Appearance

Physical Description

Thin, tall, and toned.

Facial Features

Well kept, oiled and trimmed beard.

Identifying Characteristics

Tattoo of bar music down his right forearm. The clef is in the shape of a star to honor his supposed father, Captain Daniel Starcleff. Tattoo of an angel fish in the form of an angel, on his chest. Tattoo of a great white shark with lute strings on his left bicep. Jolly Roger tattoo on his ass with "As the Wench Sayeth" underneath. Tattoo of ropes around his wrists. Tattoos of musical notes across the right side of his neck.

Apparel & Accessories

Always wears a sash over his shoulder, across his chest, tucked into his belt.

Special abilities

Can perfectly mimic birds.

Mentality

Personal history

John was the single child of a fisherman and his wife. They lived in a small fishing village, secluded, backed by rugged mountains. Rumor in this village was that John’s dad was infertile. They said John was a bastard and his mother, a pirate loving whore. After all, before John was born, it was known the couple had been trying for a child for years. And it didn’t help that in a village dominated by black hair and brown eyes, John had auburn hair and green eyes. Much like the pirate Captain Daniel Starcleff, or Dashing Dan. Captain Dan and his crew had a long-standing agreement with the village. So long as the pirates could dock whenever they pleased, they would not pillage the fishing boats or ransack the town. The villagers were not fond of the agreement, but the pirates always paid well for provisions and never stayed more than one night.
Due to the rumors, John grew up neglected and abused by his father. It was a village tradition to take your son out to sea when they turned five. Until this age he was simply called son, or child. The child's name would be based on the first fish caught. When the time came for his first trip out on the fishing boats, his father left him behind. His drunken father returned and said “Time to learn how to prep these for eating, Gutter." It was supposed to be a lowly task. But it was John’s favorite part. During this time his father couldn’t help but gloat about the catches, sharing his knowledge of the sea and fishing. John would listen intently, learning all he could, able to pretend he had his father’s love for a moment.
As John’s cousins and the other children in the village would not play with him, he befriended the stray cats at the docks. He would spend his days chasing them, catching them, feeding them fish guts, and watching how they hid and stalked. He felt like one of them.
It had become a birthday tradition for his father to take a fishing trip that would keep him away overnight. On his 12th birthday, John prayed to Procan to take him away from the village. He prayed to meet his real father. That night, Dashing Dan and his crew docked at the port. John spotted the Captain leaving his ship with his crew. The very pirate many had said knocked up his mother. He had heard the same jokes repeated every time they docked. “Your real dad is back in town.” “Think he’ll stop off at your place, you know, since your flaccid dad is out fishing?” “You’re a lucky bastard. Bet your fake dad has a dick like an anchovy.” “Yeah, that’s why his whore mom had to take it from a pirate!”
John decided to run away. He sneaked on to the pirate ship and stowed away inside. He had no reason to stay in the village, and destiny seemed to have brought it to port that day.
A few days later, out at sea, the pirates discovered John sneaking some food for himself. So they brought him on deck. “Look what we found below!” One said. “A boy? From that fishing village?” another stated. “Can’t be. Look at his hair and eyes. Not black and brown like the rest of that inbred lot. Oh the Cap’n will need to see this one.” A pirate said with glee.
The Captain was summoned on deck to take a look at John. And John begged “Please, don’t take me back there. I have nothing in that village to call home.”
Dan answered him, “You think we would take the time, to turn this ship around, and return a brat to his village? No, we would never do that to you. In fact, you’ll never see that village for the rest of you life.”
“Thank you, Captain.” John said.
“Oh don’t thank me. You see, after several days at sea the crew needs some entertainment. So they are going to spend the next couple days planning interesting ways to kill you. They’ll have fights about it. Fists will fly. But eventually they will be bored of fighting over it and just rip you open in some terrible way.” Dan explained with a charming smile.
The crew laughed heartily.
“Please Captain. I can be of good use on your crew.” John begged.
“Give us three good reasons not to kill you then.” Dan offered.
“Well, I can catch fish, and gut them, and I know how to prepare the fish just right. I can feed the crew.” John explained.
“Or I can gut you and feed you to the crew. That would do just as well.” Dan smirked.
“I can make music. I play the flute. I carved this one myself. I have a good ear and can mimic birds. I used to do it to attract the cats at the docks. And my mother says I have the loveliest singing voice.” John said.
“Well, we’ll make sure to be careful when we cut out your windpipe, so we can blow a tune through it now and again.” Dan said as the crew laughed.
“And finally, everyone in my village thinks I’m a bastard. Everyone is convinced that you are my father Captain Dan.” As John said this the crew burst into a guffaw. It was well known on the ship that Captain Dan was very friendly with women in all the ports. They often rumored he had bastard kids in every continent and every island.
“Told ya the Cap’n doesn’t use sheep skin! You owe me a gold coin!” One pirate yelled to another.
