Hunter (Updated)

[B]Name[/b] [i](and title)[/i]: Prince Hunter Levine Merridale

[B]Age:[/B] 25

[B]Sex:[/B] Male

[B]Race:[/B] Human, of mixed medieval Western European origin.

[B]Height:[/B] 5’10”, fairly tall for his era.

[B]Weight:[/B] 164 pounds, much in lean muscle.

[B]Eye Color:[/B] A warm, golden hazel.

[B]Hair Color/Style:[/B] Straight, airy, and soft, light chestnut brown locks that are often tastefully ruffled, sometimes with a bit of a gel-like product or just water. Hunter’s hair goes down a little past his ears, but is not long enough to be considered effeminate, making him instead look a bit boyish yet gentle.

[B]Skin Color/Complexion:[/B] A fair, peachy tone with some light tan to it from time spent outdoors. It’s blemish-free and smooth, even on his face, where he doesn’t grow much in the way of a beard. His hands are a bit more worn from work and combat, but no inch of him is coarse or rough. He doesn’t have much body hair, but still has more than a female or young boy would.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/sailormichiru/hunterprofile-1.png [/img]
[URL="http://superaiko.deviantart.com/gallery/765176"]-More pictures of my characters, including Hunter, on my DA account-[/URL]

[B]General Appearance:[/B]
[U][i]Face:[/i][/U] Hunter has a boyish, honest, and charming face, with wholesome, noble good-looks and a kindness about his eyes that sets others at ease. His eyes are friendly and earnest, almost honey-like in color, and regard others with attention and warmth whenever he listens or speaks. His neat, natural eyebrows above them add a bit of maturity, and give his face a sense of responsibility befitting an army commander. His smiles are gentle and genuine, and his lips are neither too thin nor too full. He has rather healthy and clean teeth for a man of his era, and they are even better after he has been introducing to modern practices in other worlds. His nose is straight and well-shaped, of a size proportionate and pleasing with respect to his other features. He has somewhat high cheekbones and a squarish, more masculine jaw that helps offset the boyish tenderness of his eyes and ruffled brown hair. Some call him the very picture of a charming, quintessential prince.

[U][i]Body:[/i][/U] Neither overly thin, nor bulky, Hunter is fit and toned, and in the prime of his life in terms of shape. He has lean, denser-packed muscles, more befitting a horseback rider, and stands at a considerable height, especially for his era. He has strong shoulders, well-defined arms and legs, and a good deal of strength in all of his limbs, as well as his core. His stomach is flat and defined by abs, which have served him in battle and in sport. He has little to no chest hair on his toned pectorals, and only some on his legs and arms. His hands and feet are of an average size, and despite all his combat training, often manage to be gentle and warm, like a true prince.

[U][i]Clothing:[/i][/U] Hunter most often dresses in the armor of his homeland, which includes a steel [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuirass]cuirass[/url] emblazoned with the spade-shaped insignia of the kingdom of Choras, greaves, and more (further described in armor.) Underneath this, he wears the traditional green and black clothing of his kingdom, and over top, a forest green cloak edged with gold embroidery.

At other times, Hunter still dresses in a very medieval style, favoring tunics, shirts, and trousers in nature-themed or neutral colors, such as greens, grays, and browns. His favorite color is the forest green of Choras. He is still very baffled by modern zippers and prefers buttoned shirts and slacks. He also favors sturdy brown or black leather boots over any other modern footwear.

[U][i]Mannerisms and Movement:[/i][/U] Hunter walks with a stately, upright stance, and an even pace, his shoulders always set and his chin held up. His strides have a purpose and a grace to them, an effortless kind of natural elegance that seems to come to nobility. When standing still, he lets his hands drop to his sides, in the at-ease pose of a career soldier. He is every bit a knight in his motions, and his body language is full of bows and other such polite gestures, especially in the presence of a lady. He smiles easily.

Hunter often has a clean scent of pine, open air, and the woods about him.

