Begin at the Beginning

Now that I've transferred to a new server, I want to start writing up more interesting backstories for my characters. I actually don't like doing the 20-questions model of character definition - what's his favorite food, whom does he hate, and so on. Nothing wrong with that, but I like to establish the character via storytelling. So here's the first chapter in the Tale of the von Tvisenklanks, about Thrinwizzle.

Impossible to tell the story of the von Tvisenklanks without starting at Thrinwizzle. He single-handedly brought the von Tvisenklanks out of their centuries-long stagnation. The family name is ancient and well-respected, but at the time of Thrinwizzle's birth, it was one of those ancient and well-respected but terribly poor noble families known for very little other than their long memories of how things Used To Be In Great-Grandfather's Day.

After taking command of the family business interests (few, but still profitable enough to support the small family), Thrinwizzle developed a ruthless business acumen that soon made him the talk of the town, if not its toast. He'd put too many other Gnomes at a disadvantage, financially, for him to be loved. Respect was enough for him. And so, the von Tvisenklanks prospered again.

At a respectable age for marrying, Thrinwizzle set out, and with the same single-minded determination that he used to pursue a business deal, found himself a wife. Stabella Wobblecog was a lovely young lady of fine parentage (the Wobblecogs being a well-respected family with nearly as long a history as the von Tvisenklanks), and she was completely taken in by Thrinwizzle. Was Thrinwizzle sincere in his professed affection for Stabella? Had he been smote by love's arrow, or was he simply playing the role that society had laid out for him? It is not for us to say, not here, not now.

The marriage between Stabella and Thrinwizzle lasted twenty years officially. In truth, it transformed itself the night their first child was born. Let us return to that fateful night. The storm lashed the walls of the manor house, but inside, all was calm. Except, of course, for Stabella's pained breathing and Thrinwizzle's continual patter.

"He'll learn the business at my side, and the family firm will be called 'von Tvisenklank and Son', and he'll take the name of my Uncle, who was the only real man of that generation, the only gnome who could cut through the sentimental crap we'd been living for years, subsisting on a diet of pride and thin soup. Davros is a good name for a gnomish boy, a strong name. Davros von Tvisenklank. What a time it is. He'll have the finest education, but not so much that he becomes soft in the head, and he'll learn to live on his on in the wilds, but not so much that he becomes hard in the soul. Ah, Davros."

But this was not to be a good night for Davros von Tvisenklank. A strong name, but a weak gnome, Baby Davros did not survive the night. Stillbirth and child death were rare in those years of relative peace, but it still happened.

Thrinwizzle's heart, always a small and cold thing, turned harder that night. What was once thought ruthlessness on his part now seemed merely unpleasant in comparison to what came after.