- Messages
- 192
- Character Biography
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Alliria was a city filled with many wonders.The Allir Keep for instance, which served as the merchants strong hold. Sturdy strong walls fortified the position where the governing body of Alliria gathered daily. It was both beautiful and terrifying, for this was the place the strong gathered. The Inner City had it's fair share of slender and wonder as well. The docks stretched on, bringing forth wave after wave of seafarer who looked to unload wares, spend coin on drink, and share in the culture that made the city such a desirable travel point.
Most people associated Alliria with wealth, Gavin sure did when he appeared here some odd years ago, bloody and battered with matching ship and crew. He soon realized that it's wealth extended beyond copper, silver, and even gold coins. With it's diverse culture, a hoshposh of different races blending together in a intricate but delicate weave, there was something far valuable then rare minerals. Knowledge! Each person had something to share, be it religious beliefs or different way to make medical salves. Each was important. Each should have been documented. And most importantly, the wise merchant could find ways to make more coin off of this knowledge.
In his youth, Gavin had not been keen on reading. He learned by hand how to sail. He learned by watching how to use his magical abilities. He learned by each cut and slash how to use a sword. But as he aged, he began to realize the wealth of going into a situation prepared. Thus began the marriage of applying practical knowledge of items he read upon with prior experience. He made it a habit to visit the libraries of the lands he visited. It was thanks to this, he learned of the seasonal storms that plagued Elbion and as such, when his first voyage from Alliria to the aforementioned land was concluded, he had not lost a single sailor nor damaged any of the wares he had been hired to transport. He had known about the storms, studied them, and used that knowledge to his advantage. This was also how he excelled in ship to ship combat. He had read papers on different methods and tactics and applied them in actual combat. He quickly realized what worked, and what captain had been talking out of their ass.
So, with this love for reading it was obvious that having returned back to Alliria only a few days prior, one of his first stops would have been the library he currently stood in. It wasn't the biggest the city had to offer, and best could be described as cramp. It's high walls were filled from top to bottom with dusty tomes that had not been touched in ages. The halls were lined with shelves and above held hung lanterns that provided light. Now one would think lanterns were a bad idea, and they were, which is why these were not powered by oil and fire or candle and wick, but sun stones. Rocks infused with light that poured out. These of course where the cheaper sort and the light was weak. It did the trick though, providing enough light to read. Such titles like "The process of Making Cheese" or "Migration Routes of the Sea Bass" were some of the titles the library held. More instructional books then good reads. Gavin needn't know how to make cheese, and he already knew the migration routes of the sea bass in this area. What he wanted to know was about a particular sea kelp that grew along the coast. He had often heard that a potent medical salve could be made from it, but everyone he asked had no knowledge on what was needed to make it. He suspected it was just a wives tale and nothing more. However, if he could indeed make a salve from it and it worked, well that was a different story.
Wandering the shelves, Gavin hummed to himself, a sea shanty of some sort. He was a tall man of a lean swimmers build, evidence of a life at sea. His hair was long and his face unshaven and though perhaps handsome by some standard, not the face of a noblemen. His eyes were dark and a scar ran along the right side of his face, over lapping his eye. That itself was a story. Though normally not one for finery, his overcoat was a rich blue and did stand out, especially since it seemed military in nature. Another story from the privateer that often worked for the benefit of Alliria.
"Where are you...." He mumbled to himself as he continued his search, unaware that perhaps, there were others in the lonely library aside from it's care taker.
Kay
Most people associated Alliria with wealth, Gavin sure did when he appeared here some odd years ago, bloody and battered with matching ship and crew. He soon realized that it's wealth extended beyond copper, silver, and even gold coins. With it's diverse culture, a hoshposh of different races blending together in a intricate but delicate weave, there was something far valuable then rare minerals. Knowledge! Each person had something to share, be it religious beliefs or different way to make medical salves. Each was important. Each should have been documented. And most importantly, the wise merchant could find ways to make more coin off of this knowledge.
In his youth, Gavin had not been keen on reading. He learned by hand how to sail. He learned by watching how to use his magical abilities. He learned by each cut and slash how to use a sword. But as he aged, he began to realize the wealth of going into a situation prepared. Thus began the marriage of applying practical knowledge of items he read upon with prior experience. He made it a habit to visit the libraries of the lands he visited. It was thanks to this, he learned of the seasonal storms that plagued Elbion and as such, when his first voyage from Alliria to the aforementioned land was concluded, he had not lost a single sailor nor damaged any of the wares he had been hired to transport. He had known about the storms, studied them, and used that knowledge to his advantage. This was also how he excelled in ship to ship combat. He had read papers on different methods and tactics and applied them in actual combat. He quickly realized what worked, and what captain had been talking out of their ass.
So, with this love for reading it was obvious that having returned back to Alliria only a few days prior, one of his first stops would have been the library he currently stood in. It wasn't the biggest the city had to offer, and best could be described as cramp. It's high walls were filled from top to bottom with dusty tomes that had not been touched in ages. The halls were lined with shelves and above held hung lanterns that provided light. Now one would think lanterns were a bad idea, and they were, which is why these were not powered by oil and fire or candle and wick, but sun stones. Rocks infused with light that poured out. These of course where the cheaper sort and the light was weak. It did the trick though, providing enough light to read. Such titles like "The process of Making Cheese" or "Migration Routes of the Sea Bass" were some of the titles the library held. More instructional books then good reads. Gavin needn't know how to make cheese, and he already knew the migration routes of the sea bass in this area. What he wanted to know was about a particular sea kelp that grew along the coast. He had often heard that a potent medical salve could be made from it, but everyone he asked had no knowledge on what was needed to make it. He suspected it was just a wives tale and nothing more. However, if he could indeed make a salve from it and it worked, well that was a different story.
Wandering the shelves, Gavin hummed to himself, a sea shanty of some sort. He was a tall man of a lean swimmers build, evidence of a life at sea. His hair was long and his face unshaven and though perhaps handsome by some standard, not the face of a noblemen. His eyes were dark and a scar ran along the right side of his face, over lapping his eye. That itself was a story. Though normally not one for finery, his overcoat was a rich blue and did stand out, especially since it seemed military in nature. Another story from the privateer that often worked for the benefit of Alliria.
"Where are you...." He mumbled to himself as he continued his search, unaware that perhaps, there were others in the lonely library aside from it's care taker.
Kay