Cyradin Lawabel / Kyranian / Merchant

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[Cyradin Lawabel]

Changelog
1) Corrected Grammar and Spelling mistakes
2) Adjusted CD in accordance with nephew's age increasing
3) Revised parts of Strengths/Weaknesses and Personality
4) Updated history

Pronunciation guide
Cyradin Lawabel - Sir-a-din Law-a-bell
Chesabaltt Lawabel - Chess-a-ball-tt Law-a-bell
Coranette Holycatt - Cora-net Holly-cat
Raworaan Chesabaltt - Raw-oh-run Chess-a-ball-tt
Lawabel Calodeff- Law-a-bell Cal-oh-deff
Neliwn Gailyelle - Nell-in Gail-yell
Raworaan Calybel - Raw-oh-run Cali-bell
Holycatt Dyarei - Holly-cat Dye-are-eye

Cyradin 'Cyr' Lawabel

Gender: Male

Age: 26

Race: Human

Tribe: Kyranian

Occupation: Merchant

Title: Masterful Merchant

Overview:

Cyradin looked up to, admired and loved his older brother as he grew up. As an adolescent, he didn't feel this way about his sister-in-law, but in time similar feelings emerged for her. When his brother and sister-in-law died in an unfortunate fire at their farm, Cyradin felt his entire life had fallen to bits. He couldn't allow that to happen as he now had a nephew to look after. So now, his life, which had been relatively quiet and simply based on selling products, has become a lot more complicated as he has a nephew to care for while selling his merchandise.

Appearance:

Height: 1 Ped, 2 Fores, 1 Palmspan

Weight: 1 Pygge, 5 Hebs

Hair Colour: Light Brown

Eye Colour: Green

Physical Appearance:

When you first see Cyradin, you would be excused for thinking that he has been preserved for historical reference to answer the question "What is a Kyranian?". He has the strong brow, high forehead and broad jaw that characterise pure-blood members of the Kyranian tribe. His brown hair is cut short, and his beard and moustache are neatly trimmed and cover his cheeks, chin and upper lip. Due to a life spent out of doors travelling from place to place, subjected to the sun and other elements, Cyradin's skin is both tanned and weathered. This makes him look older than he actually is, making some believe he is in his early thirties. His green eyes look out on the world with wonder from beneath his thick, strong brown eyebrows.

Not exceptionally broad of shoulder, Cyradin nonetheless has sinewy muscles on his arms that have been developed as a result of his years of moving boxes of supplies from the point of purchase to the point of sale. His hands are calloused, due to his use of the sword and his use of the reins on the wain. From the time of his sword training, Cyradin has a number of small scars on his left and right arms. He also has a birthmark in the shape of a purple star right in the middle of his stomach, although one would not see the birthmark if Cyradin was wearing a tunic at the time. At one and a half pygges in weight, this young man keeps in good shape and is well suited for a life outdoors. His height of just over two fores more than a ped, firmly places Cyradin at the shorter end of the range of heights for Kyranian men.

Clothing:

The first thing to note about Cyradin is that he does not wear the gaudy and flashy clothes typical of some merchants ... he instead prefers to wear clothes that are comfortable, fashionable and functional. His refusal to wear gaudy clothes does not mean his clothes are not well made, however. Indeed, he wears clothes with a quality cut and are made of some of the finest materials on offer to people in the southern reaches of the Province of Xaramon. His clothes can be considered in light of clothes he wears at his everyday occupation as a merchant, and those he wears when he travels.

Everyday Clothes: He prefers to wear blue tunics, brown trousers and black leather shoes. His tunics and trousers are both made of cotton. A bright red cape that he once saw for sale in Naios made of some of the finest material he has seen sits across his shoulders when he is dealing with other merchants, suppliers or customers. His mother once told him it was made of rabbit fur, but he is fairly sure that she was just having a joke at his expense. In any case, he isn't exactly sure what fur this cape is made of, but it does keep him warm during the cooler winter months. He wears his finest and cleanest clothes if he has to impress someone.

Travelling ClothesWhen he is travelling, Cyradin wears travel stained clothes. They are still made of good quality material, they are older and have the wear and tear of travelling about them. As with his normal clothes, these are made of cotton and are of a similar cut to his everyday clothes. He wears the same black leather shoes that he wears with his work clothes.

Cyradin shies away from wearing jewellry of any kind. This is simply because he feels that wearing jewellry would make him the target of thieves.

Personality:

  Hardly a day passes that Cyradin doesn't think about his dead family members. Each of them died in pretty dreadful circumstances, but he has come to terms with their deaths. He has come to accept that there was nothing he could have done to save them. This has made him more determined to ensure that his nephew has a steady income and life to fall back on. Being exceptionally close to his brother while they grew up, Cyradin feels it is his duty to the memory of Chesabaltt, to provide everything he can for his adolescent nephew.

