Adalbert Moonshine
Adalbert "Moonshine" Marsh[edit]
Attributes
W: 1 (4/4 HP)
R: 5 (5/5 Fate)
M: 4 (5/8 MP)
Defense: 10 (7 base + 3 armor)
Skills: Alchemy 6; Athletics 3; Herbalism 6
Talents: Armored Spellcaster; Enhanced Ability (Rogue); Hunter; Weak
Spells Known: 1st circle - Healing Hand Magic Light, Telekinesis; 2nd circle - Magic Armor
Equipment
SP: 1
- Daggers x5,
- Scale armor
- Flint & tinder, waterskin, blanket, bedroll, tent
- Backpack
- Lockpick
- Travel clothing
- 3-yard-pole
- 1 week of rations
- 10 yards of rope
- Leather-bound spellbook
- Packhorse
- Ox cart
Background[edit]
At home in the Little Hills, Adalbert Marsh is a handy troubleshooter and a respected doctor. What began as a venture to obtain some rare medicine, however, gave him a taste for traveling. Now, under the alias of "Magnificent Mr. Moonshine," Adalbert roams roads far from home in order to scam the gullible out of goods and currency useful to the folk of the Little Hills. Though Adalbert knows how to make actual medicine, where possible he sells cheap placebos and snake oil to maximize profit. Sometimes the trickster doctor begins sales in a town with an actual cure (or a stealthy use of healing magic) as a hook. Just as often, his "jolly and sincere halfling" act is enough to build sufficient confidence to fleece marks. Adalbert is usually able to move on before the uselessness, or negative side effects, of his "panaceas" becomes evident, but he's maintained good cardio and a surprisingly long stride for a halfling in preparation for the times he cannot.
Adalbert currently is traveling across the Great Grass Sea to sell a bespoke load of both actual medicine and various "tonics" (projected profit = the pay in SP owed to the PCs serving as guards, refluffed). The halfling has a bad foreboding about the trip, and has spent a lot of time charming and carousing with the caravan guards; both to make some side sales and as insurance for when something goes down. This is how "Magnificent Mr. Moonshine" got acquainted with most of the caravan. The salesman has shared and asked the guards to use his real first name as a show of trust, but Adalbert never reveals his real family name or where he's actually from (he's got a lot of ever-changing stories on the subject, though).
This reticence also applies to Adalbert's newly acquired assistant, Caelan. The two met at the caravan's last major outset point. Caelan, intrigued by the halfling's knowledge of alchemy and herbalism, offered to take care of sundry tasks and defend the caravan in exchange for Adalbert's mentorship. Adalbert jumped at the opportunity to get the help of a thaumaturgical prodigy in creating magical concoctions. Whether Adalbert's view of their partnership will evolve beyond mere opportunism remains to be seen, though the peddler tells himself he'll live up to his side of the bargain.
Personal Appearance
Adalbert is a tan-skinned small humanoid about 3 feet and 4 inches tall, otherwise similar in appearance to a human male in his early forties. He has wavy blonde hair that he keeps cropped relatively short, and a squarish facial structure. When at home or in transit between locales he only bothers to shave once every few days, and not all that closely, meaning he currently has a near perpetual scruff. When making sales or running a con, however, he tries to cultivate his appearance to be in-line with local customs.
Adalbert's clothing alternates between: "social business," which is merchant-class formalwear; "dangerous business," which is an alchemically resistant green leather coat with a rubber lining, glass goggles with a leather strap, flexible fluid-proof long-gloves and heavy boots, and a suit of scalemail under that when violence is expected; and "pleasure" which is simple commoner's or traveler's garments. All his outfits have plenty of hidden pockets and hidey holes for storing and secreting away small objects.
Attitudes
Adalbert isn't heartless when away from home. The doctor has a soft spot for the truly sick, the humble, and the poor. To these individuals, he may give nearly altruistic aid, albeit with some token payment (he can't be seen giving away anything for free!) and a promise to recommend his services to better-heeled masters or acquaintances. Adalbert also knows to conduct more honest business in places he'll have to pass through again. Additionally, despite being a bit of a coward at heart and having no love of violence, Adalbert is keen enough to know when he needs to help a caravan or community fight back. If nothing else, folks back home are counting on him to return with goods and treasures unobtainable in the Little Hills, so it wouldn't do to lose is cart. Furthermore, out on a road like that through the Great Grass Sea, there's nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.
Adalbert currently is: wary towards Longshadow; indifferent towards Taelia and Hud Twitchfinger (and most everyone else on the caravan); favorable towards Caelan and Mr. Portander; and friendly towards Dela.
