Captain Ahti Pyry Ukko Takala▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃
Nickname ● Preferred: Guardian of the Frozen North, Captain Frost; Disliked: The Dead Captain, Captain Planet, Pyry the Pirate (only his sister can get away with that one); Colloquial: Ahti, Cap'n, Frost
Age ● 55
Gender ● Male
Height ● 216 cm (7ft. 1in.)
Race/species ● Human, I suppose.
Romantic preferences ● Perhaps at one time I might have thought about this, but those times are gone. I care not for romance and have no intention of wasting my time on it. I suppose if there was someone (preferably a woman, but any gender would work) who kept out of the way and concentrated more on becoming my friend than trying to seduce me might have a shot.
Role ● Pirate Councilman
Kingdom ● Ishgar
Allegiance ● Pirate Council and the Elven Pantheon
Occupation
● Pirate Councilman: Ahti, along with the other three council members, decide issues concerning all pirates (such as rogue ships and crews,) as well as determine punishment if necessary. Furthermore, they are the ones who represent pirates during diplomatic proceedings.
● Pirate Captain: Captain Takala commands The Frost Pearl's Revenge. As such, it is his responsibility to see to the health and wellbeing of the crew, the soundness of the ship, all attack tactics, determine headings, and plunder enough loot to keep all happy.
● Guardian of the Sea: Of late, Ahti has become a sort of guardian for creatures of the sea as well as people who find themselves upon the sea. He confronts those that overfish, pollute, and/or kill wantonly with the choice of either giving up their actions (and if he ever hears of them doing it again, he will find them and kill them on the spot) or they can resist and he will kill as many as needed to cause a surrender. It's highly effective.
Hobbies
● Sketch Art: He picked it up as a means to chronicle discoveries (so that he had a visual reminder,) but found he actually enjoyed the pastime. Now he sketches most anything to clear his mind.
● Astronomy: Anyone who makes a living on the sea has to be able to navigate by the sun and the stars, but Ahti was more inquisitive than that. He wants to know why the moon is sometimes still visible at the peak of the day or what shooting stars really are. Hence he observes and studies to find the answer.
● Mindful Melee Combat Training: Not really a recognized thing, but think of it as a blend of melee combat training and tai chi. It's all about finding balance between mind, soul, and body, but also training to ensure that the weapon is merely an extension of the warrior's body. Can be fast or slow, it all depends.
The Personal Things
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Personality ● Captain Takala is a stern and reserved man, a perfect foil to the swashbuckling peacocks that some kids think pirates are supposed to be like. Harder than his expression is his will and conviction, which never seem to falter no matter the odds. Ahti can be very gentle with animals, and he seems most serene while in nature, but he can be, well, not exactly amicable, but at least quite decent with those who follow him. He treats his men well: holding them to high expectations and always pushing them to do better, yet he protects them and will not allow slights against them to go unpunished. Despite his quiet ways and general kind nature, those who know anything about pirates know to fear him: his resolve is iron, and it seems there is nothing he fears. Cross him, and you will be punished, no matter who you are, and the punishment will be succinct and carried out with frozen anger (at his most emotional).
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Strengths
● Child of Ice and Sea: Ahti was born and raised in the near-Arctic coast, and often found himself out in the sea (albeit in smaller crafts.) The ways and life of the ocean and the arctic are known to him just as well as his own nature. While things can of course go wrong, he generally knows how to work around most any problem that could come up in such a climate, plus is generally unfazed by its biting winds or harsh cold.
● Fearless: Ahti has always been a brave lad, fighting for survival since the day he was born. He is well-versed in conquering fears and pressing on no matter what. Ever since the bargain though, he knows that he won't die until his year is up unless he does something stupid and obviously fatal. Knowing that death isn't on your heels makes one less averse to risk.
