William has an air of sophistication about him, often speaking with a british accent almost to the point of cariacture. He likes operatic music, hot tea, fine cigars, and brandy immensely. He is very intelligent, though can be stubborn as a goat (pardon the pun). As with people born under the western zodiac sign of the goat- Capricorn- William is ambitious and patient. As with those born under the chinese zodiac sign of the goat, he is creative but introverted and a meticulous perfectionist. He absolutely hates when people shorten his name to "Billy." He is a bit sarcastic when dealing with the common humanoid races; due to an underlying bitterness over years of scorn and prejudice from them. He is also very sympathetic, a bit of a softie. He loves young children and elderly people. And he often sees soldiers and swordsman as brutish and uncivilized. He has a fascination both with magical arts as well as mechanical technology. Where he has had a generally aloof and meek demeanor before, William has developed a strong sense of pride. He still holds to his morality, but he will stand up to anyone he thinks is in the wrong: sometimes even if it would be better to just keep quiet. He also has developed a sense of peace about being Aleraran.
William just like what he is: a walking, talking goat. He has dark tan fur with a black streak running down his chest. He has another black streak that runs from his nose straight up between his eyes and horns and to the back of his neck. He also has a pair of horns that are 18" long and curve back over his head. He has cleft hooves which he has learned to use for gripping object, though he lacks the manual dexterity of humanoid fingers. He has a keen sense of fashion (another trait shared by those born in the Year of the Goat), and generally wears a tailored silk vest. Regretably, it is much too difficult for him to find properly tailored pants or shirts that fit his frame, and he is unable to tie a necktie with his hooves. He does however wear a monocle periodically, it is kept tied to his vest by a thin chain.
I do say, it really gets my goat- no pun intended- that knowledge is so oft overlooked these days. Academics is a scholarly pursuit, and should be revered, but these young rabberdasher kids- again, pun not intended- these days only seem interested in learning to swing a sword. Barbaric. Give me a good book and a nice brandy any day over that savagery.
Once an intelligent human student who enrolled at Istien University at the age of 14, William hoped to learn the wonders of bardic magic. However, a student who he had become study partners with changed that. The other student was learning transmutation, and stumbled upon a spell much too powerful for him. While he succeeded in the casting, it had a disasterous result- he irrevokably transformed William into a goat!
While he retained his intelligence, his knowledge of magic, and the ability to speak human tongues, he was vastly changed and spent the next several years trying to adapt to life as a talking goat. A scholar, he kept his refined airs as he became acclaimated, considering himself a gentleman who merely looks slightly different than other people.
Ah, yes... learning to deal with the "public". I never was a social butterfly, but becoming a candidate for the local fair's livestock show will put a damper on a gentleman's social graces rather quickly. It took time to learn how to get along with this lot again, but someone of my refinement and graces always finds a way.
Despite dealing with judgements and prejudices from the people around him, William learned to integrate back into society, and resumed his scholarly pursuits, changing his focus from magical arts to engineering. He was a brilliant pupil and took to his studies meticulously, earning high marks and a degree in Engineering. He moved and got a job in Anebrilith, where he worked on helping to improve and maintain the irrigation system of the city. He bought a house there, and was enjoying his life, despite the few irritations he would run into from rare but recurring discriminations. His fascination with technology continued, and at the same time his interest in magic rekindled. He studied both, and had contemplated the idea of trying to integrate them together: designing technology that utilizes or runs off of magic. This pursuit however, has been fruitless thus far.
My dream has been futile up to this point, but it drives me. If I cannot find my answers at home, I will have to emigrate for the time being. This is a dream I must realize if I am ever to find fulfillment.
Several months ago, his interest in expanding his knowledge in engineering led him to leave Raiaera and travel to Ettermire to study the advanced technologies there. Due to rising tensions and war preparations, he has been prevented from leaving Alerar to return to his homeland. While forced to remain in the nation, he has not been officially improsoned, nor has he officially tried to flee. Thus far all attempts have been for legitimate and legal immigration, which have not been successful; nor does he expect they will.
While his nation of origin ws not publically known- at best he would be a refugee or hostage, at worst he'd be executed- he had roused a few suspicions with his requests to leave. Having been approached by several "officials", he believes he is being held in order to help Alerar in designs against Raiaera, as well as prevent his knowledge of their technologies from reaching his homeland.
War. How profane that three letters have turned me into a prisoner without a jailer, living in a cell without bars.
William's suspicions were proven right. The Aleranians were watching him, and noted the few times he tried to slip through the border back to his homeland. While conducting some personal research, he was finally approached. Though he fled the first encounter, he found himself trapped when he was approached the following day; he was detained by official guards and brought to a facility for interrogation. There he was faced with Herzog Scalaar Kresk, a government official for Alerar who began making inquiries into his attempts at exiting the nation. Despite rough treatment from the guards and the watchful eye of Kresk, William managed to convincingly decieve the official enough to get out of the rough spot.
Weeks later, though, Kresk would have him. Called back in to answer for himself, William had found that the Herzog had done further research and knew the truth about his Raiaeran heritage. Rather than risking the political snafu of having an academic held as a political prisoner, Kresk approached William after two days of torture with a proposal: To sever his ties to Raiaera and defect to Alerar in exchange for amnesty. In addition, William was to lead an Aleraran military force into the Gisela contest, though the reasons given to him were deceptions to push the proposal along. Ultimately, William accepted the terms, giving up his allegiance and reluctantly becoming a citizen of Alerar.
I find it no small bit of irony that I would find friends among my "foes", and actually have a home among my "enemies".
William helped lead the Gisela campaign on Alerar's behalf alongside two seasoned soldiers. The first leg of the campaign was largely staged: it was an exercise to supress a threatening force of one of the army's suppliers, rather than one of the intended Gisela battles. William was unaware that this was really a "proving ground" for him, and his innovative battlefield strategy gained the trust of the drow commander Corporal Krybirr. The Corporal revealed the deceptions that had been played out to get William's cooperation and test him. He then admitted that while the ordeal had been underhanded, he was garnering a respect for William, rather than looking at him as an opportunist and a turncoat. The second leg of the campaign saw tensions rise as William's friendship and admiration for Krybirr grew, while at the same time the other commander- Captain Lashgiver- was plotting against them.
Lashgiver shattered a tenuous alliance with the great Lord Thoracis' men, which brought the power of the ice mage himself crashing down on the men. Through their steadfast defense and some intervention by the Ai'brone monks, the force survived the assault, and were sent to the third leg of the campaign. While they were to go up against an opposing army, the real threat was William and Corp. Krybirr having to face down the threat of their co-commander having gone rogue and betraying them. During the last battle, William lured the dwarven traitor out and had him captured, but the battle also came with the price of Corporal Krybirr's death. William has since returned to Alerar, where he has gained a degree of notoriety for his victory in Gisela. 
Submit Thread for Judgment
