Talon Tarus

[Vekrus 395]

Talon "Slade" Tarus
Nicknames: Slade, the Swift, Storm the Silent, Ranger Wolf 
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Status: Alive

Description
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 197
Body Type: Muscular
Eyes: Black
Hair: Dark brown
Skin: Tanned
Markings/Tattoos: Has a hawk's claw tattooed on his right shoulder.
Health: Stable
Personality: Honorable, quick to anger, and viciously loyal. Strong of wit and blade.
Inventory:
Further Details:

Life Style
Alignment*: Neutral Good
Deity*:
Religion:
Alliance/Nation/Home: Holy Oren Empire
Job/Class: Knight, Commander, Blacksmith.
Title(s): Ser, Count.
Profession(s): Military Commander
Special Skill(s): Combat
Flaw(s): Pride

Magic*
Current Status:
Arch-type:
Sub-Type:
Rank:
Weakness(es):
Strength(s):
Current Spell(s):


Weaponry
Fighting Style: Adapt
Preferred Weapon: Long Sword
Favored Weapon: Great Sword
Archery: Long Bow

Biography
Parents: Hael'phon Addechio-Tarus
Siblings: Hael'eran Addechio-Tarus
Spouse: 
Children: Ethan Tarus, James Tarus, and Jessica Tarus
Extended Family: Eze'kiel Tarus, Edward Tarus, Edgar Tarus, Godfrey Horen, James Hightower, Torrhen Elendil, and the list continues.
Pet(s): Shadow the Red-tailed Hawk

History

The Beginning

Talon was born in the fall to too very loving parents who cared for him very much. His father, Haelphon Tarus, was half-elf and human. His mother, Dove, was an Elf who was the daughter of the Elven Commander. Talon’s parents fell in love with each other at first sight when they met out in the woods both hunting for a stag. Seeing as they were in a peaceful era of Aegis they decided to get married. His mother gave birth to two boys. The eldest was Hael'eran Addechio and next was Talon. He was named Talon because; he had a birth mark on his right shoulder in the shape of a hawk’s talon. Haelphon raised Talon up in the ways of a warrior and taught him how to be stealthy while moving in and out of a location, how to fight with a sword and wield it with cutting precision and accuracy, how to shoot a bow and never miss his mark, and finally how to wield a mighty battle axe with deadly blows. Talon became legendary in the way fought with honor and valor. After these many years of training he became strong and muscular. At the age of 15 he was already one of the best fighters in the land. It was said that he could duel more than three people at a time.
 

The Early Years

Talon loved his life as a Tarus. He would wake up and immediately go out with his cousin Edward, who was his uncle Ezekiel’s son, to hunt for game and practice their skills on each other. They would also bring Shadow, Talon’s red-tailed hawk, along on all their adventures. The two boys inseparable, they did everything together and vowed to always have the other one’s back in any situation. “Talon, come here quickly!” Edward said in a hurried but hushed tone. Talon not knowing what was going on quickly jogged over to where Edward was peering through some low shrubs in the forest. Talon kneeling down and peering through the branches whispered. “It’s a nice one! If we can get this one, our fathers will be very proud.” The two boys hastened with the strategy on how they were going to get this huge stag! Nodding to each other they crept away in opposite directions. Quietly circling all the way around the stag while it fed on the grass, the boys blocked off the two main exits. Each drawing back their bows ready to shoot, they waited for the stag to turn. Today was Talon’s chance. Yesterday Edward had taken down a stag of his own. Finally the moment presented itself when the stag turned right to look at Talon. “Gotcha’” he said. The arrow sailed through the air piercing the muscular stag right behind its front leg, immediately dropping it to the ground. “Yeah! You got it.” Edward exclaimed. “Alright, father is goin’ to be proud!” Talon said grinning. The boys quickly tied it to a branch and carried it to the Tarus Castle.

