Mayor Balthus Van Tassell
The benevolent burgomeister of Westfell Dell
Burgomeister Baltus Van Tassell (a.k.a. Squire Van Tassell)
Mayor Balthus Van Tassell - A portly, jovial old gentleman, father of Brom and husband to the busybody Elvessa. He is caring and compassionate and well liked by the townsfolk.
Elvessa on the other hand is nosy, disapproving, sour and generally avoided but tolerated by the many friends of Balthus.
He has an adopted daughter Katrina and two mighty wolfhounds Azazel and Belial who are completely friendly to townsfolk and absolutely ferocious toward strangers. They have killed a bear by fighting it together and have often fought and won against lone wolves who prowl too near the village. They are absolutely loyal and obedient to Balthus and instantly follow any command he gives them. He and his family are the only people, aside from Nimrond, in the village who can read and write.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Short, portly and surprisingly spry, the round little mayor of Westfell Dell is a jolly local figure beloved by the locals and roundly thought to be a capital chap of exceedingly excellent disposition. He is not the fastest in a footrace, but he attacks everything with such good-natured enthusiasm and earnest striving that he often surprises onlookers with his physical accomplishment.
Body Features
Pale countenance. A balding head adorned by a powdered wig as the insistence of his wife. A jolly, round little pot-belly. wiry arms and legs a little at odds with his middle.
Facial Features
A kindly, fatherly face always framing his tiny spectacles procured at the capitol. And easy smile with wide, wondering eyes, that crinkle merrily at the corners when he smiles. As he often does.
Apparel & Accessories
Burgomeister Van Tassell is always seen in finely trimmed waistcoat and breeches. Hose and buckled shoes as often as ranging boots. Rarely armed unless with a fowling-musket with a horn-bell bore, locally known as a Blunderbus. And a jingling full purse from which he generously dispenses payments for all manner of goods and services whenever he is about town.
Specialized Equipment
He possesses masterfully crafted and rare spectacles that correct his poor eyesight gained from reading in dim situations over many years. These hail from the far capitol city and are practically a trademark feature by which locals will direct visitors to pick the mayor out in a crowd.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Son of a notable country squire in the Alpine highlands of Ruritanian Westfell, Baltus was a boy of some skill with history, mathematics, philosophy, liberal arts, and possessed a dilettante's fancy for knowledge of all kinds. He would have been a bard had his father allowed him, and gone off to a college to immerse himself in lore with other like minded boys and girls. But for all his tolerane of his son's decidedly non-martial manner, the elder Van Tassell would not permit his only son to become "some lute-strumming wastrel surviving off the credulity and pity of better folk".
The love of the scholar's arts persisted through the early youth of Baltus to be replaced in later childhood with a love of home and country. And the ways and culture of the people. Baltus could be found at the blacksmiths forge, the horse-breeder's barn, the baker's kitchen and the brewer's stills and brewery.
If it was Ruritanian, especially if it was from Westfell, then Baltus had a natural love of it. As a youth he aquired all manner of lore about what it fundamentally was to be a Ruritanian. and moreso, one of the folk of Westfell. And his life and times have ever been spent in ample appreciation of his Westphalian heritage. Never was a young man quicker to join in the folk dances of the village festivals. To appreciate the obscure regional fare of Westfell to it's fullest. To wear the traditional dress about town in pride and with deep feelings of belonging.
Education
As a youth becoming a man, Baltus entreated his father to send him to Academy at the capitol, extolling the virtues of experience and association with his betters among the peerage and gentry of assembled Ruritania. To his utter joy, his father surprisingly agreed and he was sent on a wondrous journey of several years away to the far city of Ancelsiterre. The city of the Prince of Ruritania and the seat of his kingdom's knowledge, lore and temporal power.
There at Academy he enjoyed the best days of his life. Met many lasting and excellent friends, had several great and sometimes harrowing adventures and packed more living into a handful of years than many do over entire long lifetimes.
Employment
Baltus Van Tassell, by dint of his learning and education, was upon returning home, quickly apprenticed to his father, the burgomaster of Westfell Dell and promptly undertook the oversight, on behalf of the earl of the fortunes and prosperity of the little bucolic hamlet with a gusto and success that impressed and delighted his father such that he shortly announced his retirement to a life of hunting and fishing and the enjoyment of his twilight years. For thirty years and more, Baltus has cared for and tended the region of Westfell Dell, it's community and resources, its farms and ranches, fields and forests. With a genuine loving care and constant respect for tradition.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Burgomeister Van Tassell is singularly motivated by an all-abiding, pervasive love of Westfell, Ruritania and the folk of his homeland. Baltus care as much for the happiness and prosperity of the folk of Westfell Dell as he does his own person. His pride and love for Westfell and the hamlet of Westfell Dell is unmatched among all of it's citizens.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Sebastian Gatewood, Earl of Westfell, Lord Baron Alastair Fothergill Bramblethorne, Prince Menion Ravenlocke, the Grand Prince of Ruritania and ArchDuke of Westphalia
Family Ties
Elvessa Van Tassell, Katrina Van Tassell
Social Aptitude
Extremely well liked and locally beloved. Baltus is the master of local parties and festivities. He hosts several annual dances and feasts. Presides with jolly aplomb over the proceedings, and is a gracious and generous host famed throughout the region.
Mannerisms
Jovial, congenial, welcoming, convivial and friendly. Baltus Van Tassell is a jolly man who has a smile and warm handshake for everyone he meets.
Hobbies & Pets
Baltus has two mighty wolfhounds Azazel and Belial who are completely friendly to townsfolk and absolutely ferocious toward strangers. They have killed a bear by fighting it together and have often fought and won against lone wolves who prowl too near the village. They are absolutely loyal and obedient to Balthus and instantly follow any command he gives them.
Speech
Baltus has a warm and merry, friendly voice that is nigh always raised in praise and greeting. He is free and open with compliments and judicious and personal with criticisms.
Wealth & Financial state
A Fifth generation Squire of Westfell, Baltus is possessed of a modest fortune won at war by his more illustrious and storied ancestor. He is the inheritor of the modest estate atop the high hill at the East end of Westfell Dell as well as numerous land holdings in the immediate region, the title of Squire and the Burgomeistership of Westfell Dell proper.
Current Location
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Burgomeister & Squire
Year of Birth
830 TFA
58 Years old
Circumstances of Birth
Born at the delightful country estate of Squire Van Tassell the elder, in pastoral Westfell Dell in the Earldom of Westfell.
Birthplace
The Earldom of Westfell, Principality of Ruritania, Kingdom of Westphalia
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Merry
Hair
Gray
Height
5'9"
Weight
230
Quotes & Catchphrases
"Why here's a handful of guilders to make that better, Sir! Let's have the very best for our fair village!"
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Character Prototype
If portrayed on screen, this character would surely be played by the estimable Michael Gambon
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments