Wislaw Jansobski
"Why do we keep lending to him? Have you seen how much debt he's in?"Baron Wislaw I Jansobski of Nightstone (born 6 Uktar 1454) is a male aasimar artificer and the current Baron of Nightstone. He is known throughout the Sword Coast as the leader of the group that saved the region from the giant threat, chronicled in the book Storm King's Thunder.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Wislaw Jansobski was born to Boleslaw and Rulu Jansobski on 6 Uktar, 1454 in the small village of Nightstone. Unlike his human parents, he was touched by a remnant of the celestial spark of Tyr - he was an aasimar. Due to this, his strong sense of justice and desire to protect the weak was apparent from an early age. He also had a younger brother, Henryk, who was born two years after him.
Growing up, Wislaw preferred spending time in libraries and reading books, instead of learning to be a baron as his father wished. Boleslaw eventually decided to encourge his son's interests, donating to the church of Gond in exchange for an artificer teaching Wislaw. In both Nightstone and Waterdeep, Wislaw learned about smithing, tinkering, inventing, and other creative outlets.
However, as an aasimar, there was something of a target on Wislaw's back. The clerics of Bahamut in the (formerly Tyrran) Halls of Justice had told his parents that evildoers may come after Wislaw for nefarious purposes, and their fears were founded in 1474 DR. A number of cultists following a fiend (the specifics of which were never discovered) raided Nightstone, capturing a number of villagers and threatening to execute them if Wislaw was not handed over. Instead of sending in guards to rescue the captives, Wislaw went by himself, using his celestial radiance to empower his sword and cut down the cultists in a blaze of light. The survivors fled, and all of the captives were rescued.
Following this incident, Wislaw began to develop a more paternalistic attitude toward commoners. He viewed them as somewhat weak and less intelligent than himself, but he believed the weak needed to be protected by the strong. Two years later, in 1476 DR, he managed to acquire a Lantanese pistol. Even though smokepowder was expensive and difficult to find, Wislaw was fascinated by the firearm and wanted to reproduce it. However, without ammunition, it was useless. Instead, he began inventing methods to propel projectiles without smokepowder, investigating thunder magic.
Wislaw's father, Boleslaw, died in 1479 DR at the age of 70. As the oldest son, Wislaw inherited the barony, to the chagrin of his brother Henryk.. Wislaw immediately began reorganising the economy of Nightstone to be more magic-oriented. When this failed, due to a lack of educated residents, he delegated many of the day-to-day duties of ruling to Henryk, so he could focus on his artifice. Wislaw's mother died some time later, in 1488 DR, at the age of 74.
When dragons swept along the Sword Coast in 1489 DR, Wislaw looked to his skills to aid the Lords' Alliance in their battle. He began developing magically-powered armour to defend against the breath and claws of dragons, but the crisis ended before he could finish his prototype. During this time, the Casimir Jansobski Memorial Bridge along the Trade Way was destroyed, and Wislaw constructed a new bridge in its place - the Casimir Jansobski Memorial Bridge Memorial Bridge.
In mid-to-late 1491 DR, giants began attacking small folk across the Sword Coast. Nightstone itself was heavily damaged at the end of the year, and a pair of adventurers helped Wislaw Jansobski retake the town from goblins and orcs, then rescue its inhabitants from nearby caves. These adventurers, Aial Vock Tal and Sariel Liadon, then joined Wislaw on his quest to uncover the source of the giant attacks and put an end to them. Wislaw's knight, Waldek, also joined them.
With his thunder cannon and armour, Aial's divine magic, and Sariel's bow and guile (and Waldek, until he was presumed dead), the trio rescued King Hekaton and helped slay Iymrith, the source of the crisis. Upon their return to Nightstone, Wislaw and Aial discussed rebuilding the old abandoned Harpshield Castle beyond the Ardeep Forest.
Sariel, more than happy to help, convinced the wood elves of the Ardeep Forest to open themselves up to Nightstone. The trio then ventured to the castle ruins, which were claimed by a young blue dragon and his minions. They defeated the dragon and claimed the castle for themselves. With the money they had gathered from Iymrith's hoard, Wislaw and Aial rebuilt the castle, naming it Ardent Keep. Aial would run his new Ardent organisation from it, but Wislaw would retain the title and land.
