Rhodes Lawson - Traveling Merchant / Business Owner
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Name: Rhodes Lawson
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 190 lbs
Species: Gypsy Vanner Horse
Physical Description: Standard Gypsy vanner markings. He is often dressed in a vest and shirt. Even when casual he is often well dressed.
Biographical Data
The son of business magnate Kenneth Lawson, Rhodes began to learn the ins and outs of business at an early age. His father taught him how to make money and numerous aspects of commerce. Raised in the city of Sadriel, he was exposed to all sorts of styles of business. Sadriel was the sort of place where one could find just about anything, provided one did not care too much about how it came to be available. While the city is far from lawless, Rhodes became aware that business meant different things to different people.
As a teenager he began to operate a traveling cart for his father's trading company. The Lawson Trading Company was well respected and profitable. While he made good money doing this he decided one day he wanted to own his own cart and in time his own shop. Determined this should happen with his own money he worked hard to earn the money to buy a cart. A few weeks before he would be ready to do so, he was attacked by bandits on the road. The timely arrival of a bird in armor saved his goods and profits not to mention his well being from a violent attack. After introducing himself he hired Ethan as a partner and the two began to travel.
While initially displeased with Ethan's decision to hide Diana from the Red Guard, he soon finds she is a skilled archer and a kind individual, welcomed to the group.
Personal Statement
"My name is Rhodes Lawson. Yes, you've heard the name. It's not something I'm real proud of personally. My father is the founder and owner of the Lawson Trading Company based out of Sadriel. What everyone knows is that he's a savvy businessman who can get you anything you want for a price. What they don't know and I am intimately aware of is that my father's primary business is not trading but obtaining rare objects for people with flexible moralities. If you'll meet his price he'll get anything for you no questions asked.
Sure, he makes lots of money trading goods or arranging them on someone's behalf and taking a cut of the profits, but he keeps a shop downtown that has no goods, no stock, nothing other than an empty room. His primary business involves a lot of acquisitions of things the owners might not wish to part with. He's got the reputation for always getting what you ask for and always keeping his word. The problem is, people get hurt in the bargain. Most of the folks that go to him don't care about that, but I do.
I believe business should be done above the table and with an honest intention. I don't think you should be able to kill a man and call it 'just business'. When I learned of the sort of things my father condoned I couldn't look at him the same way ever again. As soon as I was able, I bought my own cart and left for parts unknown. It's not much, but it's enough.
I picked up a partner, some hawk named Ethan Hargrove. He's a nice enough fellow, a bit odd sometimes. He seems to be really friendly with women. Not in the flirty way but more times than not when they give him the sad eyes he's got to try to help them. It gets us in trouble more times than I'd care to recall. He's a nice bird, but he makes my life interesting at times. I just hope he doesn't get me killed.
Thanks to him we picked up some Doberman lady named Diana, and an Oracle. I'm still not sure how I feel about that one. There are a lot of legends surrounding them. Supposedly they can see the future but the reality is more that they can sense what people don't realize they're already broadcasting to the universe. While I'm not used to traveling with women it's kind of nice to have more than one person to talk to on those long stretches between towns. I just have to remember to knock before I pull the cart's flaps back now."
Character by
LaurenRivers
Art by
Jakkal
Name: Rhodes Lawson
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 190 lbs
Species: Gypsy Vanner Horse
Physical Description: Standard Gypsy vanner markings. He is often dressed in a vest and shirt. Even when casual he is often well dressed.
Biographical Data
The son of business magnate Kenneth Lawson, Rhodes began to learn the ins and outs of business at an early age. His father taught him how to make money and numerous aspects of commerce. Raised in the city of Sadriel, he was exposed to all sorts of styles of business. Sadriel was the sort of place where one could find just about anything, provided one did not care too much about how it came to be available. While the city is far from lawless, Rhodes became aware that business meant different things to different people.
As a teenager he began to operate a traveling cart for his father's trading company. The Lawson Trading Company was well respected and profitable. While he made good money doing this he decided one day he wanted to own his own cart and in time his own shop. Determined this should happen with his own money he worked hard to earn the money to buy a cart. A few weeks before he would be ready to do so, he was attacked by bandits on the road. The timely arrival of a bird in armor saved his goods and profits not to mention his well being from a violent attack. After introducing himself he hired Ethan as a partner and the two began to travel.
While initially displeased with Ethan's decision to hide Diana from the Red Guard, he soon finds she is a skilled archer and a kind individual, welcomed to the group.
