Neil Heilend
Neil ("Champion) Heilend ("Healer") (a.k.a. "Whitehound" (when he was a Bounty Hunter) "Windtreader" (name the Pixies gave him))
He's the protagonist.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Neil is fit, strong but not bulky, built like a quarterback. He's about six feet tall, tall but not tall enough to draw a lot of attention to himself. His looks don't make him stand out, but his skills do-- he can tie or untie any knot, win a fight with six men without killing one, and he's one of the best riders in Windthrow. He can find anyone, anywhere, no matter how long they've been missing, and he can pick a fugitive out of a crowd in a single glance. He sees people, and has a talent for predicting behavior.
Long story short- you wouldn't pick him out of a crowd, but he would see you and remember you.
Body Features
He’s not “swole,” but he has muscle. Built like a quarterback- strong and fast.
Facial Features
He likes to keep his face shaved, but when he’s out on a hunt he doesn’t always have time or water to spare, so sometimes he has that scruffy-look.
His face is not ugly but not show-stopping either. He has an average-sized, triangle nose, and big brown eyes. His teeth are mostly straight and he has a nice smile, when he decides to smile.
Identifying Characteristics
Again, he doesn't have a lot that makes him stand out visually (He likes it that way). His hair is probably the best identifier for him; it is just beautiful, even though it is often unruly.
If people look more closely and he rolls up his sleeves, he has a tattoo on the inside of his right forearm, the Fixer’s Mark. But, on top of the tattoo is a nasty burn, a brand in the shape of an X. It is the brand of a Windthrown Lord, which basically blacklists Neil and forbids him from accepting any compensation for medically assisting anyone. He has had both marks since he was 18 (He earned them in quick succession) and since having either one by itself is already uncommon, the combination of the two is an almost instant identifier.
Special abilities
He can find just about anyone if he knows their name, where they’re from, and where they were last seen. He uses a combination of good tracking and his excellent people skills to build a profile of whoever he’s hunting and come up with ideas of where they would go and how/why they would run. For him, hunting is just as much about psychology as about the actual physical trail.
Apparel & Accessories
Typically simple, travel-friendly clothes, sturdy boots, a brimmed hat, riding gloves. Cloak if it’s cold. He also has a Blacksilk cloak, if he feels he may be in danger of being attacked by magic, but he usually keeps this packed away as it’s valuable and he has good relationships with Pixies, generally.
Specialized Equipment
He doesn’t carry something if he doesn’t need it. Typically he is armed with a bola, a Pixie dirk, and he wears basically one of those paracord bracelets. Never bad to have a rope. On his horse, when he was a Bounty Hunter, he carried lots more rope, and a variety of weapons including a crossbow, hatchet, a sword (it was a gift, he rarely used it), traps, etc.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
His name means "Champion Healer." That he is.
The Pixies call him Windtreader (roll credits...). Why? I don't know yet...
"Windtreader" ideas:
The Windtreader is a constellation the Pixies follow seasonally for hunting/foraging/survival. There are a lot of important legends about it. The Windtreader horses are also super important to their culture. They can lead them out of blinding snowstorms, smell danger/Pixie plant, and are life-long companions, considered part of the tribe. There's a legend about a Windtreader leading a tribe who couldn't see to safety. Neil, for reasons, had to lead one or more tribes away but they were being hunted by Pixie hunters. The Pixie hunters had devices that could detect even the slight Pixie magic from the simple glowing of their eyes. So, Neil had the Pixies blindfold themselves with Blacksilk and use no magic, and he guided them out of danger. To honor him for this service, he was given the Pixie name of Windtreader, which is a pretty big deal for the Pixies. They give out nicknames all the time, but Windtreader is ONLY given very rarely to very special people who do something heroic. And it's NEVER been given to someone who wasn't actually Pixie before.
Windtreader is an honorary title for any non-Pixie adopted into a Pixie tribe.
Gender Identity
Male
Sexuality
Heterosexual
Education
From before he could remember until he was 18, he trained with his father to become a Fixer.
During this time, he also was close friends with Adaki. Adaki was often training for fighting competitions, so Neil started training too so Adaki could practice with him (also because Neil thought it was fun). He learned a little about swords and jousting this way, as well as some martial arts, which he excelled at.
Adaki and Neil spent a lot of time racing horses and doing trick-riding just for fun.
After he was branded and banished from the Plantation he grew up on, he ended up with Lan at the Bounty Hunter's Lodge. Lan and the other hunters taught him how to be a Bounty Hunter-- tracking, fighting, survival.
Throughout his whole life, he taught himself about ropes. He's obsessed with good rope.
Employment
8 - 18: Apprentice Fixer to his father.
18 - 26: Bounty Hunter ("Lodger")
26 - 28: Security Guard for the House Govan
Accomplishments & Achievements
Earning your Fixer's Mark at just 18 is a pretty great achievement. Too bad he didn't get to really benefit much from that...
Almost perfect record as a Lodger, depending on who you ask. Brought in all his catches alive, which was impressive.
Earned the trust and respect of the Grand Duke Govan; hired as body guard for his daughter and head of security.
Failures & Embarrassments
Not being able to protect Adaki from his father when they were growing up. (Not his fault, but he still feels it.)
Leaving Adaki when he was banished. (Also not really his fault, but he feels bad about it still.)
Alora got kidnapped right in front of him. Goshdangit, Gadianton!
He feels like he failed the Pixies in general by not being able to protect them from Lan/Varick's plot. That's why he left Windthrow.
Mental Trauma
He saw a whole tribe wiped out by Varick's Pixie Plant poison once. It was pretty terrible.
