Ingyirixywyckliff “Kliff” Rimeclaw [ in-GEAR-ik-see-WIK-lif ] Image by vageliokal

Basic Information

• Player: Declan/Riley
• Pronouns: he/him
• Race: White Dragonborn
• Class: 6 Ancestral Barbarian, 2 Fighter
• Level: 8

Appearance

Kliff is a white dragonborn, standing at a massive 7' tall, with a broad build to match. Scars litter his opalescent white scales, reminders of battles long passed, along with two far cleaner ones going along the underside of his pecs. His ice blue eyes are set into his sharp skull, lined with spines and growths that almost resemble ice. Two large, backwards L shaped horns sit prominently on his brow, the right one broken at the midpoint. Teeth stick out from his mouth in jagged pattern, with one particularly nasty scar on his lip leaving his mouth in a permanent snarl. Spines continue down his back and along his tail, several sharp spikes growing out from the end. His underbelly is a lighter gray, but retains that slight opalescent quality like the rest of his scales. Long claws grow from his hands and feet, carefully maintained to a useful, but unobtrusive length. A close look at his face by those who know what look for would show that he's older than most adventurers, sitting at a vague middle-age he won't state.

In terms of clothing, Kliff tends to look somewhat contradictory. He adorns himself in pelts and furs, but never wears a shirt. Instead, he wears furs on his shoulders, connected by a leather cord to keep it in place, along with wrapped leathers around his waist. The wrap is fur lined, as are his leather bracers, which are battle worn. Comfortable trousers hide underneath, but only go to his knees. The only hint of proper armor he has are his pauldrons, which are littered in scrapes and nicks with shards of ice growing from them. Strapped to his back are two handaxes, along with his massive greataxe that's well maintained.

A closer examination of Kliff will show hints of a softer side. He wears a necklace, well-crafted and out of place among his simpler, natural garb. A beautiful piece of jewelry, he can be seen rubbing the gemstone pendant often and idly. Any tears in his clothing are well-mended, blending in until further examination. Occasionally, if it's particularly cold out, he may wear a beautifully woven scarf he claims to have made himself.

After his many adventures, Kliff as acquired a variety of new digs. Special adamantine armor has been crafted by Jarxis, covering all but Kliff's chest. He wears Boots of Speed, given to him by Celica, a friend he's now lost. His axe is stronger, using the cold of his home to destroy his enemies. Bits and pieces of Eldath-related regalia have made their way into his clothes, including bits of greenery embroidered on the fabrics he wears, or her waterfall symbol on a cloak.

Personality

Kliff is a straightforward man. He enjoys when things are simple and to the point. Subtext is often confusing to him, and there are many things he doesn't know or understand due to his reclusive life prior to becoming an adventurer with Wellmet. Kliff is upfront about his lack of knowledge and less than stellar intellect, often asking others around him to explain things to him in simpler terms so he might be able to better grasp them. While he doesn't have a strong desire to learn much from books or spend time asking people questions about the world, he knows that sometimes, it's best to ask questions. Anything can happen while adventuring, and it's difficult to be prepared when he doesn't know what people are talking about.

His somewhat curious and naive personality might be endearing, if not for most other things about him. Kliff is quite aware of his frightening visage and will use it to his advantage when necessary. If someone is in his way or bothering someone when they shouldn't be, he will absolutely step into the situation and try to menace someone into behaving. However, there are times when his appearance in tandem with his social ineptitudes get in the way of him trying to be more genuine. He doesn't always mean to sound aggressive or be intimidating, it's something that tends to happen. Kliff's upbringing was one of harsh survival, where the people had to be strong-willed with low tolerance for selfish individuals. As such, every interaction he has is influenced by that, and things he says will sound quite harsh to those unfamiliar with him.

It doesn't help that he isn't very expressive. for Dragonborn, facial expressions look drastically different than they do on more other humanoid's faces. Everything is more subtle and understated, with only the astute or those familiar with Dragonborn able to grasp the intricacies. For Kliff, as a man who doesn't express much emotion outside of annoyance or anger, these subtleties further hinder him on a social level. He always appears to be angry, which means everything he says is interpreted as angry or aggressive. He often phrases things in a blunt manner, saying exactly what he thinks in no uncertain terms, which many may not like. He doesn't feel things strongly, and so, when he does express certain emotions, they sound understated or borderline insulting (i.e., “You are acceptable.” meaning “I appreciate you genuinely”). In reality, it's just the way he talks, and the way everyone in his village talked.

Being overly emotional or saying something truly meaningful was a rarity, reserved for only the most important people at the most precious of times. People would often die or go missing in the mountains. Sentiment was a dangerous thing, and a broken heart could kill just as swiftly as broken bones. Love was given, but in quiet ways, through gifts or actions. Speaking of love was a frightening process, and not done lightly. If Kliff ever does say something that borders on poetic, it's because he considers you worth the pain of loving.

Backstory Kliff Notes Kliff grew up in a remote mountain village. He spent his entire life there, never leaving the mountain. He met his wife, Ekani, while she was traveling through the mountains and ended up staying in the village. They fell in love and lived a simple life. A man named Varruk who had been banished from the village for his crimes returned with a mercenary band. The mercenaries and Varruk slaughtered the entire town, Kliff only surviving because Ekani took a lethal blow for him. Kliff left the village, and as he struggled to make a new path and with a deep anger in his heart, he protected a family from bandits. During the fight, spirits of the townsfolk, including his wife, appeared, helping him and giving him a new purpose. He would become an adventurer, protecting people as he hunted down Varruk to get his vengeance.