Captain Dan laughed as well. “Well, those are some piss poor reasons to let you live. You should have told me how you were able to sneak past the two men I left to watch the ship.”
“Well Captain, it’s easy when they are drunk.” John said.
The crew made the classic someone’s in trouble faces. “Ohhh! You’s are in for it now!” One said.
“He is a little bastard! Gut him myself, I will!” A pirate that failed his guard duty drew his rapier.
“No.” Dan said seriously. “You two will be on guard duty till the next moon. Guarding this scallywag, teaching him the ways of the ship. Only I can kill him. I brought him into this world and I’ll be the one to take him out.” Dan joked as he returned to his cabin.
All but the two left to babysit laughed and returned to the swashbuckling preparations.
Over the years John proved himself as a crew member and fisherman. They called him Scallywag mostly, but eventually started calling him John Fisherman when they discovered he hated his given name, "Gutter." It was a running joke that he was the Captain’s son. Regardless, John had a name, and a family. Crew members taught him how to throw darts and daggers at sea. They taught him how to use a rapier. He played music and sang for them. Often Captain Dan would join in. The Captain was a fan of music himself and a fantastic singer, sometimes bringing the most murderous crew members to tears. When the pirates would take a ship Captain Dan would be at the stem of the ship, belting out a battle tune.
Dashing Dan was notoriously non-brutal for a pirate. They typically only killed those who resisted or put up a fight. On a rare occasion, when they were bored and the ship they had marked was known to carry little in the ways of plunder, the crew would fly the red flag. Meaning no quarter, fight until your last breath or be tortured. John was not fond of the red flag. He would hide below deck during these slaughters. In his later teenage years, when the red flag was flying, the crew brought a prisoner on board. A pirate shoved a rapier into his hands and moved the blade to the prisoner’s throat. “Time to do it John Fisherman. Time to become John the Pirate!”
John looked into his quarry’s eyes. He couldn’t muster the will to do it. Even as the pirates yelled for him to do it. As they became angry with John pointing their own swords at him and threatening to kill him if he didn’t. Captain Dan stepped in, drew his blade and knocked away the crews’ own weapons effortlessly. “Can’t you see? He doesn’t have the bloodlust. He is the guest of your Captain. Witness of our great deeds. I know you all love John and want him to be one of us. He’s here, not as one of us. But as one who will sing tales of us when we sink below. We taught him how to use a blade, how to rig the sails, how to live the life of a pirate, but his weapon is his voice and his purpose is beyond plundering. Don’t ever try to make him one of us again!”
Years later, the crew were captured by Commander Fauxmann and brought to a city to face justice. Commander Fauxmann was given command of three ships to take down pirates and guard trade ships. Every member of Dan's crew were to be hanged publicly. Even John. John protested. “Great sir, thank you for saving me! I have been their captive for years, waiting for my death at their hands, but you have saved me.”
“Is this true? He looks like he could be your son.” The Commander asked Captain Dan.
“I suppose that’s why I kept him alive so long. Hard to gut someone who looks like you. That and he has the voice of an angel. He can captivate crowds easily.” Dan answered.
“Very well,” said the Commander. “You shall maintain your honor in death and be hanged as a pirate captive. Your body will not be displayed and your are entitled to a last meal.”
“Thank you for immense generosity sir,” John started. “It is a shame I won’t be alive to sing of your great deeds that occurred today. How you rescued this poor soul from the clutches of the most dangerous pirates ever know. I saw the terrible things they are capable of with my own eyes, the horrible things I will never forget. Killing me would be such a mercy. And you, you must be one of the greatest soldiers to ever walk this continent to have brought them all to justice.”
Commander Fauxmann thought for a moment. “So you can sing?”
At the execution of his pirate family, John put on a concert for the crowd. He sang about the terrible things and made up outlandish acts of violence against women and children. He regaled about the origins of the mighty commander who was able to face the greatest evil to walk the earth, as one by one, each person he ever considered family cracked at the drop of a rope. And finally, the man he knew in his heart to be his father. Whether by birth, or simply his acts of leadership during a life at sea. He dropped and John’s voice cracked with the snap of the rope.
John was living as a free man. Haunted by his act of survival. Traumatized greater by the deaths of his family than the slaughter of unknown sailors. He exchanged songs in taverns for ale to drink away the sadness. His melodies become melancholy. His thoughts and heart plagued by his choice that day. He longed to die. He wished he had died with them. And standing at the edge of dock, drunken. He peered into the still water, picturing himself sinking into the depths. He saw his reflection. John changed his mind this time. “Killing myself would be like killing him again.” He thought. “I won’t die by my own hand. Not until everyone has heard the song of Dashing Dan and the Honestly Often Merciful Pirates. I also need a better name for my ballad.” John stumbled away from the docks to seek a new adventure and ears that would listen to the tales of his real family.

