Bartholomew

Bartholomew (a.k.a. Bear)

Bartholomew "Bear" is a former soldier and special operative of the Imperial Army of Auroria. He deserted the service of Auroria and hid in a cabin in the Ural Mountains where he quietly helped common people who were hurt by Imperial Soldiers. He first met Aife on her journey to Biruitor Obaith when he rescued her from hypothermia during a storm on the mountain near his cabin.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Bear is in phenomenal shape due to his military career and life of labor and rescue in the mountains. His nickname is fitting--he is a bear of a man, from height to girth and strength.

Identifying Characteristics

When Aife first encounters him, Bear is almost unreconizable as human due to his facial hair. He has a thick moustache and beard that covers a good portion of his face and long, thick black hair. He cuts his hair after Greyson, Tris, Meg, and Aife come to him as a sign of his hope to rejoin civilization. When he joins the Arcane Legion to fight in the ECW, he shaves down to military regulation (no bear, little hair) which removes his previous identifiers.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Bartholomew "Bear" is a former soldier and special operative of the Imperial Army of Auroria. Following success as an enlisted soldier, Bear became more ruthless and made a reputation for himself as one of the best in the army. His reputation drew the attention of a young Alaric, who then made Bear his personal attack dog. Bear answered directly to Alaric and upon his coronation, Alaric appointed Bear as the head of his genocidal efforts against the Arcane Humans. Bear was personally responsible for the massacre of the Holublair family at their home, the Dehn. He himself dealt the fatal blow to Lupei, Chieftain of the Arcanes. Due to some incident of which Bear refuses to speak, he left the service of Auroria and hid in a cabin in the Ural Mountains where he quietly helped common people who were hurt by Imperial Soldiers. He first met Aife on her journey to Biruitor Obaith when he rescued her from hypothermia during a storm on the mountain near his cabin. Bear nursed Aife back to health, then sent her on her way to the Estate. He followed her down the mountains to the edge of the city to protect her. Bear met Aife again when she, Greyson, and Tristyn journeyed to his cabin seeking the Commoner's Key, one of the artifacts of power of the Northalian kingdom. The Key, which he stole on his way out of Az-Shealynn when he deserted, is meant to be held by a Fullhuman which he uses as rationale to deny it to the trio. He swears to deliver it when they decide to take down Alaric, then protects them from Imperials who ambush the cabin in pursuit of Aife. Bear is called back in when the Arcanes decide to raid Az-Shealynn for the King's Crown. His expertise is necessary for their plan to succeed, and he ends up taking residence in the Estate House and vowing to protect the 'Young Leaders', as he calls them (Aife, Greyson, Megan, and Kilian). He remains in their service until the Eastern Civil War. Bear also develops a close relationship with Adina and Finnian. Initially, he is terrified of baby Finn, but Addy patiently helps him learn to gently care for the child. He is like a godfather to Finn in the years leading up to and during the ECW. During the ECW, he becomes Aife's personal bodyguard. Due to her position as the kingpin of the operation, she has a target on her back which he does his best to mitigate. Bear dies protecting the Arcanese Chieftain, the daughter of the man he murdered.

Sexuality

His sexuality is discussed briefly, amounting to "I will never have a happy ending and won't subject anyone to the horror that is me and my life." He never specifies his sexuality besides believing he deserves to remain alone.

Education

Trained in the Imperial Forces. Completed basic training before being selected for attendance at the Northalian War College, where he graduated as a member of the ISF (Imperial Special Forces). Self-educated during his service while stationed at Az-Shealynn, where he took advantage of his access to the palace libraries.

Employment

Employed as an enlisted footsoldier in the Imperial Army before attending the IWC and joining the ranks of the ISF. He served in the ISF for a short time before being hand picked by Alaric to join the Imperial Elite, where he directly served the Crown Prince (and later, Emperor). 
Self-designated body guard of Aife Llewellyn.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Responsible for the Dehn Massacre and killer of Arcanese Chieftain Lupei Holublair.

Mental Trauma

Bear suffers from PTSD and guilt from the actions he performed in service to Alaric. He is especially haunted by the deaths of the Holublair family. He does not believe he can be forgiven or atone for his horrifying actions. He believes death is too kind for a man like him and remaining alive is punishment he is due.

Intellectual Characteristics

Bear's mind is his most underrated weapon. Seen as a mindless rabid dog (as he once describes himself), Bear plays down his intelligence to gain the upper hand in many situations. He is well-versed in many topics and well-read due to his time serving at Az-Shealynn, where he took full advantage of his access to the royal libraries.

Morality & Philosophy

After living a life with no morals, his change of heart cemented a strict code into the man. Children, he believes, must be protected at all costs and under no circumstances would he ever harm a child. He tries to abstain from killing, not because he believes it wrong but because he does not want to add more blood to his hands.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

His motivation is to atone for his previous actions in life. His main goal becomes protecting the granddaughter of the man he murdered.

Social

Mannerisms

Awkward hunk.

Birthplace

Dirscha, Northal

Current Residence

Uralian Mountains

Gender

Male

Aligned Organization

Arcane Legion

Other Affiliations

• Northal (pre-War)

Known Languages

It is hinted at that he might speak (or at least understand) Sindron due to his main job hunting Arcanes, but he never outright says so or uses the language. Someone hypothesizes that he might not think he is entitled to speak because he is not of Fauler descent.

Character Prototype

Eliot Spencer mixed with Andrew Minyard