Tom Drake
 The Knight |
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Tom Drake |
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| Full Name: | Thomakos Vincentius Draconius |
| Aliases: | Tom, Dragon, The Demon Slayer, Drake, Thomas, assorted unflattering names |
| Race: | Half Achaean, half Nordling |
| Sex: | Male |
| Birthplace: | Rimegard, Northrim |
| Eye Color: | Green and gold |
| Hair Color: | Dark brown |
| Affinity: | Fire |
| Affiliations: | Achaean Empire, House of Draconius, Illikon |
Biography
Tom Drake was born the bastard son of a noble knight of the Drake family and a barbarian woman he met on a campaign into Northrim. Tom was returned to Illikon as an infant and raised in an orphanage until around age seven, at which point he ran away and began living on his own in the city streets. He scraped by using his agility and cunning, often stealing to survive. At last, he was taken in by Warren Drake, patron of the House of Draconius; technically, Tom's uncle, who adopted him as the only son and youngest child of the Draconius family. Tom became Warren's page, and then his squire, much to the chagrin of other nobles, given Tom's illegitimate birth. Unlike most squires, Drake was knighted when he was younger than twenty-one due to displays of heroism (during events in The Hunt Never Ends), causing still further controversy. Now that he is a knight, he is not often seen without his faithful stallion, Ghost. He earned his title of Demon Slayer after achieving what almost no mortal man can boast: he slew an incredibly powerful demon, Vaal, who had crossed over to the mortal realm. Since then, Tom's name has only spread further across all of the Northwest, loved by some and hated by most.
Description
Tall, with broad shoulders, a lean but muscular and toned physique, and a very handsome face to match, Tom makes an excellent 'knight in shining armor' – at least physically. He has an aquiline Imperial nose, high cheekbones, and dark, low-set eyebrows that accentuate his slim eyes. His dark brown hair is short and extremely spiked, and his eyes are bright green with distinct yellow around his pupils. A deep scar is cut into his left forehead, extending into his hairline, and he has plenty more scars on his often bare arms.
Armor and Weapons
Tom's combat armor shows off his physique, as it is modeled after that of an ancient Achaean hoplite: his breastplate is sleeveless and form-fitting, bearing the design of a muscular chest, as well as the golden Imperial crown flanked by a pair of his blood red heraldic dragons. He is rarely seen without his dual, matching swords sheathed in an X across his back, and he always wears his amulet: a small, silver heraldic dragon.
Personality
Chaotic at heart and with a dislike for most governments and rules, Tom is wildly unpredictable. He holds little loyalty toward the Empire as a whole, but he is fiercely protective of both Illikon and his friends. Tom has earned an infamous reputation among his fellow nobles, who call him cocky, smart-mouthed, rebellious, disrespectful, extremely temperamental, persistently wise-cracking, and a "filthy street-rat bastard." He denies only a few of these accusations. He speaks like a commoner and swears often, and he has also gained a poor reputation in the court for having a foul mouth. He is obsessed with honor, never tells a lie, and is quick to defend those who cannot defend themselves; despite said honor, however, he is quite the ladies-man. He finds humor even in the most absurd situations, including mid-combat, and he tends to talk to himself and ceaselessly taunt enemies in battle. His temper is infamous: he is so volatile and vicious that his rage is considered on par with berserkers. Beneath all this sarcasm, arrogance, and rebelliousness, however, Tom is a genuinely good person out to do the right thing.
Appearances
Tom Drake is the protagonist of the primary series of Wulfgard novels, The Prophecy of the Six, including Knightfall. He has appeared in The Hunt Never Ends, serving as narrator for the story "The Troll Toll" as well as taking a leading role in "Waking the Dragon" parts 1 and 2.
