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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mtheurer" data-source="post: 4333507" data-attributes="member: 57398">Balthazar "Jack" Hopfinger - Human RogueBalthazar "Jack" Hopfinger grew up in a desert trading town.  His family had been in charge of the thieves guild there for generations.  Young Jack never quite fit in with his family business.  Oh he could do a second story switch and run job by the time he was 8. but it was around this time that his life chaged dramtically however.  He, his brother, and his uncle were sent on a "free-trading ship" supposedly to a mission on another continent.  Jack immediately loved the sea and like many smart kids his age immediately got underfoot, to the point where it was easier for the sailors to just show him what they were doing than to chase him off.   Two weeks into the voyage, his uncle woke him up, saying it was time to do their job.  Within moments (after helping pack weapons and dabbing lampblack on his face) Jack realized their true mission was on board this ship, and his fears were confirmed as they stealthily moved past guards to the captain's quarters.  This was where Jack's philosophy clashed with his family's.  For years they had been theiving less, and accepting more and more contracts on people's lives.  Jack found stealing to be worthy and even in his own mind, honorable, a game of wits and stealth if you will.  He even had no problems eliminating a foe, just part of the game.  But killing in cold blood was not something he agreed with.   On that night, he made a terrible decision.  One that changed his life in an instant.   When later he himself banged on the captain's door, he was covered head to toe with blood.  He asked the captain permission to join crew, and never went back to his home town.  Of his uncle and brother no sign was ever found. From then on Jack lived the life of a true outlaw, as yes, free-trader also means "pirate".  Again he saw the lifestyle as a game, cat and mouse, who was better prepared, and who was better equipped to hang on to their valuables.  He learned to sneak aboard a ship in the dead of night, and leave with most of the rum, half the womenfolk, and all the gold.  He learned how to float into a guarded port on driftwood, and move like a ghost through the town to the armory, then sail in the morning with new swords and crossobows with the town guard none the wiser. He learend how to hide with the rest of the crew so well that boarders would think they were on a ghost ship. (Well, that is until the signal to attack came.) Jack has since gone back to dry land (after the captain he was under died and a messy feud erupted between the new bosun and the first mate) to try his hand back at second story work and pickpocketing.  He also has begun trying his hand at adventuring, a new game if you will. Jack Hopfinger can be trusted, as far as your back goes.  He'll cover you and fight like a lion to hold his ground.  (Of course you would do well to not leave your coinpurse in plain site while he is doing this, as that is fair dinkum, mate.)  He has an unusual code about death and fighting, making him somewhat honest.  He is however a theif first and foremost, and will steal things just to prove he can (he has long since quit worrying about whether something is "worth it".  Again, it is the game, mate.) Balthazar "Jack" Hopfinger is his pirate name.  He stopped using his original name when he fell out with his family.  So far this has never been an issue, but he still keeps one ear to the ground in case they ever find him.</blockquote>

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