Character Study

Quite, thoughtful, and peaceful in close quarters, it would seem that there is little remarkable about Tirdad. However, his impressive height, builk, and piercing eyes tell a different story. Gentle-natured, Tirdad has a noble-minded character that refuses to stand idly by while a wrongdoing is commited. It is thus that he finds a dichotemy in himself, between his gentle ideals and his duty.

 

Historical Synopsis:

A child of the Arslanian East, Tirdad was a farmer's son who worked in the fields by day and sought relief as a painter in the evening. His father, Cyrus, had been a hero in the previous war with the Kriegbesonnenheit, but after being maimed in the final battle, he had retired to work in the fields. A modest youth and wholly unlike his father, Tirdad was nonetheless often the leader of his playmates, tall and built like a statue, commanding of voice and yet quiet by nature. He found himself frequently torn between wanting peace between people, and having to commit himself to doing what he felt was right. Very often, that meant fighting, especially as he grew older and was egged on to become a soldier.

At the bequest of his father and mother, Tirdad enlisted in the Arslanian military, but found that the mechanisms of soldiery were simply too stifling for him to endure. Two years were spent in the barracks trying to adapt, yet in the end he was still a gentle soul. For this he was given the name "Stone Sheep", characterising his stature and nature. Towards the end of his military service, he befriended a stray dog which he named Hasti. She became his constant companion, even dragging him from battle during a skirmish with Edean forces. At least for a time, she served to alleviate his discomfort.

However, Tirdad was soon unhappy again. The officers didn't want a dog in the barracks and were planning to drive Hasti away. This added tremendous weight to Tirdad's heart, and he felt it was time to leave. Thus one night he fled the camp under cover of darkness. He stole a steed and set his course for the West, where he knew he would be free. What little he took with him were his sword and beloved dog, everything else left behind -- for good.

 

Regarding Weapons/Proficiencies:

Shamshir

The shamshir is a long, curved scimitar-class sword, flexible and manuverible. Although not particularly strong, it does its job well and doesn't chip or break as easily as more concrete blades might.

Kukri

The Kukri is not an Arslanian weapon, but rather from Targatha. Its sloped, serpentine design makes it ideal for disarming opponents. Tirdad found it on the corpse of an Edean enemy he had defeated and decided to keep it, seeing as it was an unusual find.

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Varzesh-e Pahlavani

The traditional martial arts of Arslan are all grouped under the name "Varzesh-e Pahlavani", and are comprised largely of wielding the shamshir, shield, and wrestling. In particular, Pahlavani handling of the shamshir requires deft strikes and knowledge of the body's tendons. Disabling an opponent's limbs is top priority.

Koshti

Koshti is a sub-system of Pahlavani and refers to wrestling. Unlike Aa'krisian Panmachia or the wrestling forms found in the Nordelands, Koshti's "official" rules do not state that an opponent is defeated by a pin. Rather, an opponent is only defeated when they surrender or are rendered unconscious. Koshti is therefore considered a brutal sport, and focuses largely on twists and snaps.