~Playlist~ Spoiler: Music ━━━━━━━━━┛ ✠ ┗━━━━━━━━━ Portrait by SneakyLinguine Spoiler: Artbreeder Face Ref ━━━━━━━━━┓ ✠ ┏━━━━━━━━━ ↞❖↠ "Let me tell you that I love you, and I think about you all the time." Character Information Full Name: Alasdair Uilliam Douglas Formerly called Lachlan Race: Caeren Ailor Age: 27 November 15, 282 AC Sex: Male Sexuality: Demisexual Heteromantic Eye Color: Blue-grey Core Concept Although having had some contact with Unionism through his paternal grandmother, Alasdair is a firm follower of the Creideamh Spiorad faith, especially favoring Eanach-Muir and Fèidhar. Some of his religious practices have fallen by the wayside since having so little contact with others of his culture, but he easily slides back into them with joy when joined by other faithful. At a first glance, there seems to be little of note about Alasdair - just a soft-spoken, unremarkable man dutifully attending to his work or studies in the background - but to get to know him reveals one devoted to doing good, proud of his people and culture, and intensely loyal to those he has chosen. ↞❖↠ "There were bloodstains in the red and there were teardrops in the blue. He said, 'It may not be the best, but it's the best that I could do.'" Proficiency Information 50 Points + 10 Hobby = 60 +5 Boost to Stave Combat (Hinterland Ailor Racial Bonus) +3 Boost to Linguistics (Honed Skill 1) +15 Stave Combat (+10 from points, +5 from Ailor Bonus) +13 Pathfinding +10 Husbandry +10 Hunting +6 Linguistics (+3 from points, +3 from Honed Skill 1) +5 Dancing Art (Hobby) +5 Vocal Art (Hobby) +4 Light Ranged Combat Physical Stat: 26 Ability Information Ailor Racials Soul Bond 1 Male perlin called Lorcan Honed Skill 1 Omniaware 1 Point-Buy Light Shot - Light Ranged Combat Languages Goedlaic - Native language; fluent; prefers this language when speaking to others that have it, but comfortable speaking Common otherwise. (10/10) Common - Primary language, fluent and mostly-literate (9/10) Aontaithe - Learned while travelling, good hearing and reading (8/10) but mediocre speaking and writing (6/10) Breizh - Learned while travelling, good hearing and reading (7/10), but mediocre speaking and writing (5/10) Pach - Free Language - Learned from studies in the Regalian Library, mediocre reading and writing (5/10), but poor speaking and hearing (3/10) ↞❖↠ "Don't leave me here alone. Don't go where I can't follow." Appearance Information Alasdair has no mutations. Typically hidden from view are a few battle-scars on his forearms and a pair of nasty talon-slashes on the backs of his knees - a reminder of his time in Sendras. A swirling dark-blue trefoil is tattooed on the back of his neck as a sign of devotion to Eanach-Muir. Alasdair is an average-looking man of short stature and slim build that belies his strength and endurance, hardened from physical work and travelling in the wilds. He has cinnamon-brown hair tied back in a short ponytail and wears traditional Caeren plaid in blue-grey, decorated at the hems with smooth pebbles and moss. His face is lined by weather and strong emotion, making him look a bit older than his years. Life Story Alasdair was born in the village of Dungarron, nestled between the mountains and a day's walk from the sea, to Iain and Moira Douglas, farmers working the land of their laird. Although primarily a Caeren family, especially on his mother's MacDrocharmadh side of Mannadh-Alba, a few Dunbrae influences also appeared from his paternal grandmother, Catríona Garron, along with a couple Breizh scattered in distant ancestry. Alasdair's youth was spent working in the fields, quickly showing an aptitude for working with animals and even raising a premature lamb and injured perlin to full health. He spent much of his free time happily exploring the nearby forests with his sister Katie and their friends Donal and Mharie Gowan. After a bashful courtship, Alasdair won permission to marry Mharie should he be able to secure himself a home by the end of summer. Before this could happen, however, he and the other able-bodied were called away to fight in a territorial dispute where, in the chaos and confusion of battle, he accidentally killed Donal before fleeing in a panic. Knowing that he would face exile at home, Alasdair decided to try to spare his family the shame by letting them believe him instead killed in battle, leaving Gallovia and taking the name Lachlan as a mark of his exile until he had done his penance. Alasdair travelled for six years, doing seasonal work in the towns and villages when he could and living off the wilds when he couldn't, until he finally heard of opportunities in the City of Regalia, seeking a way to redeem himself. After his arrival, he was summoned before House Howlester to serve them and, despite preferring to keep his head down at a quiet farm and confused as to what they wanted with him, he obeyed without question. Since then, he has travelled to Dungarron and received his family name again, but he remains serving the Howlesters in Regalia as he seeks to share his bounty with his family. Progression Information Either Warrior 2 (forced), Sage 1 ↞❖↠ "There is some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for." Associated Lore Stories: A Letter of Contrition - Feb 20, 308 The High Road - Jan 25, 309 Spoiler: Visual Expansion Eye Color: Blue-grey Hair Color: Cinnamon brown Hair Style: Just past shoulder length, tied back in a short ponytail