Tobias Hicks
Age: 21
Personality: Mostly as a result of the life he led so far, Tobias Hicks is a shrewd and cunning man, someone who is not easily deceived, yet more than capable of deception himself. It is an ability he does not like to use however—he is usually kind and honest. The suffering of the roughest days did not break him, and he retains a positive and optimistic outlook on life that he had since childhood. He also treats all beings with respect, animals as much as people.
Backstory: Born from the illicit romance of an upper class gentleman and a Romani courtesan, Tobias was soon left in the care of the latter as the father did not acknowledge the bastard son. The local Gypsy community on the south welcomed them with open arms and Tobias found company with many similarly-fated children. He grew up receiving tender care from his mother, Esmerelda who never spared anything to make sure her son was well-fed and comfortable, often at her own expense. She greatly shaped the boy’s personality with her kindness and affection as well.
Perhaps the most notable experience of his earlier life was the ownership of Bubba, a stray Terrier dog her mother brought home to teach his son how to care for another being. Tobias grew very close to Bubba and soon found out he had a natural understanding for animals.
Thanks to these, Tobias grew up to be a strong and capable young man. He regularly did work with the other boys to help out the community and make some money to keep himself and his mother afloat in the day-to-day life. He steered clear of the ever-expanding industrial jobs and stuck to agricultural work. His years with Bubba made it so he could handle the oxen and horses better than his peers, so much that even his landlords took notice. One of them eventually recommended him to the travelling circus which had shows nearby in that year. They took him and Tobias Hicks began a new life as one of the most curious kinds of circus performers—the animal tamer.
After initial difficulties dealing with exotic animals he had never even seen before, such as tigers and lions, he had managed to find a common voice with them. He trained them through several weeks, forming stronger and stronger bonds with each animal. Needless to say, the audience rewarded his arduous efforts—and his good looks—and he became a very popular performer.
Now, a very influential officer and politician has hired the circus to perform on his behalf. The day before the act began, Tobias visited his good friend, the old mystic and fortune teller. She told him that his life was about to take a turn he would have never expected. Though the man believed it was because of the large monetary reward all performers would get from the politician after the successful show, he wished it was something else. Something…more exciting.
