Torlan

Torlan is a rather small wolf, sporting a rotund build and short, coarse fur. Their coat is notably marred with black patches. A distinctive scar runs across their snout, a memento from a run in with a snare trap. They don't typically wear any decor.

Torlan was born and raised in a large pack in the swamp. Regal in nature, the pack upheld a strong sense of dignity. Torlan's mother was an average ranking wolf, a simple hunter, and the birth of her most recent litter marked little of note. This only served to baffle the seers, however, when she emerged from her nesting den with Torlan, their tan coat broken up by irregular black blotches. The seers were familiar with the reverence of white-marked wolves, though the pack lacked any residents with the trait - not that it would have mattered. They hadn't heard of a black-marked wolf before, and they were uncertain of what to make of the newborn. Consultations with the spirits failed to reveal anything. The herbalists gave the pup a clean bill of health though, and their mother insisted that no fuss be made of them, so the pack leader declared that they were to be treated as any other wolf.

The pack generally upheld this order, raising Torlan with the other pups as normal, but still the adults whispered, and the pups listened. Seeing an easy target, they were quick to make a scapegoat out of Torlan. Torlan was regularly blamed for any mishaps or misfortune, and they'd often go out of their way to implicate Torlan in their schemes - desperate to be part of the group, it was very easy for Torlan to be misled in such ways. The perceived misbehaviour quickly disparaged any goodwill the adults had for Torlan, ultimately leaving them to fend for themselves. Their mother refused to interfere, insisting that they stand up for themselves. Though they attempted to do so they were too greatly outnumbered and often suffered more for it.

As they came into adolescence, Torlan found themselves spending more time alone rather than attempting to socialise. This suited their peers just fine, who more so turned their attention to their apprenticeships. Torlan chose to study under the seers - not out of any particular interest in their faith, but because none of the other pups elected to do so. Though not invested in theology, Torlan found academic study to be utterly enthralling, and they eagerly threw themselves into their studies. When Torlan came of age the seers started pushing them to take a more active role in the faith, which Torlan had always been and remained critical of. As their insistence became more hostile, Torlan decided that they'd rather take their chances in the wilds than suffer any further indignity at the hand of the pack.

Following the river north, Torlan did their best to dodge any packs and wandering wolves. They supported themselves by fishing in the river and resting amongst rocks along the riverbank. After a few months of travel they found themselves in a small forested valley, Cwm Tondau. Though evidently a prime spot for a pack, it was strangely uninhabited - though the glimpses of a tall, antlered beast could very well provide an explanation for that. Intrigued by the valley's strange circumstances, Torlan decided to settle. They lived without much conflict for a little while - whatever else dwelled in the valley seemed to tolerate them, and they were able to ward off any passersby with the suggestion that the valley housed something unholy (not that they believed this themselves). This was utterly disrupted with the arrival of Zente's ragtag group.

Torlan is an incredibly quiet wolf, and they much prefer to keep to themselves. They're extremely nervous of strangers. They struggle with speaking to others and they're not particularly physically adept, but they're extremely well educated and are confident in their own knowledge and mental acuity. Somewhat of a pessimist, __ is very critical of most things. They can be quite antagonistic towards others, and thoroughly despise packs and want nothing to do with them.

Torlan has a low, soft voice, and they typically speak in a short and taciturn manner.

Torlan identifies as non-binary [they/them] and bisexual. They don't currently have a pairbond.

//As a pup, their peers led them into a hunter's snare trap. Thankfully an older pack member found them before the hunter did, but they still bear scars on their muzzle from the ordeal.
//As an adolescent they taught themselves how to fish, something that they've become rather skilled at.
//They do not subscribe to any faith. They're rather indignant about this.
//Torlan had a different name, in their natal pack. When the [GROUP] came to the valley and prompted them for their name, Torlan decided to pick a new one for themself.