Cailan

'.....'

## **Background**

A second-generation New World native, Cailan born to the son of a Fifth Fleet Hunter father and Commission Handler mother in Astera. His father was killed in a hunt of a Deviljho that had come precariously close to attacking the settlement, along with several others when Cailan was only a small boy. As such, he was largely raised by his mother and various members of the Commission. Having aspired to become a hunter like his father and grandfather before him ever since he was a lad, his resolve only hardened with the former's passing.

Upon coming of age, Cailan submitted his application to join the Commission and serve as a Guild Hunter. While the Guild had no grand presence in the New World, such as in Dundorma, the Commission Council granted his request, assigning him as a Low Rank Hunter. Where others who had joined alongside him were disappointed that most of their tasks involved helping the local community rather than actual hunting, Cailan took it in his stride and became a well-known face around Astera, assisting in whatever task he was given, and often going out of his way to help others in need. Having grown much in size over the last few decades, Astera had no shortage of work on offer.

Then the day came when Cailan was given his first real hunting task. Along with X, he was given the objective of culling a Great Jagras that had become a pest to the outskirts of the town as of late. WIP

## **Personality and Behaviour**

Polite and friendly, yet quiet and withdrawn, Cailan can give off the first impression of being cold and aloof to those who meet him for the first time. However, once a person gets to know him, they will discover a warm and kind soul, who is dedicated to the protection of those close to him.

While not the most open of people in his emotions, Cailan nevertheless displays a sharp wit with flashes of sarcasm and humour.

## **Occupation**

Cailan signed up to become a Guild Hunter as soon as he became of age, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather before him. After passing the Guild tests and being granted the official title of Hunter, he specialises in tracking, reconnaissance and investigation, although as with all Hunters, is fully combat trained if the need should arise.

## **Likes and Dislikes**

Like many of his fellow hunters, Cailan prefers the simple things in life, wishing only to relax and unwind following a mission. Ales are a frequent pastime, as is wine occasionally.

Being a more solitary individual, Cailan is comfortable in his own company, and often spends periods of time in nature, particularly woodlands and near bodies of water, which were always plentiful growing up in Astera. However, he is not averse to company and communal activities. Drinking among friends and feasting are always a welcome to him, as well as occasionally leisurely pursuits such as a game of cards .

While not someone of many specific dislikes or peeves, Cailan, as with a large number of the Guild, has a low tolerance for Melynxes, frowning upon their petty thievery and opportunism even in dangerous situations.

He has a strong distaste for the foodstuff found within Conch Shells, which are considered delicacies by some, and also ironically, is allergic to the toadstools used for creating the poison that uses in many of his weapons and gadgets, having to have it gathered and made for him.

## **Strengths and Weaknesses**

### **Strengths**

Cailan's main strength is knowing where his strengths lie, unlike those who are unaware or simply arrogant and led into thinking that they are far more capable than they are. Some may view his stoicism as aloofness, as he is not someone to speak up when unnecessary or waste words, leading to some thinking of him as cold-shouldered. In fact, he merely uses the silence and spaces between to analyse the situation or subject and form a verdict before he adds his opinion on the matter.

In terms of strengths as a Hunter, Cailan is a particularly gifted tracker and investigator, with high detection and observation skills, therefore often being sent out on more scout-orientated missions than kill/capture assignments. Along with his skillset is also a good understanding and utilisation of camouflage and stealth, useful when combined with his other abilities.

### **Weaknesses**

While the need for solitude is a key part to any being once in a while, Cailan can sometimes unintentionally lose himself in it and shut out others, also being prone alongside it to moments of brooding and skepticism. Having lost his father as a child, and with his mother not always around to give him companionship, he spent much time alone and with his thoughts, for better or worse.

## **Ambitions**

Ever since he was a child, Cailan aspired to become a Hunter. Having been granted his wish, he now seeks to hone his skill, both hunting the most fearsome of beasts, while also protecting those close to him and ensuring that he experiences no further tragic losses.

