Holden Wallace

'''"Don't quote me on this..."

- Holden Wallace Holden Wallace '''is a human roleplayed by Strabon Dean. He is currently a teacher at the Academy of Heroes.

He was born near Draynor on the grounds of the Wizard's Tower and was raised by his caretaker/adoptive father Beaux Patelsan. He left his home when he turned 21 to learn the ways of a hero at the Academy of Heroes.

It was at the Academy of Heroes he met his wife Katrina Avery and mentor Evgeni. After a year of studies, Holden had graduated and officially became a Hero of Gielinor. He has decided to help teach at the Academy so there may be more heroes for the future.

Childhood
Holden was born in the Year 148 of the Fifth Age to a prostitute and a borderline sociopathic criminal. His birth took place a mere 10 feet outside the entrance of the Wizard's Tower, his mother seeking safety from her partner and his band of mischevious minions. A few mages of the Tower came to aid in the birth and, after a long and a difficult labour, helped bring a healthy baby boy into Gielinor. Unfortunately, Holden's mother could not handle the stress of childbirth, due to the countless beatings she had endured at the hands of his father. The mages, feeling sorry for the young infant, tried to find the boy a foster home, but to no avail. After many weeks of searching, Beaux Patelsan, a retired mage who lived in the town of Draynor and occasional advisor to the Tower, grew fond of Holden and decided to raise him.

For the first few years of his life, Holden was taught basic education in the form of reading, writing, and arithmetics. It was not until he his teenage years that he took an interest in Patelsan's former line of work. During one of his usual chores, which was reciting the old man's research to him, Holden saw an illustration of a mage casting a spell. This image brought forth a curiousity that is common in young men, and would not be quenched until he himself learned this art. After constant badgering, Patelsan finally relented and taught him how to perform the simplest air spell. One could see the jovious young lad at the edge of the woods practicing; those small, peeble-like runes clutched in his fists.

The rest of his teenage life passed with little notice, expect that he had sparked an interest in tales of heroes. Whether it be in the form of a song, a leather-bound book, or from the lips of a passing bard, Holden could not get enough. He would play with others his age in pretend battles, being the gallant knight who stormed the castle of the evil lord and rescued the fair maiden. After more years of make-believe, Holden, aged 21, finally found an opportunity to achieve his "dream" in the form of a flyer for the Academy of Heroes. Using all his coin to purchase an old steel blade and a piece of string, he left Patelsan and Draynor to begin his own tale.

A (Less than) Heroic Arrival
After a grueling journey, Holden reached his destination. The gates of the Academy seemed to shimmer under the hot desert sun as he neared, draining the few remaining drops from his last waterskin. Passing into the courtyard, he asked with a parched and raspy voice, "Is this the Academy of Heroes?". As he heard the confirmation, Holden's vision went black and his world seemed to fall as he passed out from heat exhaustion.

As he came to, he stared upon the face of a woman who soon become his greatest friend and ally, Katrina Avery. Days passed, and Holden spent them getting acquainted with various members of the Academy, most notable being Elrond Clarisais, Talis Firne and Syer Rzzar, all of whom he would (more-or-less) befriend. In this time, he almost met Aryl Thorkir after sustaining an injury during a training exercise that required his talents. Aryl would then become his teacher in the art of swordsmanship.

Though he had spent many a month honing his martial and magical abilities, nothing had prepared him for the man who would become a friend, a mentor, and a father figure.

Evgeni the Mahjarrat
He met Ahvgaeni D. Avencianci (prefers to call him Evgeni or "Ev") on what he considered a normal day at the Academy. A man showed up and, from what Holden could guess from the way the other older members greeted him, was an old friend of the Academy. Being taught manners, Holden greeted him and was shocked by his appearance. The skin on his face was taut against his skull and was semi-transpareant, and by the way he could feel the power radiate off him, he knew he was not a man to be crossed.

