Raiden Morana
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Commander Raiden Morana is a powerfully built man, with bulging arms, a barrel chest, and broad shoulders, though he has lost a little bulk since his time in the Highlanders due to his strict training regime in the Glenmores Mountains. When he's not drilling, training or leading guardsmen on expeditions he can either be found alone in the mountains that overlook Cove or in the tavern swooning some unsuspecting lass.
Background
Raiden was raised by a dour Covian woodsman and his wife in rural Covianshire close to the Vesperian Border. He had little love for his adopted parents and left Cove to seek his fortune aged fifteen. He spent the intervening years before returning to Cove honing his talents as a warrior whilst running with a band of thugs in the capital. Having gained little fame and no fortune Raiden returned to Cove only to find the woodsman's hovel long since burnt down with rumours of Vesperian involvement. He stumbled across a Baronial Militia patrol captained by one Sergeant Arc and the Drow Veldrin invited him to join up. It seemed like a good excuse to kill Vesperians and have a roof over his head. Raiden would rise through the ranks gradually, proving himself an average but disceplined and even-headed soldier.
During Baron von Richter's departure for Yew during an outbreak of plague, Raiden remained behind, only to join the elite ranks of the Grenadiers under Commander Eason. Whilst still a Junior of that squad he led one of the first Covian assaults on the Yewish citadel, Stonekeep, and would become accepted wholely into the Grenadier ranks shortly afterwards. When the Baron at last returned to Cove and assumed power once more, the Grenadiers were changed – perhaps influenced by Yew's Marksmen – into an archery-based unit. A keen toe-to-toe fighter, Morana instead donned the norse-helm and heater shield of the newly formed 3rd Glenmore Highlanders, the first to volunteer. The squad's existance would only be short lived, however, though they saw action throughout the early stages of the Minoc Campaign. A fall in numbers and suspicion of heresy led to the squad's disbandenment. For a time Raiden rejoined the undecorated ranks of Guardsmen, though as the makeup of the Grenadiers reverted to its initial state, he took the bronze arms once more, and would in time become Grenadier Corporal. A long period of relative peace and prosperity followed for Cove, during which it's Militia – or rather it's "Army" – grew both in number and confidence, with rigid drills and complex training regimes introduced, many by Raiden himself. He would emerge from this period as Grenadier Captain, second only to the Baron himself in the Army's hierarchy. When the Baron retreated to the distant colonies Morana was made de facto ruler in his stead. For some years he would act as viceroy and general, leading Covian forces into battle on several occasions. At the "Freedom Celebration Day" festival Morana was invested with the title and rights of Commander, granting him full power over the Barony's military.
