Baron Bardock, the "Business Baron"

His Lordship, the Baron of Surleau

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Baron Bardock walks with a slight limp, but otherwise seems healthy and full of energy.  He usually carries a black cane made of twisted iron when he walks any long distance.  As a middle aged Lizardfolk, Bardock's scaly skin has started to show the sagging of aging, especially around the eyes, between the horned ridges and the eyelids themselves.

Apparel & Accessories

Bardock is always dressed in the most recent fashions that denote his noble rank.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Now in his middle years, and nursing a slight limp, Bardock started life as a mercenary for hire, rising up to a captain of a sellsword troop in Rosalind before returning home with his loot to his native Carador. Upon his return home, he worked as a regional tax collector. His methods were effective, and the regions he was assigned to saw improved tax revenues. In the off-season, he continued to explore and lead expeditions to “recover” rare artifacts to sell. It is said he even led an expedition into the Desolation, returning with treasures (and the limp), but even in his most outrageous boasts, Bardock never claims getting very close to the Dark Tower.
His work as a tax collector caught the attention of his superiors and he was appointed Chief Tax Collector and Minister Minor of the Treasury by the old king, King Cyrion’s father. He excelled at the position, demonstrating a head for numbers and arithmetic that others had not possessed. He also made liberal use of loan repayment systems for tax collection that ensured that no tax was delinquent or deficient, but no noble family or common town was so hard-pressed by taxes that they would violently revolt. He also invested tax money in various businesses (which was technically unlawful), which increased crown revenue even more, while keeping a healthy percentage for himself.
It was in his position as Minister Minor of Treasury that he crossed paths with Lord Arthur Ende, the Baron of Surleau. The Barony of Surleau had once been prosperous, but the loss of its coastal port when Odlarnas Rike was created from the epic spell of Slann the Mad and the transformation of half its lands into dinosaur-infested wilderness had crippled the barony. Despite this, they had paid their taxes, mostly on time, until about five years ago. After five years of delinquent and deficient taxes, the king summoned Lord Ende to Avencourt to explain himself. Before the baron could present himself to the king, Bardock met with him privately and learned the truth.
The truth was even worse than expected. After the loss of half the barony, the Lords of Ende had gone into a decline. Lord Arthur’s father in particular had been a gambler and a drunkard, and upon ascending to the baron’s seat Lord Arthur had spent the last decade trying to keep the barony afloat. He had sold holdings and treasures, even worked the land alongside his common folk to raise enough to improve the financial circumstances of his lands. His summons was evidence that all his actions had been unsuccessful.
It was at the end of this discussion that Bardock made his offer – he would buy the barony from Arthur Ende in exchange for making up the difference in taxes, and ensuring they were paid going forward. Lord Ende would remain a noble under Bardock and keep the small family retreat of Endswell as his personal fief. Bardock even agreed to lower taxes on the common folk for a period of years. Lord Arthur, seeing no other solution, agreed to the scheme. The pair went before the old king and at the end of that audience, Bardock was Baron Bardock of Surleau. Lord Arthur retired to manage Endswell and is known around the country as the “Bitter Ende.” Whether Lord Arthur was truly bitter about the bargain he struck is debatable, but the other barons and nobles considered it a humiliation for the Ende family. Many letters of condolence were sent, some sincere, some a politely-worded insult.
The newly minted baron resigned from the government and started his now-famous Auction House. He recruited and trained a cadre of guards, which guarded his Auction House and could be hired to guard merchant caravans. He gave these warriors the fanciful name "Baron Bardock's Knights of Trade." Since taking over the barony, he has been able to pay all taxes from his profits in his various businesses and Surleau Barony has started to prosper. Surlenham, the barony’s capital, has seen a rise in its economy, as current and former employees of the Baron come to live there. And if the longstanding members of the town have something to say about these newcomers, they are keeping it to themselves.
Baron Bardock has recently taken Lord Arthur’s oldest son, Egan Ende into his business. He sponsored the boy’s training to become a knight and paid for his first armor and horse. Whether his father is truly bitter or not, Sir Egan seems to be devoted to his “uncle” and employer.

Education

While Baron Bardock had no formal education past learning his letters and numbers, he was trained in the used of military arms.  Since his return to Carador, he has often hosted scholars of various different disciplines in his home, including historians, economists, alchemists, engineers, architects, magicians, priests and artists.  He will often have a servant purchase first printings of the most recent treatises on a variety of subjects.

Employment

Baron Bardock runs Bardock's Auction House.  He is also the leader of the mercenary guard unit known as the Knights of Trade.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Braon Bardock maintains a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in most of the social circles of Aventcourt, from the royal court and other barons, to the common folk in the slums.  It is even rumored that he does business with the so-called "Court of Shadow," the criminal underground of the City of Banners.  When asked, the wily Baron will smile and change the subject, even when asked directly by the Lord Constable of the City, himself a good friend of the Baron.

Family Ties

Bardock has never discussed having a family, and while he certainly has Lizardfolk in his employ and among his social circle, he has identified none of them as members of his family, nor have any Lizardfolk declared themselves to be related to the Baron.  The closest thing to family for Baron Bardock would appear to be his "nephew" Sir Egan Ende, of whom he appears to be genuinely fond.

Portrait of Baron Bardock, created with Heroforge^TM

Current Location

Avencourt - the City of Banners

Species

Lizardfolk

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Baron of Surleau

Gender

Male

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Green scales

Heraldry of the Knights of Trade

(green for Lizardfolk, a crossroads of gold to signify mercantile trade, and the armored

triskelion legs symbolizing the speed and mobility of the soldiers in the Knights of Trade)