Monday, September 17, 2012

Joel Thunderclaw

The youngest boy of three possible heirs to the Thunderclaw fortune, Joel is never idle.  He is a plain man, who hopes to find a good wife he can live with and who will give him fine heirs of his own.  As third son, he has little hopes of inheriting, so he works hard at the family business of cloth, threads and other fine decorations.

Joel takes the business seriously, never skimming as some who will not inherit do, and runs it with a strict hand.  Schedules are to be kept and money is to be made for the noble House.  His older brothers are both Knights and have no head for business so leave him to it, even though this is how the noble House makes its money.  They trust Joel to do what is best for the family so they don't suspect he will try to take over their inheritance.  Which Joel really doesn't want to do anyway.

The problem being their father, Joseph, doesn't agree.  He is trying to find a way to make Joel his heir since Knights drain money from the noble House and Joel is bringing in money for the family and keeping it afloat.  Not to mention he likes Joel better, seeing as his older boys only demand things and never give back to the family.

One could encounter Joel at their business front or even on the road as he travels with certain caravans to deliver product.  (If Joel is traveling with the train it is because the product is expensive and going to a House leader.)  He can always be met if he is hiring new guards for his wagon trains.  He is reluctant to hire new ones ever time so he usually keeps contracts with the same guards, keeping them paid even if they are not escorting.  He figures this makes them more loyal.  But sometimes he needs more guards and has to take the risk of hiring new ones for a short period of time. This might be a good way to get into a noble House's good graces, for your adventuring group to get from point A to point B, or to start of an adventure plot line.

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