Rags and Riches

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@grapedrank

I would like to with your permission create a second character. One of noble status, very powerful noble status though not a Royal. I have in mind a male noble who does care for the common man and noble alike. Though his methods are quite machiavellian in nature. He uses his vast fortune to create a network of assassins, spies, thieves, and basically anyone else he deems useful. Though not the most morally inclined person His machinations are actually achieving a greater good.

This side of him is of course known only to his most trusted agents. Indeed the vast number of his employees have no idea whom they work for. To everyone but his most trusted agents He is simply a insanely wealthy noble who is kind and generous to a fault.
I think that character sounds fantastic! I'll reserve a spot for you!
 
@grapedrank
No it's totally fine! May I play the prince and if so, what race did you have in mind for the king so I can pick the face claim accordingly? (If I can play the prince that is.)
 
@grapedrank
No it's totally fine! May I play the prince and if so, what race did you have in mind for the king so I can pick the face claim accordingly? (If I can play the prince that is.)
Sure go ahead! I hadn't decided on any look for the King yet so you can choose whichever race you want for the face claim and I'll just go along with it :)
 
Character Skeleton:
Name: Baron Desmond Mornwood
Age: Fifty One
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Social Class: Riches
Personality: Desmond is perhaps the world's greatest example of a man who can act and think in complete opposite directions. On the surface the Baron is a charming and genial man whom would go out of his way to help you. Never one to claim work as an excuse to brush people off the noble born man always seems to make time for any caller. This open door policy of his has made Desmond quite popular. Many an struggling artist owes the Baron much. For this latest Patriarch of the Mornwood family is quite the patron of the arts. For in art the scion finds the true worth of a man. Or so Desmond claims openly.

In reality the noble is a brusque and professional type of person with little idle time to gawk at painted paper or carven stone. Always consumed with the need to see his Father's legacy fulfilled Desmond is not above less then savoury tactics and methods. In his minds obstacles are meant to be eliminated through any method necessary. If blackmail is needed it is done. If theft is needed it is done. And if an individual proves immune to both blackmail and theft then blood is spilled. Whether by a mercenary's brute strength or an assassin's cleverness it matters not. As long as the scion of the Mornwood family is free to move forward so be it.

A highly educated and intelligent fellow Desmond knows that the future is written by those that dare the risks. But at the same time the Baron does not like to rush headlong into any situation. Instead his patience and methodically driven ways ensure He is never caught off guard.

Though somewhat cold and distant from those he aids Desmond does truly care for every citizen in the city. The Baron just believes that morality and playing fair is not going to get him far. That to fight those opposed to the cause of unification requires beating them at their own game. A game Desmond Mornwood is confident that no one can beat him at.
Background: Desmond's memory stretches back to the days when commoner and noble shared the streets together. Born to Baron Francis and Lady Celine the boy was from a young age a handful. Too smart for his own good and too adventurous for his poor overworked nanny Desmond was always getting into trouble. His chose friends outside his social circle and friends from within it. He would often vist the poor with money he stole from his father's noble friends.

In short Desmond was a carbon copy of his father, only lacking the common sense age imbued. For Baron Francis was known and admired for his charitable works. He established orphanages, saw that the boys and girls were taught all they needed to know. He set aside dowries for the girls old enough to leave and saw the boys gainfully employed. Francis invested in improving the city streets and commissioning public works like bathhouses and kitchens were the poor could always find a bite to eat. Hospitals and temples were built using Mornwood coin. Parks flourished under Francis's watch.

Underneath this shadow Desmond grew. And as he grew into a young man the future scion immersed himself into the family business of banking. For such was the source of Mornwood wealth. In this Desmond showed himself a protégé like no other. And by the age of twenty two his own personal wealth outstripped many noble families. Like his father the talented banker sunk it into public works, libraries were a particular favourite of Desmond. He also established a couple of schools.

Life went on like this for quite some time. The Mornwood family name was one that was praised in all corners of the city. Desmond added to the family coffers quite substantially and was soon put in charge of the banking business. Leaving his father free to focus on helping the city he loved.

Desmond for his part began to focus on his social life. When not working the family business the son of Baron Francis could be found with his mismatched friends discussing everthing from philosophy to whether or not Lady Annabella was better looking then the barmaid at the Lucky Stallion tavern. Living the dream basically of being born rich with a sense of social justice.

Day in and Day out life for Desmond gradually became an equal balance of friendship and business. And in some cases the two intertwined. Investing start up capital to many of his friends various ideas and business he turned them into merchant princes. Needless to say the healthy return didn't hurt. Nor did the future implications go to waste. But that is getting ahead of ourselves.

