Rohan

Captain Rohan Aric Dale (a.k.a. The Sea Wolf)

"I’ve fought for every scrap the world’s thrown at me, but I’m still lookin’ for a way out that ain’t there."

— Rohan the "Sea Wolf"

Rohan is no hero. He neither sought the path he treads nor he embraces it with the fervor of a willing adventurer or the selflessness of a champion. Burdened by loss and driven by guilt, Rohan's journey is one of redemption and vengeance. He is a man who must face not only the dangers of a perilous world and his own unknown powers, but also the turmoil that lurks within.

Personal History

Early Years

Rohan was born in the isolated village of Cinderfall, nestled on a tiny island in the Aerithia Archipelago, a mere few miles off the shores of Alyrath. Rohan was the youngest of six children and his arrival heralded a tragedy as his mother perished during childbirth. This loss sparked a deep, cold resentment in his father, who blamed him for his wife’s death. His siblings, echoing their father’s bitterness, saw Rohan as a painful reminder of a family broken beyond repair. The only light in his world came from his eldest sister, Thora, who often visited him, bearing small tokens of love that Rohan clung to as if they were lifelines. Yet even Thora’s affection could not shield him from the cruel grasp of their father.

Rohan came to idolize his mother, revering her as something almost sacred. His guilt over her death bred a self-loathing so deep that it festered inside him, poisoning his sense of self for years to come. To him, the concept of family was tied to rejection and pain. His desperate longing for approval only deepened the torment, as if the very idea of love was a cruel illusion.

Thora

"Thora's Gift" by Imagica via MJ

Thora was the sole person who ever offered him genuine kindness. Though she was married and resided in the bustling city of Port Vengeance at Alyrath, she always found time to visit her younger brother, bringing him simple tokens of affection. One gift, a small wooden stag idol, became a cherished memento that Rohan kept throughout his life. Thora made countless attempts to rescue him from their father’s grip, but her efforts were thwarted by both her husband’s refusal and their father’s iron will, and she was unable to take him away.

Despite the barriers, Thora’s visits were Rohan’s only glimpse of a world beyond hatred and neglect. A world where he wasn’t an outcast, where love and care existed. Those fleeting moments became the foundation upon which he built his hopes, even as the years passed, and his fate darkened with each passing day.

A Slave's Life

"Malik the Silent" by Imagica via MJ

At the tender age of ten, Rohan’s life took a brutal and unforgiving turn. His father, burdened by crippling debt and unable to provide for his large family, sold Rohan to a pirate ship- an exchange no more than a handful of gold coins. To his father, it was a simple transaction; his youngest son, a burden, was now someone else’s problem.

The captain of the Phantom Tide, Malik the Silent, was a man of cruel indifference. Rohan was thrust into a life of servitude aboard the ship, where he was treated as little more than a pest. Starved, beaten, and worked to exhaustion, his body became a canvas for the scars of torment. Life at sea had no mercy, and the endless loneliness threatened to consume him. Yet Rohan, ever the survivor, refused to yield.

Over time, his resourcefulness earned him a grudging respect from the crew, and even from Malik, who saw something of value in the boy. The pirate captain, while harsh, took Rohan under his wing, teaching him the brutal truths of survival on the high seas and imparting the knowledge of a world far beyond the island of his birth. Malik became a complex figure in Rohan’s life: a mentor of sorts, both feared and admired.

Rohan rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Malik’s first mate. And when the captain retired, it was Rohan who inherited The Phantom Tide, yet the ghosts of his past remained ever-present, shaping both the man he had become and the man he would continue to fight against.

The Legend of the Sea Wolf

For five relentless years, Rohan struck terror and awe across the Aerithia Archipelago. At the helm of the Phantom Tide, he became the living embodiment of pirate law: a ruthless, unyielding force, driven by an insatiable hunger for power and wealth.

At first, whispers of doubt lingered among his crew. Could this young, untested captain command a ship as infamous as The Phantom Tide? But Rohan silenced those doubts with action. He wasn’t a captain who ruled from the shadows of his quarters; he was the first into the fray, the first to shoulder the heaviest burdens. Whether scaling the sails in a storm or leading the charge in battle, Rohan worked alongside his crew as an equal. He bled, toiled, and triumphed with them. In time, they saw him not just as their leader but as the Sea Wolf, and themselves as his loyal pack. The sea became their hunting ground, vast and merciless, just like their captain.

What had once been a lost boy transformed into a predator. His rise was swift and merciless, fueled by an ever-growing greed that took root in his heart. Looting and pillaging were no longer survival- they were purpose. Every conquest fed his darkest feelings, yet with each victory, his lust for more grew, overshadowing everything else.

