Art Binder's page

About Art Binder

Relatively short and slight, Art is nontheless boyishly handsome, with straight black hair not too long, but long enough to keep falling forwards over his eyes. He has keen, intelligent eyes and an endearing shy smile. When travelling, he wears simple, practical clothes with a full hooded cloak if the weather warrants it. In town, he will where possible change into robes more befitting an accomplished acedemic (a position he has not yet earned, but hopes to one day)

Art, an only child, was orphaned at the age of three when his parents, Michael and Jemma, were killed in a house fire. His uncle Gavin and aunt Maude took him in and raised them as their own along with his (older) cousin Trent. Maude died of a wasting sickness when Art was twelve and in order to keep an eye on him, Michael took him on as sub-assistant in the family book shop. From that point onwards, Art's life became books, spending all the time that his uncle, or Trent (the book shop assistant), were not filling up with chores, reading. He learned a lot from the books, but also from buyers and sellers frequenting the shop. Many were seasoned travellers and adventurers, and Art's head filled with stories of faraway places and ancient ruins. One year ago, tragedy once again befell the family, as a local protection racket whom his uncle had been resisting, got tired of being thwarted and decided to make an example of the business. One evening, just after the shop had closed, six thugs broke in and killed both Michael and Trent. Art had been in the back room sweeping up and had avoided notice by hiding under the table. The thugs poured oil throughout the shop and set light to it, but Art managed to escape out of the back door, putting a quarrel into the backside of the thug sentry placed there using Michael's "difficult customer" crossbow. One year on, Art has survived using his wit and intelligence, using some of the contacts he made whilst working in the shop to gain the patronage of the Shadow Lodge. He still carries "difficult customer", but in truth is terrified of violence and has not had to use it since that fateful night. Unsurprisingly, whilst not having a phobia of fires, he nevertheless has a healthy and fearful respect for them.