DeSoto Larkin

DeSoto Larkin official art by @BrachyZoid

## Personality

DeSoto is a practical man who keeps a cool head in tense situations. His no-nonsense approach to things is tempered by a genuine care and concern for the well-being of others, especially his daughter. He is strong hearted, loyal, family focused, and a very tired dad.

## Background

DeSoto the captain of the 4th company of the Briarheart's Guild. A large mercenary guild in Alivast that is influential enough that they provide a representative to the Alivast Council.

DeSoto Larkin was born in Paraton to former elite soldiers Romeo and Juliet Larkin, alongside his younger sister Celine Larkin. Romeo and Juliet left their estate alongside their children 30 years ago, sensing a dark change in the country they swore their lives to as a celebrated Paladin and Cleric couple serving under Orun. The family moved to a village in Buldur to start their lives anew. Whereas Romeo became a Preacher of Old Orun Faith, Juliet a celebrated blacksmith and Celine a merchant, DeSoto chose the life of a mercenary when he was 18. His parents armed him and gave him his trademark flail, Shooting Star, forged out of the shattered remains of Romeo's old sword when they left Paraton. He signed with an upstart company, The Silver Will, and started his career.

Through his adventures in the old world, he met a djinn who saved him from an end at sea named Amna. She saved him out of curiosity, yet soon they found each other inseparable from one another. He joined with an irregular group of mercenaries to help found Alivast, where soon Amna and DeSoto were wed and an Air Genasi child was born between them named Gloria Larkin. When Gloria was four, Amna left them stating she would one day return when the great discord in the Planes was quelled. DeSoto wanted to go with her, but was told to remain to raise Gloria and defend their home. At this point in his life DeSoto has done as such, as a Captain of the 4th Company of Briarhearts. The Briarhearts were a company founded at the same time as Alivast, formed off the tenets of Lola Greenbriar and her Halfling 'Tight-knit' Military upbringing. DeSoto also keeps a superb rapport with his family, who also are pleased of the life he forged himself. He still stands as a founding member of the Briarhearts to this day, and though a man with hands in many cultures holds to the fact Alivast is their home, and nothing will destroy it as long as he lives.

## Relationships

### Gloria

When DeSoto was first introduced, Gloria was nine years old, but she appeared in the main campaign several years later and was 12 years old. She has shaggy robin's-egg blue hair, and green eyes, demonstrating her Air Genasi heritage that she got from her mother. She is a very kind and optimistic child, and treats everyone respectfully except for her father who she actually treats like a peer, if not a child himself.

She lives in the Lower District with DeSoto but she attends a private school in the Middle District. When DeSoto is on missions one of the other Captains takes to babysitting her, or a kindly Elven woman from a Livrosean temple from down the way if all of them are out.

Anaparna, her mother, left on a mission to her homeland (the actual Air Plane) when Gloria was four. Though it's been years, DeSoto hasn't gotten any word that she's passed away. She was really sad about it back then, and when she was five. DeSoto and her still hold out hope that one day she might come back, and Gloria took to carrying around her mother's necklace, an extravagantly elegant holy icon of Livrosea. She also helps out some days at a small temple of that deity, feeling a little connection to her mother that way.

### Briarhearts

The Briarhearts is led by a halfling wolfrider named Lola Greenbriar and consists of 4 companies each with its own captain.

1. Leopold Braver, goblin paladin of Vetrion
2. Oyuri Chowa, crane kenku wizard
3. Urizen Fell, tiefling rogue, DeSoto's best friend. Urizen's role as the guild's representative to the council either signifies how little Lola thinks of the role or perhaps is intended as a big middle finger to the Council.
4. DeSoto Larkin, Under his command are troopers named Leon, Grace, Zakriel, Olen, and Braddus.

The Briarhearts guild hall has a goliath receptionist nicknamed Blinky because nobody can recall seeing him blink. Also in their employ is a construct named Green, who does all manner of filing and groundskeeping work. Green loves their namesake color so much that they painted himself green.

## Trivia

* Before he ever appeared in a streamed one-shot, DeSoto was in two one-shots set in the world of Alivast that were never streamed.
* DeSoto's guild, The Briarhearts, and his co-captain, Urzien Fell, were canon before DeSoto actually appeared in a streamed game.