Madman's Questionnaire

Name; Thomas Paine

Age 35

Description; though his friends call him madman, well his online friends anyways. Madman  is a unique bearded and groomed man, He favours cheap suits in dark colors, offset by vibrant pocket squares and impeccably polished shoes. He carries himself with the air of confidence, but his eyes hold a manic glint, flickering between focus and...somthing else. He often wears a lapel pin in the style of a lightning bolt.

Personality: On the surface, Thomas is charming, intelligent, and successful. He's a smooth talker, and his sharp wit often disarms those he encounters. He's genuinely interested in others, asking thoughtful questions and remembering details. However, beneath the surface simmers a volatile mix of paranoia, obsessive focus, and a disturbing detachment from reality. He swings between moments of lucidity and periods where he seems utterly lost in a world only he can see.

Motivation: To find true meaning and understanding of the world, not just its surface-level contracts and transactions. He believes there is a deeper reality, a hidden order, accessible through… well, he's not always clear how he believes it to be accessible.

Goals:

Immediate: Secure profitable contracts, maintain the appearance of normalcy, and continue his… research.

Long-Term: Unlock the "true" power of the world, achieve a higher state of awareness, and become "enlightened." In practical terms, this translates into a desperate search for patterns, clues, and hidden connections in everything he encounters. He believes that achieving this enlightenment is his destiny.

Early Life (Trauma Trigger): Thomas was a promising scholar, studying ancient languages and folklore. During an expedition in a forgotten region, his team unearthed cryptic artifacts. An accident occurred, a cave-in, and while Elias survived, he claims to have witnessed impossible geometries and heard voices that shattered his sanity. The expedition crumbled, and Elias was left with the artifacts and haunting mental scars.

The "Contract World" Arrival: After his traumatic experience, Thomas found the "Contract World." Perhaps, the nature of the world, with its legal binds and magical contracts, eased his mind into seeing a world of objective truth.

Warcraft as a Coping Mechanism: After the cave-in, Elias found solace in Warcraft. Specifically, playing a Shaman. He saw the connection to the elements and the spirits as a way to "understand" his trauma. He believes his shaman character (named, of course, "Madman") isn't just an avatar, but a conduit to something real.

The Silver lapel: Thomas obsessed with a silver lapel he wears near his heart He found it among the artifacts from the cave-in. He believes it's a key, a focus for his power, a link to the hidden realities. He polishes it obsessively and has recurring dreams involving it.

Thomas keeps odd hours, to make money he uses temp agencies to make quick cash as needed. On occasion in the past he could lean on his parents for help but they are upset that Thomas has wasted his talents and education that he only takes odd jobs and has yet to produce any grand children. Thomas earns enough money in odd jobs to pay for his appartment his internet and digital phone and do odd upgrades to his computer, Thomas doesn't own a car but has a bus pass and is able to travel around using that as needed.

gaining contract powers, Thomas (madman) wants to learn to be a shaman in real life not just in a video game, as his powers develope he is willing to cross almost any barrier to achieve that dream, while he doesn't hold a lot of value in human life he values animal life enough to make up for it, Thomas would happily kill a human to achieve his goals but wouldn't dream of hurting an animal unless it required to be put down to save it from pain, this would only be as a last resort. As a shaman coming close to death is the easiest way to talk to the spirits, Thomas wouldn't seek out death from other sources but would probably be willing to get close under controlled circumstances. Thomas seeks power the joys of leveling up, becomeing stronger and conquering the next boss.

The cave in.... both in the change in acadamia as well as the move to gaming. Prior to the accident Thomas might have been a bit extroverted but after the accident he has become more intraverted unless he is online with his friends. It has had a wide range of implacations with his abilty to earn money and his interactions with his family. Prior to signing the contract Thomas had a thirst for knowledge that was hard to fulfill. On the outside by normal society rules Thomas might be leading a sad life but if you ask Thomas life is going swimmingly and he would trade it for nothing else

• Dr. Alistair Paine (Father): Alistair is a respected and pragmatic surgeon, deeply concerned about Thomas but struggling to connect with him. Alistair sees Thomas's behavior as a sign of underlying psychological issues, possibly exacerbated by the stress of his work as well as the accident. He tries to offer help, but his detached, clinical approach often pushes Thomas further away.
• Vivienne Thorne Paine (Mother): Vivienne is a free-spirited artist, more accepting of Thomas's eccentricities but also somewhat detached. She admires his intelligence and gaming but is troubled by his emotional distance. She sees glimpses of the sensitive boy he once was, buried beneath layers of defense mechanisms. She often paints portraits, but can never seem to capture the "real" Thomas.
• Mark "Tankimus Prime" Davies (Best Friend): Mark is a down-to-earth, loyal, and good-natured construction worker who tolerates Thomas's quirks with a mix of amusement and concern. He genuinely cares about Thomas and is often the only one who can ground him when he gets lost in his own head. Mark is aware of Thomas's issues, but his loyalty and friendship override his concerns, and he's often the only one Thomas trusts. A fellow gamer Mark can often be found online with Thomas playing wow and is usually the tank to Thomas's dps.
• Romantic Interests (A String of Dates): Thomas is a charming and intelligent man who often dresses well and goes on dates frequently. These dates are typically short-lived. He enjoys the initial courtship, the intellectual sparring, and the display of his sophistication. However, he struggles with genuine intimacy and often sabotages relationships before they become too serious, fearing vulnerability and loss of control