Jan Jansen

Jan Jansen was a gnome inventor, illusionist, turnip salesman, weapons manufacturer, disreputable businessman, and adventurer who lived in Athkatla during the mid–14 century DR.

""I think we make a fine partnership – like Drizzt and Wulfgar, Elminster and Volo. Ha! We should go into the mobile vegetable-peddling business together.""

- Jan

Personality
Jan was very eccentric, and loved to ramble on with stories that never got to the point. He had a habit of telling bizarre tales about his supposed relatives, turnips, griffon-baiting, wyvern-taming, and other subjects for seemingly no reason.

Some of his stories were so outlandish it seemed they had no foundation in reality. He spoke about his aunt Petunia, who was a ranger who wore fruit armor and kept a number of pets including a black dragon, a hydra, and a solar. He also spun a tale about Angus the giant beaver who befriended Gurgen the hormonal moose.

Activities
Jan had home in the Athkatla's slums that he shared with his mother and a few other family members. He could be often be found peddling his wares around the city's governmental buildings.

He spent much time coming up with outlandish inventions, such as his turnip–launcher or his flashers that he both gave to children and used as ammunition. In fact his inventions were actually dangerous weapons in their own right.

Possessions
Having come up with weapons and armor that proved useful to adventurers, Jan used several of them during his journeys. He wore a specialized suit of armor called the Jansen AdventureWear and a set of eye wear known as spectroscopes. His personal weapon was a type of specialized crossbow entitled the Flasher Launcher. It was so complicated that only Jan was capable of operating it.

Relationships
Jan had a vast family that was full of individuals with colorful personalities. He often referred to his many uncles, including: Eichenwacher, Flippy, Gerhardt, Hegemony, Richard, Salebottom, Scatchy, Spanky, Stinky, and Uriah Twin–Hammers.

Among the other family members he spoke of were:
 * Elgar Buttercup, his brother with skin made of charcoal
 * Burt Wonderkind, his ex–brother–in–law who was griffon-baiter
 * Cousin Glandig, and her twin children Tot and Tat
 * Cousin Josephine, who became involved with a "gully dwarf"
 * Beeloo, another cousin who had a history of run–ins with the law
 * Richard, an uncle who tried to make nude theater popular in Waterdeep
 * Auntie Sara, who attempted to take over the world with turnip pies laced with psychogenic herbs
 * Uncle Gerhardt, who despite his ramblings was aware of the Hidden
 * Yanna Jojannsen, his niece who was charmed by the vampire Hexxat and died while searching for the tomb of Dragomir
 * Hans Janses, his great-uncle who was an alchemist

While it was unknown of their exact relation, other gnomes of the Jansen name included:
 * Eduardo, an inventor whose creations were displayed in Waukeen's Promenade
 * Erb, a courtesan and former chest-maker of the Culver Jansens from Thunder Mountain

Beyond his family, Jan had a longtime friend named Lissa. He had an unrequited love for her, despite her relationship with the criminal Vaelag. He was friendly with his own partner–in–crime, Quayle.

History
As of the, Jan was being investigated by Trax, an agent of the Amnian Revenue and Taxation Board.

Appearances

 * Video Games:
 * Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
 * Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal

Behind the Scenes
In the Baldur's Gate series, Jan is voiced by Jack Roth.

Connections
Jan Jansen