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Varik Beltharian
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Full Name:
Sir Varik Raelor Beltharian
Nickname(s):
The Rose Knight
Thorn of Hatilly
Gender:
Male
Age:
25
Sexuality:
Lowkey and Selective Bisexual
Role:
Royal Guard
Appearance:
Ruggedly handsome with an accenting facial structure of a heart, Varik is a gentleman who embodies the balance of both humility and hubris with all but a mere glance at his appearance. Standing shorter than some men at 5’11, what he lacks in height, Varik makes up for in a lithe yet muscular triangular frame and overall mesomorphic build. As a man of a noticeable athletic physique, it’s difficult to say Varik is a man who seems to be a complete lone powerhouse, though the present toning and muscle mass he possesses make for a formidably agile man. Warmed with a golden bronze for his skin color, the knight has more neutral undertones that temper his overall complexion into being that of a beautifully sun-kissed tan. Varik is also not without various acute scarring along his arms, torso, back, and one particularly noticeable line of scarring drawn from the left side of his neck down to below the right side of his collarbone.
A rich chocolate brown makes for the color of his hair, that of which is kept close to two inches in length on any given day in favor of it being low maintenance and practical for helmets. While he tends to put in considerable effort to remain clean-shaven, he’s not without periods of embracing both light and more moderate stubble peppering his visage.
Varik definitively possesses a set of higher reigning cheekbones prominent beneath sunken eyes flawed with the discoloration of ever-present exhaustion. In stark contrast, Varik’s eyes are a lively spectacle made up of a striking emerald green pigment with hints of bronze peppered beside his pupil. With a semi-narrow, yet downturned shape, these eyes possess wispy onyx lashes that often spill over his sight. In terms of other facial features, the most unremarkable would be the man’s nose - both mediocre and unassuming to even a seasoned critic’s eye. However, if one had to describe it, it could be regarded as a bit pointy, paired with a straight bridge and narrow nostrils.
As for the knight’s voice, the sound itself is of a lower pitch, though not heavy or gruff in any form. Perhaps a bit consistently huskier in comparison to other men, though not profoundly deep. It carries a ring of maturity that is far beyond his years and is generally delivered in a smooth and - dare be said - more soft-spoken manner, albeit with an undeniable undertone of sufficient self-confidence.
As far as most are concerned, Varik and his royal knightly uniform are one. Padded with a light tan aketon beneath, atop is full-plated, sleek white and silver-colored armor. Bearing the royal family’s emblem engraved in golden accents on his breastplate, pauldrons, and attached white cloak, Varik takes religious care of keeping his uniform set in near pristine condition for the sake of his representation of the family he serves.
Outside of uniform, and onto his favorite attire, Varik’s custom-made armor set from Hatilly reflects the evidence of his tourney successes and other rigorous combat conflicts. This is the set he wears primarily for tourneying, or should he need to be prepared for true battle. On top of the padding of an aketon, he is one to wear a thick chainmetal set that falls to his mid-thigh. Varik’s custom armor is a deep red with dull silver splices in places where the red color has faded or been chipped away. It features an equally red collar embossed in thorned rose vine embroideries.
Personality:
Humble: In the manners in which Varik consistently expresses himself outwardly, it is not unnoticed that he retains semblances of humility in his actions. He is an individual of quiet strength, a man who earns respect even within atmospheres where he is not seeking it. The knight’s dedication to his service in full and his withdrawal from openly boasting about his capabilities and accomplishments make Varik appear relatively modest.
Prideful: In contrast to his reflections of humility, there is a quiet pride that still resonates around him. It teeters more in favor of tame confidence despite his reserved nature, albeit the knight displays occasional expressions of arrogance when he feels challenged. In settings where Varik is in a position to garner attention, his more hubris tendencies are generally showcased, making him a touch more dynamic than he may otherwise reflect.
Loyal: Varik is an unyielding loyalist to all he dedicates and swears himself to. Above his own pursuits and needs, his loyalty knows few bounds. In this way, he is a protective creature, more considerate of the things and people he’s devoted to than anyone or anything else around them. He is readily able and willing to perform tasks both domestic and dangerous when need be for the sake of those he’s loyal to with little expression of hesitation, if any sense of that at all. The only things that could challenge Varik’s devotion are betrayal and being regarded as a tool used for things that conflict with the more personal moral compass he holds.
