Character: Kaelen "Stormforged" (Though he rarely uses the title)

Description: A towering figure, Kaelen stands well over six feet tall, his frame honed by years of war and hardship. His body is a canvas of scars, each a silent testament to battles fought and survived. He keeps what little hair he has in a tight, disciplined Roman military cut, the black now  silverish White. His beard, thick and well-maintained, further enhances his imposing presence. His eyes, a piercing grey, hold a depth of weariness and determination. He wields a well-worn warhammer with practiced ease and often carries a sturdy shield emblazoned with the symbol of the Tempus

Motivation and Goals:

Core Motivation: Duty and Protection. Kaelen believes it is his sacred duty, ordained by Tempest, to protect the innocent and stand as a bulwark against the forces of chaos and darkness. He is driven by the memory of his lost village and the desire to ensure no one else suffers the same fate.

Primary Goal: To uphold the tenets of the Order of the Steel Fang: unwavering loyalty to Tempest, the protection of the weak, and the righteous application of justice. More immediately, he seeks out corruption and injustice, righting wrongs wherever he finds them, seeking to guide people onto the right path.

Secondary Goal: To find some semblance of peace. The horrors he has witnessed, especially during his time in the demonic plane, haunt him. He yearns for a future where he can lay down his axe and find solace, even if he suspects such a future is beyond his grasp.

Significant Events:

The Bandit Raid (Childhood Trauma): Kaelen has only the faintest memories of his life before the raid. He remembers a small, peaceful village nestled beside a forest. One night, bandits descended, pillaging and burning. He witnessed unspeakable cruelty, the screams of his parents echoing in his mind. He survived by hiding, a small child alone amidst the carnage. The trauma of this event instilled in him a profound sense of vulnerability and the absolute necessity of protection.

Adoption by the Order of the Steel Fang: Wandering alone and traumatized, he was found by a patrol of the Order of the Steel Fang. Recognizing the spark of resilience within him, the clerics took him in, providing him with food, shelter, and a purpose. They saw in him a potential warrior against the encroaching darkness.

Training and Devotion: Kaelen excelled in his training. His grief and rage were channeled into unwavering devotion to Tempest and mastery of martial skills. He learned to wield the Warhammer, to fight with shield and faith, and to harness the power of the storm. He embraced the tenets of the Order, finding solace in its structure and purpose.

The Planar Imprisonment (Key Defining Event): While on a mission to investigate a series of demonic incursions, Kaelens unit was ambushed and pulled through a weakened portal into a chaotic plane of existence, a twisted reflection of reality teeming with demons. He spent what felt like decades battling hordes of demonic creatures, witnessing horrors that would shatter the minds of lesser men. He led small bands of survivors, honing his combat skills and faith to a razor's edge. The plane existed outside the normal flow of time. When Kaelen and a handful of survivors finally managed to close the portal and return, only a few years had passed in their home plane. But for Kaelen, the experience had aged him far beyond his physical years.

Return and Reintegration: Returning home was jarring. While only a few years had passed in his absence, Kaelen felt like a relic of a bygone era. The world had moved on, but the horrors he had endured remained vividly etched in his mind. He struggled to reconcile his experiences with the relative peace of his home plane. He threw himself back into his duties, seeking solace in action and service.

Relationships:

The Order of the Steel Fang: The Order is his family. He holds deep respect for its leaders and a fierce loyalty to his fellow clerics. He is often seen as a stern, older brother figure, offering guidance and protection to younger members. He trusts his fellow brothers and sisters in arms implicitly.

Mentor Figures: He remembers a few particularly influential clerics who took him under their wing during his training. He strives to embody the best qualities he observed in them: unwavering faith, strategic thinking, and compassion for the downtrodden. These figures are now mostly deceased, but their memory fuels his actions.

Casual Acquaintances: Due to his long life and travels, Kaelen has met countless individuals from all walks of life. He is slow to trust, but he is also fair and just. He tends to treat people with a gruff but respectful demeanor. He has a soft spot for those who are struggling or oppressed.

His God: He never doubts that Tempest is listening. The storms that once terrified him as a child in his village, he now knows are the power that fuels him and his faith. He believes he has been chosen to serve.
Growth and Change:

From Traumatized Orphan to Stalwart Warrior: Kaelen's journey is one of transformation. The traumatized child, broken by loss, became a hardened warrior, forged in the fires of adversity. The Order provided him with the structure and purpose he desperately needed, allowing him to channel his pain into strength.

The Corrosive Effect of War: The endless battles, especially those fought in the demonic plane, have taken a toll on his soul. He is haunted by nightmares and prone to bouts of melancholy. He struggles to reconcile the brutal realities of war with his faith in a just and compassionate god. He may be forced to make some hard choices that will test his commitment to his faith.

A Developing Wisdom: Despite the darkness he has seen, Kaelen retains a spark of hope. He has learned the importance of compassion, the value of community, and the enduring power of the human spirit. He seeks to impart this wisdom to others, guiding them away from despair and towards a path of hope. The years have made him less impulsive, more pragmatic, and more willing to listen. He has learned that not every problem can be solved with an axe swing.

A Growing Weariness: As time marches on, Kaelen feels the weight of his years. The scars ache, the battles grow harder, and the memories become more vivid. He is beginning to question how much longer he can continue to fight. He wrestles with the desire for peace and the unwavering sense of duty that binds him to the Order.