Concept: an educated fighter forged in the Mongol invasion of Hungary, cursed by a Mongol witch, now leading a few men and selling their services as mercenary troops and caravan guards in the Keszthely area.
The character is written as an independent mercenary captain, but I could change it into the oppidum's guard captain, or even the leader of Ophelia's grogs, with just a few alterations. As a mercenary captain he would not have to be tallied in the Covenant's expenses, but he would have to be paid for specific missions.
History: Farkas (wolf in Hungarian) was a novice in a monastery, about to take his final vows, when the Mongols arrived. He hid while they pillaged his monastery, then decided to fight back. Having seen how ineffective the knights' tactics were, he decided to adopt and adapt the Mongol's own, using stealth, speed, and hit-and-run tactics. His greatest accomplishment was killing a young Mongol leader (of a dozen scouts) and stealing his sword, armor and horse. But this was also his downfall: the Mongol's mother, a witch, cursed Farkas so 'all would see him for the monster that he was'. To his despair, Farkas discovered that doing anything out of altruism or kindness would see him change into a wolf: unless he is paid for the act, even such a small thing as opening the door for someone or helping them stand up when they fall triggers the change. This made going back to his monastery, or even enlisting in a noble's retinue, impossible - and causes him great distress, for at heart he is a kind man.
After the Mongol withdrew, Farkas started a career as a mercenary, and later a mercenary captain. He eventually settled semi-permanently in Keszthely, content to hire out to the merchants and nobles - and magi - around. He particularly seek opportunities to serve magi, hoping they might know a cure for his malediction.
Virtues: Educated, Mercenary Captain, Improved Characteristics, Warrior
Flaws: Compassionate (minor), Greater Malediction: turn into a wolf, as per the Lycanthrope flaw, for Sun duration after performing an altruistic act for another (any service for which he is not adequately paid)
Plenty of room for more virtues and flaws, I just don't see the need... although I might go for Wealthy to beef up the character's abilities
Characteristics: Int +1, Per +1, Pre +1, Com +1, Str +1, Sta +1, Dex +2, Qik +1
Age: 38
Abilities:
Languages: Hungarian 5 (military vocabulary), Latin 4 (military vocabulary), Romaic Greek 4 (military vocabulary)
General: Animal Handling 3 (horses), Area Lore: Hungary 3 (geography), Awareness 3 (in combat), Bargain 2 (weapons), Brawl 3 (dagger), Carouse 1 (power drinking), Charm 1 (opposite sex), Chirurgy 2 (binding wounds), Civil and Canon Law 1 (Hungary), Concentration 2 (in combat), Etiquette 2 (magi), Folk Ken 3 (magi), Guile 1 (disguise), Hunt 1 (tracking), Intrigue 1 (gossip), Leadership 4 (in combat), Order of Hermes Lore 1 (Transylvania Tribunal), Ride 4 (in combat), Stealth 2 (steppe), Survival 1 (steppe), Swim 1 (crossing rivers),
Academic: Artes Liberales 2 (astronomy)
Martial: Bows 4 (horsebow), Great Weapon 1 (longspear), Single Weapon 4 (longsword), Thrown Weapon 1 (javelin)
Equipment:
horse bow (Lords of Men), composite bow (Lords of Men), 60 arrows for each, longsword, heater shield, dagger
horse, saddle, bridle, pack-sacks, horse gear
Full chain mail, metal reinforced jerkin (not to be worn together !)
Combat:
Soak +3 (reinforced leather) or +10 (full chain mail)
Longsword and Heater Shield: Init +3, Atk+11, Dfn +10, Dam +7
Longsword and Heater Shield, Mounted: Init +3, Atk+14, Dfn +13, Dam +7
Composite Bow: Init -1, Atk +10, Dfn +5, Dam +8, Range 30
Horsebow, Mounted: Init -1, Atk +15, Dfn +9, Dam +9, Range 15