ELIAS GALLAGHER
the good cunning, resourceful, perceptive
the bad impulsive, restless, skeptical, talkative
the ugly manipulative, self-serving, reckless
the good cunning, resourceful, perceptive
the bad impulsive, restless, skeptical, talkative
the ugly manipulative, self-serving, reckless
Profession
Bareknuckle boxer, gambler, bouncer (in order of frequency)
Appearance
Elias is slightly below average in stature, a condition that is only exacerbated by his enduringly poor posture. He possesses a wiry build, an angular face, and a quick, vulpine grin that is charming when it doesn't contain an unsettlingly manic edge. His dark, curly hair is usually unkempt, and his pale skin is speckled here and there with faint colonies of freckles. He radiates a general air of nervous energy and his hands are scarred from years of boxing.
Personality
Elias is highly intelligent, but his natural cunning is frequently mitigated by his impulsive tendencies. Others often find him initially charming, and it is true that Elias can come across as remarkably charismatic, especially when he puts forth an effort; however, his casually manipulative nature ruins most of his long-term relationships. He is easily frustrated by inactivity and diverts much of his excess energy toward other people in the form of constant chatter, which is frequently witty but rarely enough so to make the experience strictly enjoyable. He uses humor as a crutch to avoid discussing serious issues. Though his disregard for the well being of others is notable, he does seem to possess a moral compass (despite it being generally skewed a few degrees in the wrong direction). Having lived most of his life in the city, Elias is deeply uncomfortable around and suspicious of wild animals. He is a compulsive gambler.
History
Elias grew up in a poor neighborhood in western Palisade known for its concentration of (Irish equivalent) immigrants. His accent, a highly distinctive combination of lower class Palisade gutterspeak and (Irish) lilt, immediately identifies his origins to those even loosely familiar with the dialect. He is named after his father, a Sunderlander, though he has never met the man, and his mixed heritage was often a point of contention growing up on the riverside.
What began as ignoble, lawless scuffles with other boys on the docks eventually evolved into a career of sorts: Elias has carved out a well-known name for himself in Palisade's boxing circles, though his considerable reputation is not untarnished -- his gambling habit and constant trouble with bookies sheds a questionable light on some of his past matches. In addition, he has suffered an unprecedented string of losses over the past year that have led to a variety of rumors, none of which have yet connected him to the strange piebald buck occasionally glimpsed grazing nearby in vacant lots or backyard gardens.
Those previously familiar with Elias will notice a number of changes wrought in him since his choosing, sometimes subtle, sometimes not: he is afflicted with frequent headaches and nosebleeds, and often has trouble concentrating. His memory, too, seems affected, but he is quick to cover up any sudden lapses, making the real extent of the problem difficult to gauge. He becomes frustrated too easily, and his restless, impulsive tendencies have gone from merely irritating and inconvenient to potentially self-destructive. His behavior is tinged with a bright edge of desperation -- despite his best efforts not to examine the situation too closely, he is on some deep level instinctively afraid of Halflight, and is terrified by the further damage his fractured bond with the guardian might incur.
