Niklas | Ex-Father, Ex-Bandit

Name: Niklas Bettinger

Previous Alias: Frostbit

Occupation: Hermit (Ex-Bandit)

Bounty: 'Captain Frostbit' has a bounty on his head of 1,500 gold.

Species: Wolf Beastkin

Hair: Long, messy, down to his shoulders. Snow white, just like his fur. Always keeps his bangs over his right eye to conceal his damaged eye and scars.

Eyes: Beady, black eyes.

Body: 6'5", very tall. Niklas' body is large and bulky, a testament to his strength and endurance. White fur covers his whole body, keeping him warm even in the coldest temperatures; his fur is particularly thick and fluffy around his chest and neck. He has a long snout and sharp teeth and tall, pointed wolf ears. His right eye was completely destroyed long ago, with claw-mark scars across the right side of his face telling what happened. His arms are thick with muscle, but he has put on quite a bit of weight recently and has become notably plump. His belly is large and heavy with soft, pliable blubber to keep him warm. Right above his bountiful stomach, his once toned chest has now become heavy moobs. Complimenting the rest of his girth are his plump thighs and rear, above which is his fluffy white tail. Despite his weight gain, he is still very strong and can use his weight and height greatly to his advantage.

Age: Forty-one

Attire: Wears a double-breasted coat with a thick sweater underneath. Thick gloves and boots to keep his paws warm. Wears a long, fur-lined cape across his back; a relic from his days as a bandit captain. Dresses entirely in dark colors.

Abilities: Skilled survivalist, impressive strength.

Background: Born in the far north city of Kvelertak, Niklas was always a bastard. From a young age, he always made sure he got his way; be it through manipulation, cunning, or brute force. He was trouble from the very start, and his parents weren’t too eager to discipline him as they did what they needed to in order to survive as well. Though, Niklas’ behavior escalated from survival to sometimes sadistic outbursts against those who slighted him. It wasn’t surprising that he ended up with a small posse of other hoodlums. Together, they did whatever they could within the city of Kvelertak. Whenever one got in trouble, the others backed them up and lied to cover their case. A small following of other troublemakers looking to have a bit of power in this frozen wasteland.

One day, these boys took it a bit too far. A local boy, about the age of Niklas at the time, had been snitching on the boys in hopes of getting them arrested. Unfortunately, these efforts were futile and were about to be paid back to them in blood. Niklas was the first to initiate, which made what came next all the more shocking for him. His accomplices proceeded to beat the poor man to death, but Niklas dared not speak up in fear of being beaten as well. The day that ‘rat’ died was the day Niklas and his crew left Kvelertak to avoid the repercussions. That day, those boys seemed to disappear and in their place came the Four Captains.

Steelheart, Ashes, Waves and Frostbit were the names these boys took on as they grew from a troubled childhood to a tumultuous adulthood. Taking a few of their previous cronies with them, they left for the frozen tundra to make solidify their roles as thugs and robbers - suicide for most folk, but this new gang was not most folk. The thrill of killing a man fueled the captains, driving them towards more violence and greed. Though deep down Niklas was beginning to have doubts, the fact that they managed to survive their first year in the wild helped dissuade that creeping guilt in the back of his mind.

As the years went on and the gang grew, Niklas grew more and more passive as he tried to ignore his doubts about his whole life. The other Captains teased him for all of this, but he was still the strongest in a fight. Eventually, he found solace in the company in one of the lesser gang members, a fellow wolf lady named 'Esmerelda.' For a while, his passion returned and he seemed happy again, but when Esmerelda became pregnant with his son, she started to share her desires to leave the gang once and for all. Niklas agreed.

Before his son Caine was even born, he started skimming gold from the treasury. In a few years, he had hid away enough to live comfortably with Esmerelda and Caine for a while. However, fate was not going to let a notorious bandit off easily. Steelheart caught wind of their talks of abandoning the game and had Esmerelda hanged in front of the game as an example of what happens to deserters. He made a point to keep Niklas' plans to leave a secret, but this was not enough to stop Niklas' retaliation. One by one, as they slept comfortably in their warm beds, Niklas slit the throats of the three other captains. Steelheart, Ashes, and Waves were all dead, a bounty total of 4500 gold left dead in their beds.

Right after the other captains were killed, Niklas fled the fort. He dropped his baby son, Caine, off in Kvelertak, in the barracks of the city guards. With Caine, Niklas left the entirety of what he had stolen from the gang, hoping his son can have a much more honest and prosperous life than his father had. From there, Niklas disappeared. Secretly, he has been living deep on Mount Ever-Reach, quietly stalking the freezing forests and aiding strangers who find themselves lost in them. Though, he tries to remain hidden from those he helps.

Personality: Timid, loner, standoffish, gruff, stubborn, caring, fatherly, introverted. Honest, fatherly, hardworking to a fault, wise, grumpy. Struggles to properly express his feelings honestly. Tries hard to be distant, stern and mysterious but his true, caring nature often shines through. Not afraid to stand up for and defend himself and those he cares about, even if it means a brutal fight. Brave, but lacks confidence. Deeply regretful of what he has done in the past. Believes he does not deserve to be forgiven or thanked.

Quirks: Has trouble saying what he really feels, often opting to just say what makes him seem stoic and capable. Enjoys the status of a father figure, as a way to compensate for abandoning his son. Niklas has strong paternal instincts, often trying to protect and nurture those weaker and smaller than him. Deeply respectful to Agalloch, the God of Winter; always cautious and prepared for the cold in order to respect him. Vulnerable when he’s receiving unexpected adoration. Never truly got over his first kill, still finds himself lingering on the thought of the boy who died squealing on him and his gang, though he can't remember the boy's name anymore - blames himself for this death due to being the first to strike the guy. Will not let any of the animal go to waste when he hunts. Believes killing Steelheart, Ashes and Waves was a favor to the world.

Goal: Aide those who find themselves in the frozen forests of Mount Ever-Reach. Make up for the crimes he made in his past.