The Basics
Full Name: Taliesin Amell
Aliases: Tobin
Nicknames: Old Grouch (by most anyone), Blind Bastard (if you're going to be rude about it...)
Age: 25 (beginning of Origins); 26/27 (Awakening); 25-32 (2); 36 (beginning of Inquisition)
Date of Birth: 22nd day of Kingsway, 9:05 Dragon
Race: Human (possibly elf-blooded)
Gender: Male
Residence: Travels; no fixed home
Birthplace: Kirkwall
Occupation: Mercenary for hire, healer, historian
Sexual Preference: Heterosexual
Marital Status: Single
Specializations and Skills
Class: Mage (Shapeshifter/Arcane Warrior)
Weapons: Spellweaver; Magister's Staff (silverite staff)
Basic Skills: Cooking, foraging, hunting
Specialized Skills: Herbalism (master), Poison-making (master)
Physical
Hair Color/Length/Style: Dark blonde to light brown, long, past his shoulders; tends to keep in a loose ponytail
Eye Color: Formerly blue-gray, but are now clouded over (blind)
Height: Somewhere between 6' and 6'3
Distinguishing Marks: Tattoo on his face to resemble the various scars his already has
Scars: Multiple- on his face (above his left eye, left cheek, across his forehead above his right eye, middle of his forehead between his eyes), his back (deep cuts, as if from a blade), his chest (above his heart, various slash marks), and his right arm (bicep, just below his shoulder)
Body Type/Build: Lean (not skinny/scrawny) with a light, muscular build
Default Expression: Blank (aka Resting Bitch Face)
Describe Their Voice: Tobrin speaks in a low voice that's almost rasping or rough
Skin Tone: Lightly tanned/medium
Typical Clothing: Commoner clothing (when traveling), Battlemage Coat
Accessories: Seer's Band (a gift from the Rivani seer that helped train him; a simple ring of silver with small etchings around the band. He tends to wear it on his left ring finger); Amell Family Ring (given to him when the Templars came to take him from his family; wears it on a cord around his neck)
Backpack: Various containers of healing potions, lyrium-based mana potions, various herbs and trinkets that he's collected over the years, spare clothes
Extra: Tobrin is blind; however, his time training with Tarisai and Cione has made it hard to tell that he is such. He moves with the same ease and grace as other Dalish, extending his senses to feel out what's around him. He has also drawn on the power of the Fade to be able to 'see' things around him, though this often leads him to seeing things that others aren't aware of (such as spirits that have lingered or possible weak points in the Veil). Suppressing his magic, however, leaves him to rely on his other senses or those around him to guide him (and he hates when that happens).
Personality and Impressions
Personality: Tobrin is not one to suffer fools and he will be the first to let anyone know when they are doing something utterly foolish. He doesn't mince words and will be straight to the point. Often sarcastic and somewhat dry in his sense of humor. On the other side of things, he has learned a bit of diplomacy (when he needs to be) and can be utterly charming when it's called for. He's not the leader, by any means, and would prefer to let others call the shots. However, he is not above offering advice when it's called for. He's not a mentor or teacher, as he doesn't have the patience for it, but he is utterly loyal and dedicated to those that he comes to care for.
Tobrin also loves to learn new things. He is interested in any piece of history or lore, no matter how insignificant. This often leads to long- and sometimes, boring- retellings of anything that he comes across that he finds fascinating.
First Impressions: He tends to come off as rude, terse, and a bit angry at those that don't know him best. His answers to most questions tend to be short and to the point. It takes some time- and a great deal of patience- to get past this stage.
Over Time (and He Likes Someone): There are more smiles, though not many, and he is more than willing to share what he knows (it can still come off as angry, sometimes). He is better at choosing his words, to keep from offending.
Over Time (and He Dislikes Someone): He ignores them. Period. Or his answers revert to how they had been before, if much worse: he is curt and short. It will take a long time to regain his trust at this stage (or gain it, period, if it was never gained in the first place).