   His previous purpose in life wa simply to make money. Now that is tempered by the presence of his nephew. Raworaan gives him a purpose in his life, beyond that of being a merchant and making money. His desire to see his nephew achieve great things brings out the dangers of being overly generous to his nephew and to others. He would never refuse the call of 'alms for the poor', for example, and this desire to 'set the good example' results in Cyradin having very little liquid capital.

   Cyradin doesn't like the idea of lying to others. He doesn't like untruths being said and when directly confronted by others, he will tell the truth, regardless of cost or implication. This has a direct impact on his ability to make money, as he would never attempt to convince a buyer that produce is better than it actually is. It also results in him not attempting to smuggle any produce past checkpoints or engage in less than savoury business practices. It is a shame, however that this refusal to lie doesn't extend to himself. He blames himself constantly for the deaths of his family members, for not being there to help save them, even though he knows logically that there was nothing he could have done to save them. His nephew is what keeps him going an

   Since a young age, Cyradin had an interest in rabbits. Some would say an unhealthy interest in rabbits. As a youngster he would be intrigued by rabbits and talk about them almost non-stop.

Strengths and Weaknesses:

Strengths

Literate and Numerate: Cyradin learned how to read, write and work with numbers from his parents. The only language he knows to read and write is Tharian. This assists him greatly in his work as a merchant as it allows him to understand contracts, set fair prices and calculate change and refunds owed. It also helps him with reading menus and signs and in other ways in his everyday life.

Trained with the Sword: Cyradin's father trained both him and his older brother how to use the sword. Cyradin has limited skill with it, but he knows enough about it to hold it by the right end and to fight off most would be robbers in a one on one situation.

Raworaan Chesabaltt Raworaan is the twelve year old son of Cyradin's older brother, Chesabaltt, and travels with Cyradin, learning the merchant's trade. He has been Cyradin's constant companion since the death of his parents in a fire. The boy has a keen head for business and helps Cyradin with some of his work as a merchant. Raworaan is quite a good shot with a sling and has, on more than one occasion, helped his uncle to fight off predators, brigands and would be robbers.

Braan: This is a Southern Draught Horse (Sarvonian Heavy Horse) that Cyradin bought in his younger years. Braan has served Cyradin faithfully over the years, initially solely as a mount and in more recent times as a beast of burden in addition to its original purpose as a mount.

Wainsman: Cyradin is trained as a Wainsman. He knows how to drive, pack and repair wains, which are covered carriages that allows for the cartage of goods and people across Santharia and further afield. With a wain, Cyradin has a legitimate reason to go to a range of different towns and cities throughout Santharia.

Well Travelled: Due to growing up the son of travelling merchants, Cyradin is well travelled and knowledgeable about the roads in and out of the settlements of the southern parts of the former kingdom of Kyrania. This includes a knowledge of taverns, inns, farmers, merchants, buyers and craftsmen in this area of Santharia.

Merchant: At heart, Cyradin is a merchant and is knowledgeable about fair prices for the goods and services he buys and sells. This allows him to set prices for these goods and services that are fair and reasonable and read the body language of those he has dealings with. This also helps Cyradin realise when those he is dealing with are not dealing fairly with him.

Weaknesses

Compulsive Spending: Cyradin is always spending the money he gets for goods and services he sells. Whenever he makes money from selling things, he spends almost all of it at the first chance he gets on food, equipment and services for both himself and his nephew. When combined with his compulsive generosity, this conspires to keep Cyradin relatively poor. Although he spends to excess on occasions on both himself and his nephew, he has never engaged in gambling.

Compulsive Generosity: Cyradin is a sucker for a bad luck story. As such, whenever he is asked to give 'alms for the poor' or to provide financial support to any cause, he will find it extremely difficult not to. This, combined with his compulsive spending ensures that Cyradin has very limited funds on him at any time.

Self Defence Only: Cyradin would never start a fight himself. He will defend himself when necessary, but he would never go out of his way to look for someone to fight. Even when forced into a confrontation, he attempts to use words to talk his way out the situation. This has a significant impact on when and how he can use his sword.

Adolescent Angst: At ten, Raworaan is in the very early stages of his journey through adolescence. It has been suggested that the only good thing that happens during adolescence is that eventually everyone (or most people at least) grow out of it. Raworaan's adolescence is particularly trying for Cyradin. Cyradin's previously polite nephew has turned into a smart mouthed, self opinionated and back chatting adolescent seemingly overnight. Raworaan quite regularly tells his uncle what he thinks of his decisions and no longer always follows his uncle's decisions. His mouth has also sometimes caused troubles between his uncle and some locals in different locations they travel through.

Refusal to lie: Cyradin never lies and would never buy or sell goods at a price that would leave the other party at a disadvantage. For him, there is no such thing as a 'little white lie'. As a result, if he has produce for sale from a part of Santharia that isn't going to get him as good a price as from another area of Santharia, he wouldn't claim his produce is from that better area. In a situation where he is stopped for inspection, he is open and honest, answering all questions posed of him in great detail. If he is asked his opinion on something, he gives his opinion ... in all its detail. Depending on the situation they find themselves in, this practice could have bad implications for Cyradin and any companions he is with at the time.

