Keith Splinterclaw

[greek101]

Name: Keith Splinterclaw
Age: 17
Birthplace: A small village North of Mossflower
Gender: Male
Species: Ferret
Job/Position: Keith is a very talented woodcarver and a brilliant violinist.
Physical Description:

Keith is a rather average sized ferret. He is fairly tall, but not many can tell because of his braces on his legs. They prohibit him from standing at his full height, in fact, he really can't stand at all. His muscular proportions are also a bit out of whack, but not too bad. His upper body is much stronger than his lower body, as he no longer has control of his lower half. To compensate, his upper half his very strong so he can support his own weight. Other than that, he is fairly normal, besides the small kink in his tail, but it doesn’t hamper him any.

Keith’s fur is the classic black footed ferret type. The majority of his fur is a tan-ish cream color with slightly darkened tips. All save for his appendages and his face. The fur on his arms and legs are a pitch black, almost like he is wearing full length black socks and gloves. On his face, Keith also has a large black patch upon his head that comes down his face and creates a “black mask” around Keith’s emerald green eyes.

Keith is most often found wearing an emerald green jerkin that matches his eyes, along with a brown leather belt with a silver buckle. Keith also has to wear wooden braces around his legs due to his inability to use them. To save a bit of time, here are a picture of the style of braces he has and his crutches. (Only his are made out of wood) Keith uses his wheelchair as he can not properly walk, and only uses the crutches when he can't get past an obstacle with his chair.

BRACES
CRUTCHES

Belongings:

Keith doesn’t have many possessions, but what he has is precious to him or a necessity. Keith has a wooden pair of braces that are on his legs and crutches. They were built by his friend, Elwood, a solitary squirrel who rescued Keith, to help support his legs that no longer have strength. Keith also has a wooden wheelchair that Elwood and Keith built together for Keith to use and crutches just in case he can't use his chair for some reason. They have a wooden joint in the middle so the can fold up and sit in Keith's chair when he doesn't use them.

Keith also has a beautifully crafted violin that he made himself while Elwood taught him. It is a very beautiful instrument, and Keith is very talented with it.

Keith’s only other belongings are his carving tools given to him by Elwood. Keith is very talented with his tools, so much that Elwood, a master carver, calls Keith a natural, like he is one with the wood. Keith can practically make anything he wants out of a hunk of wood.

Personality:

Keith is a good creature. He really hates being called vermin. He finds it a derogatory term. Just because he is a ferret doesn’t mean he is evil! In fact, he is quite the opposite. He hates hurting other creatures, even if he could, and he really doesn’t want to be rude. He loves making creatures happy with his music and carvings.

Keith does also get a bit cranky from time to time when he is called vermin all the time and when his legs ache, or he is really tired.

Keith is also a very proud creature. He doesn’t like to be dependent on other creatures even if he can’t use his legs. He really would like to walk again. Then maybe he wouldn’t feel so week and helpless all the time. Then maybe he wouldn’t feel so left out because he can’t move like the other creatures do.

History:

Keith was born in a small village of ferrets north of the Mossflower woods to Jayson and Emma Splinterclaw. It was a peaceful little village in the middle of the woods. They didn’t attack anyone, others didn’t attack them, and any disputes among the villagers were handled by the respected council. It was a peaceful little place, until Keith was about 6…

On the night of Keith’s 6th birthday, the village was attacked! By whom, Keith never knew. It could have been a vermin horde, a neighboring village that was jealous of their prosperity, anyone. All Keith knew, was creatures were running everywhere, there was blood, killing and fire. Fires were burning on the huts of the villagers and spreading to the trees as it had been a relatively dry season.

Keith, afraid of the killing and the fire, was running for his parents when he heard a loud groaning. Slowly looking behind him, Keith watched a large oak aflame falling down upon him.

With a yell and a dull thud and crunching sound, Keith blacked out, his entire lower torso crushed under the bows of the large burning tree. Thankfully, rain came just as the attack was ending and it put out all the fires.

It rained for the rest of the night into the morning.

After the rain had come to a light drizzle, Elwood, a solitary squirrel that was traveling back to his drey in Mossflower after running an errand for a friend, came to see what the noise had been. Upon discovering the ruins of the once lovely village, Elwood searched the remains looking for survivors. The only one he found alive, amazingly, was Keith, still half underneath the giant tree.

Using some craft levering, Elwood was able to rescue Keith from under the tree and carry Keith back to his drey.

Keith didn’t wake up for the longest time, but when he did, he discovered that he could not move his legs. They had been crushed by the tree. Elwood had done his best as a woodland healer to reset all the bones, but Keith’ never regained motor movement of them. They looked fine on the outside after the bandages were taken off; few scars here and there, but it was no use. Keith couldn’t even wiggle a toe.

Keith then lived with Elwood, healing and getting over the loss of his family. To help, Elwood taught Keith how to carve wood, even making Keith braces for his legs.

Keith loved to carve, not only did it take his mind off of how pathetic he was now, he was very talented and he enjoyed it very much. Together, Keith and Elwood made a wheelchair for Keith, Keith’s violin, and many other household items.

When Keith turned 17, Elwood told him about how Redwall Abbey had been restored to its former glory. Upon hearing about their legendary healing abilities, Keith immediately wanted to go and see if, by chance, they knew of a way to help him walk again.

Elwood, although weary about Keith going, agree to help Keith get there, but he would not stay at Redwall with Keith, too many creatures for a solitary squirrel.

Keith, although sad to leave his friend and mentor, agreed and now travels to Redwall, in search of a cure for his paralysis.

Code Words: -correct-

[Treble Tiderunner]

He seems very unique, and I like him. However, if he can't move even a toe he couldn't walk, even with the braces. Perhaps a wheelchair would be best, unless you'd like to modify his injuries a little.

[greek101]

Thank you Skipp.

I added the braces for leg support, but mainly I thought the crutches were for walking small distances.

I saw a kid that had braces like Keith's (only more modern) and he had crutches like the picture I put in there and he could walk on the crutches, his feet never touching the ground really for small distances.

So I thought he would use the crutches like inside houses or the Abbey when he had the strength, but when he was tired or had to go long distances he would use the chair. Plus the crutches would be easier to go up stairs on.

If it would be better, I should make him primarily use the chair and just have the crutches for the odd obstacle?

[Treble Tiderunner]

that would probably be the best idea.

[greek101]

OK! I think I've got it!

[Treble Tiderunner]

Accepted!