Groups

Description

Name: William the Bard

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Appearance:

Personality: William is a generally easygoing young man with a quick wit and a friendly laugh. He really prefers to market days and the inside of inns to the wilderness, mostly because he's a sociable person with many a joke to tell. His one weakness is storytelling. He loves hearing new stories, listening to old ones, or telling them himself. He also loves to perform music for people as well as use his other talents to put on shows for people. He does like the thought of adventure, but often reminds himself of the pitfalls of trying to be a hero, especially within the Dark Lord's domain. Thus, he's quick to talk and trick his way out of trouble, though, he does have a conscience, something that serves to make his life rather difficult.

Weapons: William carries a short sword around with him, but his main weapon is his illusions, which he amplifies with a lute he carries around with him.

Skills/Magic: As a traveling bard, William has adequate survival skills, though he would start to look ragged if he's away from civilization for over a couple months. William's strengths lie in his people skills, music, and illusions. He is an excellent lute player, second to none, at least, no human lute player. His illusions, however, are something else. Sometimes, he infuses magic in his voice to be a little more persuasive like when he's haggling, selling something, or when he's playing or telling a particularly memorable song or tale. Other times, however, he can make it appear as if dragons are attacking from on high or that large trees are growing in the midst of a human city, displacing buildings and charming people with nature's song.

History: William is an illegitimate child A.K.A. a bastard, though he prefers the former term. He never knew his father, though he suspects that he was an illusionist like himself. His mother, however, he knew and loved. She was a serving wench at the "Robin's Rest Inn", a small but warm establishment. For the first 13 years of his life, the tavern and its servant quarters were his home. William likes to think he was a good son, always helping his mother out with her chores and even getting an official job at the inn when he turned 10. The people staying in the inn were friendly for the most part, though there were dark types that William quickly learned to avoid save for a few polite queries on what service he could provide for them. It was this environment that formed William into the sociable person he is today. Many a bard passed through, telling tall tales and singing songs to raise the spirits of the inn's world-weary patrons. It was from these traveling bards that William learned the art of playing the lute and telling a good tale. His illusions, however, he discovered for himself when he was younger and pictured there was a little more porridge for breakfast. He was, of course, disappointed to find it wasn't real, but excited at his new trick. He quickly taught himself new tricks and showed it to the crowded inn at least once a week until he met a man with the same gift. He was named Shalor and he was yet another bard passing through. This one, however, took an interest in William.

Soon enough, with promises of a better life and many gold coins, Shalor brought an apprenticeship from William's mother and William discovered the open road and life outside "Robin's Rest Inn" and even his home town. For the next 10 years, William learned the craft of a bard and the skills of an illusionist until, at last, Shalor could teach him now more. With a sad but fond farewell, the master and apprentice parted ways so that William could make a life for himself with his own merit. William has no regrets about becoming a bard and illusionist, though he makes a point to visit his mother at times. He does not desire to fight, merely to survive and perform for the masses.

Other:

William the Bard's Story