Backstory

Born into a reclusive Goliath clan high in the mountains bordering the lands scarred by the Shadow War, Walter Bland was an anomaly. While his peers valued strength and combat prowess, Walter was fascinated by the patterns in the frost, the number of petals on a flower, and the logical progression of the seasons. He found the chaotic, violent history of Coia, with its endless wars and magical disasters, to be deeply illogical. He renounced his clan's warrior traditions and embraced pacifism, seeking to find a mathematical constant in a world of variables. He adopted a long, complex name by collecting the names of people he met who showed him kindness, a ledger of goodwill. His hermitage is a testament to his dichotomous nature: the door is always open to weary travelers, but inside, every possession is perfectly ordered and cataloged. His greatest companion is Bibi, a young elephant he rescued from a poacher's trap. Walter was fascinated by the creature's intelligence and emotional depth, and now keeps detailed ledgers on Bibi's diet, growth, and mood, viewing him as a magnificent, living equation he is trying to solve.