It's about time to introduce another new character, specifically one within my "Heart Of The Lands" universe. This rugged old buffalo's name is Xander: a husband, father, and sea explorer Gifted with the ability to manipulate water, aptly dubbed the Cobalt Waters. His design and lore were inspired by the vikings of old with a magical twist. Soon(ish), he'll be formally introduced to Zenchi and co., likely in another story-based comic. I'm not exactly sure when, but I want to take time on this little passion project of mine. I want to go all in on the lore and have a full party of heroes, including Zenchi and Ithaca and whoever else we may see.

Anyway, for an overwhelmingly long explanation on Xander's lore and backstory, see below:

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Long, long ago, there was a legendary group of travelers. While some may think it a folk tale, it is no myth, and in fact, many of them still live on to this day. They originate from a small, remote island in the heart of the Cobalt Sea. This island would come to be known as Felvhati Isle. While small in size, it was bursting with community and resources. Being native to this island, none of the people had any form of contact with the rest of The Lands. Due to particularly extreme weather patterns this far out into the sea, it was inevitable that they would need to expand and find new life elsewhere. Thus, they began venturing out to sea, making use of their old-fashioned, yet practical and rugged ships. This group of iconic travelers came to be known as the Outriders: those who risked their lives at sea in an effort to find new life and purpose elsewhere in this dangerous world. Some records passed down through generations may have been skewed over time, or even made up, but one thing that has remained true is the name of the first family to set sail in the Cobalt Sea: Dorwin. The old captain Dorwin led his crew through treacherous, deadly waters in a way that no other could. It is said that, after sailing through a particularly violent storm that nearly tore his ship to shreds, miraculously, they found new land. They sailed the sea for two, possibly even three weeks before they made landfall. Dorwin’s navigation at sea was clever, utilizing the stars as guidance when compasses were no use. He always made sure to get his crew back home safely. That being said, once they set foot on this new land, it was unlike anything they had ever seen. Vast forests, deep canyons, wide-open plains, it seemed like the world had been untouched by furkind. The Outriders were the first to discover the Angel Mountains, a stunning range of mountains capped in powdery-white snow. These were no ordinary mountains, though. Indeed, they earned their name from their golden, shining halos that topped each mountain’s peak. No one knows for certain why these mountains exist, but many say that this region is blessed by the Gods themselves. After all, it is just about as high as one can climb before touching the heavens. The Outriders decided there would be no better place to settle than such a sacred area.

In time, they had built a new village on the outskirts of the mountain range. The village was named in the honor of a fallen comrade who unfortunately succumbed to illness during the long journey, G’eelm Outpost. Soon after, those who stayed back on Felvhati Isle made the journey over as well to settle at G’eelm. Though, some remained on the island, not wishing to up and abandon the place they have called home for so long. As the years passed, G’eelm Outpost expanded in community and culture, and their mastery of naval exploration stayed a key part of their identity. For the longest of time, the Dorwins remained the head of the Outpost, be it by son or daughter. The Dorwin name carries an incredible amount of respect, and each passing generation became a better leader than the last. Looking ahead to the present day, G’eelm Outpost is thriving, frequently attracting travelers through word of mouth as a quiet, enjoyable locale to settle into. The current head of the Outriders is none other than the big-hearted, stoic water buffalo, Xander Dorwin. He was raised just like any other young, budding child. His mother and father hoped that he too would continue the lineage and become a bright, strong symbol of hope for the future of the Outriders. He frequently tagged along the Outriders’ travels at sea and grew a deep connection with the waters. Sure enough, at the ripe age of 53, Xander’s father hung up his axe and handed down his title of the chieftain to his son. Xander, aged 22, took up his new role with the utmost determination, wishing to protect the people he loved and to continue G’eelm’s legacy as the brilliant community it had become. The townsfolk adored Xander, thanks to his wide-open heart and unwavering spirit. One woman in particular adored him so much, she wished she could get that much closer to him. Xander felt a similar way, but despite being the brave, risk-taking chieftain of his people, he was almost always too nervous to say it first. He mustered up all the courage he had gained during his time at sea to ask for her hand: a lovable, caring cow named Wyona Pelltehein. It was a match made in heaven. The two were wed, and they soon bore a child together. She was an upbeat, people-loving calf that brought them the joy of their lives. They affectionately named her Petal, after the soft, gentle leaves that blew in from the surrounding forests. Certainly, she too would make an excellent leader one day, but as of now, Xander is in charge.