[b]Theme Songs:[/b]
[LIST]
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqZaFDA7PXY&feature=related"]600 AD Theme – Yearnings of Wind[/url] (Chrono Trigger)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TykpyrHAZpw"]Guardia Castle Theme[/url] (Chrono Trigger)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLVNUF3KkIg&feature=related"]The Coronation of King Arthur[/url] (Camelot)
[/LIST]

[b]Known Family: [/b]
King Levine Merridale – father
Queen Sandra Merridale – mother
Hannah Vilene – former, arranged fiancée
[url=http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/npc-repository/102893-sakumes-many-npcs.html]Christopher “Chris” Isaac Merridale – adoptive son[/url]

[B]Familiars/Nonhuman Companions:[/B] His tan, beige-speckled warhorse, Mannie. She is a stately, still fairly young mare, who boasts a beautiful cream-colored mane, tail, and hooves. For riding, she wears a brown leather saddle, embroidered with the crest of the Merridale family. The sturdy reins are of the same color, and are fashioned of a thick rope-like material. Mannie has become the symbol for Hunter, and whenever any Chorastrian soldier sees her in the distance, the troops’ morale is said to rise. Mannie resides in the yard of the Merridale home in Blancwood, Rubato. She is brave and well-trained, curious in times of leisure and peace, and loyal. She is motivated more easily by treats and petting.

He also recently caught Chris a pet frog, whom the boy named “Hopper”. The frog lives in a tank in Chris’ room.

[b]Homeplace:[/b] Renamor City, Choras, Guardia, Medina [I](city, country, continent, world)[/I]

[b]Current Residence:[/b] A neat, nice townhouse in Blancwood, Rubato, of Earth. It has a decently-sized, grassy yard, and isn’t far from the local school or the royal palace.

[b]Languages:[/b]
[LIST]
[*][i]English[/i], spoken with some medieval flourishes as characteristic of nobility and knighthood of his nation
[*]Some [i]Danish[/i], as Choras has some Danish roots
[*]Some [i]French[/i], as expected in some noble social circles and politics
[*]Some [i]Latin[/i], as also expected in some politics and scholarly settings, as well as for some religious texts still yet untranslated
[*]A bit of [i]German[/i]
[/LIST]

[b]Vehicles:[/b] None yet, but he thinks he should purchase one soon for Chris’ sake.

[B]Occupation:[/B] Commander in the Choras army, horseback riding tutor

[B]Weapons:[/B] A custom-made spear, with a finely-crafted steel spearhead and a black shaft made of a durable metal alloy. The Merridale royal crest is etched upon the spearhead. He also has a slingshot, but he does not use it much, and a pocket knife.

[B]Armor:[/B] A full suit of steel plate armor, with some mythril reinforcements under the cuirass and greaves, as pictured [url=http://holywars2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/plate-armor.jpg]here[/url]. Hunter does not always wear the entire suit, sometimes only opting for the cuirass, greaves, and gauntlets unless otherwise needed.

In battle, Hunter also carries a circular shield, with his royal crest etched onto the face, and a sturdy leather strap on the back. When not in use, he often keeps his shield on his back, strapped onto his spear’s specially-made sheathe. His boots are also plated in steel, and provide some protection.

[B]Carried Possessions:[/B] His wallet, keys, and the simple cell phone that baffles him so much. When travelling, he also carries a waterskin, and some jerky or trail mix, along with treats for Mannie.

[B]Powers/Magic/Skills:[/B] Hunter is skilled with jousting, horseback riding, hand-to-hand combat, as well as armed combat with spears, lances, halberds, and short swords. He excels at defending with a shield, and also fighting on horseback. He also has considerable skill with commanding troops and devising strategies.

[list][*][I]Dome doors[/I]: As a privilege granted to him as a former Teacher of the Dome, Hunter is capable of summoning up Dome doors at will, by visualizing the place or person he wishes to find. Destinations he is already familiar with are far easier to summon doors to than new, unfamiliar destinations. With the former, he can call a door by with just the will to do so. With the latter, it often helps to imagine many sensory details or other known information about the place or person, such as looks, smells, sounds, etc. He sometimes struggles with locating unfamiliar places, but is steadily working to practice and improve.[/list]

[B]Battle Strengths:[/B] With over a decade of training as knight, and experience in war, Hunter is a talented and formidable soldier with a wealth of practical training and skill in both armed and unarmed combat. The prince is also a quick, young man and fairly muscular. He has considerable physical strength, and his defense is bolstered greatly by his armor. His impressive skills with defensive and counter techniques rival his offensive skills with the spear.

[B]Battle Weaknesses:[/B] Despite all of his training, Hunter is only a normal human, with no magic or special skills beyond his natural abilities, and can die just like any other human can, by numerous causes. He is unfamiliar with modern weaponry and that makes him even more vulnerable to wounds from guns and other such weapons. He cannot bring himself to ever harm a lady, and even if she is quite clearly a malevolent creature, he would have trouble overcoming this chivalrous instinct ingrained within him. He also can be a bit naïve in some ways, and therefore easier to deceive by some, because he always tries to assume the best of people.

