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