Rabbits on about Rabbits: Cyradin likes rabbits ... a lot ... and he likes talking about rabbits ... a lot. This obsession often gets on the nerves of people who he is speaking to at the time. Cyradin will drop everything to ensure that rabbits are safe ... if he sees them ... and he is often on the lookout for them. Strangely enough, this does not translate to him wanting to keep rabbits as pets. He'd rather see the rabbits free to hop and nibble without the restraints of a cage.

Goods and Chattels: Cyradin has a store in Naios, and a wain with goods for sale on it. These, together with his purchasing, delivering and selling contracts ties Cyradin down to a timetable and trade routes. As a result, Cyradin's time is pretty tight and he doesn't have the same levels of freedoms to adventure as others do. That isn't to say that he doesn't travel and adventure, he just doesn't have the time to do extensive travelling away from his concerns.

History

Born to Lawabel and Neliwn some twenty-six years ago, Cyradin is the youngest and only surviving child of those merchants from the Xaramon province of Santharia. Cyradin was told that a rabbit was seen running across the front yard of their small cottage when he was born. He was four years younger than his older brother, Chesabalt who in time would grow up to follow the occupation of a farmer. Growing up, Chesabalt looked out for his younger brother, and Cyradin looked up to his older brother as a hero, however the games played between the boys were rough, with Chesabalt not taking it easy on his younger brother because of the age difference.

Both boys were taught to read and write and to count. Chesabalt proved to have difficulties in learning these skills, but not so the younger Cyradin, who took to reading and writing and mathematics quite easily. His parents were pleased with the progress that was being made by Cyradin, and they decided that they would do their best ot make Cyradin into a merchant when he got older, and that Chesabalt would be in charge of loading and unloading the merchandise and driving the wain.

At around the age of seven, Cyradin began his training as a merchant. He and Chesabalt had been involved in a rough game, when their father broke it up. Lawabel told Chesabalt that they would have another training session soon, straight after he showed him how to control the wain and ride the horse, both skills which Chesabalt had taken to quite readily. Cyradin wanted to be able to ride a horse and also drive the wain just like his big brother, but he was told by his parents that he was too young and not strong enough. As previously stated, Cyradin could read, write and use mathematics, but he was now to be trained in a practical application of those skills, his parents would make him into a merchant. He would learn to tell when people were lying and telling the truth, he would know how to decide on a good versus a bad deal, he would learn the roads and byways of this part of Santharia and he’d learn how to make deals that would satisfy both parties. Later on in life, he would teach his nephew, Raworaan these same skills. However, that is getting ahead in this story. By the time that Cyradin was ten, he had learnt to ride a horse, and was beginning to learn to drive the wain. It was in this time that "Lawabel and Sons" later to become "Cyr and Raw" was formed.

When Cyradin was eleven, he had an encounter that would return to influence him greatly later on in his life. He and his mother went to the city of Naios so that his mother could by some supplies. The youth meanwhile wandered the streets. His eye was taken in by two things. Firstly a younger boy who was dressed quite poorly was asking for a few coins that would enable him, his younger brother and his mother to eat for the next week. Secondly, there was a bright red cloak that caught his attention. Cyradin gave a few copper bards to the boy who thanked him quite sincerely. Cyradin then went over to the storekeeper selling the cape amongst other things. His mother saw both exchanges, but kept quiet on them.

At fourteen, Lawabel decided that Cyradin needed to learn to use the sword, and so left him in the capable hands of Chesabalt. Cyradin hated those sessions, as it normally ended in him being battered and bruised and sore, as at eighteen, Chesabalt was already essentially a man, while at fourteen, Cyradin was still undergoing the physical and mental change that would transform him from the boy he was into the man he would become. Chesabalt didn't take it easy on his younger brother, and continued to push Cyradin as hard as possible. Cyradin continued to be distracted by rabbits, and this more than anything else led to his continuous defeats in thse practice bouts.

Over these years, Lawabel and Neliwn had acquired quite a detailed trading route including towns, villages, farms and larger settlements. One such farm was that of a couple that had a daughter called Coranette. Chesabalt and Cyradin didn't like her too much over the years, and left her presents of frogs, and other things. But that would soon change. On the visit when Cyradin was fifteen, he was sent to find his older brother for another training session. After looking after his parents' horse, Cyradin hunted for his brother. He found an untidy pile of Chesabalt's clothes at the bottom of a hay store, and then climbed up the ladder ... to be greeted with his brother's bare buttocks, and then he saw Coranette naked. He looked from his brother to the girl, his mouth agape, while Coranette let out a silent scream as she tried to cover herself up. Chesabalt was angry, perhaps the angriest that Cyradin had ever seen him. Cyradin had left in a hurry.