Skin Color: Tanned Clothing: Simple woolen blue and grey plaid, sturdy boots Height: 5'7'' Face - Alasdair's face is rather angular, with a squarish chin and high cheekbones, and a gauntness that doesn't really go away even with better nutrition. His brow and mouth are more creased than one might expect from a young man, both from anxiety and broad smiles. He has a narrow, bumpy nose, now slightly crooked after an unfortunate sparring session. Although his hair was somewhat shaggy when he first came to Regalia, he has since taken more care to make sure it and his beard are trimmed and neat at all times. Body - At 5'7'', Alasdair is of smaller stature than average, both by nature and limited nutrition during parts of his life. He has grown a little bit after getting better nutrition while working in Regalia, but remains rather skinny. An active lifestyle and continued training have made him quite strong, but he is much more suited for endurance tasks than purely strength-based ones. Clothing - Alasdair's clothing is simple and functional, usually a blue plaid arranged appropriately to his task, sturdy boots, and a pouch strapped to his hip. He favors subdued colors and styles that don't draw attention to him and wears little to no jewelry. While traveling, he carries a six-foot blackthorn quarterstaff, but he leaves it stored away while in the city. As he is somewhat self-conscious about his body, he prefers loose clothing with long sleeves when possible. Voice - Alasdair's voice is low and quiet, sometimes making him struggle to be heard properly. It is usually carefully controlled and respectful, doing his best to keep his feelings to himself and to avoid causing insult to others, which often causes his speech to slow considerably or stutter when dealing with social stress. He maintains a soft Highland accent which he refuses to give up, but tends to avoid dialect-specific vocabulary simply to avoid being misunderstood. It does still show itself in some of his speech patterns, though, and is sometimes stronger in times of great emotion. Spoiler: Drawings Alasdair and Lorcan Full Portrait Multiple portraits First Portrait Spoiler: Inventory In Regalia Coin pouch with about 20 regals Cane pennywhistle * Preserved Antelabbit Ear * A pair of leather gloves * Antique iron dirk - belonged to his grandfather, has a carved mark in the hilt, carried on his belt * Ebony quarterstaff, tipped with pattura - a gift from Gwen, carried on his back {x} Weapons permit for his dirk and staff - signed by Erwin Braunschweiger Outside of the City Survival kit - firemaking supplies, rope, bandages, etc Braided leather sling and stones Hunting bow and arrows Blackthorn quarterstaff - his old weapon, but carried when he's concerned about the new one being lost Pattura sword - a gift from Gwen, not carried if there's concern of it being lost or stolen {x} Items marked with an asterisk may be found both inside and outside of the city. Spoiler: Ability Descriptions Soul Bond I - When the user is born, a Domestic Dog, Domestic Cat, or (reasonably sized) Bird species juvenile joins them as a life-long companion. This life-long companions can die (but does not grant kill-perms), can carry a single object on them but may never attack. The life-long companion can intercept a single Mundane Attack for its owner, without harming the attacker, and becomes disabled for 24 hours. The life-long companion has unnatural long life, but this is never questioned, as Mundane societies have accepted the Soul Bonds as messengers from their Gods or kindred soul sent by the Everwatcher. The life-long companion can be mutated with every normal mutation from the Mutations page. The Soul Bonded creature cannot leave Emote Distance of the user. Honed Skill I - Choose Metallurgy, Arcanology, or Linguistics. If at least 3 points are invested in the chosen Proficiency, choose a single 3 Proficiency costing “Pack” for free additionally. This Pack does not contribute to the maximum Packs possible for this Proficiency at max Point investment. If none of these are chosen, nothing is gained. Omniaware I - The user cannot be taken by surprise from behind, below, the sides, above or from far away. If any (Mundane) attack or harming Ability is used on them, a sixth sense will trigger making them aware of an attack that would otherwise take them by surprise. This does not grant additional dodging or avoiding mechanisms or guarantees, so standard Combat Roleplay Logic must still apply to dictate whether or not the user would be able to fairly block or avoid an incoming attack. This Ability purely gives the knowledge of such an incoming attack. Light Shot - Light Shot is the default Projectile attack for a Light Ranged Combat user. This simply involves shooting a Light Projectile at a target that is not behind cover. Each shot has a 30 second cooldown and if hit, creates the equivalent of a slight cut like a dagger slash would, or a puncture wound in case the enemy is wearing armor. For each shot, the User must do a “/dice 0 20”, with any roll above 5 causing a hit to land. Spoiler: Animal Companions Lorcan - A male perlin found by Alasdair when he was a boy and raised to adulthood. Although he planned to release him back into the wild once he was strong enough, Lorcan never left and eventually became his companion, Alasdair growing to consider him a gift from the Sky Searcher. He dislikes strangers, showing his discomfort by