Rostakus is a drunk. He drinks to forget the men he has sent to the urn-field, the wasted lives, the cry of battle, and the screams of men missing limbs, holding back guts from spilling to the floor.
The clash of armies is a fool’s game where even the most skilled swordsman can be taken in the side by a novice with a spear.
Far better that two men should fight out the issue in the duel’s circle, where skill and bravery count more than luck. Far better, indeed, that one man dies instead of many, when champions decide the day.
Despite his fondness for drink Rostakus is good company. He possesses a wit and optimism even in the worst of circumstances. His gallows humor is legendary. Once when caught by Red Cow thanes attempting to swim his captured herd back across the Creek he declared, “I only want the cows that are fast swimmers, the rest you can have back.” He is also the master of one-liners in a duel, mocking his opponent’s weaknesses and failings. Once, spotting an obvious feint from Kernalda Other-Ways, he retorted “How
like a woman to change her mind.”
Rostakus is the scourge of the Cinsina, twice exiled for killing Dolutha clansmen. He worked as a mercenary in Tarsh during his exile, and still wears the glittering scale corselet that was a gift from King Pharandros. Rostakus boasts that he still has the king’s ear.
He believes that he should be chieftain, not Duruvan the Fat. Duruvan keeps him on the ring because he thinks that will appease the aggressive elements of the clan. Rostakus knows that it is not enough.
Big, tall, and strong Rostakus has an intimidating physical presence that he uses whenever someone opposes him. Rostakus believes that ‘might is right’ and has little time for mercy or kindness. He wields a large double-handed axe, and likes nothing more than slicing the heads of Cinsina riders.
A rough man who plays rough games, Rostakus loves a good game of kick-the-ball between villages, if the prize is right.
Rostakus would like to take blood vengeance on Tormal Stand-Beside of the Dolutha for the death of his friend Orldag in a battle at Dangerford following a raid gone wrong.