Draconic Leader Reiner Knopp
Draconic Leader/Highest Dragon Priest Reiner Stonecrafter Knopp (a.k.a. Rainy)
The religion of The Mother Dragons is one based around generosity, giving, and acts of goodwill with no reward, just as the dragons they worship gave their all to vitalize the world and the mortals who lived on it. The one who is marked as The Draconic Leader, also known as The Highest Dragon Priest, is one who is noted as a distinguished, honored, and giving member of the community, equally in material ways, community effort, and spiritual guidance.
The current Draconic Leader, chosen by the Head Dragon Priests of the 12 Main Domains at the end of the Border Wars, is Reiner Knopp. A simple Dwarven man who has lived in the main city of Agartha each of his 61 years of life, he has devoted himself to not only his worship of The Mother Dragon, Opal but to members of each section of the faith and the communities behind them.
As the previous Draconic Leader was found guilty of conspiring to undermine the safety of Agartha in order to prolong the conflict, many people had doubts about the faith going forward. A key point in Reiner's assignment to the position is that he didn't actively vie for the position, only pleading with his people to have faith in who was chosen, and protecting belief in The Mother Dragons overall.
In his 34 years as Draconic Leader, he has made efforts to create equal spaces for all of The Mother Dragons, even the more controversial ones such as Kattguld or Smaragd. While this has drawn some ire towards him, especially with followers of Heliotrop, it has gained him the support of Kattguld and Smaragd's worshipers, something not many Draconic Leaders can attest to.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Reiner isn't as stocky as many other dwarves, but in the time of peace after the Border Wars and in his time as Draconic Leader, he is not as trained and muscular as he was in his military days.
Body Features
Reiner's hands have old scars and callouses from the past, ones that he considers himself thankful for as reminders of duty and hard work.
Facial Features
Reiner doesn't have the most remarkable face, but he is always seen with a soft smile that is rather befitting his station, and gives people around him comfort.
Physical quirks
He tends to walk with his arms behind his back, unless he is walking with his wife, where he will always hold an arm out for her to grasp.
Apparel & Accessories
Even when performing clerical duties, Reiner is fond of robes and capes when he goes out of the house, and always carries either the symbol of The Draconic Leader or the religious symbol for Opal, a prismatic nest.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Reiner Knopp was born to a loving household in 947 AC. But sadly it was not in the fates for him to keep that family.
Shortly after his 7th birthday, the tragedy that assassinated the leaders of all countries on Edda at the time rocked the land and plunged the world into The Border Wars. When he was 18, he had grown enough to be drafted to the Royal Agarthan Army, and he saw first hand the atrocities of war.
From Aarackocran Death Flyers from what is now Laputa to his nations own Mad Dog Divisions, where soldiers were kept in a state of aggression and feralness that bordered on degradation, he saw the awful effects of the war first hand. He counts his lucky stars to this day that he had never had the constitution for battle, and had joined under the religious healers for the war, but that did not spare him the horrors. In fact, it got him close to the worst of them.
As the war raged on, he would lose more and more of his family. Brothers, Sisters, Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, even his Father, and Grandparents were not spared. However, rather than give in to the despair this would only naturally cause, Reiner kept his eyes to the future and faith in the Gods that his family was given their proper dues in the afterlife and would be honored and safe, and that they would be proud of him as well.
When the Borders Wars finally started to come to a close after Baal Diomedes' momentous Calming of The Masses, Reiner felt a breath leave his chest that had been stuck for the last 20 years. But it then came to light that the previous Draconic Leader had been instrumental in causing more conflicts, purposely letting villages and units go undefended in order to rile up propaganda and emotions to cause more conflicts, as his weapons company had been profiting immensely from the war.
He was immediately expelled, and the position was open. Reiner, for his efforts and sermons during the war, was one of the chosen, especially as he was one of the highest (living) members of The Order Domain, the faithful of Mother Dragon Opal.
But the position was the furthest thing from his mind. Instead, Reiner did as he always did; ease the minds of the people, and give them faith, and reassurance. His core message was to never give up faith, and while people may fail, the Mother Dragons wanted nothing more than the best for the mortals on Edda.
This devotion to people and reassurance of The Mother Dragons' core meaning over his own societal standing is ironically what got him chosen for the position, as it was a sign of good intentions and charity, which is just what the organization needed.
