Torvyss
Torvyss (he/they) is a character played by Cole (they/them) in the nonfiction one-shot Baba's Black Cauldron. They are a lizardfolk college of whispers bard, and a charlatan.
Description
Torvyss is 6'2" and 150 lbs. He has dark green scales, narrow a heavy jaw that gives him a crocodilian appearance. He's lanky and walks with a relaxed, confident composure. He wears what passes for finely tailored clothes, at least in The Zone, and a worn feathered cap. Torvyss is polite, courteous, and relaxed. He speaks with a slow, raspy drawl and has an air of formality. He's an excellent listener, keenly holding on to every word he hears. All pleasantries aside, he cultivates a vicious cunning and views conversations and interactions as something to come out on top of, and is not above making veiled threats to get his way.Backstory
Torvyss began his life in the Olanot Swamp like many of his kin, but he claims no home there. Born under a new moon on a night when no cicadas sang, his hatching was marked by grim auspice and taken as ill luck for his clan. True to the portent, much of his clan were wiped out by raiders when he was barely out of the nest and he was left to fend for himself in the wilds. He was quick-witted and resilient, but he was still young and alone. One particularly hard season, he fell in with a crew of bandits who offered him food and shelter in exchange for his knowledge of the area and an extra sword-arm. But even that didn't last long, and after one ambush gone wrong they callously sacrificed him to slow down their retaliating marks. He nearly died from his wounds and had to feign death, face down in the mud and muck, for two days in order to survive. Half-dead and starving, he made his way out of the swamps, upriver and north to the city of Acropolis. He wasn't any more welcome there, but at least there was food to steal and alleyways to seek shelter in. He made ends meet how he could. A purse here, a forged note there, even a disappearance from time to time. Whatever it took to skate by in relative comfort, and he did indeed find comfort for the first time in his life. Unfortunately for him, the law finally caught up and determined that open-air imprisonment in the Quarantine Zone was a fitting conclusion to his entrepreneurial endeavors. That was six long years ago. Nowadays, he keeps up steadier employ at The Vattery to keep his stomach full and his mind alive. Cleaning the foeders, helping the brewers fire the stills, entertaining the rowdy guests with harmonica and banjo... all while keeping an eye out for anybody too inebriated to count their coins carefully, or hold their tongue as they divulge exploitable secrets. Keeping abreast of the happenings in the Zone has its perks, especially when rivals will pay well to know when and where somebody is weakest. Even the old shut-in witch of the Bone Market takes an interest in his collection of rumors and blackmail from time to time. He keeps his ears open and gathers every scrap he can while he bides his time, waiting for the right opportunity to finally make his exit from the Zone.Trivia
- Torvyss has been learning about brewing and distillation while working at The Vattery and has started to refine his palate. He's fond of whiskey and absinthe, but he loves good moonshine... and knows better than to drink the shine they brew at The Vattery.
- Torvyss only started using he pronouns after arriving in Acropolis.
- Cole has made a heroforge of Torvyss, seen here
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