Adam Rohan [Gladiolus]

MY NAME IS ADAM ROHAN, AND MY AFFINITY IS FIRE. MY SECONDARY ELEMENTAL IS LIGHTNING. I AM HETEROSEXUAL AND I AM PLAYED BY EVAN.

In regards to those of noble birth, the lower classes are, with no small amount of justification, prone to drawing certain conclusions, some less flattering than others but all rooted in very real trends. If nothing else, there is a definite sentiment that the upper echelons of society are not well-acquainted with the art of perseverance – of striving for something not so easily attained. Adam, though not immune to the consequences of his upbringing, has managed to defy this notion and then some. He is, put simply, a man of tenacity and inner strength, one whose back will never break so long as there is a job to be done. When Adam becomes invested, both heart and soul, in the advance of a cause, there is scarcely a force in all the land that can halt his tireless pursuit. In battle, he does not quit, nor will he lower his sword so long as there is even a shred of vitality left in his veins. Unfortunately, a by-product of this rugged determination is an undeniable stubborn streak. Adam is one to become so invested in his struggles that he will steadfastly refuse to yield ground, even when it would benefit him in the long run.

Of course, his recalcitrance in the face of opposition can be traced back to an uncompromising sense of idealism. Adam has never been one to buy into the concept of “harsh truths”; rather, he strives always to see the good in others and holds in his heart a very real faith in the spirit of man. Other, more jaded scholars have long since tried to impose upon him a world-weary realism, but, alas, it never stuck. On the contrary, Adam was only made all the more resolute by their efforts, firmly planting himself in the realm of optimism and sinking his roots deep beneath the soil. Though this positive outlook has seen him through much adversity, it is not without its dangers. Adam’s ideals sometimes verge on naivety, and it is in this that he betrays his noble upbringing. His understanding of the world is incomplete, to say the least, consisting primarily of the science, history, and etiquette fed to him by his tutors.

Adam does know well that his circumstances have changed, however, if only on a very superficial level of comprehension. As such, he makes a very real effort to act the part of a wandering mercenary and champion of the common man. In practice, this manifests as a markedly professional aura, backed by a wit precisely as sharp as his blade’s cutting edge. Above all else, Adam wishes for those he deals with to see him as strong – a man to be trusted, if not respected. To the young sellsword’s credit, he manages to command an impressive degree of charisma, albeit aided by his thoroughly genuine ideals. It would be fair to say, though, that Adam thinks himself a tad cooler than he actually is. When caught in unfamiliar territory, it shows, and he becomes quite easily flustered. It is in these cases when his lack of experience with the outside world becomes most readily apparent as he stutters his way through informal socialization.

So his street smarts are, in most succinct terms, inadequate. However, this is not to say that he has nothing to contribute on the scholarly front. On the contrary, Adam made good use of his education and has grown to be a rather intelligent man. He has never cared much for history, and his skill with magitechnology is not quite up to par, but, nevertheless, Adam is surprisingly intuitive for one so naïve. His fields of greatest interest encompass the chemical sciences as well as philosophy, allowing him to back up his grand claims with more than heartfelt conjecture. These forays into the realm of critical thinking have given him an impressive capacity for quick thinking and tactical proficiency on the field of battle. He is no general, nor does he come close to their extraordinary faculties for macro- and micromanagement, but in matters of personal combat, Adam can be remarkably quick on his feet.

Yet it is this intelligence that condemns Adam to the recesses of self-doubt. Though not a cynical man, he is one of perspective. On some level, he understands that there is a great deal of suffering in the world which goes unnoticed by those who are able to change it, and this greatly troubles Adam. Beneath his cool, charming exterior beats a very innocent heart which goes out to those who cry for help. His knowledge of the world’s scope has made him all too aware of how small one man is in the boundless sea of Yumiris. Thus, Adam stresses and ponders over that which he is neither responsible for nor able to fix. He often will throw himself in harm’s way even when this would be unnecessary, and he strives always to keep others from endangering themselves regardless of their capabilities.

