Garihir

Travellers of the Red Band
World:	Laurelin
Vocation:	Mercenary-ish
Class:
Race:	Man
Region:	Eriador
Age:	26
Height:	5ft 7in
Sex:	Male
Skin:	Pale Complexion
Hair:	Natural Red
Eye:	Blue

Important Note

Roll up, roll up my sires! I bring news, rumours from Bree!

I recently said ICly to a good friend and now kinmate, that I would be happy to share the story, though granted, it wouldn't be the most happy tale! Usually, I would just improvise, adding randomly to the tale as I do in conversations and such anyway... but... well, this time, I want to try something different. This time, i'll try and write a story/tale/song (hell no), and then edit it and adapt it after telling the tale to said friend, and when necessary or I think too much one sleepless night (bah).

Anyway, the point is, the updated version of the story, or more probably the pre-game chunk of it will be available here somewhen in the future, maybe tonight, maybe soon, maybe this time 2010. Who knows?

Edit: Got the Pre-game bit sketched out already. Yay. I'll see if I can turn it into a cognitive story or non-fiction writing. If not, then it will most likely be a time line. Enjoying myself while my subscription is buggered up...

Description

Physical Description: Garihir isn't really much to look at. His body is mostly conceiled by a large brown Hauberk, stretching from boots to neck, and even that is covered with a large scarf. His head however is uncovered, pale skin contrasting with dark red hair. Examine his face for a moment, and your attention would be taken up mostly with the irritated glare he would be giving you at this point. But before he tells you to get lost, you would see that a large scar, stretching from eyebrow to nose in a long curve across his right cheek. It cuts straight across his eye, which suprisingly stays working, as if he had only just managed to dodge the cut and keep his eye intact. As well as that scar, a few other faint marks are dotted across his face. His hair is... unkept. That's probably the most polite way to describe the mess ontop of his head. Lets just say he hasn't used a comb for a long while. Neither has he cut his hair in a while, though it seems to remain steadfastly the same length everytime he is seen. Does he cut it when he wakes up?.

Personality Description: Personality, eh? Well... lets just say that there are two sides to this paticular red headed coin. For the vast majority of his life he has been living one side up. The grumpy, independant and dare I say it, witty (1). He wise cracks with friends, is non-committal and vague with people who he doesn't know well, or who he doesn't want to offend accidently. With people he doesn't like though, its like trying to hug a hedgehog. The closer you try to get, the more he pokes and prods you verbally. Eventually, most give up. However of course, he does have another side. A nice, pleasant side, which only very few people knew about (even OOCly) until an incident a month or two ago (2). Its very... different. He is more pleasant, and makes much more effort to care about random people. Such as a beggar, if he's in a nice mood he will take pity. If he isn't, he'll just ignore the poor old man like most do. Either way, he's a mostly sheltered guy, who generally is approached or asked to join a conversation rather than start one himself. When thoughtful he'll simpily sit and stare into a fire or at the ceiling, barely paying attention to the conversation. If he is irritated he'll stay silent and stare at something maelevolently. If worried, he'll run around like a chicken and scream to the tune of the star speckled banner. Did that get your attention? Still reading? Okay then. I guess thats all I can say about personality, other than nothing is certain. He's not a very consistant guy, what he does one day might change the next over a petty or small thing.

(1)((I'm sorry, I couldn't find a way of describing it without feeding my ego))

(2) ((Why?! Why did Emme have to link up the emote of Garihir hugging a certain someone?! My well crafted reputation down the drain!))

History

A Possible History Of His Early Life

Garihir was born in a town far away from the mighty kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan, and in peace. He was born on an ordinary day. He had a normal star sign. No mysterious birth marks (his looked vaguely like a demented duck…). Nothing out of the ordinary. He grew up as any other young child, from helping on the farm to learning to write. His father was a town guardsman, a most trustworthy and helpful one at that. Garihir learnt a lot from watching his father work.

Like many of his age, he often fantasised about slaying dragons. Many a time he would spend his free time listening to tales and songs by minstrels. Tales of Lords of Men and Elves defeating evil, or falling in the face of many foes. Garihir was fascinated. He started to read. He was at first bored and sure that no-one could bear this for more than 5 minutes. But he eventually repented and read many books with increasing interest.

Somewhen between his 12th and 18th years, a terrible tradgedy befalled his family. His farm and family where burned down, leaving him to fend for himself on the streets. Normally this would have been a buried memory, but for Garihir something else happened. It wasn't apparent then, but its becoming so now.

By the time he reached his 18th year, he had decided to learn the art of war. Without a decent sword available in town, Garihir had to travel up river to Dale. Before his journey he had not known how big the world actually was. Now he was no longer Naïve, and he was filled with an unquestionable urge to explore the lands of Rhovânion and beyond. To find ancient elvish artefacts. To search for wonders of the ancient world.

