Life had always been easy for Talison, his smile and charms got him through most of his troubles. The fifth son of a Taldar noble, he drifted through life, failing to find a place in the military, clergy, or academy. For years he drifted under his father's permissive eye, but found himself about to be cut out of any inheritance by his oldest brother after his father passed away unexpectedly.
Talison despaired having to develop an actual profession. He tried going back to school, but was expelled for excessive partying and actually blinding an alchemy professor with a non-magical Sargavan pineaple rum he distilled himself as an assignment for a blinding potion.
Although not a good student, the Professor found Talison extremely useful on his expeditions, so he kept him on as a crew member. Talison, with his charm and happy-go-lucky attitidue, showed a knack for establishing good relations where ever the expeditions traveled. Also Talison's small wirey frame and apparent lack of fear, often had him squeezing into old tombs and temples on the professor's behalf.
But times were lean between expedition seasons, and then came the day that Talison was facing the last of his family stipend. He was not expecting the Professor needing him for another month and he knew the Professor had already done so much for him already, that he was hesitant to ask for more help. Yet he was desparate and want someone to help him, but could think of no way to reverse his situation.
With limited options in front of him, Talison decided to go out with a party. He last remembers spending his last coin on a round of drinks for a new friend he met in a tavern in Oppara in Taldor. Afterward, he had vague memories of smoking in a dark, spiced filled den, drinking wine from wide cups in a marble temple on a hill, raising a stein of mead in a Dwarven brewery, downing a glass of clear, fiery fluid in an Ulfen hall, sipping sake while soaking in a Xian bathhouse, and watching silk clad dancers sway to exotic music. His next memory was waking in a posh tavern in Absalom two months later, with some coin in his pocket, a battered wooden mug, a few new stories to tell, and a note from his new friend: Call on me again whenever your spirits need lifting. Till then, look for me on the roads. C.
Talison made his way back to Oppara, but found the Professor had come and gone, but left him a note that he was glad Talison was ready to move on in life and give up on being the eternal student. But should he ever need anything, to reach out to him, as the Professor assured him he would when he found himself in need.
Talison now travels the Inner Sea and parts thereabouts, always seeking a home to set up his dream of a tavern. When in a city, he finds abandoned warehouses and homes to set up impromptu taverns. Out front he hangs a placard for the 'Talespin', which shows a man with a mug raised high and placing three large feathers in his hat, riding a roc that seems to be plummeting due to missing tail feathers. His temporary taverns always prove popular for the stories, drinks, and company. Never one for strict rules, he often finds himself organizing his patrons against unfair rules, laws, or practices. But the establishment, be it government officials, corrupt business men or even other tavern owners always seem to gather to see that he moves along.
Of late he still has not found a permanent place for his tavern, but he has found Andoran to be a little more lenient, the clientele eager for his stories, and throats thirsty for his drinks and freedom. It is there that the letter announcing news of the Professor's death catches up to him and the request that he come to the funeral. He sets out north, ready to raise a toast to his old mentor.
