Caden's Fantasy Verse Information
Caden's Fantasy Verse Information
Overview
Alias: The Ironfang, The Hound of Ortheldra
Backstory: Caden was known as a legend within the Calderan Pact. He was known for bringing down some of the most dangerous beasts, such as dragons, oathbreakers, and even rogue magic users and other dangerous people. He led a group of allies and members of the Pact in the Siege of Duskwatch, where he was able to uncover forbidden rites being practiced by the Pact's most inner circle. However, before he could speak out and approach them on the matter, he was sentenced to death by his own in the woods of Ortheldra, being stripped of his old armor, weapons, and cut down while trying to attack one of his former allies in his last moments. He was left to bleed out on the forest floor, to simply be a forgotten footnote in the Pact's history before they were destroyed (presumedly) from the inside... but the forest had other plans. A forest spirit bounded to the gauntlet left near Caden's body and offered him a pact of his own: He could live, but never again be able to trust any of the gods or laws of the kingdoms in his world, to hunt by his own code and nothing more. Now, as a result, Caden moves from area to area, gathering coin from doing monster hunts and slowly inching closer to the truth about who betrayed him and why.
Species: Shepherdfolk, a rare beastkin-like race known for their loyalty, cunning nature, and warrior lineage.
Build: Towering and battle-worn, clad in reinforced leather armor and worn travel cloaks that are stained with streaks of ash and blood.
Distinct Features:
A bronze gauntlet fused into his left arm, made from old dwarven blacksmiths countless numbers of years ago.
He also has the sigil of the fallen Pact sorched onto his shoulder as a former sign of his loyalty to the cause.
There is also a long, jagged scar, which splits his brow that he got during the betrayal.
Info about the Wyrmsteel Arm
Magical items in this world, such as the Wyrmsteel Arm, are normally fused to the host's body and feed off of blood or memories from the host. It is not normally enough to cause permanent damage or to completely wipe someone's memory, but the "offering" Caden gives the gauntlet allows him access to a few special things.
It allows him track arcane magical trails, almost like a bloodhound may track a beast or another animal while on the hunt.
It allows him to nearly crush steel and acts as a shield during combat, granting him access to monstrous amounts of strength he may not have been able to achieve otherwise.
It also allows Caden to absorb spells temporarily, which allows him to use magical spells and energy that he learns or absorbs at a cost, normally being blood or the memories again, but taking more of it.
Brief Information about the World
Ortheldra is the main kingdom of this universe, a land that was once prosperous and landy of unity amongst the smaller kingdoms within the empire, it is now shattered by civil war, rogue sorcery, and beast-ravaged lands.
Within the kingdom are a few key factions:
The Crucible: A group of shadowy manipulators with the help of warlocks and other magic users who are trying to resurect the age of tyrant-mages who once ruled the land and to bring back the chaos that came along with them. At the moment, they are made up of a few mages and nobles who were dead at one point in time, but somehow, were brought back from the dead to perform the bidding of the Crucible's mission.
The Shattered Crown: Loyalists to the empire who still believe that the throne itself holds the right to command those across the lands and are the ones trying to bring back peace and order to the crumbling empire before it is too far gone. They have not had too much recent success, as you might imagine.
Freeholds: The brief name given to those who are independent of the empire, rebels, mercenaries, and anyone else who wishes to have their own claim on the land but does not do it in respect of any other group of people or at the request of someone else.
Calderan Pact: The now defunct, and presumed destroyed, group of bounty hunters and monster slayers, the group Caden was once a part of... but there have been whispers the group has survived and lived on, with only a few still being within their ranks. Whether or not they do truly still exist... is not currently known.
A quick note for the Calderan Pact: The downfall of the pact came from an event that became known as The Sundering throughout the empire. It was orchestrated in complete secrecy by some smaller faction of members within, leading to Caden's betrayal and the process of killing off other members of the Pact, to ensure that the entire Pact was destroyed in its entirety.
Prior to this, it was well known across the empire for their dedicated service to helping those who wanted beasts hunted down and killed, hunting down those causing issues, and doing other things to maintain the balance between the different kingdoms and also... with the magical forces that inhabit the world.
Other General Headcanons
TBD.