Post by Vanitypirate on Jul 12, 2018 1:51:05 GMT -8
Horatius Burana
Resolve level: 0
-Appearance
Age: 63
Sex: Male
Ethnicity: White
Weight: 193 lb
Height: 5'8"
Physical Description:
Horatius is an older man made portly from a lavish life. However, his round face is kindly, and his wide, watery-blue eyes still behold the world with wonder. A large Roman nose completes the portrait of a man born for the stage.
His hair, a dusty, washed-out brown from age, is thin towards the top of Horatius's scalp and kept short. While he keeps his eyebrows trim, his face is bereft of facial hair and is clean-shaven. He still has all his teeth in his older age; good hygiene has kept them as pearly-white as when he was a young man.
Attire:
A fine, silk jacket worn over a fanciful lace shirt. Horatius was unable to part with his finer things; he knew no other way.
He wears leather breeches that are tied at the calf. A wool hose is worn in colder or inclement weather.
On his feet are black-dyed shoes fastened with a brass buckle.
Lastly, when outdoors, Horatius wears a sloppily-knitted cap on his balding head. Dyed rather garishly in pink, the only reason Horatius could have been possessed to wear the cap would be purely out of sentimental value.
Misc Notes:
Horatius speaks with the accent of the Germans, specifically those associated with the Southern mountains.
-Biography
Quirks:
+Tolerant: Horatius dined with those on the fringes of society: the outcasts, the freaks, the queer. He accepts that there is no human being alive who fits the definition of 'normal.'
+Steadfast: While Horatius is inexperienced in the world of combat and dungeoneering, he has thousands of volumes of plays and stories as examples to follow. It's all a matter of picking the right one.
+Kind: Playing the act of thousands of other men means that Horatius is skilled in empathizing with others. He loathes the thought of being the villain in another's story.
-Soft: Horatius enjoyed a life fattened by wine and luxury. It has been long since he tasted true hardship.
-Eccentric: The odd and abnormal are cherished treats to Horatius; his thoughts, opinions, and advice reflect this. Those who rub elbows with the man may be caught off-guard by the ideas he puts forth.
-Nudist: Horatius believes that the only way to be truly close with the Earth is to connect by the skin. There is nothing more soothing to Horatius than the chill of the wind on his bare skin, but this image may prove traumatic to others given Horatius's portly and aged physique.
Synopsis:
Orphaned at an early age, Horatius was taken under the wing of his Uncle, a director of a very prominent theater in the Alpine-town of Carmina. Horatius, as a boy, was dazzled by his Uncle's lifestyle and the stories of his actors, and sought to become one of them. He became quite close with the troupe, who began to see him as something as a little brother. It was not long until he became an actor and a singer himself, beloved for his voice that could, at will, boom as loud and impressive as thunder or as soft as rain-mist.
It was not long until he found fame for his thunderous voice across Europe. Fans of theater would travel from all corners of the continent to see the great Opera of Carmina. Horatius thrived under the fame and wealth, going on to marry the very seamstress who designed the costumes his company wore. Together they bore four children.
When his childless Uncle passed, the subsequent inheritance left Horatius with an obscene amount of wealth. His children enjoyed a rich education, and his wife never had to sew another costume.
The following few decades flew by in a blur of luxury, later punctuated by periods of ill health of his wife, each bout worse than the last until one night when she did not recover. She peacefully died in her sleep with her husband at her side.
Following the death of his wife, Horatius retired in full to mourn her and to contemplate the last years of his life, as well. It was not until the birth of his first grandchild that he realized that, despite being known for singing the songs of other, great men, he would have no stories of his own to sing to his descendants.
His mind was set: he trained briefly in swordsmanship and bought the best armor he could buy for his level of skill. Shortly thereafter, leaving his wealth with his children and their families, he left for the Darkest Estate, the host of many songs he had sung in his theater, to write a song of his own.
Full:
Horatius never knew his mother or his father. Fever took them when he was too young to remember, and that was all Horatius was told.
As he grew older, Horatius followed in the shadow of his Uncle, and consequently, came to know his Uncle's company of actors and singers alike as a surrogate family. There were men and women from all walks of life: young and old, poor and rich, healthy and ill. In between plays the actors taught him everything they knew, information that the boy's tutors lacked. He learned to speak a smattering of exotic and local languages alike and learned all of their stories. He was taught to sing and to act, and he impressed the troupe with his early prowess.