Full History

Kliff was not always an adventurer. Few would believe it, but prior to his adventuring days, he lived a simple life in the mountains. High up in the frigid peaks was a difficult, but rewarding life in his village. To survive such harsh conditions, the people there had to work together to stay alive. Everyone helped to contribute, no job lesser or greater than any other. If it needing doing, it was important. Taking care of one another was a priority, and those who were selfish were often shunned from the community. One selfish act could doom them in the middle of a harsh winter, the stance was unfortunately necessary for survival.

Kliff grew up in this community, and was quite fond of it. His entire life had been spent on that mountain, hunting for food along it's many cliffs and caves, repairing houses within the village, cooking and making merry and spending time with the people he thought of as family. For many, a simple life is rarely satisfying, but Kliff was one of the few.

Newcomers were rare in that part of the mountain, due to the village's purposefully difficult to find location, but a lone traveler managed to find her way there. Ekani was an Orc warrior turned wanderer, standing even taller than Kliff. Upon speaking with her and making her laugh, Kliff was instantly enamored. Ekani shared that she traveled after finding dissatisfaction with her previous life, where those around her had a plan for her life that she wasn't interested in. Her stay in the village was meant to be short, but she kept finding excuses to stick around. Kliff wasn't complaining, of course, he was happy to have her near. And soon, her temporary stay became a permanent one after the pair finally managed to confess their mutual feelings.

They married after some time spent living together, and settled into a simple life together. Many years were spent in this life together, filled with joy and hardship, but no regrets. Kliff stabilized the more brash and fiery Ekani, while Ekani brought out a more passionate side in the reserved Kliff. They were a good couple, a true case of opposite's attract. For a time, they even discussed the potential of having children together. Those plans never came to fruition.

No adventurer is truly happy. People who crave a simple, contented life don't go out into the world and fight deadly monsters. Kliff should be living peacefully on a mountain, in a village so remote it never had a name. He isn't. His story did not stay happy. He did not get the life he wanted or deserved.

It started with a harsh winter. Worse than usual, and the village wasn't prepared. Their hunts hadn't been as fruitful, and the people who went to towns at the bottom of the mountain hadn't returned from their trip. A search party was sent, and they were found dead, killed by bandits and the traded goods stolen. The low supplies and difficult weather tested the mettle of the village, with food being rationed in the hopes they could survive until their lucky had turned. Many grew ill from the hunger and the cold, weakening the village further.

The harshest blow came when an exiled former member of the village returned, his new mercenary band in tow. Varruk, a goliath man, was exiled from the village after repeated thefts and attempts to shirk his duty. His dishonesty with his hunts where he kept pieces for himself in the middle of winter were the final straw, and he was told to never return. Bitter and seeking vengeance, he brought his fury upon his former home. Kliff and Ekani took up arms with the other villagers who were defending the villages from the attack. But a group of civilian hunters was no match for trained mercenaries, and it quickly turned into a massacre.

No one was spared in the slaughter, and despite the best efforts of the valiant defenders, the mercenaries killed everyone. Kliff and Ekani fought back to back, tearing apart the attackers until the bitter end, when Ekani took a blow meant for her husband. Seeing her fall filled him with an unfathomable rage, an emotion he'd never felt before. He tore through as many mercenaries as he could until he dropped. When he awoke, he was alone.

He mourned each and every person. They were buried with a prayer he whispered just for them, laying them to rest in the endless snow. Ekani was the last, and the hardest, and he spent a long time knelt beside her body, willing her to awaken. Once she was laid to rest, Kliff packed his things and left. There was nothing here for him anymore.

Descending into a world he didn't know, Kliff struggled to find a purpose. He grappled with his newfound anger, channeling it into fighting bandits in the road whenever he stumbled across them. It was during one such battle where he defended a travelling family where something new happened. His rage transformed, bringing forth the spirits of the lost who protected him as he fought. Among them, he swore he saw a fearsome orc woman, guiding his hand on the axe that belonged to his wife to deliver a perfect blow.

This event is what gave him the idea to become an adventurer. He could do as he failed to for his village and protect people. His anger could be channeled into something useful, something *powerful.* Kliff was not alone any longer, the spirits of those he loved remained in his heart wherever he went. He could be something more than a simple man living a simple life. He could be a hero. A lofty aspiration, but it was his very first. If he was to dream, he would dream big, and live a life his wife would be proud of. As he travels the world, he keeps her in the front of his mind, relishing in the heat of battle where she visits again. He knows he isn't the best or the smartest, but he's determined. That must count for something.

Though, there is one far less noble part of his quest, one thought that sits ever-present in the back of his mind. If he ever sees Varruk again, Kliff is going to rip him apart.

Fun Facts

• Kliff knits, sews, and weaves in his free time. He often makes clothes and toys that he donates to those in need.
• He may occasionally be found playing with children, allowing them to climb on him, pull at his horns or tail, and poke his scars with no complaints. He seems oddly at peace doing this
• Kliff is very bad with subtext
• If he likes you or approves of your actions, he will often present you with some sort of token or gift. Buying you a drink, making a scarf, things like that. When asked, he says he's not good with words, actions speak much louder anyway
• Kliff is trans, so was his wife. This isn't really important, Declan just wants to share

Extras

Playlist

• Youtube
• Spotify
• Please feel free to suggest songs to me at any time! Shoot me a DM or give me a ping

Pinterest Board: Pinterest

Google Drive Folder: Kliff's Folder

This folder will contain a variety of content, from writing to potentially art. I'll also be trying to maintain a log of all important things relating to Kliff that happen in games to help me maintain his continuity and story. I won't always announce when things are added to it, I'll simply add things and occasionally link things in the main server if I want to share something specific. Otherwise, check in often to see if there's anything new!

Curtain Call