Character Sheet for Paulvo Ortense Hammerfist
Species
European Badger (Meles meles)
Character Description
There was Boar the Fighter, who forged the sword of Martin the Warrior. Lord Brocktree, who founded the Long Patrol and the community known as Mt. Salamandastron. Lady Cregga Rose Eyes, known for her courage and violence against marauding hordes. Most badgerlords were unique and known for some sort of legacy. Paulvo the Savvy was Salamandastron's first businessman. Always living in the shadow of his older brother, he was usually ignored and overlooked by his family. This freed him to pursue his own interests with no expectations from others. He continued the badgerlord skill of forging, and eventually brought it to an industrial scale not previously seen in Mossflower. He also introduced the concept of a free market and a medium of exchange. The factories and forges he operated in the city of Salamandastron were open to all creatures, not just 'goodbeasts'. Paulvo the Savvy is considered one of the anthro world's fathers of capitalism.
Paulvo never believed in 'goodbeasts' and 'vermin'. Life experience taught him that everyone was their own creature, equal in the eyes of creation, and that Mossflower's caste system was cruel and wasteful. He employed many talented rats, foxes, weasels, stoats alongside hares, mice, voles, and otters. He harnessed hydropower from the River Moss. One cold day in 5641, a timid young fox and rat came to him with an idea. A system of water powered cranks connected to a single shaft that pumped multiple bellows. It would provide a continuous source of blowing air, creating a hotter forge. The project was completed 6 months later. It worked, too good in fact. Within minutes of its activation, the forge got so hot no one could go near it. Then the building burned down. Everybeast got out safe, but the device's creators were distraught and could hardly face Paulvo. The badger just stood with his mouth agape. "Next time, we'll make the cranks out of metal and forge out of basalt, that should do the trick." he said, then hugged his two employees.
A year later, the new factory was complete. There was the new forge, but also a glass-blowing area, carpentry, textiles, and ceramics. On March 14, 5642, Basaltcraft & Works was born. Paulvo was realizing his dream of making products for all creatures. Now Mossflower needed a medium of exchange.
Mossflower ran on a barter system. Gold and jewels could be used as money, but Paulvo detested them. "Let kings and pirates fight over gold!" he yelled. "Every creature deserves a chance at wealth!" So he began minting coins. The idealistic badger had no idea what he was getting himself into. By pushing a free market, he was dethroning royalty, making feudalism obsolete. Like Father Abbot Serney of Redwall, he believed in species equality and an integrated Mossflower. And also like Serney, he gained enemies in high places. By 5644, shortly before Rat Queen Guivderin arrived at Redwall Abbey, multiple attempts had been made on Paulvo's life. He and his family maintained their own security detail of loyal Long Patrol hares, and rats and stoats he'd known since his youth.
Paulvo the Savvy's legacy is that of an innovator, one of those responsible for the Mossflorian Renaissance. It took 20 years, but he successfully brought a monetary system to all of Mossflower. The Badgerlords and Long Patrol put Salamandastron on the map of Mossflower, but Paulvo put it on the map of the world. The city became a hub for export and grew incredibly wealthy. By 5660, the 55 year old Paulvo was the wealthiest creature in Mossflower who didn't hold a royal title.
Paulvo the Savvy wasn't without controversy. He expressed no remorse toward his brother's death. "Brok made his decision when he picked up that infernal hammer instead of a book." he said flatly to General Longstride. After Paulvo's death, his granddaughter discovered he knowingly sold weapons that would end up with the Siberians, making him Mossflower's first war profiteer.
Personality
Paulvo has a lovely extroverted personality, although he had to grow into it. He's positive and witty. He can be a bit abrasive at times and come across as condescending, but with an edge of humor to it. Think stand-up comedian David Cross.
Paulvo looks to make friends and solve problems. He sees everyone as a potential friend, customer, or business partner. He also likes to educate and explain concepts. He enjoys an audience. He also has a nurturing side that has made him a good father.
He is confrontational when needed, but not violent. He will back down and try to deescalate a situation that gets dangerous. The exception was with the Long Patrol and his brother. He called Brokforge out all the time, and the two frequently got into physical fights. Paulvo always lost, badly and painfully.
