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Description

Name: Mahler

Description:

Mahler is a thin, athletic individual bulging with all muscles and no fat. Having lived a life without a permanent residence, his skin has darkened and changed shape to a leathery oaken brown. His eyes do not show age, but wisdom and a deep reservoir of hidden secrets. His body language is composed and incredibly confident.

Never one to be without a good book, his "Little Black Survival Book" is always just an arm's reach away. His pants are custom-tailored with many pockets- cut as inconspicuous as possible- which hold, along with his book, usually other trinkets and gadgets he has come to rely on over the years. Fitting to this, Mahler wears a long-sleeved tanned shirt with a tasteful sepia-tone, or other natural color.

Years of running, tumbling and stumbling through the many forests and crevices of Indri'enis have hardened his body. His hand-shake is firm, his muscles solid rock and his body swift like a rock-wolf. Incidentally, it is rumored that he once ran with a pack of rock-wolves.

More than four decades of crafting have made his fingers bony and thin. They can cut wood, stone, even Erythoril, to the finest degree of precision. Not one to let his skills rust, Mahler practices his crafts daily, constantly trying to surpass his previous masterpieces.

Many strands of hair have already fallen out and stopped regrowing, leaving only a thin white patch of hair. Yet that what remains shimmers in the bright sunlight, giving the illusion of a thicker, younger Mahler. Only after twilight does the illusion fade and even Mahler agrees, that his age is slowly starting to catch up to him.

Wrinkles crease his eyes, his lips have started to sag into a permanent disapproving scowel and, slowly but steadily, his cheeks are starting to look malnourished. Something, Mahler disappointingly found out, that cannot easily be remedied with potions or alchemy.

Yet the vision of an aged and beaten Mahler is still decades away- hopefully-, and for now this man still appears alive and well.

Age: 54

Height: 1.85m

Weight: 90kg

Race: Teela

Eye Colour: Steel Blue-gray

Hair:
• Colour: White
• Length: Short
• Style: Unkempt
• Worn: Unkempt

Skin colour: Tanned; like leather.

Shape of Face: Narrow.

Teela Markings: Three blue symmetric markings running down his upper arms. Fairly thick, fairly long.

Other distinguishing features:
• Thin, but extremely muscular
• Deep, inset eyes
• Thick eyebrows
• Thin hair
• Very healthy and fit.

How does he/she dress?
• Wears high-quality, durable clothing in every situation. Does not usually dress in fine materials such as silk, but in weather-resistant clothes. Tries to maintain a balance between durable and fashionable, though he does make exceptions based on the need.
• Favors natural and cool colors.

Health: Extremely fit. Exercises daily, reviews information and studies his craft of smithing and alchemy. Enjoys to cheat with his food once in a while, but never touches alcohol or drugs.

Personality

Mannerisms:
• Eccentric
• Focused
• Fast
• Reserved
• Respectful
• Neutral
• Scheming
• Secretive
• Patient

Relationship skills: Moderate; after losing his wife, does not seek another relationship. For all other relationships, he can survive adequately.

Habits:
• Clutching his survival book.
• Rubbing his chin while looking towards the sky (or ceiling)
• Massaging his right shoulder (after it was broken once)
• Mumbling, talking to himself.

Hobbies:
• Smithing
• Alchemy
• Woodcutting/Carpentry
• Philosophy
• Aquiring rarities

Favorite Sayings:
• "According to my book..."
• "They say..." (When talking about tips and tricks)
• "Back in my days..." (sarcastically)
• "I don't know why they call me a survival guide. Most of you aren't going to survive anyway." (sarcastically, of course)
• "I tried some ale once. I don't remember much after that, but I awoke naked laying next to some ferns and some roc feathers in my hands. I've vowed never to drink again, but I would still love to know what happened that night."
• "Banja." (nickname of a reckless, inpatient kid. Uses it derogatively when somebody refuses to pay him attention, or even annoys him)

Speech patterns:
• Formal when needed.
• Talks too fast sometimes.

Style (Elegant, shabby etc.):
• Clothes are of high-quality and always in good order, but nothing regal.

Educational Background: None.

Intelligence Level: Can read and write, perform basic arithmetic, and knows a lot of lore. Has a lot more wisdom than intelligence.

Any Mental Illnesses? None yet.

Character's short-term goals in life:
• Board the Leviathon and find new worlds.

Character's long-term goals in life:
• Find the heavens and reunite with his wife.
• Become the most respected trader of rare goods, or find a unique artifact that nobody else has.
• Feel accomplished in life.

How does Character see himself/herself?
• As a respectable individual that cannot be influenced by intimidation, seduction, or other attempts to appeal at his emotions.
• The only individual on earth that could live in any climate and any habtitat, even the uninhabitable islands.
• Unfulfilled; there is a want, a struggle, to do more before death beckons.

How does Character believe he/she is perceived by others?
• Respectable, upright, but not outgoing and overly social.

How self-confident is the character?
• Extremely.

Does the character seem ruled by emotion or logic or some combination thereof?
• Most definitely logic.

What would most embarrass this character?
• Being caught in a dirty deal or a similar crime.
• Not knowing what to do next.
• His emotional connection to his lost wife.

