Lyle Horrig

## Traits

Lyle is sweet and kind, if a bit on the morbid side. He trusts too easily and isn’t sure what to do in most social interactions, but he makes due in his weird little way. He loves nature and death, even more so the cycle that they bring. His curiosity often gets the better of him for he hasn’t seen most things.

## Goals & Motivation

Short term:

He seeks to prove to himself that he is worthy of becoming Quisno's champion.

Long term:

While he would still like to learn everything of Quisno, the reason for him doing so has drifted far from just a simple curiosity in the goddess his family worships.

## Appearance

Lyle is around average height for a human, standing at 5 foot and 11 inches, though is a bit stockier than most due to his many years digging graves. He tends to wear purple and blue robes, when not in his ceremonial garbs or in the summer heat. Once upon a time, he wore an old and worn down white mask with stripes of red falling from the eyes that now finds a long needed rest. He currently has pale white skin, decorated by wide golden eyes and shaggy hair that comes down long enough to meet his short beard.

## Physical strength

He is a bit stronger than the average person from many years spent helping his father dig and fill new graves.

## Speed & Agility

He is a fair bit on the sluggish side, both due to his slower gait and how easily he gets winded.

## Endurance and Stamina

His muscular frame is great for taking hits, but he easily runs out of breath.

## Charisma & Intelligence

He isn’t charismatic in the slightest as his only social interactions were with his parents and the occasional mournful gathering. He doesn’t have any sort of traditional schooling, simply apprenticing his parents.

## Combat ability

His combat skills are nearly nonexistent, aside from wildly swinging an axe in defence of himself.

## Skills

He excels at Horticulture, Gravekeeping, and Brewing

## Drawbacks/weaknesses

Though it is faintly masked by the scents of various plants, Lyle has a lingering decay-like scent that won’t wash away as hard as he tries.

## Early Life

* Lyle was born and raised in a graveyard deep within a wooded forest, about a half day travel on foot from any nearby villages. His father, Lorric, tended to the graves and the souls that would come to mourn while his mother, Vivienne, tended to the gardens where she grew everything they ate or drank. He grew up being taught by the two of them, Vivienne passing her horticultural knowledge down to him and Lorric showed him how to tend to the graves while teaching him the family history of gravekeeping and their connection to Quisno. It was a peaceful but isolated life, leaving Lyle curious of the world outside its reaches.
* In the summer of Lyle’s 15th year, his father was trying to stop two mourners that had broken out into a fight, grabbing hold of one of them that turned their anger on him as they plunged a knife into his gut. The next day, Lyle and Vivienne held their own private ceremony and Lyle tended to his first grave without his father’s guidance and took up Lorric’s place tending to the graves, donning the red streaked mask his father almost always wore.
* 5 years later, amongst the many new graves that joined Lyle’s work, Vivienne’s grave would rest with Lorric’s. After his passing, she had thrown herself fully into her work, skipping more and more meals as the years passed until she could no longer keep going. Lyle tried to keep brave, telling her he would be okay at her end.

## Recent life events

* Lyle spent the next 10 years tending to the gardens and the graves, all alone despite the occasional visits from mourners. He desperately wanted company, the thought of leaving to go elsewhere often on his mind, but the fear of letting his parents down by leaving the graveyard untended kept him almost trapped there. In the later of these years, running out of places to make grave-sites within the cobbled walls, Lyle began to let the gardens grow over the graves and began to bury newcomers where gardens used to be.
* It was a few days after his 30th birthday that Lyle found himself at the gate to leave the graveyard packed to step beyond, the thought of leaving once again on his mind and as the familiar fear began to creep its way into his mind, a warm breeze flowed from behind him, bringing with it a feeling of relief and approval. To him, it was as if the spirits there were telling him that it would be okay that he left, and he would swear he could hear his father’s guidance once more, “Though they are gone, they will always be with us.”
* Having arrived in the lands of Oracle, Lyle was overwhelmed with all the new sights and things to learn about. He eventually made the choice to settle down in Leafton and began the many months long work of building his temple and graveyard where the undead would flock to settle in peace before their time to walk in Quisno's light came.
* Upon becoming the Champion of Truth, when Quisno offered boon to aid him in his endeavors, Lyle denied the need and asked for her hand instead, knowing that all he needed to get through the darkness was her light.
* With many friends and new found family gathered, Lyle was wed to Quisno on Vinsday in Autumn. He has truly never felt more at peace than he has standing beside her.

