William Balsam
"Some people say that I am just riding the success of my father and his father before him. It would be a lie to say that they have not equipped me for the future. I know from them that a well-compensated worker is a happy one, I know from them that good things take time, and I know from them that a leader must understand the jobs performed by those they lead. Even so, I am my own man, and have my own ideas about the business and the ways in which it could be improved. We can work to improve the efficiency of our mills, strengthen the blades of our saws, and make sure that my great-great-grandchildren will still have trees to cut when they take over the business."
Early Life
William was born in Pine Mills during the spring of 127CE to a family of lumber merchants. He spent most of his time with his father who spent most of his time running the family business, the Balsam Timber Company. Since an early age he was aware that one day he would take over the family business and strived to learn all he could about its function. Though much of his childhood and early teen years were spent learning about the different aspects of the lumber business, he also developed a fondness for fishing, a passtime that he shared with his younger siblings.The New Lumber Baron
As the successor to a successful company he is well-known in the Deer River Valley. His reputation is strongly positive but business men may find it difficult to get a deal when working with him. He is nothing if not honest, even the stingiest buyer couldn't deny that, and he won't let his product go for less than it is worth. He seems every bit the part of the lumber baron. From the deep voice and forward attitude to the friendly smile and shrewd negotiations. It is clear that he loves his work very much and he loves life at least as much. Despite this the business takes up most of his time and he has yet to marry. When asked about why he hasn't married he says that he is busy and that the only thing he regrets is not having more time to go fishing.Appearance
William is about 1.8 meters tall, an average height for people in the valley. He has extremely short brown hair that he claims is so that he can easily shake the sawdust out. His eyes are green and topped by one big bushy unibrow. His forearms are like the trunks of the trees that his company cuts down. He may spend a lot of time doing business and management but the mark of the lumberjack never disappears. For a hat he wears a soft cap with a small brim. His favourite shirts are plaid, in fact, no one can remember seeing him wear anything else.I approached William with our request for white pine of high quality for our masts. He told me he could get us what we want and even presented a map to show that he already knew of suitable trees. He was very sociable and took great interest in the work we do. It isn't the first time he has provided materials for shipbuilders but it is the first time one went to see him in person. I thought things were going very well and they were until it came to the negotiations. It seemed like I would be able to cut a deal but in the end I had no choice but to agree to almost the entire budget we had set aside for the masts. I can't bring myself to dislike him for it. To us the lumber is a material to our finished product. To him it is the entire ship and we wouldn't sell an entire sailing ship for less than it was worth.
Axe or Rabbit?
Some people say that his companion is a saw but that is not true. Since he was a child he has been accompanied by the one-eyed rabbit. It is white with black markings and has the ability to jump very high for its size.
Children
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