Tellias is a proud yet focused man. He has a strong moral compass and although he was denied entry into the Spartan army, he still believes strongly that every Spartan should be able to defend himself and his country from any and all who threaten them. His time in the arena has taught him much wisdom and he endeavors to always think before he acts, this does not slow down his reflexes or decision making processes however, as his experience has gifted him with a keen tactical acumen. He knows when to attack and he knows when to defend all too well. He can usually tell when someone is being false and does not tolerate bigotry or idiocy. He still has a chip on his shoulder about not being allowed to join the ranks of the mighty Spartan army, which constantly fuels his need to continually prove himself in the eyes of other Spartans.

He stands a stark 4ft 6in tall, but has muscles and a constitution an Ox would envy, with a speed that belies his muscular mass. For his height his weight is considerable coming in at 150lbs. He is of the archetypal Spartan look, with short black hair, olive tinted & tanned skin and sporting a well kept, short beard. His body sports many scars from his gladiatorial encounters the most noticeable of which is a scar running diagonally down his right cheek from his temple to his nose.

He wears the typical military gear of Sparta, Bronze Cuirass (Breastplate), Greaves & Corinthian Helmet, sporting a plume of horse hair died black and a Hoplon (heavy round shield) sporting the letter lambda upon it, which represents Laconia, the name for the region of Sparta, it also bares the symbol of a flaming torch upon it. He wields the typical weaponry of a Spartan soldier, the Doyu (Long Spear), Xiphos (Short Sword), Pugio (Dagger) & Kopis (Handaxe). However, he also carries some of the weapons familiar to gladiators and the arenas, namely an Iaculum (Net), several Veruti, plural of Verutum (Javelin), and a Sphendone (Sling). Tellias's Hoplon & Doyu were in fact gifted to him by the god Ares, they are both +1 magical items.

When not preparing for conflict, Tellias is to be found wearing the noble garb associated with a member of the Ekklsia and Spartans nobility.

Tellias has seen many seasons fighting in the arenas of Hellas and has won the coveted title of Grand Champion of Hellas. He has been to most of the arena's in the land, from Gythium in the South to Delphi in the North, from Eretria in the East to Elis in the West and remains undefeated to this day. However, his life was not always this way...

Tellias was born into a respected family, one of three children and the only male born to Osephila and Elidus. Elidus was a Spartan soldier, in fact he was one of the elite three hundred who stood as the Kings bodyguard, the hippeis. Elidus had high hopes that Tellias would succeed him into the hippeis after he retired from service, and through his early years Tellias fared well in his training and studies in the Agoge (military school). His physical prowess and stamina was amongst the best the youth of Sparta had to offer, and great things were predicted for him. His academic studies showed great promise also and he was considered "wise beyond his years" by his bideioi (overseers).

Sadly, his physical stature failed to keep pace with his peers when he reached his teens and never grew above 4ft 6in, even though his strength and stamina continued to grow beyond those of his peers. This meant that Tellias was rejected from the Agoge and was cast out to become a slave or lesser citizen. Shamed by this indignity, Tellias, rather than return to society in this diminished role, he instead enrolled in the gladiatorial stables of a rich noble named Kallisthenes.

Although his training was harsh, it was nothing compared to the environment of the Agoge and Tellias thrived and excelled in his new apprenticeship. After barely a year Kallisthenes was starting to receive very favorable reports of this short boy who could out wrestle, out think and out maneuver many of the stables other trainees, even those who were approaching adulthood. He also continued to excel in his academic pursuits, taking a keen interest in history and military tactics.

Over the years Tellias excelled in all areas of gladiatorial training and became a firm favorite of Kallisthenes. In fact to emphasize this favoritism Telias was moved into the nobles villa, albeit a servants quarters, and from time to time invited to dine with Kallisthenes. He enjoyed Telias's company greatly as the boy was clever and could hold a conversation at high level of comprehension. He was also keen to listen to what Kallisthenes had to say and teach him and could recall many of the facts and information the noble desired to impart upon his favored son, as he nicknamed him, having no children of his own.

When he reached the age of 16 Tellias was entered into his first contest versus a graduate from one of Kallisthenes's rival stables owned by an odious man called Butacidas. The graduate of Butacidas's stable who faced Tellias in the pit sneered at his diminutive stature and even hurled insults at him, but this did not phase Tellias at all, his early years in the Agoge having taught him to withstand punishment, be it physical or mental, to an extreme degree. His opponents arrogance and cockiness were his downfall as Tellias dispatched of his opponent with ease, slashing his larynx in the process, so the foul mouthed youth could insult no one further. So aggrieved at his gladiator ease of dispatch Butacidas order one of his more seasoned gladiators to enter the pit unannounced. Kallisthenes, rather than protest and call a halt to the proceedings, had faith in his new would-be champion and signaled for Tellias to fight this new challenger.