Strengths/Weaknesses:
• Resourceful
• Courageous
• Wise
• Patient

• Shady
• Some people have it out for him
• Getting venerable
• No formal education

Introvert or Extrovert?
• Almost balanced, with a slight tilt towards introverted.

How does the character deal with anger?
• By crafting, or working, on a project.
• If that is not an option, then he needs to hold something in his hand to slowly crush.

With sadness?
• Crafting.
• Trying to push it away by thinking of better times.
• Self-motivation.

With conflict?
• Remains neutral. Never tries to judge a person.
• Always gives the person a chance to surprise him (positively)
• Against aristocrats: backs down quickly in order to stay in their favor.
• Against commoners: breaks off the conversation if they are not important

With change?
• Views change favorably.

With loss?
• Usually a change in lifestyle.
• Crafting.

What does the character want out of life?
• Find his wife, and something meaningful.

What would the character like to change in his/her life?
• He would like to have more time and age less.

What motivates this character?
• His age.
• His discipline and patience that he has developed over the years.

What frightens this character?
• Death, but only when contemplating it. In dangerous situations, he does not have time to fear death.

What makes this character happy?
• Crafting, being useful and exploring the outdoors.

Is the character judgmental of others?
• Absolutely not.

Is the character generous or stingy?
• Stingy

Is the character generally polite or rude?
• Polite

What are the character's spiritual beliefs?
• Believes in a life thereafter, and the possibility that this afterlife lies in the reaches of the Teela.

Is religion or spirituality a part of this character's life?
• Not really.

Equipment

• His little, self-made survival book full of recipes, drawings and survival tips. When going into the unknown, usually packs for the occasion.
• Carries a little leather pouch with him, a multi-purpose first-aid kit for people and objects.

History

Socioeconomic Level (child): Poor
Socioeconomic Level (adult): Middle-Class
Occupation: Survivalist/Unemployed
Income: Sporadic
Talents/Skills:
• Smithing
• Alchemy
• Crafting
• Woodworking
• Surviving
• Plant/Animal knowledge
• Good with knives

Birth order: Only child.
Parents: Deceased
Siblings: None
Spouse: Deceased
Children: One
Significant Others (describe relationship): None

Biography [to present]:

His parents had understandably little sympathy for the official school system on Indri'enis. A lower class commoner could not excel in school when the slums made school an impossibility. Instead, Mahler's father opted to show him the true skills one had to possess: a craft, and some wisdom.

It started in his childhood years. His father would come home after a hard day's work as a butcher and take the still-bloody knife to show his son how to carve the eyes out of his wooden figurine. Bloodstains on the sculpture aside, Mahler's skill in woodcrafting grew steadily until he sold his first piece at the age of ten.

From then on, his family started doing better economically with every passing day. At eleven, Mahler opened a woodworking shop which received a lot of attention, possibly owing to the owner's suspicious lack of age. However, with the assurance of many of his father's friends, clients started pouring in. It would be in these next three years that he learned valuable lessons in social relations and shady business partners.

At the age of fourteen, Mahler was offered an extremely lucrative commission. All he had to do was create a perfect imitation of a famous sculpture. An imitation so precise that nobody would notice if the original went missing. Reluctantly, he agreed, and lied at the same time, "My parents will shoulder the money, if I don't make it on time."

He did not make it on time.

Just a week after the deal popped, his parents disappeared, the shop was burned down and thugs chased him out of town. To say the least, it taught him a tearful and valuable lesson.

For the next twenty years, Mahler wandered the earth, busking for change, creating diverse sculptures, decorations or furniture. He apprenticed under a quasi-famous blacksmith and then a unscrupulous, corrupt alchemist. He couldn't say which of the two taught him more; the blacksmith taught him how to smelt minerals, shape and harden them into every tool that could be smelted and shaped. The alchemist told him who to contact for anything he ever wanted, as long as he had the money and the courage. If that didn't work, he showed him how to threaten them into compliance by poisoning their children.

Mahler's connections finally revealed what happened to his parents. Surprisingly, they were still alive! They worked as simple house-servants with a standard of living on par with the time at which Mahler was born. It was during the process of freeing his parents with most of his hard-earned money that he met his wife, Adreill.

Only months later they were wed in what had to be the happiest days of his life. A child was conceived only months after the wedding. Mahler vowed to use the time on this earth to teach his child the practical aspects of life, just like his father had done. In fact, his new son even appreciated the crafts just as much as he had!

The fairy tale ended when Adreill died of illness. Mahler had spent every coin on every medicine anybody ever offered to give hope for a recovery. Mourning and financially ruined, Mahler gave his son to a foster home and vowed never to desire another wife. He tried explaining to his son why he must leave, but his son could not understand, he just wept openly in his father's arms. Mahler gave his son two figurines representing him and Adreill, for his son to keep forever.

To this day, Mahler has kept an open connection with his son, sending him notes, letters and trinkets almost every day. He promised himself to return one day, after he has quenched this insatiable urge to push his life to the limit one last time. To do something great.

This opportunity knocked with Leviathon. Approaching old age fast, Mahler recognized it as his last chance before retiring from life.

Mahler's Story