(Casimir in his everyday travelling clothes) Name: Casimir Volk
Age: 25
Race: Human
Personality: A friendly and talkative person, Casimir is always happy to strike up a conversation with almost anyone. It quickly becomes apparent that he loves the sound of his own voice a little too much and if someone doesn’t interrupt him he can go on for hours. His tales are, admittedly, interesting, but friends will begin noticing that he has a tendency to repeat them, often with a slight change in detail here or there. He can be a good listener when he wants to, however, and knows what to say in order to keep people talking. Casimir has a near-perfect memory and is able to recall even minute details with great accuracy, something which usually surprises those who don’t know him well. He has a strong sardonic streak and will never hesitate to make a joke at somebody else’s expense, especially if it’s in poor taste. Despite this he can appear very secretive at times, often growing unreasonably defensive if certain subjects are broached.
BackstoryCasimir Volk was born in the city-state of Beakhaven, a sizeable trading-hub to the north of Tyberia. His was a poor family, his father was a warehouse worker, while his mother worked as street-sweeper. Casimir had four other siblings and they never had enough food or clothing for everybody. It was a wretched childhood, as far as he can remember, spent digging through trash-piles in the slums and avoiding the bigger boys who’d take what little he had without much thought. As the youngest child his parents had little love for him, largely considering him a mistake and yet another mouth to feed.
It didn’t take them long to get rid of their unwanted child, though Casimir now considers this the best thing they ever did for him. When he was just eight his father introduced him to a well-dressed man and informed him that he would take him away in the service of the Patrician, Beakhaven’s ruler. Though he was just a lad at the time Casimir vividly remembers the moment and clearly recalls the joy he felt when he stepped out of the foul-smelling house. He also remembers the coin pouch which the man gave to his parents - he would later learn that they had traded him for the meagre sum of twenty standard roots.
At the Patrician’s palace he met other boys and girls from poor families, much like him. Nobody informed them of their purpose, but they were given a place to sleep, food to eat and new clothes, which was more than any of them had possessed in their entire lives. The very next day stern-faced instructors began tutoring them. They taught them to read and write, then moved on to history and geography, chemistry and mathematics – in short, all the subjects a rich child would be able to afford. This went on for four years and in that time they were confined to a restricted wing in the palace, away from the hustle and bustle of the Patrician’s quarters.
Finally the tutors were replaced by rough men, whose uniforms Casimir was now able to recognise. They were known as the Black Masks, a secretive group of spies working for the city’s ruler. Even the poorest kid in the most wretched slum had heard of the Masks – heroes to some, villains to others, but always having a place in stories and local legends. Beakhaven’s political arena was a violent one, the rich families locked in a perpetual struggle for power and influence. Information was the most valuable commodity and the Patrician ensured he remained in power by having the best spies around. The teenagers were informed that the very best of them would be selected to work for the Black Masks. For a child born on the streets this was a dream come true – the Masks enjoyed many privileges and, when not on a mission, led an easy life.
Needless to say all the children, Casimir among them, leapt at the chance. For the next six years they trained diligently and competed with each other fiercely. Throughout their training, the senior Masks kept reminding them that only the best would be accepted. There was no place for friendship or cooperation, which was viewed as weakness. After four years of relative peace and quiet, it came as a shock to Casimir and the others, but those that wished to succeed quickly adapted. Their regimens were brutal and many of the children perished – during training, in freak accidents, on assignments gone awry and, as hushed rumours had it, as a result of assassination among the students.
Of a group of about a hundred children, eventually only half a dozen or so remained. Casimir proved to be a survivor and stood as one of them, proudly earning the black mask he had worked so hard for. He was outfitted by the Patrician’s best craftsmen, given a new name and a small apartment to serve as a hideout. The next five years passed by in a blur - one assignment after the other, with little time for rest or anything else for that matter. His missions ranged from stealing trading ledgers to eavesdropping on some of the most powerful men in Beakhaven. It was hard work, requiring patience and daring, every mistake could be his last – when caught a Black Mask was sworn to take his secrets to the grave.
When he did have time to himself Casimir tinkered with various mechanical items he collected. It was a passion of his ever since he was a child and his newfound wealth allowed him to indulge in it. He especially enjoyed working on watches and, as time passed, began assembling some of his own. Another hobby of his was reading and he acquired many books, earning a reputation as something of a bookworm among his colleagues. They’d often joke that Casimir completed his missions quickly just so he could go home to read the latest novel he’d bought. It wasn’t far from the truth.
(Casimir in the trademark uniform of the Black Masks)Casimir made a name for himself as a dependable agent - he was quick, quiet and could get the necessary information without resorting to violence. He had a way of people and had built up a network of dependable contacts, which were one of the main reasons for his successes. Casimir’s superiors acknowledged this and had plans for him, but that all changed with the coming of Asgard.
