Wombat Jack, Baron of the Lesser Ones
Walkabout
It's no secret that Jack hails from the Land Down Under - the second he
speaks his accent gives it away. An early love for animals would shape his
destiny and lead to his eventual Durance; a love he still holds fast. Got a
briarwolf problem? Why they're just grumpy puppies! Need to find the perfect
pet for your loved one? He knows a cloud lynx that's about to have kittens!
His passion may be for the beasts and creatures of the Hedge, but as The Baron
of the Lesser Ones, he has extended it to all denizens of The Hedge. He's
equally at home in a bustling hob city, a spooky forest, or a cave full of
emerald spiders.
Charm & Wit
Jack's a charmer, there's no way around that fact. He may not be everybody's cuppa, but he's still going to treat you with the same respect he gives all people and creatures. He's also good at quips and can hold his own in most social situations. Some people think Jack might actually be crazy - I mean who actually pets a Harvestman? Still, he seems to know what he's doing and shows bravery and aplomb in even most dire situations. To Jack, life really does seem to be a giant adventure. That said, it can be hard to know when he's being serious. Humor is his charm, but also his defense mechanism. To truly understand the Baron, one has to learn to decipher the difference between his humor and his defense; a task that is harder than it seems. Overall, he is amiable and open, quick to laugh, quicker to forgive, and dependable.
Mask
Jack is of mixed race - even he's not entirely sure what the mix is. He is tall and lean, usually sports a goatee, and often keeps his hair in a short afro. He is almost always dressed stylishly - even his casual wear looks well curated. Where he gets the money for all of his outfits is anyone's guess, but it is extremely rare to see him in the same outfit twice. He favors urban chic when not on business, but he has outfits for pretty much any social situation he finds himself in.
Mien
Jack's time in The Infinite Channels drastically changed him. His skin is
now a blue-grey which changes tones seemingly at whim. He has intense sky-blue
eyes that fleck with cloud-grey when he experiences intense emotions. His hair
is the color and texture of summer clouds, it also becomes far longer and more
wispy and often trails behind him. Thanks to his Entitlement, his skin sprouts
the odd vine and brambles usually poke out of his hair. Any clothing he has
ends up with vine or thornbush motifs on it and may also have vines wrapping
the sleeves, legs, and collers of his outfits. He also sheds the odd feather
now and again, especially when excited or surpised.
Mantle: Spring 2
Jack is a member of the Spring Court and his mantle makes it obvious even to those who aren't super familiar with how these things work. Unsurprisingly for an air elemental, the biggest effect his mantle gives is a constant gentle breeze. The scent carried on said breeze tends to depend on the season, time of day, and surroundings, but is always pleasant and relaxing. He is also always surrounded by a haze of pollen, though thankfully it never seems to trigger allergies or any other reaction. The third manifestation is that he always seems to attract small animals, even indoors - it's rare to see him without at least a squirrel or rat in his wake, and when he's outdoors in good weather it can get downright Disney princess.
Public Effects
Striking Looks 2 (Friendly): There's just something about Jack that makes him seem approachable. Between his warm smile and the glint in his eyes, he simply comes off as friend-shaped.
Gentrified Bearing: Jack has a certain reglaity to him. While it can bring back unwanted feelings in Changelings, it shows its full force when he deals with hobs. They treat him with the same deference they show them, though Jack doesn't seem to take much advantage from it. Still, many wonder just exactly how he ended up with this small echo of the others...
Hob Kin: Jack's no stranger when it comes to dealing with hobs and even seems to have friends amongst the lesser ones. Hobs tend to give him better deals, more complete information, and even sometimes come to his aid.
Cheeky
Jack is almost always accompanied by a resplendant hedgebeast he calls
Cheeky. Unlike Jack, who doesn't show much in the way of his cyberpunk
Durance, Cheeky has obviously been changed by her time in the Channels. At
base, she resembles a quetzal with a glowing red gem set in her forehead (she
claims the gem was always there, not part of her augmentation). Parts of her
body and feathers have been replaced by delicate, silvery filigree, her beak
is prosthetic and parts of her feet are cybernetic. As a hedgebeast, she is
fully capable of speech and tends to speak in an overly exaggerated version of
Jack's accent. According to Jack, she does it mock him, but nobody else has
ever heard her use a different manner of speech. Whereas Jack is friendly,
Cheeky is snarky to the nth degree. She's a master of cutting takedowns,
scathing observation, and mocking limericks. Despite her tendancies to be
onery, she does seem to know when to stay quiet and has yet to ruin any of
Jack's own dealings.
Roleplaying Hooks
The Baron (Changelings): It's obvious at a glance that Jack has
an Entitlement. For those who know what to look for, they know he's The Baron
of the Lesser Ones, a title dedicated to negotiation and partnership with hobs
of all stripes. He is a little more unorthodox that he treats all Hedge
denizens, even Hedge Ghosts as he does hobs, but this isn't necessarily
unheard of. He's come to NYC to help the freehold find and rekindle
relationships with the hobs that fled during the troubles.
How To Train Your Dragon (Changelings): There's no denying Jack's passion for animals - the weirder the better! He's more than happy to help his fellow Lost train and bond with the various creatures they find. All he asks is that you treat your companions with respect and care.
Cyberpunk (Changelings): Though he doesn't really show outward signs of it, he was a captive of The Greatest Showman Not of Earth and did his Durance in the Infinite Channels. While he may not cybernetic, he still knows his way around the concepts and themes of the genre. While he doesn't often speak of what form of entertainment he was pressed into, the fact that he came out a Beastcaller is telling enough...
Dancing Queen (All): Jack loves to dance! In fact, one of the few times he's seen without Cheeky is when he hits the club (even he's not charming enough to get a bird past security). The genre and scene of the club doesn't seem to matter, he just enjoys the dance and the throng of people.
Wombat Jack's Creature Companions (All): Jack owns a business. Jack refuses to call it a pet store. Jack hates the term pet. But if you're looking for a friend or companion that just so happens to be an animal, well you've come to the right place! If it's legal, Jack can get it for you, the real challenge is proving to him you will care for and respect whichever companion you end up pairing with. The process seems to be as much observation as it is inuition, but Jack is selective and will not release an animal to someone he feels isn't a match. This, coupled with his seemingly random prices makes people wonder how he stays in business.