Ruisheart

* Reference
* Heroforge
* Sprite

## Backstory

Ruisheart, named after his grandfather, was born in a small northern city in the Vasilian Empire where his mother died of childbirth. After the death of his mother, Ruisheart's father Lachlan Sudrach moved the family to a small town near the coast where Ruisheart found a love for the wide open ocean. Lachlan was a hardcore nationalist, who inducted Ruisheart into his beliefs from a young age. Lachlan, an ex-soldier himself, put a lot of pressure on Ruisheart to fight for the empire. After graduating from school, Ruisheart was influenced by both his father and a patriotic teacher to join the ranks of the military. Naturally, he gravitated towards the Vasilian Navy.

Ruisheart was already well trained in alchemy and mechanics prior to enlisting. In training, he was trained as an artillerist, a group of sailors meant to provide special fire for the naval battles. Known for their brutal magical fire, the main role of the artillerists was to provide burning or powerful artillery to use against enemy ships. Ruisheart was trained in military strategy, chain of command, and resilience.

Upon finishing training, Ruisheart was sent to patrolling the southern coast of Callinect Island under Captain Trelles, whom he grew to hold in high regard. Trelles was a cunning captain, who believed in the idea, "every battle is won or lost before it is ever fought." He taught his crew about planning ahead for all possible results before heading into battle.

When piracy began to increase in Kraken's Hold and Quoitwa Bay, Trelles' ship, the Mongoose, was sent to help in the battle against the pirates so that Vasilia may gain a hold in the area. The fighting against the pirates was only about to get more brutal.

Ruisheart saw the horrific fighting claim many lives he had come to know, including his friend Tobias Montgomery (stabbed by pirate), and Bella O'Dwyer (drowned). This made him become disillusioned with the glory of the navy. He and some other disgruntled sailors would sometimes cast around ideas that the politicians that had sent out the navy to combat these pirates did not have the best interests of the Empire at heart, and were corrupt.

Once, while ashore in Knoxis when a violent storm damaged the Mongoose, Ruisheart met a beautiful elven woman by the name of Pyra. Their brief relationship was a dangerous one, due to Pyra being a citizen of the Starboard Alliance. When the Mongoose was repaired, the two parted. Ruisheart swore that one day he would return for Pyra, despite their conflicting nationalities.

During a horrendous battle against the violent Captain Ward, Trelles was killed in front of Ruisheart when the Mongoose was struck by cannons and flames. This resulted in a wooden plank scarring Ruisheart on the chest and on the forehead.

Ruisheart was taken prisoner by the pirates, who did not want to kill him as they wanted to learn how to use artillery themselves. Ruisheart did not spend long in the pirate's hold, as he was freed by another Vasilian ship when Captain Ward was ambushed a week and a half later. Without a ship to return to, Ruisheart and the other few survivors of the Mongoose were sent to Portia, and then back home.

Ruisheart returned to his hometown to his father, who had come down with a terrible sickness. Lachlan was not grateful to see that his son had survived, and chastised him instead for coming home when there were still those out there fighting in the name of the empire. Ruisheart left, angry.

He later spoke to the town physician about Lachlan's condition, and found out it was terminal. Ruisheart, not being able to bear the idea that he had failed his father upon his deathbed, fled the town. Lachlan died soon after.

Ruisheart relocated to the port city of Eastshire, where he was able to take a leave from the navy for his service during the campaign up north. For two years, Ruisheart lived alone in the Port District, mostly keeping to himself. Haunted by the death he had experienced and had caused, his mental state began to deteriorate, leaving him paranoid and skittish.

However, still fiercely loyal to the Vasilian Empire's values and with a hatred for violent criminals, Ruisheart kept his eye on the shady dealings of the various crime factions around the city. When the Eastwind Inquisitors project was launched by Sigmund Murthy to combat the Occulox Project, Ruisheart signed on as the representative of the Port District, believing it was better for him to do it than anyone else, as he had nothing to lose.

## Notes

* Believer in the Vasilian Empire's values, thinks that they will bring about a better world.
* Fought in naval battles, scarred by the fighting but not disillusioned with his side.
* He found his love in a port city, but never saw her again. Maybe part of an enemy nation, causing conflict?