With the Mornwood name on solid ground financially and socially his parents and indeed most of the city seemed puzzled at his lack of romantic entanglement. Desmond though dabbling here and there never found a woman he considered more then a friend. After a time the son of Baron Francis gave up on the idea. His parents never did and despite slightly hating them for it he understood them. After all an heir to continue the Mornwood name had to eventually be produced.

Such things took second place to an event that would forever alter the fate of the Eamon. The plagues, the famines, and finally the sealing of the rich away from the rest of Eamon. A decision that the Mornwood family vehemently opposed. But even their near limitless wealth couldn't buy them allies among their fellow nobles. And so Baron Francis and Lady Celine became husks of their former selves as they watched their beloved city become a hollow mockery of itself. As Eamon sickened so it seemed Francis and Celine did as well.

It was left to Desmond to organise the defences and man the estate with hastily hired mercenaries. Inter-house warfare became the name of the game. Blood was spilled and noble families fought for what little power there was left. Even the Royal Decrees had little enough effect on this struggle. It only turned into a war fought by proxy. Assassins took the place of soldiers and mercenaries. Information warfare replaced the sword. And poisoned wine was the favourite of those seeking more subtle means. A time of false smiles and hidden daggers was the legacy of a foolish King.

As one of the most powerful and richest houses Mornwood was attacked more then once. As in his banker days Desmond showed himself a quick student. Soon the sheer number of assassins, mercenaries, and spies under his command necessitated delegation of command. To his friends he turned and they soon were the overseers of his network reporting directly to him.

As soon as Desmond was getting into the stride of life lived in constant awareness his parents finally succumbed to the sadness weighing them down. Francis's last words were a plea to restore once beautiful Eamon to its true glory. Swearing he'd do so if it took his entire life and every coin Mornwood had Desmond buried his parents in a ceremony attended only by his overseeers and the priest doing the actual ceremony. It was here he outlined a plan most would have called insane in both goal and scope.

To their credit the scion of the Mornwood family friends accepted it with nary a dissenting word. Expanding the network to both halves of the city Desmond applied political and financial pressure to influential people. People who agreed with his views at least somewhat. Thus the cause was created. Sometimes it was food delivered here and there. Others it was blood spilled to rid Eamon of those unwilling to see the light and embrace unification. Desmond ordered this unflinchingly and paid the assassins three times the going rate to work for him. His father's last wishes would be fulfilled no matter what price had to be paid. Indeed the only sense of morality the Baron had was exactly how a course of action would affect his end goal. The people had to be served first for after all they would be doing the true rebuilding. They were the seeds of a better future after all.

The years flowed by and Desmond's hair turned grey. His methods became both more insidious and broader in scope as his network grew ever larger. Soon he was applying his special brand of pressure agsinst the royal family itself. Ever seeking to have the wall torn down in his lifetime. For it seemed to the scion of Mornwood that he was one of the few nobles who cared to.

The day it did happen was perhaps the happiest day in Desmond's life. For one half of his Father's dying wish was coming true. But the Baron knew that the hard work was just beginning. The gate may have opened but his fellow nobles hearts likely remained closed. Not to mention the lower class held little love in their hearts for the nobility that had left them to their fates. But the head of the Mornwood family is determined to see his Father's wishes come to reality. Whether by coin, persuasion, or his network's power and influence.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
Mornwood Wealth- The Mornwood family was once one of the wealthiest noble houses in all of Eamon. Despite the events of all that has occurred that fact remains true. It is said it'd take three lifetimes of careless spending to empty the coffers of Mornwood.

Master of the Dual Life- Since the nobles took to sealing themselves off Desmond has lead two lives quite comfortably. He has done this by separating himself physically from his network. No one in fact but his overseeers even knows that Desmond is anything but what he appears.

Determined- Desmond is in this for the long run. He will not accept defeat nor will he compromise on his goal.

Tactician- The years of running his network and defending the Mornwood estate from those foolish enough to attack him have imbued him with the skills of a general.

The Network- If one were to step back from and realise the vastness of Desmond's network they would perhaps be awestruck. Beggers, Thieves, Whores, Mercenaries, Assassins, City guards, Magistrates, Nobles, Barmaids, Artists, Merchants both legal and illegal, Blacksmiths, Armourers, and even more. Such is the scope of this network and its combined power and influence is no laughing matter.

Growing Impatience- Already fifty one and only half of his Father's dream realised Desmond is beginning to fray around the edges. He finds himself having to physically stop himself from snapping at his overseeers. And there are days he feels like paying every assassin in the city to simply kill every other noble and royal in the city so as to be free of their interference in his plans.