Passionate: Since a young age, Varik has lived with a quiet strain of rage, a tempered inferno he keeps close to his heart. Rather than submitting to a variant of anger, however, Varik was constructive in channeling this feeling into pursuing passions. It is easily one of his greatest driving forces in life, even though it is reeled in tight unless in moments of high stakes or emotional investment. More than an intense loyalist and dutifully driven man, Varik is also passionate about self-growth and experience, prompting him to seek challenge often, or at the very least when appropriate.
Honest: Varik treasures both honesty and integrity within himself and others. He prefers not to deceive or manipulate with direct lies unless dire but he does use his honesty strategically if it means disarming others and maneuvering through difficult situations without compromising his sense of uprightness. The knight has a habit of being unwaveringly truthful though, whether or not such honesty is a bit inconvenient or harsh.
Quiet: Superficially, Varik does not always come across as the most inviting considering the silence that generally parallels with his presence. Not that the knight consistently has nothing to say, but rather is more thoughtful about the words he chooses to divulge. It’s also worth noting he possesses more of an affinity toward listening than speaking in most situations and can be dense to feeling tension in silences where he is otherwise comfortable.
Unconventional: Raised in an environment that catered to evolving past the molds of convention, Varik adopted a unique sense of identity that has translated to both his guiding compass as well as his unique combat style. He is prone to thinking outside of the box first with little desire to work backward into simple and more predictable ideas and thought patterns.
Restless: There are little to no times Ravik is satisfied with being idle by any definition. While his mouth may not do as much moving, the rest of him is certainly in some kind of consistent action. In this way, the knight is not to exercise any strain of laziness nor is he a sedentary figure. This tends to taper down into his sleeping patterns, disallowing him to sleep for extended periods of time before he is up and craving productivity.
Self-Reliant: It was frowned upon in his household to be heavily dependent on anyone other than himself after seven years of age. Although in his earlier years, Varik’s acute lack of patience and unchecked temper spawned a boy who had the potential to achieve peak independence, just not the tools of self-control to quite grasp it. Thus began his rigorous training in Hatilly, overseen by his knighted uncle. His land was not known for combat the way Balice was, and such reflected in their more intense and artistic manner of fighting. It bred a focus on athleticism and physical flexibility as well as relying on the tools around them - making for Ravik to first achieve mastery from wooden sticks to staffs, and from cattle whips to custom combat whips. With how intensely rigorous his training in Hatilly was, it certainly created a man well enough off to rely strictly on himself, but also made him less capable of working in groups or team settings.
Competitive: Varik very much commits to even the most tame of competitions fiercely. From tourney competitions to feats of athleticism and sparring, Varik has a tendency to get rather intense and occasionally aggressive. It’s not that he’s a sore loser, he’ll walk away from a loss with no hard feelings, especially if he knew it was something he was destined to lose, but he gives it his all. Seriously his all. Competition in any capacity makes him feel accomplished only if he fully invests his capabilities into it regardless of the outcome. So while he may not always initiate something worth competing in, he is the first to commit to the opportunity.
Gruff: Tough love is the only love Varik knows and the only kind he generally gives. He’s not crudely insensitive or impartial to empathy, but he does not believe in coddling or talking about feelings. If he absolutely must listen to one vent their emotional frustrations or woes, that is all he can offer: listening. He’s attuned enough to know his advice and otherwise insertions on delicate matters are not sugar-coated and can be more harm than good.
Vengeful: Varik has always been a vengeful creature, plain and simple. He does not forgive slights and does not let them go. Needless to say, if Varik feels wronged by someone, they’ll know. As much as he would prefer instant gratification in vengeance, he at least has the patience to wait for opportunity, or if karma strikes first. The worst offenders to Varik are liars, betrayers, and oathbreakers. The kind of standards he holds himself to are the kinds he holds to others - someone’s word is their word, and he would expect that to be followed just as he would.
Strengths:
Stamina: Varik is an individual who is capable of operating at maximum for an extended period of time, being very acutely aware of his boundaries and limitations both physically and mentally
Vigorous: Being a well-bodied young man who can utilize strength and overreaching agility as an asset, he is also a very naturally self-disciplined person who prioritizes health and sustaining energy
Quick Thinker: Intelligence alone is only a strength if one can properly utilize it, and Varik certainly can with both speed and efficiency. His rapid intellect makes him quick on his feet when it comes to analyzing everything around him, and compelling him to make well-informed decisions in a very short period of time. This also plays a hand in his quick-witted responses and the ability to adapt on a dime if need be.