Chesabalt came and found Cyradin and the two boys talked. Cyradin agreed to keep silent about it, unless he was asked a direct question by someone. The two boys then trained. Chesabalt's anger got the best of him, as it was the first and only time that Cyradin bested him in one of these training sessions. Cyradin agreed to Chesabalt's request to finish the training there, as it was clear to both boys that Cyradin had learnt all he could learn from his older brother, and not have another bout without comment.

Their family continued their journeys and about nine months later returned to the farm. Coranette was about to give birth and the farmer decided it must have been one of Lawabel's sons who had inpregnated her. Cyradin was asked a direct question about it and he told the truth, that Chesabalt was the father. Cyradin went off for a walk and found a paddock with horses in it. A young foal came up to him and nuzzled his hand. A woman told him the horse's name was Baarn and would be ready for him in a year or two. Crying back at the farm house carried to Cyradin and he ran back, just in time to see a little baby boy being handed to Chesabalt who was shaking slightly. Chesabalt named his son 'Raworaan Chesabalt' after Coranette's father. At sixteen Cyradin was an uncle and at nineteen Chesabalt was a father, and both boys looked unready for that.

Cyradin and his parents remained at the farm for a few more weeks before heading off again. Chesabalt would remain behind with his new family, while the others would head continue on with their jobs. The loss of Chesabalt really hit Cyradin hard. He found it hard to go on without his brother's presence, but his thoughts quickly turned to concern for his mother when Neliwn became suddenly and violently ill. A healer was called, and pronounced that she was suffering from the strangling disease, something for which there was no cure. Lawabel and Cyradin were forced to endure her continual downward spiral of health and eventually were forced to dispose of her remains. Cyradin wanted to grieve, but he couldn't as the loss of his wife hit Lawabel hard, and Cyradin had to take care of him, and continue on with the work. He coaxed his father into the wain and headed off. After making a couple more deliveries, he headed straight for the farm that now housed his brother, sister in law and nephew.

Chesabalt and Coranette were sad at the news of the passing of Neliwn and the downward spiral of Lawabel. They agreed to Lawabel staying at the farm and the three adults sat together to plan what they would do. It was decided that Cyradin would continue on with his work as a merchant and that they would make Lawabel as comfortable as possible. While Chesabalt and Coranette made the necessary adjustments, Cyradin slipped away to revist the horses. He decided that Barin and the wain needed to remain behind. It wouldn't be fair to remove a trusted friend from Lawabel, and the wain would just be in the road of Cyradin, who wanted to make a fresh start. He met with the woman, and exchanged money for Baarn, who was now old enough to carry Cyradin. He returned to the farm, and agreed to stay the night before leaving the next day.

That afternoon, he spent time with his two year old nephew, who was pointing things out to him and speaking in a serious voice, all the while running around on short stubby legs. Cyradin found that he quite enjoyed the toddler's company and when they boy eventualyl fell asleep, Cyradin quietly carried him up to his cot and put him in. The next day, Cyradin mounted Baarn and headed off to seek his adventure and his fortune.

At sometime during the next year, Cyradin found himself at the site of one of the Butterfly Rover camps, and watched as a group of youngsters jumped, leapt and tumbled their way through a performance. One of the performers in particular took his attention. He asked around about who the red haired youth was, and he was told 'Deklitch Hardin'. He asked to speak to Deklitch Hardin, and the boy came out, and looked at the older man, a curious expression on his face. Cyradin and Deklitch recalled their previous meeting all those years prior, and Deklitch insisted that Cyradin stay with them for a night or two. Cyradin found the lad to be quite pleasant, even if he also thought him to be a scoundrel. After the couple of day's respite at the camp, Cyradin headed on.

Over the subsequent six years, Cyradin amassed a fortune, or he would have if he didn't continue to spend it on things that he thought he needed. He bought himself fine clothes, a high quality wain, a house in Naios, with the top of it rented out to a family involved in making wain wheels and he also gave money to a variety of causes. All the while though his life seemed incomplete. He found he missed his family, Chesabalt and Raworaan and even Coranette, let alone Lawabell and Coranette's parents. He decided that he'd have to go and see them. So he hitched up his wain to Baarn and headed towards the farm.

It was too late to push on to the farm, and so Cyradin decided to pull into a nearby village. ahead of him a boy stood, looking at him closely. Cyradin looked back, there was something about the boy that was familiar, but Cyradin wasn't sure what it was. Cyradin judged him to be about eight, and Cyradin called out to him, offering coins for directions. Introducing himself as Cyr, Cyradin invited the boy to join him on his wain. The boy did so and told him his name was Raw. Another stab of recognition, but Cyr didn't choose to believe that he had met his nephew again. And so he just led the wain following the youngster's instructions. On arrival, the youngster entered the inn while Cyradin went to the stables. On entering the inn, Cyradin saw that the youngster was still speaking Cyradin's brother, Chesabaltt and Cyradin realised that this was his nephew, Raworaan. The brothers embraced warmly, and then sat down to speak about cases, with the animated youngster putting in his two cents worth every now and then.

