Appearance

Physical Description

Galphador is a Wizard of the Old Style. Every facet of his appearance is carefully crafted to tell all who see him “I am a Wizard”. Flowing blue robes, long gray beard, powerful staff, and a mysterious twinkle in his eye, Galphador strives to be the quintessential wizard. He does not place overmuch into the enhancement of his body, preferring to focus on his mind. That is not to say he neglects his body, and is better shape than most 80 year old humans. Truthfully, better than most 30 year olds. He needs to be fit to traverse the wild lands his adventures carry him to. Just don’t expect him to arm wrestle a barbarian.

Identifying Characteristics

As a Wizard of the Old Style, Galphador pays great attention to his long gray beard and hair. Despite not actually liking having a beard or long hair, Galphador knows a Wizard must have a magnificent beard. In defiance of tradition, he does keep it well groomed and trimmed instead of the classic bird’s-nest. He even combs his eyebrows to maximum bushiness.
His piercing azure blue eyes started a plain light blue, but rigorous application of certain herbs and tinctures provided the color change. The glasses he sometimes wears enhance this effect as well. It used to be he only used the glasses to add to his image of the inquisitive Wizard, but now he finds he has actually begun to need glasses to aid his near sight.
His hands and forearms are covered in silvery scars, a result of many cooking experiments gone slightly wrong. A portion of his upper chest is stained neon red from an unfortunate incident with beets, a faerie, and a magical deep sea cephalopod.

Physical quirks

Galphador can often be seen stroking his beard or eyebrows while deep in concentration. This is not because he is concentrating, but because he thinks that is what a Wizard should do. Despite smoking heavily, Galphador does not smell of pipe smoke due to his studious application of cleaning spells and charms about his person.

Apparel & Accessories

Galphador is rarely seen without his Wizard’s robes, cloak, and hat. Made of good thick wool dyed deep blue woven with enchanted silver thread for durability and a shield against the elements, the Wizard clothes have survived Galphador’s adventures mostly intact. Galphador’s Wizard’s Staff is the Crimson Staff, a quarterstaff crafted from red wood and topped with a brilliant red crystal.
 
The most notable accessory in Galphador’s Wizardly Appearance is without a doubt the Spice Rack. A broad leather belt with a multitude of bags, containers, and pouches, the Spice Rack is Galphador's prized possession and he is never without it. The Rack contains not only nearly every spice known to the sapient races (and some of the merely sentient), but a great array of magical ingredients, all of which add a little something special to any dish he cooks. The Rack also contains basic cookware and utensils.

Mentality

Personal history

Born under the name Dannel Alshir, from a young boy Galphador heard the call to adventure. Sadly, the fourth son of an alderman of a middling city did not have much opportunity for adventure. So Galphador created his own opportunities, first as Elababorim the City Wizard’s errand boy, then as his apprentice. During his time as an apprentice wizard, Galphador was often punished for his many - minor - transgressions by being made to work in the Lord’s kitchens. This backfired on Elababorim, as Galphador became perhaps even more enamored with cooking than with magic.
 
From that moment forward, Galphador combined his two passions, often resulting in disastrous accidents. This was tolerated for a while, as wizards were rare in this part of the world, and known to be prone to strange habits, but eventually things came to a head when Galphador exploded the Lord’s kitchens while experimenting with his latest recipe. This explosion resulted in a permanent neon red blotch across Galphador’s chest and his exile from the city.
 
Taking this development in stride, Galphador joined up with the first Adventuring Team he could find. This team became known as the Council of Five, and were Galphador’s adventuring companions for four decades. The Five got into dozens of high profile adventures and escapades, resulting in great fame and fortune for all. The greatest adventure was the restoration of the Tower of Dunian, a mythical Wizard tower passed from High Wizard to High Wizard for 3,000 years.
 
During these 40 years, Galphador acquired his multitude of titles, including the title of Adventure Seeking Warlock, which might be considered strange as he is a Wizard by name. He gained this title after summoning a Great Old One from beyond the fabric of reality for a biscuit recipe. The summoning nearly destroyed the City of Loradshin, but the Council of Five was able to avert catastrophe. Galphador was then forbidden to contact otherworldly beings again. To be fair, the biscuits were out of this world.
 
The Council of Five eventually retired into Guildmasters, Lords, or the grave, leaving Galphador as the only active member left. He formed a new group called the Band of Three Eternities, whom he travels with even now.
 
