Lóran Arallis Branid of Morulindor

'He checked the strapping on his belt carefully. His rapier was secure, and his dagger - a weapon-breaker. It looked a bit worn and one of the 'teeth' was missing. He knelt down and checked the stiletto in his boot. The garnet cabochon set in the end shone a deep red from the cuff. 'There as always' he murmured. He stood, pulling the straps on his leathers tight and tying his shirt closed over the armor.
He moved to the make-shift bed, a pile of damp hay and a cloak, and picked up his satchel. He slung the strap over his shoulder and slid his buckler onto his right forearm.
He turned and faced the gilded mirror, worn and cracked from years of disuse, and doffed his wide brimmed hat. He looked into the mirror for a long time. He was fit, tall and of a dark bronze complexion. His hair was pulled back and tied with a red ribbon. He touched the ribbon gently. 'I'll be home soon, my love...' he whispered.
Looking to the open wall of the derelict keep, he smiled. The night was clear and the moon and stars were bright. He hopped towards the gapping hole, almost skipping.
He picked up his pace and dove from the third story of the abandoned keep, laughing as he took flight...

Lóran is a member of the lycanthropic Branid family (see 'Eyes and Claws of Wodan the Red' for details), born between forms and possessing an uncanny ability to control his change. Commonly Lóran will appear as a rather foppish rake, smiling and exercising his wit on an unsuspecting brute. This is his favorite pastime. He is fond of sweet wines also, drinking too much when a foul mood finds him.
He is, unfortunately, sworn to the service of a man his family once trusted. He collects information for Wodan the Red on the whereabouts of the Lady Lara Raivenous, his niece and heir to the Raivenous family lands and titles.

Lóran is just shy of six feet tall, with bronze tanned skin and long black hair, with just a touch of grey at the left temple. He wears leather armor, well concealed beneath his outer garments. A white long shirt, black breeches, and a bright vest in any color are common garb. Long cuffed boots and a wide brimmed hat with one side pinned up and a red feather tucked into it complete his normal attire.

He always wears his hair tied back with a red ribbon, a gift from his fourth cousin (on his father's aunt's side) Alliana. He longs for the day when the family is freed from servitude and he may marry her. Only this urges him on to do the unspeakable evil he has been so commanded to commit, as the Raivenous family have long been friends and allies to his kin. The task is one he does not want to nor enjoy doing, as he was close to Lara's father.

Although quite adept, he prefers to make a mockery of martial combat. Using parries, feints, pins, and his favorite, disarms, he is usually a non-lethal combatant. His trademark maneuver is to pin an opponent's weapon between them, smile, kiss his opponent square on the lips, and bash them in the face with his buckler. He gains some twisted pleasure from the reaction he gets.

He like the rest of his family he will accept nearly any duel but unlike his cousins he enjoys the fight and will even accept a challenger that might easily defeat him. Not the wisest in his family, he has been known to challenge nearly ANY who even slightly question his honor.

When he is on his own, as he often is, he will make his way as a rumormonger or bard (telling stories and news). When in the company of others he usually volunteers as a scout (never letting on about his 'special talents') and prefers second watch while camping.

Role playing notes (GM): Lóran is very charismatic, a constant joker, and laughs at himself as much as others. Quick to try to lighten the mood, he is well versed in many lewd and off-color jokes and antic dotes.
He fluently speaks, writes, and reads three languages (GM choice) and is well versed in heraldry, etiquette, local genealogy, sumptuary laws, and scribing.
His weapons are always in excellent condition, and his armor is in very good repair. He spends a fair amount of his free time cleaning, sharpening, and oiling these items.