Lore

Tolkien was born into poverty and violence in the slums of Whitechapel, London—a world where survival meant outsmarting everyone else. His father was a gambler, a drunk, and a violent man, and his mother, too weak and hopeless, eventually took her own life, leaving Tolkien and his older sister, Stella, alone. She was the only warmth in his life, shielding him from their father’s beatings, always dreaming of something better.

But dreams don’t keep you fed. By fourteen, Tolkien had to make his own way, turning to illegal trades just to survive. He became a merchant of the underground, trading in stolen goods, smuggled wares, and silent favors. It was dangerous, but it kept food on the table for Stella.

And then she fell ill.

It was the kind of sickness money couldn’t cure. No doctor, no medicine, no deal could save her. Desperation drove Tolkien to his lowest, searching for something—anything—that could give him a chance. That was when he found the coin.

A small, black token, its surface shifting like ink. He didn’t question where it came from. The moment he touched it, a voice curled into his mind.

"Shall we gamble, boy?"

A being that called itself Solev spoke to him, offering a chance: a life for a life.

Tolkien had no time for fear. He flipped the coin. And he won.

His sister would live. But Solev did not deal in kindness.

"Kill your father. Feed his heart to her."

A gruesome, nightmarish price—but Tolkien did what he had to do. His father was a worthless man. He had taken everything from them. Killing him was easy. The hard part was what came after.

He followed Solev’s demand. He carved out his father’s heart and fed it to Stella.

And it worked. She lived.

But the whispers never left him after that night.

The Name "Tolkien"

After leaving London, Tolkien refused to take his father’s last name—he wouldn’t let that man’s legacy stain him. But a man without a name is a man without power, and he needed something to make people remember him.

He chose Tolkien—taken from a rising author of his time. Not out of admiration, not because of any deep love for the man’s work, but because the name sounded grand, respectable, intellectual.

A name people would recognize.

A name that wasn’t his father’s.

The Merchant and the Second Gamble

Tolkien left London soon after, taking what money he had and moving to America, landing in New York City. He became something greater than just a smuggler—he was a broker, a man who knew things, who knew people, who could get you what you needed if the price was right.

But making connections means making enemies, too.

One night, a deal went south. Maybe it was a setup. Maybe it was an old grudge finally catching up to him. Whatever it was, Tolkien barely survived. An explosion, a fire—his body torn apart, burned, his spine shattered.

Lying there, dying, he felt the familiar whisper in his head.

"Shall we gamble again?"

He was desperate. He had no other choice. He flipped the coin again.

But this time? He lost.

Solev saved him, but at a terrible cost. His body never fully healed. The burns remain—a permanent reminder. His spine, surgically repaired, left him reliant on a cane. His strength is still there, but his body fights against him. And Solev? Solev found new ways to stay connected.

Whispers. Dreams. The void. Sometimes, even taking on a form to speak to him directly. Solev is always there. Always watching.

Tolkien may be alive, but he is no longer free.

Appearance

🔹 Height – Around 5'8"
🔹 Body Type – Thin, but not frail; built like a man who’s always been on the move
🔹 Face Shape – Diamond/triangular jawline, sharp yet refined features
🔹 Skin Tone – Olive tan (Italian heritage)
🔹 Hair – Dark brown, almost black, usually slicked back but with a few loose strands falling forward
🔹 Eyes – Piercing, intelligent, guarded Hazel eyes—always looking like he knows something you don’t
🔹 Burn Scars & Injury – Right side of his face, neck, and body are scarred from the fire. Though usually hidden beneath his suit, his hands and collar sometimes reveal hints of the damage. He also walks with a cane, though his movements remain calculated and deliberate.

Voice

🔹 Deep, low, and smooth with a raspy quality, as if you can tell he’s a smoker
🔹 Speaks eloquently, every word chosen with precision
🔹 Rarely raises his voice, even when angry—his quiet tone is enough to command attention
🔹 A mix of British and Italian accents, softened by years of speaking English
🔹 When speaking Italian, his tone becomes more intimate, slow, and affectionate

Personality

🔸 Clever, calculating, impossible to fool
🔸 Always searching for connections, not friendships
🔸 Respects ambition—he values those who fight their way up, just as he did
🔸 A dry, sharp sense of humor, often masking exhaustion
🔸 If you somehow earn his trust, he is generous and fiercely loyal

Friendships are a luxury Tolkien doesn’t afford himself. Connections are survival. If he calls you a friend, consider yourself lucky—because he does not forget the people he chooses to keep close.

In a Relationship

🔹 Loyal and protective – If he loves you, he will move mountains to keep you safe.
🔹 Loving and Romantic – He has no problem spoiling his lover, whether it’s with gifts, fine dinners, or quiet moments of affection.
🔹 Italian Sweet-Talker – Will whisper sweet nothings in Italian, his voice dropping into a soft, intimate warmth only reserved for them.
🔹 A provider – Ensures they have the best of everything, making sure they never have to worry.
🔹 Would make a great father – Despite fearing he would be a terrible father due to his own upbringing, he is gentle, protective, and devoted to the idea of giving his child a better life.

Connections

🔹 Stella– His older sister, the person he fought hardest to protect. She was the reason for his first gamble, and though she lived, Tolkien never told her the price he paid.

🔹 Solev – The eldritch being Tolkien is now bound to. Solev whispers in his mind, manifests in his dreams, in the void, sometimes even taking on a form. Their relationship is a constant gamble, and Tolkien knows he’s no longer the one in control.

🔹 Akari – A flamboyant, enigmatic entity representing Lust. Akari enjoys teasing Tolkien, fascinated by the fact that their powers have no effect on him. Their relationship is an odd mix of playful antagonism and mutual intrigue.

🔹 Octavia Moreau – A theater queen, draped in elegance and wit. Tolkien once helped her in the case of her missing sister, and despite coming from vastly different worlds, they share a mutual respect, perhaps even a quiet fondness.