The Bandaged

The Bandaged Man (real name Alexander, last name unknown) is a member of both society and the slums, accepted in both only by virtue of his wealth. Formerly a teacher at the University and respected publisher in their younger years, they're now an indefinite substitute teacher and advocate-inventor for the usage of the Correspondence in inventions and tools. He is the current mentor of Able Price, regularly unwanted customer of Thomas Jones, and on-again off-again friend of Virgil. They currently reside at the top of one of the Spires of the Bazaar.

Before the Fall
Alexander comes from one of the British Empire's colonies. While originally slated to work in the labor sector as a spice farmer, he had a healthy interest in academic life (partly a genuine interest, partly to escape an unappealing future of working in the fields). While he was unable to attend a formal institution, he had good enough connections to borrow scientific publications through the backdoor of schools. However, he was unable to make much progress due to a combination of being given badly damaged books and a poor understanding of English. During his bootlegged studies, he had formed an interest in salesmanship, supporting his scant education by reselling many of the books he was unable to read on charisma and bargaining alone.

Progressing from selling poor books to a variety of snake-oil treatments and exotic medicine, he had met his wife while PLACEHOLDER.

After the Fall
After London fell, the attention of the above-ground British Empire shifted away from their home country. The new power vacuum created an environment ripe for civil and national war, forcing him and his family to flee. In his eyes, the best place to escape was within the heart of London itself, and sought asylum in the Neath. He ended up separated from his wife and his daughter, heading his way underground without them.

After Alexander had gone into the Neath, he struggled to maintain a good living. Alexander's early years underground were spent trying to understand English and working on the way he spoke, mainly by sight-reading and practicing words. Motivated by his desire to provide for a family he hoped would be following after him, he spent many years making himself respectable enough to attend London's University and create a formal study of the sciences. During his time there, he came to become involved in the Correspondence, founding the study as a discipline at the college and successfully publishing papers (with the occasional lead plaque inlet) on the matter.

After many decades of working towards a better life for his family, he had near forgotten what his name is, and has lost most of his identity before he came to London. Having experienced many things all over the Neath and beyond, the only thing motivating him now yet is the hope that the good life he has created will be enjoyed by those he cares about.

He is slowly losing hope that he'll see his family again with how long it has taken for his family to arrive.

Able Price
Initially taking in Able after being equally impressed and amused by his sincerity and confusion, they have taken a fondness with Able's genuine character and naivety. He considers himself the mentor and Able his protégé, though he fails to act like it most of the time.

He hopes to hear him recognize them as an inspiring figure, though, deep in the back of his mind, he doesn't expect to have this realized.

Thomas Jones
Their relationship is a volatile one; they are perfectly aware that Thomas does not have much investment in them and that the relationship they have only exists due to his patronage essentially subsidizing Thomas's business model. Despite this, however, he willingly chooses to believe that he is welcome to Thomas's resources and tries to find any sort of approval within his comments; insistent on being physically close, he mistakes Thomas's tolerance with endearment.

Virgil
Having met Virgil during one of his more dangerous socializing among devils, he considers himself a close friend of his. Oblivious to the distance Virgil puts between him, he considers himself to be of equal status with the devil, and thus something that they ought to bond over.

After Able's commitment to Virgil, he is convinced that his former "friend" had done something unspeakable to his protégé, focusing on Able's initial (and very striking) fear of devils and ignoring Able's affirmations of sincerity afterwards. His anger and maniacal disposition is a cover for his worry that Virgil is replacing the position he hoped to have in Able's eyes.

Agatha Esen
After meeting Agatha during one of his more eccentric trips across the Zee, he considers her a friend of equal respect to himself. As a younger man, Agatha acted as a fellow friend exploring the world and enjoying life along his side. In his older years, he is more likely to treat her as an elder out of respect, though there are notes of ribald jabs when he's not thinking.

Dazed and Drunk
The Bandaged Man is typically in an inebriated state, dazed in various degrees on honey, or otherwise mentally indisposed. On any given day, he is typically enmeshed in some particular scheme to attempt to feel fulfilled in completing something for that day. Maniacal and depressive, his mood can swing wildly between an energetic focus on his current obsession to a low drunkard state, all to avoid confronting his growing fear of being unneeded.

Sober
For the rare moments he chooses to neither drink wine nor sup on honey, he is incredibly personable. Melancholy but kind, his disposition is like a nervous academic hoping to enter an intimidating college (much like how he was in his younger years). Immensely curious, if a bit misguided in his techniques, he is capable of giving many incisive observations about things, though he fails in gleaning the correct conclusion.

Trivia

 * The Bandaged Man is partial to titles; he is known to unofficially give titles to the people he knows personally for his own amusement (out of derision and/or affection) and for formal correspondence.
 * Able Price: The Learning Thief.
 * Thomas Jones: The Fire-Headed Boy; less commonly, The Freckle-Faced.
 * Virgil: The Scarlet Saint; less commonly, The Penitent Patron of the Church.
 * Agatha Esen: The Living Relic.
 * The Bandaged Man doesn't need the bandages he wears all over his body. He began wearing bandages due to his particular line of study, but his wounds have long healed; the only reason he keeps wearing them is because it comforts him (and helps hides his burn scars).