Walking through the front gate, faces beaming, they began shouting for their fathers. Ezekiel and Haelphon walk up laughing. “Looks like you boys had a good hunt today! Am I right?” Haelphon said chuckling to himself. Ezekiel stroking his beard says with a thoughtful expression. “You two might put our paid hunters out of a job if ye’ keep this work up!” The two boys looking to each other smiled. This was just another day in the life of a Tarus.
 

The Great and Grievous Years

Talon grew older, stronger, tougher, and of course turned into a very handsome man. The women usually fell head over heels for him and Edward. Life was good for Talon. He had recently been training as a squire to Ser Adorellan Baelish and was to have his knighting ceremony in the next few days. Edward had been knighted a few months before. But, life never goes on how we expect it to. Talon’s life was about to be turned upside down. The plague had been going throughout the lands of Asulon for many months now. The Tarus’ had already lost two of the women. It started with Ezekiel’s sister and continued to his daughter. Both died from the terrible plague. Now, Dove was sick. Talon spent more and more of his days visiting with his mother up in her room. He didn’t want to miss one moment with her. He knew that if he did, he would regret it later. That day came sooner than he expected.

Today was the day! He was getting knighted. It was the happiest day of his life. The ceremony lasted for about a good hour and then the celebration began. All who attended Talon’s knighting met at the Therving Tavern for something to drink. Stories were shared and fights were settled. It was all around a good time for Talon until he arrived back at the castle. As he walked up to his mother’s room to tell her about the great news of his knighting he found his father standing outside the door with his head hung low. “Talon, she’s gone. She passed about two hours ago.” Haelphon said in a low sullen tone. “What. No it can be.” Talon didn’t want to believe it. He followed his father outside to find her grave under one of her favorite spots to relax, a big pine beside one of the ponds. There was the gravestone. It read, Dove Tarus, Loving Wife and Mother, To Be Remembered by All. Talon sunk to his knees in the moist dirt. Haelphon seeing his son depressed said, “She will always be in your heart son, just remember that.” Talon picked a nearby flower and laid it on the grave. Then the two walked back to the castle, grieving but yet knowing she was in a better place.
 

The Birth of a Tarus

Talon had gone through some rough times in his life. The loss of his mother was the hardest for him to bear. This event broke Talon’s heart and he became very angered. Instead of seeing the good in everything and having a positive outlook on life like his mother always did, and encouraged him to do as well. He became very self-centered and hardened of heart. The hate for enemies of his family grew like a weed in his heart. Now all that mattered to him was avenging his family members who might have been killed by another House or family. He still remembers the day when his sister was murdered by a group of three Orcs who surrounded her and started harassing her. It was a beautiful day and Emily Tarus was out for her daily walk collecting a few flowers for the kitchen and her room. Talon and Edward happened to be a few yards off setting traps for the evening hunt. As Emily rounded a bend in the road there stood three Orcs walking straight towards her. Not knowing what to do she froze and tried to act calm and collected. The Orcs seeing such a beautiful girl immediately began to say sweet things to her and touch her hair. Feeling uncomfortable in the situation she pushed the Orc’s big hand away. “Please, leave me alone. I must be on my way.” The Orcs looked at each other and said, “Nub.” Emily seeing this was going to get worse tried to run. One of the Orcs grabbed her and she screamed.

Talon and Edward heard the scream and looked up to the direction of the scream. “Edward, that’s Emily! Let’s go.” The boys ran as fast as they could to the location of the scream and came around the bend right as the Orc plunged his knife into the beautiful girl, thinking that if he couldn’t have her than no one could. Talon and Edward stopped dead in their tracks, horrified at what they just saw. The Orcs looked up to see the two standing there with weapons drawn. “You damn Orcs! You will pay for what ye have done!” Talon enraged at the death of his sister, charged with Edward at the Orcs. The Orcs definitely underestimated the training and skill of their two assailants. Striking with great force Talon and Edward made swift work of the not so experienced Orcs. After it was all over, they picked up Emily and buried her under her favorite tree that she would sit for hours on end pondering her thoughts. From that day forward Talon took a vow to destroy and kill all those who threatened his family. He didn’t care if he had to steal from them or kill the head of the enemy House in their sleep.

Artwork