Tanner stands 5'10" and weighs 14 stone. He has a blocky, solid build. His appearance is typical Southron - deeply tanned skin. His hair is dark brown, but he wears it closely cropped. Tanner often has a face full of stubbly beard. Unusual to an Anglian of either northern or southern heritage, Tanner has a pair of Checotah-designed tattoos on his shoulders. His right shoulder bears the image of a hand crushing the wrist that bears a candle; this is the tattoo of witch killer. To his credit (or discredit) Tanner's death toll of mages is now over 20, due to Sunfire. The left shoulder bears a defiant green dragon. The dragon bears an eerie resemblance to the dragon on the Dragon Banner. Tanner also has the scar on his neck from when it was severed by Rios executioners.

After Tanner's impressive accounting of himself against the Rios Spell-slingers, Faolan took to calling his friend The Witch Hammer, and composing a song about him by that name. The nickname seems to be catching on amongst the rank-and-file soldiers.

According to the Anglian warrant for his arrest, Tanner single-handedly slew the two guards holding him, cast a wall of starlight, and disappeared into the night. He is more dangerous than they thought.