Heywood Rischer (HAY-wood RISH-er)
First Mate Heywood Rischer
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Heywood is a tall, physically fit Earth Nathigen man. He stands straight with good posture. He has wide shoulders and narrow hips and can move quickly when needed, though he has a rather large body type unsuited for it.
Special abilities
As a nathigen, Heywood can use earth magic.
Apparel & Accessories
This man likes to wear nice clothes, as he never really had any growing up. However, to Heywood, nice really just means 'no holes'.
Wears earrings and a belt around his waist.
Wears earrings and a belt around his waist.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Heywood has had a terribly up and down tragic sort of life. He was born to human parents in Arqada, what town he doesn't know, but he's always joked that it was in the back of some wagon, and that they took one look at his brown, leathery skin and his green eyes... and threw him to the ditch to survive on his own. Whether or not that's actually true, even he doesn't know.
What is true is that both of his parents were human and they didn't know they had elemental heritage dormant in their blood. At least not until Heywood came along, and at that point in their lives, they didn't want to deal with an entirely unknown baby, or the consequences that come from unlearned/controlled magic in Arqada. So they abandoned him.
Eventually a kind soul picked him up and took him away, but it wasn't much better, and he ended up in an orphanage deep in the forests of Idola, where all anyone did was work for the logging companies, and all he wanted to do was cry every time someone cut down one of his beloved trees.
Heywood remembers some parts of his childhood, most often of talking to the trees and buildings of the town he grew up in. They knew him well and he knew them. In a pinch, they'd protect him, and he knew all their secrets, the best ways to navigate town, and most importantly-to escape.
The life of an orphan is hard, and because he refused to cut down trees, there was no work for him in Idola. No work meant no money, and that forced him to eventually steal. Steal food, bits and bobbles, anything that could keep him alive... and eventually he was caught, convicted, and sentenced to unpaid hard labor, cutting down the very trees he called friends, for three years. He escaped after one.
Heywood didn't really know any way about the world after this, but was old enough to strike out on his own. He stole a few more things to get by and eventually found a way out. In Porvita, he met a sorcerer Nathigen. At that point, he'd already found out there was something elemental about him, but no one around him had had magical abilities in Idola, as the primarily population was Grunthora, so they hadn't believed him when he cried because the trees were screaming...
This sorcerer recognized him for who he was, and vowed to teach him all he knew. Heywood didn't know it at the time, but this sorcerer was really a street performer who had a touch of elemental blood four or five generations removed. Heywood on the other hand was more elemental than human in some ways. The tricks and showy bits the sorcerer knew weren't quite suited to Heywood's abilities, but he improvised and made up new things to his style. It worked out, and eventually they performed together, once the kid had grown enough in his abilities to meld his magic with another's.
Life was good for them for a time, until someone from his former days recognized him, and blamed a heist and murder on his shoulders. Heywood, of course, had nothing to do with it, but when his sorceror mentor was to show up and defend him, the man was nowhere to be seen.
With no other witnesses or suspects, Heywood was imprisoned on a slave galley for five years, his arms shackeled to an oar. The conditions on the boat were poor. If anyone lived five years and long enough to tell the tale, well, let's just say the captain of that ship would say otherwise. No one he'd ever seen get on the ship had escaped or lived to be set free. It was true hell.
Until he met Aislyn. Aislyn was an Oyatare woman who'd snuck on the ship to set them free. It only took her five days to figure it out. She'd suffered along with them for those long five days though, burning in the sun until her skin had dried out and peeled, leaving scars when they healed.
She killed the entire crew, stole the keys and offered anyone and everyone on that ship refuge if they so desired. Some took the bait and went with her, and others took over the ship themselves. Heywood was one of the latter, and joined Aislyn's ship, the Shadow Seeker. It was her first recruitment measure, and it had been a risky one.
Not six weeks after her breaking them free, an ungrateful batch tried to mutiny, and while she could defend herself, Heywood stood up instead. The disloyal were laid to waste. This is how he became her first mate. He was the first and only person to stand up for her, and Captain Blackheart would always remember.
What is true is that both of his parents were human and they didn't know they had elemental heritage dormant in their blood. At least not until Heywood came along, and at that point in their lives, they didn't want to deal with an entirely unknown baby, or the consequences that come from unlearned/controlled magic in Arqada. So they abandoned him.
Eventually a kind soul picked him up and took him away, but it wasn't much better, and he ended up in an orphanage deep in the forests of Idola, where all anyone did was work for the logging companies, and all he wanted to do was cry every time someone cut down one of his beloved trees.
