Lukkas Gale

thumb|289x289px|Lukkas' character theme."...and who are you to defy the orders of the Captain or the 1st Mate? (...) This is a military ship, with a military mission and a military hierarchy. Civilian researchers like yourselves are obviously not allowed to demand sensitive information." ~ Lukkas to Scintillifer and Lina.Lukkas Gale of House Gale is a minor noble, future heir of Hillgrove's House Gale and a former helmsman on the board of the "Goldbreaker" - a Union/Dwarven reconnaissance ship serving during the Auresian War. His love for the open seas and exploration, mixed together with his desire to protect and serve his country, has led him to depart for the far Auresian lands.
==Appearance==
Lukkas is a barely-turned-19 years old man with a slim yet strapping build. He has yellowish-green eyes, slightly tanned skin, wavy light brown hair and bushy eyebrows of the same colour. His expression used to be generally unaffected, with rare glimpses of joy or sadness, but after his arrival in Auresia, he became visibly more cheerful.
He is most often seen in his simple, slightly worn-off brownish sailor shirt and pants, as well as with his signature beret. When combat-ready, he dons a chain-mail, supported by a breastplate, a circular shield and a sabre, along with a bow for the occasional long-ranged fighting. Later, he becomes reliant on firearms, holstering a pistole on his hip and a rifle on his back.
==Personality and traits==
Lukkas Gale is a reserved person. He is not very sociable and prefers to keep to himself. However, he feels more calm and secure among animals and he has little trouble communicated with them. Later on, it becomes apparent that he brightens up when he's around people he considers friends. Lukkas is also quite honest and straightforward, quick to point out irregularities without holding back. He is very trusting as well, willing to assume that no one would just cause him harm unprovoked.
Despite that, he is sometimes seen expressing extreme anger and a deep desire to kill those who harmed him or his companions, regardless of the consequences. This was later noted by himself, after losing his temperance when he witnessed the death of Theodore Ashwood (Scintillifer Blackbranch) and beheaded his assailant.
Lukkas is a man of the outdoors, rarely willing to stay put. He enjoys travelling in the wilds and has visited most of the notable places in Southeastern and Western Thressos. As a hobby, Lukkas domesticates different wild animals which he keeps back home in or just outside of Hillgrove, much to his parents' displeasure.
He is not religious, as per Union standard, but he doesn't hold any philosophical grudges against neither the Four or the False Gods. Lukkas respects Iskra, appreciative of the values she stands for, but also acknowledges Xi for her protection and aid in the wilds, loosely following the traditions of the Elves of the woods.
Lukkas is deeply inspired by the adventures of his uncle Mikhael Strand, for which he has read in Noerin Dekatt's and Gladys' book on the Void crisis. 
==Abilities==
=== Wilderness adept ===
Lukkas is not very fond of theoretical studying, preferring to do things in practice. Through experience, he is casually acquainted with about five languages, one of which being the ancient language of the wilds themselves - Primordial. He is also skilled with navigation and cartography.
His travels has led him to also have no trouble surviving in the wilderness - he knows where and how to find food and water, how to not get lost in the deep woods or find the tracks of animals and humans alike. 
=== Martial training ===
His combat skills are honed by the classical martial trainings of upcoming knights he has been taught to since childhood.
=== Nature magic ===
With the blessings of Xi, he also developed a few magical skills to give him boost in combat and aid him in the wilds.
=== Gunslinging ===
Having undergone extensive training in crossbow usage, he had easy time understanding the basic functionality of arcanoguns, allowing him to wield them proficiently. However, he still has trouble maintaining some of the more complex firearms that require magical recharging.
== History ==
=== Early life ===
Lukkas Gale was born into the family of Martin and Sofia Gale as their firstborn child, alongside his twin sister Maria. He rather neglected by his parents, so he and his sister grew up mainly by themselves, learning to help each other when the other is in need. He felt connection to nature since very early in his life, preferring to stay outside to play - watching birds, collecting herbs and berries, exploring the woods, hunting, even growing plans and taming animals. At first he wasn't allowed away from the city of Hillgrove without entourage but eventually he was more capable at navigating the wilds than most of the house knights of House Gale.
In around 2016, Lukkas made friends with a group of elven refugees and outcasts that were looking for a new home after being banished from their home in the western part of the Rotlands. They were given shelter and protection by Lord Martin Gale in the outskirts of Hillgrove, near a small evergreen forest that was still within the city's outer walls. Among the elves, there were hunters and priests, some of which willing to share their knowledge and the secrets of the wilds as a token of gratitude toward the lord's children. Lukkas and Maria were taught the basics of accessing the natural magic of the wilds in order to enhance their senses and skills, but soon they grew capable enough to train by themselves.
During 2020, Lukkas decided it was time for him to explore another passion of his' - seafaring. He went to Loneport, the home city of his mother and late uncle, to apply himself as a sailor and travel around Thressos' vast seas. He learned how to navigate ships, chart cards, maintain the sails and other such skills needed in the open sea. He also picked up a few languages around that time thanks to meeting people from all around the continent, such as elves and dwarves.