Jakob is probably the closest thing to a "nerd" in the medieval world of Rosemoor Dell. From the beginning, Jakob has been a fun character because he subverts expectations: he's incredibly smart, detail-oriented, and borderline obsessive (I mean, same), but he can also be charming and charismatic--skills which have served him well in the Blades. His story is also a little unorthodox, and I think reveals a lot about why he is the way he is, and what keeps him going when times get tough. If you want more details of his personality, make sure you check out this article for in-depth profiles of all the Blades! Jakob was born and raised in southern Rosemoor Dell, in a small village on the outskirts of the Adral Forest. Though his father was a huntsman and his mother tended their family farm, Jakob quickly emerged as unusually bright and precocious. He taught himself to read using an old, worn book of prayers his mother owned, and once he had finished his chores for the day made a habit of holding court with the other village children.
One of his close friends was the niece of their local mayor, who took a liking to the young man with perennially messy hair and an insatiable appetite for knowledge. Though Jakob did not learn this until much later, the mayor convinced his parents that Jakob needed a formal education, and to send him to the monastery on the southern border. As soon as he arrived at the monastery, Jakob realized he had never been meant for life as a village farmer. He excelled in his studies, quickly picking up two languages and devouring every scroll and book he could get his hands on. With a particular passion for history, he would scour the shelves of the library, searching for stories he had not yet heard, and recollections he had not yet read. However, though his curiosity remained endless, Jakob also quickly grew confident that the life of a monk was not for him, either. He loved to learn and study, yes, but he also wanted to feel as though his work actually had impact. The idea of spending the rest of his life writing books or developing theories nobody would care about was terrible. And so, when he came of age, the first thing he did was submit his name to the Blades for consideration. Like many young men, Jakob held the mysterious Imperial spies in great esteem, and longed for the mystery and grandeur joining their ranks would bestow. It took so long to hear back he actually left the monastery and returned home, deciding to strike out on his own to a larger city. But, one night, he was visited by the Blades and his entire life changed. Like all who join their ranks, he left his life behind, vanishing into the darkness and leaving his family behind without a word. At the Citadel--the Blade training academy--Jakob continued to excel in his studies, and was nearly immediately selected for further training as an Archivalist. It turned out he had quite a knack for identifying patterns and useful pieces of informations buried in detail and frivolity, a skill most Archivalists took their whole lives to master. After completing his training in the field in Colmar, Jakob was reassigned to Rosemoor as the permanent Archivalist under Lord Commissioner Rawley Hendrick. Ten years later, the rest has become history... Comments are closed.
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AuthorBridget is the author of Summer Twilight, available for purchase now! Categories
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