Carlisle (BT)
Jan 12, 2018 5:56:48 GMT -6
Post by Carlisle "Hartmut" on Jan 12, 2018 5:56:48 GMT -6
Name: Carlisle Cicero Etruria
Class: Cavalier
Dragon Element: N/A
Age: 26
Born in: Etruria
Appearance: Carlisle is tall at a respectable 6ft 2 and while not overly so he is gifted with a muscular build. His facial features are sharp yet strong, and though he frequently holds a stern look he is also seen as quite kind. He has wavy blond hair that he parts to the side that reaches the nape of his neck. His eyes are a deep blue.
The armor he wears is not particularly heavy but it is extensive. It is blackened metal that he wears as a sign of grief for his homeland. His oath is to never wear brighter armor until the day it is back in his hands and his people can be free of the prophet. It is not entirely dark though as it is embellished with pieces of silver that are not only stylized but to him represent hope even in the darkness.
He wears a broach shaped like a blooming flower to keep his cloaked pinned. This was given to him by his late sister and is counted among his most important possessions. His other would be his sword, while not the royal blade of his house it was gifted from his mother and is of fine craftsmanship.
Personality: Carlisle is a naturally soft spoken and musically inclined romantic. He dreams of a world where people can enjoy a life filled with music and dancing instead of endless conflict and bloodshed. Many would call him naïve to share his views but as he sees it, it is less naivety but hope and a dream to strive for. He is far from the belief that words could solve all conflicts but not so detached that it should not be his first option.
Beneath a calm exterior Carlisle is plagued by self-doubt and loathing. He hates himself for running and more importantly not being able to save any of his family. He hates himself for having wanted to believe in the Prophet and falling prey to sweet words before the traps were sprung. But mostly he questions if he should come out of hiding or if his people would accept a coward that left them to be ruled by a tyrant. Would they even see the Prophet for who he was?
When dealing with others he is a natural diplomat in some regards but is too hesitant to be assertive when needed. Carlisle is a genuine person who sees no good to come of lies (Perhaps Ironic as he hides his true nature) and carries a reputation as a trustworthy man of his word. He also tends to let others speak more than he does, letting them lead the conversations while giving him the chance to glean knowledge from this. He only lacks assertiveness and the will to force a compromise that is not too one sided. His potential is great but he frequently defers to the judgements of others. Whether this is a sign of a wise ruler or a weak king is yet to be seen or refined.
History: : From the day he was born he was destined to rule in some capacity though he always believed he would be named a duke or some similar title. As a boy he enjoyed long days in the various estates and meeting with other nobles and simply playing as any young lad would. He had a natural aptitude for academics but found it dreadfully dull. Neither, still, did he particularly desire the blade and hardships of a warrior’s life finding the study too difficult. His area of love was the arts.
Lessons of formality and balls were things he adored. The sweet melodies and light yet quick footwork of dance and the intrigue of court. He managed to excel in those lessons. Unfortunately for him he was the second born son and would not be named crown prince as such. At the age of twelve he was assigned to be the squire under a knight of high renown and respect. Not in order to become a simple knight but to grow and learn to become the commander that would help lead his brother’s army.
The day Carlisle was set to leave home was perhaps the most difficult of days for him. It was the very next day, following his twelfth birthday, and mere months before the prophet appeared. Carlisle had adamantly refused to leave for much of that morning causing his servants much headache and eventually his mother and elder brother came to speak with him. The two were able to ease his mind, though he did not make it easy. It was there his brother told him “Your family will be here for you, but you must learn to stand on your own two feet… but always make room for good advice,” words he would come to live by. His mother gifted him with a blade of fine quality, he was not keen on it at the time but he thanked her all the same. It would not be until later he learned its true value, while his brother would inherit the royal sword to him was passed the blade that followed his mother’s name.
As he rode away with his new mentor his youngest sister would pass on to him a broach of a blooming flower. It was a possession she had cherished and thought to give him since it always made her cheer up. This was the last he would see of most of his family.
