~ Azurfa

Background
Everyone loves a good story and that’s where Azurfa comes in. He’s a master story-teller. He knows how to incorporate details that appeal to his audience (like including a character that resembles someone in the audience, or referencing a place the locals know, or drawing upon a shared experience that everyone is familiar with). But at the heart of any good story is a moral or a lesson. And Azurfa has learned that an advertisement is as good as any life lesson. “And that’s why you should always get your horses shoed at Sev’s Blacksmith and Metalworks.” By promoting local businesses, shops, and even political agendas, Azurfa has made a name for himself as the voice of authority and trust in Raven’s Peak. You know that a vendor or proprietor has good stuff if it’s mentioned in one of Azurfa’s stories. Three times a week Azurfa spins yarns at the local tavern, sharing tells of love, heroics, and a bygone era. Morality tales and tall tales. Stories of intrigue or bodily humour. He’s got stories that will appeal to everyone in the audience.

During the days Azurfa works with the local church to teach people to read and write, and educate them about history and geography. He shares his first-hand accounts (true or not) about the places he’s been, the monsters he’s seen with his own eyes, and the people he’s encountered. He’s not a teacher, but everyone learns something after being part of his captive audience for an afternoon. In exchange for his lessons, the church pays him a small sum and has arranged for his room and board to be paid up. It’s an arrangement that benefits everyone.

What the locals may not realize that with every story Azurfa slowly and methodically paints his Dragonborn brethren, their homeland, and the Dragons who spawned them, in a positive light. He’s working to slowly colour the beliefs of his audience towards a more favourable view of his kind than any may expect or believe. Although he may not actually know what a real Dragon looks like, or how it would react in the company of men, his stories always depict them as wise, reasonable, and majestic. Never as savage brutes breathing fire across the countryside and crushing the lesser races beneath their powerful bodies.

Introduction
The impeccably dressed Dragonborn’s silver scales catch hints of the afternoon sunlight, gently reflecting the sun and creating a radiant glow about him. He walks with an heir of confidence and welcome that others pick up on and are drawn to. When stopped by those who know him (or not), he’s always got a pleasant word, a quick joke, or some pearl of wisdom to share. After the briefest of encounters, his conversation partner leaves with a smile and looks as if they’ve enjoyed the exchange. He’s made a reputation for himself as being knowledgeable and likable. Two things he feels are necessary if he’s to re-educate the common people about the history of Dragon-kind. Stories claiming his Draconic ancestors and his Dragonborn people are destructive brutes are simply untrue, and are tools of jealous, ignorant people who want others to take up arms against those who are different.

Homework
Icebreaker Question 1.
If your character would have chat in a tavern with 1 (currently) living person in the world, who would it be?

A scholar named Zenra wrote a book that claimed Owlbears could fly. The text was so convincing that people believed it to be true. Even seasoned adventurers who had fought Owlbears themselves started to believe that maybe Owlbears could fly. The story became so popular that people now believe that Owlbears can fly. Azurfa is fascinated by this demonstration of the power of the pen. He’d love to meet Zenra. He’d like to learn how he managed to use language so persuasively.



Icebreaker Question 2.
Imagine your character is visiting a museum of magical things. What section are they most interested in? What draws their attention?

Azurfa would look for items designed to combat Dragons. He continues to try and paint a picture of Dragons being misunderstood and not evil as people believe them to be. Weapons designed to hurt Dragons are born of fear. People who fear what they don’t understand who designed weapons to hurt those they hate.