Description 

Dietrich is an older man, anyone looking at him can determine that. With hair nearly white as snow; the rest of his is still holding together quite fairly - but he has seen many sunrises. The man is of impressive physical stature regardless of his age, wide frame, huge biceps, and tall to boot; he clearly cares about his physical health.

He seems to take exceptional care of his hygiene; his beard is clean and well-maintained; his teeth are brushed and he washes regularly and applies fragrant oils that smell like peppermint; his skin complexion is healthy and would be otherwise unmarred if it wasn't for the scarring.

His intense and imposing size comes from genetics and a disease called gigantism. Dietrich beat the estimates of 'modern' medicine and thrived, the disease remains dormant but his growth stayed, making him one intimidating-looking fellow.

A hulking powerhouse of a man, weathered and aged like a stalwart rock. First impressions of the man based on appearance alone usually lead to negative views. He looks like a circus-strong man mixed with Santa Claus.

He sports various battle scars, scrapes, and burns, it's evident he's experienced a lot. The most notable of which is a painful-looking large burn scar on the right side of his face from collar bone to right cheekbone. All of this of course does not mar his appearance and he cuts quite the handsome figure for a man of his age!

He is constantly seen in functional clothes instead of anything resembling fashion. Typically he wears a faded green jungle flat cap which is about as old as him, a rugged green jacket with tan trim, and heavy thick leather boots. Despite their rugged appearance they are often washed and smell quite clean.

However - Wenna Loveday saved his fashion sense life and can be seen wearing her hand-picked finery on rare occasions.

Early Life 

Do history books cover this far back? They do? Huh!

The early life of Dietrich in classic fashion is widely undocumented. He supposedly 'grew up' in the northernmost parts of the Qikiqtaaluk Region - a very sparsely populated series of islands with its only populace being the indigenous Inuit.

There are a couple of stories and references that regale the events of his early days somewhat; some conflict with each other and some are absurd and otherwordly - all must have some degree of truth in them to be told, no? Well, let's explore a couple anyway shall we?

1. "A large ship crashed off the shores - the ice was too thick - the crew was too, a storm took their sight, it drifted hard and became lodged in the rocks - the scouts say the deck was stained with blood and bodies - thought no survivors - was close - four people were alive that day and that number was gone fast." Tulok - Inuit Elder of the East

2. "The boy fell from the clouds and was caught in the snow - he lives by his own - kills by his own - the devil who kills mine." Katjuk - Chief of the South

3. "The route was trouble; the Captain was trouble - his crew more so; filled with fools, layabouts, and thrill seekers - not to mention that damn beast ... The route was damned from the start - no wonder they never came back." - Royal Navy Admiral Percy Adams

4. "The creator's baby - my Kova - a blessing for the world we travel; he comes from above like the snow; he is joy for us." Elder Amka of the North

At any rate - the best story that I can give you is this. It's peculiar, it's gross, it's brutal, and it's long - So if you care to know, sit still will you?

And can you judge a kid who needed to survive at all costs?

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE - SONGS MAY BE ATTACHED TO DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF THE STORIES BELOW; I RECOMMEND IF YOU CARE, DEAR READER, TO LISTEN TO THE SONG PROVIDED AS YOU READ THE CHAPTER AND FORGIVE MY BAD ATTEMPT AT MAKING IT SOUND LIKE A CAMPFIRE STORY

YESTERDAY, WHEN I WAS YOUNG​

Spoiler: Iceberg Waltz: Back When I Was Shipwrecked

Song 1: The Inevitable - Frostpunk

"In the early dance of the 19th century, a grand ship, manned by 48 souls of daring disposition, met its dramatic end in the treacherously uncharted expanses of what we now fancy calling Northern Canada, the Qikiqtaaluk Region. A mutiny and a dash of voyage-induced madness composed a grim symphony, leaving naught but a handful of survivors marooned on the desolate shore.