Personal Statement
"My name is Rhodes Lawson. Yes, you've heard the name. It's not something I'm real proud of personally. My father is the founder and owner of the Lawson Trading Company based out of Sadriel. What everyone knows is that he's a savvy businessman who can get you anything you want for a price. What they don't know and I am intimately aware of is that my father's primary business is not trading but obtaining rare objects for people with flexible moralities. If you'll meet his price he'll get anything for you no questions asked.
Sure, he makes lots of money trading goods or arranging them on someone's behalf and taking a cut of the profits, but he keeps a shop downtown that has no goods, no stock, nothing other than an empty room. His primary business involves a lot of acquisitions of things the owners might not wish to part with. He's got the reputation for always getting what you ask for and always keeping his word. The problem is, people get hurt in the bargain. Most of the folks that go to him don't care about that, but I do.
I believe business should be done above the table and with an honest intention. I don't think you should be able to kill a man and call it 'just business'. When I learned of the sort of things my father condoned I couldn't look at him the same way ever again. As soon as I was able, I bought my own cart and left for parts unknown. It's not much, but it's enough.
I picked up a partner, some hawk named Ethan Hargrove. He's a nice enough fellow, a bit odd sometimes. He seems to be really friendly with women. Not in the flirty way but more times than not when they give him the sad eyes he's got to try to help them. It gets us in trouble more times than I'd care to recall. He's a nice bird, but he makes my life interesting at times. I just hope he doesn't get me killed.
Thanks to him we picked up some Doberman lady named Diana, and an Oracle. I'm still not sure how I feel about that one. There are a lot of legends surrounding them. Supposedly they can see the future but the reality is more that they can sense what people don't realize they're already broadcasting to the universe. While I'm not used to traveling with women it's kind of nice to have more than one person to talk to on those long stretches between towns. I just have to remember to knock before I pull the cart's flaps back now."
Character by
LaurenRiversArt by
Jakkal
Category Artwork (Digital) / General Furry Art
Species Horse
Size 900 x 1200px
File Size 1.24 MB
Listed in Folders
I've always quite liked Rhodes, and it's nice to get to know a little bit more about him. I'd gathered that he was a wandering merchant, of course, but I can't remember if any of the stories I've read mentioned his background or not. It's funny how different children can be from their parents sometimes, and if Rhodes prefers to keep things above board it's no wonder why he's not on the best of terms with his father. Though it's kind of a pity, too, as I can only imagine how tough it must be to have that kind of a rift in your family.
I think he'd probably get along just fine with Catherine, if they should ever meet. She owns a whole ship rather than just a cart, and a warehouse to boot, but she's got the same determinedly honest approach to business in spite of having been born and raised in a similarly disreputable city. Though I think she'd enjoy having a chance to wander the land like he does, too.
I think he'd probably get along just fine with Catherine, if they should ever meet. She owns a whole ship rather than just a cart, and a warehouse to boot, but she's got the same determinedly honest approach to business in spite of having been born and raised in a similarly disreputable city. Though I think she'd enjoy having a chance to wander the land like he does, too.
His story didn't really develop until I started to write the plot for Diana's first outing. After the comic had sort of established him as the straight man, I played it backwards and wondered how Ethan and Rhodes had met, which is covered in the story. However, at a certain point I needed an antagonist to aid in setting up certain events and this resulted in expanding on Rhodes's history. While so far, we know little about him other than what's mentioned here, unlike Ethan and Diana who get their backstories told more directly we sort of intuit Rhodes and where he came from out of details that emerge during the story. Needless to say he and Ethan work and live together for the most part, and he and his father do not get along. For better or for worse our parents end up influencing a lot of who we are as adults, either for or against. In the case of Rhodes, he just doesn't speak to his father any more than he has to as a result, preferring to make his own name.
Perhaps one day they'll encounter each other, as Rhodes and Catherine do now share a universe. :)
Perhaps one day they'll encounter each other, as Rhodes and Catherine do now share a universe. :)
Clearly a man of honor. I think it's admirable that he's willing to hold to his principles and strike out on his own rather than continuing to profit from his father's shady dealings. There are many who would put their own comfort above their morals, but I like a guy with guts. I'm sure he'll get used to having female companions, too. Especially ones as strong and as useful as his new friends!
Rhodes has always sort of been the straight man, the guy who just has to be honest and honorable because to him there's no other way to be. When he learns the sort of things his father has done in the name of business he leaves to form his own business, one built on fair deals and honest practices. Rhodes has retained some things his father taught him, like swordsmanship and so on, but he prefers to do business his own way.
He definitely doesn't plan to pick up any others, but Ethan has other plans. :)
He definitely doesn't plan to pick up any others, but Ethan has other plans. :)
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