Positive Characteristics: Loyal, honest, protective of those he cares about, adaptable, confident
Negative Characteristics: Impatient with those that are slow or overly naïve, abrasive, stubborn (pig-headed)
Usual Mood: Grouchy (There is a reason he is referred to as the Old Grouch, ya know)
Drink: Ale, wine
Soft Spot/Vulnerability: His friends, his family, women and children, people that are in need of help
Opinion On Swearing: ...do you want tips? And in what language? (Common, Rivaini, Orlesian, Antivan?)
How He Passes Time: Exploring new areas, herb gathering (despite being blind, he's quite adept at potion and poison making), reading (when he can)
Hobbies: Meditation, listening to others telling their stories, reading (surprisingly!)
Biggest Secret: It wouldn't be much of a secret if it was shared, now would it?
What Animal Would They Be: Owl
Fears: Losing anyone close to him, loss of self
Drunk Type: Depends on his mood when he's drinking. Tends to be more the idiot/fool type, but has been shown to be the angry drunk as well
Done Anything To Get In Trouble With The Law: A few times (he is a mercenary...and an apostate)
Random: Tobrin speaks multiple languages, due to his travels: Common (learned from birth), Antivan/Rivaini (picked up bits and pieces in his travels; enough to converse and possibly curse), Orlesian (learned from a former member of his mercenary group), Qunlat (knows a few words from the Qunari but not enough to be passable in conversation), Dalish (picked up from a Dalish tribe he traveled with for a while)
History
Taliesin Amell is a name that, honestly, not a whole lot of people know. Well, at least not with the Amell connection. The name "Tobrin" (or "Taliesin", in some cases) has been passed around quite a bit, usually in connection with either the mercenary group known as Storm Heart.
There are differing accounts as to what he is: whether it's mage, rogue, or warrior. No one can really pin down his fighting style, either, as it tends to be a blend of whatever he picked up over the years. He's able to fight in both close-quarters as well as from a distance.
Of course, some accounts are absolute bullshit and he'll be the first to point it out.
Taliesin was born in the city-state of Kirkwall as the only son of a noble family from the city-state of Kirkwall in the Free Marches. There was some speculation- and rumors that followed- of his mother having an affair with an elven male that worked for the family. But this was speculation only, as no one could find any concrete proof. Shortly after his birth, his parents were officially married.
For the first five or six years of his life, Taliesin was- more or less- spoiled by his mother, who always viewed him as her baby boy. When he first displayed a propensity for magic, she did what she could to keep him hidden and hired a private tutor to help him master his magic. This arrangement didn't last too long, as word got out. The Templars heard everything, of course. Without hesitation, they took the child from his family: he can still recount his mother, stumbling in the streets and crying out for him. It's an image that he could never ignore.
Because of his ties to the city of Kirkwall and because the Tower in Kirkwall was overwhelmed at the time, Taliesin was to be sent to Kinloch Hold, in Ferelden. However, the ship that he was supposed to take was ambushed by raiders. The children were all taken by the pirates and sold off to Tevinter Magisters looking for new blood. They traveled north, towards Rivain, where they were attacked – again – this time by Qunari forces. Taliesin attempted an escape, but the Magister in charge of him had left him weakened. A last ditch effort was made that left the boy blind and almost dead. Thankfully, he was found by a Dalish tribe and their Keeper, though his gratefulness for being rescued turned bitter.
It took the combined efforts of the Keeper- who had taken a sort of maternal role in nursing Taliesin- and a local Rivani seer by the name of Tarisai to pull him out of his depression and set him on another path. Tarisai herself took the youth under her wing and showed him different ways that he could 'see' without having to rely solely on his eyesight. It was through her that he met Cione, the captain of a local mercenary band that was looking to take in some fresh recruits.
Cione taught Taliesin how to fight in close-quarters, relying on the sounds of his opponents to judge how best to defend himself. With both magic and blades at his disposal, Taliesin became a quick learner and would soon join the group, leaving behind his friends and family for a time, while taking on the new name of "Tobrin".
Cione's mercenary group operated between Rivain and Antiva, sometimes taking odd jobs in Orlais and the Free Marches as well. Through his jobs, he picked up other languages along the way, adding them to those that he knew from growing up. He made many friends through his jobs, acquaintances that he kept up with as time passed.