'Wage a war unrivaled', eh? I'd like to see you top the War of the Gods.
Personality: Thauvin is well-spoken, levitous and jovial, the picture of the village fool most of the time. I mean, true; he's a braggart, an on-again-off-again thief and a nigh-on pathological liar, but he is a good man at his core. Although he frequently butts heads with William over his concepts of honor and truth, the truth is that he values honor as well. Although he does lie occasionally, he is nothing if not a man of his word--once a contract is made with him, he is yours for the duration. His loyalty, surprisingly, isn't to the one holding the coin, but to the person with the best case. He's often turned down an assignment in favor of a worse offer because "This one deserves it more", in his own words. That said, he isn't one to pass up an incredibly lucrative opportunity--he'll just request that he be paid beforehand.
He isn't much of a fighter, although he is fairly competent; and as such prefers to talk his way out of most battles; a skill he's become quite good at. He is adept at playing the mind-game with his enemies, or calming them with a song--or inciting them to rage, if need be. His tongue flows like quicksilver when the pressure is on, and some of his greatest stories and songs have been written under incredible duress (at least once, at knifepoint).
Deity: The Eillken have a great number of their own deities and saints, some of which he frequently prays to (a popular one is Krast, the god of musicians; and Saint Ulir, the patron saint of travelers). He has been known to call upon Shakkel occasionally, nevertheless.
Likes:
- Wine, women, and song, as the saying goes.
- The jingling sound a full coinpurse makes when you walk.
- Music; especially his.
- The stories people tell about him when folks think no-one is listening. They're interesting.
Dislikes:
- Seeing his own blood.
- Being hurt.
- Dying; especially his friends doing so.
- Not getting paid, or being shortchanged in general.
Life Goals: Food on his table, roof over his head, money in his pocket. Maybe find a woman and start a caravan of his own some day.
Fears: He's not fond of swimming; he has a distinct fear of being underwater, in fact. Also, he really doesn't like bleeding. He is superstitious of powerful magi.
Quirks: When worried or stressed, he bites his lips and rubs the brooch on his shoulder. When truly annoyed or angry, his voice tends to rise in pitch before dropping down to an acceptable level. He wrings his hands occasionally, and habitually picks at the dirt behind his fingernails.
Weapons:
Primary: Thalien's Blade, a basket-hilted broadsword, so named because it was the sword of his father, Thalien. Heavy blade with distinctive forward balance; good for slashing or chopping, bad for thrusts. Basket hilt aids blocking and parrying.
Secondary: Nimble, a pogniard, sheathed behind his broadsword. Used for close fighting or against lightly armored opponents; good for thrusting attacks, bad for slashing. Balanced for throwing should it come to that.
Armor: A thick quilted cloth gambeson (overcoat); rarely worn (unless he expects some serious trouble).
Gear:
- Seven-stringed lute.
- Reed pipes.
- Navy blue cloak.
- Eillken worry token (a flat disc of burnished copper with a rune for 'calm' inscribed on both surfaces)
Animals: None.
Magic Items: None.