### **Gerrek – The Scarred Sentinel of Rivermarch** --- ![[DALL·E 2025-02-20 10.09.53 - A gruff young human warrior with a slightly healed scar across his face, standing in a rugged tent city. He wears battle-worn guard armor with signs o.webp]] #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Gerrek - **Title:** *Captain of the Volunteer Guard (Initiates of Steel)* - **Commanding Officer:** *[[Maximus]] – Warden of Rivermarch* - Gerrek now officially commands the **Stromhaven Volunteer Guard**, known internally as the **Initiates of Steel**—a militia forged from settlers, mercenaries, and idealists under Maximus's vision of "Defend, Preserve, and Strength." While Maximus serves as the Warden and figurehead, Garrek handles the **day-to-day operations**, **training regimens**, and **strategic defense** of Rivermarch’s borders. - **Race/Species:** Human *(A seasoned soldier, hardened by years of survival in the Stolen Lands.)* - **Class/Profession:** Fighter (Veteran Scout, Rivermarch Militia Sergeant) - **Alignment/Morality:** Neutral Good *(Pragmatic, loyal, but unafraid to challenge leadership when necessary.)* - **Age:** Late 30s *(Young enough to fight, old enough to know better.)* - **Gender & Pronouns:** He/Him - **Appearance:** - **Lean but muscular**, his body **built from years of hard labor and harder battles.** - **Dark, close-cropped hair**, usually **hidden under a simple leather cap or hood.** - **Sharp, deep-set brown eyes**, always **watching, always assessing.** - **His face is lined with scars**, the most notable **a jagged one that runs along his left cheek and down to his jawline.** - **Dresses practically**—a **sturdy leather coat reinforced with metal plating**, well-worn boots, and **a longsword that has seen more years than most of Rivermarch’s settlers.** --- #### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Gerrek is **a soldier first, a survivor second, and a leader when necessary.** He speaks **bluntly but wisely**, never **sugarcoating the truth, but never cruel without reason.** He’s seen **too much bloodshed, too many false rulers, and too many graves dug for men who weren’t prepared to lead.** - **Pragmatic but fiercely loyal**—he fights **for the people, not the throne.** - **Doesn’t trust easily, but once earned, his loyalty is unshakable.** - **Knows war is coming, whether the council admits it or not.** - **Respects strength, but only when tempered by wisdom.** - **A fighter, not a politician—he leaves the scheming to men like Tybalt.** - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Survivalist Expertise:** Can **track, hunt, and scout with deadly efficiency**—his **instincts are razor-sharp.** - **Combat Veteran:** **Fights dirty, fights smart, fights to win.** He knows **how to survive, even when the odds are against him.** - **Tactical Awareness:** Can **read a battlefield, a patrol route, or an ambush before it happens.** - **Knows the Stolen Lands:** He has **lived here longer than most and understands its dangers.** - **Unshakable Composure:** **Doesn’t panic, doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t break.** - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Distrust of Nobility:** **He’s seen too many lords play at war while real men bled for them.** Brinn has **his respect for now—but it’s not unconditional.** - **Not a Diplomat:** **He says what he means, even when it pisses people off.** - **Doesn’t Forgive Betrayal:** **Once someone has lost his trust, they’ll never earn it back.** - **Hardened by Experience:** **Sometimes struggles to see hope where others do.** - **Sees Too Much Coming:** **He’s always preparing for the worst.** - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - **Speaks in short, clipped sentences.** Never wastes words. - **Always scanning, always assessing.** Even when he’s relaxed, he’s aware. - **Lowers his voice when things get serious**—people listen when he talks. - **Prefers to stand rather than sit, always near an exit.** - **Flicks his knife between his fingers when thinking.** --- #### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Gerrek is **not a man of titles, not a man of bloodlines—he is a man of the Stolen Lands.** - He **was raised in a border town**, a place that was **wiped off the map by bandits before he was twenty.** - He spent years **drifting between mercenary work, hunting, and surviving on his own.