Commander Rook Calloway

Overview
Lord Rook Thornwood-Calloway was one +of the faction leaders for the Rangers before becoming Lore/Quest Master for Weekend Warrior. He is played by Ryan O'Shaughnessy, who came to the first Weekend Warrior Experience event as a player in 2017. Since then he has attended every year, and was given the title of "Faction Leader" for the second half of the Ithacus Campaign in 2019. As of 2021 he is part of the ever expanding staff for the event and is a huge supporter of the Weekend Warrior and its direction.

Character Background
Rook Calloway was born into a farming family in the Highlands region of Olaran. Though he grew up in relative comfort the Calloways were by no means wealthy and were reliant on what the farm provided and passing tradesmen on the land route between Thriese and the Capital. Rook's youth was a pleasant one and he spent much of his time in the fields, forests, and even some forays into the mountains. He became an excellent tracker and hunter during this time and was said to be able to find anything or anyone in the Highlands, assuming he wasn't distracted by a passing butterfly. His deep love of the earth and what it could provide was evident in his care for all creatures he came across, and he hunted only when it was necessary for survival and never for trophies.

In addition to all these little adventures, Rook was in constant contact with the caravan drivers that traveled past daily to bring goods from the ports of Throi, and reveled in hearing stories of the world outside the family farm. This interest, in part, drew him to the Rangers that often times would act as guards and scouts for the more vital of trade goods passing by. Their skill at forestry and their respect for the world around them was in tune with his own interests and so, at the age of 13, he left his home to become an apprentice Ranger in the Thornwood.

Rook was a quick learner and did well when it came to the vigorous training he was required to undertake before he could take up the title of Ranger. At the age of 16 a conflict with Goltha arose, and his two year apprenticeship was put to the test. He spent most of this time as a messenger for the various groups of Rangers along the Keldaran River, and during this time he met the then Justicar Braxton Petras of the Kingsmen. This interaction lead to his dislike for the Church of Luminos, though this dislike never really affected his relationships with others.

The only time Calloway saw combat during the Golthan's incursion was a brief skirmish on the western border of Lannock that gained him the rank of Captain. He was the third youngest Ranger to receive a captaincy being 17 at the time, and took his responsibilities seriously, despite his constant jesting. After the Golthan's were repelled, Rook returned to the Thornwood in order to finish his training which he did in short order.

The Autumn Feast - (1117 YL)
Captain Calloway was not present during the events that unfolded during the Autumn feast and the death of King Osiric. He heard rumors of what had transpired and that the long lost Prince and been returned home, but he paid little attention to these events as he was focusing on his assigned position back along the Keldaran River. However he was eventually recalled back to So'l to join the expedition for the Sword of Hope. Before leaving he was married to Lady Magdalena Thornwood in a private ceremony on the House of Thornwood's estate.

The Ithacus Campaign (Late 1118 - Early 1119)
The initial forces that landed on the shores of Ithacus had been separated by severe storms and many lives were lost. The Sea Lord ship on which Rook was a passenger was sunk a few days to the north of the main force and so he was not present during the first fighting that broke out over the sudden appearance of King Randar.

Arriving a few days after the Ranger and Hearth-Guard's attempt to wrest control of the Sea Lord's ships to return home, Rook was met by Captain Arquus just before he left to find an alternate route home to Olaran. Suddenly in charge of the Ranger force in Ithacus and deeply concerned about the bloodshed of his kinfolk, Calloway was quick to recommend returning home as soon as possible, and moving past the differences caused by Duke Killian's claim to regency. Not to long after his arrival a group comprised of treasure hunters and Rangers including the adventurers Brandis and Nyx discovered an ancient sword that was immediately proved to be some sort of ancient relic. Realizing that the already tense situation would only be exacerbated by this discovery and Duke Killian's immediate claim to have the right to wield this sword, Rook gave the Duke a fake. His fears were soon to be validated as the Olaran forces were once again split and fell to in fighting.

During the Battle of the Dread Fort, Rook betrayed his alliance with the Duke by striking a deal with Braxton of the Kingsmen to keep the both of their factions out of the fight and thus shedding less Olar blood. The Duke and the Hearth-Guard saw this betrayal as a nigh unforgivable act and, when the Sea Lords slaughtered many of their rank, they blamed the Ranger captain for those who died. Rook, while outwardly showing no sign of regret, struggled with his decision as it went against his own beliefs but seemed to be the lesser evil under the circumstances.

That very evening the Captain revealed the relic that his people had been hiding and offered a solution to returning back to Olaran in order to resolve the ongoing turmoil in the absence of the King and the Duke's claim to regency. While he was unable to make peace with the Hearth-Guard, and was soon dubbed "The Betrayer" by many in all four of the factions, he continued to express his desire for peace and the return of all those left alive home. The final agreement led to the extraction of all forces from Ithacus, and the long journey home was undertaken.

The Battle of the Thornwood (1120 YL)
Months after the return of the expedition, representatives from the four factions as well as the Throne's Council arrived at an estate near Norn to discuss the case of Killian's regency. Captains Rook and Arquus took dual command of the Rangers during these events, with the former taking part in the defense of the Killian when his claim to regency became a trial for treason. The resulting formation of The Order of Luminos with the now ousted Killian in the lead and the result of the trials caused concern for the stability of the kingdom.

