Professor William A. Birdthistle



Professor William Alistair Birdthistle (which is what he insists he be called) is a scholar, college lecturer, explorer, adventurer, and general seeker of knowledge. Born to an extremely large and extremely poor family in the Tamuth slums of Alma, his youthful curiosity got him mixed up with a thieves' guild early on, learning skills that he used to fast-talk his way into a very good school, and still uses to some degree to this day as an adventurer. He loves knowledge, but isn't always on speaking terms with the truth (outside of the classroom, at least). Appears to have never been romantically involved with anyone ever, and at the rate he's going, he never will be.

Specializes in studying people (allies and foes alike) to see what makes them tick, and in mixing up concoctions to heal and harm. With a healer's kit at his side, he can heal wounds better than many clerics. He carries an alchemically-altered staff that allows him to shoot lightning. He can pick up a stick off the ground and use it to track people or places. He uses chemical knowledge to summon elementals and defend against magic. And his favorite ability, a never-ending supply of small explosives called Flashbangs which he uses to blind and disorient unlucky opponents.

For a brief time, he was the holder of the Twilight shard, but he didn't realize what he had until it was gone, taken by Tempest Targarian, who had it immediately taken from him by Valis Gras Atris. He still retains a drop of Clarity from the experience, which gives him the ability to make great logical leaps using his own memories and knowledge.

Known relatives include parents Parry and Eliza Birdthistle, twin sister Dr. Isolde Birdthistle (physician), older brother "Professor" Gregory Birdthistle ( con artist Legitimate Businessman), younger brother Terry Birdthistle (professional wrestler under the name Hulk Birdcrusher), youngest sister Mariana Birdthistle (professional athlete), uncle Barnabas C. Birdthistle (mortician), aunt Fatima "Faintly" Birdthistle (herbologist), Great Grandpappy Birdthistle (deceased, maybe), and a whole host of others.

His family is heir to the legendary Birdthistle Birdwhistle, which he earned in a recent family reunion contest. (Turns out his family is not as poor as he thought; but it's also much larger than anyone thought) As suspected, it's a shard, the Birds shard. He finds being able to fly and talk to avians to be much better than having the Lightman's voice in his head.

Class: Scholar