** - He has fought for **lords, for coin, for revenge—but never for something that lasted.** - When Rivermarch was founded, he **didn’t believe in it**—but **Maximus convinced him it was worth fighting for.** - Now, **he stands as Rivermarch’s true protector, even if he doesn’t sit on the council.** - **Current Motivations:** - **To train the militia into something that can actually hold a line.** - **To make sure Brinn doesn’t become another noble who plays at war.** - **To prepare for the inevitable conflict coming to Rivermarch.** - **To find out who—or what—is stalking the northern woods.** - **To watch Brinnard’s soldiers closely—because he doesn’t trust them yet.** - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[Brinn Whitewood]] (The Lord He Watches):** Garrek **respects Brinn, but not blindly. If Brinn fails his people, Garrek will not follow him.** - **[[Brinnard Whitewood]] (The General He Doesn’t Trust):** He **knows Brinnard’s kind—old soldiers who still think war solves everything. He’s seen them lead men to ruin before.** - **[[Tybalt Rattigan]] (The Rat He Keeps an Eye On):** **Tybalt is useful, but slippery. Garrek doesn’t trust a man who plays both sides, but he can’t deny Tybalt’s skill.** - **[[Maximus]] (The Machine He Follows):** **Maximus earned Garrek’s loyalty. Not because he’s unbreakable, but because he actually gives a damn.** - **[[Gideon]] (The One He Doesn’t Understand):** **Magic is powerful, but Garrek doesn’t trust things he can’t predict. And Gideon is unpredictable.** - **[[Rennik Quickpaw (Deceased)]] (The Rat Who Moves Too Fast):** **Garrek has to admit, the Ysoki scout has his uses. But he talks too damn much.** - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **The Rivermarch Militia (His People):** He **trains them, commands them, and keeps them alive.** - **The Settlement of Rivermarch (The Only Thing Worth Fighting For):** He **is not a noble, not a politician—he fights for the people who build, farm, and bleed here.** - **No Oaths to Any Lord (His Own Man):** He **follows orders, but only if they make sense.** ### **Stromhaven Volunteer Guard – Under Maximus's Command** --- #### **Core Volunteers & Recruits** - **Merik Ironhand** – _The Veteran_ - **Appearance:** Stocky, mid-40s, salt-and-pepper beard, missing two fingers on his left hand - **Personality:** Gruff but fair, doesn't waste words, respects competence over rank - **Background:** Former mercenary who joined the settlement seeking stability, brings valuable experience - **Skills:** Expert with a spear, quick to grasp garrison protocols, can spot an ambush a mile away - **Quote:** "You're not fighting for glory. You're fighting so the person next to you makes it home." - **Darren Ashfield** – _The Natural Leader_ - **Appearance:** Tall, lean, early 30s, clean-shaven with a distinctive burn scar on his neck - **Personality:** Disciplined, methodical, takes his position seriously, quickly gaining Garrek's trust - **Background:** Son of a Brevoy soldier, volunteered immediately upon arriving at Rivermarch - **Skills:** Excellent with a longsword, quick study of tactics, helps organize patrol schedules - **Quote:** "A wall is only as strong as the people who choose to defend it." - **Lyra Stormwind** – _The Scout_ - **Appearance:** Wiry, quick, mid-20s, auburn hair always tied back in a tight braid - **Personality:** Sharp-tongued, observant, impatient with fools, volunteered to ensure her own survival - **Background:** Grew up in the wilderness, lost her family to bandits, sees Rivermarch as a fresh start - **Skills:** Can move silently through any terrain, deadly accurate with a bow, speaks three languages - **Quote:** "See it before they do. That's how we stay alive out here." - **Brandt Oakshield** – _The Shield Wall_ - **Appearance:** Massive build, late 30s, shaved head, numerous battle scars across his forearms - **Personality:** Quiet, stoic, surprisingly gentle off-duty, protective of younger guards - **Background:** Former pit fighter who escaped slavery, seeking redemption by protecting others - **Skills:** Nearly immovable in combat, expert with shield and mace, quickly becoming indispensable at the gate - **Quote:** "Stand or fall. No middle ground." - **Elias Whisperwind** – _The Night Watch_ - **Appearance:** Slender, half-elven, indeterminate age, unsettling pale eyes that see well in darkness - **Personality:** Sardonic, prefers night shifts, keeps to himself