JAX "QUILL" CARTOGRAPHER
Islanders of Shimmering IslesMapmaker and Chart Seller
"Every map is a lie. The question is whether it's a useful lie or a dangerous one.""
Identity
- Residence
- The Chart House, Port Aquamarine
- Civilization
- Islanders of Shimmering Isles
Appearance
• Physical: Thin and wiry with ink-stained fingers and permanent squint lines from hours of detailed work. His skin is pale for an Islander—he rarely sees the sun. His brown hair is perpetually disheveled. • Clothing: Wears a leather smock covered in ink blots over simple linen clothes. Pockets bulge with quills, compasses, and scraps of paper with hastily scribbled notes. • Distinguishing Marks: A burn scar on his right palm from a candle accident; spectacles perched on his nose (rare and expensive)
Relationships
- Family - Lives with his elderly mother; his uncle's death at sea drives his obsession with accurate navigation
- Allies - Mira Tidewalker (his best source of new information), Captain Kairo, the Explorers' Society
- Rivals - Competitor mapmaker Selene who spreads rumors about his accuracy; pirates who steal his charts
Personality
- Traits: Obsessively detail-oriented, socially awkward, intensely curious about the unknown, surprisingly brave when pursuing knowledge
- Mannerisms: Mumbles calculations aloud; fidgets with his quills; becomes animated only when discussing maps
- Voice: Rapid-fire and technical, frequently trailing off mid-sentence when distracted by a thought
Backstory
Jax was a sickly child who couldn't go to sea, so he became fascinated with the maps his sailor uncle brought home. He apprenticed under Master Cartographer Voss and now runs his own shop, creating the most accurate charts in the Shimmering Isles. His maps are sought after by captains across the known world.
Daily Life
Jax spends his days in a small shop filled with scrolls and instruments, updating charts based on captains' reports and creating custom maps for wealthy clients. He ventures out only to interview returning sailors, frantically scribbling their observations before memory fades.
Story Hooks
- 1 Jax needs protection for a voyage to verify coordinates for his Sunken Library expedition
Narrative Value
Jax provides maps, navigation information, and geographical knowledge; offers quests involving exploration and discovery; serves as a source of rumors about unknown locations. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════