Lionfolk Pugilist - Vaa'dren

[Medium Sized Model - 25mm Base]

A lionman raised far from his ancestral home of Zandorion. Vaa’dren has never known nor cared about his home and people, being dragged into the sullying lifestyle of organised crime from a young age. In an attempt to turn a new life, he applied for a security job at the Crescent Moon Casino, only to find his employers to be the rivals of those he left. But with good pay and good protection, he has no need to up and move once again, and he is something of a local celebrity in Tradver as the most recognisable bouncer of city’s casino.

Vaa'dren Snowmane never saw the sunlit plains of Zandorion, the ancestral homeland of the lionfolk, and he never cared to. He was born into the gritty streets of Tradver, far removed from the noble legacy of his people, and from a young age, life was about survival, not honour. Like many of the city’s lost souls, Vaa’dren fell into the arms of organised crime, finding comfort in the structure that gang life offered; it was better than starving in an alley, at least. Over the years, he became a bruiser-for-hire, a massive presence whose brawn made him a useful asset for shaking down debtors and keeping rivals at bay. But the lionman was never satisfied with his lot, always feeling like an outsider who couldn’t quite find his place.

Eventually, the cycle of crime grew tiresome, and Vaa'dren made a conscious decision to seek out something better, a cleaner life, or at least one that wouldn’t see him sleeping with a knife under his pillow every night. When he heard of an opening for a security position at the Crescent Moon Casino, he leaped at the opportunity. The job seemed perfect; good pay, better hours, and most importantly, a step away from the bloody business he’d been trying to leave behind. But as luck (or fate) would have it, Vaa'dren found himself falling into a new world of crime. The casino, while a legitimate front, was at the heart of the Rossa Cartel’s operations, and his employers were rivals of those he had just escaped from. He soon realised there was no escaping that world; all he could do was make the best of it.

And make the best of it he did. Vaa'dren quickly adapted to his role as a bouncer, becoming a familiar face to all who walked through the doors of the Crescent Moon Casino. With his towering figure and signature silver mane, he was a symbol of authority and power, a man you did not want to cross. Though his loyalty was not easily earned, he found that the Cartel’s code of “gentlemanly” conduct suited him; a far cry from the bloodlust and chaos of his past. To the casino’s patrons, he became something of a local celebrity; known for his firm but fair handling of troublemakers, and respected for his loyalty to the casino.

While Vaa'dren has no love for the Rossa Cartel's more cutthroat dealings, he finds comfort in the sense of stability they provide. For the first time in his life, he feels secure; with a steady paycheck, good food, and a warm place to sleep. His past as a street-level enforcer is a distant memory, and he has no desire to return to it. Vaa'dren may not have the honour of a Zandorionite warrior, but he has carved out his own sense of pride, a pride found in doing his job well, protecting the casino, and earning the respect of both patrons and fellow enforcers. He stands at the entrance of the Crescent Moon each night, ensuring the peace is kept and any trouble is swiftly dealt with, all while wearing the mask of a friendly doorman who would just as quickly break your hand as he would shake it. For Vaa’dren, that’s more than enough.