[b]Name:[/b] Bjorn Thatcher [b]Age:[/b] 19 [b]Appearance:[/b] Bjorn is a giant of a man, easily reaching seven feet tall and is broad at the shoulders from six years of serving as a blacksmith’s porter and impromptu pack mule for the local community. His black hair is cropped, but he is usually seen with several weeks’ worth of full beard growth. He constantly smiles, and is missing his two front teeth. His eyes are hazel coloured. He appears some years older than he really is. [b]Skills/Abilities:[/b][indent] - [u] Strong as an Ox:[/u] Bjorn is as strong as he is tall. Years handballing bundles of iron to and from his blacksmith master, and carrying various wares for the locals when they can’t afford a beast of burden has blessed this young man with incredible strength – although far from being considered super human, he could crush most of the locals at an arm-wrestling contest. - [u] Dim Light, Good Soul: [/u] Bjorn is not very bright, which makes things very black and white for him. He is able to see the good and bad in a situation without delving into philosophy, which although sometimes gets him into trouble, more often than not puts him on the right side of the law and his peers. This makes him very difficult to corrupt, or to make rebel against established authorities, rules and practices. -[u] Brave: [/u]When it comes to acts of courage, some describe them as bravery or stupidity depending on their view point. Well, for Bjorn it’s both. He doesn’t have the cognitive capacity to realise life’s worth, and therefore isn’t too concerned with losing it. This makes him a stalwart companion in any bar brawl, criminal apprehension - or indeed military action. [/indent] [b]Equipment:[/b][indent] - Heavy iron stick, three feet long and laced with simple leather strips at the base for grip. - Water pouch - Winston – Male pet hamster that Bjorn carries to most places. Whenever Winston dies, Bjorn acquires another of the rodents and gives it the same name, and has done so since the age of six. Unlike a certain Baldur’s Gate character you may be thinking of, Bjorn does not see Winston as a superior being, it’s just his pet and companion. - Satchel of food, containing mostly bread, dried fruit and some jerky. Bjorn is used to being on the move, and keeps it constantly stocked, as well as can be practiced. - Iron capped leather work boots. Size 14. - Well worn map of the local area. (Only Bjorn can read it, as the place names are replaced by various squiggles that he alone can decypher)[/indent] [b]History:[/b] [indent]Bjorn has never met his parents. They cast him away at the roadside when they were wrongly informed that he was irreversibly brain damaged due to complications at birth, and was left deaf, dumb and blind as a result. Saved from certain death by a roaming huntsman who showed him pity, Bjorn was interred into the care of the local community. Opinion was divided at first, as even the most untested child carers knew instantly that Bjorn was ‘handicapped’. The town did not need another mouth to feed, another soul to look after; especially when afore mentioned soul seemed incapable of paying back his dues in later life. However it was through the mercy of one of the local blacksmiths that Bjorn’s life was once again saved from the premature judgement of others. Raising him not quite as his own son, but more as a much loved dog, the blacksmith came to realise there was a faint light behind those eye and started to teach him life's basics. At age six, the young orphan started to speak his first words, much to the community’s astonished delight. Alas, Bjorn could not grasp written words, or numbers, and this quickly limited his place in an already prejudiced society. Still, he could see, and he could hear. The blacksmith marvelled in Bjorn’s dedication to simple tasks, and soon started using him to run simple errands. Whether it was carrying packs of iron to the forge, or finished goods to their destination, Bjorn was the man for the job. He never strayed from his path, never tampered with the goods he was charged with, and never let the prying eyes of others peer into the parcels he held. Soon others within the community came to Bjorn, with the blacksmith’s blessing, to ask for similar favours. Sometimes it was to help someone move house, other times it was to help deliver a discreet package. He never saw any of the currency paid for his services, but then he never really understood currency, so this did not bother him. As long as the blacksmith supplied him with food and water, he was as happy as could be. [/indent] [b]Psychological Profile:[/b] [indent]Bjorn is as already stated, a simple minded fellow. He has the mental age of a nine year old, and this is unlikely to increase. This makes him very trusting of people, unless they are going against the status quo, or are trying to coerce him into doing something he has been specifically requested not to do. He rarely learns from past mistakes, unless they were significantly painful or traumatic. He has no real understanding of death, and believes Winston is the same hamster he has always had simply because he calls it the same name as the original. Although he lacks the cognitive capacity to learn anything related to words and numbers, he has a good practical mind and can be trained to carry out certain tasks – if the trainer can hold his attention long enough. If someone is able to gain Bjorn’s trust, he will come to view them as an authority figure, and obey them joyfully.[/indent] [b]Relationships and Acquaintances:[/b] [indent] Brandon Walker - Bjorn is no stranger to Brandon, having delivered him and his family various wares from his blacksmith master over the years. What started as very brief, but polite doorstep conversation blossomed into Bjorn's longer vocal streaks, and the two know each other fairly well. Bjorn likes Brandon, because he is friendly and is capable of communicating in a way that Bjorn's simple mind can understand. On a couple of occaisions, Bjorn has looked after Brandon's younger siblings for short periods of time, and enjoys their company immensely. Abraham - Bjorn' original saviour. Bjorn does not know anything about him however, having never been told about his ever so lucky beginnings in life. Jon Hanock - A local blacksmith, who is a dominant economic force within the community. He is Bjorn's chief benefactor, but in no way a father. He looks after Bjorn's general well being, and is very protective of him, but treats him more as a valuable business asset than a son. Melody - Bjorn has crossed her path several times over the years, usually during menial labour work. Like Brandon, she is capable of communicating in a way that appeals to Bjorn's lower brain function, and has saved him from punishment on a few occaisions by taking the blame for his work-related mistakes. As a result, Bjorn is fond of her, and she is one of the few people who he will stop to talk to in the street, errands be damned. [/indent]