Garihir found a sword, short, half blunt, grimy. It would do. Training was remarkably easy for him, and he learnt new skills with the books in Dale. Slash, Parry, Stab, he started to visit the barracks often. He would spar and train alongside the Dale Town Guard, they where all to willing to let him join in. They even, after several weeks, let him join. Alas it would not last. After a year of service his impatient desire for adventure took over and he left Dale.

His next decade took him across Rhovânion and beyond. He found items of great power and value. Explored caves unseen by man for centuries. Slew countless enemies of Men. But after a while the fun had started to fade. He began to hate camping out for year after year after year. He sold items only to keep his supplies up and equipment in shape, not for the luxuries he once enjoyed. He couldn’t face peaceful life, or another year of adventure. He needed an alternative, something in-between.

The opportunity came with a surprise invitation. A messenger clad in silver armour and a white tree in-crested breastplate came upon Garihirs camp at sunrise and gave him a letter from a ‘Lord of Men’. Following its instructions with interest, Garihir went south into Gondor. In Cair Andros he met his new band of brothers and sallied forth into Eriador as a Knight of Gondor (KOG).

Eriador to Dol Dinen

Garihir quickly became favoured in the eyes of the first Knight of Gondor (Talvas), and was quickly promoted to Lieutenant of Second Squad. He even came into such favour that he accompanied Talvas on his first visit to Eriador, as he planned and plotted. It was a few months afterwards that KOG finally based itself fully in Eriador, and like the others Garihir helped the locals and fought monsters, almost as second nature. He started to train his squad, meet with his peers in discussion, and make a good name for himself in the Prancing Pony. Things where looking up.

But the past has a habit of catching up with you. It had started when Garihir fainted for little apparent reason, babbling something incoherent. Again, a few days later a repeat of the incident happened. A third time, but this time the words where understood. 'Burning Farm'. When resuscitated, Garihir would seem somewhat familiar to the phrase, yet admit nothing. KOG was alerted properly to the problem when, during a major event, he collapsed and was out cold for half an hour.

The problem continued, and eventually led to a string of confrontations; first with Commander Arethor, who had stubbornness enough to force Garihir to form a pantomime of sorts; then with a friend Malbros, who ended up knocking out Garihir in the Old Forest; and finally with one of the members with his squad, who questioned and argued with Garihir until he cracked. After these events, Garihir simply vanished.

For a long time, near three months, he was away, until finally he returned to the Knights of Gondor. Since then, he seems to have solved his old problems, but generated plenty of new ones.

Now, after a succesion of events he has become the leader of the Knights of Gondor. His position of power thankfully puts his duty to the kinship at the forefront of his mind, and keeps other thoughts hidden. However, he cannot hold back forever and cracks are forming in his otherwise healthy existance. At the moment he has little to threaten him, well until he heard that Ician had returned. Ician, who had undeservedly seen Garihir at his most spiteful and cruel...

However, this was not the end of the matter. After a fight with Ician and a large series of complicated talks and arguments, Ician was allowed to join KoG. Not even Garihir is sure why, but soon Ician had been promoted to a Lieutenant, and things started to return to normal. Or, as normal as they can be, dispite the trial that had been called up and then abandoned.

It was reletivly quiet for a while, as the Knights trained and sharpened their skills. Soon Garihir became aware of, then involved in, a large marshalling of forces known as 'the Militia', which was set to head north and wipe out the orcs threatening Treastebridge and Esteldin. The idea was noble and brave, but a major catch in the plan for Garihir was its leader. Urien, Lord of Fanwater lead the militia, and he was to Garihir.. a rival of sorts. The only two major organised military forces in Eriador where the Knights of Gondor and the Northwind Free Company, and so they where naturally competative.

From this point onwards, excluding certain unfortunately bad roleplay scenarios (sorry Rand), is the accepted part of my history. I carefully include everything from now on into my current roleplay history, maybe making references to before this point. From here on out, things get complex and emotion based, with romance and pain, fighting and drinking, protection and abandonment. I guess the early days shaped some parts of Garihirs character, making him a solid slate for the tough times during and beyond Dol Dinen. But what happens next is much more important. So... you'll have to ask him in-game for this stuff. Mawhahaha.

Additional Information

Scars and Wounds

1

This wound, located just above his fringe, is a relic of the battle of Dol Dinen. It caused alot of trauma at the time, but not enough to stop Garihir dragging his friends unconscious body back through the wilderness. Is the suspected cause of headaches when he thinks to much about something, Eg: The Past.

2

The most initially painful of his wounds, this is where a small dagger cut the skin across his throat gently. Though not intended to kill Garihir, it still caused a possibly permanent scar across his throat. He is not impeded by it though, the skin being scarred but not broken. It is near permanently hidden beneath his neck scarf, which he keeps on whenever he isn't alone in his safe home.

3

This wound is a light and very well healed wound, merely showing as a white scar across the side of his neck.The most likely cause seems to have been a ranged weapon, or maybe just an accident while sparring. Only Garihir would remember, most likely.