Now, imagine this peculiar scene: an unusually tall lad, Dietrich by moniker, squared off against the ship's beleaguered captain. In the brisk air, they circled on the creaking, battered bow, armed with a bloody sabre and a dual-handled deck saw. The clash unfurled, the saw proving mightier, disarming the captain and ultimately bringing him down. Dietrich emerged as the victor, taking the spoils of victory in the form of adorning himself in the captain's saber and coat to fight the bitterly cold air and any other opponent who dared to stand before him.

With the captain's garb donned, Dietrich surveyed their stark surroundings – an endless stretch of blinding white snow and frozen sea. Upon his return, he faced the harsh reality, mercifully ending the suffering of the heavily wounded alongside the ship's doctor. No savior awaited them this far from civilization.

Days dripped by, despair seeped in, and survival instincts transformed the beached vessel into a battleground. Dietrich, a royal marine named John Tallship, the Cook Harmon Barbary, and the Doctor Horace McDonald stood as the last remnants. A fragile truce held for two weeks until Horace succumbed to lunacy, hoarding supplies and barricading himself.

In a swift and desperate gambit, Dietrich, John, and Harmon sought to restore reason. A loose carronade cannon was unbridled, obliterating the door. Chaos ensued as Harmon succumbed to a Nock gun volley, and Dietrich, quick as a wolf, dispatched the deranged doctor in a brutal tussle.

The room lay in ruins, supplies squandered, casting a shadow over their 'victory.' The departed were laid to rest, covered by what was left of the forward mast sail, and a moment of silent acknowledgment passed.

A week found Dietrich and John united until they resolved to explore. Attempts to decipher the captain's log proved futile, revealing only sporadic entries and cryptic references. Undeterred, they traced the shoreline daily, heading in opposite directions. Fate, however, took a cruel turn as John vanished, leaving Dietrich to discover him lifeless and frozen.

Alone but resolute, Dietrich, plagued by the rare ailment of Gigantism, faced the unforgiving reality – a stranded soul in the harshest corner of the planet with supplies dwindling. A challenging predicament, wouldn't you agree?"

Present Life 

Affiliations 

Quotes 

"Now if there is one thing that I have learned, it is that we must obey the rules of the game. We can pick the game, Keegan. But we cannot change the rules."

"Fire off a jolly, Ron!"

"Aim for fear, create a posture, but If you lose yourself in the display, you succumb to the horror, then you become the monster."

"Government has a monopoly on violence"

"Somewhere along the way, I lost a step. Dulled my own edge"

"A very undignified end, to a very dignified man."

"A dead man is no longer my enemy."

"You'll never sing the same if your teeth ain't your own"

"Don't ever call me daddy again."

"Never leave a loose end untied."

"You expect me to be convinced? It's a small world in this state, like - they bring the circus to town and the people talk about the lion they saw for the next 10 years, forgive me if I don't give credence to rumours."

"I'll split your fucking belly open and make you watch your organs pour out."

"There is too much hate in the world."

"Now just wait a minute - heh hue heh heh!" (An impersonation of Jim Hollinger)

"Jim Hol LIN ger - flap jack pride!"

"Can't a man smoke in peace?"

"Love smoking!"

Trivia 

- Always smells of peppermint with light hints of vanilla or cinnamon, no matter what.
- Advocates hard for his own personal hygiene
- Avid enjoyer of all types of cookies
- Avid enjoyer of all types of pies!
- Pies eaten: 10,593
- Kiwi McMalish's Homemade pie's eaten: 47
- Secretly uses his money to buy toys for kids and necessary items for mothers and families. (He also makes the toys!)
- Has a major burn scar on the right side of his face from cheek to collar bone.
- Has a fencing scar on his cheekbone
- Has been wounded way too many times!
- Practically always stoic
- A keen eye would notice he seems very troubled or disturbed behind his stoic eyes.
- He always seems to have his hands in front of him - playing with an imaginary ring on his finger. A survival tactic surely.
- His wedding ring is unusually absent on his hands
- Was knighted by Prussia
- Once had a severe morphine addiction
- His only true weakness is being charmed!

One of the many unofficial theme songs of Dietrich: Here comes a big one!