Post by Rebel on Feb 18, 2018 16:35:14 GMT -5
Player: Rebel
Best Contact Method(s): PM
Have you read the General Rules?: Yes
Are you adopting a character from the Open for Claims List?: No
If so, have you discussed the required character elements with the contact person?: N/A
Character Name: Aleksei Orlov
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Birthdate: July 3rd
City / Region: Yaransk, Vasile
House [ Birth, Marriage if applicable ]: Orlov
Played by: Mads Mikkelsen
Personality: In one word, Aleksei Orlov might be described as steel. He bends very little when challenged, when he's made up his mind, in his biases, in his loyalties. He is willing to confront difficult decisions and while he might lose some sleep over them, he understands their necessity and has the ability not to dither. That said, he is willing to compromise for the collective better, or if he sees a long-term benefit - he is not too prideful to appear to lose an inch. When he's made someone a promise, he is known to keep it, and takes such things as oaths very seriously. An observer might notice he makes either very seldom.
In conversation, his is a deep voice, unhurried of speech, more interested in hearing what the other has to say than to hear himself speak. Although he greatly prefers to speak in the local dialect of Vasilians, he is educated in neighbouring languages. Similarly, he considers Vasile to be somewhat independent of Archades, although not necessarily as "better" or "superior". He finds that they are set apart in their ways and geography, influenced by the northern realms, and insular enough not to care very greatly to change their ways. He has no interest in becoming more "worldly" or travelling very far, finding Vasile interesting and satisfying enough to live out his life at home.
Socially, he has become more and more of a loner since the death of his wife. He enjoys being alone, or in personal settings, never one for large gatherings. While some comes with the occupation, he has no issue in delegating to his brothers or sons to look after large groups. He doesn't need the glory of being the one standing in front of the masses, or the credit although anyone who could think for themselves would know Aleksei to be behind all things his House does. He is much more interested in the success of the whole rather than the one. For himself, his study is a holy room, used for reading and thinking, hosting one or few guests, and there he is more likely to come out of his shell.
He adheres to a strict code of conduct, one he has mostly taken from his father's example and hopes to pass down to his progeny. Work first, work hard, and the rewards will later come. Be loyal, be useful, be smart. Don't take needless risks, slow and steady wins the race. Remember from where you come. Family is all you are guarenteed in life and should be protected. Present yourself with dignity and honour. Look to the future, but don't forget the past.
Specific Skills or Abilities:
- Financial management
- Motivating others
- Trade and investment
- Well read
- Inspires pride and loyalty
Character History: Aleksei was raised largely by his nurses and cousins, they being older by a few years than he. His mother had health problems which limited her ability with young children, and in any case she was a noblewoman with the choice to choose her involvement in the rearing of her young. He never resented his mother this closeness, loving her with the same distance that she loved him, knowing it was only natural. His father, on the other hand, was his closest ally and friend, aside from his own brothers. Being the first born healthy son, Aleksei was of course to be most doted upon.
His childhood and the arrival of adulthood was a mixture of events, from the addition and loss of siblings, the careers of his cousins, accompanying his father on business affairs, burying his mother, meeting his betrothed. He felt himself too young to marry, hadn't lived enough, had done nothing but obeyed and yearned for some freedom. But while the restrictions chafed, it was tempered by results and pride, of trust in his father, of patience.
His marriage to Gerlinde Price brought to him six surviving children throughout the years. Their family had always believed that many hands were needed to weather the storm, to collect the harvest, to grow any results. The more siblings, the more help, and the more family, the more companionship if not love. His want for children was only stopped by a complication in childbirth where their physician was unable to assist in time, leaving only a final son to survive. Aleksei has since silently blamed himself for pushing another child onto his wife.
During those same years as his family expanded, he busied himself in being in all those same places his father was present: commerce and trade, farming, mining, diplomatic relations and courtly appearances, military command and swordsmanship, and perhaps his favourite of all: commanding a ship. Not being a coastal city, Yaransk could not boast a fleet, but it held one or two small ships at any time, for travel or commerce if required, and simply to have a small presence. Agreements with House Vann, another Barony in Vasile, allowed safe harbour for their ships.