Good but not great shape- Though a trained and experienced fencer Desmond is fifty one and no longer a match for a younger combatant.


Appearance:
tywin_lannister_by_dbimmel-d79p41d.png

Pun- I use to think I was indecisive, but now I am not so sure.
 
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Name: Anastasia Von Hazelrink

Age: 18


Gender:
Female


Sexuality:
Heterosexual (does not discriminate however)


Social Class:
Riches/nobles

Personality:

Background:

Strengths/Weaknesses:

Appearance:


Pun: The roundest knight at king Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.

(WIP. A bit busy now)
 
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Can I make a prince character? (I have contacted Princess of the Teacup and she is fine with this.)
 
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✣ A N A T H O R ✣
68 | Male | Heterosexual | Riches


Anathor.jpg

✣Background✣
Around certain areas of High Town, the roaring lion of House Blackmont is a fairly common sight, a sign that Anathor or one of his kin have their fingers in yet another pie. Even despite the difficulties facing Eamon, his family has gone from strength to strength, placing them on the precipice of greatness. And yet, it almost seems as though the patriarch of the family does not wish to go over that edge, flinging himself and his House into the limelight, where their business interactions are liable to fall under more scrutiny.


Although many - Anathor included - would claim otherwise by citing grand memories from their youth, the man they call the Lion of Lundover Street was not always a Blackmont. He was, in truth, born to a Low Town fishmonger named Gissur, and his wife, Denna. They gave him the name Pol, and raised him to be as kind of heart and open with what little coin was available as they were themselves. The boy's early years were simple, and food was scarce, but he was happy nonetheless. They all were.

Pol's life changed completely when the gates to High Town were closed. On the day the decision was made and enacted, the boy was busking on the docks of High Town, playing his second-hand lute and hoping to earn the sympathy of a foreign merchant. As usual, he was having very little success. It seemed that the fuller a man's coin purse was, the tighter shut it stayed. Nevertheless, Pol was in high spirits as he made his way home. But as he walked, he spied several other Low Town citizens being forcibly removed from High Town, shoved through the gates as they slowly swung shut. Whether it was fear or foolishness that motivated him, Pol ran and hid, instead of offering himself up and going home.

Though surviving in a city that despised the lower class was not easy, especially with all the other beggars ousted and the guards on high alert, Pol managed to scrape by. He scavenged what he could, traded away his lute to a child a few years younger than him, even cut a few purses, with mixed success. One attempt in particular though, ended up being the best thing that ever happened to him. Vessier Blackmont, his mark, caught his wrist as he turned to run and dragged him into an alley. But when the nobleman realized the striking resemblance Pol shared with his own son, Anathor, he found himself unable to punish the boy. He offered, instead of coin, a meal in his kitchens, to which Pol graciously agreed.

While at the Blackmont residence, Pol met the boy who would come to be his namesake, Anathor Blackmont. Despite their differences, the two got on famously, chasing each other around the courtyard and playing at knighthood. Knowing Anathor had no other friends, being too shy and bookish to catch the eye of the other children his age, Vessier and Chorona, his beloved wife, went against their better judgement and offered Pol a position working for their seneschal. The boy scrubbed floors, cleaned clothes, chopped vegetables for the cook, and served to keep Anathor occupied while his parents were busy. It was a happy time after the chaos and fear that plagued him on the streets of High Town, even if it did mean working harder than he had in his life.

Tragedy struck when Vissier overstepped his bounds in dealings with House Weristor. The proud patriarch of that House, a man named Madeon, felt betrayed and threatened by the increasing power and wealth of his rivals, and a shady business deal meant to expose Vissier as a criminal - which he was not - backfired, leaving Madeon cleaning up the mess and being scoffed at by the other nobles of High Town. He hired a team of Low Town thugs through several proxies and sicced them on the Blackmont Estate.

In the dead of night, the thugs invaded, climbing over the wall and across the rooftops of High Town until they reached their target. Starting fires at all the doors to cause panic, the men moved through the house systematically, raping and slaughtering as they went. Pol barely managed to survive, as Vissier hid him and Anathor beneath a bed before joining the fray, sword in hand. The young Blackmont boy saw his father fall and crawled out to his side, where he was scooped up and taken back to the thug's lair on the other side of the wall, to serve as a pleasure slave or worse.

When guards finally managed to clear enough rubble to reach Pol, he was hungry, scared, and nearly delirious. Everything he'd seen left him on the brink of madness, and when someone asked him who he was, he answered, almost unintentionally, that he was Anathor Blackmont. With no one to oppose his claim, as the Blackmont family had all died the night before, he was accepted as the new Lord Blackmont and inherited what of the family's wealth was not ruined in the attack.