Quick Reflexes: While not inhuman, Varik does possess the knack to react to external stimuli quicker than most, if only through rigorous training to react with such speedy accuracy. It serves him well in day-to-day life, as well as in any fight the male may find himself in.
Combat (specifically hand-to-hand, daggers, throwing knives, a small variety of swords, whips, and a wooden staff): Having been introduced to training for the life of a knight at the age of seven, easily Varik has spent a very long time perfecting the art of combat. His preference lies within the use of whips and staffs, though can only easily utilize such tools when out of armor, otherwise he relies on a sword and daggers strapped to his person.
Resolve: Varik’s sense of determination is both unbreaking and unyielding, being a man who is compelled to finish what he starts. Considering all of his decisions are well-informed, regardless of hardships or complications, he will see what he has started done before ever considering defeat, or more negatively, before considering he made the wrong decision.
Poisons/Herbal Remedies: In Hatilly, witchraft rumors aside, Varik at the very least worked under a respected maestor for some time in his homeland. He learned how to both identify and utiliize more common poisons both in Hatilly and across the realm, as well as a handful of a few more uncommon strains. Learning poisons was not without learning remedies for such things as well, with the additive of building up a tolerance to a handful of more common poisons.
Weaknesses:
Heavy-Hitting: Not trained with the intent to be a lone powerhouse, this is something that Varik has had to develop with trial and error. He is best suited for combat outside of armor to begin with, and tends to be a bit slowed down in intense sparring with it on. This isn’t to say he isn’t powerful in his own right, he just has the ability to be overpowered by men more built to be units of pure strength.
Grudgemaster: With his vengeful streak in mind, needless to say Varik is a man who tends to hold grudges. It’s as simple as that.
Difficult to Read/Get Close To: As a reserved man, it can be difficult to ever tell what Varik may truly be thinking or feeling beneath the tempered expression of stoicism he often wears. He doesn’t divulge much personal information, more privy to being a steadfast confidant than confiding in anyone else. Not to say he doesn’t have the capability to lean into genuine exchanges with real substance with those who he may be closer to and trust, but those moments are few and far between.
Barbed-Tongue: It’s often a quality people are not expecting From Varik considering silences and thoughtful responses, but when the knight chooses to make sharp or smarter-mouth comments, they do tend to earn a double-take. He restrains himself often in minding his tongue with comments often sitting on it, though around people he can be more free with, or if someone is particularly a source of irritation, he is not above making remarks.
Long-Range Weaponry: Particularly archery is something Varik had never grasped, making him a poor game hunter in that sense, and he also struggles with defense of long-range weaponry - also specifically archery.
Passionate: Varik’s passions can certainly get him a bit carried away. When he feels strongly about something, he can’t help but to lean into it. Love is a dangerous thing to Varik, knowing himself well enough that he knows he would put a passion he possessed for someone above most else - which is exactly why he purposefully channels most of his burning drive into duty and the art of combat.
Teamwork: While he’s not socially dense, Varik just doesn’t enjoy working with others, even if he can to some degree. He does struggle with communicating in the way group settings would need as he’s accustomed to internalizing information and planning steps for himself rather than sharing, but he’s at the very least trying to work on this area of growth, considering its enough of a challenge to compel him to overcome it.
Kingdom of Origin:
Hatilly
Affiliations:
Open <3
Other:
The Rose Knight:
Varik had a moderate appreciation for the white roses he had seen grow wild in Hatilly, and through his days of more frequent tourney competitions was known to dedicate his wins to higher houses with the offering of a white rose. This tradition did not cease when he first tool to Amadon for a grand tourney, and dedicated his win to the four heirs of the kingdom, laying down four white roses for each of them.
Thorn of Hatilly:
Already more or less known for roses, Varik earned another suitable nickname while in Balice for both his tourney successes, and unorthodox but nonetheless earned dual wins that paid homage to the land he hailed from.
Kronk - the GOAT, change my mind
Winter 
Night 
Clear Moon: 