During his time away he met with many knights and continued his studies all while learning the art of combat and war. He was not naturally gifted toward it but he would still learn much. His ability to survive in the wilds and make do with the bare minimum was perhaps his greatest asset. It was generally agreed that had he not been destined for more he would best be served as a ranger. He learned how to tend to a horse, weapons, armor, and rudimentary field care. Most importantly he was constantly forced to lead mock battles among his peers and minor skirmishes against bandits when real combat was required. This practice worked for a mere two years, his first real combat at 13.
Word of a great prophet had already long reached his ears and Carlisle greatly longed to meet the man that could be called Elimine’s own but it would never come to be. At 14 it was reported that his elder brother had been murdered. His training was immediately delayed as he was called to return to the capital.
The trip back to the capital was made with all haste but the trip was still a week of hard riding. The physical and mental strain took its toll on him during that period and he fell ill near the end of the trip. He was tended to back in the capital and better by the funeral where he said goodbye to his brother. The truth of his brother’s death was still a mystery and though rumors were ill contained it was hushed as best it could be for the time.
Carlisle’s father, the king, however blamed it on the Prophet. This brought the two into conflict as Carlisle had refused to believe it was him. How could Elimine’s chosen be the one to kill his brother and member of the ruling family who had always been loyal to the church? Tragically the two would never have an opportunity to reconcile with one another. Within that third year of the Prophet’s return his control had become all but absolute and then aggression turned into outright open hostility. The king and queen were losing control until the enemy was at the castle.
Everything culminated in a horrible way. Carlisle had never even had a chance to be named the new crown prince before the Prophet’s forces came for them. The morning started innocent enough until reports of a crier outside the castle demanding their unconditional surrender to the prophet were reported. The crier went unheeded save for security in the castle being increased. That same evening the royal family had recognized they no longer had any control and were about to flee when forces of the prophet came for them. Among the enemy was the knight who trained Carlisle.
The king and queen accepted their loss but refused to hand over their children. The pair made a final stand and sent Carlisle away with his younger sister. His mother was a skilled combatant in her own right but his father wielded the royal sword to devastating effect, but in time they would both fall to the onslaught. Beyond the secret passages the siblings would again be confronted by the enemy where Carlisle was forced to fight. Outnumbered it took all he had not to be slain and defend his sister. He was battered but unbroken when a small force of knights fell upon his attackers.
These loyal men and women were led by his mentor. The knight had road with the enemy in order to act against them here. In what to him was a whirlwind of sudden action he and his sister were both scooped up by allies who managed to escape the fall and evade the enemy for a time. The hunt for the siblings was ruthless and constant. It took them months to safely reach the borders of Etruria. The goal was to turn to Lycia for refuge, however this did not happen. The day they were to cross the borders one of the inner circle had betrayed them for his own safety and reward. Instead of safe passage they were met with a border guard three times to size of their own retinue. It was believed and reported there were no survivors.
The battle was brief and fierce. The only concern they had was to break enemy lines and so they made for a fierce and direct push. It did not work as hoped and they were flanked by volleys of arrows that slew most of them. Carlisle himself took an arrow to his side and was rendered helpless. The battle for him was a blur as his consciousness faded in and out but he vividly remembers his sister being taken. The bitter hatred he had hearing her screams as he faded away has stuck with him but internalized into doubts.
It was three days later that Carlisle would return to consciousness. Finding himself being tended to in a cave he had many questions, chief of them what happened to his sister. His mentor revealed that she was taken and surely dead already. Only the pair of them escaped but only barely. The knight had to throw many of their belongings into the river to throw the enemy off their trail and hopefully fake their deaths. Carlisle demanded that the two had to go after his sister and had his wounds not left him bedridden he may very well have gone regardless of others telling him not to.
Carlisle and the knight returned to their travels the moment Carlisle was well enough to ride. His full recovery was secondary to his safety. Bloody gear and belongings may have shown up for the prince but no body was found. For a time this created rumors of his survival and eventual return. Many nobles who did believe he would return to lead them against the prophet were left to keep their hopes silent or be silenced by the inquisition over the next year until the prophet’s control was absolute. Whispers of seeing the likeness of the prince grew more infrequent until only those in denial or fanatic conspirators believed he still lived, such was the degree to which he hid his existence from the world. Only the lack of body kept hope alive but over the years it continued to wane until the flame died.