Over the years, Anathor tried to find both whether or not his birth parents were still alive in Low Town, and who had brought about the death of his adoptive family, but even as his power and his sway in Eamon grew past the influence held by Vissier himself, there was little to find. Madeon Weristor had covered his tracks well, and investigation on the other side of the wall was nigh impossible. Eventually, he resigned himself to the fact that he was the only Blackmont left. In time, he even came to believe it.

Anathor wooed and wed a young beauty named Isbeil from House Maulter. Amazed by his luck in finding someone so lovely when he'd expected a hook nosed, toothless maid with a heart of gold, much like his birth mother, Anathor treated her to every luxury he could manage. Many of his earliest business arrangements, the legal ones, were to bring in more coin for Isbeil's ever-growing lust for extravagance. And still, it never seemed to be enough. Isbeil's father, a man of lesser status than a Blackmont, often inserted himself into the business of his son-in-law, irritating him to no end, and earning him a few enemies in the cutthroat world of High Town. Slowly, his new life changed him, and his deals began to shift focus.

It was Isbeil who first suggested that Anathor start to engage in trade over the wall, when the birth of their third son drew close. Though he was reluctant to do so, he secured a contact in Low Town, a tavern proprietor named Natine. All manner of items taken or traded from High Town flowed through her door, and with his knowledge of the nobles and their habits, as well as who was worth stealing from, and what, Anathor was a valuable asset to her operation. And when he secured a position as a magistrate, one of the judges that oversaw courts of law in Eamon, he only increased his worth. Using underhanded methods and a business savvy he didn't know he had in him, the Blackmont patriarch rose quickly to the top of Natine's list, and with her help cutting off his opponents and stealing goods for him to resell, his wealth grew exponentially.

Isbeil, however, did not live to see much of this. She died, still in her youth, of the plague that struck Eamon. She left him with four sons, boys who, with the exception of one who was trampled by a cart on Lundover Street, have since grown into men and aid him in his business. His eldest, Lathias, has even risen to an impressive rank within the city guard. As a magistrate and a trade mogul, Anathor is a force to be reckoned with, but he prefers to remain in the shadows, holding his cards where only he can see them. He may have allies within the city, on either side of the wall, but he's learned that trust can be dangerous.


✣Personality✣
Having his entire life flipped upside down so many times, Anathor puts a great deal of stock in stability, rarely favoring change. He is cold and calculating, a change that occurred slowly in the years leading up to Isbeil's death, and then all at once when she was gone. Though there are those in Low Town that might call him a hero for his involvement with Natine, he cares little for the common folk. Years of pretending to be the real Anathor Blackmont have left him believing he really is on a higher level than them, and they are simply a means to an end, a convenient way to undercut his rivals.


As such, the removal of the wall that divides Eamon is not something Anathor is in support of. A great deal of his business relies on providing safe routes over the wall, with the help of his son, Lathias, and losing that income could slow his business down some. Ease of communication as well, stands to harm him, as Natine and the other Low Town leaders may not focus so heavily on him, choosing to lean on a different noble. Nevertheless, he grudgingly accepts it, knowing that to openly oppose the change would lose him all of his more dubious associates.


✣Strengths & Weaknesses✣
Anathor is perhaps one of the most connected men in Eamon. With a son in the guard, a position as a magistrate himself, marriage ties to both House Maulter and House Isterall through his son Baltair, and all of Natine's wide array of shady characters, he can accomplish almost anything he sets his mind to without lifting a finger. And what little he can't bring about by calling in favors or making promises he can weasel out of, he makes possible using the vast sums of coin behind him, or his family name. The Blackmont legacy alone is something that makes at least lesser nobles think twice.


But despite his alliances throughout the city, it can never be said that Anathor has friends. Even his sons often feel the urge to separate themselves from him and his lack of compassion. Since the loss of Isbeil, who he loved dearly, his ability to both trust and empathize has diminished greatly. And in his old age, this is only becoming more pronounced. Despite the aches and pains that start to creep into his body, he refuses to admit his time is drawing near, choosing to fight against death as long as he can. It's a battle he can only hold out in for so long...


((It's not that I can't juggle. I just don't have the balls for it.))
 
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Baron Desmond Mornwood is done. Any feedback would be appreciated.
 
Woah.. I'm loving this story! I hope you don't mind if I make a character.