But the Wolf was not defined by cruelty alone. Greed was his driving force- an endless hunger that consumed him. No treasure was too small, no ship too humble to escape his grasp. Every raid was another step toward dominance, another mark etched into the annals of fear and infamy.

"The Phantom Tide"

The One Rule

Despite his growing brutality, there was one line Rohan refused to cross: he never took slaves, nor did he kill those he found enslaved. It was an unspoken rule, that no one in his crew dared cross. Though he respected Malik, the man who had shaped him, he could never forgive the years of servitude he endured at his side. This silent rebellion against the cycle of suffering was a small, precious fragment of the man he might have been. When he freed those in chains, it was a fleeting act of mercy that stood in stark contrast to the ruthless Sea Wolf the world knew.

"The sea is the one thing that ever understood me- cold, unforgiving, and always taking what it wants."

— Rohan, the Sea Wolf

In the end, beneath the mantle of infamy, something stirred in Rohan- an emptiness that the thrill of conquest could not fill. He had become the monster the world expected him to be, but as his legend grew, so too did the aching need for something more. This was the man who would cross paths with Leana, the woman who would ignite the conflict between his brutal existence and the yearning for redemption.

Love, Loss and Betrayal

Meeting Leana

Rohan first laid eyes on Leana in Viper's Nest, the unruly heart of Serpent Fang Isle. The city, notorious for its lawlessness and danger, was a sanctuary for criminals, exiles, and desperate dreamers. Amidst the chaos, Leana stood out. She was a fierce sailor with a gaze as sharp as a cutlass and dreams of captaining her own ship. Their meeting was like flint striking steel: electric, inevitable, and destined to ignite a storm neither of them could resist.

"Serpent's Isle"

The Pregnancy

The news of Leana's pregnancy blindsided him. At first, it was a shock- a disruption to his volatile life- but soon, it became a beacon of hope. For a man who had spent his life battling the shadows of rejection and fear, the thought of becoming a father awakened something he hadn’t felt in years: a sense of purpose.

They named the boy Aric, a tribute to his own middle name. For the first time, Rohan dared to imagine a future where he might shield his son from the cruelty of the world, where he might break the cycle of suffering that had defined his own existence.

"I never thought I’d want to leave a mark on this world, but with you, maybe I’d fight for something worth saving."

— Rohan for the birth of his son

A Newfound Love

"Leana"

Their love was a tempest, wild and unrestrained, full of passion and peril. In Leana, Rohan found his soul mate- someone who could match his ferocity and see through his walls of bitterness and cruelty. She challenged him, ignited his soul, and for the first time, he began to lower his guard.

They clashed and reconciled with equal intensity, each fueling the other’s best and worst traits. Yet, amidst the chaos of their lives, they found fleeting islands of joy, building a bond forged in defiance of the harsh world around them.

The Betrayal

Days after Aric’s birth, Rohan awoke to silence where there should have been life. Leana was gone. All that remained was a hastily scrawled note, its words as cold and cutting as the betrayal it carried.

I can't do this...

-L

Rohan’s world fractured. Her absence wasn’t just a departure- it was abandonment and the tempest that had been their love left him broken in its wake. He faced the daunting prospect of raising Aric alone, burdened by fear and self-doubt. The man who had been the Sea Wolf- a terror to all who crossed him- was now left vulnerable, his confidence shattered and his heart hollow.

When The Sea Wolf Howls

A Heavy Decision

When Leana left, every fear and doubt Rohan harbored about his ability to be a father surged to the surface. The weight of responsibility crashed him as he realized that he could not raise his son alone. In his desperation, he turned to the only person he could trust: Malik, his former mentor, who had retired to Bonehaven, the infamous pirate haven nestled on Skull Isle.

Rohan believed Malik could offer Aric the stability he himself lacked. With a heart heavier than any anchor, he handed his infant son over, knowing it was both an act of love and surrender. Standing at the edge of the dock, he watched Malik’s weathered hands carry Aric away.

A Relentless Return

When Rohan returned to the sea, he had become something darker- something broken and consumed. The sea became his battlefield once more, and Rohan its most merciless warrior. Each raid, every act of cruelty, was an attempt to drown the pain. Like a living storm, he swept across the Aerithia Archipelago, unstoppable and unyielding. With each conquest, his legend grew darker, his name whispered in fear and awe.