The truth is that the two never went to Lycia, or rather never stayed to reveal themselves. The pair made their way to Nabatta. The lands were harsh and undesirable, few would expect royalty to reside there, in hiding or not. The tumultuous political landscape otherwise was something that would only complicate living elsewhere further.
Carlisle would come to be sheltered by a tribe lead by a man named Khalas. He would eventually recover in full and understand the full gravity of his new life. Only 17, he was a fugitive and the last of his family still alive. He would have to live in hiding for the rest of his days or be prepared for the trials of combat and political maneuvering. These prospects terrified him and he was plagued by constant doubts and fits of depression.
His mentor and Khalas would speak at length of plans and how they should proceed without even consulting Carlisle. He knew they had meant well but the control of his own life was fully out of his own hands, a fact he bitterly acknowledged. The tribe was small, though apparently large by the scope of Nabatta and his closest friend would become the chieftain’s son Khalid. The confident and fun loving Khalid would prove integral in helping Carlisle recover mentally.
When he reached adulthood at 18 he was fairly adjusted to his life in Nabatta. He was never asked to take on responsibilities within the tribe granted his status but he volunteered. Where he first struggled to traverse the sands he soon learned to move freely and quickly across the shifting and ever changing landscape. He and Khalid would train together with sword and lance respectively while he monitored the state of Elibe trying to plan and find a time to make his return.
The chaos reported was unlike anything he could have predicted. Monsters, war, occupations and rebellions. The land was in disarray and here he was hiding away while the world and his own people suffered under the heel of a tyrant. Monsters could seemingly be linked directly back to the prophet and his taking control of Etruria. This was something that helped him keep his faith in Elimine. He was convinced the man was a wicked and false deceiver. The only issue was if he could convince the swayed masses. Winning hearts and minds seemed impossible to him.
Nine years would pass in Nabatta. A mundane and repetitive life. His mentor would aid him in keeping his sword arm sharp and those that tutored Khalid would assist in continuing his own education. Despite his age he dedicated himself to the scholarly pursuits during the duration of his hiding. His belief was knowledge was power and the more he could exploit when he made his return. In his seventh year of hiding the preparations for his return began in earnest. While he would not reveal himself yet they began to gather supplies and funds as best they could to begin. Carlisle would have a suit of black armor forged for himself as a way of making a statement just on appearance alone.
Nine years in hiding and 26 years old it was time to reveal himself. Elibe was at a breaking point. He could not afford to hide any longer. Bern was broken and recovering, Lycia was collapsing, Illia was half claimed by Etruria and an already battered Sacae was in a deadlock with Etruria. With rumors of a Lycian force forming to retaliate against Etruria their opportunity seemed clear. Etruria may be a power house in the world and able to support a war on two fronts but this also left them over extended. If they could join with Lycia and ride to the aid of the Sacaeans then perhaps they could then free Illia. The forces of three nations combined could then invade a routed Etruria. At least, that was the hope. If there were those still loyal to the royal family of Etruria then he prayed they come out in force to support him.
Timeline
Day of Departure: Carlisle and Khalid have one final sparing session before Carlisle must depart. At one final celebration Khalid and Carlisle swear an oath making them blood brothers.
The First of Many Firsts: near the port city of Khan Yunis Carlisle and Percival are beset by raiders from the Raja tribe. Worse still it appears that Khalid’s younger sister Layla had stowed away, determined to aid them. Things looked dire until a shaman by the name of Belinda took notice and came to their aid with the help of the town guard. Belinda was able to further aid them by pointing them to an inn and a name for potential passage. A captain Cid. Cid had offered them passage for a mere 1,500G but Carlisle made him a counter offer of 2,000G. The deal was easily accepted.
Stowaways and Waterways: N/A
Badon Shuffle: N/A
Sharktooth’s Pirates: N/A
Yet More Bandits: When more of Sharktooth's men mean to ambush Carlisle and Percival the bandits found themselves closed in on both sides when a pair of strangers Roy and Lynessa got involved. Carlisle announced that he was Carlisle Cicero to the bandits intent on them relaying the message to Sharktooth. A fight was avoided and the strangers decided to travel part of the way with them to Darrun.