Talk turned to family matters, and Cyradin asked about his father, and Coranette's parents. Raworaan became upset and asked to leave. Chesabaltt explained to Cyradin that the three of them had died, and that Raworaan was taking the deaths of his grandparents very hard. Cyradin then spoke of the life that he had led, and that he had donated money to causes and that he had bought himself a house in Naios and the various other things he had done that conspired to keep him relatively poor. In time, Cyradin offered to go and talk to the boy and then ordered a round for all the patrons of the inn.

Cyradin found Raworaan being picked on by a group of other Kyranian youths, and he managed to drive them off, and then got Raworaan to show him how he uses the sling. Raworaan gave Cyradin a quick demonstration and the two talked, prior to turning in for the night.

The return to the farm was a happy time for all concerned. Raworaan asked to ride with Cyradin and both of the men agreed. Coranette greeted them with hugs and kisses, especially for Cyradin. Cyradin spoke with them about his life and noticed that Raworaan listened carefully and asked lots of questions. Raworaan asked if he could be taught to read and write and count, and his parents agreed, and so Cyradin proceeded to start teaching the boy those skills. Cyradin had a delivery to make, and so left to make it, his nephew rode out to see him off and it was at that point that Cyradin realised that something was wrong at the house. Fire and smoke reached man and boy and they both turned as one. Cyradin knew he wouldn't get there quickly enough on the wain, and tried unbuckling Baarn, but to no use. Raworaan handed the reigns of his horse to his uncle and Cyradin got on that horse behind the boy. They made good time back, but it was too late.

Cyradin went to enter the house, but Raworaan held out a hand, stopping him. Raworaan asked a question of Cyradin that really pulled him up short ...

"If you go in there and die, I won't have anyone to look after me. Won't you stay here and look after me? I've lost my mum and dad ... Don't let me lose my uncle as well."

"I'll raise you as though you were my own son," Cyradin replied to the boy.

The two rode off at that ... although Raworaan's horse had suffered and was given to the woman to care for ... Cyradin and the boy got back up onto the wain and headed off to make Cyradin's next delivery.

Over the course of the next four years, life changed for both Cyradin and Raworaan. Cyradin had an apprentice whom he taught everything he knew. He also now had another mouth to feed and someone who relied on him. In short, he learnt about responsibility. Cyradin also got to know his nephew, and through his nephew, the man that Cyradin's brother had become. Raworaan developed new skills that were beyond any that he learnt on the farm. He could now read and write and count and he knew the ways of the merchant. The boy also got to know his uncle, and through him what his father was like before he got married and had a son.

Through that time, Deklitch Hardin, that former Black Butterfly Rover that Cyradin had met twice previously dropped in on them. He was now a member of the Compendium, and both Cyradin and especially Raworaan looked forward to his visits. As the months lengthened and turned into years, the polite child, Raworaan had grown and turned into an adolescent. The adolescent Raworaan was nowhere near as polite as the child Raworaan was, and Cyradin wondered at times if he was going to lose his sanity while experiencing his nephew's adolescence. Still, Cyradin is pleased to have the youth along ... as at times the youth is all that pulls Cyradin out of his thoughts about the deaths of his parents and his brother and sister-in-law.

Weapons

Cyradin still has the sword that he used to train with when he was a lad of fourteen. It is battered and worn and doesn't tend to get much use. At about half a ped, it is shorter than most swords. The hilt of the sword is wooden, while the blade of it is metal.

Equipment

- Wain with trade goods and sleeping and food supplies for both himself and Raworaan.
- Contracts detailing where the supplies are to be delivered.
- Scrolls, parchments and quills
- flint and steel for fires
- money pouch
- maps of the local area of Santharia
- travel clothes and merchant clothes
- cape
- water containers

Familiars

Raworaan Chesabaltt

Raworaan is the nephew of Cyradin and the only son of Cyradin's deceased older brother, Chesabaltt. At 1 ped, 1 fore and 1 palmspan in height and 9 hebs, 1 hafeb and 1 od in weight, Raworaan is fairly standard for a Kyranian youth. Looking at Cyradin and Raworaan, it is quite easy to tell that they are related in some way, with a number of strangers assuming that they are father and son. In keeping with his refusal to tell a lie, Cyradin corrects this misconception on the part of strangers. Raworaan doesn't understand why his uncle doesn't just say that they are father and son, as he is now the closest thing the boy has to a father.

Raworaan has a preference for a plain red shirt and grey or black trousers. He also has a pair of good leather shoes. Finally, he has a cape, blue in colour that he wears when he goes with his uncle to acquire products for sale or when selling those products. All of these items of clothing are, of course, of the finest quality material that Cyradin can afford. Raworaan possesses a sling, a simple weapon made of two pieces of string, which he uses for fun, hunting food and helping protect his uncle and their possessions from would be robbers.

Raworaan is a happy go lucky youth that is currently going through adolescence. As such, he questions his uncle a lot about decisions and isn't as willing to do jobs around their campsite when they stop of an evening, as he was when he was younger. He has a sharp mind and is enjoying the lessons in reading and writing he is getting from his uncle. He wants to continue on his uncle's merchant business and expand on it in time.