Given his tall, muscular and stoic stature, few would be brave enough to face him head on, but Xander is no stranger to adversity. His official title is the “Outrider Chieftain” for a reason, after all. Having to fend off would-be attackers both at sea and on land, he will do everything in his power to protect his family and his people. Naturally, in his left hand, he wields an imposing battleaxe passed down from his late father, the Greathorns of the Sea. On his right arm, he wields a specially made arm gauntlet. This piece of gear is no ordinary piece of armor, however. It is a Shield Gauntlet, capable of retracting and contracting itself into a full-sized shield with specific hand movements. He aptly named it the Arm of Obsidian. Xander had commissioned the top weaponsmiths in G’eelm to craft this unusual piece of armory, and the results speak for themselves. He specializes in heavy defense and enduring hordes of damage with a smile on his face. However, arguably Xander’s most impressive, and mysterious, trait is his ability to seemingly manipulate the waters and use it as a weapon. Indeed, he has been Gifted with a special type of Magic, the Cobalt Waters. Though, he hasn’t always had this strange ability available to him. This first occurred some years later. He himself says that he has no memory of how he obtained such a power or when it was given to him, but his fellow Outriders claim to have seen him first use this power on one of their journeys at sea. The crew were doing an otherwise standard scouting expedition, when suddenly the weather took a turn for the worse. Xander was at the command of his ship, Wyona’s Hand, named after his wife. It was a stormy, violent night, and the crew were starting to lose hope, thinking they may meet their end at sea. The ship rocked back and forth through the heavy waves, trying her best not to capsize. Xander, not willing to meet a watery grave, sailed his ship to the best of his ability. He thought of his wife and daughter, telling himself that he would return to them. He told his crew that they would not meet their end here, not if he had anything to say about it. Then, as he looked ahead, his eyes met the biggest wave he had ever seen during his time at sea. It looked to be hundreds of feet high, and Wyona’s Hand wouldn’t stand a chance against it. He tried to steer the ship away, but the waves and wind pushed them ever closer to this dooming tsunami. In a last ditch effort, Xander let go of the helm and stared down the harrowing wave. He thrust his arms out, motioning the wave to stop. And according to the crew that witnessed the event, just like that, the gargantuan wave sunk back down into the sea. The rain had even stopped, too. In an instant, everything seemed to have calmed down, as if nothing had happened in the first place. Sure enough, the crew were dumbfounded, but rejoiced that they had made it through the deadly storm. They returned to G’eelm, but Xander claims to have no memory of this particular incident past setting sail on that day. Crew members claim to have heard him mumbling to himself, others say his eyes appeared to glow a deep blue as the wave died down. In the end, it seems that the only option is to simply accept that he has this miraculous ability to manipulate the waters to his liking. That being said, he continues to sail the seas to this very day, as it is dear to him at his very core. He leads not only the Outriders, but G’eelm Outpost on a path to peace and prosperity, all the while he continues to grow alongside his dear family. In this day and age, they don’t see much conflict, but have heard the rumors of a tyrannical Queen who has committed many hideous acts of aggression. Luckily, they have been spared from her wrath thus far, but Xander knows of the evils that the world and its people are capable of. Other rumors include this so-called Hero Of The Lands who is on a mission to end the Queen’s reign of terror. At the moment, Xander doesn’t pay much mind to this supposed Hero, lest he meet them himself. Little does he know, this very Hero and their comrade wish to meet with him, potentially forming an alliance of sorts. As of today, they have yet to meet, and Chieftain Xander instead focuses on protecting those close to him, by the power of the Cobalt Waters, his brutal weaponry, his two bare hands, and his heart.