Thosten Dolvak
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 2:55 pm
Name: Thosten Dolvak
Appearance:
Race: Shield Dwarf
Age: 65
Height: Tall
Weight: Lean
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Bald
Facial Hair Style: A long chin beard held in gold bands.
Thosten often sucks on gems and minerals, grinding his wonky and discolored teeth on them at times. The middle of his tongue is blackened from this habit, his breath has a somewhat metallic smell.
His grandfather was not called Guern by coincidence. He remains a competitive Gurner and the talent runs in the family. When Thosten snorts and grimaces, he tends to contort his face in such ways, though he does not have the age and his beard is a little heavy to pull off a competitive gurn.
Thosten would have an accent and figures of speech appropriate for Iron Spur and Damara. He has the blood of Dwarves from the far north and, besides his yak hide helmet, that may also be suggested by his features and complexion.
Overall, Thosten has a homely appearance and though his accent may cloud his words, he is generally well mannered and educated.
Personality Profile:
General Health: Very fit
Deity: Vergadain
Initial Alignment: LN
Profession: Prospector and Defender
Habits/Hobbies: Sucking on gems and mineral samples. Geological surveyor, miner and business representative for his family.
Languages: Dwarven, Common, Terran, Damaran
Weapon of Choice: Longsword
Background:
Born in Iron Spur, the first of six, Thosten, his three brothers and two sisters are part of a large family with a long history in the mining business. After his great grandmother fled the destruction of Thostheim with her son, they took refuge with the Dolvaks of Iron Spur and became a part of the clan there.
Since then, the family has regrown and their expanding business is still run by Guern, the grandfather of Thosten. Guern was a highly talented prospector, he employed techniques that were passed down to him, though these methods are regarded by many as being somewhat odd. Eventually he became too old for the active lifestyle but he remains the hard-nosed businessman and while his business methods remain legal, they have often been seen as manipulative or aggressive.
Gol, Thosten's father, is a far more subtle businessman. He has suffered backlash from his father's methods and believes in investing real effort and expense in maintaining good appearances. He is an engineering specialist, in the design and manufacture of mining equipment from picks and tracks, to smelters and lift systems. While Guern still conducts the business teachings in the family, Gol is careful to balance and contrast what is taught to his children.
Of course Guern does not teach for free, though there is no discussion of debt until it becomes due. It is a deep debt that each in his family must pay off. As with all the others, Thosten was sent from his home and cut from family until he returned with prospects that befitted that debt. It is made a matter of family honor that each are able to stand on their own feet and keep the business moving.
So he has come to the Sword Coast, a Dolvak from Damara. Along with his siblings, he is tasked with mapping out the geological features of foreign lands, searching out opportunities for new mines, or for acquiring existing ones for the family business. It was his choice to travel so far, to take a long route and experience the breadth of geology first hand.
Goals;
Thosten's primary concern is in completing a geological survey of the Sword Coast and securing land rights to a profitable mine for his grandfather. Doing so will pay his debt of learning to his grandfather and allow him to be welcomed back home as a true member of the family business. If this much is done, he will return to oversee the activity of the family business in the region and will be expected to expand the business as far as he can.
Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts:
Another goal, but one that he feels is fanciful, is to somehow exact a vengeance on behalf of the clan of his forefathers. Maybe even revive the clan name, or make a significant memorial to it. The clan hold has long remained a remote icy tomb among the glaciers to the north of Iron Spur. It's thawing would be disrespectful, but the images of those who were frozen in mid-battle linger with Thosten and his kin.
It is because of what happened to the clan hold of Old Thostheim, that Thosten bears a particular resentment for White Dragons and Kobolds. It is unknown, yet unlikely, that the White Dragon responsible still lives. Given what Ilphaqvaczyryx (Eel-phar-kavack-zerix) swallowed at the end of the battle, it would have had a tortured life afterward.
Prospecting skills:
To most prospectors, some of Thosten's methods may seem odd as he relies on taste as much as his eyes, but these methods are a family tradition. His habit of sucking on mineral samples helps him to determine compositions and grades, similarly discerning the sources of ore or metal by the taste of mineral impurity. But more often for prospecting, he uses taste to analyse water samples from streams, glaciers or from dripping caves, again giving indication of dissolved minerals
The gems and water samples he carries are as much recreational flavors as they are reference. The strong spirits he carries are as much an oral disinfectant as they are recreational.
As a highly trained prospector and miner, he has some skills that are specialized to that purpose;
(These skills will have little practical use outside of his particular field and will not be offered in roleplay outside their scope)
Appraise; This skill is highly specialized, it would be akin the appraisal of a wine taster, but instead it focuses on the subtle flavor of minerals in water, rocks and metal samples.
