Reuben

Information

Player: Vizkus

Character Full Name: Reuben Renault

Character In-Game Name: Reuben

Nickname(s): None

Association(s): The Scarlet Crusade (Former), The Argent Dawn (former)

Race: Human

Class: Paladin

Skills and Abilities: Normal for a Paladin.

Age: 20

Sex: Male

Hair: Long, dark brown hair. Typically up in a ponytail. Sports some scruffy muttonchops on his face.

Eyes: Green

Weight: 175 lbs

Height: 6'

Appearance

Usual Garments/Armor: Reuben is typically garbed in a blue shirt with a blue vest lain over top. He wears black cloth pants and brown leather boots.

When in battle he dons polished, gleaming white plate armor, a polished greatsword slung over his back and a ivory cloak, clapsed at his shoulder.

Personality

Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Reuben is charismatic and kind to most people. He is devout to the Light but he is not without reason. He is quick to act and while he knows of other cultures and peoples, he is rather naive and gullible. Reuben is bored by reading and writing, he'd much rather spar or explore the outdoors. Reuben holds a hatred in his heart for the undead and heavily distrusts Forsaken and Death Knights. He does not hold his father's prejudice towards Orcs, having worked with a few in the Argent Dawn.

History

Reuben Renault was born the youngest of three siblings, the second son of Martin and Rose Renault in a clinic in Stratholme. Reuben was under a lot of pressure, even in his mother's womb. Martin's first son, Matthias, had turned out to be a sickly freak of a child, and an albino no less. His second child was a daughter, so it was up to Reuben to finally grant his father the strong fit son Martin desired. His father was eager to have a son befitting of his love and compassion. Martin was finally gifted a son who would carry on his legacy in the form of Reuben.

Martin and Rose owned a bakery in Stratholme. They never partook of the grain they were shipped by the government, only taking what was left over and storing it for themselves. As Reuben got older and made friends, Reuben developed into Stratholme's angel of a child. He helped those in need, and was always popular with the children. Reuben felt terrible for his brother, Matthias, who was so different. Matthias was the subject of ridicule and childhood torment while he was growing up. Matthias would run home crying, covered in scrapes after being beaten by local boys, seeking their father to divvy out justice to their households; only to be met with more beatings from their father when he got home, due to Matthias, "Actin' like a girl and not kickin' their asses". As his father's least favorite, Matthias bore the brunt of his father's drunken tirades and beatings. Reuben was terrified to step in or say something about these instances, lest he be a new target.

Reuben loved his parents, although he feared his father. Reuben was on good terms with both of his siblings as well, he tagged along with Katarina on her adventures through the allies and tunnels of the city and when he lost track of her he would seek out Matthias. Reuben was really Matthias' only real friend. Sweet little Reuben loved Matthias dearly, and looked up to him. However, Matthias used Reuben as an outlet for his pain and anger, viewing Reuben as everything Matthias was supposed to be: his father's favorite, a strong, capable child, the popular kid around his neighborhood, the goody-two-shoes angel that could not do wrong.

When Reuben was eleven, Matthias left very dramatically. He declared he was enlisting in the Lordaeron military and would be leaving the next day. Reuben cried and begged his brother not to leave, but Matthias left anyway leaving Reuben without his idol. Matthias was kind in his leaving however, and promised Reuben he would return. After Matthias' departure, Martin became much more laid back. He no longer drank himself into a drunken enough stupor to beat anyone and life was generally good.

A year later the purging of Stratholme began. Reuben stirred from his slumber to hear the sounds of chaos. People screamed, doors were kicked in, the sounds of fire roared throughout the night, the groaning of some horrible monster came from outside and people were cut down like wheat to the scythe. Even more terrible, those killing people were garbed in the colors of Lordaeron. Martin ordered his family to stay upstairs, and to keep the door locked. Rose, Reuben and Katarina all stayed huddled in the corner upon Reuben's bed, cowering in terror.

