Dr. Thaddeus Horngaard

*"Why allow these beacons of humankind's advancement in culture and technology wallow in the dark recesses of graves and basements when instead they can be provided to the world at large to admire and learn from... for a nominal fee?"*

Dr. Thaddeus Horngaard is an Archaeologist and Antiquarian whose goals are to uncover and protect the cultural resources of Ruthless County, document them, educate the public on them, and "donate" them to individuals capable of finding them a good home.

## Early Life

Dr. Horngaard was born and raised in Cambridge, England. He comes from an incredibly wealthy family of mining magnates who largely contributed to the coal and iron productions in Great Britain leading to the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. Young Thaddeus was never one to sit idly as the business boomed, choosing instead to hone his skills digging and hauling alongside his workforce. This got him close with the common folk who worked for his family and taught him the value of *never* doing work for free.

### Education

Thaddeus' academic specialty always leaned into the historic, with his family tutors informing him much in the lineage of his parents, the enterprises the Horngaard's had started over the years, as well as the many conquests of the Great British Empire. When he grew older, he decided to use this love, and his family's great fortune, to study abroad exploring the many different lands of the world and uncover secrets and hidden treasures which could be brought back to the British Museum. In time, he made a sizeable donation to Cambridge University in his family's name which prompted them to issue him an honorary degree in Archaeology. It is worth noting, he never actually studied or took any classes on archaeology.

### Archaeological Work

Dr. Horngaard works non-officially in many archaeological capacities. He often self-funds and undertakes his own enterprises and surveys, looking for rich treasures of human history to excavate and sell to museums and art dealers. He has never published any original works, nor is he currently affiliated with any established institution or university. In fact, the only attestation that he is, in fact, an archaeologist, is his own word and assurances in the matter.

### Health

After decades of hard physical labor and hiking, Thaddeus' body has begun to wear away, leaving him often struggling to walk properly or quickly. He often hobbles with a hunch, evidence of the strain that archaeology has left on his knees and back. As he attests, he is absolutely riddled with arthritis, yet is still hale enough to hold a shovel and can out dig any rookie in Ruthless when needed.

## Ruthless County

Dr. Thaddeus Horngaard has been living and traveling through Ruthless County as the bountiful frontier offers much in the way of unfound cultural resources, strangers which he can ingratiate himself to, and opportunities to advance his knowledge of history and his family's bank account. He mostly makes his living by utilizing the skills of mining and gold panning that he learned growing up, alongside rampant Graverobbing, which he has somehow managed to do legally thus far.

#### An Archaeological Atlas of Ruthless County, 1899

Thaddeus began surveying Ruthless County for archaeological resources and historic landmarks in June of 1899. However, an "intern" he had employed as his American assistant north of Annesburg mishandled funds which left him stranded with no access to his home fortune. Thaddeus was thus unable to complete the survey.

### Horngaard's Historic Tours

Thaddeus has taken on the side-gig of running historic tours through the various cities and districts across Ruthless County. These tours often focus on landmarks and buildings of note, highlighting notable elements of Architectural History, as well as practical elements such as charging his attendees with excavating graves and bringing him the artifacts for analysis.

### Ruthless County Historic Preservation Office

Thaddeus has taken on the role of Head of the Ruthless County Historic Preservation Office (CHPO, pronounced "Chippo"), a title which at this point carries no legal weight, and is just a made up title he gave himself. He claims that he is in charge of ascertaining and protecting the archaeological historic/prehistoric remains found within county. No office exists yet however there are plans for it to be constructed somewhere around Annesburg.