A principal character from the Ring of Steel, a Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms campaign set in and around Harrowdale. “Coren watched the dark cloaked figure trudge through the snowy forest, unaware of his presence. Few ventured into the woodlands in winter, and from the way it huddled in its thin cloak, it was ill prepared to do so. He was about to turn back to his business, when he saw the figure stumble down the bank of the frozen stream. Tossing aside his armload of fire wood, he raced forward as the figure unknowing staggered onto the thin ice, crashing through almost instantly. The figure let out a shrill, clearly feminine, scream as she plunged into the fidget water and was swept under the ice by the swift current. Knowing she had only seconds, he crashed headlong into the stream, intercepting her, but plunging into the freezing water himself. Seizing her, and standing against the current, he felt the cold sapping his strength quickly, but managed to haul the soaked figure to the bank. “Are you alright?” he gasped, all but dragging her up the embankment. Then her hood fell back, revealing snow white hair and stunningly beautiful features cast in ink black skin. “Drow!” Coren cried in shock, nearly dropping her limp form. She only moaned in response, her ruby eyes fluttering closed. Knowing she would freeze to death in minutes, Coren scooped her into his arms, and trudged the few dozen yards to his winter shelter. Bursting through the heavy wooden door, the heat hit him like a wall, but he managed to stumble forward far enough to collapse onto the pile of furs by the roaring fire that served as his bed. Although his body screamed to just lie there and die, Coren struggled back to his feet, and staggered to the door, slamming it against the deadly cold. Turning back to the drow, he saw her stir, and struggle to sit up, her ruby eyes not quite as glassy as they quickly darted about the small space, then settled upon him. “Get out of those cloths!” Coren ordered, his strength returning, as he started to strip out of his own soaked clothing. The drow hesitated for a moment, then must have realized that her wet cloths were drawing the warmth out of her body, and started to franticly strip as well. Against his own will, Coren could not help but glace at her as she uncovered more and more of her slender form, and found himself liking what he saw. The drow seemed to have no qualms about admiring him as he rapidly revealed his lean, muscular form. Starring openly when he stripped off his breeches, with an approving, but astonished, smile…” A native of rustic Velarsburg, Coren was raised in the shadow of the wild and fey forest of Velarwood, and has managed to marry the paths followed by both his parents, a sun soul order monk, as his mother, and a ranger of Selune, as his father. Harnessing his unusual combination of spiritual and physical discipline, and understanding of nature, to oppose evil in any form, his unassuming manner belies his iron will, and unwavering dedication, as he quietly holds to his chosen path. Coren fell uncomfortably into the role of leader, as the Ring of Steel literally formed around him. But accepts the responsibility unquestioningly, and has found its burdens well worth the rewards. Both in the friendships they have forged and the deeds they have accomplished… Most of which, no one else will ever know of. The first image of my second pass through the Ring of Steel characters... I did the first pass quite some time ago, and was never happy with the quality of the images. I hope I've improved since then! Credits: David 3.0 by DAZ at 115% scale with mats from Count Gregori Vandenberg by GillBrooks & eyes from Breathtaking-Bishonen by TiffT785, Rievel Hair by AprilYSH, Men of Action for David by DAZ & Fances, axes at 80% scale from DM’s Adventures in Grobland & pose from DM’s Dark Corner by Danie, marforno & Abraham, and Mystic Hollow by DAZ & Laurie S.