Scott Lands

Scott is a tall, broad-shouldered man with the physique of someone who knows hard work and takes pride in his strength. His body is lean and defined from years of naval service and regular boxing practice.

His dark-brown hair is cropped short; a rough beard shadows his square jaw.

• Boxing & Brawling: Keeps himself in fighting condition; known to end pub fights with a single blow.
• Logistics & Procurement: Former Navy quartermaster; can find almost anything for a price.
• Leadership: Commands respect naturally – both in calm management and in crisis.
• Discipline through Routine: Begins each day with exercise and a cold wash; runs the bar with near-military precision.
• Appetite for Life: Enjoys fine drink, good food, and the company of people who know how to live.

When working behind the bar, he usually wears rolled-up shirtsleeves and a waistcoat. On colder nights, or when the mood strikes him, he throws on his old Royal Navy jacket – open, worn, and heavy with unspoken memories.

Born into a dockside family, Scott joined the Royal Navy in his teens and served with distinction for over a decade. His aptitude for logistics and his knack for “acquiring what a ship required, by whatever means necessary” earned him both promotions and suspicion. By his early thirties he had achieved the rank of Warrant Officer – a rare accomplishment for a man of common birth.

His career ended abruptly when an indiscretion aboard ship led to a court-martial and a sentence of ten weeks’ hard labour. Upon release, Scott invested his remaining savings into a riverside property in Wapping. There he founded The Bull and Compass, transforming it into one of the most vibrant and infamous taverns along the Thames.

Scott combines discipline with indulgence. Years in uniform have left him organised, punctual, and precise; years in the dockside taverns have taught him to value pleasure, laughter, and good company. He demands order in his pub yet encourages its warmth – a balance only he seems able to maintain.

He is not a man easily provoked, but when angered he reacts swiftly and decisively. Beneath the barkeep’s calm exterior lies the seasoned temper of a fighter who has seen the worst of men and lived to tell about it.

Despite his gruff manner, Scott is deeply loyal to those under his roof. He treats his staff and regulars like crewmen: expected to work hard, but always defended if trouble comes knocking.

He carries himself with quiet authority – the bearing of a man used to command – but his grin, when it appears, is warm and disarming. His eyes, dark and keen, miss little in the room.

In Wapping, Scott is regarded as a man of contradictions: disciplined yet indulgent, stern yet fair. Among sailors, he is known for running a clean, safe house where all are welcome – so long as they leave their prejudice at the door. The police keep their distance, and the men of Shady Nook know better than to cross him.

Locals say that when Scott raises his voice, even the river holds its breath.

Residence

Scott lives in a modest flat above The Bull and Compass. Though small, the space is well-kept and surprisingly refined: clean linen, a working hot-water boiler, and a few personal luxuries – evidence of a man who believes comfort should be earned, not inherited.

Trivia

• Keeps a battered compass from his naval days behind the bar.
• Known to outdrink most of his patrons and still close the tavern himself.
• Maintains a quiet but firm alliance with Captain Hawke of The Mooring & Mast.
• Has been heard saying, “A ship runs on order, a pub on trust. Lose either, and you’re sunk.”