Valus Longflower

Back-story

Born to an impoverished family in the Lower Valley, Valus Longflower left as soon as he was able, to pursue a career as a mercenary serving in the Southern Kingdom and the Forlorn Forest. The latter being aptly named for the horrors that inhabit it, terrifying nightmares still plague him to this day of his time spent there.

A falling out with his captain over a dice game while in the employ of The Moon Company led to a fight in which the captain lost his balance and fell unfavorably, breaking his neck. Knowing this to be a hanging offence, Valus fled, heading back to the Lower Valley from which he came with the hope of perhaps setting himself up as a farmer. His hopes were cruelly dashed when he arrived to find watchmen waiting for him.

Forced to abandon his plan, Valus headed south and entered the Upper Valley. With the knowledge that he was now being openly hunted and that he wouldn't be able to return to see his parents again he set off in search of a band of outlaws know as the Yellow Tails, whose leader he'd known in childhood and who, he hoped; would still honor their friendship.

As a born survivor and a natural leader, he found it easy working his way up the ranks until he made second in command. Things went well enough; they preyed for the most part on passing merchant caravans and the occasional minor nobleman. And if they didn't appear to be much trouble sometimes well-to-do adventuring parties.

The years passed, until their chief; Merrett, was killed during an ambush on a merchant caravan carrying disguised troops, a ploy by the regional Guild of Merchants who were fed up with their losses. The gang fled and Valus assumed command, to no objection.

Things smoothed out once more, but the calm wasn't meant to last. Not long after he had taken upon himself the burden of leadership, the invasion from the west began. The armies of the F'halladin swiftly settled in. Valus and his Yellow Tails fled into the surrounding woodland. They did their best to avoid contact with this new and deadlier foe, but would attack small groups of scouts and ambush smaller units when necessary.

It was at this point that Valus saw first hand the misery of the refugees, that he underwent a minor conversion. No saint was he, but some good could be done for those that had lost everything and had little to no hope of ever recovering. Since the armies had passed on and even after their later defeat, the Yellow Tails have been robbing the well-off travelers of either their food or clothing, which they secretly leave at night for the impoverished refugees. A large portion of the silver they donated to the Fathers of Shadow, an order of blind monks devoted to the lore's or healing and the afterlife.

Following the breakdown of order during and after the invasion, Valus sees himself and his gang as the rightful protectors of the people. Some day, and that day is not far off, this calling will doubtless bring him into conflict with the nobility and the Watch.

Knowledge

Thanks to his time as a mercenary and later outlaw, Valus has an especially good grasp of strategy and tactics which the GM should feel free to employ as desired. A master tracker and equally brilliant at concealing himself, he is able to follow his target for hours, days if need be, before making his move. Spotting him should be made very difficult.

Equipment

Valus usually carries a crossbow slung across his back along with a set of five bolts that he keeps strapped to his right thigh in their leather pouch. At his left side he openly carries a simply crafted but very sturdy mace, taken from a knight he unhorsed and defeated in the Southern Kingdom, it is his most prized possession.