Braan

This Southern Draught Horse has served Cyradin faithfully for about ten years. In the early years of their partnership, he served as Cyradin's mount. The youth and colt loved to ride in those early days, going ahead of Cyradin's family as they went through the lands of the Ximax province. and in his more advanced years as a beast of burden pulling Cyradin's Kolbruk Wain, as wekk as serving as a mount for Cyradin on occasions. Standing at just over 4 fores, 1 palmspan tall and weighing 175 peds, Braan is well suited to the job of being a workhorse.

Braan has a light brown coat with white markings throughout. He has a blaze from between his eyes to the start of his black, delicate muzzle. He also has a snip between his nostrils on the muzzle. His small ears, dark blue eyes and wide forward also mark Braan as a Southern Draught Horse. His mane and tail are a darker brown when compared to the rest of his coat, and he has white extending from just above his knee to each of his hoofs.

Braan has a gentle, placid temperament and appreciates being rubbed down and cared for after a day of travelling. In their younger, carefree days, Cyradin rode Braan at quite a pace, but now, since they have gotten older and wiser, both Braan and Cyradin prefer a far more sedate pace.

[Cyradin Lawabel]

Ok ... this undertaking is close to being finished, I think.

The first page (yes that's right, first page) of the CD is finished, the 2nd page still has some bits of the history to be added in ... but if anyone wants to comment on the first page, you are welcome to do so.

In any case ...

WARNING: when writing the CD, I lost quit a bit of work from the first page when I went to save it. I had overshot the limit or something, apparently. It might be best not to attempt to do the whole first page in one reply as a result ie quote bits of it, rather than the whole thing.

* Sets up sleeping bags near the CD ... you might need them by the time you get to the end, because of the length of the thing.

* Sets up food for any and all reviewers, because it isn't fair that they should have to bring a packed lunch to read this CD.

[Jenna Silverbirch]

Wow! So much hard work! 
I am very very tempted to read this, just to say I stuck it through, as I doubt there'll be much wrong with it   

*sneakily snaffles a couple of sandwiches* what can I say, I'm a hobbit 

[Jenna Silverbirch]

Huzzah! I have read all of it so far, and I didn't even have to use the sleeping bags   Although the food supply is a little depleted...

A really excellent character, and a well-written, engaging cd. He's got depth and believability, plus the cd was interesting to read. I genuinely didn't get bored!

I can only think of one teensy thing you could possibly change...

Chesabaltt began to tremble slightly as he took the bundle in his hands and Cyradin put a hand on his arm. Still trembling, Chesabaltt slowly removed the cloth from his son's face, and studied it, and then his son's fingers and toes. The baby opened his eyes, and looked up at Chesabaltt and Cyradin, smiling at them.

Raworaan has only just been born, so I don't think he'd be smiling yet.

Anywho, I'll definitely be returning to this when it's finished. I really want to know what happens!

[Cyradin Lawabel]

Hi Jenna,

Thanks for your comments and compliments regarding Cyr. I'm pleased you enjoyed reading it.

I thought it was a common thing that people thought ... that babies smiled shortly after birth. I know that it is really gas/wind whatever like that ... but that's where I was going with that.

In any case, I've never been around babies just after they've been born, so if I'm wrong with that, I'll happily change it.

I'll also repost when the CD is completely finished.

In any case

* Restocks the food supplies ... who'd have thought that hobbits would eat SO much?

[Cyradin Lawabel]

Ok ... this is all finished and ready for commentary and hopefully approval, I think.

Is he balanced, or slightly unbalanced? If unbalanced, which way? I think he might be slightly unbalanced to being underpowered.

[Valan Nonesuch]

Cyradin 'Cyr' Lawabel

Gender: Male

Age: 26

Race: Human

Tribe: Kyranian

Occupation: Merchant

Title: Masterful Merchant Awesome Alliteration!

Overview:
Cyradin looked up to, admired and loved his older brother as he grew up. As an adolescent, he didn't feel this way about his sister-in-law, but in time similar feelings emerged for her. When his brother and sister-in-law died in an unfortunate fire at their farm, Cyradin felt his entire life had fallen to bits. He couldn't allow that to happen as he now had a nephew to look after. So now, his life, which had been relatively quiet and simply based on making as much profit as possible as quickly as possible, has become a lot more complicated as he has a nephew to care for while selling his merchandise.

Appearance:

Height: 1 Ped, 2 Fores, 1 Palmspan

Weight: 1 Pygge, 5 Hebs

Hair Colour: Eophran

Eye Colour: Sognastheen

Physical Appearance:
When you first see Cyradin, you would be excused for thinking that he has been preserved for historical reference to answer the question "What is a Kyranian?". He has the strong brow, high forehead and broad jaw that characterise pure-blood members of the Kyranian tribe. His brown hair is cut short, and his beard and moustache are neatly trimmed and cover his cheeks, chin and upper lip. Due to a life spent out of doors travelling from place to place, subjected to the sun and other elements, Cyradin's skin is both tanned and weathered. This makes him look older than he actually is, making some believe he is in his early thirties. His green eyes look out on the world with wonder from beneath his thick, strong brown eyebrows.

