Horace

Stat Block

Name: Horace
Age:40
Concept: Concept
Lifepaths: Born Slave, Thinker, Neophyte Sorcerer, Rogue Wizard

Gear:
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Notes: Fate:?, Persona:?, Deeds:?

Background

Horace is an asshole, obsessed with summoning demons. Asshole demons.

Horace was born a slave in the Kardian Barony of Ormethay. He served as a houseboy for the Montmorencys, an upper middle class family. At age 12 there was a mysterious fire that consumed the entire house in minutes. When Kate, the 8 year old daughter, was nowhere to be found Horace dove back into the house. He found her cowering in fear in a hallway and guided her to safety though a window in her father's study. After he had her out the window he pulled James' most valuable possession from it's hiding place in the desk... A book specifying times, dates, bribes and various other proofs of his rivals malfeasance. One that he had used to build and protect his family fortune.

Once the initial furor had died down, Horace approached James with a single page from the ledger. Anger mixed with pride and relief at the implied offer. Horace had not only been learning from Kate's texts, but from her father's dealings as well. The next day Horace set out a free man, with 5 sovereigns and the knowledge that if he wasn't out of Ormethay by week's end he wouldn't remain a free man.

Horace eventually settled near a small village just over the border into Rowmar. There he made his living doctoring ledgers to help the villagers avoid taxes and helping out with small injuries. After finding out about indiscretions of some of the monks with a couple of the local wives (and one young man) he convinced the monks to allow him to continue his studies in the monastery's library.

It was at the library that an elderly visiting wizard took notice of Horace. Impressed with the self taught scholar's knowledge he was stunned when he did a test for magical talent. He insisted Horace join him when he returned to Kardia City and join the Wizard's Guild... or else.

Upon joining the Wizard's Guild, Horace threw himself into his studies... both of the arcane and of his superiors. As his time with the guild grew, he came to realize that many, if not most, of the wizards were fakes. They used sleight of hand and parlor tricks to fool the masses. A few had real power, but all of these wizard's were weak. There were hints and rumors of more powerful magics, but all were outlawed by the guild. These were where his interests lay.

Using the knowledge he picked up from his time in the Montmorency household, he gained access to (though not possession of) books and tomes that, while beyond his comprehension, suggested Demonology was the key to power.

Eventually he found he wasn't the only one interested in the banned arts. The Wizard Michael was politically powerful and the most advanced Demonologist Horace had found, and the only one actually willing to risk expulsion (and possibly death) from the Wizard's Guild to attempt summonings.

Smart and paranoid, he caught Horace spying. Michael, livid at being spied on and afraid for his own life and career, set about to destroy Horace. Horace had enough dirt on Michael and a couple other wizards to avoid being completely expelled or executed, but became a persona non grata in the guild proper and has no legitimate access to any guild resources.