Victor Azar

[Stonebar]

Staring into a fire on a dark winter night he comes to a crossroads in life.
Where a fateful decision is made that will lead him west, to Baldur's Gate.

~ Victor Azar ~

Appearance

Victor is human, six foot two, 189 lbs. and looks to be around his late twenties to thirty. His long red hair is pulled back out of his eyes, he sports a light beard closely trimmed, and has a matching set of clear sea blue eyes that are said to turn almost aqua when excited.
A sideways smile and wink of an eye, mixed with a trust worthy demeanor wins him many a friend, but also bitter enemies. He speaks with an Easting Reach accent, with a pleasant cantor flowing between low born and an educated air freely. He projects confidence and self surety, yet is not at all arrogant or haughty.

He wears a light weight mithral cuirass of a slight golden hue with a golden inlay of a stylized griffin upon it, worn over a black Shou silk shirt. His boots are of study leather with flexible souls rather then a typical hard wood. His cloak is a dyed black oil cloth protected him well from rain and storm. His hat is a slightly faded black and cocked to the side, being both stylish and shielding his eyes well from the suns glare.

A sword hangs low upon his hip swinging loosely enough not to impair swift movement, but secure enough not chaotically bouncing around. The Swords blade is to slender to be a true longsword, but thicker then most rapiers. It's guard is made of dark steal with golden hued filigree and sweeps over protecting his hand well, reaching to the bottom of the hilt. The Sword has one more oddity in that the hilt is long enough for a second hand, which seem inappropriate to say the least for a blade of it's type and weight.

Profession

Past - A merchant in Thesk, Sailor, Transporter of goods and people by sea, once or twice a privateer, and at one time Captain of the lost Caravel Griffin's Bane. His skills lay in inspiring others, leadership, working deals, building relationships, and making allies. Less so that of a master sailor, though that's where his first mate, navigator, and most trusted friend the Elf Lantanos came in.

Present - Now a wonderer using his wits and skills to find work that's now far from his home upon the Sea of Fallen Stars. He makes a living mostly from trading, and sword work. Running low on coin he's now settling in the Baldur's gate region, a chance to see the other side of the Trade route.

Recent History

His ship and home the Griffins Bane was lost at sea in a mighty storm, a memory that haunts him. He was washed overboard from the sinking ship, and remembers only seeing the moon just braking through the clouds above him as he sunk under the waves. He awoke on a shore, to far from where his ship was to be believed, but none the less... there he was. Spending everything he could earn he searched for two years seeking any crew that survived, or news of his ship, but with not even a hint of hope to be found. Hopeless he traveled into the Heartlands to be far from his home, sea, and memories earned upon it.

Nature/Goals:

Hearing about or living a good story, and finding a way to be useful. He lives with the desire to return home, yet is conflicted with the need not to.


Victor's theme music when he arrived in the Western Heartlands

Hidden: show

Ghosts of his past have taken his love, the sea. Lost are his ship and crew. His grave was made in those waters, yet still he roams. The road will become his bride, striped of all but pride, and under the wandering stars he roams. Craving only knowledge saved, conversations had, distant horizons seen, and the new unknowns discovered. Free yet still a slave, rover, wanderer, nomad, vagabond, Call him what you will...

[Stonebar]

The Griffon's Bane ancored in an inlet north of Nyth

History

The Azar family almost a hundred years ago migrated to Thesk where most became involved in merchandise, catering to the wagon trains. Where the family originated has been lost by the generations to follow, their Great great parents spoke little about it. The Azar's are known for to thinking upon the future rather then the past.

Victor was born on a homestead near the town of Phent in Thesk. His father Fernando owning a merchandise store catering to traders traveling the Golden way, and Sere trail. They made a good living his father a good natured man skilled at the art of the deal, while his mother Kara was the task master keeping him from giving away all his goods do to some sob story.

Victor's uncle Ricarvio owned a number of ships based out of near by Telflamm. They traveled mostly up and down the Easting reach at the time, but he wished to expand out further to other ports upon the Sea of fallen stars. Moving from trade in Impiltur Ore toward shipping more Shou Lung goods. Knowing he needed help in running such an operation he could think of only one man, his younger brother Victors father. They would pack up the family Him his father, mother, and sister Kitara.

That's how Victor arrived in Telfamm, and for the first time laid eyes on the forest of tall masts, sails, and rigging that filled the port city. A sight that filled him with awe, wondering where'd they come from, what far off lands have they visited, what exotic goods did they hold and adventures they had seen.

His uncle saw much in him and treated him like the son he'd lost. Once in his teens he started making runs with his uncle, at first only up and down the Easting reach. It was on one of those trips that a winter storm tore the sails and all but snapped the main mast. Repairs would be needed before anything could be done, even limping back to Telflamm 80 miles south. They find an inlet from the storm an anchoring a days travel north of Nyth. In the following two weeks it took to get the repairs underway enough to make it back to Telflamm, it showed his uncle how much Victor had learned. Despite this setback Victor had bargained deals, recruited help, and made allies all while making a profit despite what should have been a loss for the run.

Years after, his uncle got very sick, and would seek one last adventure upon the sea. They traveled farther then ever before, but his health got worse and worse until one night when Victor awoke, he was no where to be seen. No crew knew either. With no land In sight few wondered what happened. In his Will he would leave that ship, the "Griffon's Bane" to Victor. A gift that would lead to adventures never before imagined as a child, and earn friendships built of trust, and forged by the sea. This would be his home, and life for many years.

During this time and before, Lan'tanos a Wizard and warrior taught him the magics that would save his life many a time. Never being truly skilled he could none the less pick up some tricks along the way. Some would come oddly easy while others even easier would ever elude his grasp. It would be the exotically beautiful Alaera who would teach him the magic of sound, something extremely powerful in her watery realm. There relationship could not truly happen, they lived in other worlds. The romance was short with each having to return to their lives apart. But they would visit again over the years, but never as often as either would like. This was a skill hard mastered, in the beginning he could have killed foe, mast, and crew alike if he lost focus. It would take many years before he could trust it's use.

His life would be packed with adventures good and bad, successful and unsuccessful, but never dull as even a still wind could bring new opportunities if one looked hard enough, or so they tried to believe. The sea, the wind, and a brotherhood of crew, it was full sails until disaster struck. Storms are an ever present danger, but this one was not natural, it could not be to Victors mind. He believed he would be killed by a Pirate lord, from over zealous Sembian hangings, or some lucky Orc's axe, but not to the sea. This he had to believe to face the waves...

Afterword the Sea of Fallen Stars was only a painful memory, it's stories distant. He does his best to honor them in retelling, but it's never as joyful as he lets on. He will seek new stories, new distractions, and a new life far from his home upon the Inner sea. This he must or he will die a regretful man.