Not exceptionally broad of shoulder, Cyradin nonetheless has sinewy muscles on his arms that have been developed as a result of his years of moving boxes of supplies from his point of purchase to his point of sale. His hands are calloused, due to his use of the sword and his use of the reins on the wain. From the time of his sword training, Cyradin has a number of small scars on his left and right arms. He also has a birthmark in the shape of a purple star just right in the middle of his stomach, although one would not see the birthmark if Cyradin was wearing a tunic at the time. At one and a half pygges in weight, this young man keeps in good shape and is well suited for a life outdoors. His height of just over two fores more than a ped, firmly places Cyradin at the shorter end of the range of heights for Kyranian men.

Clothing:
Due to his preference for the finer things in life, Cyradin's clothes have a quality cut and are made of some of the better materials on offer to people in the southern reaches of the Province of Xaramon. He prefers to wear blue tunics, brown trousers and black leather shoes. A bright red cape that he once saw for sale in Naios made of one of some of the finest material he has seen sits across his shoulders when he is dealing with other merchants, suppliers or customers.

When he is travelling, he wears travel stained clothes. They are still made of good quality material, they are just older and have the wear and tear of travelling about them. Despite his good quality clothes, he does not wear the gaudy clothes typical of some merchants ... comfortable, fashionable and functional are three characteristics that Cyradin looks for in his clothes.
Materials. Woolens? (Please don't say silk...) Leather? Cut?
Cyradin shies away from wearing jewellry of any kind. This is simply because he feels that wearing jewellry would make him the target of thieves.

Personality:
  Hardly a day passes that Cyradin doesn't think about his dead family members. Each of them died in pretty dreadful circumstances, but he has come to terms with their deaths. He has come to accept that there was nothing he could have done to save them. This has made him more determined to ensure that his nephew has a steady income and life to fall back on. Being exceptionally close to his brother while they grew up, Cyradin feels it is his duty to the memory of Chesabaltt, to provide everything he can for his adolescent nephew.

   His previous purpose in life wa[/color] simply to make money. Now that is tempered by the presence of his nephew. Raworaan gives him a purpose in his life, beyond that of being a merchant and making money. His desire to see his nephew achieve great things brings out the dangers of being overly generous to his nephew and to others. He would never refuse the call of 'alms for the poor', for example, and this desire to 'set the good example' results in Cyradin having very little liquid capital.

   Cyradin doesn't like the idea of lying to others. He doesn't like untruths being said and when directly confronted by others, he will tell the truth, regardless of cost or implication. This has a direct impact on his ability to make money, as he would never attempt to convince a buyer that produce is better than it actually is. It also results in him not attempting to smuggle any produce past checkpoints or engage in less than savoury business practices.

   Since a young age, Cyradin had an interest in rabbits. Some would say an unhealthy interest in rabbits. As a youngster he would be intrigued by rabbits and talk about them almost non-stop.

Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths
Literate and Numerate: Cyradin learned how to read, write and work with numbers from his parents. The only language he knows to read and write is Tharian. This assists him greatly in his work as a merchant as it allows him to understand contracts, set fair prices and calculate change and refunds owed. It also helps him with reading menus and signs and in other ways in his everyday life.

Trained with the Sword: Cyradin's father trained both him and his older brother how to use the sword. Cyradin has limited skill with it, but he knows enough about it to hold it by the right end and to fight off most would be robbers in a one on one situation. Ah. The old school of "Pointy end goes here and damned if I know anything else, but I've got a sword!"

Raworaan Chesabaltt Raworaan is the ten year old son of Cyradin's older brother and travels with Cyradin, learning the merchant's trade. He has been Cyradin's constant companion since the death of his parents in a fire. The boy has a keen head for business and helps Cyradin with some of his work as a merchant. Raworaan is quite a good shot with a sling and has, on more than one occasion, helped his uncle to fight off predators, brigands and would be robbers.

Braan: This is a Southern Draught Horse (Sarvonian Heavy Horse) that Cyradin bought in his younger years. Braan has served Cyradin faithfully over the years, initially solely as a mount and in more recent times as a beast of burden in addition to its original purpose as a mount.

Wainsman: Cyradin is trained as a Wainsman. He knows how to drive, pack and repair Wains. With a wain, Cyradin has a legitimate reason to go to a range of different towns and cities throughout Santharia. A wain is a type of wagon I presume.

Well Travelled: Due to growing up the son of travelling merchants, Cyradin is well travelled and knowledgeable about the roads in and out of the settlements of the southern parts of the former kingdom of Kyrania. This includes a knowledge of taverns, inns, farmers, merchants, buyers and craftsmen in this area of Santharia.