Search; This is focused for practical geological surveys, observation of terrain features and finding indications of the underlying geology. Also the examination of caves and mines for ore deposits or structural weaknesses.
Lore, Dungeoneering; This is purely geological lore, covering rock types and formation, their and mineral associations, the manner in which rock moves and deforms, and the manner in which the other elements of water, air and heat affect and flow through it.
Lore, Engineering; This is focused on the engineering of mines, from the digging and shoring to carts, tracks, lifts and all associated machinery.
Lore, Local; This is focused on the laws around land ownership and employemt rights.
Religion and symbolism:
Thosten has Clerical training and embraces the aspects of Luck and Earth which are key to his life of prospecting.
As with all his siblings, Guern had Thosten brought up with a strict reverance for Vergadain. He bears many lucky charms but the strongest is the holy symbol of this faith, a large golden coin depicting a laughing Dwarf. This symbolizes the luck of his wealth and he will fidget with it when doing business.
He also considers his fur lined leather cap to be lucky, the thick yak hide is subtly embossed with the symbol of Marthammor Duin and Thosten believes it will bring him luck in his travelling. When tipping his hat to someone, he will be touching this in the hope that some of the luck will be imparted.
Thosten keeps a collection of gemstones, but he reveres a large and brilliant green garnet as being a blessing of Dumathoin. When prospecting, Thosten will often suck on this gem as a focus to his work. He holds it in such esteem because he dug out of rock that, to all he knows, should not hold such rare garnets.
Of all his charms, Thosten has most personal pride in his armor. A family heirloom, bearing a symbol of Moradain, the inside surface of its breastplate is inscribed with the names of his forefathers, poems to their deeds and a depiction of the lands of Old Thostheim. In contrast, it's outer surface is understated, with a wholly practical surface for battle and repair. This is always his luck in battle.
Other than those four gods, Thosten also embraces the family reverance for a Dwarf named Crepitus. Among his old clan, before his kin became Dolvaks, he was considered the patron of feasting. One does not give prayer to Crepitus with words, his praises are in the flatulence that follow good food and ale. Thosten carries a lucky tankard with the symbol of Crepitus, a mug of very frothy ale. He believes this will give him sound digestion and will grant him luck in drinking contests.
Appearance:
Race: Shield Dwarf
Age: 65
Height: Tall
Weight: Lean
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Bald
Facial Hair Style: A long chin beard held in gold bands.
Thosten often sucks on gems and minerals, grinding his wonky and discolored teeth on them at times. The middle of his tongue is blackened from this habit, his breath has a somewhat metallic smell.
His grandfather was not called Guern by coincidence. He remains a competitive Gurner and the talent runs in the family. When Thosten snorts and grimaces, he tends to contort his face in such ways, though he does not have the age and his beard is a little heavy to pull off a competitive gurn.
Thosten would have an accent and figures of speech appropriate for Iron Spur and Damara. He has the blood of Dwarves from the far north and, besides his yak hide helmet, that may also be suggested by his features and complexion.
Overall, Thosten has a homely appearance and though his accent may cloud his words, he is generally well mannered and educated.
Personality Profile:
General Health: Very fit
Deity: Vergadain
Initial Alignment: LN
Profession: Prospector and Defender
Habits/Hobbies: Sucking on gems and mineral samples. Geological surveyor, miner and business representative for his family.
Languages: Dwarven, Common, Terran, Damaran
Weapon of Choice: Longsword
Background:
Born in Iron Spur, the first of six, Thosten, his three brothers and two sisters are part of a large family with a long history in the mining business. After his great grandmother fled the destruction of Thostheim with her son, they took refuge with the Dolvaks of Iron Spur and became a part of the clan there.
Since then, the family has regrown and their expanding business is still run by Guern, the grandfather of Thosten. Guern was a highly talented prospector, he employed techniques that were passed down to him, though these methods are regarded by many as being somewhat odd. Eventually he became too old for the active lifestyle but he remains the hard-nosed businessman and while his business methods remain legal, they have often been seen as manipulative or aggressive.
Gol, Thosten's father, is a far more subtle businessman. He has suffered backlash from his father's methods and believes in investing real effort and expense in maintaining good appearances. He is an engineering specialist, in the design and manufacture of mining equipment from picks and tracks, to smelters and lift systems. While Guern still conducts the business teachings in the family, Gol is careful to balance and contrast what is taught to his children.
