Rudiger
Rudiger Fonivan
Rudiger is a powerful warrior and horseman, who meets Felitïa and Zandrue in the city of Tyl when all three of them are targeted for unknown reasons by the local Red Knights. A very big man himself, Rudiger carries a massive greatsword and rides a huge horse named Borisin. Strangely, Rudiger can talk to Borisin, who communicates back telepathically. Although most people initially think him mad in this regard, any who spend long enough around him and the horse soon come to realise (as Felitïa and Zandrue do) that Borisin is remarkably intelligent, and Rudiger and Borisin really are able to communicate with each other. Rudiger can only communicate this way with Borisin and no other horses; similarly Borisin communicates only with Rudiger and no one else.
Rudiger is 27 years old when meets Felitïa and Zandrue, and is 28 by the end of The Child of the Volgs. He is 28 throughout Her Right Mind. The portrait of him at right is at age 28. Artwork by layure.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Rudiger is tall, muscular, and broad-shouldered. He works out and practises with Slay regularly, and as such, is in top physical condition.
Facial Features
Rudiger has a rugged face with a large nose and wide chin.
Apparel & Accessories
Rudiger carries Slay, a massive magical greatsword. It has been in his family for many generations, and no one knows now precisely what its purpose and abilities are. All he knows is that the sword is extremely sharp and never needs sharpening. There is writing etched into the blade but in a language no one has ever been able to decipher. The sword originally had a longer name that was gradually shortened to Slay over the generations. No one now remembers its original name.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Rudiger was born in Fisvin in the province of Orthal. His father was a general in the Arnorin army. He followed in his father's footsteps and joined the army when he was 21. It was expected that he would rise through the ranks much as his father had. However, just a couple years ago, in 2329, he returned home from an expedition one day to find his father and mother murdered and their home ransacked. Whoever had killed them had clearly been looking for something, though nothing was stolen. Rudiger was convinced the killers were looking for the ancestral family sword, Slay, which Rudiger had had with him.
He had never been particularly happy in the army, always feeling like he needed something else but not knowing what that was. Combined with grief over his parents' deaths, this led him to desert the army. Not long after, he encountered Borisin and purchased the horse. For the last couple years, he has wandered Arnor aimlessly in search of a purpose until he meets Felitïa and Zandrue in Tyl.
Gender Identity
Male
Sexuality
Straight
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
When Rudiger set out wandering, he had hopes of solving his parents' murders and tracking down their killers. In the time since, however, he has come to see it as a pointless endeavour.
Relationships
History
Rudiger and Zandrue's relationship develops over the course of The Child of the Volgs and it is perhaps a bit of a spoiler to say that they do eventually get together. Early on, Rudiger is shy about initiating a relationship, which Zandrue sees as an opportunity to play around with. However, even though she doesn't show it at first, she develops strong feelings for him fairly early on.
History
Rudiger frequently gets exasperated with Borisin, but loves the horse dearly nonetheless. While Borisin doesn't seem to show much affection for Rudiger, it should be noted that he doesn't treat Rudiger badly, which is better than he treats anyone else, indicating the level of his actual affection.
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