[B]Personality:[/B] Good-natured and charming, Hunter is an ideal prince in many respects. He has a humbleness and sense of virtue about him, and upholds the traditions of chivalry unwaveringly when possible. He displays greater pride in his rank of commander than his title of prince, and will only speak of the latter if questioned or if it becomes otherwise called for. He is a little bashful about his royal titles when others insist on using them. He has learned that many people judge him too soon because he is a prince, and prefers to instead earn their respect on his own merits.

Despite his strong sense of duty to his army and country, he is entirely capable of relaxing and joking around with good friends. He is quick to trust and give respect, and eager to earn both; coldness doesn’t daunt him in the least. He considers it important to build rapport with one’s comrades and subordinates, and will never fail to try and do so with his own. He has a strong faith in Christianity, and tries to live his left as best he can in accordance with its teachings. This makes him often seem very forgiving and perhaps old-fashioned, but he sees no other way to be. He is especially kind towards women, children, and the downtrodden.

He speaks almost poetically, in a manner befitting a noble of his home era. Some may find his speech archaic, his compliments too abundant, but to Hunter, it is natural and the only way he has ever known to speak. His lessons as a page and a young knight and prince have been ingrained in him by his teachers and governesses, and he is a steady, constant source of warmth and stability because of this, like a beacon in changing times.

He has many troubles with his family; he feels guilt for disappointing his father and mother, and yet some resentment towards his mother for seeking to marry him off to a vain and mean-spirited noblegirl. He is a bit of a romantic, and certainly an idealist, and believes in true love. As a father to Chris, he is a bit bumbling as he is still learning, but he means well, and hopes to be the father to him that he never quite had himself. He greatly wishes to be close to him, and to nurture him to learn.

The prince, however, is not without flaws; many, especially those of more modern times, find him long-winded and close-minded, ignorant of magic and bogged down with his medieval beliefs. The man tries to overcome this close-mindedness from his culture and era, but his naiveté still persists in many ways.

In a fight, he's level-headed and serious, and quickly tries to take charge of the situation. Often he will try to avoid a fight with a more diplomatic solution, but when battle is inevitable, he responds as a soldier. He will always step in to assist a lady whenever possible.

[LIST]
[*][I]Likes:[/I] Horseback riding, reading, going to church, eating, spending time with friends and loved ones, good conversation, jousting, climbing trees, animals, history, politics, art, music (mostly classical), laughing, kind people, women


[*]Food likes: Tea, ale, coffee, bread, milk, honey, mutton, beef, potatoes, turnips, apples, puddings, cakes, pies, other baked goods, other meats, hearty stews, soups, beets, other root veggies, burgers, fries, ice cream, he’ll eat most foods.


[*][I]Dislikes:[/I] Bigots, people who mistreat women, children, or the poor or otherwise unfortunate or defenseless, vain people, those who are callous and cruel for no reason, those who try to harm his friends


[*]Food dislikes: He has trouble handling some very spicy foods. After trying it, he also is not a big fan of sour cream or other very sour things.


[*][I]Fears:[/I] Losing his family or friends, failing to protect someone, being faced with a supernatural or magical threat he cannot defend innocents against, and the fears that come with living a Christian life


[*][I]Virtues:[/I] Honest, caring, morally-upstanding, responsible, chivalrous and respectful of women, sincere, candid, a good listener, forgiving, faithful, and warm.


[*][I]Vices:[/I] Naïve in some areas, and a bit old-fashioned. Tends to speak too much.
[/LIST]


[B]History:[/B] Hunter Merridale is the sole heir to the Merridale throne. He was born to King Levine Merridale and his wife Queen Sandra in the rich country of Choras, and was destined for a comfortable, luxurious life. Choras had amassed its great wealth through its many war victories and conquests, and at the time of Hunter’s birth, had decided that after all of the success in war, it should reform its foreign policy to that of imperialism.

And so when Hunter was of age, his father Levine enrolled him in the training program of a knight. His son would become the poster boy of the growing empire’s military, and the kingdom would gain even more public support because of the amiable young soldier. Hunter trained night and day to fulfill his duty to his father, and learned how to wield his custom-made spear under some of the greatest officers in Choras’ army. He made many of his childhood friends training as a page, and together they would often use their off-time to sneak out and play as boys did, catching forest critters and having mock-battles. At the castle, the prince was mainly raised by his governesses, who tutored him and went over his academic lessons. Hunter soon rose through the ranks of the military, and took his position as the youngest commander the nation had ever seen in ages.