making low noises and fluffing his feathers, but can be calmed by a comforting whistle from Alasdair. He likes to have his chest feathers stroked, but dislikes having his head touched. ◢✥◣ ◥✥◤ Cullen - A male wolfhound Alasdair bought from an Aontaithe man he worked for during his travels. The pup was smaller and weaker than his siblings, making it difficult for the man to sell him, so Alasdair agreed to take him. Despite his meager start, the pup eventually grew into a good-sized dog standing two-and-a-half feet tall at the shoulder and became fond of standing up to put his paws on Alasdair's shoulders to lick his face. He is a generally docile dog, curious and friendly, and is rarely far from Alasdair's side. ◢✥◣ ◥✥◤ Muireall - The most recent addition to Alasdair's animal friendships, Muireall is a Spotted Ceardian horse he befriended after arriving in Regalia. He found her by the sea, a wounded mare kneeling near a dead foal, the survivor of an apparent attack. His heart ached for her, wishing to tend to her wounds, but, given his native folklore, was fearful of encountering a water-monster taking the shape of a horse. After a brief prayer to Eanach-Muir, he decided to take the chance and, after a careful examination of her mane, hooves, and tail, determined that she was probably only a regular horse and began to tend to her wounds, although taking care to only touch very tentatively at first. He tended to her wounds as best he could there, then led her back home to be nursed back to full health. By this point, a strong bond had formed and Alasdair began to teach her to respond to commands and run with a rider, naming her for the sea where she was found. Spoiler: Personality Character Alignment: Lawful Good Personality Type: ISFJ-T - The Defender Introverted - 100% Observant - 52% Feeling - 73% Judging - 81% Turbulent - 92% Religion: Creideamh Spiorad - 6/10 Particularly honors Eanach-Muir and Fèidhar How would your character express Happiness and Contentedness? When feeling happy or content, Alasdair relaxes his body posture and tends to become much more talkative. He remains fairly reserved when not around close friends, but is likely to become slightly less cagey when feeling safe and relaxed. Though he usually doesn't indulge in public, he enjoys singing and even dancing on occasion, and he has a bit of playful streak when feeling especially good. Although he smiles at most people he meets, a particularly warm and genuine smile can be recognised by exceptional warmth and the crinkling of the skin around his eyes. How would your character respond to experiencing Fear? Alasdair's response to fear is similar to how he learned to deal with wild animals while watching the flocks or camping in the mountains. His first instinct, of course, is simply to avoid coming into contact with danger in the first place by keeping a wary eye out for threats and trying to back away from any he comes across. For physical dangers, this usually manifests by him attempting to leave the area, while social dangers encourage him to keep his head down and mouth shut to avoid being noticed. If this is unsuccessful, he will often freeze in place for a moment, trying to quickly calculate his options for escape or defense. Given the option, he will usually choose flight over fight unless somebody else is in danger, but may attempt to bluff his way out if he feels cornered. He is loath to leave someone behind during a threatening situation, though, and will often stay as close to them as possible until they can escape or defend themselves. How would your character respond to experiencing Stress? Similar to above, freezing and trying to figure out a way to deal with or avoid it. Mild to moderate stress mostly manifests itself in physical responses - hesitant speech, avoiding eye contact, rubbing his arms or neck - but severe stress can result in panic, frustration, or anger. Though he tries to avoid lying outright, the stress of concealing information or watching for verbal traps causes a 'tell' of him biting his lip and avoiding eye contact. How does your character view Law and Authorities? Alasdair is respectful of authority familiar to him, perhaps even to a fault, for practical and moral reasons. For one thing, he recognises the necessity of cooperating with them in order to make it through life and is comfortable with them being in positions of power provided they uphold their feudal obligations to those under them. In practice, this means that, although he is polite and cooperative with authority figures in general, it is his feudal lords (House Howlester and, to a lesser extent, Highland nobility in general) that can actually claim his loyalty and service, as he does not consider himself to be either at the command or under the protection of outsiders beyond the practical concerns of law and order. Besides his duty to them as a Gallovian, the generosity shown to him by House Howlester has earned them a powerful loyalty that goes beyond his duty to the position, extending to a bond to the individuals, that is second only to his bond to his immediate family. In addition, Alasdair believes those born into positions of power in particular, although also those who have worked their way up, are there because of divine favor and honor, and so it is morally right to respect them. This does, however, hold them to greater account and makes any acts of injustice or abuse even worse than they