Charles Harper

Charles Harper
Born	~1698
Occupation	Adventurer
Era	Age of Passage
Organization	Croak and Dagger
Notable work	“A Study of Arcane Thermodynamic Energies”
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Parents	Ashton Harper (father) Michelle Harper (mother)
Relatives	Griffon Harper, William Harper, Samantha Harper, Abigail Harper (Deceased)

"I'll get to it when I get to it."

Appearance

Charles looks like he puts in the minimal amount of effort it takes to not look homeless. He has medium auburn hair that is hastily combed back with long sideburns. Charles rarely shaves since his experiments have all but singed any remnants of a beard or mustache. He has light green eyes that are always studying and deconstructing objects and artifacts around him. Despite his lankier build, Charles is very fit since he’s usually the one lugging his own supplies and tools around with him wherever he goes.

Backstory

Childhood

The middle child of five siblings, Charles grew up in a poverty-stricken family on the western-most boroughs of Meadowcraft. Charles's dad was a metalworker who worked overnight at the coal mines while his mother did laundry for the wealthier families. Charles and his younger siblings were victims of physical abuse at the hands of their alcoholic father. This drove Charles to work hard leave behind his abusive environment. When Charles's oldest brother, Griffon Harper left to serve in the Seven Year War, it was left up to Charles to protect his siblings. As things escalated, Charles eventually left after striking his father. Charles's teen years were spent staying with friends every other night, or finding a warm bunk at a homeless shelter.

Professor Harper

Charles was an interim professor at the College of Meadowcraft. A renowned tinkerer and researcher on arcane physics and thermodynamics. Most of his studies are looked at as disorganized ramblings by a majority of the scientific community. While working at the college, Charles received the news that his youngest brother William, and his little sister Chelsea, were at Sankofa when the Sankofa incident occurred. The news drove Charles to drink to cope with the trauma of both losing his siblings and his own childhood. At risk of losing his job and becoming homeless again, Charles pulled himself from the brink and has been six years sober since.

Croak and Dagger

Charles is a member of Croak and Dagger. His experience as an Artificer allows for Charles to build strange, prototype weapons for his and his friends' uses. Of the group, Charles finds himself growing close with Sayrax.

Abilities

Prodigal Artificer. Charles's creative engineering aptitude makes him a natural born inventor. He can infuse simple metals and weapons with arcane sparks and create magic items in varying levels if given enough time and materials. He shows a lot of process and potential for growth.

Experimental Crafter. Charles has always been known to be an outside thinker. His more elaborate, experimental creations are unlike any common contraption you'll find. Some crash and burn, while others find their way to his textbook for later improvements.

Thermodynamic Physicist. Charles studies what he calls the laws of thermodynamics. The study of energy and how it works. His theories include studying how portals and wormholes work, the kinetic fuel of a blast, and the supernatural and biology properties that go into casting a spell. This allows him to experiment with strange, normally intangible forces when he's creating his next big invention.

Relationships

Andol "Andol's super nosey. He's just got an air about him, how he struts around, his tone of voice. I know I'm not right to hate on him because of all that, so I've been trying to be better. Honest."

Griffon Harper "He's not going to read this is he? Alright, good. Because if he is, I'd call him a blowhard boy scout. But honestly? He's brave. Real tough. Has a lot of conviction. People underestimate Griffon a lot cause of how skinny he is, but he could take a punch better than any of us. He was always the first one standing up for the rest of us at home or on the playground. I wish I was half as brave as he was. Love you brother."

Samantha Harper "Hey, butthead if you're reading this I love you tons. I know we fought a lot growing up, but I guess I tried too hard to be like Griffon and toughen you up. I'm real proud of how far you've come. I still think your defense could use some work on the Blood Bowl field... That last game was too close."

Sayrax "Sayrax is always trying to help folks and do the right thing. I mean, genuinely always do the right thing, even if it's not the most popular decision. She helps folks and doesn't tear them down, even after everything she's been through. She's got this way of speaking to you. This softness that you sort of just always want to protect. She's seen some shit, and so have I, so I think that's why we just...I don't know, click?"

William Harper "Next... Yeah, next person... No, I got nothing to say. Let's leave it and go on to the next one. Next."