Raven is broadly NG in his outlook - although he is also very practical in his outlook, rather than altruistic. He believes that life happens now, and is a bit of an ‘in the moment’ person, he doesn’t dwell on things that have happened, but thinks a bit more about the future. But then, who knows what will happen tomorrow? So don’t plan too hard. While he believes in finding the best solution for everyone, he isn’t averse to punishing or killing people who actively try to damage ‘The Common Good’. Sure, some people are selfish, but so long as they aren’t hurting anyone - let them be.

• Rules and common understandings are important to help people get along and Laws are the towns version of that. Stick to them while you are in town - bear them in mind, think for yourself, when you aren’t.
• No one owes you a living. Use what you know and apply yourself and the world will provide. In Raven’s case that has meant entertaining and other casual work (Alchemy and Herbalism) when it has been available.
• Be a Big Fish. It is better to be your own man, than work for someone else and let them make the decisions for you. Sooner or later, YOU have to decide, and YOU will have responsibilities. Make sure you know how.
• Be a Big Fish 2. It is good to have your own patch of land, if you can get it.
• Casual Sex isn’t a bad thing, but continuity is best for families. However, continuity and stability come in a variety of forms.
• People can change, so give them a chance - if you can do it without hurting your own people.
• Friends are good - and it pays to work with them.
• Business is a good thing - it pays the bills. BUT, make the business fit in, rather than destroy things.

His influences.

Family

• His family was dysfunctional enough that there were plenty of unwritten rules - which kept everyone rubbing along in more or less the same direction without any major fall outs between them.
• His father had three wives, and children by all of them. But they all had a single place they could call home, and some level of security. One of his mothers was a priestess of Calistria, while another was a straightlaced follower of Abadar. The third was motherly …
• His family has been supported by businesses that his father helped to set up, some in conjunction with people that he met a young adventurer. Gagak’s adventuring party set up a joint business, and each of them had their own business interests as well.
• Skids Landing
• The Scarnetti Timber Yards, take a lot of trees and can do a lot of damage to the forests and both Gagak (and more recently) Drusilla have made him very aware of that. However, the Quarry and Herbalist, work with their environment.

Father’s Influence - some of Gagak’s favourite phrases.

• On the Family - We are like a pack of dogs. We fight together and hunt together, we share our kill, protect the weaker members of the pack and lick each others wounds when we need to.
• On making a living – The World provides. M (Gagak’s version is very nature centric - Raven’s is more to do with casual employment etc)
• On Life in general - Leave the squirrels alone. A pack of dogs won’t drive the squirrels away. They live here too, so long as they get on with eating their nuts, and leave ours alone. That is fine.
• On fighting – Nature is red in mind, tooth and claw - Talk first, but if you must fight, finish the fight as fast as you can, and don’t hold anything back.
• On running away – Are you a wolf or a mouse? But remember that even the bear runs from a pack of weasels if it thinks it is going to die.
• On power - it is better to be a big fish, than a small fish
• On power 2 – A big territory means your den is safer. If a pack has a large territory it might find another pack sniffing around its borders. But they won’t be attacking the den in the middle.