Name: Duran Swiftpike
Age: 42 years
Gender: male
Species: red-backed vole
Rank: High Commander
Appearance: Duran is of average size and build for a vole, meaning he’s a little shorter and heavier set than the average mouse. Being a red-backed vole, he has distinct reddish fur that runs from the tip of his nose, between his ears, and on down his back to the tip of his tail. The red fades on the edges to blend into a tawny brown color that accents his throat and belly. The red from his back also extends down his shoulders and thighs and encompasses all his paws. His eyes are a bright, intelligent black.
When it comes to attire, Duran is a pretty simple beast. Aside from his black and dark gray uniform complete with armband and pin, he wears whatever his wife lays out for him. Usually they are plain working clothes, though Laurel tends to dress him in dark green whenever she can, saying it accents his fur the best. Duran, not knowing where to start when it comes to fashion, trusts her judgment on this, though is tempted often to go crazy one day and wear something orange, as it is his favorite color. Somehow though, he doesn’t think it’d go over very well with Laurel.
Personality: Duran is a very focused, hard-working, and practical individual. He enjoys having something to do at all times, and even when this means just sitting by himself and sorting out his thoughts, he schedules it. Very structured, he lives an incredibly efficient lifestyle. Through the years the vole has come to realize most creatures are a fair deal more spontaneous that he is, and in his acceptance he also had to learn to be flexible, a concept he did not grasp in his early years. However, despite his schedule-oriented approach to life, he does not give off a strict or rigid negative vibe. Well, not too bad of one, all things considered.
Duran also is very professional in nearly all he does. He dons his uniform every day and looks himself over in a mirror to be sure not even a whisker is out of place. The vole is also a strong creature of habit, and going along with his professional and proper nature he has set it in his daily routine to make a walking survey of the fort and personally speak with his leaders each morning upon these rounds.
As a leader Duran is more than capable of his position as High Commander. He has a natural air of reserved confidence about him, as well as many seasons of experience of being a follower as well as a leader. One of his most prominent traits is his ability to keep a level head in the middle of a crisis. In the thick of battle Duran is still steadfast and dependable, able to focus on the tasks at hand and doll out appropriate orders.
As a husband Duran is loving and thoughtful. Though it does not come naturally for him to be romantic, he gives his best effort on behalf of Laurel, whom he claims to have fallen for the moment he saw her at the ripe old age of eight. Their relationship appears to be on the rocks at the best of times, as they seem to constantly pick at each other for doing things completely opposite. Laurel is a multitasker who has at least three things going on at once and rarely finishes anything, while Duran is very direct and single-minded in his work. However, all bickering aside, the two love each other deeply, and Duran is sure to end every squabble with a genuine “I love you, petal”, which is always met in response by Laurel’s “And I you, dear”.
Duran is also the proud father of a sixteen year old daughter named Avirly. Duran enjoys doting upon her excessively and is extremely protective. It is rumored that he is the only other male vole in the fort because he refuses to accept the idea that one day Avirly might fall in love and get married to some rouge that will whisk her away.
Likes and interests: When it comes to hobbies Duran has a few, and they are extremely practical. While Laurel is an artist and Avirly likes music, Duran is a writer and cheese maker. Yes, cheese maker. He supplies the fort with nearly all its cheeses and they are excellent. As for his writing Duran does not have a clerk because he keeps all the books himself and is very efficient with it. Other things he enjoys are sailing, though he just likes the riding along part and not the work part, planning anything, practicing with his rapier, and running. Yes, Duran is the type that enjoys a good run and gets up at the crack of dawn, no matter the weather, to proceed in a “light jog” around the ramparts.
Dislikes: While there are others, Duran is known for his pet peeve of all things non-alphabetical. If you ever have to present Duran with a list of any kind, put it in alphabetical order. Unless you’d like to see his eye twitch, that is.
History: Duran had humble beginnings at Redwall Abbey. He was born and raised there, his father being the Recorder for many seasons. He always had itchy feetpaws, however, and one spring when a traveler was passing through Duran stowed away with him. The young vole spent a few seasons traveling with Aviron (whom he later named his daughter after), who taught him the ways of a vagabond. Aviron and Duran parted ways when Duran joined a ships crew in Southsward and spent a few seasons at sea. It was there he learned swordplay and picked up his rapier skills. The voyage was nearly over when they engaged a vermin vessel. The battle that took place was never to see who would claim victory however, as a storm came up and dashed both ships against the rocks along the southern shore. Separated from his crew, Duran managed to survive the ordeal and make his way back to Southsward and the castle, where he recovered and stayed through the winter season. When spring came however, his wandering nature overtook him and he set out again. Over the next few seasons he slowly made his way north, along the way stopping at Redwall again, where he swept Laurel off her feet and proceeded to marry her before leaving again, this time with her at his side. Through his travels he made ties with many otter holts, squirrel tribes, and it is said that he spent at least six seasons among the Gousim shrews and that Avirly was born while he was among them, but this has yet to be verified.
When the first plans for Black Arch Fort were being thought up at Salamandastron, Duran was actually only a stones throw away from the famed arch and its ruins. He was spending the winter with his wife’s old friend Burku. When Lord Thickstripe and the others arrived and began work clearing the ruins and preparing for construction, Duran arrived at a very crucial moment. The early comers to the ruins had come across a band of nomadic vermin who were using the caverns beneath the old fortress as a winter camp and they proved a formidable force even against the hares of Salamandastron who had been sent in advance as guards. The vermin had the upper paw due to their superior position and knowledge of the tunnels beneath the ruins, enabling them some smart guerilla tactics that made it a dangerous situation for the would-be builders. Duran however, had explored the ruins previously and had by chance come across an entrance within the cliffs that faced the sea. Getting word to Lord Thickstripe and his limited forces, Duran managed to arrange a plan for a two pronged attack and led the charge from the cliff entrance. It was a victory stroke and the vermin were removed from the ruins and sent north with their tails between their legs. Lord Thickstripe was impressed, and when Abbess Valerose also testified to Duran’s capabilities he was asked by the leaders of the newly formed Compass Alliance to be the first High Commander of Black Arch Fort.
He refused point blank three times, and it is said he only accepted after that because Laurel declared she was ready to settle down at long last.
Skills and weaponry: Duran is proficient with a manner of different weapons, though he has the greatest skill with the rapier, his weapon of choice. As for other skills he is quite literate and keeps very meticulous records and books for all fort dealings.
