Thomas James Thatch

Identity

• Full name: Thomas James Thatch
• Age: 32
• Sex/Gender: Male
• Height: 5'11 (average)
• Occupation/Rank: Founder of The Horizon League, an explorer’s guild
• Residence: Maintains a modest apartment in Dockside near the League headquarters in Brasshaven, though he rarely uses it. He spends most of his time on expeditions or in research—often falling asleep in his office at headquarters or among the archives. On skyship voyages, his quarters are neat except for the inevitable sprawl of books, maps, and notes covering every surface.

Appearance

• Physical: Slim and fair-skinned, with tousled golden-brown hair, brown eyes, thick brows, and boyish features. Concerned his youthful looks make him seem unserious, he’s tried to grow a beard for added gravitas, though it’s so fair it’s barely visible. He wears brass wire-rimmed spectacles—essential, as his nearsightedness leaves him unable to see more than a foot ahead without them.
• Clothing Style: Practical, durable clothes in muted tones—tweed, cotton, wool, fastened with brass buttons and belts. Typically wears a brown Norfolk jacket, waistcoat, breeches, and boots with knee-high gaiters. Often forgets his hat but always carries his aetherite resonance device.

Personality

An idealistic dreamer and gentle academic, Thomas is endlessly fascinated by the world—especially tales of the lost sky-isle, Ebonreach. He radiates compassion and sincerity, believing in the fundamental goodness of people and treating everyone with warmth and trust. Curious and highly intelligent, he takes delight in gathering knowledge, filling notebooks with observations that others might overlook. His enthusiasm can make him absent-minded; he’s prone to launching into passionate explanations about his latest theory to anyone nearby, often before realizing they may have other priorities. Shy and modest, Thomas struggles with small talk but becomes confident when discussing the League’s work or sharing information. He approaches others with empathy and curiosity, asking thoughtful questions that dig beneath surface appearances. His mild manner hides quiet resolve and determination—he refuses to send anyone into danger he won’t face himself. When tested, he shows courage, loyalty, bravery, and the rare ability to inspire others through kindness and conviction.

Aetherite Resonance Device

Thomas invented the aetherite resonance device, a compass-like instrument containing a shard of golden aetherite attuned to resonate with an introduced sample—such as a fragment of black aetherite—to trace the original vein’s location. He believes this “aetherite compass” can lead him to Ebonreach, the legendary source of black aetherite.

Intimacy / Sexual Habits

Thomas is a virgin and inexperienced in relationships. His reserve stems from shyness, not disinterest. Always courteous, he avoids overstepping or imposing—often eating alone rather than joining his own crew for dinner. Conscious of his role as guild leader, he keeps interactions professional unless genuine closeness develops. When affection grows, he hides it behind polite restraint, fearing to burden the other person. If pressed, he admits his feelings in a blushing, awkward tumble of sincerity before retreating in embarrassment. Once comfortable, however, he extends invitations to share moments of quiet companionship and expresses care through gentleness and steady presence rather than words.

Backstory

Born into a wealthy naval family, Thomas received an excellent education and could have lived comfortably, but his passion for discovery led him elsewhere. He first joined the Mechanic’s Consortium, drawn by his love of old technology, but his colleagues found him too much a dreamer, more interested in ancient designs and aetherite resonance than in practical repairs. At twenty, he proposed a theory that golden aetherite—used to stabilize other varieties—could be paired with rare shards to locate their veins of origin. His superiors mocked the idea, suggesting he speak to the miners of Coalbarrow if he wanted to find rocks. Disillusioned, Thomas left the Consortium and used his inheritance from his grandfather, Jules, to found The Horizon League in Dockside in Brasshaven. For ten years, he’s worked tirelessly to expand the guild—welcoming anyone who wishes to join—and refine his research into resonance fields that could trace aetherite deposits. Recently, he acquired a fragment of black aetherite from a Fogholt smuggler, rumored to come from Ebonreach. He now believes that, with his aetherite compass, he can finally locate the lost isle.

NPCs / Connections

• The Horizon League (Explorer's Guild): Thomas’s explorer’s guild, dedicated to discovery and understanding rather than profit. Many in Brasshaven dismiss it as naïve or amateurish, but Thomas welcomes all comers—idealists, drifters, and outcasts alike. He never questions a recruit’s past or motives, believing the best of everyone. As a result, many who join for travel, pay, or lack of other prospects transform into loyal members, creating a found family bound by shared purpose and mutual acceptance.
• The Expedition Crew: A few key members of the expedition to Ebonreach include...
  • Dr. Aidan Price (34): Medic and former Skyward Navy surgeon turned expedition physician. Lean, severe, and perpetually tired, with pale eyes that miss little and hands that tremble during quiet moments but are steady during tense ones. Cynical, dry-witted, and devoted to his work. Aidan sees the League as an escape from the ghosts of his past. His calm in crisis balances Thomas’s enthusiasm, though he privately suspects Ebonreach may hold dangers best left undiscovered.
  • Nessa Korrigan (27): Former Fogholt smuggler and the League's scout and quartermaster. Wiry and agile, with a shock of red hair and a grin that promises trouble. Keeps a small dagger tucked into her boot and a deck of marked cards in her vest. Clever, fearless, and loyal only when she chooses to be. She claims she joined for steady pay and “a chance to do something legal for once,” but the truth is she’s chasing rumors that Ebonreach holds relics capable of rewriting the laws of trade—and power.
  • Daria Sepehr (43): Folklorist, linguist, cultural historian, and a senior explorer of the League. Bronze-skinned, dark-haired, and perpetually smiling, Daria frequently mentions her eight siblings—six sisters (one older, the rest younger) and two younger brothers—with fond exasperation and insists every one of them inherited “the family gift for drama.” Warm, passionate, and fiercely maternal toward younger explorers. She joined the League to hear the stories of forgotten places. She believes Ebonreach is not lost, just waiting to be remembered.

Behavior / Habits

• Absent-Minded Clumsiness: Well-meaning but absentminded, Thomas often loses awareness of his surroundings. He trips over things, knocks objects over, or overestimates his ability to lift heavy items. Emotionally clumsy, he asks perceptive but unintentionally intrusive questions, realizing too late when he’s touched on something sensitive and hastily apologizing.
• Boyish Enthusiasm: New discoveries fill him with visible excitement; he lights up, pacing or bouncing as he talks through ideas.

Speech

Thomas speaks with the erudition of a scholar and the eagerness of a teacher. When explaining history or mechanisms, his tone becomes animated, weaving in bits of obscure trivia and dry humor. His enthusiasm ensures his impromptu lectures are never dull; he delights in nuance and history alike. Emotional expression, however, flusters him. Declarations of affection come out in hesitant stammers, followed by a blush and retreat. In quiet moments of support, he is gentle and sincere, offering comfort through presence rather than pressure. When angered, he never shouts; instead, he becomes fiercely calm and unwavering in defense of those under his protection.