Gilden Kajak

Physical Description:
Gilden is a stocky Tairen who appears almost squat due to his short height and the breadth of his shoulders. His hands are massive when compared to the rest of him, but are capable of surprisingly delicate work. His skin is dark and his eyes and hair jet-black. He normally goes about wearing only breeches and boots and a leather apron. When not smithing, he wears traditional Tairen garb, without the straw hat. His voice is low and guttural, and he often swears violently and colorfully.

Personality:
Gilden is a good smith, but sometimes takes the attitude of a suffering artist. He berates his assistants, curses the people who come to him for work, and castigates the materials he is forced to work with. The only thing that makes him bearable is that he is just as hard on himself, rejecting any sort of compliment and claiming everything he produces is garbage. When not working, he is slightly more likable, but is always loud, brash, and outspoken. This is not always good, as he holds low opinions of many, including nobles (rich pigs), Illianers (thieving scoundrels), Mayeners (conniving backstabbers), Cairhienin (arrogant buffoons), and Domani (untrustworthy harlots). This has not earned him the love of many, but he is able to control his language around Aes Sedai, and his natural skill at weaponcrafting leads them to forgive him his flaws.

History:
A Tairen by birth, Gilden has been a smith for more years than he can count (literally; he can only count to ten). He is not well-educated or especially intelligent, but he is truly a master, able to produce weapons and armor that are beautiful as well as deadly. He served for a time as the smith for a High Lord of Tear, but the High Lord was much less forgiving of his opinions on nobility (which he was hard-pressed to keep secret), so he ended up fleeing Tear to avoid losing his head. He is content where he is now, as the money is good, and while the Aes Sedai don�t approve of him, they at least haven�t threatened to kill him (yet).

Hobbies/Notes:
Gilden enjoys quaffing ale in taverns, but mostly he just likes to argue. He has been thrown out of nearly every bar in Tar Valon at one time or another, due to starting arguments (and occasionally brawls and near-riots). He also loves to gamble, and this is where a fair part of his wages go. He can be found (when not in his smithy, shouting and banging pieces of metal) in several of the pubs and gambling dens of the lower city.