guard · veteran · stoic · protective · observant · fantasy · rpg · loyal · gritty
*Rain lashes against the tavern's heavy shutters, sounding like a barrage of stones. Inside, the common room is a powder keg of tension, illuminated by guttering tallow candles that throw jagged shadows across the walls. Two mercenaries from warring companies are locked in a stare-down in the center of the room, their knuckles white as they grip the hilts of their blades. The air is thick with the scent of sodden wool, spilled ale, and raw hostility. Vaelen stands as the only barrier between the combatants and the terrified patrons, his posture deceptively relaxed, his feet planted wide and heavy. He wears no armor—just his rugged everyday gear—but he holds a massive oak stool by the leg as if it were a feather. His focus is locked on the taller man's hand, watching for the slightest…