James Avery

Ally to the Bladewinds and unofficial Big Brother Figure to Jezza Dregg. James Avery is one of the best informants in the business, and he'll thank you to keep quiet about it.

Personality
James is a professional to the core, but his definition of "professional" is more loose than most. He's excellent at multi-tasking and has learned how to give each client his full attention and make them feel as though their case is the most important (He'd rather not let on just how much he'd juggling at any given time).

James is a loner, but not by choice. He prefers the company of a few good friends, though he keeps up casual acquaintanceship with many people. This is, he says, the best way to keep a good network of contacts and sources. To his knowledge, the only person he has ever told everything to is his mother, now deceased.

James is far more observant than he lets on. He prefers to let people keep their secrets, even if he has figured them out by himself.

History
James is the only son of Celia Avery, an expert informant. She was killed when he was young by a member of the Blackguards, and he has treaded cautiously with them ever since. He inherited her base of operations (her house and office in one) and continued her work, picking up many of her former contacts as inheritance.

He reluctantly took in a young Jezza Dregg soon after she ran away from home, and after much debate, began to let her into the world of Informants. She became his apprentice and assistant, and as soon as she proved her worth, he shoved her out on her own. Though both he and she insist on her self-reliance, he still keeps tabs on her.

In recent years, James has taken on a new assistant and possible apprentice, Marigold Finch.

Much to his distaste, James has entered into a contact with a member of the Blackguards, Claude Barrow. James and Claude now share a clandestine relationship where both exchange information and favors, though it will likely mean James's death at the Dead House's hands. He would not admit it, but Claude has contributed greatly to his success in his field. He was approached by Claude for the contract, who eventually revealed to him that they are half-brothers through their father, a Blackguard himself.

Trivia

 * James Avery is not actually named after the actor. It was a coincidence.
 * James prefers to be unattached, but he has been known to keep the company of a few different men from time to time. He keeps their identites close to the breast.