In the 34 years that have followed under his time as Draconic Leader, the religion has thrived, with new places of worship, new opportunities for worship, and greater inclusion for all, as Reiner Knopp wishes to create a faith for any and all people who wish to join.
Gender Identity
Reiner was born male, and identifies as such, and has reportedly never felt a need to question that fact.
Sexuality
While no ones really pried into his personal life, Reiner does a wife, Samantha Knopp, who is always right by his side at sermons, performing community tasks, and even just generally in public, and the two seem very happy with one another.
Education
As a child, Reiner was able to have a good education within the city of Agartha, where he learned much of the knowledge and critical thinking skills he would utilize later in life as Head Dragon Priest of The Order Domain, and especially as Draconic Leader. He also had the benefit of a strong Religious education from a young age as well, as his uncle was a Wing Priest of Order as well.
Employment
Reiner didn't get much of a chance to pursue something like an apprenticeship or trade skills, as he was merely a child before the Border Wars, and following his adulthood became a medical soldier and battle cleric. However, he has taken the time post-war to teach himself various handy skills and perform odd tasks for those who ask him, as he wishes to be a benefit to anyone who might need him.
Accomplishments & Achievements
While many would consider the lives saved and taken during the Border Wars an achievement, Reiner only sees them as unnecessary and prides himself on the fact that he was able to influence his community enough for them to see him as qualified for Draconic Leader. Following that, he finds the inclusion of Kattguld and Smaragd worshipers as his greatest achievment.
Failures & Embarrassments
Reiner's greatest failures are the lives he could not save during The Border War. Whether their wounds were too great, or too far along, each life he could not heal or restore is a life that he carries with him to this day. Although he has found peace in his sermons, as he wishes to honor them in each one.
Mental Trauma
Reiner finds himself lucky to have avoided much of the PTSD that inflicted fellow soldiers and medics during the war, but there are still some subjects that shake and damage the Draconic Leader. Most importantly, he gets rather nervous around falling white feathers, a signal for the old Laputan Death Squads in the war.
Intellectual Characteristics
Reiner is a simple and earthly man, although many would know him to be a philosophical and driven man, and many enjoy hearing his takes on topics ranging from simple flower arrangement to debating the morality of darker gods and historical figures. He may not be a genius, but he knows how to talk with people better than anybody.
Morality & Philosophy
Reiner could break his core beliefs down to three simple points. No one should have to risk their lives in order to live peacefully, there cannot be peace without unification of all people in a community, and that faith is a cornerstone for the community whether it's faith in the gods or your fellow men. If one asked, there is more nuance and examples, but those are the essential points of most of his thinking.
Taboos
As he has devoted himself to highly religious life from a young age, Reiner has done his best to refuse and rebuke temptations and taboos. However, those close to him know he can never turn down a nice piece of chocolate.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Reiner is motivated to merely uphold the meaning behind The Mother Dragons' faith as best he can, sharing the meaning of community, charity, and faithful living for all and any who wish to embrace the Mother Dragons.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
While Reiner has plenty of practical knowledge and philosophical ideals, he is rather lacking in Arcane knowledge and more advanced academic ideals, leaving him at a loss when discussing with an Academic or Wizardly type person.
Social
Social Aptitude
Reiner fancies himself a very social and community-oriented person, and actively engages people in conversation whenever possible, especially if they're fellow worshipers in one way or another. He's generally very kind-hearted and good at continuing conversations, so they're welcome moments, but he has a bad time at gauging someone's potential social awkwardness.
Mannerisms
Reiner speaks softly and carefully. One might call it slow, but it's more calculated in order to not dominate a conversation or intimidate anyone.
Alignment
Lawful Good
Current Location
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
- Draconic Leader
- High Dragon Priest
- Head Dragon Priest of The Order Domain of Opal (former)
- Agarthan Royal Army 14th Medical Division, Head Doctor (former)
Date of Birth
13th of Falling Winter
Year of Birth
947 AC
62 Years old
Birthplace
Agartha (City), Agartha
Children
Current Residence
Agartha (City), Agartha
Gender
AMAB
Eyes
Brown, Lidded, not as good as they used to be.
Hair
Short, Slicked Back, Salt N' Pepper
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
#9c624d (Cape Palliser)
Height
4' 4"
Weight
185 lbs
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Comments