would be otherwise. If a person in authority abuses their power, he considers it the duty and right of their subordinates to replace them with someone better, preferably peaceably. However, because of his timid nature, it is difficult for him to recognise when such abuse is severe enough to warrant resistance, especially if it is himself who would be doing the resisting. How does your character feel about Races other than their own? Alasdair has had little contact with other races, and so regards them with a mixture of curiosity and distrust. People similar to him in race or culture, especially Hinterland Cultures, given his time travelling with them and distant family relations, tend to receive a warmer, more open response, while strange-looking or foreign people are more likely to elicit a guarded, though curious, one. He isn't openly hostile to most strangers that he doesn't consider a threat, but upon a first meeting may feel suspicious of an elf or threatened by a Gorr, for example. After spending some time in Regalia, he has learned to tolerate the presence of others more easily and even to converse with them, but he still remains deeply suspicious of some, especially the more unusual-looking or magical races. How does your character feel about Religion for themselves, and other faiths? Alasdair's attachment to his faith is a moderate one, perhaps leaning more towards the habit of culture and superstition than true devotion, but one he has refused to relinquish. Although he honors all the Spioradan, he is particularly connected to Eanach-Muir and Fèidhar, given his wandering and time in the wilderness. He regards other religions with distant curiosity, not really bothered by their existence unless they bother him or his people. Given the connection between the two religions, Alasdair is especially friendly to those of the Old Gods, particularly the Cellik variant. How does your character feel about the Arcane and Magical in the world? He distrusts it, preferring the natural in the world, and fears those who use it. Some types of magic, such as healing or nature-based magic, may cause more curiosity than fear, though he is still wary. But anything smacking of necromancy, mind control, or other 'dark magic' is met with unrelenting fear and disgust. He is especially fearful of vampirism, werebeasts, and Void-affected beings. After meeting some magic-users in Regalia, he has amended his previous assumption that they were all dangerous and unholy, but he still tries to avoid magic if he can. How does your character feel towards their family? Alasdair loves his family and misses them terribly, hating the fact that he has to let them think him dead to protect them from his shame. Part of him still believes that they would still welcome him home despite his dishonor, but he isn't entirely sure. When it comes to their safety or honor, all other bets are off - right or wrong, he will travel any distance, take any risk, do anything humanly possible to stand with them. This loyalty may also extend to others he has a close bond to, or even to other Gallovians in general, but is obviously much weaker than to his immediate family. While this can be a source of great courage and strength to him, it can also be a serious weakness, as it can cause him to make compromises he wouldn't otherwise consider, such as lying about his death and identity. What is your character the most proud of about themselves? Alasdair is proud of his code of honor - to live humbly, act honestly, and to treat others with compassion. He doesn't always succeed in maintaining this code, but he considers it a good one to live by. He is also very proud of the hard work he's done since arriving in Regalia and wishes to continue to do so. What motivates your character to move forward and better their life? After his shame in battle, Alasdair feels that he can't return home unless he can prove he has something worthwhile to offer his people. If he can learn an honest trade in another area, he reasons, perhaps he might be able to go back home. Even if they don't accept him back, it's important to him personally to succeed so as not to be defined by his failure. In addition, though he rationally understands it to be impossible, he wants to do as much good for others as he can to 'balance out' the bad. Having finally found some measure of peace and redemption, Alasdair's motivations have shifted from guilt and fear to gratitude and honor. He sees clearly that he has been blessed and shown kindness in Regalia and therefore seeks to pass that on to others. In addition, having the weight of his guilt lifted from his shoulders, he seeks to live with as much integrity and honor going forward as he can. What is your character's biggest insecurity? He feels that he is cowardly and weak-willed, and will never be able to escape his guilt. It's also very clear to him that he is a weaker fighter than many people he meets and, though he laughs it off with self-deprecating jokes, it privately makes him uneasy. He is also quite anxious and insecure about his social graces, feeling that, despite his best efforts, he still comes across as strange and awkward. What is your character's biggest fear? More than anything, Alasdair fears abandonment and rejection, especially from the people he cares about. As such, he goes to great lengths to avoid having that happen. Strengths - Endurance - Laboring long hours, travelling out of