TOR: Will Burrows

Will Burrows

Culture: Hobbit of the Shire

Standard of Living: Prosperous

Cultural blessing: Hobbit-sense

Calling: Scholar

Shadow weakness: Lure of Secrets

Specialities: Smoking, Story-telling, Rhymes of Lore

Distinctive features: Elusive, True-hearted

Body: 2 Heart: 6 Wits: 6

Body (favoured): 3 Heart (favoured): 8 Wits (favoured): 9

-Common Skills-

Awe: 0 Inspire: 3 Persuade: 2

Athletics: 0 Travel: 2 Stealth: 3

Awareness: 2 Insight: 1 Search: 2

Explore: 0 Healing: 1 Hunting: 0

Song: 2 Courtesy: 3 Riddle: 2

Craft: 0 Battle: 0 Lore: 3

-Weapon Skills-

Bow: 2

Short sword: 1

Dagger: 1

-Rewards-:

-Virtues-: Small Folk

-Gear-

Bow damage: 5 edge: 10 injury: 14 enc: 1

Short sword damage: 5 edge: 10 injury: 14 enc: 1

Dagger damage: 3 edge: G injury: 12 enc: 0

Endurance: 22 Starting Endurance: 22 Fatigue from Encumbrance: 2 Fatigue from Travel: 0 Total Fatigue: 2

Hope: 16 Starting Hope: 18 Temporary Shadow: 0 Permanent Shadow: 0 Total Shadow: 0

Armour: 0 Headgear: 0

Parry: 6 Shield: 0

Damage: 0 Ranged: 0

Wisdom: 2 Valour: 1

Experience: 0 Total Experience: 0

Fellowship: 0 Advancement: 0 Treasure: 0 Standing: 0

By the time the agent of Saruman the White arrived at Will Burrows' door, it only took a nudge to get him packing for an adventure.

Will was born to a well-off family of landed gentry, and he grew up hearing the rumours about his ancestor's unseemly, "adventurous" behaviour. His family's money afforded him enough leisure time to indulge his bookish nature. He would frequently travel through the shire from his home in Michel Delving, to Tuckborough, Hobbiton, even as far as Stock, borrowing more books to absorb, frequently over a pint and a pipe at the Green Dragon. He had even started writing his own original material, based on correlating the various bit of information he had read.

Then Bilbo Baggins came back home with tales of adventure, of trolls, elves, and orcs. Some scoffed at his stories, but when Will weighed the words and the hobbit that spoke them, he knew he was speaking honestly. In any event, it was clear something had happened to Bilbo; anyone could see he wasn't the same. After one evening of conversation with Bilbo at the Green Dragon, Will's knew he had to go further if he was to get the knowledge he craved. The next day he headed out to Stock, to spend time in the Golden Perch looking for a merchant heading to Bree, one who would take Will along for a fee. Surely there had to be books available there which were unheard of in the Shire.

It was the morning after he returned from one such trip that an agent of Saruman the White knocked on Will's door. Over tea, the agent told Will that Saruman had need of him. Will was confused, overwhelmed, and thought of the other hobbit who had run off after a wizard, and the change that had come over him as a result. The agent poured more tea, and spoke to Will glowingly about the skills he had to offer, the knowledge he may uncover in the course of his work, and subtly hinted without hinting that a wizard such as Saruman the White would know uncountable ancient secrets which he may choose to pass along to someone who served him faithfully.

Will spent the evening packing up for a journey, starting with his wooden flute in it's case, his favourite pipes and his pouches of Longbottom Leaf, Old Toby, and Southern Star, paper, quill and ink, then moving on to less important items.