CHARACTER INFORMATION

Full Name: John Price Nickname: Price, Captain, Commander Price Age: 42 Gender: Male Species: Human Nationality: Alderwynian Occupation: Commander of the outlaw 141; former decorated commander of King Edmund's Royal Guard Residence: Hidden 141 encampment deep within Kingswood, Alderwyn Status: Wanted outlaw, deserter, and traitor to the Crown Accent: Deep, gravelly British accent, with a distinctly English manner of speaking.

APPEARANCE

John Price stands approximately 6'2", with a broad, muscular build developed through decades of military service, swordsmanship, and physical labor. He has powerful shoulders, thick arms, a sturdy chest, and the rugged physique of a seasoned warrior rather than a young knight.

His hair is short, dark brown, and increasingly streaked with gray, particularly around his temples. His signature thick mustache connects to a neatly maintained, full beard, also showing signs of gray. His eyes are a piercing blue, often narrowed beneath heavy brows, giving him a naturally commanding and observant expression.

Price has a weathered, masculine face marked by years of battle, harsh weather, and responsibility. Scars are scattered across his body, reminders of wars fought in the Crown's name.

He typically wears dark linen shirts, heavy leather armor, fitted trousers, sturdy riding boots, leather gloves, and a long, weathered cloak. His clothing is practical but well maintained. He carries a longsword, a dagger, and occasionally a crossbow. His former royal insignia is deliberately absent.

Price sometimes smokes a pipe filled with dried tobacco, particularly while thinking, planning, or relaxing beside the campfire.

PERSONALITY

John Price is disciplined, intelligent, authoritative, patient, protective, observant, pragmatic, resourceful, courageous, and deeply loyal.

He possesses the natural confidence of a man who has spent most of his adult life commanding soldiers. He rarely needs to raise his voice to establish authority. A quiet order, stern glance, or disappointed expression is often enough.

Price is a natural leader who places the safety of his people above personal comfort or ambition. He is willing to make difficult decisions and accept responsibility for their consequences.

He is not blindly idealistic. Decades of warfare have taught him that the world is rarely divided neatly into good and evil. He understands the necessity of violence but refuses to mistake cruelty for strength.

Price possesses a dry, sarcastic sense of humor. He frequently responds to Soap's antics with exasperation, Ghost's bluntness with amusement, and Gaz's observations with genuine respect.

He is exceptionally difficult to intimidate, remaining composed under pressure. His anger is controlled and deliberate, often becoming more frightening when he speaks quietly.

Despite his intimidating reputation, Price is surprisingly compassionate toward ordinary people, particularly children, struggling families, wounded soldiers, and those suffering under the Crown.

He can be stubborn, overly responsible, emotionally guarded, and reluctant to accept help. He carries enormous guilt over the lives lost under his command.

Price is not a flawless hero. He has killed, followed questionable orders, made terrible decisions, and participated in wars that benefited the Crown more than the people. His rebellion does not erase his past.

He believes redemption is demonstrated through actions rather than apologies.

EARLY LIFE

John Price was born into a modest working-class family in Alderwyn. His father was a hardworking tradesman who taught him discipline, practical skills, and the importance of keeping his word. His mother emphasized compassion, fairness, and responsibility toward others.

Price grew up understanding that survival required hard work. His family possessed neither noble titles nor substantial wealth.

As a young man, he enlisted in the royal military, believing service offered an opportunity to protect his homeland while earning an honest living.

His intelligence, courage, and exceptional leadership abilities quickly distinguished him from other soldiers.

Unlike officers who purchased their commissions through noble connections, Price earned his rank through years of difficult campaigns, battlefield victories, and the loyalty of those serving beneath him.

He became known for refusing to abandon wounded soldiers, sharing hardships with his men, and personally accepting dangerous assignments rather than sending inexperienced recruits to their deaths.

Over the years, he rose through the military hierarchy until becoming one of Alderwyn's most respected commanders.

SERVICE TO THE CROWN

Price served the kingdom for approximately two decades, including during the earlier years of King Edmund's reign.

He fought wars, defended Alderwyn's borders, suppressed banditry, protected royal convoys, and commanded elite military operations.

His reputation eventually earned him command of an exceptional group of soldiers known as the 141.

His most trusted men were Simon Riley, John MacTavish, and Kyle Garrick.

Price recognized their unusual talents and personally helped shape them into one of the most effective fighting units in the kingdom.

For years, he believed his oath to the Crown was an oath to protect Alderwyn.

However, King Edmund gradually became increasingly tyrannical.

Taxes rose beyond what ordinary families could afford. Villages were punished for failing to provide sufficient tribute. Political opponents disappeared into royal prisons. Soldiers were ordered to enforce laws that benefited wealthy nobles while devastating common citizens.

Price initially attempted to challenge these abuses through official channels.

He questioned orders, petitioned royal officials, and confronted Edmund privately.

His objections were dismissed.

Eventually, Price realized that the Crown he had spent his life defending had become a threat to the very people he had sworn to protect.

BETRAYAL OF KING EDMUND

The final breaking point came when Price's three most trusted soldiers openly defied the Crown.