Likes/Dislikes
Paulvo likes thinking, pondering, coming up with ideas and exploring new concepts in any and all practical subjects. He likes seeing his fellow creatures succeed under their own effort. Likes lots of friends, family, being social. Always surrounds himself with positive creatures. If there isn't work to be done, he's all about celebrating life.
Hates royalty and the systems surrounding it. Has a personal vendetta against the idea of a position earned simply by blood and no effort or leadership. Much of this arose from living around the entitlement and sycophancy surrounding his brother's rise to position of Badgerlord. He doesn't like quitters and sees it as a type of cowardice toward one's own potential.
Background/History
Paulvo Ortense Hammerfist was born October 26, 5604 in Salmandastron, Mossflower. He is the second child of Anvilblade and Hanlin Hammerfist. The couple had wanted a daughter, but got Paulvo instead. Having already given birth to a son destined to be badgerlord, they viewed their second son as a spare. Paulvo was raised responsibly and educated well, but was never given the doting attention shown to his older brother. He felt ignored and neglected at times, but he was free to guide his own destiny.
As a cub in Salamandastron, most of his schoolmates were hares. He quickly hit it off with a hare his age named Cornelius Longstride. The two had different interests, but they loved wandering the dunes surrounding Mt. Salamandastron. They'd talk endlessly and philosophize as much as kids can. Their paths began to diverge in their early teens as Cornelius's interests focused more on the Long Patrol. Paulvo also started befriending young vermin species in the area, something he was often picked on and jeered for. He became good friends with two rats named Zeek and Plug. The three boys all had an intense interest in the world beyond Salamandastron. They were also hopeless romantics, always talking about meeting girls and falling in love.
In summer of 5622, the three 18-year-olds set out on a personal quest. Paulvo was sick to death of his family of sycophants, the constant posturing and self-congratulating Long Patrol, and Salamandastron in general. They trekked south to the rat city of Blaggot, a place his two rat friends really wanted to visit. Paulvo alread rejected the idea of 'goodbeasts' and 'vermin', but his three weeks in Blaggot confirmed it. He carried a little stigma as the son of the current badgerlord, but his personality won over everyone he met. He and his companions all lost their virginity one night to a rat prostitute, and had many other subsequent flings. Paulvo is also quoted, "In Blaggot I had my three best blowjobs and three worst hangovers in the same week." The boys financed their journey by offering physical labor. Blaggot was dirty, gritty, and fun. He marveled at the city's success from ship building. He also learned the city did not have king, but a 'leader' named Cludrick who'd been 'elected.' Paulvo would talk about these things nonstop for the rest of their journey.
Paulvo, Zeek, and Plug continued on. They found Southsward beautiful, but very unwelcoming. The city of mostly 'goodbeasts' did not look kindly at a badger with two rat friends. They continued on after only three days and eventually found themselves in the Kingdom of Marl. The Marlfoxes were warmer toward them, but had an off-putting snootiness. The boys offered their labor services, but instead of service in return they were given little metal coins. "What's this?" they asked. The innkeeper explained 'money' to them. The two rats were perplexed, but Paulvo understood. "Imagine if everybeast made their own wealth AND elected their leader!" he raved drunkenly.
Halfway between Marl and Redwall Abbey, they were ambushed by 4 drunk Long Patrol Hares from a nearby fort. The hares thought Paulvo was being harassed by the two rats and swooped in. Paulvo, not afraid to talk shit to the Long Patrol, called them out. He got the blunt end of a lance in his chest, his friends were relieved of their daggers and given black eyes. They sobbed as they walked through the night. Had they tried to defend themselves, the rats would be dead and the hares 'heroes' for saving the badgerlord's son. It was a lose/lose situation.
The somber trio arrived at Redwall Abbey a week later. True to its mission, the abbey welcomed the travelers. Paulvo was smitten with Redwall and how everyone works together. Brother Serney Blanders took a deep interest in the boys' journey. Serney was very upset by their Long Patrol encounter. Paulvo and Serney shared philosophies and although their focuses were somewhat different, both agreed that Mossflower needed to change.
Relatives/Family
Wife: Neuma Gardine Hammerfist, 40.
Daughter: Stella Hammerfist, 12.
Son: Ulbrige Hammerfist, 11.
