Post by GildarenGabbiani on Sept 24, 2003 3:24:04 GMT -5
Gildaren Gabbiani was born in the town Remen in Altara to a middle class couple. His father, a professional trader, plyed his wares up and down the Manetherendrelle and his mother worked weaving rugs as a homewife. Gil was a strapping lad who enjoyed more physical games as a child, although none too bright, but by no means a dullard.
Before his adolesence, Gil's father rose a bit in status and influence and moved the family from small Remen, to the capital, Ebou Dar. Not far after the move, Gil's father perished in a duel with his primary business rival, leaving the family bereft of a patriarch. His mother was forced to liquidate her husband's business to survive and fall back on doing errands for nobility to make ends meet.
As Gil grew into a young man, he began to parlay his physical attributes into a sufficient living. As a lad, he worked the docks loading and offloading cargo for coin, which he in turn often multiplied gambling at dice and coins with other dockworkers and lower born men in dockside taverns.
Gil also held an obsession for duelling. This was mostly driven by his father's failure, which Gil never forgave him for. Gil would take any opportunity to witness a duel to study the players and methods and styles. He often spent time around 'professional' duellists in dives for instruction and friendship.
As he grew into a young man, opportunity presented itself as smugglers greased his palm often to keep his mouth shut. His ability to be bought soon caught the nefarious eyes of organized crime within the Rahad who offered him the lucrative and easy life as hired muscle and a racketeer. Soon Gil's large frame was a common sight in the seedier sides of Ebou Dar and on the Rahad, collecting 'protection' monies and loansharking. When not working, he parlayed his love of gambling and duelling, often together, wagering on duels.
Alas, all was not to be, and as so often is the case, paradise was lost at the whim of a woman. Gil set eye on the most beautiful woman in the Rahad, Rosalia (often called the Rose of the Rahad). As is the case, Rosalia had many suitors and being unwed, was duelled over quite often. Luckily for Gil, he was quite skilled and often won duels most easily. Fate, being fickle, played a cruel trick on him and a young noble lad of a most prominent house laid eye on Rosa while 'slumming' in the Rahad and naturally, challenged Gil to a duel. Gil won easily enough, however, the death of his opponent brought severe reprecussions from the house. The loser of the duel was the only male heir of the head of the House who became enraged. Even though social grace in Altara dictated there would be no retribution for the results of the duel, hired assassins began stalking Gil through the Rehad day and night.
Gil, tired of being manhunted and realising that any attempt to end it by duelling the head of the House would meet a near-endless stream of hired professional duellists, he resolved to cut his losses and leave Ebou Dar behind him.
Now Gil travels aimlessly throughout the land. Wary of being trailed by assassins from Altara, who may or may not be shadowing him. For the knives of Ebou Dar can have a long reach and even longer memory...
Thoughts and comments are appreciated!
Gil
Before his adolesence, Gil's father rose a bit in status and influence and moved the family from small Remen, to the capital, Ebou Dar. Not far after the move, Gil's father perished in a duel with his primary business rival, leaving the family bereft of a patriarch. His mother was forced to liquidate her husband's business to survive and fall back on doing errands for nobility to make ends meet.
As Gil grew into a young man, he began to parlay his physical attributes into a sufficient living. As a lad, he worked the docks loading and offloading cargo for coin, which he in turn often multiplied gambling at dice and coins with other dockworkers and lower born men in dockside taverns.
Gil also held an obsession for duelling. This was mostly driven by his father's failure, which Gil never forgave him for. Gil would take any opportunity to witness a duel to study the players and methods and styles. He often spent time around 'professional' duellists in dives for instruction and friendship.
As he grew into a young man, opportunity presented itself as smugglers greased his palm often to keep his mouth shut. His ability to be bought soon caught the nefarious eyes of organized crime within the Rahad who offered him the lucrative and easy life as hired muscle and a racketeer. Soon Gil's large frame was a common sight in the seedier sides of Ebou Dar and on the Rahad, collecting 'protection' monies and loansharking. When not working, he parlayed his love of gambling and duelling, often together, wagering on duels.
Alas, all was not to be, and as so often is the case, paradise was lost at the whim of a woman. Gil set eye on the most beautiful woman in the Rahad, Rosalia (often called the Rose of the Rahad). As is the case, Rosalia had many suitors and being unwed, was duelled over quite often. Luckily for Gil, he was quite skilled and often won duels most easily. Fate, being fickle, played a cruel trick on him and a young noble lad of a most prominent house laid eye on Rosa while 'slumming' in the Rahad and naturally, challenged Gil to a duel. Gil won easily enough, however, the death of his opponent brought severe reprecussions from the house. The loser of the duel was the only male heir of the head of the House who became enraged. Even though social grace in Altara dictated there would be no retribution for the results of the duel, hired assassins began stalking Gil through the Rehad day and night.
Gil, tired of being manhunted and realising that any attempt to end it by duelling the head of the House would meet a near-endless stream of hired professional duellists, he resolved to cut his losses and leave Ebou Dar behind him.
Now Gil travels aimlessly throughout the land. Wary of being trailed by assassins from Altara, who may or may not be shadowing him. For the knives of Ebou Dar can have a long reach and even longer memory...
Thoughts and comments are appreciated!
Gil