Norman McManus

**Affiliations**

**SKILLS & ABILITIES**

-A master navigator with a great sense of direction and time, and master of navigational tools

-Knowledgeable on marine life, as well as the working of the sea, such as wind or underwater currents, trade routes, weather and points of interest

-Has above average skills in haggling and other mercantile-based social norms

-A savant with a line and lure, with angler skills that would be unmatched compared to any who did not live and breathe the waters of the world like he does

**Appearance**

**EARLY LIFE EVENTS**

A Muse’s Call

From a young age, the Sea called to Norman. A sense of mystery and divinity within those blue waters would drive him to take up the rod and reel, an inverse to his own family who had survived off of the lumber industry. His skill with a fishing line over the years earned him his first career, selling his catches to the small town in which he lived.

After the years began going by, however, Norman would become more attuned to the way of the waves. There were things out there that… didn’t seem right. Every once in a great while, he would get a creeping feeling up his neck when on his little boat that something was wrong. The current would change, or the seagulls would act different then their usual annoying selves.

And then, one day, he heard the call. Sounds from deep below that no animal he had ever heard of could make. What monstrous entities could lie within the infinite azure of the sea? This question, alongside that wanting to know the unknown would drive Norman for the rest of his days. Over the years, as his skills improved, he could begin making larger and larger investments into both his business and his adventures into deeper and lesser traveled waters. Whether it be a sea monster, or structures beneath the waves housing long forgotten ways, he would find the truth… or die trying.

**RECENT LIFE EVENTS**

Echoes from Below

With the success of his fishing career, Norman could afford larger and larger watercraft until the acquisition of his current, and most well-made ship to date, named the *Siren's Apprentice*. Complete with modifications such as a diving bell, as well as outfitted with some weaponry in case of any attack (Though not as much as, say a warship), could venture deeper than ever before at attempts to find the truth, secondary to his fishing ventures of course.

While he is no closer to his goals, evidence of lost cities and other strange undersea architecture had begun to rear its head, sparking his interest even further. What lost technology, scriptures, objects of historical significance could be found within!? Perhaps these are a clue in the mystery of the sounds he once heard, perhaps these ancient people of which all seemed lost had a hand in the truth?

This fantastical discovery began leading him down the path of yearning for any knowledge that may be of use to him. Old maps, historical texts regarding overseas travel, anything that may pinpoint when and where these structures came from. Journaled alongside this are his findings regarding things most non-seamen would find boring- migratory patterns of marine life, ocean currents as well as the prevalence of other vessels and from where they hailed, information he thought may be useful to any seafarers who may need such knowledge.

Whatever the case, perhaps he may find his so-called white whale through means related to this architecture? The great families of his home may be interested in uncovering such lost history. After all, what lay below could be awfully valuable when in the right hands…

**PRESENT LIFE**

The Adventurous Angler

Norman’s fishing operations remain successful, to the point the small stand he once operated from in a market has now transformed into a full-fledged store, his ship parked right out back as it resides on a dock.

Unfortunately for him, his single boat did not have the means to traverse the ocean depths as well as he’d like, and as such his hunt for the truth, and whatever beasts may lie below the waves for the most part has taken backstage to upkeep his status as a trusted merchant and purveyor of only the highest quality fish and other marine-based goods in the market. Despite this, he will likely attempt to find some means of which to reach the ocean floors on a much more regular basis, whether it be alchemists or machines that can allow him to survive down there.

Alongside his growing desires for the truth, his shop also houses charts and documents made by him detailing much more monotonous aspects of the ocean than most would find useful- observations about the night sky and other means of navigation, detailed graphs and observations of marine life, and, likely the most useful for any seafarers- well-written out maps of trade routes, ocean currents, undocumented sandbars, reefs and other points that may be hazardous for ships. These documents are of course not expected to be purchased by any average Joe walking in to order dinner- but instead any who wish to travel by sea, novice or ace alike.

His knowledge of the seas, particularly trade routes and other marine-based geological studies may prove useful to those who may need a path across the sea, whether with good intentions or not. Whether it be lone islands in far shores, to learning the prevalence of friendly or enemy ships in nearby waters, Norman McManus may not have his own truth yet- but he can certainly make marine truths known to you…

**PERSONALITY DESCRIPTION & QUOTES**

Norman is an inquisitive fellow, wanting to know as much as possible when it comes to people or things around him. This has caused to be seen as the ‘prying’ type by others, but he means no harm in his ways- the more he knows of a situation, the better prepared he can be for anything. His constant ventures into the deep sea have given him insight into much of what lies below- both good and horrifying, which has rendered him less afraid than most when it comes to things like monsters or enemies. He can be quite blunt in the way that he speaks and will tell someone his thoughts on something no matter how negative they may be, usually in a haphazard way as he usually multitasks talking with others alongside his dealings and attempts at solving the seas’ mysteries. He knows his treks into the abyss and his beliefs of what lies below would be seen as crazy by most, so he tends to keep quiet about it unless an opportunity arises that can further his understanding of it.

Despite his unfaltering love of the sea and documentation regarding the fearful things that lurk below, he can be quite paranoid of those around him, as he has it in his head that he has access to knowledge that many people would wish to abuse, alongside his misplaced assumption that his meddlings with the sea would attract the prying eyes of those with less than stellar intentions for him. This can cause him to stutter or look taken aback if someone were to aproach him out of the blue in public, but once he can get a read on you and see that your intentions are not malicious, he will likely return to a normal state, unless there was something truly off-putting or peculiar about you.

*“There’s no being salty aboard my ship- Lord knows the sea has enough salt to go around.”*

*"They say that space is the Final Frontier, but I take a look outside to that infinite azure, and I know that we will likely understand everything about the workings above us, before we can even begin to fathom below..."*

*“When I die, I hope my wishes are honored for a burial at sea, in that beautifully intoxicating mystery of blue and black. If I haven’t solved my obsession in life- let me solve it in death as I drift below to be one with the Unknown which has called to me for so long.”*

**FUN FACTS!**

* Despite hailing from Okutoro, he is ethnically Xadian, as his parents moved to the island from there before he was born.
* His clothing makes him look a higher status than he is, as he wishes to present himself well on the merchant side of his business ventures. This has garnered him the nickname of “The Angler Aristocrat.”
* He has given a nickname to the Monster he believes lurks below- “Melody”, named after the ominous noise he first heard that fateful day.
* Norman has documented his findings and his theories into journals that, if a large discovery involving his research were ever found, he would most certainly publish. Alongside this, he has also documented findings such as ocean currents and the migration patterns of multiple fish species, of which he will likely publish soon either way.