whole believer in the dogma around Tyranny. Vladim died around mid Marenpoth 1361 in circumstances entirely unknown to Krauzer.



Ulrich Malbrändt (NPC; Biological Father)
Status: Alive
Description: Ulrich was a career Zhentilar who served Zhentil Keep for nearly his entire life. While his service was continuous and he did manage to keep himself alive he never achieved any great ranking or true leadership position. On the side Ulrich would work as a mercenary when his services were not needed by Zhentil Keep. Allowing him to afford his life style of liquor, women, gambling, and feasting. Ulrich is utterly unknown to Krauzer and in kind Krauzer is unknown to Ulrich.



Trezna Strovain (NPC; Biological Mother)
Status: Alive
Description: Trezna was a courtesan working the streets and taverns of Zhentil Keep. Never one for responsibility, and spontaneous in nature. Trezna left an infant Krauzer in the care of the Temple of Bane; where he was ultimately raised in an orphanage and guided by a priest of the tyrant. Much like his father she was unremarkable and no one of great importantce. Only occasionally does she consider what happened to the boy she left behind at an orphanage many years ago. The identity of his mother is unknown to Krauzer and strangely has never even thought to ask.



Dravik Kaltvein (NPC; Mentor)
Status: Alive?
Description: Dravik Kaltvein was a dwarven mercenary captain from the Galena Mountains. Captain Kaltvein ran his very own company: Kaltvein's Iron Compact. Kaltvein was a weary fellow missing an eye and several teeth one of which was replaced with gold. A boisterous and energetic dwarf always eager to prove his worth and fulfill his contracts. The Iron Compact's colors were Black and Gold and their motto: 'bound by iron, paid in blood' was a virtue the old curmudgeon held closely. Kaltvein mentored Krauzer in the use of various different kinds of weapons but in particular trained him how to use a dwarven war axe in a single hand. The current fate of Dravik is unknown and Krauzer has not kept contact with him since his arrival to the sword coast.

History

Born in the worn city of Zhentil Keep; Krauzer's birth was unglamorous, insignificant, and ultimately unwanted. Nearly immediately after his birth he was left in the care of the Temple of Bane. Raised in an orphanage lead by the faith itself Krauzer would learn everything he would come to know and accept about life from the facilities that raised him. Primarily he would be raised by a priest of Bane named Vladim Tzarkov. Vladim gave him the name 'Krauzer' initially but as he grew older and became more the man Vladim wanted him to be, he allowed him the surname of Tzarkov seeing him as his own son. Krauzer was urged towards a militaristic profession as he showed promise in his adventurous nature, leadership skills, and athletic capability. In addition to this encouragement Vladim served as an educator to Krauzer. As a young man Krauzer was exposed to theological studies, mathematics, history, etiquette of the nobility, and politics; but it was Banite propaganda that perhaps interested him the most. Tales of mighty conquerors, dictators, and military generals enamored his mind. Ultimately it served as an inspiration for his own ambitions.

When Krauzer became of age he had sought to enlist into the Zhentilar personally. The young man was filled with nationalist pride for the state of Zhentil Keep and eager to serve in its armies. Misfortune would come to Krauzer when he was initially denied entry into the Zhentilar. While his education and physical capability were good, a Zhentilar recruiter saw that he lacked equipment, experience, and that there were others of much higher status than an discarded orphan who were interested in positions. There was only so many the army wished to train and Krauzer had missed the cut off. This denial became a great mark of shame for Krauzer but it did not deter him, and instead Krauzer would seek to join one of the many mercenary companies around Zhentil Keep.

It did not take long before he met up with an mentor he would never forget: Dravik Kaltvein. Captain Kaltvein led his company: 'The Iron Compact' rather loosely for a dwarf. The compact's motto: 'Everyone fights, nobody quits.' was one that was held to a very high standard. Eager to fight and prove his worth Krauzer would train directly under Captain Kaltvein who instructed him on the use of martial weapons, techniques, and maneuvers. Kaltvein even showed Krauzer how to effectively wield a dwarven war axe in a single hand with ease. Life among the company was great for Krauzer and it allowed him to cultivate his natural martial talents. This would come to a sudden end when the company was hired to raid a goblin cave only to find all the goblins inside slain and that the mission had been a trap set by the Silver Dentar a rival mercenary company that competed tooth and nail for jobs with the Iron Compact. The ambush saw the death of most of the company and the fate of Captain Kaltvein unknown. Krauzer escaped alongside his brother Klaus who worked with him narrowly left without the teachers who taught them so very much.

Seeking new work and a way of life the two of them headed towards the Western Heartlands where they would ultimately find themselves in the troubled and run down settlement of Soubar. Mere moments after landing in Soubar Krauzer would be introduced to the then Dread Lord of Darkhold Fortress: Zerros Ozmir. Krauzer seeing the opportunity to earn his way in a true army and another chance at becoming a Zhentilar, the Damaran committed himself to proving his worth to the Dread Lord and after sometime was permitted entry and allowed to take the vow. Now Krauzer serves the Zhentilar lords he has always wished to with all the zeal a proud Zhent nationalist could ever hold.

Future

Krauzer is a man of big dreams and ambitions. Inspired and enamored by the tales told to him by his father figure Vladim. Krauzer wishes to become a tyrant in his own right. Krauzer acknowledges that he has no noble or significant birth, and that he came from worse than nothing: he was outright abandoned and unwanted. Krauzer's vision is one that is vivid to him; like looking at a painting in a gallery. The aspiring tyrant sees himself in full decorated armor sitting upon a fearsome warhorse commanding legions of loyal men off to their next great conquest a forest of impaled bodies of those who got in the way of his grand campaign. According to Krauzer: Pain is the key to the throne that he seeks, and his path will be wrought with blood, paved with corpses, and achieved only through his very violent modus operandi. Krauzer hopes the Zhentarim will serve as a vehicle for his ambitions whether that means earning his own fiefdom or something else entirely.

Heirloom Item

Prayer Beads of the Iron Tyrant

This amulet is an old and weathered prayer beads have endured hardship, blood shed, and more. Made of a heavy iron symbolic of the faith and the expectations upon the wearer. Attached to the beads is the worn almost destroyed remains of a holy symbol of Bane the Lawgiver. This item's previous owner was likely Vladim Tzarkov.

Hatred, Heart of the Grudgebearer

A Dwarven War Axe that was clearly a creation of the dwarves of the Galena Mountains based off of the few ornate engravings the weapon held. Though it should not be mistaken that while the weapon was certainly a looker it was a more than practical tool of war that would bring a smile to any proud dwarf's bearded face. This item's previous owner was likely Dravik Kaltvein.

Zhentilar Signet Ring

This ornate signet ring was aged but well maintained and featured the coat of arms of Zhentil Keep. The quality of the ring seems to denote a more senior status from that of the common soldiery, and perhaps belongs to an higher ranking officer. This item's previous owner was likely Ulrich Malbrändt.

Plot Hooks

* Zhentarim faction opportunities - Krauzer is a loyal member of the Zhentarim in the Western Heartlands. In addition to this however, Krauzer is a born Zhent and proud of his origins. Krauzer will always be happy to serve the state of Zhentil Keep. Especially if it is an opportunity to achieve his own goals of earning status and lordship.

* Mercenary Work - Krauzer has for the majority of his professional career been a sell sword. Krauzer is happy to earn rewards by means of honoring a contract.

* Title Chasing - Krauzer has a very strict honor code and holds himself to a knightly standard though he holds no titles himself. Krauzer would be greatly interested in fighting to earn knightly titles or more.