● Loyal: He may not be warm and fuzzy, but once you become someone he is responsible for and/or cares about, he will do everything in his power to take care of you. This was observed when his previous ship, The Frost Pearl, was sunk and he bartered with Agneel in order to come back to life so he could save his crewmen.
Weaknesses
● Declining Years: Ahti is far from young, he lived a rough life for most of his youth, and he nearly died recently. Hence, his body is starting to fall apart on him. He is still a damn good captain, is surprisingly strong, and can fight like a blizzard, but he's not as good as he used to be. The most obvious signs are general aches and pains, slightly worse eyesight, greater photosensitivity, and a hacking cough which seemed to start long about the time of the wreck. Note on the cough: it is a wet cough with traces of blood, yet it only seems to bother him as a regular cough would.
● Distant: He didn't get multiple nicknames involving frost just because he reigns in the north. Ahti is a very cold and distant man, always keeping people at bay socially. This does not entice many people to get to know him, so most assume he is cruel and unpleasant. Only those who do not give up even when he constantly shuts down conversations with simple replies or remains by himself often will find that he is a loyal and caring ally.
● Under Contract: In exchange for one more (and potentially more) year of life, Ahti must save lives one hundred times within a year's time. He already cared for nature and took out rogue vessels in general, but now he has to focus on it lest he drop dead exactly a year after the bargain was made. Additionally, should he kill when not needed or harm the environment unnecessarily, he will be penalized.
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Biography
● Captain Takala was born in the inhospitable northern most region of Ishgar where only a few manage to eek out a living. Ahti was born with albinism, albeit a less severe case, but also was a sickly child, yet he would try his hardest to not burden the few other families who lived out there. Fortunately, he did just well enough that he was not abandoned by his parents or his older brother and younger sister. Life was tough in general, and the passing years made it tougher: his mother died about a week after his sister was born; then when he was about ten years old, his father and older brother died while out fishing in the sub-zero waters. The frozen north was no place for a sickly ten year old and his little sister, so they followed the coastline down to the more inhabited sectors of Ishgar. He got a job as a cabin boy for the navy, hoping that whenever they returned home, he could give his earnings to his sister and they could afford a nice little life for the time being. On his maiden voyage, they were attacked by pirates. Most of the sailors were killed, but the pirates left him alive, seeing no reason to harm a defenseless kid. They took him back to their ship where he served as a sort of assistant/pupil of the captain. He learned lots and when the captain retired, the ship was given to him. He was one of the youngest captains, earning this title when he was a mere twenty-four years old.
It was rocky at first, but he proved his capabilities to the men and eventually earned their trust. After thirty-one years of being a captain, they finally landed in a skirmish they had little chance of winning. They attempted to flee, but the other ship hounded them and eventually managed to sink them. Ahti was fatally wounded, likely he would die of his injury before he was drowned. In his last moments he offered up a prayer to Agneel asking for a chance to save the faithful, kind, loyal men who had served under him all of these years. Though he had not expected anything to come from it, Agneel answered. Ahti does not know what swayed his opinion or why he acquiesced, but the god made a deal with him: Agneel would restore him to life temporarily and he would be resistant to death; however, if he had not said lives one hundred times within a year, at exactly the one year mark Ahti would immediately fall dead. If Ahti did manage to save lives often enough, the death would be completely forgotten and Ahti would be free to live as he so chose. As a side deal, Agneel did mention that should Ahti wish to, he could continue his role as a guardian of sorts and thus continue to receive the protection that Agneel gave. Of course Ahti agreed, and with his prayer answered, he gathered up all of his strength and rescued as many men as he could, giving them driftwood they could float with until he found something better. He managed to hitch a ride on the back of an orca, and chased the ship that had struck them down. An unusual fog descended, and he was able to sneak aboard the ship and kill the captain and first mate, then force the rest of the crew to surrender. With a new ship, he sailed back to where he had left his men and rescued them all. He had been inducted to the council after twenty years of being a captain, but now he is a bit more of a legend and more respected.