His wife found companionship among their children and her own friends, not having moved far from home herself. Sister to Count Price, she had some inclinations towards politics, but never tried to overstep her husband's right as head of family. It was she who introduced him to many of his friends among the other Vasilian nobles, being a more social creature than he. It was all of them who helped him survive the loss of his father. It was she who urged him to continue in his conquests, to take up the mantle of making House Orlov greater than ever, rather than folding his hand and accepting defeat. The two of them got along well, but had never been an affair of deep love. Still, her loss was felt and, in recent years, has had Aleksei ponder his age versus the benefit of remarrying.
The last year was most turbulent. The deaths in House Romanov were a shock and a wake up call. He retracted his daughter who had been lady in wait to a girl of House Romanov. He rallied their military power to protect home and holdings, and be on high alert for any further attacks. When it became rumoured that either Count Price or Count Reinhart had a hand in the dirty affair, his loyalties were not shaken; Aleksei would stand aside Lord Price until proof would show otherwise. He attended the convocation of the nobles in Ensdorf, but found he had little evidence or opinion to bring forward. Meeting the Royal Family was a good experience, as was the opportunity to discuss some business, but above all he was respectful of the time of mourning.
Of course, when it came down to choose a new Duke, his vote went to Lord Price - or rather, his brother, present in his stead and in light of his disappearance. When the whirlwind of deaths and drama was said and done, Aleksei returned home a newly minted Count, in service to Duke Price, and preparing to send stores of food from their farms to the rest of the Duchy. Aleksei was proud of their increasing popularity and usefulness, as well as increased wealth, but nothing remained stable long. With confirmation of disease spreading and plaguing the Duchy, he and his family shored up in an isolated holding on the edge of their lands, recalling all militia and family members to weather the storm.
As whatever luck would have it, while other families suffered crippling deaths House Orlov survived the winter with minimal casualties. The Count even spent efforts to assist other families and restore order to cities, starting with Heimsberg. The plague was not over, and in fact the new Sandoval King ordered the Vasilian borders cealed, but this did not cease Aleksei's efforts to contain the spread and restore order and life from within. With caution and safety for his own family and Yaransk herself as his priority, he strategically moved to secure key locations, such as many of the Price mines and some major roads. There were few other noble families left to oppose him when he placed a bid to be named the new Duke, an effort to consolidate what was left of the frayed state of Vasile and build anew.
Currently, while things are far from safe or certain, Aleksei pushes with a certain steel in his spine to see his plan to force things into normalcy and coming out ahead of the pack to succeed. It was not his usual family's motto, to remain a supportive force, one who took little risk, one who remained loyal. But these times were different. This was a crisis. And he found the opportunity could not be wasted. So he pushed, and he hoped he was not blindly leading his House to their destruction in his greed.
Writing Sample: Charlotte laughed and sipped at her goblet of wine. It was more of a flute really, in these nice little bronze glasses, which absolutely explained the high number of refills she'd had by now. Her present company were some of her best friends, including Miranda who recently married a man who lived far away and now regretfully could not spend much time with her friends.
“Oh, but Sir, but Sir! However can I do what you ask of me, that would be a travesty…!” She elongated her words for dramatic effect, leaning forward and flowing out a free hand in-between the four of them, sitting across a table in the courtyard of a favorite locale of theirs. “Sir! I mustn’t kiss the girl. I couldn’t! Why! She is… she is a toad!” She repeated with the same level of affront earlier displayed by the actor at the play they had seen. It was not a new one, but it was always funny.
Her friends laughed too. The night was late, there were few savoury people still along in the roads beyond, but they didn’t care. Charlotte had nothing to do in the morning - nothing she cared to do anyways - and was meeting with a few ladies in the late afternoon. It was plenty of time to make up for the illness that would come with an overabundance of drink.