It was only after a bit of poking around that he had discerned what exactly Evgeni was: a Mahjarrat. Holden, being a simple man from a small town, had no real knowledge of what a Mahjarrat was, but he felt that it was certainly a being of immense power. So naturally, Evgeni became his teacher.

Though his methods were odd, Holden learned a vast amount of spells and their variations and increased his muscle mass and definition (if only slightly) during Evgeni's lessons. After covering the elements, Holden's studies turned to a more unatural path. It was in the dank and dim basement of the Academy that Evgeni taught him how to use Blood Magick.

A Budding Romance
When not studying or having a lesson, Holden would usually spend his free time with Katrina, his classmate and Grandmaster. They had become quick friends and were hardly seen apart. He could feel there was a bond they shared, a bond he had with no other person, but fear of possible rejection and embarrassment kept him from revealing his true feelings. There was competition for her attention, but Holden would always best the other, what with his boyish charms and wit, and after many weeks of constant hesitation, he finally spilled the proverbial beans and was relieved to know she felt the same. Katrina further increased his love for her by presenting him with a sword of his own. A tempered steel blade with a black leather grip, his last name etched cleanly on the hilt.

Though never really announcing their relationship, the other students and staff of the Academy somehow found out about it, much to the dismay of the couple. They had their ups and their downs much like any other, but it seemed as though they would never come apart.

And as their love grew, Holden knew she was the girl meant for him and, after a rough patch in their relationship, finally proposed to her. She said yes.

A New Champion
Holden's teachings were coming to an end. He had become proficient with a blade and had learned all he wanted about magicks. With his graduation and wedding close at hand, he needed to make a decision for his future. After many a talk with friends and staff, Holden felt it best to join the Academy as a teacher, his subjects being both Air Magick and an Introduction to Blood Magick. Both his graduation and wedding took place on the same day, the latter following the former, Elrond proceeding both events. And so, Holden had become what he had dreamed of. He entered the unforgiving castle, bested the obstacles that lie within it, 'rescued' the fair maiden, and left a Hero of Gielinor.

Appearance
Holden Wallace is a fair skinned individual, standing at approximately 5'11" and weighing 170-ish lbs. His body frame his lean with the slightest hint of muscle definition and broad shoulders.

His face is a bit wider than average, high, shallow cheekbones and a nose that starts off slender, but gradually widens as it reaches his nostrils. He has a squarish jaw and a thin chin.

Holden has strawberry blonde that hanges a half an inch above his shoulders.

Scars
Holden has very few scars, but they are there nonetheless.

- A large, jagged scar on the back and palm of his left hand where he desperately attempted to catch a sword during a fight. It went right through.

- Scar tissue would be on his outer side of his right bicep and shoulder from where he narrowly missed being burned alive.

- A thin scar would run along his right jaw line, leading up to his earlobe, where a small chunk is missing.

Personality
Holden Wallace is a kind and (somewhat) well-mannered man. He is polite to those who are polite to him, and can be just the opposite if necessary. He holds family and friendship in high regards and places them above all else. What he may lack in skill, he makes up for in determination and smarts. Whenever optional, he chooses diplomacy over combat.

Magical Abilities
Holden could be a formidable foe with his magicks, but his inexperience in magic duels holds him back. He is very proficient in elemental magicks, having nearly mastered air and water, earth being an area he is familiar while fire could use a bit of work.

His knowledge of Blood Magick is limited, never having really been able to finish his study under Evgeni, but he knows how to seal up a minor wound and slow the bleeding of major wounds. He has also shown offensive capabilities, though nothing very impactful.

Physical Abilities
Holden is not the strongest, nor is he the fastest. Instead, he opts for a more unorthodox and unpredictable style of fighting to try and throw his opponents for a loop. He always tries to take advantage of his enviroments whenever possible. At times, he will incorporate his magicks into a sword fight.

Trivia

 * His middle name is Jude.
 * His favorite meal is a hot and fresh kebab.
 * He has terrible table manners.
 * He has a fake snake named Anders for a pet as well as a pig for a mount.
 * His theme can be found here.