Education

Educated in reading and writing by his mother. Taught sea knowledge by his father and a pirate crew.

Employment

-Neglected bastard: (5-11 years old) Gutting fish, chasing cats
-Pirate captive: (12-25 years old) Fishing, Sailing, Cooking, Singing and Entertaining.
-Traveling Bard: (25-27 years old) Entertaining crowds with music and song.

Accomplishments & Achievements

The Lucky 13.
Slept with a professional at the 13 coastal taverns Dashing Dan's crew frequented
Awarded a 13 themed ass tattoo of his choosing. "As The Wench Sayeth" printed below a Jolly Roger (a 13 in the skull) was John's choice of tattoo.

Failures & Embarrassments

Abandoned his doting mother. Performed a concert, " the eulogy of misdeeds" for his friends during their execution for piracy.

Mental Trauma

He was abused and neglected by his father as a child.
He witnessed acts of no quarter piracy.
He provided a celebratory concert during the execution of his adoptive family.

Intellectual Characteristics

Can hold a conversation on any topic but is most familiar with fishing, seafaring, pirating, sex, alcohol, and music.

Morality & Philosophy

Freedom and happiness are a state of mind. The strong live it and the weak forfeit it. Everyone is just trying to get what they need for themselves. They deserve it if they have the will to seek it and the strength to take it.

person.sexuality

John uses sex and alcohol as coping mechanisms for his trauma. More often it is sex.
John will sleep with any attractive woman from any race.
Well, anyone attractive from any race.
Well, anyone with holes.
Well, anything with holes really.
Drunkenness and depression lower his inhibitions.

person.gender_identity

Male

Taboos

John is incapable of being embarrassed by anything. He will comfortably discuss any topic.

Known Languages

Common
Aquan

Personality

Motivation

To live a worthy life, sharing the memories and stories of his pirate family with the world.

Quotes & Catchphrases

"As the wench sayeth."
"Haven't met anyone yet that enjoys licking the arse of man whose had onions."
"One thing I know about love, my love, is that love lasts as long as lustful thrusts but lingers longer when I leave. So long!"
"Never whisper secrets into the arse of a wench drunk on cabbage schnapps. She will whisper back."
"Fear not, though my ship is in your port I'll fire my canons where you direct."
"Anything can be sex. Takes swords for example. A phallic object you jam into a body. They might as well call them pricks instead of swords. Short prick, long prick, bastard prick. My rapier is just a pirate prick."

