Valen

Basic Info

Name: Valen Bordeaux

Nicknames: Val

Age: 32

Sex: Male

Gender: Male

Species: Fae 

Race: Changeling

Primary Magick: Nature

Special Skills: Illusion Magick| Shapeshifting (Humanoid)

Occupation: Tavern Owner/Barkeep| Mercenary(Retired)| Thief(Retired)

Preferred Weapon: Staff 

Current Residence: Central Light Territory 

Home Origin: Southern Nature Kingdom 

Physical Traits

Height: 6'1

Weight: 198lbs

Special Features: Birthmarks (Facial and Leg) | Beauty Mark

Romance

Sexual Orientation: Pansexual

Romantic Orientation: Panromantic

Relationship Status: Married 

Partner: Wolfe 

Backstory: 

A Changeling that has been alone for as long as he can remember. Valen doesn't have much memory from his childhood. He just remembers from a young age he seemed to be wandering alone from place to place in the Southern Nature territory, using any means to survive. He doesn't feel that his situation growing up was particularly pitiful, as the region he was in had mild weather most of the year, and was abundant with resources to keep him hydrated and nourished for survival. And when resources were harder to come by his ability to change his appearance did wonders to aid his ability to steal what he needed.

In his teenage years as his shapshifting abilities matured, Valen made a living taking jobs that paid well such as impersonating people, framing others, professional thefts, and other things that could leverage his abilities as long as it didn't cross his bottom line. As changelings are rare no one would suspect to even look for the signs. During his spare time he would teach himself magick that he was interested in, and became especially adept at illusion magick.

As he left his teenage years behind, Valen left his life of crime behind for the most part and became a freelance mercenary. Slowly along the way before he knew it, he was no longer walking alone, their were trusted friends walking beside him. He formed his own mercenary group, Stormforge, his merry band of misfits. They took on any request the piked their interests, and due to their diverse views and values, they all had vastly different views on what important quest were. Valen will forever thank Merrill's bleeding heart, always wanted to accept commonly ignored quest from smaller towns and villages, as one such quest led him to the love of his life. A simple quest in the Western Earth Territory led him to Wolfe.

After a month at the quiet compassionate man's side, Valen couldn't imagine Wolfe belonging anywhere else. Unfortunately Wolfe clearly had a chip on his shoulder, and scars to prove it. Not one to be discouraged, much to the amusement and annoyance of his team, Valen stuck around the muggy Western Earth Territory he had originally been ready to escape, much longer than intended, to trick his unsuspecting victim, woo his new acquaintance. Much to his delight his persistence paid off, and he was able to get Wolfe to join their band.

He continued to wander freely seeing all the lands had to offer with all his trusted loved ones by his side. After a close encounter that almost wiped their band out, they all decided to stop living on the swords edge nearing their 30s. The mercenary band split, each going their own way, but that was okay because Wolfe, now his lover was at his side. While helping an old acquaintance, Kishan, he and his partner ended up settling into a town in the Central Light Territory, opening up a Tavern together. 

Personality: 

+ Charming | Confident| Romantic| Creative| Adaptable| Sociable

+/- Opportunistic| Glib| Opinionated| Intense| Laid-back

- Deceptive| Two-Faced| Amoral| Manipulative| Overbearing| Obsessive

Likes/Dislikes

Likes: His Hisband| Learning| Gambling| Music| Plays| Storytelling | Libraries| Festivals | Liquor| Control| Logic Games| Winning| Subtle Luxury 

Dislikes: Sharing| Unexpected Surprises| Root Vegetables| Berries| Extreme Weather| Excessively Loud People| Being Told What To Do| Violent Drunkards| Garish Things| Ostentatious Wealth

Hobbies: Writing| Composing | Jewelry Making

Trivia:

• Musically inclined, he can play any stringed instrument and has a very nice singing voice with a wild vocal range. He especially likes playing the harp. The only non stringed instrument he plays is the flute. Often played for his mercenary band when they were resting.
• Teaches local kids musical skills to please Wolfe. He might also teach them other skills, *cough* Pickpocketing.
• He has quick eyes, quick hands, and an even quicker mind. The gambling dens hate to see him coming. As much as they'd love to throw him out, he's proven he's quite generous with his dagger, and doesn't mind liberating fingers from hands. Usually they call his husband to drag him home. 
• Only unsuspecting suckers that aren't local, or are idiotically arrogant are willing to play against him or place bets.
• Perhaps due to coming from nothing, Valen always wanted something that was all his own, only belonging to him, so he can be very possessive and territorial for things that belong to him, especially his partner. He's more than a little obsessed with his husband. Wolfe can have him floored and on his knees waxing poetry just from breathing in the same space.
• Valen is akin to a chameleon, not just in terms of being able to change his appearance, but being able to become a whole other person at the drop of a hat. He adapts his personality, and mannerisms easily to appeal to his purposes.
• After so long together Wolfe is well aware of Valen's less than savory personality, but he accepts it, and just keeps an eye out to make sure Valen doesn't cross any lines that shouldn't be.
• Shapeshifting has some limitations, such as not being able to change certain features such as their voice, identifying marks like birthmarks or scars. So Valen trained his vocal range, and he's very good at mimicking other people's voices.
• He also learned makeup skills, as it's more reliable than using illusion glamours, as those can be detected and dispersed.
• Charms the Tavern seasonally, on special occasions, or just when he's in the mood. Some notable ones were charming the ceiling to mimick the sky, flower petals falling dramatically during romantic holidays, the wolf on their sign breathing in it's 'slumber', and creating a snowy wonderland indoor in the midst of a particularly scorching summer.
• Tends the bar because it's the best place to loosen lips, and he learns a lot of information, staying in the loop without stepping a foot outside.
• Can talk his way out of almost any situation. Can also escalate or deescalate almost any situation. He's gotten out of more than a few sticky situations by having adversaries turn against each other
• A very picky eater, after having to eat just about anything for survival, now that he's in a comfortable position, Valen doesn't want to eat anything that he doesn't like. 
• Obsessive but also fickle. When something catches his interest he hyperfixates, and once that interest wans he discards it without looking back.
• He had quite a few partners before Wolfe, he never clung to them, they were free to come and go and as they pleased and he wouldn't stop them. It can be said his husband is the only one he's every truly loved romantically. 
• Still keeps in touch with his band, and they gather at least once a year to catch up with one another.
• He has a rather laid back almost indifferent personality towards most things, unless it's something he cares about strongly personally. 
• He's a very engaging story teller, and will sometimes use his illusion magick to illustrate his story, especially when talking to children.
• Casually writes and publishes books when he's in the mood.