The memory of Leana and the son he had abandoned lingered. It came to him in the quiet hours of the night, when the ship rocked gently under the moonlight and the crew lay in slumber. There, in the solitude of his despair, he clutched the small wooden stag so tightly that its antlers bit into his flesh. He often imagined passing the toy to Aric, weaving tales of the sea, of lands yet unexplored and oceans untraveled. But the dream was as distant as the horizon, a bittersweet illusion that faded with the dawn.

A Father's Reckoning

Sixteen years passed before Rohan returned to Bonehaven to face the son he had left behind. Aric, who had been raised by Malik, now stood on the cusp of adulthood. The boy had been shaped by the hands of a pirate-turned-father, as Malik poured into him all the wisdom and protection Rohan had been unable to provide.

Malik, however, was a shadow of the fearsome captain he had once been. Time and illness had whittled him down to a frail man on his deathbed. Summoning Rohan with the urgency of a final wish, Malik made a plea. He asked Rohan to take back the son he gave away. He asked him to protect Aric, when Malic would be dead.

"Leana's Death"

"Malik's death"

As the two men spoke in Malik’s dimly lit chambers, an assassin slipped into the room. The attack came swiftly; a poisoned blade aimed for Rohan’s heart. Malik, despite his failing body, acted without hesitation, thrusting himself into the path of the dagger. The blade struck true, and the old pirate collapsed, mortally wounded.

Rohan’s reaction was instant and feral. Consumed by grief and rage, he unleashed himself upon the assassin, beating them to death in a frenzy of raw emotion. It was only when the body lay still that Rohan pulled back the hood and saw the face of his attacker. It was Leana.

Appearance

Rohan is a towering figure, standing at an imposing 1.95 meters (6’5”), with a muscular frame that, despite the toll of malnourishment during his recent time in the Horned Arena, still commands attention. His body speaks of a life hardened by labor and conflict, adorned with numerous scars from his years at sea and his battles both as a pirate and a slave. These marks of survival tell stories of his resilience and the hardships he has endured.

Rohan’s tawny brown skin reflects his years under the sun and salt of the open seas. An untamed short beard frames his sharp jawline. His dark brown hair, cut to chin length, often appears unkempt, a proof of his practical nature and disregard for vanity. His expression is grim and severe, with a perpetually furrowed brow and a mouth that rarely breaks into a smile. His tired eyes, ringed with the beginnings of wrinkles, hold a haunted quality, hinting at the weight of his past.

Alignment

Chaotic Neutral

Current Location

Aeloria

Age

44

Date of Birth

12 of Darklon, 916 ADA

Birthplace

Cinderfall at Alyrath

Current Residence

Castle of Dreams

Pronouns

He/him

Sex

Male

Gender

Man

Presentation

Masculine

Eyes

Hazel

Hair

Dark Brown

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Twany Brown

Height

1.95 m

Weight

90kg

Belief/Deity

Thalassa

"I’ve buried my soul in the blood of others, but the sea... the sea never forgets. Maybe that’s the only place left where I can find a semblance of who I was before I lost it all."

— Rohan

Tattoos

Rohan's body is adorned with three tattoos. While he was never keen on marking his body more than it was already scarred, these designs symbolize something much deeper: moments and lessons of his life he would never risk forgeting.

A Broken Compass

A shattered compass, its needle forever lost, marks the chaos that defines Rohan’s existence. This tattoo, etched onto his shoulder, symbolizes the sea’s relentless grip on his destiny, leaving him adrift and without a clear path.

A Shattered Chain

A jagged chain, broken and discarded, scars his ribcage. This stark symbol represents his defiance against the shackles of slavery and his pursuit of freedom. A tribute to the strength he forged in the darkest of times.

A Silent Secret

A cryptic trio of letters, an R, an L, and an A, etched into the right side of his neck. This enigmatic tattoo holds the secrets of Rohan's past, a haunting reminder of a love he can never reclaim.

Related Articles

Rohan's story is one of relentless struggle, haunting failures, and fleeting moments of redemption. From a broken child to a feared pirate, and from a chained gladiator to something else entirely, his journey is far from over. The Sea Wolf still howls, and his legend continues to evolve. You can follow his steps in the articles below.

A Promise Fulfilled

Leana's motivations had died with her, leaving Rohan in a state of shock and devastation. As Malik lay dying, his final words bound Rohan to his promise. "Do not fail him," the old man whispered before succumbing to his injuries. And so, Rohan was left with a gaping void- a son he barely knew, a mentor now gone, and the haunting image of the woman he loved reduced to a lifeless shadow.