Merchant: At heart, Cyradin is a merchant and is knowledgeable about fair prices for the goods and services he buys and sells. This allows him to set prices for these goods and services that are fair and reasonable and read the body language of those he has dealings with. This also helps Cyradin realise when those he is dealing with are not dealing fairly with him.

Weaknesses
Compulsive Spending: Cyradin is always spending the money he gets for goods and services he sells. Whenever he makes money from selling things, he spends almost all of it at the first chance he gets on food, equipment and services for both himself and his nephew. When combined with his compulsive generosity, this conspires to keep Cyradin relatively poor. Although he spends to excess on occasions on both himself and his nephew, he has never engaged in gambling.

Compulsive Generosity: Cyradin is a sucker for a bad luck story. As such, whenever he is asked to give 'alms for the poor' or to provide financial support to any cause, he will find it extremely difficult not to. This, combined with his compulsive spending ensures that Cyradin has very limited funds on him at any time. Apparently you can fool an honest man.

Self Defence Only: Cyradin would never start a fight himself. He will defend himself when necessary, but he would never go out of his way to look for someone to fight. Even when forced into a confrontation, he attempts to use words to talk his way out the situation. This has a significant impact on when and how he can use his sword.

Adolescent Angst: At ten, Raworaan is in the very early stages of his journey through adolescence. It has been suggested that the only good thing that happens during adolescence is that eventually everyone (or most people at least) grow out of it. Raworaan's adolescence is particularly trying for Cyradin. Cyradin's previously polite nephew has turned into a smart mouthed, self opinionated and back chatting adolescent seemingly overnight. Raworaan quite regularly tells his uncle what he thinks of his decisions and no longer always follows his uncle's decisions. His mouth has also sometimes caused troubles between his uncle and some locals in different locations they travel through.

Refusal to lie: Cyradin never lies and would never buy or sell goods at a price that would leave the other party at a disadvantage. For him, there is no such thing as a 'little white lie'. As a result, if he has produce for sale from a part of Santharia that isn't going to get him as good a price as from another area of Santharia, he wouldn't claim his produce is from that better area. In a situation where he is stopped for inspection, he is open and honest, answering all questions posed of him in great detail. If he is asked his opinion on something, he gives his opinion ... in all its detail. Depending on the situation they find themselves in, this practice could have bad implications for Cyradin and any companions he is with at the time.

Rabbits on about Rabbits: Cyradin likes rabbits ... a lot ... and he likes talking about rabbits ... a lot. This obsession often gets on the nerves of people who he is speaking to at the time. Cyradin will drop everything to ensure that rabbits are safe ... if he sees them ... and he is often on the lookout for them. Strangely enough, this does not translate to him wanting to keep rabbits as pets. He'd rather see the rabbits free to hop and nibble without the restraints of a cage.I like this weakness. Here, have a bunny.  


Goods and Chattels: Cyradin has a store in Naios, and a wain with goods for sale on it. These, together with his purchasing, delivering and selling contracts ties Cyradin down to a timetable and trade routes. As a result, Cyradin's time is pretty tight and he doesn't have the same levels of freedoms to adventure as others do. That isn't to say that he doesn't travel and adventure, he just doesn't have the time to do extensive travelling away from his concerns.
I'll say it's balanced actually. Each of your strengths seems to have a down side to it as well, and this rabbit weakness makes up for the others it seems.

aaah!! History! FLEE IT! We hates it! Hates it forevers!

Weapons
Cyradin still has the sword that he used to train with when he was a lad of fourteen. It is battered and worn and doesn't tend to get much use. At about half a ped, it is shorter than most swords. The hilt of the sword is wooden, while the blade of it is metal. It is not very sharp.Not very sharp... hm. Could you cut something with it, or would you be better off bludgeoning would-be-thieves with it?

Equipment
- Wain with trade goods and sleeping and food supplies for both himself and Raworaan I would presume
- Contracts detailing where the supplies are to be delivered.
- Scrolls, parchments and quills
- flint and steel for fires
- money pouch
- maps of the local area of Santharia
- travel clothes and merchant clothes
- cape
- water containers

Not much to say here. Hopefully someone looks at the history. Such a task is far too daunting for the likes of me I'm afraid. I'd be happy to approve it once that is done.

And explain for the reader what a wain is. I had no idea, so I looked it up.

[Cyradin Lawabel]

 

Thank you Valan,

I think I've addressed your comments. Any chance of another of the mods taking a look at the history?

 

[Raworaan]

and I am Cyradin's nephew, if that's what you mean. If you mean something else, maybe you could PM one or both of us, Malexia ...

[Malexia Vendu]

This is one of the most unique CDs I've seen in awhile...I mean that in a good way! 

First Approval!

[Cyradin Lawabel]

Thank you Malexia 

[Kalína Dalá'isyrás]

Everything looks good to me too!

Second Approval

Go ahead and remove the color

[Cyradin Lawabel]

Editing colours removed, thanks all for your help with this.

[Kalína Dalá'isyrás]

And Titled!

Archiving

[Raworaan]

Just bringing uncle Cyr to the front page

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