Heywood remembers some parts of his childhood, most often of talking to the trees and buildings of the town he grew up in. They knew him well and he knew them. In a pinch, they'd protect him, and he knew all their secrets, the best ways to navigate town, and most importantly-to escape.
The life of an orphan is hard, and because he refused to cut down trees, there was no work for him in Idola. No work meant no money, and that forced him to eventually steal. Steal food, bits and bobbles, anything that could keep him alive... and eventually he was caught, convicted, and sentenced to unpaid hard labor, cutting down the very trees he called friends, for three years. He escaped after one.
Heywood didn't really know any way about the world after this, but was old enough to strike out on his own. He stole a few more things to get by and eventually found a way out. In Porvita, he met a sorcerer Nathigen. At that point, he'd already found out there was something elemental about him, but no one around him had had magical abilities in Idola, as the primarily population was Grunthora, so they hadn't believed him when he cried because the trees were screaming...
This sorcerer recognized him for who he was, and vowed to teach him all he knew. Heywood didn't know it at the time, but this sorcerer was really a street performer who had a touch of elemental blood four or five generations removed. Heywood on the other hand was more elemental than human in some ways. The tricks and showy bits the sorcerer knew weren't quite suited to Heywood's abilities, but he improvised and made up new things to his style. It worked out, and eventually they performed together, once the kid had grown enough in his abilities to meld his magic with another's.
Life was good for them for a time, until someone from his former days recognized him, and blamed a heist and murder on his shoulders. Heywood, of course, had nothing to do with it, but when his sorceror mentor was to show up and defend him, the man was nowhere to be seen.
With no other witnesses or suspects, Heywood was imprisoned on a slave galley for five years, his arms shackeled to an oar. The conditions on the boat were poor. If anyone lived five years and long enough to tell the tale, well, let's just say the captain of that ship would say otherwise. No one he'd ever seen get on the ship had escaped or lived to be set free. It was true hell.
Until he met Aislyn. Aislyn was an Oyatare woman who'd snuck on the ship to set them free. It only took her five days to figure it out. She'd suffered along with them for those long five days though, burning in the sun until her skin had dried out and peeled, leaving scars when they healed.
She killed the entire crew, stole the keys and offered anyone and everyone on that ship refuge if they so desired. Some took the bait and went with her, and others took over the ship themselves. Heywood was one of the latter, and joined Aislyn's ship, the Shadow Seeker. It was her first recruitment measure, and it had been a risky one.
Not six weeks after her breaking them free, an ungrateful batch tried to mutiny, and while she could defend herself, Heywood stood up instead. The disloyal were laid to waste. This is how he became her first mate. He was the first and only person to stand up for her, and Captain Blackheart would always remember.
Education
As an orphan, Heywood had little formal education. However, becuase he was in Idola, he has a surprisingly thorough knowledge of trees.
Morality & Philosophy
Appreciates balance in all things. Good and bad.
He's very protective of those he holds close.
He's very protective of those he holds close.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Heywood feels he owes a life debt to Captain Blackheart for rescue off the hell that was his imprisonment and former life, truly, and has devoted his entire life to her and her pursuits.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
This man is strong, probably the strongest of the entire crew, but he's not so intelligent, unlearned in the book-sense, and perhaps in some ways, a little slow.
Vices & Personality flaws
Heywood is... well, to be blunt, a himbo. He appreciates the decadent pleasures of the world, and isn't too shy about it.
Hygiene
Doesn't particularly care either way for bathing, but he can be heard, if taking a rare bath, saying 'Is there any end to the dirt!?'. This being said, he doesn't really smell bad, more like dirt and grass, even if the ship has been in the middle of the ocean for weeks.
Social
Social Aptitude
Heywood is a rather confident individual now, but can still be a touch arrogant when talking to people he's attracted to.
Mannerisms
Is usually quite honest when talking to people, and always keeps a calm and level head in tense situations.
When speaking and otherwise, is prone to looking into the distance instead of directly at a person.
When speaking and otherwise, is prone to looking into the distance instead of directly at a person.
Hobbies & Pets
Rather decent at drawing. Makes the maps as needed on the Shadow Seeker.
Speech
Voice is low and smooth.
Alignment
True Neutral, Chaotic Good
Currently Boarded Vehicle
Species
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Heywood is First Mate of the Shadow Seeker.
Age
22
Birthplace
Arqada
Children
Gender
male
Eyes
Green
Hair
black, curly and styled short. Keeps a neat beard.
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Deep brown, texture of supple leather
Height
6'0"
Weight
220 lb
Inventory: (special) A crystal knob from a door.
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