Joshua Trueshot

From AJS.COM

Joshua Trueshot is a ranger from the coastal town of Fax, along the Woolly Bay. His father, the pirate Laughing Jack, was a ship-builder during Joshua's formative years, and was killed just a few years ago. His mother was killed some time before that.

Recently some hints have indicated that Joshua and Gylfi may have some connection, as Gylfi carries the emblem that his father had, and it is also the emblem of Laughing Jack's pirate ship.

Description

Joshua Trueshot is a tall young man of medium build, with a mix of elven and human features. His ears are more pointed than most and curve slightly forward. He is 25 years old, looking as aged as a 20-year-old human might. His dusty-blond hair is kept neatly trimmed and his shallow brown eyes often sweep the horizon. He protects his light and veiny skin against the elements with light armor and heavy clothing in faded green and black and drab.

Joshua generally has a large backpack and a recurve bow with him. When walking through dangerous areas, he might wield a parrying shield and a well-made flail.

History

Joshua was raised by two half-elven parents in a small but busy seaside community. He and his siblings read widely and were encouraged to deal fairly with others. Joshua's world was turned on its head when his father Marduke, now better known as Laughing Jack, devolved into insanity and became a pirate captain, then tried to have his family killed.

Joshua was in the party that hunted down and slew Laughing Jack. Along the way, his inclination toward learning led him to ask many questions of the troupe's tracker, the talented elven ranger Ha'miel. During that time and in the few years after, Joshua became a sort of apprentice to Ha'miel, acquiring a beginning understanding of woodlore, stealth and marksmanship. He also follows his father's footsteps somewhat in learning to craft beautiful and functional items of wood, though Joshua's practice is with bows that shoot arrows, not bows of ships.

The half-elf is now experienced beyond his youth. He has spent much time moving between the oases of civilization under the surface of the earth, reading books from a variety of sources, learning to speak with the forest fae; though his training has been shallow, it has also been broad. His dedication to the art of archery has never flagged and he is a passable warrior.

Joshua was excited to join the team when called by Than Investigations. It was Than who had sent Ha'miel to the aid of Josh's hometown of Fax when they needed help, and Josh had since had ample opportunity to see Than's company at work, through Ha'miel's adventures. The events the young man has seen since then have been overwhelming: he's faced a devil and a dragon and lived to tell the tale, and wonders if his next foe will be a lich or a god. Out-of-control time magic and presagements of destiny help to shape his current life plans while in Than's employ.