It was during this time that Wislaw discovered his brother, Henryk, had become a vampire. Before Wislaw could act on this information, Henryk attempted a coup, having turned half of Wislaw's elite guard against him. Wislaw, with the aid of his loyalists, Sariel, the mercenary Tusk Bonesmasher, and especially Aial, manages to defeat Henryk and lay him to rest. However, it is believed that Henryk managed to survive and is on the run.
In the years since 1492 DR, Wislaw has focused on expanding the economy of Nightstone. He has constructed a small inn along the Trade Way, built an artificer school, created many awakened shrubs to aid him, and even created a small, prototype train. He hasn't spent much time in Waterdeep, preferring to help his people instead of expanding his political power.
Growing up, Wislaw preferred spending time in libraries and reading books, instead of learning to be a baron as his father wished. Boleslaw eventually decided to encourge his son's interests, donating to the church of Gond in exchange for an artificer teaching Wislaw. In both Nightstone and Waterdeep, Wislaw learned about smithing, tinkering, inventing, and other creative outlets.
However, as an aasimar, there was something of a target on Wislaw's back. The clerics of Bahamut in the (formerly Tyrran) Halls of Justice had told his parents that evildoers may come after Wislaw for nefarious purposes, and their fears were founded in 1474 DR. A number of cultists following a fiend (the specifics of which were never discovered) raided Nightstone, capturing a number of villagers and threatening to execute them if Wislaw was not handed over. Instead of sending in guards to rescue the captives, Wislaw went by himself, using his celestial radiance to empower his sword and cut down the cultists in a blaze of light. The survivors fled, and all of the captives were rescued.
Following this incident, Wislaw began to develop a more paternalistic attitude toward commoners. He viewed them as somewhat weak and less intelligent than himself, but he believed the weak needed to be protected by the strong. Two years later, in 1476 DR, he managed to acquire a Lantanese pistol. Even though smokepowder was expensive and difficult to find, Wislaw was fascinated by the firearm and wanted to reproduce it. However, without ammunition, it was useless. Instead, he began inventing methods to propel projectiles without smokepowder, investigating thunder magic.
Wislaw's father, Boleslaw, died in 1479 DR at the age of 70. As the oldest son, Wislaw inherited the barony, to the chagrin of his brother Henryk.. Wislaw immediately began reorganising the economy of Nightstone to be more magic-oriented. When this failed, due to a lack of educated residents, he delegated many of the day-to-day duties of ruling to Henryk, so he could focus on his artifice. Wislaw's mother died some time later, in 1488 DR, at the age of 74.
When dragons swept along the Sword Coast in 1489 DR, Wislaw looked to his skills to aid the Lords' Alliance in their battle. He began developing magically-powered armour to defend against the breath and claws of dragons, but the crisis ended before he could finish his prototype. During this time, the Casimir Jansobski Memorial Bridge along the Trade Way was destroyed, and Wislaw constructed a new bridge in its place - the Casimir Jansobski Memorial Bridge Memorial Bridge.
In mid-to-late 1491 DR, giants began attacking small folk across the Sword Coast. Nightstone itself was heavily damaged at the end of the year, and a pair of adventurers helped Wislaw Jansobski retake the town from goblins and orcs, then rescue its inhabitants from nearby caves. These adventurers, Aial Vock Tal and Sariel Liadon, then joined Wislaw on his quest to uncover the source of the giant attacks and put an end to them. Wislaw's knight, Waldek, also joined them.
With his thunder cannon and armour, Aial's divine magic, and Sariel's bow and guile (and Waldek, until he was presumed dead), the trio rescued King Hekaton and helped slay Iymrith, the source of the crisis. Upon their return to Nightstone, Wislaw and Aial discussed rebuilding the old abandoned Harpshield Castle beyond the Ardeep Forest.