Philosophically, Adam fancies himself a humanist, and it is from this that he derives his profound respect for life. In this and many other facets of life, he is unapologetically passionate, having garnered a true faith in mankind’s better nature. He is not one to respect tradition or nostalgia for better days, instead believing himself to live in enlightened times. Some would call him arrogant in this regard, or at least proud, for he believes with all his heart that humanity is capable of great things. Yumiris, by Adam’s reckoning, has not yet seen the dawn of its greatest days. Further, he is a strong proponent of the strength of the individual and his (or her) potential for achievement on a societal scale. For this reason, Adam feels a true sense of responsibility to help those in need.

And of course, his grand espousals and philosophical musings amount to nothing before this sheer desire to make life better for those around him. Adam is, first and foremost, a compassionate soul, prone to giving his deepest sympathies to others even if he has scarcely known them for a day. However, these tendencies also leave him vulnerable to deceit. Adam is not an especially paranoid person, and he will be the first to tell you this. He could certainly be considered overly trusting, which may be a direct result of his own pride. Adam believes himself to be skilled enough with a sword to defend himself from most any threat, and so he does not feel the need to be especially careful when dealing with others. However, this does not extend into the realm of outright stupidity: He would not, for example, accept food or drink from a sworn enemy or a secretive stranger. If it were that severe, he’d likely have been killed a long time ago.


Adam was born in the heart of Gladiolus, the first of two boys by a mere three minutes. He and his brother, Leon, were members of the noble caste – sons of the proud House of Rohan, known for producing some of the land’s finest swordsman. They spent their precious developmental years in the lap of luxury, enjoying the finest that the Empire had to offer. However, it was here that they both fell prey to the same process of indoctrination which had claimed so many generations of Imperial citizens. Adam was not shown much of the outside world, nor did his tutors see fit to dwell on other cultures. He grew up with little regard for those living outside the lavish streets he knew so well, never seeking to expand his horizons and never being given a reason to. All that he learned of the lower classes was that they existed and were not so privileged as he, but never was Adam made to think on the truth of their plight.

As was customary for all male children bearing the name Rohan, Adam was trained in the Western Cross School of Swordsmanship, informally known as the Burning Blade Style. His tutelage began when first he was able to lift and swing a sword of his own power. In Adam’s case, this was shortly before his sixth birthday – for Leo, it was shortly after. Both showed promise, but Adam took to the blade as though acting on the basest instincts of man. However, Leon was fiercely competitive, and it was through the resulting struggle that Adam first learned what it meant to work his fingers to the bone in pursuit of a goal. The coming years were a series of brutal contests as the two strove to gain a decisive lead, constantly pushing their strength, speed, and skill to new heights, that they might at last emerge the victor.

However, when it came time at last for them to serve as officers in the Empire’s armed forces, as was traditional for men of Rohan, it was clear that Adam was the superior swordsman. Leo proved a fine caster of spells where his brother failed to produce so much as a single bolt of fire, but, in matters of single combat, Adam was nothing short of a prodigy. At first, this produced little friction, as the two were kept united by their blood, tethered to one another through the bonds of brotherhood. Though their competition was fierce, it was nonetheless a friendly one, and so they left for the battlefield with intent to look out for one another, whatever hardships may come.

Their years of service were, indeed, most prosperous. For his part, Adam quickly established that he was a cut above the rank-and-file infantry of the Imperial forces. However, for reasons which the young man could not fathom, he found himself having to put forth a special effort to earn the respect of those serving under him. They were bitter, yet Adam could tell that such coldness was not in their nature; it was as if he had personally slighted them. In time, he proved himself a competent commander, but his star shined brightest in matters of personal combat. Adam eventually turned his back on the world of proper leadership, instead accepting a position in an elite corps of shock troopers akin to the special forces, albeit with a far narrower modus operandi. It was a small cadre united for the sole purpose of assault and striking at vulnerable targets. He joined this unit against the protests of his family, who wished for him to serve his remaining year as an officer.

Adam soon found himself returning from the battlefield, though it was not for his own sake or that of his brother. Rather, the boys’ father, Solomon Rohan, had fallen unexpectedly ill. He died soon after, leaving the family grief-stricken. On his deathbed, Solomon named Adam as his heir; this was where a wedge was driven between the Sons of House Rohan. Leon was made irrational by his own sadness – for that matter, so was Adam. The tension between the two brothers escalated, culminating in a duel. In the end, however, neither one could bring himself to fight with true conviction against his beloved sibling, and the battle ended inconclusively.

