Traveler's Rest

Thomkin Ballyforth III was annoyed. Quite annoyed. Really, really freaking annoyed.

It wasn't bad enough that sales were down. It wasn’t bad enough that at the moment he was staring at an empty tavern during the lunch hour. Oh no, that wasn't bad enough. The thing that really putting the rotting cherry on top of his sundae of ill temper was that the reason for his setbacks and losses was standing right in front of him.

"Get out, Tim."

"Aw, be reasonable, Thom," said a little gnome voice which was coming from just below the level of the table. "Can I help it they just like my establishment better?"

"Get out, Tim."

The gnome, not taking the hint, crawled up onto the chair opposite Thom so he could see the old halfling better.

"Oh great. Just great. Perfect. Just what I wanted — that ugly puss of yours right in my line o' vision."

Actually, Tim wasn't so bad to look at for a gnome. Though a little small even for his race, he had handsome features and was well dressed. No, it wasn’t his appearance that was unattractive — it was his demeanor. Those who knew him well called him “The Fly” behind his back, as he had a way of buzzing in your face and not going away no matter how many times you swatted him. That behavior and the Tweety Bird/Grinch-style grin he always had on his face combined to annoy the bejesus out of nearly everyone he met.

Considering the effect Tim generally had on folks, Thom just couldn't figure out how the little bastard had managed to steal almost all of Thom's business. It sure wasn't his glowing personality that was pulling them in. Thomkin suspected a charm spell of some sort. Well, the charm wasn't going to work on him. Not where money was involved, anyway.

"What do you WANT, Tim? The clothes off my back too? You got everything else!"

"Ya wanna get in on a poker game I'm getting together?" Tim asked as he laid his chin on the table and looked up at Thom in what he meant to be an endearing pose. It wasn't, of course. Not with "the grin" still plastered on his face.

"Oh, you DO want it all, then. Well, you ain't gonna get it! Out! Out! Out!"

"Why, ya scared?"

"OUT!"

"Oh wah, wah, wah, Thom. Come on, it'll be fun!"

Just then, someone who'd been waiting in the shadows poked her head out. A wand pointed at the gnome’s head, and a voice said simply, "Out."

"Okay, okay, I'm going. Thanks for the habaneros, by the way," the gnome said over his shoulder to the shadowy figure as he went out the door, lousy grin still intact. It was even wider that usual at the moment, if possible, as if he were eating a banana sideways.

Thomkin looked over at the witch, "See!?"

"Yep. Definitely a problem. We'll have to do something to wipe the smile off of that face. I didn't invest in this place only to see it flushed down the toilet ."

"Flush what down the where? Ah never mind," Thom said with a wave of his hand. He sat for a moment in thought. "So, what was that about habaneros? You didn't give him any of my ‘secret chili ingredient,’ did you?"

A dark cloud moved over the witch's face. "No. I did not."

"He has his own connection then?"

"Nope. I'd know about it."

Thom's eyes widened, "He STOLE it from you?!"

"It would seem so."

"Woooo, bad move. Bad, BAD move."

The witch's face broke into a grin of its own for the first time since she'd appeared, albeit a sardonic one. "You better believe it, toots," she said, leaning back and taking a pull from her ale. "Yes, we definitely will have to do something to wipe the smile off that face," she muttered.

Evil Tim (3.5 compatible)
Chaotic Greedy (also Chaotic Lucky), 12th Level Rogue
Gnome Male, 50 years old
Light Brown hair (what there is of it), Blue eyes
3' 2", 45 lbs.

Hp: 81
AC: 22

Initiative modifier: 4
Base Attack: 9/4

Weapons: Light Crossbow, Morningstar, Dagger
Armor: Ring of Protection +4, Bracers of Armor +3 and Improved Evasion special ability

Feats: Improved Initiative, Toughness, Toughness, Toughness, Toughness

Languages: Common, Gnome, Elven, Dwarven, Draconic, Burrowing Critter

Equipment: Bright green tunic, orange breeches, dark green hard boots, ring of protection +4, bracers of armor +3, light crossbow and quiver of ten +1 arrows, morningstar, dagger with shin scabbard, various other rings and chains of bling-bling, wineskin of a nice chianti, bag of holding and haversack of holding that contain between them: tenderloin jerky, fava beans to go with the nice chianti, silk rope, grappling hook, caltrops, habeneros powder (for use both as a flavoring and a weapon), master lock picks, deck of card tiles, dice, fluffy down pillow, 250 gem, 20 gp, 3 sp.

Roleplaying Notes:
No one really knows Tim's background. You can create one if you like, but more interesting to me is his personality. You will note by his Charisma score that Tim is not the most well-liked person in the world. His in-your-face-style, smug demeanor, and obvious wealth ingratiate him to no one.

Even more annoying is the way he always seems to land on his feet, regardless. He is extraordinarily lucky, especially in cards. He will attempt the most extraordinary gambits and come out the winner most of the time. Most people assume he's cheating somehow, though they can't prove it.

Tim is very flashy for a gnome. His outfits are not the usual gnomish earth tones — assuming that day glow trees are not the norm even in a fantasy world, of course. In addition, Tim also likes to wear quite a bit of jewelry to show off his prosperity. Oddly enough, the bling-bling actually serves a more practical purpose — that of camouflage. His ring of protection and bracers of armor are designed to look just like all the other rings, amulets and such he has on. He wants people to assume he’s unprotected.

In many ways, he's rather more like a halfling than a gnome in his love of food and comfort. He's gotten used to the good life, and he will not give it up easily.

Tim is aware that he is not a liked person. He's a bit on the paranoid side, therefore. He has beefed himself up a bit just for this reason. It is also the reason he hides his magic among his other jewelry. Anyone getting into a fight with him will find him to be tougher than he looks, therefore.