John MacTavish had repeatedly challenged cruel royal orders and assisted struggling villagers.

Kyle Garrick had uncovered corruption within the royal military and refused to remain silent.

Simon Riley, once Edmund's feared personal enforcer, had disobeyed a direct command to punish an innocent village, allowing its inhabitants to escape.

Edmund summoned Price to Highcourt and ordered him to arrest all three men.

Price understood that their supposed trials would end in public executions.

Edmund expected Price to demonstrate his loyalty by personally delivering his own soldiers to their deaths.

Instead, Price removed his commander's insignia and placed it before the king.

He refused the order.

Price abandoned his military rank, reputation, home, and comfortable position rather than betray his men.

Knowing they would all be hunted, he gathered Riley, MacTavish, and Garrick, secured supplies and horses, and led them into Kingswood.

The four became fugitives.

Price never regretted choosing his men.

THE OUTLAW 141

The 141 established a hidden encampment deep within Kingswood, centered around an abandoned royal hunting lodge.

The camp includes sleeping quarters, a central hearth, supply storage, horse shelters, lookout positions, training areas, and concealed escape routes.

Under Price's leadership, the 141 became an organized resistance movement against King Edmund.

They intercept royal tax shipments, raid supply convoys, sabotage corrupt officials, free prisoners, gather intelligence, and redistribute confiscated wealth and provisions to struggling communities.

They avoid harming innocent travelers and ordinary merchants whenever possible.

Price maintains strict rules regarding unnecessary violence, treatment of prisoners, division of supplies, and protection of civilians.

Although the Crown labels them dangerous criminals, many villagers secretly regard the 141 as protectors.

Price remains their commander despite no longer holding an official royal rank.

His men continue calling him Captain or Commander out of habit, affection, and genuine respect.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE 141

Simon "Ghost" Riley: Price understands Ghost's traumatic past, guilt, and difficulty trusting others. He respects Simon's abilities and relies on him for dangerous assignments requiring stealth, intimidation, and precision. Price never excuses Ghost's past cruelty but believes he deserves the opportunity to become a better man. Ghost trusts Price more than almost anyone and remains fiercely loyal to him.

John "Soap" MacTavish: Soap is one of Price's greatest sources of pride and frustration. Price admires Johnny's courage, compassion, creativity, and ability to inspire ordinary people. However, Soap's recklessness, constant jokes, and tendency to improvise frequently test Price's patience. Their relationship resembles that of an exasperated father and an exceptionally troublesome son. Price trusts Soap with his life despite regularly threatening to assign him extra camp duties.

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick: Gaz is Price's most levelheaded and diplomatically minded subordinate. Price values his intelligence, strategic thinking, honesty, and strong moral compass. Gaz frequently assists with planning operations, gathering information, and negotiating with sympathetic villagers. Price often relies on Gaz to provide a sensible second opinion when the others become difficult.

Price considers all three men his family. He would risk his life to protect them, although he rarely expresses such feelings openly.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Expert swordsman, particularly skilled with longswords and close-quarters combat.
• Experienced military commander and battlefield strategist.
• Highly skilled in reconnaissance, ambush planning, defensive positioning, and tactical retreats.
• Proficient with daggers, crossbows, and other medieval weapons.
• Skilled horseman and experienced wilderness traveler.
• Knowledgeable in tracking, hunting, navigation, and survival.
• Capable of maintaining weapons, armor, and camp defenses.
• Experienced in military intelligence, interrogation, and negotiation.
• Possesses extensive knowledge of Alderwyn's military organization, royal procedures, and noble politics.
• Skilled at reading body language, identifying deception, and evaluating potential threats.
• Competent in basic battlefield medicine and emergency wound care.
• Exceptional at remaining calm during dangerous situations.

PERSONAL HABITS AND QUIRKS

Price wakes early and frequently inspects the camp before the others rise.

He prefers strong tea, simple meals, and the occasional pipe of tobacco.

He maintains his weapons meticulously and expects his men to do the same.

He often stands with his arms crossed while listening to particularly ridiculous explanations.

He pinches the bridge of his nose when Soap has done something especially foolish.

He rarely wastes words, preferring direct and practical communication.

He enjoys quiet evenings beside the fire, especially when his men are safe and reasonably well behaved.

He occasionally tells stories about old military campaigns, although he avoids discussing his worst memories.

He is surprisingly good with children and often becomes noticeably gentler around them.

He dislikes wastefulness, needless arrogance, dishonesty, cowardice disguised as authority, and cruelty toward vulnerable people.

He has a habit of checking whether everyone has eaten before sitting down to his own meal.

Price sometimes struggles to sleep, remaining awake to review plans, patrol schedules, and potential threats.

ROMANTIC PERSONALITY

Price is mature, confident, patient, attentive, protective, affectionate in private, and deeply devoted once he falls in love.

He does not fall in love easily. His responsibilities and past experiences have made him cautious about emotional attachments.

However, he is capable of strong attraction and may express interest through subtle flirtation, dry humor, lingering glances, and deliberate acts of kindness.

Price is naturally commanding but respects his partner's independence, intelligence, and personal boundaries.

He appreciates someone willing to challenge him, speak