Best Contact Method(s): PM
Have you read the General Rules?: Yes
Are you adopting a character from the Open for Claims List?: No
If so, have you discussed the required character elements with the contact person?: N/A
Character Name: Aleksei Orlov
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Birthdate: July 3rd
City / Region: Yaransk, Vasile
House [ Birth, Marriage if applicable ]: Orlov
Played by: Mads Mikkelsen
Appearance: He is a tall, slender man, never one who lent himself to arduous physical labour, but kept a trim figure by his peculiar food preferences and his activity level. He might not be a Knight, or a farmer, or any such job, but he is constantly on his feet. He avoids sitting if he can avoid it. He will walk instead of ride horse if the journey is not far. His hair is greying, a sign of age and wisdom perhaps, but has still remained thick on his head with only some signs of the locks receding on the edges. He has a scar on his abdomen where a physician had to operate on him at a young age, which mark healed jagged but un-infected. His joints have started to ache as later but he hasn't allowed for that to slow him down. His vision has also become more limited, something not yet of great negative impact to his life. Aleksei puts some pride in his appearance, to be clean and appropriate, but doesn't waste much effort on colour, jewel, or opulence.
Personality: In one word, Aleksei Orlov might be described as steel. He bends very little when challenged, when he's made up his mind, in his biases, in his loyalties. He is willing to confront difficult decisions and while he might lose some sleep over them, he understands their necessity and has the ability not to dither. That said, he is willing to compromise for the collective better, or if he sees a long-term benefit - he is not too prideful to appear to lose an inch. When he's made someone a promise, he is known to keep it, and takes such things as oaths very seriously. An observer might notice he makes either very seldom.
In conversation, his is a deep voice, unhurried of speech, more interested in hearing what the other has to say than to hear himself speak. Although he greatly prefers to speak in the local dialect of Vasilians, he is educated in neighbouring languages. Similarly, he considers Vasile to be somewhat independent of Archades, although not necessarily as "better" or "superior". He finds that they are set apart in their ways and geography, influenced by the northern realms, and insular enough not to care very greatly to change their ways. He has no interest in becoming more "worldly" or travelling very far, finding Vasile interesting and satisfying enough to live out his life at home.
Socially, he has become more and more of a loner since the death of his wife. He enjoys being alone, or in personal settings, never one for large gatherings. While some comes with the occupation, he has no issue in delegating to his brothers or sons to look after large groups. He doesn't need the glory of being the one standing in front of the masses, or the credit although anyone who could think for themselves would know Aleksei to be behind all things his House does. He is much more interested in the success of the whole rather than the one. For himself, his study is a holy room, used for reading and thinking, hosting one or few guests, and there he is more likely to come out of his shell.
He adheres to a strict code of conduct, one he has mostly taken from his father's example and hopes to pass down to his progeny. Work first, work hard, and the rewards will later come. Be loyal, be useful, be smart. Don't take needless risks, slow and steady wins the race. Remember from where you come. Family is all you are guarenteed in life and should be protected. Present yourself with dignity and honour. Look to the future, but don't forget the past.
Specific Skills or Abilities:
- Financial management
- Motivating others
- Trade and investment
- Well read
- Inspires pride and loyalty
Character History: Aleksei was raised largely by his nurses and cousins, they being older by a few years than he. His mother had health problems which limited her ability with young children, and in any case she was a noblewoman with the choice to choose her involvement in the rearing of her young. He never resented his mother this closeness, loving her with the same distance that she loved him, knowing it was only natural. His father, on the other hand, was his closest ally and friend, aside from his own brothers. Being the first born healthy son, Aleksei was of course to be most doted upon.
His childhood and the arrival of adulthood was a mixture of events, from the addition and loss of siblings, the careers of his cousins, accompanying his father on business affairs, burying his mother, meeting his betrothed. He felt himself too young to marry, hadn't lived enough, had done nothing but obeyed and yearned for some freedom. But while the restrictions chafed, it was tempered by results and pride, of trust in his father, of patience.
His marriage to Gerlinde Price brought to him six surviving children throughout the years. Their family had always believed that many hands were needed to weather the storm, to collect the harvest, to grow any results. The more siblings, the more help, and the more family, the more companionship if not love. His want for children was only stopped by a complication in childbirth where their physician was unable to assist in time, leaving only a final son to survive. Aleksei has since silently blamed himself for pushing another child onto his wife.