EDIT: Never mind, I just remembered how many I have already. D:
 
Can I make a prince character? (I have contacted Princess of the Teacup and she is fine with this.)
Yes that is perfectly fine so long as she has given approval!
 
✣ A N A T H O R ✣
68 | Male | Heterosexual | Riches


Anathor.jpg

✣Background✣
Around certain areas of High Town, the roaring lion of House Blackmont is a fairly common sight, a sign that Anathor or one of his kin have their fingers in yet another pie. Even despite the difficulties facing Eamon, his family has gone from strength to strength, placing them on the precipice of greatness. And yet, it almost seems as though the patriarch of the family does not wish to go over that edge, flinging himself and his House into the limelight, where their business interactions are liable to fall under more scrutiny.


Although many - Anathor included - would claim otherwise by citing grand memories from their youth, the man they call the Lion of Lundover Street was not always a Blackmont. He was, in truth, born to a Low Town fishmonger named Gissur, and his wife, Denna. They gave him the name Pol, and raised him to be as kind of heart and open with what little coin was available as they were themselves. The boy's early years were simple, and food was scarce, but he was happy nonetheless. They all were.

Pol's life changed completely when the gates to High Town were closed. On the day the decision was made and enacted, the boy was busking on the docks of High Town, playing his second-hand lute and hoping to earn the sympathy of a foreign merchant. As usual, he was having very little success. It seemed that the fuller a man's coin purse was, the tighter shut it stayed. Nevertheless, Pol was in high spirits as he made his way home. But as he walked, he spied several other Low Town citizens being forcibly removed from High Town, shoved through the gates as they slowly swung shut. Whether it was fear or foolishness that motivated him, Pol ran and hid, instead of offering himself up and going home.

Though surviving in a city that despised the lower class was not easy, especially with all the other beggars ousted and the guards on high alert, Pol managed to scrape by. He scavenged what he could, traded away his lute to a child a few years younger than him, even cut a few purses, with mixed success. One attempt in particular though, ended up being the best thing that ever happened to him. Vessier Blackmont, his mark, caught his wrist as he turned to run and dragged him into an alley. But when the nobleman realized the striking resemblance Pol shared with his own son, Anathor, he found himself unable to punish the boy. He offered, instead of coin, a meal in his kitchens, to which Pol graciously agreed.

While at the Blackmont residence, Pol met the boy who would come to be his namesake, Anathor Blackmont. Despite their differences, the two got on famously, chasing each other around the courtyard and playing at knighthood. Knowing Anathor had no other friends, being too shy and bookish to catch the eye of the other children his age, Vessier and Chorona, his beloved wife, went against their better judgement and offered Pol a position working for their seneschal. The boy scrubbed floors, cleaned clothes, chopped vegetables for the cook, and served to keep Anathor occupied while his parents were busy. It was a happy time after the chaos and fear that plagued him on the streets of High Town, even if it did mean working harder than he had in his life.

Tragedy struck when Vissier overstepped his bounds in dealings with House Weristor. The proud patriarch of that House, a man named Madeon, felt betrayed and threatened by the increasing power and wealth of his rivals, and a shady business deal meant to expose Vissier as a criminal - which he was not - backfired, leaving Madeon cleaning up the mess and being scoffed at by the other nobles of High Town. He hired a team of Low Town thugs through several proxies and sicced them on the Blackmont Estate.

In the dead of night, the thugs invaded, climbing over the wall and across the rooftops of High Town until they reached their target. Starting fires at all the doors to cause panic, the men moved through the house systematically, raping and slaughtering as they went. Pol barely managed to survive, as Vissier hid him and Anathor beneath a bed before joining the fray, sword in hand. The young Blackmont boy saw his father fall and crawled out to his side, where he was scooped up and taken back to the thug's lair on the other side of the wall, to serve as a pleasure slave or worse.

When guards finally managed to clear enough rubble to reach Pol, he was hungry, scared, and nearly delirious. Everything he'd seen left him on the brink of madness, and when someone asked him who he was, he answered, almost unintentionally, that he was Anathor Blackmont. With no one to oppose his claim, as the Blackmont family had all died the night before, he was accepted as the new Lord Blackmont and inherited what of the family's wealth was not ruined in the attack.

Over the years, Anathor tried to find both whether or not his birth parents were still alive in Low Town, and who had brought about the death of his adoptive family, but even as his power and his sway in Eamon grew past the influence held by Vissier himself, there was little to find. Madeon Weristor had covered his tracks well, and investigation on the other side of the wall was nigh impossible. Eventually, he resigned himself to the fact that he was the only Blackmont left. In time, he even came to believe it.

