In a small shack in the Gnome Village, another gnomish boy would be born
into this world with the curse of the Nearbeards. Long before Horabolo's
time, his ancestors had forsaken the peaceful lifestyle of their gnomish
brethren and caused a great amount of pain and suffering. For their
infraction, the gnomish elders were able to place a powerful curse on the
family and their direct descendants, never allowing the males to grow a
single strand of facial hair. In this sense, they would be forever
stigmatized and feared in gnomish society. Through Horabolo's young life,
he was often the target of neglect, jeers, and even physical abuse due to
the very fear his ancestors had caused centuries ago. Before the age of
twelve, the young gnomish boy fled from the village in the dead of night,
seeking any other life but the one that the Gods had laid out for him.
He spent long nights alone on the Eastern Road, hiding and sleeping under an
overturned wagon cart. After nearly a week, he was stumbled upon by a
roving band of actors and musicians. Recognizing the boy's dire state, the
traveling troupe took him in under the agreement that he work for his stay.
The boy was assigned to aid their aging illusionist, Dresvina, with various
stage tactics that helped to amplify the effects of their show. While the
frigid elf found Horabolo obnoxious and clumsy at first, she could not help
but be intrigued by his natural sense of curiosity and the rate at which he
learned. After a disastrous accident regarding a psionic dragon in the
middle of a performance in Timaran, Horabolo quickly acted on what he had
learned and was able to mitigate any further damage caused by the illusion.
Amazed at what she had seen, Dresvina decided to take Horabolo under her
wing and teach him the ways of illusionary magic.
Years go by, and Horabolo, now a fully-fledged illusionist, is curious as to
what may have become of his family. As a valued member of the "Risque"
traveling troupe, Horabolo gained a sense of confidence, charisma, and
EXTREMELY good looks (he believes) that had been kept from him throughout
his early years in the Gnome Village. While he longs to return to see his
family, a part of him fears whether his newfound sense of self can stand up
against the shadows from his past. He now seeks out knowledge and adventure
wherever he can find, amassing both his knowledge and wordliness, in
preparation for his inevitable return.
Description:
At a towering two-and-a-half feet, this gnomish male stands before you
with long brown hair and a clean shaven face. Despite this feature being a
dishonor among his people, he wears his bare face proudly with a wry smile
and youthful eyes of indigo. If gnomes are your bag, then you may very well
consider this one very handsome. At least he feels as though you should.
His round cheeks move into a chin that is rather sharp for a gnome, and his
smile does wonders to take one's eyes away from his rather large gnomish
nose. His smile is wide and genuine, giving the look of one who has seen
much of the world and is very happy about it. Occasionally, however, his
form seems to dissipate for a very brief moment before returning to normal.
Could it be just your imagination?