Darrun Raid: N/A
Sharktooth: N/A
Founding of The Forsaken: N/A
Class: Cavalier
Dragon Element: N/A
Age: 26
Born in: Etruria
Appearance: Carlisle is tall at a respectable 6ft 2 and while not overly so he is gifted with a muscular build. His facial features are sharp yet strong, and though he frequently holds a stern look he is also seen as quite kind. He has wavy blond hair that he parts to the side that reaches the nape of his neck. His eyes are a deep blue.
The armor he wears is not particularly heavy but it is extensive. It is blackened metal that he wears as a sign of grief for his homeland. His oath is to never wear brighter armor until the day it is back in his hands and his people can be free of the prophet. It is not entirely dark though as it is embellished with pieces of silver that are not only stylized but to him represent hope even in the darkness.
He wears a broach shaped like a blooming flower to keep his cloaked pinned. This was given to him by his late sister and is counted among his most important possessions. His other would be his sword, while not the royal blade of his house it was gifted from his mother and is of fine craftsmanship.
Personality: Carlisle is a naturally soft spoken and musically inclined romantic. He dreams of a world where people can enjoy a life filled with music and dancing instead of endless conflict and bloodshed. Many would call him naïve to share his views but as he sees it, it is less naivety but hope and a dream to strive for. He is far from the belief that words could solve all conflicts but not so detached that it should not be his first option.
Beneath a calm exterior Carlisle is plagued by self-doubt and loathing. He hates himself for running and more importantly not being able to save any of his family. He hates himself for having wanted to believe in the Prophet and falling prey to sweet words before the traps were sprung. But mostly he questions if he should come out of hiding or if his people would accept a coward that left them to be ruled by a tyrant. Would they even see the Prophet for who he was?
When dealing with others he is a natural diplomat in some regards but is too hesitant to be assertive when needed. Carlisle is a genuine person who sees no good to come of lies (Perhaps Ironic as he hides his true nature) and carries a reputation as a trustworthy man of his word. He also tends to let others speak more than he does, letting them lead the conversations while giving him the chance to glean knowledge from this. He only lacks assertiveness and the will to force a compromise that is not too one sided. His potential is great but he frequently defers to the judgements of others. Whether this is a sign of a wise ruler or a weak king is yet to be seen or refined.
History: : From the day he was born he was destined to rule in some capacity though he always believed he would be named a duke or some similar title. As a boy he enjoyed long days in the various estates and meeting with other nobles and simply playing as any young lad would. He had a natural aptitude for academics but found it dreadfully dull. Neither, still, did he particularly desire the blade and hardships of a warrior’s life finding the study too difficult. His area of love was the arts.
Lessons of formality and balls were things he adored. The sweet melodies and light yet quick footwork of dance and the intrigue of court. He managed to excel in those lessons. Unfortunately for him he was the second born son and would not be named crown prince as such. At the age of twelve he was assigned to be the squire under a knight of high renown and respect. Not in order to become a simple knight but to grow and learn to become the commander that would help lead his brother’s army.
The day Carlisle was set to leave home was perhaps the most difficult of days for him. It was the very next day, following his twelfth birthday, and mere months before the prophet appeared. Carlisle had adamantly refused to leave for much of that morning causing his servants much headache and eventually his mother and elder brother came to speak with him. The two were able to ease his mind, though he did not make it easy. It was there his brother told him “Your family will be here for you, but you must learn to stand on your own two feet… but always make room for good advice,” words he would come to live by. His mother gifted him with a blade of fine quality, he was not keen on it at the time but he thanked her all the same. It would not be until later he learned its true value, while his brother would inherit the royal sword to him was passed the blade that followed his mother’s name.
As he rode away with his new mentor his youngest sister would pass on to him a broach of a blooming flower. It was a possession she had cherished and thought to give him since it always made her cheer up. This was the last he would see of most of his family.
During his time away he met with many knights and continued his studies all while learning the art of combat and war. He was not naturally gifted toward it but he would still learn much. His ability to survive in the wilds and make do with the bare minimum was perhaps his greatest asset. It was generally agreed that had he not been destined for more he would best be served as a ranger. He learned how to tend to a horse, weapons, armor, and rudimentary field care. Most importantly he was constantly forced to lead mock battles among his peers and minor skirmishes against bandits when real combat was required. This practice worked for a mere two years, his first real combat at 13.
