Jack Dawkins

**Jack Dawkins**, better known as "The Artful Dodger", is a sly and cunning thief and con man with a penchant for sarcasm and tricks. He is a member of the revived **Circle of Light.**

## Description

### Appearance

Dodger is a man of average height with messy, dark hair and dark eyes. He holds himself with confidence and a sort of theatrical air, usually wearing an expression that may imply he knows more than anybody else in the room.

He is considered a handsome man, wearing stylish clothes and, always, a tall, gentleman's hat. His clothes and hat are usually a bit weathered, and despite first appearances, he does not hold himself like a gentleman, nor does he act like one.

In his wardrobe, he prefers dark colors and outfits that are easier to move in. He has a number of hidden pockets sewn into his jackets and trousers, to store stolen goods and tools.

### Personality

Dodger is smart, smarmy, and clever. A pickpocket and liar since childhoood, he has struggled for many years and that time on the street has given him an uncanny ability to read others and a bevy of street smarts. He holds himself with confidence and swagger, seemingly fearless in almost any situation. He always seems to be one step ahead of his enemies.

He has a somewhat macabre sense of humor, often making many cynical remarks and calling people by nicknames. In fights, he taunts his opponents, drawing their ire. In many situations, Dodger often shows indifference, claiming to believe in the idea "every man for himself". Despite being somewhat immature, Dodger is a very smart and talented liar, living through numerous cheats and cons. He doesn’t kill as easily as **Quartermain,** but carries weapons, and can make serious death threats.

All of this is mostly a mask, because Dodger wants to hide the pain he has felt since his childhood. He often attempts to distance others by having everybody hate him because he doesn’t want to get close, most likely in an attempt to keep from getting hurt. Yet he has proven many times that he genuinely cares for his friends, having gone to far extents for them (especially Mina and Colin) numerous times.

## Biography

### Background

Dodger was born as Jack Dawkins in London, England. A bastard, he never knew his father and lost his mother when he was very young, forcing him to live on the streets for a period of months. He made his living trying to steal purses and was noticed by a young thief named **Bill Sykes.** Impressed by the boy's natural moxie and talent, he brought him to old **Fagin,** who ran a group of child pickpockets. Fagin took the boy in, teaching him the tricks of the trade and giving him a roof above his head, food and rum in his belly, and a sense of community. Jack received the nickname of "The Artful Dodger" and made a number of close friends, including Charlie Bates and **Nancy.**

The cabal of young thieves mostly stole trinkets and handkerchiefs, there were some in Fagin's inner circle, like Dodger would be, who Fagin would send out to steal "special and weird" stuff that he would hide. Later in life, Dodger would realize that Fagin was sending them to steal magical items.

Within only a couple years, Sykes struck out on his own and Dodger rose to become Fagin's new #2. He was Fagin's most ardent defender and follower. For several years that was the status quo and things were relatively good.

#### The Oliver Twist Incident

When he was twelve, Dodger happened upon a young, crying orphan boy named Oliver. Feeling that he couldn't leave the boy, Dodger brought him to Fagin and stuck his neck out in order to bring Oliver in. Fagin gave the boy a chance, and Dodger became a mentor to young Oliver, who in turn became something like a younger brother to Dodger.

Two years passed before things started going south. Oliver came with the group on a job, the whole thing turned inside out, and Oliver got caught. This was the beginning of the end. Within a week, Sykes went psychotic, killing Monks and Nancy, Fagin disappeared, and Sykes was threatening to kill Oliver on his way to escape London.

Dodger, enraged at what Sykes had done to Lucy, rounded up a handful of the other boys, stole some of Fagin's magic items, and together found and killed Sykes, by pushing him off the roof. Dodger never found a body. However, Oliver had been saved. Dodger tried to get Oliver to help them free Fagin, who had been caught and was set to be hung. Oliver refused and abandoned the crew to return to his grandfather.

Dodger and the others would part ways with Oliver, break Fagin out of jail and ultimately go their separate ways. Heartbroken and alone, it wouldn't be long before Dodger left London for Amsterdam.

#### Cosmopolitan Gentleman

Dodger would spend the next decade traveling Europe, continuing to use his skills to lie, cheat, and steal his way across the continent. He would drink, gamble, party, and engage in "risky, ungentlemanly activity" with numerous young ladies. He traveled often, never staying in one place for very long, either by choice or because he was chased out of town.

With time, people started to notice his skills. He was hired to perform robberies, surveillance, and other such jobs. He gained a reputation and began going by a series of aliases, though "the Dodger" was still a universally recognized name in certain circles.

