Harlihn

Dwarven entrepreneuer, Harlihn runs a small but successful ordinary, catering his business to the incoming sailors and officers. Though he's getting on in years, he remains faithfully committed to his work.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Harlihn is tall as far as dwarves go. Once fit and healthy, in his old age he's become more sedentary and rotund as a result. His lengthy and dramatic beard is showing streaks of gray, which will no doubt begin showing in the rest of hair in a matter of years.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Harlihn hailed from the Holy State of Vahn, an extremely religious society, and one of the lands with a prominent dwarven community not associated with mountains and the mines. Much was made of the evil in the world in his childhood, especially with the Dreadlords south of them in World's End, and the perpetual stalement of war that arose. Harlihn found it difficult being in the environment, even more than many young boys. He was rambunctious, and not prone to focusing on his instructions. When left to his own devices, he could memorize and recite extremely well, and was prone to be obsessive, but this energy could never be applied to where his parents or society wanted it to be.
Already seen as a trouble maker as a child, it didn't help situations any when his behavior started going down forbidden pathways as a young male. Even though he had been told since before adolescence the importance of family, childhood, and staying with your own, Harlihn couldn't help but be infatuated with some of the other young dwarven men, especially those of the trades with strong hands and bodies. He struck up a relationship with one of them, and failing to be covert enough about it, was discovered. When his family found out about his dealings, he was given firm instructions to leave, and hope for repetance.
His life torn asunder, he wandered and struggled to find a strong meaning and value to his life. Taking odd jobs and chasing one promising lead to another, he eventually arrived in Nomniza by boat, arriving in the thriving port town of Verzush.

Sexuality

Harlihn is private about his sexuality, but some careful observation into his behavior shows him to be of a bisexual persuasion, leaning more towards men than women. He feels personally ashamed and embarrassed by this. Having grown up in a restrictive environment, he was taught that any relationship that does not produce children is both unholy, against Phoenicia's design and intent to create children and Hjanda's intent for Families, and a blot on the nation. Fewer children being born makes for a weaker society. Though he has renounced these ideals, he still feels personal pain knowing that he would never be accepted by those he needs acceptance from most.
His conflicted behavior has hurt his relationships with others. He has never been married, despite being a romantic at heart and desiring a permanent relationship. For all of his good natured intentions, his internal war seems to reek havoc. Among other things, he is loath to have his relationship with anyone be publicly known, or show any outward displays of affection. This causes frequent problems with his partners, who feel no need to hide who they truly are.
Though he is personally conflicted over his own behavior, it does not permeate towards disdain for others engaging in the same behavior. He has looked happily on his former partners finding loving and permanent relationships, and has been openly accepting of carousing between men. His own employee Tiffany has gotten up to all sorts of intimate adventurers, both inside and outside of work, and he's never thought any less of her for it.

Education

Harlihn originally sought to study architecture and engineering, and in his younger years as an adult, was able to dabble into formal study, before his uneventful departure from home. He has an astute mind for mathematics, and knows his materials well. This has enabled him to make a number of changes to the Extra Ordinary with confidence as to the safety and sturdiness of the building.
One aspect of his training that he had not recieved, being from a mountainous environment, was the prospect of warding against heavy rains and flooding. He's been self taught in this regard, finding ingenious solutions to ensure his prized business and home remain safe and as dry as possible with the heavy storms that Kulzesh frequently suffers.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Harlihn has made it no secret that for his future, he is most looking forward to being able to sell the Extra Ordinary and being able to retire, enjoying the latter years of his life in comfort, even if he has no person to share them with. The remarks have been coming for so long that some are beginning to wonder when or if he'll ever actually do it. As it turns out, Harlihn has received some offers from interested persons, but he has rejected them.
The Extra Ordinary as it stands is Harlihn's biggest accomplishment, his life's work. Though some may label him foolish for the attachment he has to a collection of bricks and wooden doors, he is far more concerned that whoever would take over after him would pay the proper respect and care to what he's done and the buildings long history than the number of coins he'd be given by some unknown face with a heavy purse.

Vices & Personality flaws

Harlihn has trouble letting go, perhaps because of having already said goodbye to everything once before. People and things matter more to him than they do to most others, to the point of fault. His home, and his business, are his castles, and noone dare insult them, or dare defile them.

Perhaps the biggest thing he has letting go of is guilt and shame. Despite being removed from his family, his former home, and their religious fervor, he can't help but continue to live in that shadow.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Having been in the business for decades now, Harlihn is familiar with most of the other businesses in the city. Even with his competitors, he tries to keep his relationships friendly; believing that bad blood leads to bad business. He's found most of the places with him whom he can get reliable access to superior goods, which has invariably meant establishing good relations with the traders and ship captains. He is not above granting preferential treatment to those who can grant him the best material, including holding a room or two in advance for those he can reliably predict arriving.

Family Ties

Harlihn has not spoken to his family in some time. Earlier in his life, he would venture back home to try and make some form of a stable relationship, but it became clear after the third attempt that they would never accept him for who he was. He had effectively been disowned, and although he's come to accept that reality, it could be said that he's never really gotten over the damage that has caused.

Religious Views

Despite having renounced any association he had with the religion of his home, many of the ideas and tenants are still present. Harlihn is no athiest, rather, he has tried to find his own understanding of the God's. He is a clear and proud devotee of Hjanda, Fourth of Six Sisters, who created Dwarves and created the family. Although he has failed to maintain ties with his old family, or create one of his own, he still believes that family is the most important thing for any mortal.

Wealth & Financial state

Harlihn has run his business quite frugally, and in doing so has accumulated a considerable accumulation of wealth. Should he ever sell The Extra Ordinary, he would be able to live a comfortable life without having to work for many years to come.

Some have been concerned that the wealth he's acquired could make him a target, but Harlihn has blown these concerns off as petty paranoia. He's never had any such incidents or threats before in his life, and is sure there are far better targets for anyone who would be willing to exact that kind of violence.

Current Location

Vulzesh

Species

Dwarves

Age

56

Sex

Male

Gender

Male

Eyes

Brown

Hair

Brown and Gray, long beard

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Tan, wrinkling,

Height

4' 6"

Aligned Organization

Nomniza

Related Plots

• Tiffany's Misadventure, Adventure 1

Ruled Locations

• The Extra Ordinary