## **Bonds**

**Oren** - Cailan's Palico companion. The two were introduced and partnered several years before Cailan became an official Hunter at the age of 18, and have formed a steadfast bond ever since, with both having saved each other's lives, although generally more one-sided than the other. Oren, like his master, specialises in tracking and camouflage, perfect for drawn out missions and scouting. He is easily recognised amongst the Guild settlements by his left ear, of which part is missing due to an encounter with the particularly large and hungry Great Jagras. Nevertheless, Oren wears his scarring as a mark of pride, though it does cause his ear to twitch slightly more than a usual Lynian. In the field, Oren wears armour crafted from the materials of a Pukei Pukei.

## **Appearance**

Easily identifiable by his peers due to his distinct battle paint, average of height and lithe of build, Cailan cuts an athletic and lean figure, a result of his days of hard work hunting and carrying out manual labour.

Cailan's most distinguishable feature is his iconic battle paint, inspired by more tribalistic hunters of the Old World and also his own late father, who wore similar paint. He uses charcoal to create the distinct look, covering the immediate area around his eyes, before dragging the stick down under the middle of his cheeks, before moving onto to several segments of his face, creating a bladed look.

## **Physical Abilities**

**Athleticism** - While not the most gifted of his peers in terms of physical strength, Cailan's body is honed through his athletic feats. Having grown up in Astera, nature was always his playground, and he became adept at a young age in climbing in particular, before learning to traverse through the forests in a number of ways, now easily capable of mixing vaults, jumps and rolls into his momentum as he travels.

**Stamina Breakdown** - Having spent much of his life exploring and training, Cailan has built up his tolerance against the toxins creating exhaustion. While he can still of course become tired and worn out, he can spend longer periods in physical activity than the average hunter.

## **Intellectual Abilities**

**Environmental Awareness** - By no mean a genius, Cailan is skilled in adapting quickly to the situation at hand, particularly in using terrain to his advantage during hunts.

**Tracking Analysis** - A speciality of Cailan's. While all hunters must be aware of how to track monsters, Cailan was raised, in part by his late father, in how to look further into clues and details pertaining a target's whereabouts and status.

## **Equipment**

Cailan knows where his strengths lie and understands that he is not of the natural physique to wield heavy weapons like the Greatsword or wear Barroth plated armour. Instead, he opts for flexibility and speed to fell his targets rather than brute force.

### **Weapon/s**

#### **Pukei Pukei Bow**

Using the materials of his greatest conquest yet, Cailan constructed this bow from both the bones and feathers of a fallen Pukei-Pukei. Durable but light, it is of a compound design that can easily be stored and carried, yet unfolded with ease and at quick speed.

While Cailan carries a stock of standard arrows within his quiver, he also favours carrying several poison and paralysis tipped missiles, inflicting his targets with status ailments before going in for the kill or capture.

#### **Chrome Slicer Dual Blades**

While Cailan favours his bow in most scenarios, and has far more experience with it, his secondary weapon is a pair of basic Chrome Slicer Dual Blades, which he uses in tighter situations where close combat is called for, with the bow being unsuitable for such occasions.

Though not as accustomed in their use as with his bow, Cailan can nevertheless wield the blades with a degree of efficiency, enough at least to take on less threatening monsters.

### **Armour**

#### **Pukei Pukei Gear**

While Cailan's bow was crafted from several materials of the Pukei-Pukei, there were enough left over to add to existing Commission gear. Adding several parts of the gear with small metal plates, much of it was adorned in Pukei feathers, giving it a natural colour scheme perfect for forest and jungle camouflage.

Particularly useful to Cailan is the hood and head gear. While offering additional camouflage, the goggles are fitted with a sniping lens, perfect for combination with Cailan's choice of weapon in the bow and his sharpshooter skills, while the mask that covers the lower half of his face in equipped with a filtration device, offering protection against lesser noxious vapors and scents.

#### **Traps and Gadgets**

Like all Hunters, Cailan carries Net and Shock Traps for capturing monsters, as well as tranquiliser bombs for wearing down a captured monster. On top of that, the pouches on Cailan's armour contain throwing knives, which can be fired from his slinger, as well as caltrops, flash and dung pods, and various healing phials.