Baldwin

> "I don't need to be interesting, I just need to be paid"
> - Baldwin responding to Yoko's remark.
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Baldwin during his first mercenary expedition.

Baldwin is a human/elf halfblood mercenary who is a member of mercenary company Wild Hunt.

## Description

### Appearence

Baldwin has tanned fair skin blemished by a small cut scar close to his left eye, blonde neck length hair, thin stuble, and blue eyes. Baldwin wears standard leather armor with iron shoulder and neck guards. Often carries around a wooden shield that carries his hamlet Titsiar's emblem (A black lotus surrounded by a red circle and a blue background).

### Personality

Baldwin can be characterised as a stubborn man who approaches any dangerous situation with an air of caution. However he can be be easily goaded into thinking irrationally and recklessly if taunted. Baldwin respects those who work hard and "get their hands dirty" to achieve their own goals. While Baldwin tolerates authority, he despises those of noble birth, describing them as "selfish and vain with no intention of doing their own bloody work".

## Biography

### Stranger of Stiltcester

> *"So how do you want to do this? First to draw blood or-"*
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> *"I'm sorry kid, but I play for keeps."*
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> - Baldwin and Suo moments before their duel.
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Arriving in the southern village of Stiltcester, Baldwin takes on a bounty of 300 leves for a wandering stranger passing the village posted by the local overseer, Lord Nelridge. Baldwin was tasked with retrieving a golden pig heirloom that Nelridge lost in a gambling game against the stranger. Baldwin tracked the stranger to the nearby thicket and announced himself to the stranger. The stanger introduced himself as "Suo of the Path" and disclosed the only way to retrieve the pig was through a duel to the death. After a close fight, Baldwin gained the upperhand and defeated Suo. After Suo refused Baldwin's offering of an estus by pouring it on the ground, Baldwin assisted Suo in the Kyo-tashian ritual of an honorable death.

### The Road to Lac Vierge

> *"Son of a bitch, that was a gift from my village, you fuck!"*
> - Baldwin furious after the destruction of his Shield
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Following a group of mercenaries that were heading towards Lac Vierge in response to a distress call, Baldwin is introduced to Yoko and their relationship begins immediately with an argument over her capability in combat. During the travel, the group are ambushed by Daemons that decimate the group. After the attackers were destroyed (along with Baldwin's shield), Baldwin and Yoko (being the only survivors) continue their journey onwards having no where else to go. Taking a detour for shelter in an old temple of Gwyn, Baldwin and Yoko meet Milo, Vulture, Wolfgang (and his mechanical companion, Klaus) and Loki and agree to head in the same direction to Lac Vierge the next day to provide more safety for eachother. Baldwin has another quarrel with Yoko and Milo goes to comfort Baldwin which endears himself towards Baldwin. The next day they prepare for their journey and set off, arriving at Lac Vierge at around midday on the 9th of the Sleeping Moon, 882 A.E.

### The Battle of Lac Vierge

> *"House-Keeping!"*
> - Baldwin bursting through a door to attack Katja.
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Following the arrival of the party. The group learned that Lac Vierge's village was suffering from raid parties. Upon investigation, the group discovered the raiders originated from the castle. The party would stay the night and helped the villagers prepare for the next raid. The battle ended in a phyrric victory, as many villagers were slain in the battle and Loki lost his leg in combat, however the ice-blooded warriors of the raid party were repelled. Upon discovery that the raider's were in-fact Schwarzgartian Mercenaries, the party decided to infiltrate the castle. Resulting in a confrontation with the head of the mercenaries, Katja von Krause. Katja was betrayed by the mercenaries and attempted to make a deal with the party to hunt down a mysterious black mage, but to meet her at Sainte Margeaux city. Gael, a knight of the circle of glass, attempted to arrest the party, but Baldwin recognising the name, informed Gael that his brother Lellensaave had perished, holding his handkerchief. Gael, misinterpreted that Lellensaave was murdered by Baldwin and became enraged, encouraging the rest of the party to hastily retreat through the cliffside exit of the castle.

### Trip to Sainte Margeaux

*"I want to prove to her that magic wasn't the only answer, that she didn't have to throw her life away!"*

- Baldwin distraught, retelling the events of his mother's downfall.

During their journey to Saint Margeaux. Baldwin opens up about his disdain for magic. Telling the party of how his mother's practice of magic led to her execution and how he fears that magic will always cause destruction, even when used for good. He reveals to the party how he wishes to prove his mother wrong, that she infact did not need to use magic to "save him", revealing an intense survivor's guilt. He also shows a discomfort in talking about his father.

In the following day, the party is ambushed by a sea of rats. eventually discovering a portal to a giant rat lair. Baldwin slayed the Rat queen after being swallowed whole, being crowned 'The Rat King' by the rats. Baldwin still wonder's if he ate a bad mushroom that day...

### Sainte Margeaux

*"Well... what about the Wildhunt?"*

- Baldwin and the party trying to determine a name for the company.

The party arrive at Sainte Margeaux. The speak with Katja's informant, Russ, who informs the party of Katja's location. They witness an Ash-Bringing preformed by a elven white mage named Raoul. Baldwin is disgusted by the hypocrisy of the Levissian practices of magic. The Party enters the mercenary lodge, where the party officially cites themselves as the mercenary company, the Wild Hunt, by Baldwin's suggestion and in goodwill to the groundlings and their old deity.