HENRI MULLER

Name: Henri Müller. Whether this is his real name is unsure – with Henri’s history, him assuming a false name wouldn’t be that farfetched.

Race/Sex: Empire-born human, male.
 

Age: 45

Profession: Rogue mage, mage for hire, mercenary… whatever will get him paid. He sometimes talks about “things he’s done” and how they’re not fit for ears of others, hinting at somewhat shadier dealings in his past.

Appearance: Henri is tall. Really tall. He stands at about 6’3”, and has the physical build to go with it: lanky, clumsy and seemingly very thin. However, this appearance has fooled many a ruffian intent on easy money. Henri's body is tougher than it looks, and his thin, wiry frame has more strength behind it than one would believe, due to long months of travelling on foot across rough territory. Henri has a weary-looking face with a big, hawkish nose and two big bright blue eyes. Most of his face is covered up by his scraggly blonde beard, bushy eyebrows and a mass of blondish hair that seems to defy all laws of gravity - and good taste or style for that matter. His hands are big and gnarled, covered with small scars from all manner of little cuts and nicks. His skin is tanned and wrinkly beyond his years from spending most of his life outside in the sun. It also hints at a possible past at sea. Despite all this Henri has proven to be quite a handsome man on those rare occasions where he takes the effort to shave his beard and cut his hair.

Weapons: A heavy, unadorned oaken staff he is seldom seen without, a crossbow and a simple single-edged hunting knife. Henri’s prowess with the staff is decent enough. He knows how to defend himself with it, and how to use its great length and weight to keep assailants at bay. The crossbow only sees daylight when Henri takes it out of its wooden chest, which has been quite some time ago. He used the weapon for hunting while travelling, but ever since he’s entered Marienburg he hasn’t used it anymore, even though he’s a decent shot with it. The hunting knife resides in a leather sheath strapped to the back of his belt, and has seen more use as a utility knife than anything else. Still, its edge is keen, and Henri has no qualms with using it to kill if the situation requires it.

Skills: Henri is an experienced mage in the lore of Shadows, and has near-perfected its use by trial and error. His skill with the Shadow Wind relies mostly on its uses in illusion, deception and cloaking. Rarely does Henri use the more agressive aspects of Ulgu’s power, preferring to use his magic to hide him from view and to allow him to sneak up to intended targets. Usually a sharp blow with his staff or a dagger in the back will follow rather than agressive magic. Still, when angered, Henri can summon frightening displays of power that can rip assailants to shreds. Apart from his magic, Henri is an experienced rambling hiker, knowing perfectly how to survive a long journey through the wilderness. He can be a rather sociable fellow, is able to talk his way in and out of every situation as long as he has no emotional obligations to the people involved, and has perfected the art of staying unnoticed even without the use of his magic. He’s a lifelong scholar, and as such knows how to read and speak Reikspiel as well as Classical and Bretonnian. He knows how to run a decent administration, a skill that serves him well as Adept Commander of the Silver Court.
 

Clothing/Armour: Henri wears a simple, worn grey tunic over a set of pale brownish trousers. He also wears a pair of boots that look like they're older than the man wearing them, as well as a thick hooded cloak that he mostly keeps wrapped around his entire body. A thick leather belt carries his dagger in a sheath, as well as a variety of small pouches holding spell components, herbs and a variety of small baubles – some with their uses, most without. He wears no armour to speak of.

Brief History: Little is known about the origins of Henri, and when pressed about them he’s likely to tell a different tale to everyone who asks. What few things people have managed to puzzle together include that Henri was the son of a small noble family, residing in Talabheim, as well as that he has studied at the Colleges of Magic in Altdorf. What made him leave the colleges is not known, nor what he has done in the time between his studies and him entering the Silver Court. Attentive people will notice that Henri has ties to some shadier parts of the Marienburg mercenary community, and those who dig even deeper might unearth some vague rumours of a wandering bounty hunter with a penchant for delivering his quarry in a rather damaged state. Search long enough, and you’ll find the mage has been all over the Empire, and that very few people are willing to discuss their dealings with him.

The only ‘personal’ fact known about Henri’s travelling years is that, on one of his travels, he inadvertedly rescued a small girl from the wreckage of a raided lumberjack’s community in the middle of the Drakwald. Not knowing what to do with the child, and being many miles away from the nearest town, he found no other solution than to take her along - at least till he would reach a big enough settlement to drop her off. Strangely enough he soon grew accustomed, and even happy with her presence. He called the child Nell, since she was rendered mute by the traumatic memories she carried and as such couldn’t tell Henri her name. She was, however, extremely interested in everything Henri could tell her, and he often spent hours just talking while she took it all in. Eventually, Henri reached a small farmers settlement, where he entrusted the girl to a peasant’s family. He then resumed his travels. Where Henri doesn’t seem to grow attached to people easily, and always keeps everyone at a certain distance, he seems to harbour a father-like love for Nell, and seems troubled daily by his decision to leave her behind. Recent occurances have forced him to search her out again, only to find the girl he had always hoped to see again one day has been changed dramatically.
 

Adventurer, Warrior, Rogue or Scholar?: Henri is the Adept Commander of the Silver Court, which places him in command of the Rogue and Scholar sections of the guild – a place very befitting his past life. When asked how he would describe himself, he’d claim to be a scholar before all. Deep in his heart, however, he’s an adventurer with an itch in his feet that keeps him from staying in one place for too long.

Goals (Short-term): To find Nell, to ensure her safety. To secure his place in the Silver Court by helping Falcia run it.

Goals (Long-term): Henri soaks up knowledge like a sponge. His bigger goal in life is just that – learning. The fact he’ll never be able to know everything only brings a big smile to his weary face.