Anathor wooed and wed a young beauty named Isbeil from House Maulter. Amazed by his luck in finding someone so lovely when he'd expected a hook nosed, toothless maid with a heart of gold, much like his birth mother, Anathor treated her to every luxury he could manage. Many of his earliest business arrangements, the legal ones, were to bring in more coin for Isbeil's ever-growing lust for extravagance. And still, it never seemed to be enough. Isbeil's father, a man of lesser status than a Blackmont, often inserted himself into the business of his son-in-law, irritating him to no end, and earning him a few enemies in the cutthroat world of High Town. Slowly, his new life changed him, and his deals began to shift focus.

It was Isbeil who first suggested that Anathor start to engage in trade over the wall, when the birth of their third son drew close. Though he was reluctant to do so, he secured a contact in Low Town, a tavern proprietor named Natine. All manner of items taken or traded from High Town flowed through her door, and with his knowledge of the nobles and their habits, as well as who was worth stealing from, and what, Anathor was a valuable asset to her operation. And when he secured a position as a magistrate, one of the judges that oversaw courts of law in Eamon, he only increased his worth. Using underhanded methods and a business savvy he didn't know he had in him, the Blackmont patriarch rose quickly to the top of Natine's list, and with her help cutting off his opponents and stealing goods for him to resell, his wealth grew exponentially.

Isbeil, however, did not live to see much of this. She died, still in her youth, of the plague that struck Eamon. She left him with four sons, boys who, with the exception of one who was trampled by a cart on Lundover Street, have since grown into men and aid him in his business. His eldest, Lathias, has even risen to an impressive rank within the city guard. As a magistrate and a trade mogul, Anathor is a force to be reckoned with, but he prefers to remain in the shadows, holding his cards where only he can see them. He may have allies within the city, on either side of the wall, but he's learned that trust can be dangerous.

✣Personality✣
Having his entire life flipped upside down so many times, Anathor puts a great deal of stock in stability, rarely favoring change. He is cold and calculating, a change that occurred slowly in the years leading up to Isbeil's death, and then all at once when she was gone. Though there are those in Low Town that might call him a hero for his involvement with Natine, he cares little for the common folk. Years of pretending to be the real Anathor Blackmont have left him believing he really is on a higher level than them, and they are simply a means to an end, a convenient way to undercut his rivals.


As such, the removal of the wall that divides Eamon is not something Anathor is in support of. A great deal of his business relies on providing safe routes over the wall, with the help of his son, Lathias, and losing that income could slow his business down some. Ease of communication as well, stands to harm him, as Natine and the other Low Town leaders may not focus so heavily on him, choosing to lean on a different noble. Nevertheless, he grudgingly accepts it, knowing that to openly oppose the change would lose him all of his more dubious associates.

✣Strengths & Weaknesses✣
Anathor is perhaps one of the most connected men in Eamon. With a son in the guard, a position as a magistrate himself, marriage ties to both House Maulter and House Isterall through his son Baltair, and all of Natine's wide array of shady characters, he can accomplish almost anything he sets his mind to without lifting a finger. And what little he can't bring about by calling in favors or making promises he can weasel out of, he makes possible using the vast sums of coin behind him, or his family name. The Blackmont legacy alone is something that makes at least lesser nobles think twice.


But despite his alliances throughout the city, it can never be said that Anathor has friends. Even his sons often feel the urge to separate themselves from him and his lack of compassion. Since the loss of Isbeil, who he loved dearly, his ability to both trust and empathize has diminished greatly. And in his old age, this is only becoming more pronounced. Despite the aches and pains that start to creep into his body, he refuses to admit his time is drawing near, choosing to fight against death as long as he can. It's a battle he can only hold out in for so long...


((It's not that I can't juggle. I just don't have the balls for it.))
Excellent! Welcome aboard!
 
Baron Desmond Mornwood is done. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Reading it now, I'll post some feedback when I get the chance but I'm really liking him so far!
 
@grapedrank
Yasmine Lockwood and Prince Isaiah are done!
 
Character Skeleton:
Name: Baron Desmond Mornwood
Age: Fifty One
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Social Class: Riches
Personality: Desmond is perhaps the world's greatest example of a man who can act and think in complete opposite directions. On the surface the Baron is a charming and genial man whom would go out of his way to help you. Never one to claim work as an excuse to brush people off the noble born man always seems to make time for any caller. This open door policy of his has made Desmond quite popular. Many an struggling artist owes the Baron much. For this latest Patriarch of the Mornwood family is quite the patron of the arts. For in art the scion finds the true worth of a man. Or so Desmond claims openly.

