Lamont Hoffman a.k.a. "Monty"

[finneas]

First Name: Lamont
Last Name: Hoffman

Appearance:
Race: Human
Age: 61
Height: Six feet
Weight: 175 lbs
Eyes: Naturally a steel blue but appear milky and clouded
Hair: Grey hair and beard, pulled back into a long tail that runs to his mid back.
Facial Hair Style: A well trimmed but full beard

Personality Profile: Sagely, worldly, wise, militaristic, leadership, strategist, patient, orderly
General Health: Healthy with the exception of age related blindness.
Deity: Kossuth
Initial Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Profession: Vintner
Base Class & Proposed Development: Monk.
Habits/Hobbies: Making wine, farming, meditating, honing his martial skills, striving for new fiery disciplines from Kossuth's teachings
Languages: Common
Weapon of Choice: Hands, feet, elbows, knees, head, fingers, toes, teeth, etc...

Background:

Lamont Hoffman was born and raised on a small vineyard north and east of Beregost. The farm was struggling and never very prosperous. It was run by all of the Hoffman family, both nuclear and extended. They mainly grew wine grapes to be sold to local vintners. Lamont's father came to him at the age of 12 and explained to him that it was getting to hard to feed all of the children and that some would have to set out on their own to make a way for themselves in the world. Lamont was one of the more grounded youths and could already see this. Monty took work on a passenger ship as a cabin boy out of Baldur's Gate and left the sword coast for parts unknown.

On his journey out of Baldur's Gate Lamont spent much of his free time with the passengers, asking all manner of question about the wider world. One of the passengers was a be-robed man named simply Gregor. Gregor was quiet and pensive though not unwilling to speak with young Monty. Lamont was fascinated by the man's soft speech and zen-like proverbs as well as his unusual abilities with fire. Apparently Gregor was interested in Lamont as well and, upon making berth in Ishau, took the youngest Hoffman with him. Gregor brought Monty to a small monastic order deep within the jungles of Chult near the Peaks of Flame. The order, known as the Brothers and Sisters of the Pure Flame, had established a secluded monastery near the flaming peaks where they believed they could better unlock the mysteries of Kossuth's fiery secrets.

The harsh environment of the Chult jungles shaped young Hoffman drastically. From the beginning of his tutelage he displayed wisdom beyond his years and a yearning for two specific tasks. His passions at agriculture were not unexpected given his birth and blood, but his hunger for the subtle nuances of military tactic and strategy was unusual. The wildlife and native tribes of the jungles gave Monty plenty of opportunity to put his studies to practical use not just in defending the monastery but also in discouraging attacks ahead of time. After a decade in the Chult wild lands a Sister of Pure Flame arrived and told a tale of woe. Lamont is put forward as the best young tactician and summoned away by Sister Alyse to aid the Dalelands against incursions by the ever aggressive Zhentil Keep.

Lamont spent the better part of the next twenty years aiding the Dales against Zhentish incursions and studying many of the great war histories at that monastery near Shadowdale. As Lamont approached his 35th winter his eyesight began to fail him. A combination of the harsh war environments and simple aging began to take their toll and by his 36th year his sight was reduced to near total blindness. The monks of the Dalish monastery worked tirelessly with their blind brother, assuring him that the loss of sight was merely the beginning of another chapter of his life, not an ending to his usefulness. Lamont toiled in the practice yards and the vegetable patches but lamented his inability to study the military tomes yet unread and further refine his abilities.

In his 40th summer Lamont decided it was time to leave cloistered life and travel, to truly evaluate if his loss of sight was conquerable. For the better part of 9 years Lamont traveled the lands of Faerun as little more than a beggar, learning what he could and rediscovering a sense of purpose. His lot as an unassuming, harmless, old blind man lent itself to infiltration and information gathering. Lamont was able to learn an important part of warfare that he had not grasped before losing his sight. The subtle art that is so darkly known as "spying."

Nearing his 60th year Lamont, for reasons of his own decided to return to his family farm on the Sword Coast. His monastic toils with the earth as well as the fermenting of both wheat and grape enabled him to help turn the ever struggling vineyard into a more prosperous wine making operation. Perhaps with a bit more time and resources the vineyard will indeed flourish.

Goals: Continuing to prove to himself that his blindness is not a disability. Monty is rediscovering his roots and walking the paths of his childhood that he has not explored in decades. He spends time on his farm reacquainting himself with family and friends but wanders often.

Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts: Anything from his past is fair game from opposing monastic orders to specific trials by Kossuth before learning key skills such as flaming fist or blazing aura. Anything affecting his vineyard or Beregost in general as well as the business side of his wine making/distribution. Monty is beginning to feel somewhat disconnected from the land and people. Their concerns feel hollow to him as his focus turns ever inward spiritually.

[finneas]

*Updated a bit*