He was trained, then, more specifically in the art of theater, and he blossomed under the counsel of his family. Taking up small roles at first, Horatius wore the part as naturally as though it had been his character his entire life. He quickly rose in popularity among the audience and found himself in more ambitious roles until he became the primo uomo of the opera-- the leading man.
Horatius was no stranger to wealth; his Uncle lived a very comfortable life, as did Horatius consequently. But the fame and glory that followed as Horatius became a young man brought wealth to himself and his troupe. Nobility from across the countries would risk traveling across the perilously war-torn Mainland to see Horatius and his company sing in the mountain city of Carmina. As a single, young man of renown, he was pursued by a handful of prospective suitors bearing wealth and promises of land and titles, which he denied. Much scandal ensued when news came about that he was betrothed to the theater's seamstress, despite being welcome in his troupe: the unseen stagehand was just as vital to the play as the prima donna, after all. The two were married backstage in only the company of a Candlebearer, the theater troupe, and Horatius's Uncle.
His Uncle, however, was becoming quite frail as he neared his sunset years. His health forced him to rest, though he was visited frequently by not only Horatius, but also a by life-long friend of his who happened to be the baritone in the play.
Childless, Horatius was named the heir to his Uncle's property and wealth. Even with a share of the ensuing gold split with his Uncle's Companion, this was enough wealth for himself and his Wife to live more than comfortably. His Wife retired from tailoring to manage the home and care for the children born not long after the wedding, while Horatius continued to star in plays for all of Carmina to enjoy.
This life of routine and comfort continued for many decades. His family endured hardships common to mankind-- sickness, quarrels, harsh winters. They mourned and healed and continued onwards, finding solace in the support of one another and of the troupe. This wealth-laden lifestyle ensured that he and his Wife survived to a more advanced age.
This was, of course, for the most part; his Wife was beset by a persistent cough that, while harmless at first, worsened to become bloodied and choking in the later seasons. One night, in the midst of winter, his Wife retired to sleep in bed beside Horatius and never woke up.
The physician determined that the cause of his Wife's cough was a tumor that spread throughout the body, and manifested firstly as a result of her older age. Horatius's mourning evolved into a retirement as he began to shut himself in his family's House.
Seclusion fed thought. Horatius had earned fame and wealth by acting as the mockingbird for greater men than himself. His own story was lacking-- there was no excitement or drama in a life paved by privilege. Even those of his troupe came from more tumultuous backgrounds, only stumbling into the Opera by chance. Horatius was nearing the end, too, and had no experience of his own to complement the experiences he had learned second-hand.
Not many months later, Horatius's daughter bore him his first grandchild: a boy with bright-blue eyes. This boy would grow up only knowing the stories his grandfather repeated, but not of his grandfather himself.
This spurred Horatius into action for the first time. He burned gold in finding tutors to train him and equipment to support him-- enough to get him started, so that he might not die before his story could begin. He was eager to leave, even despite the protests of his children, who assured him that this was simply a passing feeling, an effect of grief for his wife, and even madness.
Horatius did not listen. He left for the Darkest Estate as soon as he was able, only taking with him a pittance of gold and supplies so that his children may enjoy the wealth he was abandoning.
-Skills & Equipment
Weapons:
-A simple steel estoc
-A small, round and wooden shield to protect against sharp, pointy metal.
Armor:
Nothing, other than a cuirass to be strapped about his torso.
Other gear:
-A knapsack to stow his belongings
-A handful of gold to survive him a few nights without work.
Strengths:
-Horatius is cultured: he speaks many languages to at least some degree of competence, and is aware of the differences-- and more importantly, the similarities-- of various cultures. His companions may rest assured that they are free of his judgement.
-He is an expert singer, and will share his gift on request.
-Horatius is steadfast, and can soothe his or another's troubled mind with stories he has sung a thousand times.
Weaknesses:
-Horatius is inexperienced in combat, only knowing the basics to get by. A skilled fighter can easily oust him unless Horatius is lucky.
-He is also very non-traditional. He sees no merit in social conventions and chooses instead to forsake them. This may make more poised and prude people uncomfortable or unsettled.
-Horatius prefers to go without clothes, though he does concede to wearing them for the sake of the public. However, all bets are off in the quiet company of friends, unfortunately for them; while Horatius was quite handsome in his youth, he has since grown old and fat.
