Appearance

Physical Description

Strong from years of martial training and running around in armor.

Facial Features

Has a hawk-like nose that has clearly been broken more than once, and is somewhat crooked. Unless he's laughing, he usually looks serious, even when he isn't.

Identifying Characteristics

One of his horns has been broken off at the tip.

Physical quirks

His tail easily expresses what he's feeling, even when he tries not to show it. It will lash when he’s agitated or excited, curl around itself when he’s happy, or tuck in when he’s nervous.

Apparel & Accessories

Out of armor, he usually prefers sturdy, practical clothing that can stand up to physical activity and rough treatment. He favors cool colors and short sleeves, and will only put on something warmer if the weather forces him to. He’s not usually one for jewelry, but will wear carved wooden hairclips to keep his bangs back when his hair isn’t up.


He’s more often found in full armor, or a padded gambeson and armor from the waist down to give his shoulders a break without having to deal with removing and packing away all of his armor.

Mentality

Personal history

Raised in a small town near a forest with a thriving logging industry, Gladiolus was raised by his Aunt Angelina and Uncle Crosus after his birth mother, his uncle's sister, gave him into their care. Although they were honest with him about his adoption, he considered them his parents, and rarely thought about the birth parents he had never met.
 
As a child, he was prone to getting into fights, some of them caused by his own temper and others in response to schoolyard bullies. His aunt and uncle did their best to help him get it under control, but to little success. His combination of awkwardness, bad temper, and frightening appearance meant that he struggled to make friends, though he was rarely bothered by it.
 
He had always expected to take up his parents' trade to make them happy, although carpentry and carving held little excitement for him, and formally began his apprenticeship at thirteen. Later that year, however, his uncle died, killed in a bandit raid that burned a significant part of the village, including his family's shop.
 
Following the loss of her husband, his aunt moved the two of them to the nearby city, took up her trade there, and eventually remarried when he was fifteen. Gladiolus, less than thrilled with his new stepmother and stepbrother, began spending less and less time in the house, instead getting into trouble in the city rather than go home. It was then that he met a priest of Bahamut, who, over time, was able to help him recognize that his anger was only hurting himself and his family, and helped him to redirect it towards something constructive. At seventeen, he began training as a paladin, and by twenty, had sworn his Oath and set out into the world to fulfil it.

Education

Attended grade school in his hometown, and received further education in law, ethics, and religion while training, though how much of that actually stuck is questionable.

Employment

For a short period of time, he worked as a carpenter's apprentice under his uncle.

He has been an adventurer for the last four years, crossing the world in search of people in need and occasionally lending aid to other members of his Order.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Assisted in the investigation and arrest of a corrupt baron, under the leadership of a senior paladin of Bahamut.

Intellectual Characteristics

Although he is reasonably smart, he tends to act first and worry about the consequences later, and without someone to convince him to wait, he will jump right into a situation without thinking. Later, he usually realizes that what he did was reckless, but it won't make him think any harder about it the next time.

Morality & Philosophy

He agrees strongly with the tenants of his oath, and seeks to do good wherever he goes. Loathes injustice and unfairness, and views it as his responsibility to protect anyone weaker than him. Any harm that comes to others through his action or inaction is his fault, and he feels responsible for making amends.

person.sexuality

Too inexperienced (and too focused on his work) to be sure. He’s embarrassed by the topic.

Taboos

His aunt vehemently hates him swearing, and he still rarely does so even when she's miles away.

Known Languages

Common, Infernal

Personality

Motivation

Since he was young, he's always been frustrated with the fact that there are some evils in the world that people seem to just put up with, and has always wanted to be able to fight the things that people fear. His renewed relationship with his stepbrother has convinced him that he has to make the world a better place so no other kid loses a parent like he did.

Likes & Dislikes

Likes free food, sunshine, keeping busy, fighting, coffee, and kids.
 
Dislikes overthinking, math, tight spaces, sweet foods, and writing.

Hygiene

He makes an effort to be clean when he can, but hygiene sometimes falls to the wayside when there's evil to slay.

Social

Wealth & Financial state

Chronically nearly broke. He has a bad tendency to not accept payment for his help and then give away what he has when he sees someone in need, though he'll curse himself later when he's sleeping outside and eating whatever he can forage.

Family Ties

His aunt, Angelina, stepmother Senthilea, and stepbrother Ramsy.

Religious Views

Loosely affiliated with Bahamut, though he isn't fully dedicated to the deity and questions some parts of that faith.

Social Aptitude

Generally friendly and downright talkative when he finds someone with similar interests, though he tries to come off as much more experienced and tougher than he actually is. He tends to put his foot in his mouth - his charisma is much more impressive when he keeps his mouth shut. Incapable of smooth-talking, though he's decent at threats.

Hobbies & Pets

He finds it comforting to work with his hands, whether that be cleaning his armor, carving, or mending his socks. Secretly loves to read sappy romance novels.