Alden Burke
Name: Alden Burke
Nicknames: Commonly referred to by his last name, rather than his first, by most who know him.
Sex: Male
Age: Early 30s
Appearance:
Rough and grizzled, Burke probably looks a bit older than he actually is, a life spent around the forge has taken its toll on him, but not all in bad ways. He is a large man of average height at around six feet, but barrel-chested and possessing notable upper-body strength. He is not without a sort of ragged handsomeness, though such a description is greatly objective. His skin tone is lightly tanned from the work he does, but he is clearly of Sunderland descent. His hair is a dark brown, and he wears it short and is careful to keep it and his beard well-groomed. Burke's eyes match his hair, also a dark brown, and while they are often focused on his work, he is not so jaded as to be unfriendly to his customers. Touched by his trade, rarely does a day go by where his skin and clothes are not marked by the smoke and grime of his forge.
Personality:
[+] Honest - Dedicated - Reserved
[-] Stubborn - Blunt - Short-tempered
Though he can seem gruff at times, Burke is a simple man who cares deeply about his work as well as his community. Though he is no-nonsense when on the job, he has the capacity to be friendly in his own way and is by no means unkind, happy enough to visit the inn or tavern once the day is done to share idle chat over a drink or two. He seems most at ease when he is able to busy his hands, and when he is not shaping iron into tools or wagon wheels he can just as easily do wood work, often finding the odd job here and there for a neighbor who needs something repaired.
An obvious workaholic, he is polite to those who act in kind, but he doesn't take well to being ordered about like a servant and will dig his heels in if treated with poor manners. Despite his 'lower class' job he still has a sense of honor and dignity and will react badly to disrespect.
Raised in Old Castle, he is a firm believer in the Old Ways, but is not superstitious to the point of silliness. Like his father, he allows common sense to guide him through life, and while he does have a respect for the Wardwood and its spirits, he does not fear them. He believes that what happens will happen, and likes to fashion small offerings and trinkets in his spare time, sometimes giving them to children living in the town to leave near the forest if he cannot find the time to take them himself.
History:
Burke has lived a simple and somewhat uneventful life, raised in Old Castle by caring parents with one younger sibling. He learned his trade and inherited much of what he owns, including the forge, from his father, having chosen to take up the family business as the eldest son tends to do. He had a fascination of metal working from an early age, and took to it quickly, learning and absorbing all that his father had to teach and loving every moment. Though it didn't seem as important at the time, Burke and his brother also received lessons in their childhood that gave them the gift of reading and writing, something that Burke has now long understood the importance of. Though Burke has had many friends that have come and gone, he has surprisingly (or not?) failed to spark any kind of romantic relationships, possibly stemming from his near-workaholic way of life. If he is lonely at all, he rarely shows it, appreciating the friendly but more distanced relationships he shares with his neighbors and customers.
Both of his parents have passed as the years have gone by, and while he took over his father's smithing, his brother decided to go off to Palisade and eventually found himself in employment with the military. Though proud of his brother's success, Burke often worries for his sibling's safety, and the two remain on good terms, writing to one another when they can.
Recently: Burke is worried sick over the new developments in the north, as his brother was among the large force sent in to investigate the problem.
Parents: Richard and Evelyn Burke (deceased)
Siblings: Jonathan Burke (Missing)
Hometown: Old Castle
Current Residence:
Burke lives in his family's home on the western side of Old Castle. His forge and workshop are attached to his home, allowing him to spend much of his time there without having to bother about traveling back and forth.
Occupation: Blacksmith / metal worker / some carpentry.
Burke owns a forge and does all the things you'd expect a smith to do, including shoeing horses, creating/repairing vehicle parts and farming tools. To generate extra revenue he creates smaller wares such as tools, hardware, and nails which he sells right out of his workshop, and will also do wood work if it's requested of him.
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