Resolve level: 0
-Appearance
Age: 63
Sex: Male
Ethnicity: White
Weight: 193 lb
Height: 5'8"
Physical Description:
Horatius is an older man made portly from a lavish life. However, his round face is kindly, and his wide, watery-blue eyes still behold the world with wonder. A large Roman nose completes the portrait of a man born for the stage.
His hair, a dusty, washed-out brown from age, is thin towards the top of Horatius's scalp and kept short. While he keeps his eyebrows trim, his face is bereft of facial hair and is clean-shaven. He still has all his teeth in his older age; good hygiene has kept them as pearly-white as when he was a young man.
Attire:
A fine, silk jacket worn over a fanciful lace shirt. Horatius was unable to part with his finer things; he knew no other way.
He wears leather breeches that are tied at the calf. A wool hose is worn in colder or inclement weather.
On his feet are black-dyed shoes fastened with a brass buckle.
Lastly, when outdoors, Horatius wears a sloppily-knitted cap on his balding head. Dyed rather garishly in pink, the only reason Horatius could have been possessed to wear the cap would be purely out of sentimental value.
Misc Notes:
Horatius speaks with the accent of the Germans, specifically those associated with the Southern mountains.
-Biography
Quirks:
+Tolerant: Horatius dined with those on the fringes of society: the outcasts, the freaks, the queer. He accepts that there is no human being alive who fits the definition of 'normal.'
+Steadfast: While Horatius is inexperienced in the world of combat and dungeoneering, he has thousands of volumes of plays and stories as examples to follow. It's all a matter of picking the right one.
+Kind: Playing the act of thousands of other men means that Horatius is skilled in empathizing with others. He loathes the thought of being the villain in another's story.
-Soft: Horatius enjoyed a life fattened by wine and luxury. It has been long since he tasted true hardship.
-Eccentric: The odd and abnormal are cherished treats to Horatius; his thoughts, opinions, and advice reflect this. Those who rub elbows with the man may be caught off-guard by the ideas he puts forth.
-Nudist: Horatius believes that the only way to be truly close with the Earth is to connect by the skin. There is nothing more soothing to Horatius than the chill of the wind on his bare skin, but this image may prove traumatic to others given Horatius's portly and aged physique.
Synopsis:
Orphaned at an early age, Horatius was taken under the wing of his Uncle, a director of a very prominent theater in the Alpine-town of Carmina. Horatius, as a boy, was dazzled by his Uncle's lifestyle and the stories of his actors, and sought to become one of them. He became quite close with the troupe, who began to see him as something as a little brother. It was not long until he became an actor and a singer himself, beloved for his voice that could, at will, boom as loud and impressive as thunder or as soft as rain-mist.
It was not long until he found fame for his thunderous voice across Europe. Fans of theater would travel from all corners of the continent to see the great Opera of Carmina. Horatius thrived under the fame and wealth, going on to marry the very seamstress who designed the costumes his company wore. Together they bore four children.
When his childless Uncle passed, the subsequent inheritance left Horatius with an obscene amount of wealth. His children enjoyed a rich education, and his wife never had to sew another costume.
The following few decades flew by in a blur of luxury, later punctuated by periods of ill health of his wife, each bout worse than the last until one night when she did not recover. She peacefully died in her sleep with her husband at her side.
Following the death of his wife, Horatius retired in full to mourn her and to contemplate the last years of his life, as well. It was not until the birth of his first grandchild that he realized that, despite being known for singing the songs of other, great men, he would have no stories of his own to sing to his descendants.
His mind was set: he trained briefly in swordsmanship and bought the best armor he could buy for his level of skill. Shortly thereafter, leaving his wealth with his children and their families, he left for the Darkest Estate, the host of many songs he had sung in his theater, to write a song of his own.
Full:
Horatius never knew his mother or his father. Fever took them when he was too young to remember, and that was all Horatius was told.
As he grew older, Horatius followed in the shadow of his Uncle, and consequently, came to know his Uncle's company of actors and singers alike as a surrogate family. There were men and women from all walks of life: young and old, poor and rich, healthy and ill. In between plays the actors taught him everything they knew, information that the boy's tutors lacked. He learned to speak a smattering of exotic and local languages alike and learned all of their stories. He was taught to sing and to act, and he impressed the troupe with his early prowess.