Intellectual Characteristics
Logical thought processes, does not like to do anything without a plan, gets agitated when forced to improvise but he has learned to do it and can do it quite well. He just hates it. Would rather watch and do than read or hear about something.
Morality & Philosophy
He believes everyone deserves a second chance, even the criminals he chases. He doesn’t want to kill them because he believes they deserve to be heard. Everyone has some good and some bad in them and you get to choose every day who you will be.
Taboos
Unnecessary killing, letting other people ride his horse. Changing his boots. He's really attached to those boots.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
He wants to help people.
He wants people to feel safe, and he wants people who take advantage of others to be brought to justice.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Savvies
Hunting/tracking
Hand-to-hand fighting
Negotiating with criminals
Mending broken bones/other injuries.
Ineptitudes
Talking about his feelings
Dealing with failure
Traditional archery (but he loves his crossbow)
Fencing (so many ruuuuuulesss)
Magic (sure, he knows how to protect himself from it, but how to use it? Nope.)
Likes & Dislikes
Likes
Hunting/tracking
Unique weapons
Unique fighting techniques (martial arts)
Studying the human body/how to fix it
Dislikes
Bureaucracy
Formalities
Crowds/parties
Long weapons like spears.
Colds. There’s just no way to fix a cold, you know? It’s annoying.
Virtues & Personality perks
Extremely loyal, to a fault
Honest
Empathetic
Believes all lives have value/potential
Devoted
Honorable
Relatable/ it’s easy to talk to him.
Greatest Strength: He almost always leaves people better than he found them.
Vices & Personality flaws
Often steps on toes, disregards orders.
Hard on himself
Afraid to share feelings
Tends to project insecurities
Gets caught up in his work
Greatest Flaw: His pride can cloud his better judgement.
Personality Quirks
Messing up his hair when thinking
Always wearing that same pair of boots
Hygiene
Good! He was raised well.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Adaki - best friend since they were both young children. Things got complicated when Adaki killed his father and ran away and came back with his twin brother Gadianton and started a gang of thieves and Neil was a bounty hunter... but they have remained friends through it all. Before Neil left, he and Adaki used to meet once a year at the same location to catch up.
Duchess Alora - fiance. He was her body guard for two years and what can he say? He fell in love with her, and when he tried to quit because he felt like it was interfering with his job, she admitted she loved him too and didn't want him to go.
Grand Duke Govan - luckily for Neil, the Duke likes him and is totally excited about him becoming his son-in-law.
Gadianton - Adaki's brother. But not Neil's friend. Neil doesn't like him. He thinks he's reckless and irresponsible and he kind of blames him for steering Adaki so far astray. Neil caught Gadianton and turned him in once, but then escaped from prison within a week. Neil refused to hunt him again because he was such a pain in the butt the first time.
Captain Sy Dupont - first person he met in Kania. He saved his life. Sy vouched for him to the Duke, which led to him getting hired. They're good friends.
Constance - Neil bonded with her over their shared medical background. She is just happy to have someone who knows what she's talking about. Neil enjoys working with her; it reminds him a little of working with his dad (although his dad was much less sarcastic).
Family Ties
His parents: Paul and Moriah Heilend. Wonderful people. He loves them dearly and would do anything for them.
Religious Views
His father was very religious. Neil has always been hesitant to participate in a lot of religion, but he does firmly believe that God exists. He’s just not sure what God’s plan is or why things happen the way they do, and he’s not ready to trust God the way that his parents do.
Social Aptitude
Introverted. There's a reason he loved bounty hunting - long journeys alone on the prairie. No one to bother him haha.
That being said, he's not shy. He's confident in himself, most of the time. One exception would be when he's with his father. Paul makes Neil feel small, not on purpose, just because Neil feels like he can't measure up to him.
Neil is usually very polite, a bit quiet, but assertive. He gets to the point, and he'll ask that question no one else is brave enough to ask. He's already been burned for his opinions (literally) and he's not afraid to do that again. To him, the truth is more important than people's comfort levels.
Mannerisms
Likes to keep things simple and to the point, but he is well-spoken. Typically keeps his hands still and his eyes forward, almost military.
Hobbies & Pets
Zephyr is almost more his friend than his pet. Drachenloper stallion given to him by Adaki when he was branded/banished. Zephyr is incredibly smart and knows many different commands, some by word and some by whistle. He will only obey Neil or Adaki, although he is starting to warm up to Alora.
Speech
He has a pleasant voice, usually quiet but strong. His Windthrown accent is "like water over stones." He rarely swears but it does happen, more often when he's alone with Zephyr or Adaki. He doesn't like to shout, but when he does, it makes people stop. He has a powerful voice. He always tries to speak the truth.
Relationships
Wealth & Financial state
Modest, upper middle class although he still lives as if he were lower. If he could get back to his bank in Windthrow he actually has a lot of savings from all the bounties he turned in buuttttt it's complicated...
Alignment
Chaotic Good
Age
28ish
Date of Birth
IDK
Birthplace
Drache Plantation (Windthrow)
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Govan Fortress (Kania)
Gender
male
Eyes
Brown
Hair
Brown, thick, slightly wavy. Often a bit messy, he runs his hand through it when he thinks
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Caucasian, tanned.
Height
6ft
Weight
Average
Quotes & Catchphrases
“There is nowhere on this continent you can hide from me.”
“I don’t do vendettas.”
“If you outlive your boots, they weren’t good boots.”
“I don’t like seeing people get pushed around. I tend to push back.”
“It’s good to know how to land a punch, but it’s better to know how to dodge one.”
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
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