Nikolai

Full Name: Nikolai Tirel

Player Name: Niko

Age: 32

Gender: Male

Species: Samoyed (dog)

Height & Weight: 5'8" 200lbs

Physical Description
Stocky, fluffy, and clean are the most striking characteristics of this furry fellow, well. His grin could kill, metaphorically, with immaculately pure bicuspids that radiate in the sun, or even the din of a grimy bar. His tail, true to nature, is permanently curled up behind him. Nikolai's a strong little guy though, his weight carried in thick muscle over most of his body... and a bit across a firm, round gut that is unmistakable. He carries himself with a bit of a swish, something perhaps a bit odd for such a nordic man, but this smooth nature lies on top of brutish strength grown from many a childhood tussle.

Outside he wears a white duster, which he attempts to keep as fresh as possible, though the hems of his cuffs and the bottom of the coat weigh with stains of dust and sand from years of wear. Nikolai sports black leather boots, and grey pants underneath, as well as a few large revolvers in fine, engraved tanned hide holsters around a thick, black leather belt. Beneath the coat lie a black vest and a fine white silk shirt with a smart ebony ascot dotted by a polished obsidian jewel at its heart, on most days anyhow. This is all topped off by a wide-brimmed ivory hat which he ever so politely removes whenever he enters a building.

Nikolai has similar attire indoors. The jacket comes off, and in his own bar, usually too the guns. Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s ever unarmed when he’s passin’ jack to the patrons.

Mental Description
To say that Nikolai isn’t sassy would be to say the sun brought darkness. His wit is keen, and sometimes seen as an insult by those who don’t know him well.(Sometimes, things he says are indeed insulting indeed). Of course, he’s intelligent about what words cross his tongue, and realizes its sharp quality. He is full of opinions and stories, and a fairly stubborn fellow. Of course, this is born from his overtly logical nature, and his tendency to create a personal system of morality, and to stick with it fiercely, often attempting to apply it to others.

He can love, and has a capacity for great compassion. As far as he can pass harsh judgment, he too can offer great solace and comfort to those clearly in need of it. He is loyal to the end for his friends, a rather ride-or-die guy.

Sometimes he can come across as egotistical, referring to himself as awesome on more than one occasion, though for those that know him well his perceivable ego is really more of a joke on the concept of egocentrism itself. Still, he is self-confident, and doesn’t tend to run away in the face of a fight.

History
Nikolai was born the son of Janie Tirel, a prostitute turned trophy-wife in Shantytown. His father is unknown and quite possibly dead. He spent his early years in Shantytown, working as a dishwasher at a dive-bar when he could, and scrapping for work otherwise when he couldn’t. Life wasn’t easy for him, though he grew to accept it and to relish in whatever positive events came his way.

When he was 13, his mother married a semi-wealthy tiger named Tiberius Reyes. Though he was accepted into the household as part of the family at first, when he was caught kissing a household butler at the age of 17, he was kicked out by Tiberius, despite his mother’s protests.

It was at that time that Nikolai took leave from Shantytown and moved to Black Lake to start a new life for himself. Using the money he had, he built bar and filled it with whatever spirits he could find. Over the next 15 years he made a small name for himself and his attitude… and his preference for gentlemen over the ladies. Of course, from time to time, that has brought him some trouble, but it’s never been anything he, nor his shotguns couldn’t handle.

Possessions
Whitestone Tavern – His personal tavern and his home as well as a small Inn. With extra expenses, he has been expanding the small building to include more small rooms for travelers to stay in for the night for a small fee.

Guns – Nikolai has a lot of guns. Two large revolvers, when out and about, a few shotguns underneath his bar, in case of troublemakers, and a number of old long-rifles and a large pile of ammunition in his small abode above the bar.

Black Obsidian ascot pin – Stolen from his step-father Tiberius before he left. It’s a little personal reminder of his little victories in life.

Doublestrap Leather watch – A gift given to him by a patron seven years back in exchange for a night’s stay at the Whitestone. Of course, at the time, there hadn’t been any guest quarters, but the traveler didn’t exactly mind sharing a bedroom.

Safe – Located in Nikolai’s room, the safe is a large black box in which he keeps his earnings and other valuables. Only he is savvy to the combination. The wealth of the Whitestone is kept locked behind its heavy steel door. The safe is kept well hidden as well. On a number of occasions bandits have tried to steal from Nikolai. Needless to say… he’s still here, and they aren’t.

The Whitestone Tavern
The tavern has stood in Black Lake for 15 years now. It was built by a small crew lead by its current owner, Nikolai Tirel. It is a good-sized bar on the edge of town, only two stories tall and made from mud and white plaster to create a simple, smooth and rather elegant building. The main bar has evolved over the years, slowly becoming more decorated with mirrors, fine hanging lamps, and a polished granite bar with twenty stools. There are a number of tables for patrons.

About 7 years ago the tavern was expanded to include an Inn. All the rooms were built by Mr. Tirel himself. While the new addition is still technically under construction, the small rooms are all located in the back, behind the small kitchen area, which itself is right behind the main bar.

Tirel makes his home on top of the Inn. The stairwell to his home is located behind a small door in the kitchen, and is off limits to everyone save for him and whomever he allows into the upper level.

The building is open to all comers, so long as they’re not in for trouble. Of course, if they bring it, they only find themselves in more trouble. There are some old bloodstains on the tile floor yet to this day from bandits who got too greedy or too dangerous in the bar… and a few patched up bullet holes in the walls from the few shots that never connected with anyone.

The Whitestone is a good place to stock up on water, trade for goods, hear gossip, and even catch a night of sleep.