Stickler

Basic Information

• Name: Reginald Flannigan
• Team: Atlanta Nordic Walkers
• Position/Role: Pole Perfectionist and Unofficial Walking Ethicist
• Nickname(s): Stickler, Pole Maestro

Quotes

"The best thing to come out of the Nordics was their historical switch from pillaging Vikings to polite walkers—proof that even the fiercest raiders can eventually settle down for a nice brisk stroll, poles in hand and all the rage channeled into enthusiastic lunges."

"Proper pole placement is key. Without it, you might as well be waving around a pair of glorified twigs."

Impression

Stickler carries himself with the air of a man deeply committed to an obscure cause, with eyes that have a zealot's gleam—the sort one might expect from someone who's discovered the Ultimate Truth about a very specific, entirely optional aspect of life. He projects the mental presence of someone forever on the edge of discovering something terribly important—but whose revelations always seem to involve unexpected intricacies of a niche activity. He carries an aura of seriousness that would befit a master tactician, which he indeed considers himself to be—except his battle plan is for the ongoing campaign against improper pole posture. When he speaks, it’s often with a sincerity that makes listeners feel like they’ve just been handed an invitation to a very exclusive (if utterly baffling) club.

Physical Description

• Height: 180 cm
• Weight: 77 kg, though subject to change depending on the weight of his ideals.
• Distinctive Features & Attire: His attire is a strange combination of practicality and theatricality: utility shorts with more pockets than sense, and a windbreaker emblazoned with mysterious runes (actually the logo of an obscure Nordic walking association). His head is adorned with a sweatband that seems to serve as more of a crown of determination than an actual utility. Always has Nordic walking poles in hand, though these are less used for walking and more for expressive gesticulation. He also wears a pedometer, not because he cares about the number of steps, but because it's important to know how many potential steps he could have taken.

Personality

• Motivation: To spread the gospel of Nordic walking, albeit his own highly interpretative and eccentric version of it.
• Quirks: Stops mid-stride to adjust someone else's pole grip or to give an impromptu lecture on Nordic walking’s ancient and entirely made-up origins. Talks to his poles as if they are sentient and occasionally requires their opinion before proceeding.
• Likes/Dislikes: Likes: Symmetry, proper pole height, rhythmic steps, and any sport that allows one to look both purposeful and ridiculous at the same time. Dislikes: People who think Nordic walking is just "fancy strolling" or those who dare to use the term "hiking stick" in his presence.
• Fears: That one day someone will point out that his Nordic walking technique is fundamentally flawed—and worse, that they might be right.

Backstory

Stickler's journey began not in Atlanta, but in a particularly damp corner of an outdoor equipment store. He found a book titled "The Nordic Way" (he never quite got to the part that was about saunas). The book spoke to him in the way an unopened self-help book might speak to someone desperately in need of help—it offered vague promises of empowerment and a vague sense of belonging. Stickler became convinced that Nordic walking was not merely a form of exercise but a lifestyle, a code, and possibly a lost martial art. He made his way to Atlanta, poles in hand, determined to bring the art of vertical bipedal locomotion to the horizontal streets. The Atlanta Nordic Walkers, always on the lookout for people who made others question reality, welcomed him as a guiding, albeit perplexing, force.

Abilities & Skills

• Signature Moves: "The Perpetual Pivot"—a move where he rotates in place while passionately gesticulating with his poles, confusing opponents and teammates alike. "The Stickler Sweep"—using his poles to ceremoniously sweep away imaginary obstacles, thus clearing the path for everyone else. Some say it's the ancient, subdued Viking spirit taking hold of him, where the ax-wielding fury has simply taken on the shape of pole-wielding determination.
• Special Abilities: Uncanny ability to detect minute deviations in pole height and to give motivational speeches that somehow demoralize everyone involved.
• Weaknesses: Stickler gets so caught up in the theory of walking that he often forgets to actually, you know, walk. Easily distracted by other people's poor form, leading to lengthy, impromptu tutorials mid-match.

Equipment

Stickler's prized possessions are his pair of Nordic walking poles, which he has named Balance and Harmony. He has a backpack filled with things that make no logical sense for a Nordic walker: a pocket sundial, a collapsible lectern for spontaneous speeches, and a small, laminated book entitled "Zen and the Art of Walking in Circles"—a detailed exploration of the mental and philosophical challenges of walking, especially when you're not entirely sure where you're going or why.