THE RED KNIGHT - Arias Palomino

Name: Arias Palomino. Alias/Title: The Red Knight, Knight of Castilla, Sir Palomino. Age: 35. Personality: Brave, arrogant, showoff, hotheaded, proud, determined, greedy, honourable, daring, risk-taker, protective, blunt. Likes: Horses, legal and illegal duels, money, gambling, accuracy training, hiking, flirting, hunting, victory, prizes, castles, being strong, astronomy, astrology, spring, summer, music. Dislikes: Losing, being insulted, being dishonoured, being made fun of, cooking, overly cold weather, insects, rats, being tricked, not being the strongest in the room. Fears: Losing his status/title, being disrespected, falling in love. Appearance: Long brown hair usually tied back in a low ponytail, deep brown eyes, hard stare, fair skin, small beard and small mustache, thick eyebrows, strong build, 6'1. Features: Tall, long hair, brown eyes, sharp jawline, resting disgusted expression, muscular arms, abs and legs, veiny arms and hands. Weapons: Sword, mace, shield. Skills: Melee fighting, horseback riding, gambling, trickery, flattery. Residence: The palace of Castilla, in the knights' chambers. Other: Single, bisexual, he/him pronouns.

Relationships:

Savastiàn de Cardenas: The Black and White Knight. Reserved, quiet, generous. Arias respects Savastiàn, but doesn't view him as a friend nor rival. He will tease him during the Games about finding a place to pray, saying that not even God could help him win against him. In turn, Savastiàn looks slightly down on Arias, believing that he mocks his God immaturely and cannot hold his own without insulting others. Savastiàn and Theofanis are the only knights able to render Arias totally silent.

Ivan Dreyss: The Yellow Knight. Loyal, fierce, protective. Arias and Ivan respect each other immensely, and the two of them are at the beginning of a friendship. Arias runs his mouth while Ivan listens intently, creating a harmonious balance. Arias dislikes Ivan's protective nature when it comes to him, not wanting anyone to fight his battles for him.

Beneditto Santis: The Green Knight. Smart, cold, cocky. Arias and Beneditto are from rival kingdoms. Arias thinks Beneditto is rather annoying because of how smart he is and how much he brags about it, and Beneditto thinks Arias is annoying because of how courageous he is and how much he brags about it. There is a slight mutual respect, but if Arias had to choose, he would not be engaging with Beneditto at all.

Theofanis Angelos: The Red and Yellow Knight. Secretive, political, coy. Arias wants nothing more than to make Theofanis angry, but it never seems to happen. Theofanis sees Arias as an immature adult who doesn't know how to control himself. They respect each other as fighters, but their personalities are polar opposites. Theofanis and Savastiàn are the only knights able to render Arias totally silent.

Guillaume-Vincent Fréville: The Blue Knight. Kind, fair, gracious. Arias has a deep respect and envy for Guillaume-Vincent, as he is strong and brave while being kind and beloved by his people. Guillaume-Vincent enjoys Arias' company and vice versa, though Arias tries to sabotage ("as a joke") his efforts to be both a nice person and the winner of honourable combats.

Backstory: From a young age, Arias exhibited an extraordinary blend of charisma and bravado. His father’s tales of chivalry and heroism ignited a fire within him, while his mother’s nurturing spirit and strategic wisdom molded his approach to both combat and diplomacy. Although he was only a child, he would often be seen practicing swordplay with a wooden blade, his every move reflecting an unwavering belief in his own greatness.

As he grew, so did his sense of destiny. His every action seemed infused with a boldness that bordered on arrogance, but there was no denying his skill and courage. His prowess in mock battles and tournaments drew crowds, and he revelled in the admiration, his head held high with an almost preternatural assurance.

When Arias was in his early twenties, his village was threatened by a band of marauding raiders. The local knights, though valiant, were outnumbered and outmatched. Without hesitation, Arias stepped forward, rallying the villagers and taking command of the defence. With his unmatched courage and strategic ingenuity, he led a daring counterattack that drove the raiders away, saving his village from certain ruin. This heroic act catapulted him into the limelight, and he was knighted by the king himself, a moment that only cemented his belief in his own invincibility.

Despite his impressive achievements, Arias’s confidence was often seen as hubris. His daring feats and victories made him a beloved figure among the common folk but a somewhat controversial one among his peers. Many knights admired his bravery but were wary of his overconfidence, which sometimes led him to take unnecessary risks or challenge adversaries that more seasoned knights would avoid.