Craig Behalen

> ***"I don't have a condition, or anything, I just prefer darker corners, that's all."***
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## **Appearance**

Craig, at first glance, could easily be pinned as either a reclusive vagrant, or a would-be assassin that really should've chosen another path in life. With his patchwork cloak—made up of varying shades of a dark and muted forest green—and well-worn leather boots, many would likely assume that most of his attire was obtained from the trash of the various shopkeepers he's passed in his travels. Despite his choice in clothing, however, his person is another story. Without his signature cloak to single him out in the daylight, it would take quite a keen eye to pick him out of even a small crowd. His almost perfectly unremarkable figure is nearly a disguise on its own. Brown hair, brown eyes, average build, average height. In truth, unless you'd met the man before, even a detailed description of him would leave you with a multitude of people to fit the bill.

Despite having spent most of his life out of the sunlight, Craig's figure is remarkably healthy. His skin is only slightly paler than the average person's, and his complexion is about as flawless as a commoner's can be—save for the small scar on his right eyebrow. He tends to hide his rough-cut, brown hair beneath his hood, along with the rest of his face—consequently making him appear to be a much shiftier person than he is. On either side of his waist sits his trusted weapons of choice: his dagger and sickle, which he keeps modestly sheathed so as to avoid drawing attention to them. His shortbow and quiver are the only possessions of his that don't reside beneath is cloak. And his hands are wrapped in an aged and well-worn fabric, that definitely could use some cleaning.

## **Personality**

Reclusive and placid best describe Craig's immediate persona, though not for the reasons one might think. As with his appearance, it would be easy to mistake him for a homeless knock-off assassin, or even some run-of-the-mill stoic lone-wolf who lives for brooding like a bard lives for sex. But, in truth, he is quite a welcoming individual... Most of the time. Unfortunately, having been raised by a spiteful ex-rogue, gone town drunkard, he picked up more than just the old man's skills. As a result, if one were to get him going on a tangent about something like, say, most any of the well-established religious groups, they'd find that his colorful language more than makes up for his bland appearance. It should be noted though, that he doesn't despise anyone or anything, he just has some deeply rooted biases.

On a more interpersonal level, Craig is a very reliable individual. Despite his tendency to stay in the shadows, he is more than willing to leave them in order to help someone in need. As a self-proclaimed emissary of "The Shadows", he has come to be both a comforting shoulder to cry on, as well as a very dangerous target to lose track of. Should one find themselves in need of a soul to vent to, or deemed as a target by his blade, they would find that one of his most prominent traits is his sheer level of patience. He is more than capable of listening for hours on end, or lying in wait for much longer. Though much of his patience is likely due to his lack of jadedness to the world—contrary to the blunted teachings passed down to him. Much of his life was spent honing his skills, and learning the ways of "The Shadows", leaving very little time to learn more useful skills, such as understanding social cues, or building up a social filter.

## **History**

### Early Life

Born at a very young age, Craig's parent's left him at the doorstep of an orphanage in a distant village—for reasons that may remain forever unknown. His adoptive father, a man by the name of Medugal Henderson, just so happened to be passing by said orphanage when it happened, and decided to save the poor child from "*a life of politically enforced stupidity, and social brainwashing*", as he put it. The man, who was no more than a drunkard at the time, took Craig into his care, and raised the boy as if he were his own. His first years of life were likely some of the luckiest days he will ever experience, due to issues regarding Medugal's lack of parenting skills and his raging alcoholism. Fortunately for them both, Craig quickly learned how to walk, talk, and disappear spontaniously—which likely took a few years off Medugal's life when his pseudo-parental instincts would kick in. Not long after that, he was learning to speak, which consiquently meant that he was also being taught how the world worked, as seen through his mentor's eyes.

### Learning From the Best

Underneath all of the jadedness, alchemical-foil-hat conspiracies, and gallons of mead, Medugal proved to be almost another man entirely when it came to the Rogue craft. As it turned out, he had once been an aspiring Dark Lurker Rogue, who abandoned the trade after an aquaintance of his stole most of his belongings and ran off with them. Despite his resentment, though, the passion he once had seemed to reignite as he taught Craig everything he knew, and then some. From basic weapon weilding, to honing his already sharp hiding skills, Medugal made sure the young boy would be ready for the world—even taking extra care to ensure he could hold down his alcohol. But beyond all that, Medugal made sure to engrave one belief above all into his pupil's soul, up until the day he died. And that was to never forsake, or desecrate the shadows with acts of evil. Basic thieving was one thing, but to betray another soul for the sake of gold or power was beyond disgraceful.

### On His Own

Medugal passed away when Craig was about 19 years old, leaving the young man to fend for himself in the world. It took him some time to adjust to things, but he eventually set out on his own, with only the equipment that had been passed down to him, and his signature patchwork cloak, that had been fasioned mostly from Medugal's old cloak. Traveling in solitude for so long led him to form a stronger connection with the entity he refered to, quite unceremoniously, as "The Shadows"—which he believed to be the combined presence of all darkness, shadow, and even shade in the world. And as his understanding of shadows and darkness deepened, so too did his conviction to cleanse The Shadows of their evil reputaion. From there, it was only a matter of time before the Shadow Walker found his way to Absalom, The City of Secrets.

## **Relationships**

* Married to a kitsune, named Kasumi Brightfang.

## **Events**

* Got roped into the apocalypse, when Cheliax decided to mix things up and sack the city.