Biography

Early Life (Born ca. late 12th century DR)

Borlen Whalewake was born into a seafaring half-seafolk family and raised almost entirely on the water. Alongside his brother [[Deryn Whalewake]], Borlen learned navigation, trade etiquette, and the quiet art of reading people long before he learned to read ledgers.
Where Deryn was steady and practical, Borlen was curious and ambitious. He paid close attention to what sailors lingered over, what they talked about, and what made them come back to the same ship twice. Even as a young deckhand, Borlen was less interested in the catch of the day than in why certain ports prospered and others faded.

The Whalebuck’s Folly & the Coffee Discovery (early 13th century DR)

Together with Deryn, Borlen co-owned and operated The Whalebuck’s Folly, a modest bait-and-tackle vessel that worked the coasts of Faerûn. It was during this period that Borlen first encountered coffee — an unfamiliar, energising drink traded by southern merchants and planar travellers.
Borlen immediately recognised its potential. He observed how sailors lingered after drinking it, how conversations sharpened, and how it cut through fatigue in ways ale never could. What began as a gesture of hospitality soon became a quiet draw: people sought out the Folly specifically for the coffee.
To Borlen, this was not a novelty. It was an opportunity.

The Great Brew Split (ca. 1230 DR)

Borlen’s growing conviction that coffee, not tackle, was the future led to an irreparable rift with his brother. Deryn viewed the drink as a useful side offering — Borlen saw an untapped market that crossed cultures, classes, and even planes.
When compromise failed, Borlen made the defining choice of his life: he left The Whalebuck’s Folly behind and founded Whalebucks, naming the venture after the ship that had revealed coffee’s potential.
The split permanently altered the Whalewake family dynamic, but Borlen never publicly disparaged his brother. Privately, however, he believed Deryn had chosen safety over vision.

Building Whalebucks (1230–1490 DR)

Borlen proved to be an unusually capable founder. He experimented relentlessly with blends, brewing methods, and magical enhancements, partnering with druids, alchemists, and planar traders to refine Whalebucks’ offerings.
Unlike many merchants, Borlen understood branding instinctively:

• recognisable iconography
• consistent quality across locations
• local customisation without sacrificing identity
  He pushed Whalebucks beyond ports and into:
• market squares
• guild halls
• adventuring hubs
• eventually, academic institutions
  Borlen personally oversaw early expansions, travelling extensively well into middle age. He was known to shut down underperforming cafés himself and rewrite contracts on the spot.

Later Life & Succession (late 15th century DR)

As Whalebucks grew into a dominant franchise, Borlen gradually withdrew from day-to-day operations, focusing instead on strategy and mentorship. He groomed his eldest son, [[Merrick Whalewake]], to take over the company — not because Merrick shared his hunger for expansion, but because he understood systems, people, and stability.

Borlen remained a visible presence within the company until his death, attending major openings and personally approving university sponsorships, including the landmark partnership with Neverwood Academy.

Death & Legacy (ca. early 16th century DR)

Borlen Whalewake passed away peacefully approximately thirty years ago. His death marked the end of Whalebucks’ founding era and the beginning of its fully corporate age.
Today, Borlen is remembered as:

• the man who turned coffee into a cultural constant
• a visionary who saw value where others saw comfort
• the founder who prioritised reach, consistency, and scale
  Within Whalebucks, his personal motto is still printed discreetly in early employee manuals:

“If people need it tomorrow, sell it today — and make it better than yesterday.”

Personality & Reputation

Borlen was charismatic, persuasive, and endlessly observant. He believed deeply in systems, momentum, and growth, and had little patience for sentimentality that impeded progress.

To admirers, he was a visionary.
To critics, a monopolist in the making.
To history, undeniably effective.

Connections

Quests: None

Groups: Whalebucks Coffee Co.

Relationships

Parents - None/Unknown
Siblings - Deryn Whalewake
Partner - None/Unknown
Children - Merrick Whalewake
Allies - Tolan Whalewake
Enemies - None/Unknown