Of course Guern does not teach for free, though there is no discussion of debt until it becomes due. It is a deep debt that each in his family must pay off. As with all the others, Thosten was sent from his home and cut from family until he returned with prospects that befitted that debt. It is made a matter of family honor that each are able to stand on their own feet and keep the business moving.
So he has come to the Sword Coast, a Dolvak from Damara. Along with his siblings, he is tasked with mapping out the geological features of foreign lands, searching out opportunities for new mines, or for acquiring existing ones for the family business. It was his choice to travel so far, to take a long route and experience the breadth of geology first hand.
Goals;
Thosten's primary concern is in completing a geological survey of the Sword Coast and securing land rights to a profitable mine for his grandfather. Doing so will pay his debt of learning to his grandfather and allow him to be welcomed back home as a true member of the family business. If this much is done, he will return to oversee the activity of the family business in the region and will be expected to expand the business as far as he can.
Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts:
Another goal, but one that he feels is fanciful, is to somehow exact a vengeance on behalf of the clan of his forefathers. Maybe even revive the clan name, or make a significant memorial to it. The clan hold has long remained a remote icy tomb among the glaciers to the north of Iron Spur. It's thawing would be disrespectful, but the images of those who were frozen in mid-battle linger with Thosten and his kin.
It is because of what happened to the clan hold of Old Thostheim, that Thosten bears a particular resentment for White Dragons and Kobolds. It is unknown, yet unlikely, that the White Dragon responsible still lives. Given what Ilphaqvaczyryx (Eel-phar-kavack-zerix) swallowed at the end of the battle, it would have had a tortured life afterward.
Prospecting skills:
To most prospectors, some of Thosten's methods may seem odd as he relies on taste as much as his eyes, but these methods are a family tradition. His habit of sucking on mineral samples helps him to determine compositions and grades, similarly discerning the sources of ore or metal by the taste of mineral impurity. But more often for prospecting, he uses taste to analyse water samples from streams, glaciers or from dripping caves, again giving indication of dissolved minerals
The gems and water samples he carries are as much recreational flavors as they are reference. The strong spirits he carries are as much an oral disinfectant as they are recreational.
As a highly trained prospector and miner, he has some skills that are specialized to that purpose;
(These skills will have little practical use outside of his particular field and will not be offered in roleplay outside their scope)
Appraise; This skill is highly specialized, it would be akin the appraisal of a wine taster, but instead it focuses on the subtle flavor of minerals in water, rocks and metal samples.
Search; This is focused for practical geological surveys, observation of terrain features and finding indications of the underlying geology. Also the examination of caves and mines for ore deposits or structural weaknesses.
Lore, Dungeoneering; This is purely geological lore, covering rock types and formation, their and mineral associations, the manner in which rock moves and deforms, and the manner in which the other elements of water, air and heat affect and flow through it.
Lore, Engineering; This is focused on the engineering of mines, from the digging and shoring to carts, tracks, lifts and all associated machinery.
Lore, Local; This is focused on the laws around land ownership and employemt rights.
Religion and symbolism:
Thosten has Clerical training and embraces the aspects of Luck and Earth which are key to his life of prospecting.
As with all his siblings, Guern had Thosten brought up with a strict reverance for Vergadain. He bears many lucky charms but the strongest is the holy symbol of this faith, a large golden coin depicting a laughing Dwarf. This symbolizes the luck of his wealth and he will fidget with it when doing business.
He also considers his fur lined leather cap to be lucky, the thick yak hide is subtly embossed with the symbol of Marthammor Duin and Thosten believes it will bring him luck in his travelling. When tipping his hat to someone, he will be touching this in the hope that some of the luck will be imparted.
Thosten keeps a collection of gemstones, but he reveres a large and brilliant green garnet as being a blessing of Dumathoin. When prospecting, Thosten will often suck on this gem as a focus to his work. He holds it in such esteem because he dug out of rock that, to all he knows, should not hold such rare garnets.
Of all his charms, Thosten has most personal pride in his armor. A family heirloom, bearing a symbol of Moradain, the inside surface of its breastplate is inscribed with the names of his forefathers, poems to their deeds and a depiction of the lands of Old Thostheim. In contrast, it's outer surface is understated, with a wholly practical surface for battle and repair. This is always his luck in battle.
Other than those four gods, Thosten also embraces the family reverance for a Dwarf named Crepitus. Among his old clan, before his kin became Dolvaks, he was considered the patron of feasting. One does not give prayer to Crepitus with words, his praises are in the flatulence that follow good food and ale. Thosten carries a lucky tankard with the symbol of Crepitus, a mug of very frothy ale. He believes this will give him sound digestion and will grant him luck in drinking contests.