Daughter: Jean Hammerfist, 8.
Father: Bagerlord Anvilblade Hammerfist, 73.
Mother: Lady Hanlin Daffold Hammerfist, 80.
Brother: Lord Brokforge Hammerfist, 42. Killed at the Battle of Langchex, June 12, 5644.
All other extended family killed at the Battle of Langchex, June 12, 5644.
World/Setting
Set on planet Earth approximately 50,000 years in the future. All of my Redwall OCs are depicted as they were in the year 5645(Year Zero was when time measurements switched from seasons to years.), the year of the Rendezvous of the Six Armies. Most of Chucky's world is stone aged to medieval at this time, with some increasing industrialization. The most modern cities have technology equivalent to that of Ancient Rome. Worldwide ocean travel exists with celestial navigation, although it is a risky undertaking.
Paulvo Hammerfist is from Salamandastron. The ancestral home to badgerlords and hares is a frequent setting in most of the Redwall books. It is described as an extinct volcano on the shore of the Western Sea, and just south of the mouth of the River Moss.
In Paulvo's time, the industrial city of Salamandastron straddles the mouth of the River Moss. Water power is used in various methods of manufacturing and forging. A large bridge joins the north and south halves of the city. As the River Moss was a frequent method of invasion to Mossflower Country, this bridge acts as a barrier and can be lowered to block any ship from entering or leaving.
Paulvo Hammerfist was 33 when the assumed extinct Mt. Salamandastron erupted, destroying the millennia-old home of badgerlords. The city of Salamandastron remained intact and continues to flourish under his leadership. Most badgers and the Long Patrol relocated to the forest surrounding Redwall Abbey. This was the start of what would become Mossflower City. Most Redwall stories take place in Mossflower Country. For the purpose of crossover with Chucky's world, Mossflower is what most of Western Europe is known as. Mossflower Proper, covers the Iberian Peninsula. Redwall Abbey sits near what we know as Valladolid, Spain.(yes, I know there are some holes in my geography, but just go with it.) And although this area experiences a semiarid Mediterranean Climate in our time, in Hammerfist's time, the climate has cooled and Mossflower experiences a climate similar to the rest of Western Europe.
Mossflower Country has no centralized government, just a common language of Mossflorian. It is a collections of kingdoms, species based tribal communities, communal settlements like Redwall Abbey and Mt. Salamandastron, and a few true cities like Southsward and Marl. Its history is that of survival and tribal warfare. Small kingdoms under a feudal system run by a lord or chieftain would trade or fight with each other for better land and resources. Larger communities grew in places where farming was done on a large scale. Redwall Abbey was built between early 4109 and 4129. It became known throughout the regions as a place of sanctuary, and a place of riches. The Redwall book series does a good job of explaining life in Mossflower over the next thousand years or so.
Mossflower began seeing changes in past centuries. Free markets began forming allowing creatures to make a living with their own skills. The quickest change was the sudden lack of 'vermin hordes'. Rats, weasels, stoats, foxes, and other 'vermin' no longer needed to join hordes for survival. The rat city of Blaggot, fox city of Marl, and northern coast trade port of Coltswart where such places. Relations between creatures and kingdoms softened. Internal trade and travel grew, and Mossflower felt smaller.
Most agree that the 5637 eruption of Mt. Salamandastron ended the era of 'Old Mossflower' for good. The displaced Long Patrol became the new horde for a short time. Then a new enemy approached from the east, not set on riches, but on empire building. 'Goodbeast' and 'vermin' alike cowered as the Long Patrol's first attack was efficiently cut down, also killing Paulvo's brother and his kin. Was this new invader unstoppable? Can Mossflower put their past permanently behind them and become a nation that fights together?
Body
Not as big as his brother. Paulvo stands 6 foot 6 inches tall and is rather pudgy. A very friendly face with big soft brown eyes. He has the same bluish fur as his brother and otherwise same markings. Naked palms and bottoms of his feet.
Clothing
Usually well dressed. A cotton or silk undershirt with a heavier short sleeved outer shirt and a large leather belt around his waist. Loose fitting trousers with each pant leg tied closed at the foot to prevent catching. Usually barefoot unless working close to his forges.
Accessories
Carries an abacus and writing pad with him constantly.