Savvies & Ineptitudes

Savvy: Rope tying and knots. Darts and dagger throwing. Cooking - especially fish. Fishing. Physical intercourse. Lighthearted discourse. Roleplay... I mean disguises.
 
Ineptitudes: Emotional bonding. Keeping his mouth shut. Horse-riding. Honoring the sanctimony of marriage. Intimidation.

Likes & Dislikes

Likes: Sex, Alcohol, Music, Cats, Seafood
 
Dislikes: Lethargic lovers, bullies, fatty foods

Virtues & Personality perks

Virtues: Kindhearted, Finds value in making others smile, Quick-witted, Empathetic towards criminals and outcasts, Self Aware

Vices & Personality flaws

Carries guilt, Suicidal depression, Distrust of others, Narcissism

Personality Quirks

Must pet cats.
Has an aversion to red meats and alliums. "They give your sweat an unpleasant stench."

Hygiene

Keeps clean. Uses oils to stay well scented and keep his hair healthy. Often has a lover trim his hair and beard as a means of foreplay.

Social

Birthplace

Quegquinn (a small fishing village in the north)

Contacts & Relations

James Skulliger-
 
When Dashing Dan's crew were set to be hanged, Commander Fauxmann kept a few alive. They would be hanged later for various crimes. It was convenient when family members of prominent citizens had committed crimes, or the true culprits of heinous crimes remained at large for too long. They had a supply of scapegoats and examples to hang for whatever reason.
James Skulliger was one of Dan's crew was locked away for this purpose. He had a tattoo of a flaming skull tattooed across his back. And on his left side, a mermaid with 13 breasts posing next to the words "Lucky 13". He had no distinguishing marks of features about his face. And his tattoos could be covered easily during a hanging. For this reason he was selected. He could be perceived as anyone.
It was this quality that also helped him escape custody and disappear into the crowded city.
Upon his escape he set out to hunt down the man he felt responsible for the deaths of his crew. The voice he recognized bouncing down the dungeon walls as his mates were hanged one by one. It was the song John Fisherman sang that filled him with rage. And it was his plan to kill John that gave him the will to plot his escape.
 
John Fisherman is unaware of any survivors from his pirate crew.

Honorary & Occupational Titles

John’s given name, provided by his father and community is “Gutter Bastard”.
When he joined Captain Dan at sea the crew was not fond of calling him by his name as a deceased crewmate was nick-named Bastard Gutter. He was known for some atrocious acts with a rapier. They determined John wasn’t fit to take the name and called him “John Fisherman” instead, for his skill with a fishing net.
John tried to adopt the last name “Starcleff” from his supposed father Captain Daniel Starcleff. Captain Dan did not allow it. He considered the name a death sentence and preferred that John live to sing songs of the deeds of Captain Dashing Daniel Starcleff and his crew.

Wealth & Financial state

John can point on a map the islands Captain Dan would stop at to dump off excess plunder. However, he was always ordered to stay on the ship during these drop offs, so he doesn’t know where on the islands the treasures are hidden. As John was not an official crew member, he did not receive any share of booty. He did however receive tips and gifts from other crew members as a show of appreciation for his music, cooking, and other duties he preformed on the ship. Most of this was spent on clothes, musical instruments, booze, and prostitutes.

Family Ties

Biological father is rumored to be Captain Daniel Starcleff. The merciful, singing pirate who goes by Dashing Dan.
 
Presumed father is a fisherman who is ashamed of the rumors about his son.
Mother is doting and supportive, but outcast form the community for the rumors.

Religious Views

John is fond of Procan, Olidammara, and Fharlanghn.

Social Aptitude

John is an entertainer. He has the ability to make shy people open up, tense people relax, and the crassest individuals blush. He can sense social queues and relate to people personally. He has mastered the infectious smile and is able to use it regardless of how he actually feels. He can relate to people from all walks of life but finds himself most comfortable with outcasts, vagabonds, drunkards and addicts.

Hobbies & Pets

John often feeds stray cats and has a general respect for all other animals.

Speech

Unfiltered and often coarse