Early Life and Failed Dreams
Growing up in Eber as the son of a stonemason, Reggie was always the tallest kid in his group but never the bravest, learning early that making people laugh was easier than facing his fears directly. He learned his father's trade with half-hearted interest while dreaming of adventure, specifically the kind that happened in stories where heroes never seemed truly afraid. When he convinced his friends Peter and Thomas to become adventurers, Reggie imagined himself becoming a legendary hero through sheer bravado and luck, but reality proved far harsher than the tales he loved.
Years of Cowardice and Self-Deception
Each failed adventure chipped away at his pretense of courage until he retreated into quarry work and guard duty, masking his anxiety with an ever-present flask and loud boasts about adventures that never happened. He developed an uncanny ability to be on break whenever something serious happened, though he was always ready to celebrate after others resolved dangerous situations. His greatest fear was not death in battle but that his friends might discover his cowardice and think less of him, so he maintained his facade through alcohol and careful avoidance of actual danger.
Mind Domination and the First Awakening
In early 1302, an Eldritch Horror dominated Reggie's mind and used him to spy on Goodberry for Oraeus, a violation that culminated in the entity attempting to kill a scout who discovered the deception. When Aelindra witnessed the attack, the entity abandoned Reggie's body and escaped, leaving him broken and hospitalized for two weeks. This traumatic experience, while devastating, became the first catalyst for change as Reggie realized how little control he had over his own life while living in a haze of alcohol and self-doubt.
The Path to Paladin Training
When his best friend Peter began seriously dating Iris Panelli in late 1302, Reggie found himself with unexpected free time and a choice between drowning in loneliness or making genuine change. He approached Karthos about the new Paladin Guild, swore off alcohol, and threw himself into training with desperate determination. He took double shifts on guard duty and spent every spare moment in practice, using exhaustion to quiet the doubts that whispered he would inevitably fail and return to his old ways.
The Tournament and Revealed Power
During King Xaneborr's birthday tournament, Reggie discovered his trollblood regeneration abilities in spectacular fashion, shocking everyone including himself as his wounds healed in real time during combat. His training and determination carried him to second place despite his surprise at this revelation, earning him newfound respect from the community. However, this external recognition only highlighted his continued internal struggle with understanding the spiritual aspects of paladin training, particularly the elusive concept of faith that seemed to come naturally to others.
Meeting Moerangi and Finding Purpose
Everything changed when Reggie met Moerangi, the fierce Vaitafe warrior woman whose grief and rage had transformed her into something barely contained by her human form. She tried to kill him repeatedly, testing his resolve and his regenerative abilities in ways that would have broken lesser men, but Reggie kept coming back with stubborn persistence that eventually earned her grudging respect. His trollblood regeneration meant he could withstand her fury without dying, while his genuine desire to understand her pain rather than judge it slowly wore down her defenses. What began as violent encounters gradually transformed into grudging respect, then unexpected friendship, and finally into something neither of them had expected to feel again after their respective traumas.
Love, Faith, and Family
In Moerangi's fierce conviction about tribe and vengeance, Reggie finally understood what faith meant, not theological concepts or divine mandates, but the absolute commitment to love, family, and tribe that the Vaitafe held sacred. Their relationship deepened through shared nights and mutual understanding, and when Moerangi discovered she was carrying his child, Reggie experienced a moment of clarity about his purpose that years of paladin training had never provided. After the Heaven's Chosen liberated Oraeus from the Eldritch menace that had destroyed both Vaitafe and Ahorangi, Karthos led the surviving Vaitafe to rebuild on Ahorangi's former lands, and Reggie made the choice to follow, leaving behind his old life in Goodberry to be with Moerangi and their unborn child.
Becoming Part of the Tribe
In the Vaitafe tradition, Reggie and Moerangi were wed through the simple but profound act of sleeping together, a ritual that recognized their commitment to each other and to the tribe they would help rebuild. Though he is not Vaitafe by blood, Reggie has been accepted into the community through his devotion to Moerangi, his respect for their traditions, and his willingness to work tirelessly in rebuilding their settlement. In doing so, he accepted the new name of "Hokimai" which means "The Returning". He has found in the Vaitafe concept of tribe exactly what he had been searching for through paladin training, a faith grounded not in abstract theology but in the concrete reality of protecting and serving those he loves. His transformation from cowardly drunk to devoted husband, expectant father, and tribal protector represents a rebirth so complete that his old friends from Goodberry would barely recognize him.
Fatherhood, at Last
The birth of his daughter, Hineroa, changed Reggie in ways even paladin training never had. From the moment she was placed in his arms, his priorities aligned with absolute clarity, there was nothing in this world he would not face, endure, or die for if it meant keeping her safe. To most of the tribe and outsiders alike, Reggie remains the familiar jokester, quick with a grin, a bad impression, or a self-deprecating quip. Around Moerangi, however, he is quieter and more grounded, fully aware of the weight they now carry together. It is only with Hineroa that both sides meet, as she delights in the ridiculous faces and exaggerated antics he reserves just for her. In those moments, Reggie has found a balance he never thought possible, strength without bravado, devotion without fear, and joy without apology.