The empire attacked quickly and decisively, crushing any resistance. For all their boasts of seeing it coming and being prepared, the Black Masks and the Patrician’s forces were powerless to do anything. The city fell within a day, the Patrician was executed and his palace occupied. Asgard began a systematic purge of the old ruler’s servants, chief among them were the Black Masks. Casimir knew that he would suffer the same fate, so he used his contacts to smuggle himself away from the city. In under a week his old life was gone and everything he had worked for had disappeared with it. To his own surprise, Casimir wasn’t saddened – far from it. For the first time in his life he felt free.
He spent the next year and a half wandering through eastern Yggdrasil, never able to stay in one place for too long. The roots he’d saved up during his time in Beakhaven were dwindling, but he put his skills as a tinker to use in order to get by. He’d travel through villages, fixing broken items or making curious toys for children. Casimir enjoyed this life very much, much more than the one in his hometown. The former spy was now adamant that he would never do cloak and dagger work again. Instead he was driven to travel and experience all those things he’d read about in the books. What’s more - he decided that he would write all of it down. All his life he’d read other people’s books, now he wanted to have one of his own.
His travels eventually led him to Tyberia, a city he had heard much about. In a cruel twist of fate he arrived just days before Asgard did. Trapped in a foreign city, with no friends or contacts, between two warring sides, he decided to lay low until it blew over. It wasn’t long until the empire occupied the whole of Tyberia, forcing Casimir into an all too familiar dilemma. This time, he realised, he had no desire to flee. Casimir had tried to stay out of politics after the fall of Beakhaven, but as much as he didn’t want to admit it, it was clear that Asgard and their Zephyr overlords would stop at nothing until everything was under their dominion. Despite his better judgement he got in contact with the local resistance and soon found himself embroiled in the growing conflict.
Skills and Abilities: - Adept Agent – Before leaving Beakhaven, Casimir was regarded as one of the Patrician’s most promising spies. Even though he no longer practices the craft, his instincts and skills remains as sharp as ever. He is stealthy and nimble, equally at home traversing rooftops or losing himself in a crowd. A quick-thinker, he is able to analyse situations and act calmly under stress. Casimir has a way with words and knows how to get people to share information with him, while revealing nothing himself. His street smarts allow him to identify almost everything worth knowing about a given city – whether it be the best place to rent a cheap bed, where to find illicit goods or who pulls the strings in the local Tan'Raga.
- Professional Hand-to-hand – Out of necessity Black Masks are expected to fight with whatever they have available, which is usually their hands and legs. As a result, Casimir is quite dangerous even when unarmed. He is well versed in various combat techniques, both offensive and defensive ones.
- Professional Knifeman – Casimir is deadly with knives, regardless of their shape or size. When threatened, a quick twirl of his butterfly knife is usually more than enough to deter potential attackers. If forced to fight he relies on his speed and knowledge of anatomy to end it with a single strike. He is equally skilled with throwing knives, able to accurately hit targets from a distance.
- Professional Picklock – Due to the nature of his previous work Casimir often had to gain access to places where he wasn’t supposed to be. As a result, he has extensive knowledge of various locking mechanisms and how to get past them. In recent times he’s turned those skills to locksmithing, helping people who’ve locked themselves out of their homes or fixing broken locks.
- Journeyman Tinker – Casimir’s deft, steady hands have proven to be capable of dealing with more than just locks. His main focus are watches, but over the years he’s taken apart toys, spyglasses, compasses, pumps, stoves and even a number of electrical devices. While he’s no master and a dedicated professional can easily outperform him, Casimir knows enough to get the job done when no one else is available.
- Novice Writer – Though still very much an amateur Casimir is quite enthusiastic about his writing. He practices whenever he has the time and is determined to one day be published.
Equipment:- Butterfly knife– A masterfully-crafted knife with an engraved steel handle. It’s worn and the blade looks to be have been resharpened numerous times, but it’s kept in a prime condition.
- Steel dirk – A long, thin dagger of high-quality steel. Like the rest of his equipment, it’s well-cared for, but doesn’t seem to have been customised.
- Throwing knives – Knives balanced for throwing. Casimir usually has a number hidden about his person.
- Lockpicking tools – Torsion wrench, hook picks, ball picks, rake picks and everything else one needs to open doors. They’re kept hidden in an inside pocket, as such things usually draw unwanted attention from guards.
- Tinkering tools– An assortment of precision screwdrivers, tweezers, pliers and hammers, which Casimir uses to earn a living by repairing items. They’re kept neatly stored in a wooden box, each tool meticulously clean and arranged.
- Unfinished tome - Perhaps Casimir's most prized possession. A book he has began writing, detailing his notes and thoughts on his travels through Yggdrasil. Upon closer inspection one would notice ripped out pages, probably a result of Casimir's displeasure with the results he's produced. He zealously guards it and seldom lets anyone read through it.
- Black mask - A keepsake from the old days, the masks is a reminder of what he once was. Like the lockpikging tools, he keeps this safely hidden, as he never knows when he might run across a former foe.
Member