but notices everything - **Background:** Former thief who volunteered for the militia instead of facing punishment - **Skills:** Moves silently, expert in spotting hidden threats, knows the criminal mind - **Quote:** "Darkness hides many things. I'm just one of them." - **Selina Thornblade** – _The Former Mercenary_ - **Appearance:** Athletic, early 40s, short dark hair with a single gray streak, always in motion - **Personality:** Demanding, perfectionist, tough but fair, helps train other volunteers - **Background:** Former Aldori swordlord student who never completed training, came to Rivermarch seeking purpose - **Skills:** Quickly adapting her fighting style to defensive operations, deadly with twin shortswords - **Quote:** "Training hurts. Dying hurts worse. Pick one." - **Finric** – _The Veteran Settler_ - **Appearance:** Ancient, wiry, 70+, white-bearded, moves with surprising agility - **Personality:** Cantankerous, full of improbable stories, unexpectedly wise - **Background:** One of the first settlers, too stubborn to not volunteer despite his age - **Skills:** Encyclopedic knowledge of weapons, still deadly with a dagger, knows the area surprisingly well - **Quote:** "Been killed seven times already. Didn't take. Death's got standards." - **Tam** – _The Youngest Volunteer_ - **Appearance:** Young, barely 18, gangly, eager, still growing into his armor - **Personality:** Enthusiastic, naive, desperate to prove himself, quick learner - **Background:** Farmer's son who wants more from life than plowing fields - **Skills:** Natural talent with a bow, good instincts, surprisingly cool under pressure - **Quote:** "I won't let you down, sir. I swear it." --- #### **Command Structure** The Stromhaven Volunteer Guard operates under Maximus as Warden, with Garrek Thornwall serving as Captain of the Guard, handling day-to-day operations and training. All members are volunteers who have stepped forward to protect the growing settlement: - **Leadership:** Ultimately answers to Maximus, with Garrek managing direct operations - **Organization:** Still developing formal structure as the settlement grows - **Recruitment:** All volunteers, ranging from experienced fighters to complete novices - **Training:** Ongoing and improvisational, adapting to the settlement's immediate needs --- #### **Current Challenges** As a newly formed unit comprised entirely of volunteers, the Stromhaven Guard faces several challenges: - **Varying skill levels:** Some have military backgrounds, others have never held a weapon - **Limited equipment:** Guards often use personal weapons or whatever can be scrounged - **Developing protocols:** Guard procedures are still being established and tested - **Integration:** Different backgrounds and motivations create occasional friction - **Loyalty:** Most are loyal to the idea of Rivermarch rather than to its leadership specifically --- #### **Garrek's Assessment** In private conversations with Maximus, Garrek has noted: - _"They're green, but they've got spirit. Most of them, anyway."_ - _"Give me three months and I'll have them functioning like a proper unit."_ - _"Can't fault their courage. Skill will come with time."_ - _"Merik and Darren show promise. Could be officers if we ever get that organized."_ - _"Better than nothing, but not by much. Let's hope trouble waits until they're ready."_ --- - **Notable Items & Equipment:** - **Worn Longsword:** Not **fancy, not ornate, just reliable.** - **A Dagger, Always Within Reach:** He **can kill a man before they see it coming.** - **A Single Gold Coin:** **A reminder of a bet he lost long ago. He never says why he keeps it.** - **A List of Names, Carved into Leather:** **Those he has lost. Those he has failed.** --- #### **Recurring Themes & Story Hooks:** - **"I don’t need a title to know where I stand."** - **"I’ve seen kings fall and bandits rise. I’ll follow the man who actually fights for his people."** - **"You think the Stolen Lands will let you build something here without a fight? Then you’re a fool."** - **"Maximus, if we don’t get some real soldiers soon, we’re gonna get slaughtered."** - **"I don’t trust Brinnard’s men. Maybe not yet. Maybe not ever."** --- Garrek **is not a hero, not a knight, not a lord—he is the man who stands in the mud, holding the line while others decide the future.** And **if Rivermarch is worth fighting for, then he’ll be the last one standing to defend it.**