Roper Bancroft

[roper]

Basic//

Name: Roper Bancroft
Nickname(s): Bandit-Beater Bancroft
Age: Twenty-Four
Gender: Male
Occupation: Farmer and Trader
Birthplace: Solis
Nation they're currently in: Varies between Solis and Sidus.
Race: Human

Appearance//

Roper Bancroft does little to make his appearance any different others that share his rustic occupation. Standing at a solid six feet he maintains a firm and healthy body as is required for his work. The color of his eyes and hair are also fairly common. His hair is black, long and often unkempt or otherwise tied back, while his keen eyes are brown and often hold an lackadaisical but kind gaze that tends to hide how attentive he actually is. Obviously he is frequently found to be rather dirty when compared to your average city folk and always brings with him a slight earthen yet floral smell like he had just gotten done rolling through a field of flowers. Weather and constant work outdoors has tanned his dirty skin and made it rough and calloused from abuse. The only trait his appearance holds that would distinguish him from your average person is that of the scars on his body from past sword wounds.

Clothing/Armor: Outside of what is required for the change of seasons, Roper almost never changes from his chosen style of attire. He is almost always seen in the same old cheap and handmade clothes, usually black and brown in color and always faded and torn from use. It is in some sense distinct from your typical Solian citizen in that several pieces borrow from the styles of other nations, usually for added comfort more than anything else. For example the handmade hat and sandals he fashioned from straw are not commonly found amongst Solis' commonfolk. Oddly enough he keeps a carved down tree branch with him at all times. As the rumors would have it, it is the same branch he uses to beat off would be attackers including trained soldiers.

Personality//

Roper was once quite the rascal when he was a child, but has since grown to hold a more casual personality. He once practically worshiped the warriors and war heroes that you'd hear about in the tales, but as he grew older he began to notice just how little people cared for your average every day tailor or baker. Kings, nobles, soldiers and other such types too easily forgot or underestimated the importance of the little guy who grew their food for them. He eventually grew disillusioned by the ambitions of warmongers and gained an appreciation for his family's line of work. He has grown content with his simple lot in life. However, this complacence had come with a new lack of ambition. He looked to protecting his family and their goods and little else nowadays.

Socially Roper is fairly agreeable, though a little distant and generally set on making others believe he is a nobody. He speaks casually with a jovial and disarming tone. He will accommodate even the most brutish and abrasive of warriors in a friendly manner so long as they do nothing against him and his kin. Cause them trouble though and you'll soon find yourself waking up naked tied up in some tree. That being said, he knows that there are times when a man needs to simply bow his head and let event unfold. If some big shot comes around and begins to cause trouble for his kin, he only tries to politely and diplomatically avoid as much damage as possible. His family had long since warned him of the trouble he could cause for everyone through reckless action.

Likes: Anything he can see that someone has put hard work put into. Other than that animals, children, and good food are at the top of his list.
Dislikes: Oppressors and bullies get on his nerves the most. Then there are things like loud noises, crowds, and alcohol.
Greatest Strength: He is a quick learner with a keen eye. He is able to pick up most things rather quickly and with proficiency if he sets his mind to it. In particular he has an incredible knack for swordplay and combat despite his occupation.
Worst Flaw: Directionless. He is a talented man that lacks the ambition and drive to make the most of his abilities.
Hobbies: Fishing, swordplay, and cooking mostly. He is also fairly handy with crafts.
Goals: Other than staying alive? None, though perhaps some part of him still holds those childhood dreams of becoming someone great.
Quirks: He is more or less illiterate. He can glean the meaning behind the words but never took the time to properly teach himself how to write.

History//

The Bancroft family is a rather sizable trading family whose land lie closer to the Solis-Lunae border than any other. As such they have historically made, maintained, and transported a great deal of the supplies needed by the military during the war and has continued to supply the border to this day. In recent 'peaceful' times they have traded their surplus to Sidus. Knowing this you can probably already guess how the story of a man born to such a family may start: fairly ordinary.

Roper Bancroft was raised as one of many sons of Diggle, one of three brothers that managed the Bancroft farmland. (It is a big family.) Just like his father before him it was expected for him and his siblings to eventually contribute to the family business in some way. Luckily this included the option of apprenticing under one of their uncles, but in the end it meant they were destined for mediocrity. As you might expect, the youthful and naive Roper took issue with this fact. As he grew up watching the soldiers cross through their lands and hearing some of the more valorous tales they told the children, he began to aspire to be a hero one day. During his childhood he would often play at such aspirations both with his cousins and siblings as well as when he was alone.

Eventually this 'play' extended to the patrols and soldiers that occasionally passed their lands. Those that would indulge the young Roper would teach him 'sword techniques' and knock him around for fun. That was when his talent began to show itself. Even if their teachings weren't serious the boy began to pick up on the nuances of sword fighting rapidly. A few years later and a rumor spread amongst those stationed within the nearby fort of Bandit-Beater Bancroft, the farmers boy who could best even trained soldiers. Before long there was a game where more veteran grunts would bring the 'new guys' to the farm and have them fight the boy. The catch? If they lost they'd have to buy a round of drinks.

Now Roper's father wasn't blind or ignorant. He had no intention of letting one of his precious children become a soldier. Of course many lectures and arguments ensued but, as all adolescents in their teenage years, in the end Roper did not listen. So Diggle instead sent his son away to work under one of Roper's uncles who took some of the family's surplus good to trade in Sidus. He would tell Roper that bandits had been starting to steal his uncles goods on the way to Sidus and that the soldiers don't send escorts for their personal business. His father told hi that perhaps he should put his skill to good use protecting uncle Wisby and his family. The bandits were not a lie per say but such attacks were rare, only having happened a few times at best, but the idea was enough to get Roper to go along with it. Besides it gave the boy an opportunity to see the outside world.

Thus the following years of his life passed by. He would leave with his uncle's family (and hired goons) on the long journey to sell and trade goods throughout Sidus, then take a round about trip though back through Solis, visiting Cael to trade newly gained goods for profit before returning home to stay until time for the next trade route. It was an enlightening experience, but otherwise fairly peaceful outside of personal squabbles. At least until the first bandit attack. It was a shocking experience for the young man to have to fight and kill someone whom had no qualms about killing him. After this Roper matured more quickly as time went on. He had also learned much after meeting so many people through his work and had grown to appreciate their work. Having since lost his ambition to become some heroic soldier he simply focused on his work and grew used to the routine of his life. Still, he can't help but occasionally wonder if he was meant for something more. But no, he could never be able to bring himself to serve someone he did not know and whose ideas he did not understand or trust. It was best he remained and helped in his own little way... right?

This history is, of course, heavily paraphrased. If anyone has any questions for plot reasons or otherwise just ask and I'll add them here.

Extra Facts:

• During his travels they were attacked by bandits/pirates several times. Each time Roper helped the hired mercenaries fend them off with increasing proficiency. The attacks increased with frequency over time and many of them were during recent years.
• This eventually caused the name "Bandit-Beater Bancroft" to spread outside of the low-ranked soldiers stationed near their farmland.
• Uncle Wisby's family eventually created a shop in Sidus and his sons took over leadership of the family's Sidus trade route. Roper continues to serve under them.
• The beat-the-farmer games eventually as the soldiers that knew about it moved on. Roper did not attempt to renew the 'tradition'.

Battle Info//

Class: Myrmidon
Weapon(s): Tree Branch, Bronze Sword
Items: (Leave blank for the time being.)
Skill(s): Guard Boost- Provides a 10% defense boost to all armor. (Defender Tree)

[Sky]

Approved! You're good to go~