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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hannerdyn" data-source="post: 6442378" data-attributes="member: 6777934">[ATTACH]64908[/ATTACH] (Pretty Version)Hugo Van HaanBackground[sblock]The delegation to The Hague out of Noord from Rotterdam was once headed by Fredich Gaalmayer, a dwarf of status and an equal measure of kindness and loyalty to his staff, servants, clerks and various hangers-on. Chief among the hangers-on was Hugo Van Haan, a dwarf of some questionable reputation, worldly education and entertaining personality, who considered himself the chief councilor of a staff of councilors which included himself and no other.Hugo served Gaalmayer for six years before the incident at The Hague court where Van Haan mentioned that, in an argument over state resource divisions, the delegation from Schiedam should take a surcharge or tax disadvantage for all the chlamydia spread throughout Europe by the otherwise-respected Clemet Van Schiedam. This was said while drunk, loudly and often that evening, once during dinner with an English duke, and at least once outside a brothel at noon the next day.Oddly, the declaration outside the brothel was more of an issue than the same declaration at a state dinner. See, Hugo had followed Van Schiedam to the establishment of disreputables accompanied by the delegate’s wife, Marissa, who thought she was out shopping for fabrics.Marissa was a Spanish noble married off to assist in the strengthening of diplomacy between the Netherlands and exclaimed that she was in such need of drapes to cover the windows in a drawing room where the drapes were simply awful and must have been at least two centuries old. Hugo, being the very man who set up trade of Egyptian cotton and French satin to a merchant inside the Hague, committed to obtaining the very finest the world could offer for Lady Marissa Van Schiedam. Yet the opportunity to disparage his rival presented itself to readily when he saw Van Schiedam’s carriage making its way customarily to the red-light district at the same time as Van Haan was on leave for fabric-shopping. A round-about route was in order, he explained to Marissa and company, and off they went.Of course, Marissa was well aware of her husband’s visits to every brothel in Europe, the problem came when Marissa was exposed to the fact before her ladies in waiting. Now she had a duty to protect her reputation for King and country, for the sake of her good name, etc.This caused problems for the court, as they now had a legal and moral duty to liquidate the arranged marriage between the two, furthering the cause of war between the Dutch and the Spanish and generally causing trouble for everyone.Kind old Fredich Gaalmayer held Hugo as a close advisor for as long as he could, though his ‘chief councilor’ was banned from ever again accompanying him to The Hague. It was one late October when Gaalmayer made his own last journey to court. He returned in a black carriage and a casket, having died at the age of 112.The new representative to the King and court immediately fired Hugo, and with his torrid reputation and lack of official title had no place to make a living. He made an offer to serve on a ship with an old friend who handled some of his more delicate communications, Jozef Van Der Nagel, seeking out adventure, fortune, and a meager living to feed his taste in jewelry, expensive clothes and beard wax.[/sblock]Appearance[sblock]Hugo Van Haan is ugly, even for a dwarf. His bulbous, red nose has seen at least two breaks, he’s short and pudgy, his red hair is styled in a garish mohawk (the style of New World natives), his mustache waxed and curled downward and his beard and fingers set with several brass rings. Scars line a side of his face and redden with his ruddy complexion. Green eyes that would normally be regarded as captivating only add to the numbered oddities in Hugo’s face.Hugo adores fine clothes, stockings, ruffles and silks. Being on a ship persuades him not an inch into more utilitarian clothes.[/sblock]Personality[sblock]Despite his ugliness, Hugo is adored by nearly everyone he comes across. He is friendly, caring and attentive. He listens like a bartender and performs like a bard, adding a piece of music by lyre or viola which corresponds so perfectly with the needs of those he calls friends it seems nearly divine. He’s a natural friend and a devilish enemy.[/sblock]Stats[sblock]VitalsHugo Van HaanMale Dwarf4th Level Bard of the College of LoreExperience 2,700AbilitiesStr - 10 +0Dex - 14 +2 [save]Con - 14 +2Int - 14 +2Wis - 14 +2 Cha - 16 +3 [save]Passive Perception 12SkillsDeception - +5Performance - +5Persuasion - +5History - +4Sleight of Hand - +4Stealth - +4Arcana - +4Mathematics - +4Jack of All Trades - Ability+1ToolsViolaDrumPanfluteCulinaryCombatRapier - +4, 1d8+2Dagger- +4, 1d4+2FeaturesBardic Inspiration (d6)Song of Rest (d6)ExpertiseFeat: ActorCutting Words (d6)LanguagesDutchEnglishSpanishFrenchEquipmentLongswordLeather ArmorViolaDiplomat's PackDaggerSpellsCantrips KnownFriendsMessageVicious Mockery1st LevelDisguise SelfComprehend LanguagesDissonant WhispersHeroism2nd LevelDetect ThoughtsShatterEnthrallFlavorAlignment - Chaotic GoodBackground - NoblePersonality Trait - Hugo is adored by nearly everyone he comes across. He’s a natural friend and a devilish enemy. He is friendly, caring and attentive. He listens like a bartender and performs like a bard, adding a piece of music by lyre or viola which corresponds so perfectly with the needs of those he calls friends it seems nearly divine.Ideal - IndependenceBond - Gold, glory and AdventureFlaw - By my words, I often bring shame to my familyGood Fortune - Contacts, Hugo has Dutch contacts among the nobility and throughout the Dutch colonies.Ill Fortune - Enemy, Hugo has made an enemy of Clemet Van Schiedam, his wife, children and unnumbered Spaniards.[/sblock]</blockquote>

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