In reality the noble is a brusque and professional type of person with little idle time to gawk at painted paper or carven stone. Always consumed with the need to see his Father's legacy fulfilled Desmond is not above less then savoury tactics and methods. In his minds obstacles are meant to be eliminated through any method necessary. If blackmail is needed it is done. If theft is needed it is done. And if an individual proves immune to both blackmail and theft then blood is spilled. Whether by a mercenary's brute strength or an assassin's cleverness it matters not. As long as the scion of the Mornwood family is free to move forward so be it.

A highly educated and intelligent fellow Desmond knows that the future is written by those that dare the risks. But at the same time the Baron does not like to rush headlong into any situation. Instead his patience and methodically driven ways ensure He is never caught off guard.

Though somewhat cold and distant from those he aids Desmond does truly care for every citizen in the city. The Baron just believes that morality and playing fair is not going to get him far. That to fight those opposed to the cause of unification requires beating them at their own game. A game Desmond Mornwood is confident that no one can beat him at.
Background: Desmond's memory stretches back to the days when commoner and noble shared the streets together. Born to Baron Francis and Lady Celine the boy was from a young age a handful. Too smart for his own good and too adventurous for his poor overworked nanny Desmond was always getting into trouble. His chose friends outside his social circle and friends from within it. He would often vist the poor with money he stole from his father's noble friends.

In short Desmond was a carbon copy of his father, only lacking the common sense age imbued. For Baron Francis was known and admired for his charitable works. He established orphanages, saw that the boys and girls were taught all they needed to know. He set aside dowries for the girls old enough to leave and saw the boys gainfully employed. Francis invested in improving the city streets and commissioning public works like bathhouses and kitchens were the poor could always find a bite to eat. Hospitals and temples were built using Mornwood coin. Parks flourished under Francis's watch.

Underneath this shadow Desmond grew. And as he grew into a young man the future scion immersed himself into the family business of banking. For such was the source of Mornwood wealth. In this Desmond showed himself a protégé like no other. And by the age of twenty two his own personal wealth outstripped many noble families. Like his father the talented banker sunk it into public works, libraries were a particular favourite of Desmond. He also established a couple of schools.

Life went on like this for quite some time. The Mornwood family name was one that was praised in all corners of the city. Desmond added to the family coffers quite substantially and was soon put in charge of the banking business. Leaving his father free to focus on helping the city he loved.

Desmond for his part began to focus on his social life. When not working the family business the son of Baron Francis could be found with his mismatched friends discussing everthing from philosophy to whether or not Lady Annabella was better looking then the barmaid at the Lucky Stallion tavern. Living the dream basically of being born rich with a sense of social justice.

Day in and Day out life for Desmond gradually became an equal balance of friendship and business. And in some cases the two intertwined. Investing start up capital to many of his friends various ideas and business he turned them into merchant princes. Needless to say the healthy return didn't hurt. Nor did the future implications go to waste. But that is getting ahead of ourselves.

With the Mornwood name on solid ground financially and socially his parents and indeed most of the city seemed puzzled at his lack of romantic entanglement. Desmond though dabbling here and there never found a woman he considered more then a friend. After a time the son of Baron Francis gave up on the idea. His parents never did and despite slightly hating them for it he understood them. After all an heir to continue the Mornwood name had to eventually be produced.

Such things took second place to an event that would forever alter the fate of the Eamon. The plagues, the famines, and finally the sealing of the rich away from the rest of Eamon. A decision that the Mornwood family vehemently opposed. But even their near limitless wealth couldn't buy them allies among their fellow nobles. And so Baron Francis and Lady Celine became husks of their former selves as they watched their beloved city become a hollow mockery of itself. As Eamon sickened so it seemed Francis and Celine did as well.

It was left to Desmond to organise the defences and man the estate with hastily hired mercenaries. Inter-house warfare became the name of the game. Blood was spilled and noble families fought for what little power there was left. Even the Royal Decrees had little enough effect on this struggle. It only turned into a war fought by proxy. Assassins took the place of soldiers and mercenaries. Information warfare replaced the sword. And poisoned wine was the favourite of those seeking more subtle means. A time of false smiles and hidden daggers was the legacy of a foolish King.

As one of the most powerful and richest houses Mornwood was attacked more then once. As in his banker days Desmond showed himself a quick student. Soon the sheer number of assassins, mercenaries, and spies under his command necessitated delegation of command. To his friends he turned and they soon were the overseers of his network reporting directly to him.