The next day, the Rangers kidnapped Commodore Torvin in response to his sudden suggestion of a change to the treaty signed by King Alirion and the First Sea Lord. With another conflict quickly arising, alliances were formed between the Rangers and the Kingsmen in order to subdue the outraged Hearth-Guard and Sea Lords. During this time Captain Arquus took command of the main force of Rangers as Rook began to collect information on several of the less trustworthy nobles on the Throne's Council. Rumors of an argument between the normally peace-loving Ranger captain and the Hight Priest of Luminos arose, though there seemed to be only a single Kingsmen to witness this altercation.

The Battle of the Thornwood was hard fought, with both sides losing equal amounts of troops in a back and forth encounter that lasted two days. Torvin was eventually rescued and both Rook and Justicar Marrius Rayne were in turn captured.

The Hearth-Guard saw this as an opportunity to take revenge on the ranger for his betrayal in Ithacus and paraded him in front of their troops with a sign with the word "TRAITOR" written on it. A somewhat abashed Rook eventually made his escape and continued his investigations into various members of the council and others present at the now bloodied estate including the newly established Order. His suspicions of a larger conspiracy remained unconfirmed, and before he could find any substantial evidence the High Priest was assassinated and a truce declared so that all parties present could return home before reconvening the next year to address the state of the kingdom. A few weeks after these events Rook was given a promotion to Commander, again being the third youngest Ranger to achieve this rank.

Gaining Lordship
Rook spent the next few months in the Thornwood with his wife, the Lady Magdalena Thornwood. They traveled to Norn where he was officially given noble status by the other heads of the The House of Thornwood, becoming Lord Rook Thornwood-Calloway and officially retiring from the Rangers while still holding a place of respect amongst their ranks.

Personality and Traits
Rook is known as a decent fighter though more often than not his cunning and wit are what first come to mind when his name is mentioned. He is generally optimistic and friendly to anyone he meets, and is the first to jump to the defense of those he considers to be the underdog. However, he also is a practical individual with an interest in surviving encounters whatever the cost. This has led some to consider him fickle or flighty and untrustworthy, while others see his almost whimsical tactics as a clever ruse to cover his true intentions.

Since his life experience has been primarily out in nature more than in man made structures, he follows a lesser known belief system that falls under the current category of The Old Ways, specifically the nature spirit Ronin. As many in Olaran do he keeps his personal beliefs private and has no issue with any other branches of The Old Ways or the followers of Luminos. He has sometimes clashed with priests of the higher ranks in the Church of Luminos as he sees the money they spend on ornate temples to the Lord of Light as better spent for the benefit of the kingdom at large. Regardless he keeps his opinions on the subject to himself unless pushed to discuss the matter.

He has a strong interest in magic and the myths and legends of the various people he has met in his travels. On more than one occasion he has acquired or purchased relics of by gone times which he stores at his families farm in the Highlands until he achieves his eventual goal of retiring and buying his own tract of land.

While Rook joined the Rangers for the pay, he quickly found a deep connection with their ways. He will protect his fellow Rangers at all costs and follows his orders to the death, albeit with a lot of improvisation along the way. While outwardly he portrays an air of confidence regardless of his decisions, he takes his mistakes to heart and considers any loss of life as a failure on his part to protect his people.

One of his greatest weaknesses is his inability to read or write, a fact which he finds embarrassing as his attempts to learn have ended poorly. Additionally he is deathly afraid of snakes of any sort due to an incident from his childhood involving a prank by his younger brother.

Relationships
Killian "the Red" Staghunter - Rook has immense respect for Killian, especially his prowess as a commander. While they disagree on several points and the former Duke holds a grudge for the Ranger's betrayal in Ithacus, Rook continues to considers the man as a hero to both the people of Olaran and even himself.

Commodore Torvin Saelithend - While they usually have very little interaction Rook distrusts Torvin and considers him a threat to the stability of Olaran as he believes his interests are focused on Throi alone and not the entire kingdom. He does, however, understand that the Earl is not to be trifled with and his naval, combat, and tactical skill are unparalleled.

Commander Tove Mørkulv - Rook considers Tove as the most dangerous of the faction leaders. Her sway over the Hearth-Guard and her intense passion for her people and their way of life parallels Rook's own feelings towards his Rangers, though their methodology differs greatly. As with most people Rook is wary but fascinated with Tove's strength of character and battle ability.

Captain Kaiþera Farsailor - The leader of the Sea Lord Faction amuses Rook and is, in his mind, a positive example of the Sea Lord lifestyle. Her passion and dedication to her warriors and her loyalty to her brother Torvin have earned the Ranger's respect, but he still has a distrust for her intentions in relation to the kingdom of Olaran.

Justicar Marrius Rahyn - As an improvisor and survivalist Rook tends to have difficulty understanding the structure of the Kingsmen and has had a history of dislike for their leadership. Marrius is an exception to this as, while he follows the laws intensely, he understands the fallibility of people. This understanding provides the perfect mixture of leadership that Rook respects, and he considers the Rayne a friend.