True to his word, he took the boy aboard the Phantom Tide. Yet, burdened by guilt and scars too deep to heal, Rohan never revealed the truth of their bond. To Aric, he was just another captain, stern and distant. Rohan treated him as he did any other crew member- demanding discipline, strength, and loyalty. But in his rare, quiet moments, he watched Aric with a lingering gaze, silently mourning the life they hadn't shared. But even this, was not meant to last.

The Cost of Greed

Rohan’s connection to greed had always been a driving force in his life, an unyielding hunger that clouded his judgment and steered his fate. One fateful night, as the Phantom Tide cut through the dark waters, a ship appeared on the horizon- a magnificent vessel with no banners. Its polished hull and pristine sails glimmered in the moonlight, whispering promises of untold treasures hidden within.

His heart quickened at the thought of gold and riches, his mind consumed by the lure of wealth. Ignoring the unease of his crew and dismissing their second thoughts at the sight of the ship’s black sails, Rohan gave the order. His voice was harsh and unrecognizable, as though something otherworldly drove him. His obsession overruled caution, and with unwavering resolve, he commanded the Phantom Tide to close in.

But it was a trap.

As they neared the seemingly isolated vessel, lanterns flared to life on either side of the Phantom Tide. Two more ships emerged from the shadows, their black sails blending into the night. Rohan had underestimated his enemy. The ambush was swift and merciless. Blades clashed, blood spilled, and the cries of dying men filled the night. Rohan fought like a man possessed, his sword a blur, but his mind was clouded, his focus fragmented as if emerging from a deep sleep.

He watched in despair as his crew was slaughtered around him, their loyalty and courage no match for the onslaught. The Phantom Tide, his pride and sanctuary, was ravaged before his eyes. And then, the blow that shattered what remained of his spirit: he saw Aric fall, a scimitar plunging into his gut, the boy’s blood staining the deck.

Rohan roared in agony, his grief giving way to unrelenting fury, but his resistance was short-lived. Strong arms wrestled him to the ground, and a hood was forced over his head. Before the darkness consumed him entirely, a sharp blow to the back of his skull rendered him unconscious.

When he awoke, he was chained in the hold of a foreign ship, the heavy scent of despair and seawater hanging in the air. He had been reduced to what he despised most- a slave once again, stripped of his freedom and dignity. Days later, Rohan was sold under cover of night to the Bruul Brotherhood in Thandor, a shadowy organization infamous for its underground fight clubs.

The Sea Wolf was no longer a captain, no longer a man of the sea. He became an unwilling gladiator, thrust into a brutal and blood-soaked life in the Brotherhood’s illegal Horned Arena. Trapped by his greed, haunted by his failures, and shackled by the chains he had vowed never to wear again, Rohan faced a new chapter of suffering.

"Maybe I was never meant to be more than a shadow, doomed to haunt the wreckage of my own life."

— Rohan

The Horned Arena

A Shuttered Soul

"Horned Arena"

Rohan's time in the Horned Arena was a brutal chapter in his life, stripping him of whatever humanity he had left. He became a tool of bloodshed- forced to fight for his life and the twisted entertainment of others. The Bruul Brotherhood, a ruthless and cunning organization, saw him not as its most famous gladiator: the infamous Sea Wold, a feral beast who brought chaos to the blood-soaked sands of the arena and coin to their pockets.

Fighting the Silence

Rohan had no choice but to fight, and fight he did. His battles were relentless and brutal, and with each kill, he lost a piece of himself. The fire that once burned within him, the hunger for wealth and power, began to wither. In the arena, he was no longer the captain of the Phantom Tide- he was a slave, bound to a fate that he had never chosen, yet had somehow accepted.

Rohan fought without mercy, not for glory, but because there was nothing else to do. Each battle dragged him deeper into the abyss, where the memories of those he had failed- Aric, Malic, his crew- haunted him. Their faces, their voices, kept him awake at night and pulled him deeper into darkness.

A Flicker of Hope

He had stopped hoping for victory or revenge. Now, he only wished for release. The next opponent, the next blow-perhaps that would be the one to deliver him the sweet end he craved. But every time he rose, bruised and bloodied, the void inside him grew. He fought like a ghost, detached from the world, waiting for the death that never seemed to come.

After yet another brutal victory, something shifted in the oppressive stillness of Rohan’s soul. Without warning, the door to his cell groaned open, and a rush of cold, unfamiliar air slipped through, carrying with it the faint scent of possibility. The thought of escape, long smothered beneath the weight of despair, stirred within him- a flicker of hope that burned away the suffocating sorrow, enough to ignite the embers of his will and compel him to cross the threshold into the unknown.