He was trained, then, more specifically in the art of theater, and he blossomed under the counsel of his family. Taking up small roles at first, Horatius wore the part as naturally as though it had been his character his entire life. He quickly rose in popularity among the audience and found himself in more ambitious roles until he became the primo uomo of the opera-- the leading man.
Horatius was no stranger to wealth; his Uncle lived a very comfortable life, as did Horatius consequently. But the fame and glory that followed as Horatius became a young man brought wealth to himself and his troupe. Nobility from across the countries would risk traveling across the perilously war-torn Mainland to see Horatius and his company sing in the mountain city of Carmina. As a single, young man of renown, he was pursued by a handful of prospective suitors bearing wealth and promises of land and titles, which he denied. Much scandal ensued when news came about that he was betrothed to the theater's seamstress, despite being welcome in his troupe: the unseen stagehand was just as vital to the play as the prima donna, after all. The two were married backstage in only the company of a Candlebearer, the theater troupe, and Horatius's Uncle.
His Uncle, however, was becoming quite frail as he neared his sunset years. His health forced him to rest, though he was visited frequently by not only Horatius, but also a by life-long friend of his who happened to be the baritone in the play.
Childless, Horatius was named the heir to his Uncle's property and wealth. Even with a share of the ensuing gold split with his Uncle's Companion, this was enough wealth for himself and his Wife to live more than comfortably. His Wife retired from tailoring to manage the home and care for the children born not long after the wedding, while Horatius continued to star in plays for all of Carmina to enjoy.
This life of routine and comfort continued for many decades. His family endured hardships common to mankind-- sickness, quarrels, harsh winters. They mourned and healed and continued onwards, finding solace in the support of one another and of the troupe. This wealth-laden lifestyle ensured that he and his Wife survived to a more advanced age.
This was, of course, for the most part; his Wife was beset by a persistent cough that, while harmless at first, worsened to become bloodied and choking in the later seasons. One night, in the midst of winter, his Wife retired to sleep in bed beside Horatius and never woke up.
The physician determined that the cause of his Wife's cough was a tumor that spread throughout the body, and manifested firstly as a result of her older age. Horatius's mourning evolved into a retirement as he began to shut himself in his family's House.
Seclusion fed thought. Horatius had earned fame and wealth by acting as the mockingbird for greater men than himself. His own story was lacking-- there was no excitement or drama in a life paved by privilege. Even those of his troupe came from more tumultuous backgrounds, only stumbling into the Opera by chance. Horatius was nearing the end, too, and had no experience of his own to complement the experiences he had learned second-hand.
Not many months later, Horatius's daughter bore him his first grandchild: a boy with bright-blue eyes. This boy would grow up only knowing the stories his grandfather repeated, but not of his grandfather himself.
This spurred Horatius into action for the first time. He burned gold in finding tutors to train him and equipment to support him-- enough to get him started, so that he might not die before his story could begin. He was eager to leave, even despite the protests of his children, who assured him that this was simply a passing feeling, an effect of grief for his wife, and even madness.
Horatius did not listen. He left for the Darkest Estate as soon as he was able, only taking with him a pittance of gold and supplies so that his children may enjoy the wealth he was abandoning.
-Skills & Equipment
Weapons:
-A simple steel estoc
-A small, round and wooden shield to protect against sharp, pointy metal.
Armor:
Nothing, other than a cuirass to be strapped about his torso.
Other gear:
-A knapsack to stow his belongings
-A handful of gold to survive him a few nights without work.
Strengths:
-Horatius is cultured: he speaks many languages to at least some degree of competence, and is aware of the differences-- and more importantly, the similarities-- of various cultures. His companions may rest assured that they are free of his judgement.
-He is an expert singer, and will share his gift on request.
-Horatius is steadfast, and can soothe his or another's troubled mind with stories he has sung a thousand times.
Weaknesses:
-Horatius is inexperienced in combat, only knowing the basics to get by. A skilled fighter can easily oust him unless Horatius is lucky.
-He is also very non-traditional. He sees no merit in social conventions and chooses instead to forsake them. This may make more poised and prude people uncomfortable or unsettled.
-Horatius prefers to go without clothes, though he does concede to wearing them for the sake of the public. However, all bets are off in the quiet company of friends, unfortunately for them; while Horatius was quite handsome in his youth, he has since grown old and fat.