doors, and sometimes taking a beating has helped Alasdair to become tough against hardships. Although he might not win a fight through brute force, there is a pretty good chance of him outlasting his opponent, as he is both stubborn and has a high tolerance for pain. This endurance translates into fair mental toughness as well, but it does have its weak points. Compassion - Alasdair is a very gentle soul and finds it easy to consider the needs of others as well as his own. He genuinely seeks to be kind and considerate of others, which makes him approachable and easy to trust. However, it may also be twisted to manipulate him or cause him to feel guilt. Learning - An insatiable curiosity and strong desire to please combine to make Alasdair a quick and eager learner. Learning strictly through hearing is more difficult for him, but learning by watching and doing works very well. Although a nervous disposition may cause him to make mistakes or forget things he's learned, he is quite amenable to correction and interested in improving. Weaknesses - Small Stature - Standing just over five-and-a-half feet tall, Alasdair is smaller than most men he meets, and even some women. As such, he doesn't really cut a very intimidating figure and, in turn, can be physically intimidated by most people he meets. A small frame does have a few advantages, though, including being able to move more quickly or hide more easily. Timid - Much to his embarrassment, Alasdair has a very timid disposition and is far more likely to attempt to make himself unnoticed than to make himself the center of attention. Most of the time, this only manifests itself in some social awkwardness, but it can also have more serious consequences if it causes him to stay silent or hang back when he should be speaking or taking action. He is far more likely to try to back away from a conflict than to try to win it, and although there may come a point where he digs in his heels, even then the confrontation is likely to be quiet and hesitant. Guilt - Even after six years of trying to redeem himself and make things right, Alasdair still carries a heavy burden of guilt for the things he's done and is perpetually afraid of being found out. Although he may attempt to keep it carefully hidden, it wears away at him silently and the stress makes it more difficult to conceal effectively. If discovered, it would be the single weakest point in his mental armor, so that it would take only a little pressure to cause the rest to crumble. Although he still bears private guilt, his confession and attempts to come to terms with it has lessened the power it holds over him. It still makes him feel ashamed, but he no longer desperately fears discovery. Likes - Animals - Ever since he was young, Alasdair loved working with and being around animals. He was a natural with them and felt more at home with them than he often did elsewhere, even finding a certain fascination and respect for the predators that he defended against. From the smallest mouse to great beasts, he has a great interest and tenderness for living creatures and never seeks to harm them unless absolutely necessary, although he does sometimes indulge in hunting. Music - Although he's shy about showing it, Alasdair loves music and singing, especially familiar tunes from his home. He carries around a pennywhistle that he bought at a stall some time ago and has been messing with in his spare time. His playing skills aren't that great yet, but he can sing a mournful tune with grace and an upbeat one with joy, bringing a smile to his own face even if not to others. Rain - The sound, smell, and touch of rain often brings Alasdair back to his childhood, bringing with it a bittersweet mixture of peace and longing. Although he dislikes a cold, hard rain, he can often be found walking the streets during a light one, turning his hands and face to the sky to feel the mist kiss his skin. Even a storm has its good points, though, as he takes a wild delight in watching the wind and lightning during a thunderstorm and finds the sound of rain to be very restful. Dislikes - Blood - Although he once regularly saw blood when butchering stock or processing their meat, nowadays Alasdair can't stand it the sight or smell of it, especially upon his hands or clothes. It makes him sick to his stomach and panicky, unable to think clearly, and he will often spend a great amount of time obsessively cleaning his hands or clothes if he's gotten blood on them. Hunting for survival forced him to learn to tolerate small quantities, but he still doesn't like it. Chaos - Knowing exactly where he stands, how he's supposed to relate to others, and exactly what's expected of him brings a certain comfort to Alasdair. Even if the rest of the world is spinning wildly, it's clear to him how he should respond. But when these rules or expectations are shattered and turned on their head, Alasdair feels that he is losing control of the situation and feels very uncomfortable. Perhaps related to this, he also dislikes loud or sudden unexpected noises, causing him to flinch away from it until he can fit it back into the order of things. Deep Water - Perhaps every child has heard stories of monsters, and Alasdair was no different. From a young age, he heard tales of creatures in the deep, from great water-beasts that devoured swimmers to shape-shifters that could drown with a touch. He later grew to assume that these stories were