Sariel, more than happy to help, convinced the wood elves of the Ardeep Forest to open themselves up to Nightstone. The trio then ventured to the castle ruins, which were claimed by a young blue dragon and his minions. They defeated the dragon and claimed the castle for themselves. With the money they had gathered from Iymrith's hoard, Wislaw and Aial rebuilt the castle, naming it Ardent Keep. Aial would run his new Ardent organisation from it, but Wislaw would retain the title and land.
It was during this time that Wislaw discovered his brother, Henryk, had become a vampire. Before Wislaw could act on this information, Henryk attempted a coup, having turned half of Wislaw's elite guard against him. Wislaw, with the aid of his loyalists, Sariel, the mercenary Tusk Bonesmasher, and especially Aial, manages to defeat Henryk and lay him to rest. However, it is believed that Henryk managed to survive and is on the run.
In the years since 1492 DR, Wislaw has focused on expanding the economy of Nightstone. He has constructed a small inn along the Trade Way, built an artificer school, created many awakened shrubs to aid him, and even created a small, prototype train. He hasn't spent much time in Waterdeep, preferring to help his people instead of expanding his political power.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Wislaw has a strong sense of justice, and feels that it is his duty to defend the people of Nightstone. He wants to improve the lives of its inhabitants, protect them from harm, and make his small village into something grand. As an artificer, he also seeks to expand his knowledge, particularly in mechanical and arcane areas.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Wislaw has always been fascinated by the inner workings of objects since he was a child. He became particularly proficient with tinkering and smithing, inventing new gadgets with a mix of magic and technology. He can intuitively understand how a mechanism works by simply observing it for a short period. As Wislaw didn't have very many friends growing up, he spent most of his time in libraries in Waterdeep or his home simply reading the history of Faerûn and about magic. The few friends he did have, he enjoyed playing dragonchess against, and has since become something of an expert.
Although Wislaw was always destined to be the Baron of Nightstone, his focus on his intellectual studies in his youth left him less capable than his parents hoped in the field of politics. He tends to use blunt solutions in political situations, and doesn't particularly care for their political ramifications. He is obsessed with Cormyrean culture, to the point that he views others as inferior, and doesn't make an effort to understand them. Wislaw also has difficulty remembering people and his past interactions with them.
Although Wislaw was always destined to be the Baron of Nightstone, his focus on his intellectual studies in his youth left him less capable than his parents hoped in the field of politics. He tends to use blunt solutions in political situations, and doesn't particularly care for their political ramifications. He is obsessed with Cormyrean culture, to the point that he views others as inferior, and doesn't make an effort to understand them. Wislaw also has difficulty remembering people and his past interactions with them.
Likes & Dislikes
Wislaw's favourite colour is red, and his favourite food is, surprisingly for a noble, chicken. He has a strong appreciation for Cormyrean culture, despite his upbringing on the Sword Coast - particularly for Cormyrean food and stage productions. As an artificer, he spends much of his time tinkering with items, rebuilding and optimising them. He enjoys gardening in his spare time, and has cultivated impressive hedge sculptures in Nightstone. Wislaw has somewhat of an obsession with smokepowder and firearms, but due to the difficulty in acquiring them from Lantan, he has attempted to replicate their effects on his own - culminating in his invention of the Thunder Cannon.
Although Wislaw is an artificer, he has some level of disdain for alchemy and its practitioners. He does not believe that alchemy is "real" science, instead, true artificers should focus on mechanical solutions to problems rather than alchemical. Wislaw despises the city of Athkatla, and by extension, the nation of Amn as a whole. He views the city as an embodiment of the worst excesses of merchants with its slavery, crime, and obsession with money. Raised as a noble, Wislaw expects people to follow proper etiquette. He does not approve of people being rowdy, drunk, or other "debasing" behaviours. Similarly, Wislaw believes that everyone in life has a proper station, and expects them to stay in it. He disapproves of commoners going above their station to tell rulers what is and is not correct.