As soon as Desmond was getting into the stride of life lived in constant awareness his parents finally succumbed to the sadness weighing them down. Francis's last words were a plea to restore once beautiful Eamon to its true glory. Swearing he'd do so if it took his entire life and every coin Mornwood had Desmond buried his parents in a ceremony attended only by his overseeers and the priest doing the actual ceremony. It was here he outlined a plan most would have called insane in both goal and scope.

To their credit the scion of the Mornwood family friends accepted it with nary a dissenting word. Expanding the network to both halves of the city Desmond applied political and financial pressure to influential people. People who agreed with his views at least somewhat. Thus the cause was created. Sometimes it was food delivered here and there. Others it was blood spilled to rid Eamon of those unwilling to see the light and embrace unification. Desmond ordered this unflinchingly and paid the assassins three times the going rate to work for him. His father's last wishes would be fulfilled no matter what price had to be paid. Indeed the only sense of morality the Baron had was exactly how a course of action would affect his end goal. The people had to be served first for after all they would be doing the true rebuilding. They were the seeds of a better future after all.

The years flowed by and Desmond's hair turned grey. His methods became both more insidious and broader in scope as his network grew ever larger. Soon he was applying his special brand of pressure agsinst the royal family itself. Ever seeking to have the wall torn down in his lifetime. For it seemed to the scion of Mornwood that he was one of the few nobles who cared to.

The day it did happen was perhaps the happiest day in Desmond's life. For one half of his Father's dying wish was coming true. But the Baron knew that the hard work was just beginning. The gate may have opened but his fellow nobles hearts likely remained closed. Not to mention the lower class held little love in their hearts for the nobility that had left them to their fates. But the head of the Mornwood family is determined to see his Father's wishes come to reality. Whether by coin, persuasion, or his network's power and influence.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
Mornwood Wealth- The Mornwood family was once one of the wealthiest noble houses in all of Eamon. Despite the events of all that has occurred that fact remains true. It is said it'd take three lifetimes of careless spending to empty the coffers of Mornwood.

Master of the Dual Life- Since the nobles took to sealing themselves off Desmond has lead two lives quite comfortably. He has done this by separating himself physically from his network. No one in fact but his overseeers even knows that Desmond is anything but what he appears.

Determined- Desmond is in this for the long run. He will not accept defeat nor will he compromise on his goal.

Tactician- The years of running his network and defending the Mornwood estate from those foolish enough to attack him have imbued him with the skills of a general.

The Network- If one were to step back from and realise the vastness of Desmond's network they would perhaps be awestruck. Beggers, Thieves, Whores, Mercenaries, Assassins, City guards, Magistrates, Nobles, Barmaids, Artists, Merchants both legal and illegal, Blacksmiths, Armourers, and even more. Such is the scope of this network and its combined power and influence is no laughing matter.

Growing Impatience- Already fifty one and only half of his Father's dream realised Desmond is beginning to fray around the edges. He finds himself having to physically stop himself from snapping at his overseeers. And there are days he feels like paying every assassin in the city to simply kill every other noble and royal in the city so as to be free of their interference in his plans.

Good but not great shape- Though a trained and experienced fencer Desmond is fifty one and no longer a match for a younger combatant.


Appearance:
tywin_lannister_by_dbimmel-d79p41d.png

Pun- I use to think I was indecisive, but now I am not so sure.
I like him, definitely a very dynamic character to add to the RP, however I feel that the "public works" project such as the schools and shelters and whatnot should be saved for after the wall comes down. Prior to this time, the nobles were completely separated from the common folk out of fear of catching plague and disease. Funding projects like that beyond the wall would have been too risky, I think in my opinion, however funding them within the High Town would work just as well and then as the roleplay goes on, expanding into the Low Town upon the announcement of the wall being torn down.
 
@grapedrank

It wasn't Desmond doing the public works projects it was his father Francis doing that, long before the High Town was closed off. And what works Desmond did was also done before the closing of the gate.
 
Looks like we've got quite the colourful cast together! Excited to start the RP. C:
 
Is there an exact amount of time since the gate closed? I was writing Anathor to have been a child when it happened, so fifty or sixty years previous, but if Desmond completed public works before the gate closed, that implies he was either really generous and awesome at a young age, or I'm off.
 
Is there an exact amount of time since the gate closed? I was writing Anathor to have been a child when it happened, so fifty or sixty years previous, but if Desmond completed public works before the gate closed, that implies he was either really generous and awesome at a young age, or I'm off.

I think it was clarified to have been 20 years?
 
I think it was clarified to have been 20 years?
Yeah it was just about two decades, enough so that the current generation were either young or grew up with the gates closed but the former generation remembers the kingdom prior to the plague.
 
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