Jasper Thornwyck was born in the frontier lands beyond the Simmaron Forest over seven decades ago, the son of a family that made their living from the wilderness itself. His father was a hunter and his mother a skilled herbalist who taught him to read the signs of nature from an early age. Jasper took to the woods like a fish to water, showing an almost supernatural ability to track animals, predict weather patterns, and navigate even the most treacherous parts of the great forest.
In his youth, Jasper was renowned throughout the frontier settlements for his trapping skills. He could catch anything that walked, crawled, or flew through the Simmaron, and his furs and pelts were sought after by merchants from as far away as Brinnok. He lost his left eye in his thirties during a particularly dangerous encounter with a massive Simmaron bear—a battle that left him scarred but alive, and with a story he'd tell for decades to come. The injury never slowed him down, and he adapted quickly to hunting with only one good eye.
For over forty years, Jasper worked the Simmaron as an independent trapper, living rough in the woods for months at a time before returning to Homewood to trade his goods and stock up on supplies. His knowledge of the forest's hidden paths, seasonal patterns, and dangerous creatures became legendary among the local folk. When young patrollers like Jerrick first arrived at the Hall, experienced woodsmen like Jasper often served as unofficial mentors, teaching them the practical skills that kept them alive in the unforgiving wilderness.
As age crept into his bones and his reflexes slowed, Jasper gradually retired from active trapping. A persistent cough developed from years of exposure to harsh weather and campfire smoke, made worse by his habitual pipe smoking. Now he spends his days on the porch of Jay's Tavern, wrapped in his quilted blanket, sharing stories with anyone willing to listen and dispensing wisdom to younger folks who respect his lifetime of experience. Though his body has grown frail, his mind remains sharp, and his vast knowledge of the Simmaron's secrets makes him a valuable source of information for travelers and patrollers alike.
Despite his gruff exterior and tendency to embellish his tales, Jasper has a warm heart for those who show him genuine friendship and respect, which is why he formed such a bond with young Jerrick all those years ago when the inexperienced patroller needed guidance in the ways of the forest.
FIRST APPEARANCE
Jasper first appears in The Hall of the Wood.
