ESSENTIALS- Name: Ayle Danforth
Nickname: n/a
Age: Late 30s
Social Class: Artisan
Occupation: Blacksmith, weaponsmith
APPEARANCE Broad-shouldered and with arms corded and hands calloused from an adult life spent in front of the forge, Ayle is tall and lean otherwise, with long hands and feet. His skin is a deep tan, whether baked to that shade by the heat of the forge or because he prefers to spend his days outside in the sun when he can. His hair is platinum blonde and is usually held back in a thick horsetail or braid to keep it out of his face; his eyes are the kind of blue that are used most often to enchant women, and have just started to show crinkles and crow's-feet at the corners.
His mouth is generous, expressive, a bit too large for his face. Over one eye is a long vertical scar that runs from nearly his hairline to his jaw: an accident with a hot poker in front of the fire nearly cost him his vision from that eye. Thankfully, the damage is merely cosmetic.
His clothing is carefully kept neat and free of small dangling bits which could get caught in the fire; however, it is normally always clean and of material that hints at his background as low nobility. He seems to prefer long dusters and high boots most of the time, in dull purples, blues, and creams.
He wears thick leather gloves lined in a short, thick fur, high leather boots, and a leather apron over his clothing, when working at the forge. All of his leather is usually well-worn, if kept oiled, and have burns and scorches on them; the fur of his gloves is often tamped down with sweat. They are meant for use over looks; after all, that's their purpose.
PERSONALITY Ayle Danforth is not an exceedingly patient man, but in the forge he seems to be, methodically stoking the bellows or pounding away at molten metal with a deliberately narrowed focus. This somehow seems to calm him, because he is a restless spirit at heart, and sometimes the city does not feel big or open enough, even for the son of a minor noble who has found success at most turns.
Though he is proud and has a defiant streak in him, he's also of noble blood, and never acts completely out of line. He tempers that stability with his reputation as a fox around the ladies and a gentleman to the men (maybe something just short of a gentleman), but he is fair and fairly intelligent, so they are willing to overlook his less-than-perfect personality traits.
In spite of this, Ayle is easily trusted, and he will never willingly break trust if he finds he has it. He is a loyal sort.
ABILITIES A blacksmith of some talent, usually seen pounding away on some new product at the forge he owns, nestled in against the wall that separates the noble part of the city from the artisan's. Not only does he make objects useful for everyday life (armor, iron gratings, the occasional tub or larger piece), he also makes weapons, out of iron but a few out of cleinstone; one hangs at his side. Some of the jewelry he wears is delicately forged from iron, drawn to a thinness that suggests it took endless heat and patience.
He is also not half-bad with a sword. The one that hangs at his hip is of his own make. If the situation were to arise, he would be on the front lines with the Swords without having to think about it.
HOBBIES He is an excellent cook, and is completely self-taught. He most prefers cooking various types of meat and has been known to hunt for them himself. When he does not kill his own meat, he gives Hunters a damned good deal for their wares.
His other hobby is probably women, but that sort of hobby isn't spoken about in mixed company, or usually at all. Though his schedule in that regard is often busy, Ayle doesn't talk about it much.
He is also fairly good with dogs and horses, and owns one of both; the dog usually lounges around the shop, a huge, long-legged thing with short thick black fur, perked ears, and a sharp muzzle. The horse is stabled near his house in the artisan section of the city, a pretty roan with red mane and tail.
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SECRETS Ayle's mother claims that he is noble-born; she's never hinted just who his father is, but has stood by her claim that it was a nobleman since Ayle was old enough to understand. He has never put in much time or effort into finding out who he is, or whether he's even still alive; his life as an artisan is busy enough, and he's comfortable enough, that he hasn't needed to ask. He just assumes she's right, more or less.
But the older he gets, he has to wonder whether or not she was right -- and finds himself thinking about it more and more.
