Arr, me hearties!
This be a tale of adventure! Sit down laddie, and I will tell you the tale!
When I was just a lad, I heard tell of a rich man, who paid a king's ransom in gold, to hire five brave adventurers and their crazy servant to travel across the seas. They were seeking a legendary treasure in the dread mines of that cursed land, Eisen! A normal man would quake with fear, but these were not normal men!
Oh. Hello there! Didn't see you there! Quinn's the name! Quinn Mallory! Mmmm? You want to know about me? Well, why not? But if we're going to talk there's no point in us standing around. Let's have a seat. Barkeep! A round for me and my friend here. Eh? No, of course not. Don't be silly. Wouldn't hear of you having to buy your own drink. Not much point in being nobility if you can't buy the occasional drink, is there?
Well, let's see. Where to start? Well, it was my grandfather, long rest his soul, who had the money and the title. My father and his two brothers were kept on administering his holdings. In Calmann county you can't go far without hearing a tale or two of grandfather Alastair, that's for certain. A crafty bugger, he kept his boys on a short least. But I grew up on the estates outside of Cardican, the best place a lad could grow up. Lucky, eh? But then luck's always been with me. The Goodly Folke found me early, and taught me how to get into trouble, survive that trouble and fight my way out again. What more could you ask for?
Turns out that old grandfather had the last laugh. When he passed on he split his lands into four, not three, and gifted me with my own land and titles. Let me tell you, my friend, there's no more daunting thing than standing in Elaine's court waiting to have your title ratified. There's nothing more immediately comforting than having her come over, look at you like you're an old chum, and welcome you to her court either. Ah, Elaine. She's beautiful, regal but at the same time just as warm to her own as she is cold to her enemies. Aye, she's one of a kind, our Elaine. To meet her is to know that. There's no finer woman and certainly no finer queen. I'm too small potatoes to spend any more time in her court than I did but I can still wish, eh?
I was sorting through the finances of my new estate when I turned up an interesting little fact. Turns out that grandfather had been a patron of the Explorers Guild. Well what else could I do but follow in his stead? I sent a donation (smaller, alas, but I've much less money than grand dad did) onto the Guild, explained the passing of my grandfather and promised that I'd do the best I could to stand in for him. I meant financially; they took it literally. They wanted to send a party to Eisen in search of a ruin in the mountains and wanted me to head it. Well, I'd never done it before but then life's no fun if everything's a sure thing. I said I'd so it.
We hired mercenaries for the job. I'd expected some strapping Avalons, with maybe a Highlander or Inishman as well. Instead we got a brutally (brutally, I tell you!) blunt Ussuran, her Vesten best friend (I think they compete over who can pass on the most information in the fewest words and with the severest look), arguably the most bubble headed (but large chested) Montaigne ever to walk Theus' green Earth, a man evidently intent on proving that Castillians do it better at every given opportunity and Forthson. This should be a learning experience. And I have learned.
I've learned my interviewing skills need a looooooot of work.
Bon Jour! Je'm appel Marie-Claude Durette-Deset! Ah, monseurs and mes dames! What more is there to life, than love? My history, it is tragic! So young, I was betrothed to a man. He was rich, non, but he was ugly! My heart, it did not stir! I begged my papa, you will not make me marry this man! But this man was powerful, and my papa was afraid. But not I! Non!
On the day my fate was to, how you say, fall down, I climbed out of my prison tower! La! I had but a moment to get away, before they saw me! Mon dieu! They chase me, so long! But fate, he loves the lover, so he was on my side and I escape. I travel far across the sea, far from my homeland, the beautiful Montaigne, to Avalon, where my betrothed, he cannot find me. I search, my friends, for my true love! One day I will find him, oui! Until then, I am the sword for hire!
Hola mi amigos! I am Fernando of Castille. I fight against the corrupt nobility for the freedom of my people!
Or I did, until I was forced to flee from my homeland under sentence of death. Alas, the nobility have long arms, and I am gone to Avalon to find respite. The rebellion, it goes on without me, but I am ever ready to return, at needs call!
I am Katerina Ekatanava Irinova Alekseitova v'Rasanova. When I was born, Matushka bestowed her blessings upon me, gifting me the power of Pyeryem. I worked hard to ensure the prosperity of my family and those who worked the land my family owned. Soon after the death of my parents, Matushka gifted me with the love of my husband, Aleksei.
But times are hard in Ussura Athough the gentle strength of Matushka bestows blessings upon the faithful, and rains death upon the Montaigne invaders, still the boyars tremble in fear at the wrath of Ilya. When Aleksei did not return from his journey to the capital, I finished the harvest alone, and then set out from our land to find him.
His trail has led me from mighty Ussura, to Avalon, and finally to Eisen. I travel these strange lands to find my husband, and help him return to our beloved homeland, and the warmth of Matushka's embrace. I undertook a mission to find the ancient ruins in Eisen as a means to get to the country quickly, and will fulfill my part of the bargain fairly. Then I will return to my original quest.
I only hope that Aleksei is found, and we are returned home, by the time of the thaw. The seeds do not sow themselves, and I have an obligation of protection to my people.
I am Thorhilde of Vesta.
My name is Forthson. I am some crazy nutter hired by that idiot Quinn. The good lord help all the player characters!