A military career was not all that was predetermined for Hunter however. His mother Sandra, who was amorous with the very idea of weddings, arranged a marriage for her son not long after his birth. The girl to whom Hunter was betrothed, Hannah Vilene, had the largest dowry of all the noble girls in Choras, and that was the sole reason she had won Sandra’s favor. Hunter met his future bride during his schooling, and developed a strong dislike for her. She was vain and confrontational, and was only interested in becoming wealthier and having a glorified title. They never quite saw eye to eye, and Hunter’s friends often would help him avoid her or escape their meetings.

Hunter fled the royal city of Renamor, Choras, to escape his wedding when he reached the age of twenty-one. Out of respect, his soldiers still considered him their commander, and so Hunter felt as if he still had not let down his father or country as far as the army went. With that knowledge in mind, he traveled the nation, coming to his military’s aid in the battles he came across. He had a way of rallying the troops and boosting morale that no other commander had. The army was victorious in every battle Hunter fought in.

Things continued this way until, after his twenty-fourth birthday, the prince stumbled upon a gypsy traveller who would change his life thereafter. Her name was Cadenza Madrigal, and she claimed to be lost, and searching for her dance troupe. Hunter took her to his army’s camp, after informing her that the entire area was a danger zone, in the middle of a war. There she met his childhood friends and comrades, Lieutenant Lesley Hildegard, his brother Clark Neville (who had been taken in by another family when the Hildegard boys had lost their parents), and officers Peter Warren and Borrof “Bo” Slovsky. But when trouble erupted on the front lines, Hunter had to leave the gypsy to go and help his troops.

Their foe, the formidable Augustan army, had changed the tides of battle with an unexpected assault. Things seemed grim for the Chorastians, and the fight took both armies into the forest. That was when the very darkness itself seemed to come to their aid. It was unlike anything Hunter had ever seen. The shadows themselves struck down the Augustans and drove them back, and eventually into surrender. The day and the battle were won for Choras. And he had no idea how.

He would not learn until later that the gypsy, Cadenza, had saved them all with her magic. He sought to find her after she had fled the camp, and finally found her standing before a door to some otherworldly realm. She called it the “Dome”, and warned him of what he might find should he choose to follow her. On that day, the prince was too stunned to try, but later, upon meeting a man named Louis Fritz, he would enter the Dome, and eventually join the ranks of its Teachers. He served for some time as Cadenza’s assistant, upon their reunion, before becoming a full-fledged Teacher himself. When she left, he and Louis Fritz also quit out of solidarity with her, but both often visit and help tutor new students even still.

Hunter now lives with his adopted son Chris and his horse Mannie in Cadenza's modern world of Earth, in Rubato's capital city of Blancwood, where the weather is kindest in the country, and the town is the most prosperous in the nation.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[B]Awards:[/B]
Character Most Deserving of the Official Power Shot Seal of Approval - EH Summer 2008

Most Charismatic - Spring BA 2010

[B]RPs:[/B]
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1031666#post1031666"]The Witch and the Unsuspecting Wormhole[/url] (dropped)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/battle-arena/63760-lost-treasure-castle.html"]The Lost Treasure of the Castle[/url] (dropped)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/battle-arena/69143-beating-drum-death-altamira.html"]Beating the Drum of Death[/url] (dropped)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/battle-arena/73844-tower-ibica-altamira.html"]Tower of Ibica[/url] (dropped)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/battle-arena/77282-knockin-heaven-s-door.html"]Knockin' on Heaven's Door[/url] (complete)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/showthread.php?t=60943"]Persona Non Grata: Stopping a War[/url] (complete)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/66446-hidden-truths.html"]Hidden Truths[/url] (dropped)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/73085-farewells-all-those-who-wish-join.html"]Farewells.[/url] (complete)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/82572-myth-moors-wisp-quill.html"]Myth on the Moors[/url] (complete)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/86192-persistent-stalkers-aiko.html"]Persistent Stalkers[/url] (in progress)
[url]http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/the-crossroads/108208-more-harm-than-good-quarky.html[/url]
[url]http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/common-rooms/120639-out-in-the-grass-altamira.html[/url]
[url]http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/the-crossroads/110739-man-and-wife-insaney-and-all-those-invited-many-cameos.html[/url]
[url]http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/common-rooms/126977-pie-and-company-altamira.html[/url]

[B]Character Fiction:[/B]
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50977"]A Kindred Spirit[/url] (complete)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/character-fiction/70585-common-cause-work-progress-everything-still-entirely-subject-change.html#post1789099"]A Common Cause (tentative title)[/url] (dropped)