Word of a great prophet had already long reached his ears and Carlisle greatly longed to meet the man that could be called Elimine’s own but it would never come to be. At 14 it was reported that his elder brother had been murdered. His training was immediately delayed as he was called to return to the capital.
The trip back to the capital was made with all haste but the trip was still a week of hard riding. The physical and mental strain took its toll on him during that period and he fell ill near the end of the trip. He was tended to back in the capital and better by the funeral where he said goodbye to his brother. The truth of his brother’s death was still a mystery and though rumors were ill contained it was hushed as best it could be for the time.
Carlisle’s father, the king, however blamed it on the Prophet. This brought the two into conflict as Carlisle had refused to believe it was him. How could Elimine’s chosen be the one to kill his brother and member of the ruling family who had always been loyal to the church? Tragically the two would never have an opportunity to reconcile with one another. Within that third year of the Prophet’s return his control had become all but absolute and then aggression turned into outright open hostility. The king and queen were losing control until the enemy was at the castle.
Everything culminated in a horrible way. Carlisle had never even had a chance to be named the new crown prince before the Prophet’s forces came for them. The morning started innocent enough until reports of a crier outside the castle demanding their unconditional surrender to the prophet were reported. The crier went unheeded save for security in the castle being increased. That same evening the royal family had recognized they no longer had any control and were about to flee when forces of the prophet came for them. Among the enemy was the knight who trained Carlisle.
The king and queen accepted their loss but refused to hand over their children. The pair made a final stand and sent Carlisle away with his younger sister. His mother was a skilled combatant in her own right but his father wielded the royal sword to devastating effect, but in time they would both fall to the onslaught. Beyond the secret passages the siblings would again be confronted by the enemy where Carlisle was forced to fight. Outnumbered it took all he had not to be slain and defend his sister. He was battered but unbroken when a small force of knights fell upon his attackers.
These loyal men and women were led by his mentor. The knight had road with the enemy in order to act against them here. In what to him was a whirlwind of sudden action he and his sister were both scooped up by allies who managed to escape the fall and evade the enemy for a time. The hunt for the siblings was ruthless and constant. It took them months to safely reach the borders of Etruria. The goal was to turn to Lycia for refuge, however this did not happen. The day they were to cross the borders one of the inner circle had betrayed them for his own safety and reward. Instead of safe passage they were met with a border guard three times to size of their own retinue. It was believed and reported there were no survivors.
The battle was brief and fierce. The only concern they had was to break enemy lines and so they made for a fierce and direct push. It did not work as hoped and they were flanked by volleys of arrows that slew most of them. Carlisle himself took an arrow to his side and was rendered helpless. The battle for him was a blur as his consciousness faded in and out but he vividly remembers his sister being taken. The bitter hatred he had hearing her screams as he faded away has stuck with him but internalized into doubts.
It was three days later that Carlisle would return to consciousness. Finding himself being tended to in a cave he had many questions, chief of them what happened to his sister. His mentor revealed that she was taken and surely dead already. Only the pair of them escaped but only barely. The knight had to throw many of their belongings into the river to throw the enemy off their trail and hopefully fake their deaths. Carlisle demanded that the two had to go after his sister and had his wounds not left him bedridden he may very well have gone regardless of others telling him not to.
Carlisle and the knight returned to their travels the moment Carlisle was well enough to ride. His full recovery was secondary to his safety. Bloody gear and belongings may have shown up for the prince but no body was found. For a time this created rumors of his survival and eventual return. Many nobles who did believe he would return to lead them against the prophet were left to keep their hopes silent or be silenced by the inquisition over the next year until the prophet’s control was absolute. Whispers of seeing the likeness of the prince grew more infrequent until only those in denial or fanatic conspirators believed he still lived, such was the degree to which he hid his existence from the world. Only the lack of body kept hope alive but over the years it continued to wane until the flame died.