mostly meant to scare children into staying safely in the shallows, but there's still enough of a seed of doubt in his mind to make him wary of water where he can't reach bottom. Spoiler: Life Story Birth to Early Childhood - 282-292 AC Born to Iain and Moira Douglas in the village of Dungarron, a small village in north-western Gallovia about a day's walk from where the mountains meet the sea, on November 15. Began helping his family with small chores around the home, especially favoring his mother and leading his younger sister Katie on adventures in the woods and fields. It was around this time that he met the smith's children, Mharie and Donal Gowan, and they became fast friends. During one of these adventures, the young boy found a baby perlin lying on the ground with a broken wing - evidently, it had fallen during the great storm the night before. He brought the bird home and carefully nursed it back to health, after which the bird became his constant companion. When Alasdair was eight, shortly after the birth of his younger brother, Alasdair was present to hear the Seameandh tell great stories of legendary heroes which sparked the young boy's imagination. These tales would stick with him for life and develop into a general ravenous curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Childhood to Adolescence - 293-299 Alasdair begins to work in the fields with his father. It soon became apparent that he worked well with the animals, so he was moved to the flocks and trained under an older shepherd called Angus. From him, he learned about animal behavior, outdoor survival, and basic veterinary treatment. Eventually, he was allowed to work alone, much to his great pride. Begins practicing with the quarterstaff to defend himself in the fields. Although he struggles to match the other boys in wrestling and strength competitions, he excels in footraces and in sparring with the staff. Privately, while working alone, he begins to teach himself to sing and play a little on a pennywhistle. Spent a week doggedly caring for a prematurely-born lamb - blowing air into its lungs, keeping it warm with his body heat, and feeding it by dipping his fingers into milk - until it grew strong enough for its mother to accept it. Although the livestock was typically used for both meat and wool, he took special care of this individual and insisted on it being spared from slaughter. It was then that it became clear that caring for animals was not only a useful job for him, but his calling. After a growing friendship and a bashful confession, Alasdair begins to tentatively court Mharie Gowan. Although her father was originally opposed to the match, he eventually relented after their continued persistence. Young Adult - 300-307 Began saving money and preparing to leave his family home to begin a new one of his own. The going was slow, but it began to look like he might be able to make the end-of-summer deadline. Called away to fight in a territorial dispute with one of the other local lairds. The battle went poorly and, after panicking when he realised he'd accidentally killed Donal Gowan, Alasdair fled. Ultimately, he decided that, to keep from shaming his family, it was better to let them think him dead before a deserter and murderer. Left Gallovia and took a new name, calling himself "Lachlan" as one in exile. He traveled through wilds and towns, rarely staying long in one place. Though he initially wanted to travel alone, he found the loneliness too much to bear and began to seek out other people. During this time, he met many people from different cultures and backgrounds and developed an interest in learning about new places. He also began to pick up some of the languages of the people he travelled with, although it was clear that he wasn't a native speaker. Regalia - 307-Present After years of travelling, he finally gathered the courage to seek a new life in the city of Regalia. While there, he entered into the service of House Howlester tending to their animals, where he remains to this day. After much anxiety and guilt, Alasdair finally decided to come clean about his past to the Gallovian court. Although he didn't know what would come of it, he also wrote a letter back to Seamus Gowan explaining the circumstances of his son's death and asking for forgiveness. Joined the rest of the city in the fight against the Clickers. However, his feeling of helplessness and the terror of facing an invisible enemy would continue to trouble him well into the next Winter, often glancing about for tracks in the snow, and encouraged him to continue his combat training to be better ready to defend himself. He would also spend more time in the library, eagerly learning about different people and places while seeking mental peace. Honored for his loyalty and service to House Howlester by being made a Ward of the House, much to his surprise and delight. Although still somewhat uncomfortable interacting with the higher classes, he would promise to do his best to honor the great trust shown to him. Travelled back to Gallovia early in the year 309 to meet with his family. Once there, he was surprised to find his sister dead and brother grown, but his parents still alive. His mother was especially pleased to see him and, after explaining everything to his father, he was finally welcomed back home. He stayed in Dungarron for a short while, then returned back to Gallovia bearing his family's name.