Throughout his life, Galphador has made bitter enemies and lifelong friends. He has uncovered ancient mysteries, and discovered incredible magics. His is a life of exploration and trials, of bonds and traditions. He is the Adventure Seeking Warlock and the Cooker of the Chicken.

Education

Galphador was trained in the magical arts by Elababorim, the City Wizard from his boyhood. Galphador has continued his education through his adventures and by rigorous self-study. Galphador was introduced to the culinary arts by the cooks in the Lord’s kitchen and was largely self taught after leaving Seriesh behind. He has gathered techniques, recipes, ingredients, and cooking knowledge from the far reaches of the world, gathering all of his learning in the Cookbook.

Known Languages

Common, Draconic, Elvish, Gnomish, Halfling, Orcish, and Sylvan. Galphador learned these languages to better understand the various cooking techniques each race has. From there, Galphador has picked up bits and pieces of nearly every language, but only in terms of cooking.

Personality

Quotes & Catchphrases

“The chicken isn’t going to cook itself.”
“I’ll just add a little bit, what could go wrong?”
“How does this taste to you?”
“You can’t bake a Hydra without cracking a few skulls.”

Personality Quirks

Will compulsively place anything that appears remotely edible in his mouth to judge its flavor and potential to enhance recipes. This has backfired more than once. Fortunately, Galphador has become immune to nearly all forms of regular and magical poisoning from his many many years of sampling random substances.

Hygiene

Galphador keeps himself and his equipment meticulously clean, though he isn’t afraid to get dirty when the occasion calls for it. But he never begins cooking with anything less than sterile cookware.

Social

Birthplace

The City of Seriesh, a small city not far from nowhere

Current Residence

Tower of Dunian

Contacts & Relations

A Member of the Council of Five, and its current Head. Other members include his old adventuring teammates: Grumbr Don AKA The Old Man, Red Thun AKA The Battlemaster, Siemon Crewley AKA The Pie Thief, Ceutt Dres AKA The Persuader. Galphador has recently began adventuring with a new group calling themselves Band of the Three Eternities, whose members currently consist of: Baltus Thun, a Warrior and son of Red Thun; Albar Grumbr, a Rogue/Assassin and cousin of Grumbr Don; Maren Ulfsson, a Ranger/Valkyrie; Idorrenri “Ren” Naskmeteraxi, a Cleric/Amazon; Count Sesan Krewic, a Knight.
 
Despite this, Galphador often strikes out on his own, seeking what adventure he can, making new contacts and relations along the way.

Honorary & Occupational Titles

The Adventure Seeking Warlock, Wielder of the Crimson Staff, Guardian of the Shield of R'Dun, High Wizard in Dunian Tower, Head of the Council of Five, Cooker of the Chicken. The last of these carries the greatest magnitude and can never be revoked.

Wealth & Financial state

Over Galphador’s long adventuring career, he has gathered a large collection of valuable items, though many can only be considered valuable by the Wizard himself. He is the High Wizard in Dunian Tower, and all the treasures within, passed from High Wizard to High Wizard from the first stone.
 
Galphador carries on his person perhaps the greatest concentration of magical ingredients outside of the Crown Cities, and has recovered many magical items on his numerous dungeon dives. For all this, wealth does not concern him, and if Galphador found himself destitute tomorrow, he would shrug and go find the nearest chicken to cook.

Family Ties

Galphador has not maintained close contact with his family since he left Seriesh five decades ago, but he did return for the funerals of his mother and then father. He has exchanged yearly letters with his brother Riel for the last 12 years. These letters are in ever-changing code, and by the time a letter is finally cracked, another is likely on its way.

Religious Views

Galphador does not follow or endorse one god above all others, though if there was a god of Cooking, Galphador could be considered his High Priest. The Gods of Magic, Knowledge, and Wizardly Affairs get his respect, but not his worship.

Hobbies & Pets

Galphador added a chicken coop to the fifty eighth floor of Dunian Tower, and treats each chicken as his own flesh and blood. Each has a name, birthday, and labeled resting box. Galphador treats them as his own flesh and blood. If he stole the unfertilized young from his sisters and mother each morning.
 
Galphador also calls the semi-sentient slime Gorlorp a close companion. Given Gorlorp’s diet of solely cooked chicken bones, it is easy to see how this relationship came to be.
 
Galphador’s hobbies can be considered to be an extension of his passions, that of adventuring and cooking. Discovering the function of magical items is a pleasant distraction for him as he waits for a stew to finish, or as he sits around a fire with his latest adventuring party.