Kelgi Thunderpuncher

* Pronunciation guide: Kel-gi Thun-der-pun-cher
* Pronoun: He/Him
* Voice traits: Scottish
* Mannerisms / habits to help DMs portray them consistently: Loves to bet and loves to be the center of attention. Also loves to haggle. Often found with a drink in his hand.
* Pop culture influences (who are they like): Robert Baratheon (Game of Thrones), Billy Butcher (The Boys), Hamish (Braveheart)
* Age: 98
* D&D race: Dwarf (Hill)
* Height: 4'7"
* Weight: 203
*Hair color: Ginger
* Skin color: White, tanned
* Eye color: Blue
* Example clothing outfit worn: Tartan wrap, tunic, breeches, bright green cloak
* Family members: 
** Havna Thunderpuncher (ex-wife, now goes by Havna Ironspine)
** Seamus Thunderpuncher (son, 8 years old)
* Friends / People they know:
** Minos Ellarial
** Braska the Bold
* Social class (poor, student, working class, wealthy): Working class
* Occupation (how they get money to pay rent and buy food): Mercenary, gambler, busker, storyteller
* Where do they sleep at night?: At a tavern when times are good, in a ditch when they aren't.
* Traits: Impulsive, cheery, headstrong, conspiratorial, gregarious.
* Ideal: To get his life back together and resurrect the glory days of his adventuring career.
* Bond: Will do just about anything to be a part of his son's life again.
* Flaw: Can never say no to a bet.
Background / Personal history: Kelgi Thunderpuncher comes from the seedy part of a port city. From a young age he had to find his own entertainments, as his parents were often out working, at bars, or spending a brief stay in jail. In his youth Kelgi was fond of games of chance and skill. At first he was merely content to watch, but eventually the alure of gold, the chance to change his surroundings, was too much to resist. Kelgi became a regular of the back-alley casinos and tavern card tables. After a few thousand hands, Kelgi developed quite a reputation as a card shark. Someone who could win more times than not, often walking away with a tidy sum.
           This attracted the interest of Minos Ellarial, an elven crimelord who saw the potential to turn Kelgi’s winning streak into a regular thing. Kelgi, entranced by the thought of adding some structure to his antics, jumped at the opportunity. The agreement was struck, and Kelgi was accompanied discreetly by Minos’ hired muscle into any establishment he desired. The deal was that any pot Kelgi won was to be split 50/50 with Minos and his gang, the “Gilded Shivs.” This worked out for a number of years and both prospered. That was until one night at the Champes Royale Gambling Hall.
           The details of the evening are hazy, even for Kelgi. What he remembers distinctly was sitting at a high-stakes table for Three Dragon Ante. With him were a number of the nobility of the city, and Kelgi remembers a certain hostility in the air, as if he was not meant to be there. He also remembers that the bottle service was nonstop, and his goblet was always refilled as soon as he finished it. Kelgi remembers that several of the hands lasted for ages, with the nobles at the table raising and raising again. Not to be outdone, and reasonably sure of his cards, Kelgi kept pace with the betting until it reached over 20,000 gold. Eventually the call came down and Kelgi saw that his cards weren’t going to do it. Reaching into his sleeve, he pulled the ace of diamonds and replaced the five in his hand.
           Kelgi was the last to show his cards, and remembers the smug grins on some of the noblemen’s faces. Straight flush. The grins turned to scowls and Kelgi knew his time was up. Scooping up the winnings, Kelgi bid them goodnight and made for the door. Only to be stopped by a large raven-haired woman who towered over him. Braska the Bold, famed mercenary and city hero, a woman of intimidating reputation and an icy gaze. Kelgi went to move around her, but she grabbed him by the tunic, nearly lifting him off the ground. “You play well. I notice you forget to put cards back though. Big mistake.”
           Braska ripped the packet of spare cards from Kelgi’s sleeve and showed them to the room. A gasp and a few chuckles went up at the sight. Then Braska slammed her fist into Kelgi’s stomach, punching the wind from him. Kelgi dropped the bag of coins and platinum spilled across the carpets. “You stupid to come here and cheat. Even for a dwarf, you stupid.” She lifted Kelgi up against the wall and turned to the noblemen. “Come, get coins. Stupid dwarf here is done cheating. Tomorrow, he hang.” Kelgi reached down into his boot and pulled the golden shiv Minos had given him after a year’s service with the gang. As Braska turned her head back to him he planted it squarely in her left eye. Howling, she dropped him and Kelgi scrambled for the door, his boots slipping on the spilled coins.
           The night outside was much cooler as Kelgi ran pell-mell for the dock ward. Behind him he could hear the sound of the guard bells being rung out. Puffing like a bellows, he hunkered down in an alleyway and listened as the guards went tramping past. He took stock of the situation. Cheating at the Champes Royale high table, assaulting a hero of the city, running from the city guard. All in all, not a good evening. And to top it all off, he had dropped the pot he had meant to bring to Minos. And now it would be impossible to work as his card shark.
           Considering all this deeply, Kelgi realized the only thing to do would be to stow away on a boat and leave all this behind him. Find a new city, take a new name, and hope no one from back home ever came calling. Easier said than done, but sooner begun sooner done. Kelgi snuck into the dock ward and stowed aboard a passenger liner he knew was taking sail that morning. As he bedded down in the rope closet, Kelgi could only laugh to himself at how much he had cocked things up. Things in a new city where no one knew you had to be better, surely. Well, Kelgi was determined to find out. 
* List of adventures:
Category:Characters
Category:Firebreathing Kittens