He encountered the supernatural during his travels, including more than one run-in with the infamous vampire **Alberto Bianchi,** who saved his life on two occasions. Likewise, during this time, he met Alan Quartermain, who eventually became a trusted ally.

#### The Alberto Incident

In 1880, while under the name of "Mr. Griffen", Dodger was approached by Quartermain and a vampire, **Leonardo Bianchi** for a job--to track down a murderous vampire named...Alberto Bianchi. Dodger accepted the job, tracking down Alberto to the city of Amsterdam. The night before the hunt was alleged to begin, he found Alberto and warned him that Leon was coming for him.

When Leon discovered he had done this, he reacted...poorly. By way of explanation, Dodger claimed that Alberto had paid him double what Leon had, so Dodger let him go. Leon very nearly killed him, but was stopped by Quartermain. Leon told Dodger to leave and advised that they never crossed paths again. Dodger agreed and quickly disappeared.

#### Recent History

Dodger continued with his usual troublemaking, until settling in Paris by June of 1883.

### Season 1

One night, Dodger was approached by--of all people--Leon Bianchi and Alan Quartermain, as well as a rather **lovely young lady** who needed help. They were working against **a horrible cult** and asked for his help. In part due to their old feud, he refused to "join their club" but agreed to give them some information. When the young lady offered to pay him an obscene amount of money to joint hem, however....well, he'd be crazy to refuse, wouldn't he?

### Appearances

#### War of the Dragon - Season 1

* S01xE03 - *Darkness in Light*
* S01xE04 - *The Great God Pan*
* S01xE05 - *Bats on a Train*

## Relationships

### Alan Quartermain

Due to some history that has not yet been revealed, Quartermain and Dodger seem to trust one another, and Dodger considers Quartermain "an old friend". The two men share a deal of respect, knowing they are each looking out for the other. In the field, Dodger does his best to live up to the confidence that Quartermain has in him.

Dodger sees Quartermain as a hell of a hunter and an unparalleled gunslinger. He is almost always willing to follow Quartermain's lead and go along with his plans; even if he doesn't agree with the old man, he will usually side with him, due to his trust in the man's judgments.

### Mina Murray

When they first met, Dodger was immediately attracted to the beautiful young witch. As they have fought side by side and gotten to know each other, and since Mina revealed she apparently knew intimate details of his life thanks to a goddamned novel, they have evolved a fairly close friendship.

Dodger has shown a fair bit of affection toward Mina, who he regards as his employer and (somewhat begrudgingly) his friend. He sees her as being a bit better than most; someone good and someone who brings good. Someone a hell of a lot better than him. And someone who believes in him more than she should. But that confidence, and her friendship....well, maybe they'll rub off on him someday.

### Leon Bianchi

Dodger trusts Leon about as much as the vampire trusts him. The Alberto Incident has cast a shadow over their entire working relationship and the pair remain at odds. Dodger is suspicious of Leon and tends to judge him harshly. They often butt heads and generally expect the worst of each other.

### Colin Baxter

Dodger likes Colin. He reminds him a bit of Oliver, and subconsciously, Dodger has started to interact with him like he used to with Ollie. He's protective of the kid and has taken it upon himself to act as a sort of big brother. Not that Dodger realizes that, or ever admit it.

### Alberto Bianchi

Not much is known about the relationship between Dodger and Alberto, outside of the fact that Alberto saved Dodger's life twice and Dodger repaid the favor some years ago.

## Character Information

### Notable Items

* **Enchanted Dagger:** This magic dagger was stolen from Fagin's stash when he was a boy. He's carried it on him since.
* **Pocket Watch:** This old, beat up pocket watch was given to Dodger by Fagin before the two parted ways. Like his dagger, Dodger has always carried it since.
* **Potion of Cure Light Wounds** (x1)
* **Tall Gentleman's Hat**
* **Tinted Glasses**

### Skills & Abilities

* **Burglary**
* **Con Artist**
* **Disguise**
* **Knife Fighting & Throwing**
* **Investigation**
* **Lockpicking**
* **Stealth**

## Trivia

* Dodger is ambidextrous.
* Due to his travels, Dodger speaks a smattering of French, Dutch, and Spanish.
* Has a fear of drowning and deep water.
* He only recently discovered that one of the worst times of his life is found in the novel *Oliver Twist*, written almost thirty years before Dodger was born. It's caused something of an existential crisis.
* Hates Charles Dickens.
* Claims to have only loved one woman in his life.