# #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Borik Valchin - **Race/Species:** Human - **Class/Profession:** Huntmaster/Ranger - **Alignment/Morality:** Neutral Good - **Age:** 53 - **Gender & Pronouns:** Male (He/Him) - **Appearance:** A weathered figure who embodies the practical wilderness expertise of House Medvyed's ranger tradition, standing six feet two inches with a lean, sinewy build developed through decades of forest travel and hunting. His face features the rugged characteristics of someone who has spent most of his life outdoors—strong jaw, prominent cheekbones weathered by sun and wind, and alert eyes that constantly scan his surroundings with the practiced evaluation of a lifetime hunter. His eyes are a deep brown that assess everything with the practical consideration of someone accustomed to reading subtle signs in the wilderness, noting details others would overlook. His hair, once dark but now heavily streaked with gray, is kept in a practical style that requires minimal maintenance in the field, typically tied back with a simple leather cord. He dresses in well-crafted but thoroughly practical clothing designed for wilderness function—quality materials in muted greens and browns that provide camouflage and protection from the elements, with numerous pockets and attachments for carrying essential tools and supplies. Unlike the nobles he serves, he wears minimal adornment beyond a silver pin marking his position as huntmaster and a collection of small totems and talismans gathered over years of forest travel, each with personal significance related to successful hunts or wilderness encounters. His hands show the calluses and small scars of someone who has spent decades working with weapons, tools, and wilderness survival, and he moves with the quiet, efficient grace of a man accustomed to moving through dense forest without disturbing wildlife. A distinctive scar runs from his left temple to jaw—the result of a bear attack in his younger years that he survived through quick thinking and wilderness knowledge. #### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Borik embodies the practical wilderness expertise that forms the foundation of House Medvyed's identity—a huntmaster who views his role as both profession and sacred trust. He approaches both hunting expeditions and forest management with methodical thoroughness, weighing immediate needs against long-term sustainability and the health of the wilderness. To the hunting parties he leads, he represents firm but fair leadership, maintaining high standards while recognizing the unpredictability of wilderness conditions. To the nobles he serves, he presents a carefully calibrated blend of deference to their rank and confidence in his expertise that earns respect without overstepping boundaries. His lifetime in the wilderness manifests in his preference for direct solutions, his talent for reading natural signs and animal behavior, and his belief that practical experience trumps theoretical knowledge in matters of survival and hunting. Though capable of the formal behavior expected when interacting with nobility, he is most authentic when engaged in his wilderness role, where his natural competence and deep knowledge create effective leadership. Beneath his stoic exterior lies a man defined by dedication to preserving the balance between human needs and wilderness health—a perspective that aligns him with the druidic elements of House Medvyed like Yelena, while his practical approach to achieving this balance sometimes differs from their more mystical methods. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Tracking Expertise** – Exceptional ability to read signs and follow trails in even the most challenging conditions - **Wilderness Navigation** – Remarkable familiarity with the forests and wild places of Medvyed territories - **Animal Behavior Knowledge** – Highly developed understanding of wildlife patterns and responses - **Survival Techniques** – Comprehensive skills for thriving in wilderness conditions regardless of season - **Hunting Leadership** – Talent for organizing and directing hunting parties of varied experience levels - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Social Discomfort** – Occasional awkwardness in formal or urban settings outside his element - **Blunt Communication** – Tendency toward directness that can seem abrupt to those accustomed to courtly speech - **Traditional Methods** – Sometimes resistant to new approaches that haven't been proven in the field - **Solitary Preference** – Inclination toward working alone that can hinder collaboration - **Stubborn Independence** – Reluctance to ask for assistance even when it would be beneficial - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Speaks in concise, practical sentences that waste few words, often dropping unnecessary formalities - Maintains alert, evaluative eye contact during conversations, a habit developed from assessing hunting companions - Uses minimal but precise hand gestures when explaining tracking or hunting concepts - Habitually scans surroundings even in safe environments, a deeply ingrained survival habit - Employs wilderness terminology and metaphors even in non-hunting contexts, viewing the world through a hunter's lens #### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Born to a family with generations of service to House Medvyed as hunters and wilderness guides, Borik's early years were shaped by practical education in forest craft rather than formal schooling. From his first steps, he was being taught to read animal signs, identify plants, and move quietly through dense woodland. His formal connection to House Medvyed began when he was taken on as an apprentice to the previous huntmaster at age fourteen, where his natural aptitude for tracking and wilderness navigation quickly distinguished him from other candidates. What began as basic training gradually evolved into a comprehensive education in all aspects of forest management and hunting leadership. His defining moment came during a hunting expedition gone wrong when he was twenty-eight, when unexpected weather separated the hunting party and left several noble guests, including the heir to House Medvyed, stranded in dangerous conditions. Drawing on his extensive wilderness knowledge, Borik not only tracked and rescued the separated nobles but led them safely home through a blizzard that would have claimed less experienced travelers. This combination of tracking skill and leadership under pressure established his reputation and accelerated his advancement toward the position of huntmaster. Over the subsequent decades, he has systematically expanded his knowledge of Medvyed territories, becoming intimately familiar with every valley, ridge, and waterway within the house's extensive holdings. His particular expertise lies in sustainable hunting practices that maintain healthy wildlife populations while still providing necessary game for the house's needs, a balance that aligns perfectly with Medvyed values. His professional relationship with Yelena Medvyed developed gradually over years of shared concern for the wilderness, evolving from the formal distance between noble and servant to a partnership based on complementary approaches to forest stewardship. Where Yelena brings spiritual and druidic perspectives to wilderness protection, Borik provides practical implementation and day-to-day management that turns principles into sustainable practices. Currently, he oversees all hunting activities within Medvyed territories, from noble sport hunting to practical food procurement, ensuring that all are conducted according to the house's principles of respect for the natural world. This role has made him a key figure in House Medvyed's practical implementation of their wilderness values, bridging the gap between spiritual principles and necessary resource utilization. - **Current Role:** - Oversees all hunting activities within House Medvyed's territories - Trains and directs the house's corps of hunters and wilderness guides - Manages wildlife populations to ensure sustainable hunting - Provides wilderness expertise for both practical and ceremonial activities - Serves as a key advisor on matters involving forest resources and management - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[House Medvyed]]** – The noble family he has served with unwavering loyalty for his entire life - **[[Yelena Medvyed]]** – Druid with whom he shares concern for wilderness health despite different approaches - **[[Tamar Medvyed]]** – Noble ranger whose practical skills he respects and has helped refine - **[[The Hunters' Guild]]** – Professional association where his expertise is highly regarded - **[[Vasilya Thorne]]** – Noble diplomat whose urban focus sometimes creates tension with his wilderness priorities - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **House Medvyed** – His primary loyalty and professional identity - **The Huntmasters' Circle** – Regional network of hunting leaders who share knowledge and coordinate efforts - **The Forest Wardens** – Loose alliance of those protecting wilderness areas, where he represents practical expertise - **The Hunters' Guild** – Professional organization that maintains standards and traditions - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **Huntmaster's Badge** – Silver pin marking his official position and authority - **Tracking Kit** – Specialized tools for reading and preserving signs in various conditions - **Master Bow** – Exceptional weapon crafted specifically for his hunting style and physical measurements - **Wilderness Journal** – Detailed records of observations and experiences spanning decades - **Trophy Collection** – Carefully preserved mementos of significant hunts, each with spiritual significance #### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - The balance between resource utilization and wilderness preservation - The integration of practical expertise with spiritual respect for nature - The passing of wilderness knowledge through generations - The tension between traditional methods and necessary adaptation - **Player/GM Notes:** - Can serve as a valuable guide for wilderness travel or hunting expeditions - Might provide quests related to tracking dangerous creatures or poachers - Could become an ally for characters who demonstrate respect for both hunting traditions and wilderness preservation - His extensive knowledge makes him an excellent source of information about Medvyed territories - Represents the practical implementation of House Medvyed's wilderness values