Suddenly, a sound was heard from downstairs, it echoed across the house. The sound of the door flying open. Shortly the sounds of battle rang out as well as cursing and objects breaking. Rose rose from the bed to go investigate and make sure that Martin was alright. After a few minutes the sounds of fighting ceased only to be shortly followed by Rose's bloodcurdling scream. Katarina panicked and threw open a window, she leapt across to the neighbor's rooftop and vanished into the night. Reuben was now left all alone for the first time in his life and he had no clue what to do. Boots were striking the stairs and fast, Reuben thought he would be dead soon, he began to cry, helpless. His doors flew open and in the doorway stood Reuben's brother Matthias. Covered in blood, Matthias began to approach Reuben. Reuben cried even harder. Matthias stopped at the side of the bed, looking down at his brother's pathetic form. Matthias sheathed his blade and swept Reuben up in his arms. "Come, brother." He said, "I'll keep you safe." Matthias asked Reuben where Katarina was but Reuben could only stammer out that he did not know. Matthias trusted Katarina to be resourceful enough to save herself, so they fled.

Matthias carried Reuben to Light's Hope Chapel and entrusted Reuben's care to the priests there. Reuben did many chores at Light's Hope Chapel in order to earn his keep. He took care of horses, waited tables, he helped bake bread, ran errands, and carried messages for the priests. After a year or so, survivors from the Knights of the Silver Hand began to seek refuge there at Light's Hope Chapel. Reuben took one look upon the Knights and he knew that he wanted to be counted among their ranks more than anything in the world.

After the founding of the Scarlet Crusade, Reuben found work as a squire for a Sir Bryan Sapp. Reuben did many the same duties as he had before for Sir Sapp, in addition to guarding Sir Sapp while he slept, assisting Sir Sapp in dressing in his armor, ensuring Sir Sapp's armor and weapons were in good order and accompanying Sir Sapp to the battlefield. In return, Sir Sapp educated Reuben in the Paladin's Code, horsemanship and swordplay. He also aided in developing Reuben's strength, speed, dexterity and leadership skills. Reuben also learned bravery and the ability to withstand extremes in cold and heat, tiredness and hunger from Sir Sapp. Sir Sapp treated Reuben with kindness and respect while around Sapp's fellow paladins but during training, he treated him with a serious case of tough love. Reuben grew from it and it drove him to become better in everything he did.

Four years later, at the age of sixteen, Sir Sapp and the other paladins stationed at Light's Hope Chapel became fed up with the Scarlet Crusade's zealotry and they split away to form the Argent Dawn. Reuben's training continued for another three years until one day Sapp took Reuben out on a patrol. While out on patrol, Reuben and Sapp were ambushed by Scourge forces. Taken by surprise, Sapp was dragged off his mount and to the ground and before he could react, was ripped apart by ghouls. Reuben acted quickly and retrieved the long five and a half foot long blade that was once Sir Sapp's. Using the skills that Sir Sapp had taught him, he was able to drive the Scourge away from Sir Sapp's body, which Reuben recovered, slung across his horse, and Reuben fled back to Light's Hope. Upon returning, Reuben was praised for his bravery and elevated to the rank of Paladin, one of the youngest ever. Reuben took up Sir Sapp's old duties. Plotting, and patrolling.

Two years later, the Scarlet Enclave was attacked by the Death Knights of Acherus. The Argent Dawn of Light's Hope Chapel prepped themselves to make a last stand against the Death Knights. Soon the battle was at the Argent's doorstep, the Battle for Light's Hope had begun. Reuben slew many of the deaders with holy light and cleaving steel. Late into the battle, Reuben locked eyes with a death knight through the chaotic melee. He looked strangely familiar, but Reuben shook the thought away. The death knight charged at Reuben, and Reuben charged on back. Just before their blades met Tirion Fordring ended the battle, throwing the Scourge away from the Argent forces. The death knights broke free of the Lich King and the formation of the Argent Crusade was announced. Reuben, however had no want to travel to the frozen continent of Northrend to do battle with the Lich King. Instead, Reuben traveled south to Stormwind over the course of two years, helping those less fortunate wherever he journeyed.