4

Although this wound has begun to heal rather better recently, it was the indirect cause of its cousin 5, on the same arm. The scar shows signs of an impact and then most likely a quick removal, which would have caused alot of pain and blood loss until it was bandaged properly. There is a possibility it hit some shoulder muscle too, though it is and wasn't obvious in his movements.

5

The latest addition to the scars, and possibly the hardest hitting. It consists of a cut across his arm and wrist, slicing deep. The angle suggests it was not an intentional wound, but the severity shows it was probably gained in a fight none the less. It has been stitched over, though by the look of it, the arm hasn't been restitched for a long time. Its entirely possible the stitches are not necessary any more. Garihir isn't one for medical things, he wouldn't have noticed or see a problem with it...

What is clear though, is that it has effected his ability to use his right arm severely. It was already weakened by 4, but this meant for a long time he was unable to even use his right hand properly. Now he is recovering, but stuck between waiting for his right arm to recover enough to fight with (knowing his wrist would have much more limited strength), or continuing to learn to fight left handed, and try to master it.

6

The largest and deepest of the injuries, this wound was created by a long sword thrust though the chest. It is actually worse than the image suggests. The sword was thrust into his chest, and then slowly turned, causing the wound to grow larger and deeper. The wound was also poisoned, but only for a short while... as there always seem to be elven healers hanging around in the pony.

Trivia - Because Wikipedia does not approve

Garihir's starsign, in Barding (Old English) is this: Sé Eormenláf Swóretung - See if you can translate it and find the easter egg as to what it means. *hopes he did it right*

Garihir was origionally going to be a fearless Halfling farmer who wanted to become a Gondorian Knight. Thank Talvas for kicking that idea out of my inexperianced noggin.

Ician is one of two people who know Garihir's secret. If you try to kill him, and then right after you fail, ask for a promotion, then you will get any promotion you ask for! Remarkable.

Garihir has managed to nearly get killed by his first love. On their third day. That takes some doing, you know.

Garihir's beard has been shaved off twice. Once by himself, the other forcefully while he was drunk and deeply asleep. Needless to say, he hasn't gotten drunk since.

Back in the days of yore, Garihir was insane. Literally, unhinged. I'm not even sure why I made him like that, must have seemed like a good idea at the time. I was stupid when I first started role-playing.

Garihir has a memorabilia bag, filled with things he can barely remember about. For example, he has a letter from his- Haha! No chance. You have to role-play to find the secrets, no freebies!

The creator of Garihir is disturbingly similar to Garihir. Or he was, until I made Garihir a bit more sane... ouch. Sounds worse when I actually type it down.

Garihir is forced to be left handed by a wound. Not much more to say about this one.

The Burning Farm used to be a trigger I had for Garihir's insanity. Made him craazeh! But that's gone now, though I'd love to see someone actually try it out in-game. "So... you hear about that Burning Farm up ne-"

At one point I was planning on retiring (lit: killing) Garihir, and starting a new character. Then I realised that every character I will ever make again will end up being suspiciously similar to Garihir anyway. I didn't bother in the end.

Garihir has a sibling. I just created one for him! I was pretty sure I wanted some kind of family, as only son with no parents is a little cliché. Hell, there is a possibility another close family member is still around as well, though I did kill off a few of his old associates back home. But... they will never appear as long as Garihir is around. I know other players offer out valuable positions to anyone, letting them step into the shoes of the character and give them life, and I know it works. It can work brilliantly, you just have to get the right role-player and character base. I didn't even know the character like that I knew was temporary... shame, they where some of the best role-playing hours I've ever done. No exaggeration.

Garihir is bilingual. Although some lore freaks will dispute this, I run under the banner of Barding as a separate language to Westron. The men of Rhovanion and Dale Come from a different race, have different culture and have been like this since Numenor, and in some cases before. Why would they suddenly speak the same language as Gondor and Arnor? To be fair, I will have to role-play the surprise at how common Westron is in Dale when/if they decide to put it in, but... it gives me alot of possibilities and such. Some I've already long since seized.

Other roleplaying characters the Creator has considered trying:

A Ranger. Properly. I spent a few days working out how properly was, and eventually gave up.

A Noldor Elf. Properly (of course). Realised that I would have to take into account at least 6,500 years of history, getting it through his emotes in a perfect and flawless fashion, making him seem old wise, yet never ever explicitly explaining anything. I still reckon I could pull it off well on the odd superbly role-played occasion, but all the time it would be a nightmare...

A shoe merchant. I still have the character! He isn't very good at selling shoes, and I wont force my timid self to approach random people any more than I have to.

A Halfling. *Hiss, I refuse to call em Hobbitses!* Bah, might still happen, but I can't see where to begin with a Halfling. Do I walk up to others and talk to them? Or do I run around in the pony screaming the star speckled banner? I've seen more Halfling role-players do the latter unfortunately...

Friends and Enemies

Friends:

Isilwen

Araenion

Ician

Eluwyn

Eathor

Phorbaredun

Nemsyn

Oh noes! Not updated yet!

Enemies:

Yasaran (RIP)

Northwinds (in General)

Felrain (or whatever crazy thing he's turned into)