During those same years as his family expanded, he busied himself in being in all those same places his father was present: commerce and trade, farming, mining, diplomatic relations and courtly appearances, military command and swordsmanship, and perhaps his favourite of all: commanding a ship. Not being a coastal city, Yaransk could not boast a fleet, but it held one or two small ships at any time, for travel or commerce if required, and simply to have a small presence. Agreements with House Vann, another Barony in Vasile, allowed safe harbour for their ships.
His wife found companionship among their children and her own friends, not having moved far from home herself. Sister to Count Price, she had some inclinations towards politics, but never tried to overstep her husband's right as head of family. It was she who introduced him to many of his friends among the other Vasilian nobles, being a more social creature than he. It was all of them who helped him survive the loss of his father. It was she who urged him to continue in his conquests, to take up the mantle of making House Orlov greater than ever, rather than folding his hand and accepting defeat. The two of them got along well, but had never been an affair of deep love. Still, her loss was felt and, in recent years, has had Aleksei ponder his age versus the benefit of remarrying.
The last year was most turbulent. The deaths in House Romanov were a shock and a wake up call. He retracted his daughter who had been lady in wait to a girl of House Romanov. He rallied their military power to protect home and holdings, and be on high alert for any further attacks. When it became rumoured that either Count Price or Count Reinhart had a hand in the dirty affair, his loyalties were not shaken; Aleksei would stand aside Lord Price until proof would show otherwise. He attended the convocation of the nobles in Ensdorf, but found he had little evidence or opinion to bring forward. Meeting the Royal Family was a good experience, as was the opportunity to discuss some business, but above all he was respectful of the time of mourning.
Of course, when it came down to choose a new Duke, his vote went to Lord Price - or rather, his brother, present in his stead and in light of his disappearance. When the whirlwind of deaths and drama was said and done, Aleksei returned home a newly minted Count, in service to Duke Price, and preparing to send stores of food from their farms to the rest of the Duchy. Aleksei was proud of their increasing popularity and usefulness, as well as increased wealth, but nothing remained stable long. With confirmation of disease spreading and plaguing the Duchy, he and his family shored up in an isolated holding on the edge of their lands, recalling all militia and family members to weather the storm.
As whatever luck would have it, while other families suffered crippling deaths House Orlov survived the winter with minimal casualties. The Count even spent efforts to assist other families and restore order to cities, starting with Heimsberg. The plague was not over, and in fact the new Sandoval King ordered the Vasilian borders cealed, but this did not cease Aleksei's efforts to contain the spread and restore order and life from within. With caution and safety for his own family and Yaransk herself as his priority, he strategically moved to secure key locations, such as many of the Price mines and some major roads. There were few other noble families left to oppose him when he placed a bid to be named the new Duke, an effort to consolidate what was left of the frayed state of Vasile and build anew.
Currently, while things are far from safe or certain, Aleksei pushes with a certain steel in his spine to see his plan to force things into normalcy and coming out ahead of the pack to succeed. It was not his usual family's motto, to remain a supportive force, one who took little risk, one who remained loyal. But these times were different. This was a crisis. And he found the opportunity could not be wasted. So he pushed, and he hoped he was not blindly leading his House to their destruction in his greed.
Writing Sample: Charlotte laughed and sipped at her goblet of wine. It was more of a flute really, in these nice little bronze glasses, which absolutely explained the high number of refills she'd had by now. Her present company were some of her best friends, including Miranda who recently married a man who lived far away and now regretfully could not spend much time with her friends.
“Oh, but Sir, but Sir! However can I do what you ask of me, that would be a travesty…!” She elongated her words for dramatic effect, leaning forward and flowing out a free hand in-between the four of them, sitting across a table in the courtyard of a favorite locale of theirs. “Sir! I mustn’t kiss the girl. I couldn’t! Why! She is… she is a toad!” She repeated with the same level of affront earlier displayed by the actor at the play they had seen. It was not a new one, but it was always funny.
Her friends laughed too. The night was late, there were few savoury people still along in the roads beyond, but they didn’t care. Charlotte had nothing to do in the morning - nothing she cared to do anyways - and was meeting with a few ladies in the late afternoon. It was plenty of time to make up for the illness that would come with an overabundance of drink.