Caldyn of Halona

## Appearance

Caldyn is a rather good looking man, but he has a really great head of hair. He has a very strong chin, and an enviable jawline.

He mostly keeps his face clean shaven, but sometimes sports a little stubble.

In the Urgency of Clay, over twenty years have passed since his appearances in Legacy, and Caldyn has significantly aged. Age lines ring his forehead and cheeks, and it is clear the stress of his position as Grand Arbiter has weighed heavily on him. His brow is more furrowed, and his resting expression is grimmer. Still, compared to most humans in their mid fifties, he looks pretty great. His hairline has receded, but only very slightly, and it is still thick and full. Its blondeness has dulled with age, as it now significantly grayer. He seems more vigilant now with his facial hair, his face more consistently clear than before.

## Personality

Friendly, Affable, Charming, Cunning, Indirect, Ambitious

## History

Born in poverty in the city of Halona in Ruil, Caldyn did not have an easy childhood. The nation was in the midst of the Rulian-Zyth War, a conflict that absolutely ravaged Ruil. Famine, poverty, and disease plagued the city streets and took his mother from him, and Caldyn was forced to scrounge for survival on the streets. Along with his twin brother Mernt, he scavenged a life as a street urchin. He became well known for his leadership abilities, organizing teams of ragamuffins that skillfully eluded capture.

When both brothers got sick, however, they sought out treatment at the Aureate Citadel. In exchange for being healed, they agreed to work for the Citadel, and Caldyn soon found himself intrigued by the sense of community and purpose offered. After conferring with his brother, they decided to sign up with the Guardians, and started their training as Citadel Guardsmen.

Only but a couple months after they signed up in 433, the Ezra assault on the Citadel happened, a disastrous 4-day battle that left thousands dead on both sides. Experiencing first-hand both the impacts of warfare during his childhood, and then face-to-face with a heartbreaking, bloody battlefield instilled in Caldyn a lifetime hatred for widescale violence.

Caldyn studied hard at his exams, and while he wasn't the most skilled of the Citadel, his superiors found him bright, amiable, flexible, and full of enterprise. He passed the officer's exam and was made Chantrol at the very young age of 18. His ambition led him to further promotion to Vindacatist in 443, one of the highest ranking officers at the Citadel. He was known for his charming and affable personality, as well as a propensity for linking his fortunes to rising stars -- and he always carried his brother with him upwards.

After his response to the 444 AT Citadel Prison Break, Caldyn began to see Grand Arbiter Redgrad as an ineffectual leader, and started looking for his possible successor. He found this in Soraka, the former Citadel Guardsman who led the Citadel response to the Green Hand uprising during the Rebellion in Dural. Seeing in Soraka a woman of action and zeal who could lead the Citadel to a golden future, Caldyn began angling her to command. He advocated for her at the Golden Council, pointing to her long service, and her decisive actions at stamping out the rebellion. Caldyn's gambit was successful, and Soraka was soon elected Grand Arbiter. Unfortunately, along with this triumph came a great tragedy: Mernt, having been sent on a secret Citadel mission in 445 AT, had completely disappeared. Caldyn took a leave of absence to search for him but found nothing.

Recognizing how badly this loss had struck the young man, Soraka took him under her wing and became his mentor. Mutually supporting each other, they became a powerful duo. When the role of Grand Paragon opened up in 450, it seemed only fitting that Caldyn would take it.

## Abilities

Given his lofty position in the Citadel, it is surprising then that Caldyn is nowhere close to the best fighter the Citadel has. He is very much a background figure, a strategist over a fighter. He possesses the abilities of a paladin that has spent over 40 years in service, though he has not reached the height of his trade. He is competent but nothing spectacular.

Rather his most prominent abilities lie in his interpersonal skills. Caldyn's charm is disarming and makes him appear quite unassuming.

## Appearances

Session 49

Session 50

Session 51

Session 80

Session 100

Session 110

Session 111

Session 112

Session 120

Session 121

Session 131

Session 133

Session 135

Session 136

Session 138