Sir Thorsten Buchler

This man is about half a head taller than average, big and broad. His blond hair is short-cropped, so light that it might not appear to be there at all from a distance. Naturally pale, his skin tends more often than not to look like it has seen a touch of the sun. He has grey-blue eyes, a nose angling to match the rest of him for general bigness, and a generously broad mouth.

Thorsten, whose father and grandfather are also Thorsten, comes from a minor estate-holding family in House Otrese's county of Zaina, upriver from Firstbridge. The estate, Troseld, is in no way remarkable: a few hundred farmers and other residents, and enough to support the family. Thorsten's grandfather is in his 70s but still hale, and is lord of the estate. Thorsten was trained at arms from a young age and he excelled.

As a young man, he dutifully reported whenever Otrese summoned its knights, and acquitted himself well. He always had a sense though that he could do more: he could and should put himself to the fore so that others do not need to. He could be on the frontier, seeing off one peril or another. In 627, he sought and was granted admittance to the Companions of the First King. There, he has indeed been able to do more. He has developed a reputation in the order for putting himself in harm's way so that others do not have to, which is saying something considering the valour of most Companions.

Thorsten is dutiful, dedicated, and a devoted protector of his comrades. If a Companion is in danger, it is better to his mind that he be in danger instead. If there is a battle, he can be found to the fore. If an especially fearsome foe presents, he will be the first to face it, so that others do not have to. For all his valour, he does not care to be the centre of attention. Off the battlefield, he is reserved and mild, and he does not speak of his feats without prompting, and even then, he is usually quick to steer a conversation back towards the deeds of others, and he can demonstrate sincere curiosity about other people.

Thorsten is a fine warrior, devoted to the defence of his comrades.