This fight was harder, but Tellias once again triumphed, crippling his opponents by slashing his hamstring in the process. Rather than humiliate himself further, Butacidas paid his debts to Kallisthenes, which had now doubled due to the second impromptu bout, and left with his entourage in tow, whipping a servant viciously to vent his anger and frustration.

Kallisthenes held a celebratory feast for Tellias and his first triumphs in the arena, granting him a modest request as a prize. Tellias chose to share the feast with his peers in the stable, stating "in the arena none of us are slaves, we are all equal". Kallisthenes at first was appalled by his request, but then saw a great quality in his sentiment and agreed to hold a feast for all within the stable, although he chose not to attend. He did however provide Tellias with his surname, Sntomo, meaning Short, which was later altered by the arena goers to The Short End, as this is what most of his opponents faced in the arena!

Many years passed and Tellias quickly ascending to the rank of Kallisthenes's champion. He won many combats against man and beast alike, and in the process made his benefactor even wealthier. Kallisthenes shared some of this wealth with Tellias and even built his champion his own quarters attached to the villa. In Tellias's 21st year surrogate father, Kallisthenes, died of a cancerous brain tumor and he left his villa & title to his champion and "favored son". Telias spent the next year fighting in several theaters of conflict, in the arenas to chase his benefactor's ultimate goal of Tellias becoming the Grand Champion of Hellas, and in the Ekklsia (ancient Hellas assembly), having taken control of Kallisthenes seat on the assembly, where his arena nickname also became widely used as his retorts & debates often ended in such for his political opponents. Often people remarked that it was a tough call to judge which was sharper, Tellias's sword or his mind.

At the age of 22 Tellias finally fought his way to the title of Grand Champion of Hellas, after a brutal combat versus a gladiator named Exaduis, nicknamed The Angry Bear, who afterwards became Tellias's stable master and friend. He duly retired from the gladiatorial circuit a famous and loved figure throughout the land. Tellias now focuses his energies in the Ekklsia and as the benefactor of Stable Kallisthenes.

Languages: Greek

Skills: Athletics +5 / History +2 / Intimidation +3 / Perception +3 / Performance +3 / Survival +5 (Expertise)

Other Proficiencies: Simple & Martial Weapons / All Armor / Shields / Smith's Tools / Disguise Kit / Calligrapher's Supplies / Vehicle (Land)

Race Features:


Class Features:
Fighting Style:- Defense - provides a +1 bonus to AC whilst wearing armor
Second Wind - On your turn, you can use a bonus action to regain HP equal to 1d10 + Fighter level. One use per S/L rest.
Action Surge - on your turn, you can take one additional action. One use per S/L rest.
Combat Superiority:- Superiority Die - You gain a pool of 4x 1d8 to use on your Maneuvers.
Maneuvers = Feinting Attack - Bonus action one target creature within 5ft of you gives advantage on your next attack against it, add Superiority Die to damage on a hit.
Parry - When a creature damages you roll Superiority Die +DEX and reduce damage taken by that amount.
Riposte - When a creature missed you with an attack you can use your reaction to make a melee wepaon attack against it. If you hit add Superiority Die to damage.
(Maneuver save = STR + Prof Bonus + 8)
Student of War - Learn proficiency with a set of Artisan's tools.

Background Feature: As a gladiator, you were considered a hero and had many adoring fans. In any settlement of 500 people or more, there are 5d4 people who have heard of your accomplishments and fame, per 500 people. In any settlement of 1,000 people or more, 5 of each of those is a very big fan and will accommodate whatever your wishes are. This can result in free services, housing, or other more esoteric requests depending on the fan.

Background Traits:

Magical Items:
A Magical shield - "Hoplon of Sparta" providing the wearer a +1 bonus to his AC, this shield is like those of a typical Spartan soldier, except in the background of the lamba letter is a flaming torch.

A Magical doyu - "Spear of the Arena" providing the wielder with a +1 bonus to hit & damage, the spear has a golden, bronzed look and is made purely of one long rod of metal in the style of the typical Spartan doyu, leaf shaped blade at one end and a sharpened spike at the other. It bares a small insignia on the leaf shaped blade of a charging boar.

Tellias, like the rest of Spartan society, bows and tries to appease all the Greek gods, but his favored deity is Ares. Tellias prayed daily on the week leading up to his final fight, and it is Ares himself who answered these prayers bestowing magical items upon Tellias on the eve of his battle for the crown of Grand Champion of Hellas.

Bronze Cuirass, Helmet & Greaves / Hoplon of Sparta +1 / Spear of the Arena +1 / Xiphos / Pugio / Kopis / Iaculum / 3x Veruti / Sphendone +20 Stones

Backpack, a bedroll, a mess kit, a tinderbox, 10 torches, 10 days of rations, a waterskin, 50 feet of hempen rope, 2x belt pouch, 100gp

Was never one for keeping much that couldn't fit on person.

At some point in this Character's life a foe became known - the history behind this rival can be written here.

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