The unrest in the House of Rohan did not end there. This time, it was Adam who sparked the turmoil. In the thick of combat, deep behind enemy lines, he was struck in the back of his shoulder by a stray arrow and, in his vulnerability, run through by the heavy spear of an opportunistic soldier. Adam fought bravely against his injuries in a desperate struggle to reach his camp, but, despite his nearly inhuman effort, he was struck down. The noble fell into a nearby river, washing up far from his comrades, bloodied and unconscious. Were it not for his incredible tenacity and inherent will to survive, Adam likely would have met his end. He was brought back from the brink of death by a kindly old healer, but still, he was far from his home.

So, Adam embarked on a perilous journey home, and it was here that he learned the truth of the Empire. On re-entering its boarders, he was forced to confront the misfortune just beyond his own front door, made to look upon those who had never been given a fair chance in life. He heard them speak ill of their rulers, for they had forsaken their subjects and left them starving. At first, Adam would protest, but, in time, he realized that his arguments had not a single leg to stand on. He could easily have arranged for swifter transportation home; of his own free will, he chose to travel on foot or horseback, for Adam wished to understand that which had been kept hidden from him for so many years.

He returned to the Imperial City after a month of travel. Adam found his House in turmoil, grieving the loss of its head and its prodigal son. Though they were overjoyed at his return, however, the young warrior was lost in the ever-expanding labyrinth of his own good conscience. He was no longer content to serve his homeland, for he had seen its citizens cry out for aid and go unanswered. At the same time, Adam was not content to take up arms against those of the upper caste; he knew them to be decent people, by and large. So, faced with the truth that he knew precious little of the state of the world, Adam set off on a quest for enlightenment, traveling the lands with little more than his sword and what he could carry on his back. His unique skills were put to good use as a mercenary dedicated to aiding those in need, though he would not take a job he considered unjust.

However, though Adam had not raised his sword against the Rohan family line, he did not leave the Imperial City on amicable terms with the noble caste, least of all his brother…


OPTIONAL

Skills
+Adam is a master of the Western Cross School of Swordsmanship, the form practiced by the House of Rohan. This aggressive style is focused almost exclusively on sheer, overpowering offense and is designed for use in one-on-one duels. To that end, Adam possesses extraordinary speed backed up by a great abundance of strength and finesse. The techniques imparted by this school encompass both slashing for use against lightly guarded opponents and precise stabs meant for those who are protected by heavy suits of armor.
+However, he does have a remarkable tolerance for pain. Now, naturally, this doesn’t mitigate the disadvantages of not wearing much armor by any stretch of the imagination. What it does mean is that Adam has been known to power through superficial wounds that would debilitate or even incapacitate a lesser man. This could be considered a by-product of his strong will.
+As was already mentioned, Adam is possessed of a certain amount of charisma. This, combined with his passion and ambition, has granted him the gift of igniting the fire in the hearts of men. Adam is at home in the midst of warfare, and, when he takes to the field, those around him almost can’t help but fight a bit harder.

Shortcomings
-For starters, he has absolutely no aptitude for magic whatsoever. Any Spell he has ever attempted has fizzled stupendously, which frustrated him to no end. The Rohan line has seen a number of impressive Magic Knights, so Adam’s failure in that regard was something of a disappointment, especially considering his talents in swordsmanship and Physical Artes.
-Most people who have seen Adam fight have suspected that he has a death wish. He throws himself in the line of fire far more than seems necessary, and he is incredibly reckless in this regard. Really, he doesn’t want to see anyone else get hurt – a noble cause, but perhaps rather foolish. While on the subject, this goes double for a man whose fighting style revolves entirely around wearing as little armor as possible.
-Adam can be rather single-minded in pursuit of his goals. He takes great care never to let others be caught in the crossfire, but, at the same time, he is prone to barreling forward with such momentum that he misses valuable evidence that may well change his outlook on the situation.