Bormanes Taborwin's page

Bormanes Taborwin
Male Cairhienin Wanderer 1/Dai’dore 4
Init +4; Senses Perception +7
DEFENSE
Defense 20, touch 20, flat-footed 15 (+5 class, +4 Dex, +1 Dodge)
HP 53/53 (4d10+1d8+5)
Fort +2, Ref +9, Will +0
Special Defenses Uncanny Dodge
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft
Melee short sword +8 (1d6+1/19-20)
Melee dagger +8 (1d4+1/19-20)
Ranged light crossbow +8 (1d8/19-20)
Ranged dagger +8 (1d4+1/19-20)
STATISTICS
Str 13, Dex 18, Con 13, Int 15, Wis 9, Cha 14
Base Atk +4; CMB +8; CMD 19
Feats Agile Maneuvers, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Smooth Talk, Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics (5) +12, Bluff (5) +10, Climb (1) +5, Diplomacy (5) +12, Disguise (1) +6, Handle Animal* (3) +5, Intimidate (5) +10, Knowledge (local) (3) +8, Knowledge (nobility and royalty)* (5) +7, Linguistics* (2) +7, Perception (5) +7, Ride (5) +12, Sense Motive (5) +9, Sleight of Hand* (1) +7, Stealth (3) +10
*-denotes background skill
SQ Improved Weapon Finesse (Warder’s Sword)
Languages Common (Cairhienin), Common (Midlands), Common (Tairen), Old Tongue (fluent)
Other Gear short sword, light crossbow with 20 bolts, dagger, 2 noble’s outfits, 5 wanderer’s outfit, explorer’s outfit (free outfit 10 mk or less), signet ring, light riding horse “Glider”, riding saddle, saddlebags, bit and bridle, 10 days trail rations, 10 days animal feed, flint and steel, waterskin, 17 mk, 9 sp

All simple weapons (Wanderer/Dai’dore)
Rapier, sap, shortbow, short sword (Wanderer)
Longsword, Warder’s Sword, Longbow (Dai’dore)

Bormanes Taborwin is the youngest of Maringail Taborwin and his wife, Catrelle Delovinde. Maringail and Catrelle loved their three children, but they also knew they were tools and assets in the Great Game. To that end, they schooled each of their children in Daes Dae’mar, for the Game of Houses was very much still ingrained in Cairhienin society. Bormanes took in the tricks to the Game as his parents taught him what they knew, as did his siblings. Bormanes applied himself and learned, hoping to please his parents. He was a curious and inquisitive boy, often asking questions and going places he should not, much to his parents’ chagrin. Still, he worked hard to please them and make them proud.

As he grew older, that inquisitive nature began getting him into some real trouble. He began questioning his parents about the motivations behind the Game and why everyone played it, when it seemed much easier to directly ask people about things. His parents would tell him to leave it alone, that’s just the way things were. Though the answer was quite unsatisfactory, he left it be, knowing that continuing to ask would get him no further answer. He continued learning, but grew increasingly annoyed at the absurdity of it all. Cairhieinin hid their emotions, read intent and thought into every lift of an eyebrow or turn of a phrase, and then when they did show emotion, it was an explosive, startling outburst. All because they plotted and schemed for position and power and wealth. Occasionally the plotting and scheming resulted in assassinations or “accidental” deaths. To what end? Was this what he was expected to devote his life to? Plotting to improve the fortunes of House Taborwin at the expense of others, even possibly the throne? What about being loyal to Cairhien itself? Did oaths mean nothing?

Bormanes was the youngest of three, with what was likely the smallest inheritance. His brother Dobraine, 7 years his senior, the eventual High Seat of House Taborwin, hardly had time for him even before he became involved in the responsibilities of the House. He liked his sister Dalia - only three years older, the two had always been close - but she had been found to be capable of channeling, so she was off to the White Tower. His parents were hoping her time spent with them would hone her abilities in the Game, make her a more valuable asset. He wasn’t so sure - Dalia had often said that is she became an Aes Sedai, she intended to use her ability to do good for the world. And himself?

His parents had become increasingly focused on building ties to the throne through Dobraine, leaving him more and more to his own devices. This suited him just fine, as it gave him the opportunity to spend time among people who actually knew how to have fun. Although the farms near the Dragonwall had been long since resettled, the Foregate had been rebuilt before they could be, and remained a populous settled area. It had become a permanent neighborhood, and it was there he and a group of other young, bored nobles spent their time drinking and playing cards. People had fun - the inns often had entertainers who were a bit more bawdy than in the city itself, and the riot of colors was a welcome break from the dark, somber clothes they wore daily. They dressed as Foregaters did to avoid attracting attention, and took care not to spend more than they should.

It was in the taverns of the Foregate that Bormanes decided to treat the Game as the absurdity it clearly was. He couldn’t escape the Game, but he could play it by his own rules. No agenda, no need for power. If it was a game, it should be treated as such. Bormanes began playing the Game of Houses with the carefree nature of a gambler - mocking the very reason for its existence. His parents were furious, of course, and his brother lectured him on taking his responsibilities seriously, but to Bormanes, the Game was a needless distraction, and he had more important things to do. Like drink wine in the Foregate, gamble, and chase women. His family increasingly found his antics embarrassing, and an obstacle to their plans.

Eventually, his antics put his father in a position where he issued Bormanes an ultimatum: leave the city for a while, or he would be disowned. Though Bormanes strongly considered accepting the disownment, he was sure some enemy or other was waiting to pounce if he appeared to lose favor in the family, and so said he told his father he would go to their estates in northern Cairhien. He left on his horse, Glider, and headed out of the city, past the Foregate. He was going to go to their estates - he just wasn’t going to go straight there. Instead, he was going to visit his sister in Tar Valon first. He did miss her.

Bormanes stands just over 5 and a half feet tall, with a slender, quick frame, pale skin, dark hair and dark eyes. He typically dresses in the more colorful style of the Foregate, but he does dress in more traditional, somber garb when the occasion calls for it. He typically has a smile or smirk on his face, like someone who keeps a private joke to himself. He approaches much of life as a game, to be won or lost with little concern for the outcome.