## Present life

Nowadays, Lyle finds himself busier and busier as each day passes, plotting together with friends to ensure everyone's survival, filling his role as Leafton Advisor, simply tending to the graves in his new home, taking care of his adopted son, Algernon, and more recently, planning out a home for his growing family.

## Notable Relationships

Venia: The first person Lyle met on his long pilgrimage from home, her kindness toward him was what tipped the scale for him determining where to settle here in Oracle. He truly sees her as someone he can give absolute trust to, which is why despite not knowing what one does, he was very willing to become her advisor when she was made Queen of Leafton

Harrier: The kobold with dragon's heart, Harrier is the first mortal Lyle has ever met that he felt a bond beyond friendship with. As far as he is concerned, Harrier is his brother, the only person aside from his beloved that he feels he can truly confide in, and the few among the living that Lyle would give his life for.

Otto Kruk: Despite being his opposite in many ways, Lyle always enjoys talking with Otto. He finds it quite refreshing to be able to converse with someone that has such a different perspective, specially when he thinks he can win them over, even if it takes many many talks along the way.

Gnog: Lyle is very defensive over the kind kobold known as Gnog. Lyle considers him to be one of the most important people in the lands, especially after being present for the purification of Gwen. Lyle is not the type to partake in violence, but if it's on Gnog's behalf, Lyle would pick up his axe and charge into any fray.

Krimsley: One could not make a list of friend without putting the King of Arcadia upon it, as it was thanks to him that majority of the Temple of Quisno's stonework was acquired. He is truly a kind ruler, even to those outside his banner. Lyle hopes to one day find a way to repay him for his overflowing kindness.

Ayda Dúlamán: Another who a list of friends would not make sense without, Ayda helped Lyle work on his writing and reading skills and now does the same for his adopted son, Algernon. Lyle believes she might just be the smartest person in the world and is eager to see what all she has to teach.

Algernon: The son of the late Professor Porkchop, loyal educator of Leafton, and Garion "Kidney" Asikaro, Lyle's best friend. After their passing, Quisno guided the young one to the Temple and Lyle took the young zombified pigman in as his own. Much to his joy, young Algernon has taken an interest in learning all that he can, especially that of the duties Lyle holds as the Leafton gravekeeper.

Quisno: Long has the Horrig family followed the guidance of the Goddess of Death and Truth, keeping long traditions of gravekeeping in her name. Upon their first meeting, Lyle had a grande moment of realization that his love for death ran deeper than a concept, She has had his heart longer than he could have ever known. He is her champion, but before the need for that, he is her husband.

Eldrin: Though at first Lyle was a bit apprehensive of the Snow Elf, but he has seen the strides Eldrin has made to find his right path in life and has grown a deep respect for him. Much like Harrier, Lyle sees Eldrin as a brotherly figure, though much more like an older brother.

Roseanne Phoenix: A fellow follower of his beloved Quisno, Lyle hold Roseanne in high regards. He doesn't know a lot about her compared to other friends, though based on what he does know and what he thinks, he tries to treat her a bit nicer than he normally treats people.

## Fun Facts

* Lyle enjoys growing tea and berry bushes on the land around the graves in his graveyard, passing the nutrients of the departed on as if to give them a second life.
* Lyle lives down in the Leafton Crypts, where he rests within his cozy little coffin.
* Lyle is an aspiring writer, having written the tennants of his faith, he seeks to experiment with works of fiction.