The truth is that the two never went to Lycia, or rather never stayed to reveal themselves. The pair made their way to Nabatta. The lands were harsh and undesirable, few would expect royalty to reside there, in hiding or not. The tumultuous political landscape otherwise was something that would only complicate living elsewhere further.
Carlisle would come to be sheltered by a tribe lead by a man named Khalas. He would eventually recover in full and understand the full gravity of his new life. Only 17, he was a fugitive and the last of his family still alive. He would have to live in hiding for the rest of his days or be prepared for the trials of combat and political maneuvering. These prospects terrified him and he was plagued by constant doubts and fits of depression.
His mentor and Khalas would speak at length of plans and how they should proceed without even consulting Carlisle. He knew they had meant well but the control of his own life was fully out of his own hands, a fact he bitterly acknowledged. The tribe was small, though apparently large by the scope of Nabatta and his closest friend would become the chieftain’s son Khalid. The confident and fun loving Khalid would prove integral in helping Carlisle recover mentally.
When he reached adulthood at 18 he was fairly adjusted to his life in Nabatta. He was never asked to take on responsibilities within the tribe granted his status but he volunteered. Where he first struggled to traverse the sands he soon learned to move freely and quickly across the shifting and ever changing landscape. He and Khalid would train together with sword and lance respectively while he monitored the state of Elibe trying to plan and find a time to make his return.
The chaos reported was unlike anything he could have predicted. Monsters, war, occupations and rebellions. The land was in disarray and here he was hiding away while the world and his own people suffered under the heel of a tyrant. Monsters could seemingly be linked directly back to the prophet and his taking control of Etruria. This was something that helped him keep his faith in Elimine. He was convinced the man was a wicked and false deceiver. The only issue was if he could convince the swayed masses. Winning hearts and minds seemed impossible to him.
Nine years would pass in Nabatta. A mundane and repetitive life. His mentor would aid him in keeping his sword arm sharp and those that tutored Khalid would assist in continuing his own education. Despite his age he dedicated himself to the scholarly pursuits during the duration of his hiding. His belief was knowledge was power and the more he could exploit when he made his return. In his seventh year of hiding the preparations for his return began in earnest. While he would not reveal himself yet they began to gather supplies and funds as best they could to begin. Carlisle would have a suit of black armor forged for himself as a way of making a statement just on appearance alone.
Nine years in hiding and 26 years old it was time to reveal himself. Elibe was at a breaking point. He could not afford to hide any longer. Bern was broken and recovering, Lycia was collapsing, Illia was half claimed by Etruria and an already battered Sacae was in a deadlock with Etruria. With rumors of a Lycian force forming to retaliate against Etruria their opportunity seemed clear. Etruria may be a power house in the world and able to support a war on two fronts but this also left them over extended. If they could join with Lycia and ride to the aid of the Sacaeans then perhaps they could then free Illia. The forces of three nations combined could then invade a routed Etruria. At least, that was the hope. If there were those still loyal to the royal family of Etruria then he prayed they come out in force to support him.
Timeline
Day of Departure: Carlisle and Khalid have one final sparing session before Carlisle must depart. At one final celebration Khalid and Carlisle swear an oath making them blood brothers.
The First of Many Firsts: near the port city of Khan Yunis Carlisle and Percival are beset by raiders from the Raja tribe. Worse still it appears that Khalid’s younger sister Layla had stowed away, determined to aid them. Things looked dire until a shaman by the name of Belinda took notice and came to their aid with the help of the town guard. Belinda was able to further aid them by pointing them to an inn and a name for potential passage. A captain Cid. Cid had offered them passage for a mere 1,500G but Carlisle made him a counter offer of 2,000G. The deal was easily accepted.
Stowaways and Waterways: N/A
Badon Shuffle: N/A
Sharktooth’s Pirates: N/A
Yet More Bandits: When more of Sharktooth's men mean to ambush Carlisle and Percival the bandits found themselves closed in on both sides when a pair of strangers Roy and Lynessa got involved. Carlisle announced that he was Carlisle Cicero to the bandits intent on them relaying the message to Sharktooth. A fight was avoided and the strangers decided to travel part of the way with them to Darrun.
Darrun Raid: N/A
Sharktooth: N/A
Founding of The Forsaken: N/A