Bernhard 'Berndt' Gunther

Character Name: Bernhard “Berndt” Gunther.

Nationality: Eisen.

Age: Twenty-eight.

Sex: Male.

Height: 6' 2”.

Weight: 200 lbs.

Arcana: Reckless.

Description: Berndt is a strong, solidly built, young man of pure Eisen stock; his blonde hair and blue eyes are a good indication of that. His years of training and fighting monsters in Posen’s service has chiseled him into a fine specimen of warrior, and it generally takes either an overly strong, or overly clever opponent to knock him off his feet without a fair bit of trying.

Berndt is usually seen wearing light leather armor that allows him the freedom to move, but the protection to withstand claws and teeth to an extent. Other than that, he wears fairly typical traveling garb: sturdy boots, a belt, various pouches, a traveling cloak for colder nights, ect.

As for weaponry, Berndt carries only two forms of weapons at all times: aside from various impromptu devices, a single handed, single bladed battle axe, and a Dracheneisen panzerhand(on his left hand) with has a crossbow built onto it.

Birthplace: Insel, Eisen.

Mother: Zelda Gunther.

Father: Adalwolf Gunther.

Siblings: Two older brothers; Vail Gunther & Earle Gunther.

Personal History: Berndt comes from a long line of “Swamp Dogs” and an even longer line of monster hunters. Both of Berndt’s older brothers graduated from the Gelingen School in Insel and became widely known and respected monster hunters and “Swamp Dogs”, as is true with his Father. But when it came to Berndt, there were whispered worries that the noble chain of monster hunters might skip a link. This was due to the fact that from his younger days and well into his late teens, Berndt was terrified of anything and everything, to the point of paranoia. When his brothers were out hunting with their father or practicing their Gelingen studies, Berndt was safely indoors trying to train as best he could without venturing out into the big scary world beyond his parents’ home.

This trend continued until Berndt officially joined the Gelingen School and his instructors would not tolerate his fear. He spent a year falling behind all of his peers and disappointing his instructors, refusing to venture into the “Salzsümpf” with the others to patrol and learn to deal with the monsters that inhabit such a place. After that year, during a short trip that he and his family had taken to Freiburg, Berndt heard about a large marsh area south of Gottkirchen that was infested with terrible beasts of varying types that put the denizens of the “Salzsümpf” to shame. It was then and there that Berndt decided what he must do to overcome his fears, speaking to his father and gathering his things to journey alone to this horrid place known as “Unsterblich Sümpf” he left Freiburg and headed southwest.

It was a long trip to “Unsterblich Sümpf”, but Berndt remained resolute to reach his destination and face his fears. Once he neared the cursed swamp he was forced to run a gauntlet of people warning him, sometimes forcefully, to not venture there, that anyone who enters the swamp walks in constant danger. His reply to all of this was a simple “That is why I must go there.” Finally arriving at his destination, he left everything he did not absolutely need, and entered the cursed swamp, determined to remain there until he had overcome his fears and could return home to Insel as a fearless monster hunter like his father and brothers before him.

Berndt spent several nights huddled in a makeshift shelter, jumping nearly a foot every time he heard the slightest noise. But after a while it got a little easier, and soon he was able to wander the swamp during the day, though still fleeing from any creature that came into his field of view. This continued for nearly a month, until one night Berndt was returning to his makeshift shelter and ran into the largest, palest, snake he had ever seen in his life. This creature was massive, oozing death as it slithered through the swamp, its very touch killing anything breathing or growing in seconds. Upon seeing it, Berndt froze completely, unable to move or look away from the creature. Fortunately for him the beast did not spot him and instead continued on its way, leaving a path of death and decay in its wake.

It was a full hour before Berndt was able to move again, his body feeling stiff and sore from his muscled being tensed for so long. However, once he relaxed and thought about it, he realized that the constant fear that had been plaguing him since he entered the swamp wasn’t there anymore. It was as if the beast that oozed death had taken his fear with it when it passed him by.

For the rest of the week Berndt wandered the cursed swamp slaying beasts without a hint of fear, instead feeling only excitement and anticipation as he hunted various dangerous and hideous creatures. Once he was certain his fear would not return, he left the swamp and headed back north to Insel, to continue his studies and make his family proud.

Upon his return, Berndt’s family and friends almost could not recognize him. Not only had he grown a lot physically during his personal journey to battle his demons, but he was also no longer the frightened child that he had been. He quickly threw himself full force into his studies at the Gelingen School and graduated as one of the most skilled and dedicated students in many years, heading almost straight into Posen’s “Swamp Dogs” as had his father and brothers before him.

After spending a few years in Posen’s service, however, Berndt realized that now that his fear was not holding him back a new emotion had sprung forth and become difficult to ignore; a desire for exploration and personal challenges. He enjoyed serving in the “Swamp Dogs” with his father and brothers, but it was not what he really wanted. So after much consideration, he resigned from Posen’s service and once again set out on his own into the “big scary world”…

Character Traits: Berndt is a friendly, easing going, individual most days. His time in the “Unsterblich Sümpf” left him completely devoid of fear in any form, allowing him to remain light hearted and calm in the most extreme situations. This has left him in trouble on a few occasions though, as he sometimes will run headlong into danger without worry. Fortunately for Berndt, his Gelingen training and years of experience typically carry him through most of these rare situations.

Medical History: Berndt returned from the “Unsterblich Sümpf” with many cuts and bruises, but no serious injuries, and has gained little more since then.

Character by Grey, life-changing experience by Der Verschlingen.