Merle "Hammerbeard" Gonchar

=• Background •=
 * taken from the recording of initial meeting/interview with Mr. Richard Sonnac (April 19, 2012)*

So yer Richard Sonnac eh? Zamira said I needed to talk with you. After havin my mind royally fucked that is. I tell ya Richie; that's some kind of initiation ya got there. That lil thing down the park yeah.

Yeah my story ok, here's the short and sweet of it;

Name's Merle Gonchar. Born and raised in a little nothing town outside of Worcester, MA.

Course don't you already know all this? Right sure for documentation, I get it.

My pop was first generation from Russian immigrants and my mum came over from the emerald isle. They wonder why I like the sauce now and again and again eh ha. So yeah I had a typical rough childhood. My folks were good people, nothing like that, hard workers. Still tough making ends meet. Got into hockey at five or six, my folks said it was the only thing that would keep me focused. Hockey was my calm, ya know. That's where it came together for me. The intensity, the drive. It filled. Outside the rink though, well heh. I got in my fair share of trouble, and then some I guess. Just always had to push, everything. On the ice that was great, off, well not so much.

So after scraping through high school I spent a couple years in the local college on a partial scholarship for ice hockey, goalie. Got drafted out in 2002. Spent a year or two here and there, some minors some lower. Never quite made it to the top, but I did alright. Finally traded down to the Gladiators in Georgia. 'Course that's all in the past now. As it is I was probably in my last good season anyway.

So when did it start? Ya mean when did I got total batshit crazy? It was a couple weeks back. We'd lost a tough one to the Stingrays. Knocked us out of the playoffs. So me and the boys went out to tie one on good when we got home. Shecky, Jim-Jim, Small Paul and me got royally ripped down at Tony's. I remember watching the news about that crazy shit going on in Tokyo, thinking; maybe those nuts on Coast to Coast had it right. Then thinking I was just as crazy for thinking so. Sure seemed like something was going on though. I stumbled in near dawn and passed out. I woke up choking, least I think I did, everything got wicked weird about then. Even now it seems insane to talk about it. I thought it was a dream. I hoped it was a dream. Something had happened; like I was electrified, or on fire, or both.

I crawled outta bed close to noon. Something definitely had happened. That's for sure. I was confused, and scared. And I don't get scared. I made up my mind what to do. Season was over, I didn't really have anywhere to be for awhile. So I locked myself in and ripped the phone out of the wall. The next few days are a haze of mad dreams, pain and practice. Yeah practice, I wasn't gonna let this control me. Not my style. I had to push it harder than it could push me. And I did.

Then one day I get a knock on the door. I knew it wasn't the guys, no pounding and swearing, just a knock. I open it and this beauty walks in. Part librarian part stripper ya know? Starts telling me about the Templars. I don't want to hear it but I can't help it, I'm drawn to it. I take her letter and her advice. Next thing I know I'm on a redeye here to jolly 'ol England. This limey Lacey tells me seek the King in the park and well, that brings us back here.

What else ya wanna know Richie?

=• Training Report •=
 * June 18, 2012

Hammerbeard has completed his eight week initiate training. Primary Weapon Skills; Firearms/Shotgun and Magic/Elementalism. Additional Qualities; possesses above average strength, agility & stamina due to his years of training in ice hockey. Recommended Secodary Weapon Skill Training; Melee/Fist Weapons and Magic/Blood.

Notes; Hammerbeard will be a valued team member. He is not a leader but supports his team no matter what. He can be as hard-headed as his codename suggests, but he's a tough soldier. He gives the proverbial 110%. His drinking could become an issue if not watched.

=• Future Use •= ...