Although Wislaw is an artificer, he has some level of disdain for alchemy and its practitioners. He does not believe that alchemy is "real" science, instead, true artificers should focus on mechanical solutions to problems rather than alchemical. Wislaw despises the city of Athkatla, and by extension, the nation of Amn as a whole. He views the city as an embodiment of the worst excesses of merchants with its slavery, crime, and obsession with money. Raised as a noble, Wislaw expects people to follow proper etiquette. He does not approve of people being rowdy, drunk, or other "debasing" behaviours. Similarly, Wislaw believes that everyone in life has a proper station, and expects them to stay in it. He disapproves of commoners going above their station to tell rulers what is and is not correct.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Wislaw is a member of House Jansobski, which is primarily based in Cormyr. He is also part of Waterdeep's nobility, giving him access to the leadership and nobility of two of the most influential powers in Faerûn. Wislaw is also friends with Aial Vock Tal, the leader of the Ardent mercenary company.
Family Ties
Wislaw's younger brother, Henryk, often felt that his older brother took all the spotlight from him. While Wislaw was off saving the Sword Coast from the giants, Henryk was placed in charge of managing Nightstone. Henryk did a terrible job, creating a massive debt with little to show for it. However, in secret, Henryk had become a vampire. He attempted to kill Wislaw, but was instead killed by his older brother in self-defence.
Wislaw maintains close ties with his House in Cormyr, visiting their estate and vineyard near Suzail often. They often visit Nightstone in return, usually to ask for money or favours.
Wislaw maintains close ties with his House in Cormyr, visiting their estate and vineyard near Suzail often. They often visit Nightstone in return, usually to ask for money or favours.
Religious Views
Wislaw primarily follows Tyr, the Maimed God, due to his strong sense of justice. Wislaw believes that his aasimar heritage comes from Tyr, and that he has sent a divine guide to watch over Wislaw and give him advice. As an artificer, Wislaw also follows Gond. Wislaw has occasionally visited Gondar temples in Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate in order to further his own inventions, and show off what he has created. To some extent, Wislaw also follows Helm.
Social Aptitude
Despite Wislaw preferring intellectual studies in his youth, he remains decently charismatic. He is confident in his own abilities and decision-making, extroverted, and always performs the correct etiquette a situation demands. However, he can come across as moderately arrogant, and very egocentric. He believes his intelligence, abilities, and noble status place him above the majority of people.
Mannerisms
A proud noble, Wislaw can always be found wearing expensive clothes or magical (and expensive) armour. He will never be caught dead in unsuitable accomodations either. When he speaks, he tends to talk down to anyone he believes isn't as intelligent as him, which equates to almost everyone. He is easily distracted by mechanisms, and is constantly trying to figure out how things work or building new inventions. He believes Cormyrean culture is just the best, and does his best to follow it and its trends.
Hobbies & Pets
Wislaw has many hobbies, but most of them involve his skill as an artificer. His first and foremost hobby is tinkering, creating inventions simply for the sake of creating them. However, he does also enjoy crafting more practical items, especially when it comes to smithing. A more recently acquired hobby of Wislaw's is gardening, which he picked up after he began creating awakened shrubs. Wislaw also enjoys knightly activities, most of which is jousting. Wislaw also owns a pet Tressym named Geofram, which he loves very much.
Relationships
Wealth & Financial state
As the Baron of Nightstone, Wislaw has access to far more resources than the average adventurer. However, due to various expenses in expanding Nightstone's economy, effecting repairs from the giant attack in late 1491 DR, and paying his family in Cormyr upon their request, Wislaw is also over twenty thousand gold pieces in debt to various banks. That said, as he is able to keep up debt repayment fairly well, his line of credit continues to be good.
Alignment
Lawful Good
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Baron of Nightstone
Protector of the Ardeep
Protector of the Ardeep
Professions
Date of Birth
6th of Uktar
Year of Birth
1454 DR
41 Years old
Birthplace
Family
Spouses
Siblings
Henryk Jansobski
(Brother)
Children
Current Residence
Sex
Male
Eyes
White
Hair
White
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Pale
Height
6'1''
Weight
180 lbs
Belief/Deity
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Related Plots
Ruled Locations
This is slander, the debt isn't that high. My lawyers will be contacting yours post-post-haste.