Laertes Aligheri [Complete]
Mar 25, 2012 17:28:48 GMT -6
Post by Laertes on Mar 25, 2012 17:28:48 GMT -6
Name: Laertes Aligheri
Class: Mercenary
Age: 22
This is my time, my choice. Like the whole damn world gotta hear my voice
Background: Laertes didn't necessarily have a bad life, not by his standards. His family was actually well off in comparison to quite a few he assumed, as he was the son of a merchant living in the capital city of Bern. The business was quite good, and his family never when without the necessities. In a sense, he lived closer to a lifestyle of nobility than many individuals. He lived quite the cultured life. His father, Richard, made sure to keep him and his two other siblings, Illiana and Davik, well educated. Their days were spent in with a outdoor activities revolving around culture, and bit of physical play (swordplay for the boys, archery for Illiana for personal protection) and studies during the early evening in order to become well-rounded individuals.
Davik was the more hard-headed individual. He never wanted to listen to anyone, as he believed in personally experiencing all of life's choices by himself. Often he caught the ire of their father, though not as much as Laertes had, which was due to his insistence. Laertes never did like to see his siblings in trouble. Illiana was the more soft-spoken one. She was docile, just like their mother, but her wit was uncanny. She truly was a silver-tongued devil which spokes volumes about her character. She knew how to defuse situations and often talked herself of most confrontations.
Laertes mother was an individual all her own. Quite the contrast to their father really. Maternal. Loving. Docile. Submissive. The prototypical mother, and she helped even out his father. It was only at times when he was with her that he really act more like himself. With his father, it was always a facade he had to present, whereas with her Laertes felt more human. It was no surprise that he always enjoyed his outings with her more, regardless of the activity. His father wanted to cut down the contact between them, as he saw his son becoming soft. Regardless, Laertes always found time to make for his mother.
His father was an interesting man, to say the least. He was eloquent, a gentleman, yet his tongue was sharp and his attitude could be poor at times. Laertes considered him unreasonable at times due to his high expectations for the trio. There was nothing particularly wrong with wanting your children to be the best; parents never want their children to settle into mediocrity, or shouldn't in any case. However, it became less about being the best at a career they wanted, and more of what he wanted. A dictatorship was very much enacted throughout the household. Illiana and Davik were particularly frightened of their father, just due to his somewhat harsh nature. Punishment generally followed any sort of disagreement with their father. Laertes wasn't so much scared for himself as he was for his mother and two siblings.
Since he was the oldest, Laertes was often the example for the younger two. He was praised for his work when it was done right, and berated when he was wrong. In one instance, Laertes was beaten for stating his opinion of their father in the way he conducted business. He didn't agree with having to under-cut, or overcharge customers for their wares. He especially wasn't too fond of the travels he had with his father through the black market, the illegal processes involved with the smuggling of certain items; Laertes once heard from the one they called "Crow" that his men stalked the highways at all hours of the day. When they believed that they found someone who had something of value or serious worth, one of the highwaymen would create a small diversion before they looted whoever the owner of valuables were. More often than not, it resulted in the death of many people in order to avoid witnesses. With Bern in the state of turmoil as it was, it seemed as if the pickings were right. Laertes' father was an opportunist at heart and looked for all and anyways to stay ahead. Yet his father always justified his actions by one word: survivability.
Simply put, crush the opposition that's weaker and strengthen your foundation. It was this very same principle that was buried deep within the three children. Even if Laertes didn't agree with everything his father did, he always remembered the cynicism that was incorporated with any action his father did, and throughout all this time it began to become embedded in him that outside his comfortable life, there were others struggling. The odd thing was that despite his regular disagreement with his father, he understood and even believed the ideology of survival.
Of course, Laertes had other intentions outside of living within the household. His family wasn't that bad, but honestly the politics revolving around the merchant career he didn't want too much to become involved in. Laertes wasn't a saint, and he acknowledged this full and well. He understood the privileged life he lived, and while he wasn't advocating for stepping on the poorer people of the town, he wasn't going to be their savior either.
The worst kind of person he considered himself. He knew better. He should do better, but didn't. In large, his reason for just up and leaving his family ultimately came from his lack of desire for a scripted life. A bit of a selfish action really, to just leave without leaving a source of contact for his siblings and mother. It wasn't that he didn't want to keep in contact, but disobedience was not tolerable in their household. Rather than put them through any unnecessary means, he'd carry the shame he would be inflicting to his father by himself.
The two things he realized through his many years of reviewing literature allowed him to justify his actions in the simplest of ways: You either got busy living, or got busy dying. And from right now, he wanted to live a semblance of a happy life.
At least for now.
Personality: To whomever he meets, Laertes comes across as snark, a tad bit cynical and his words riddling. He'll make a joke about a situation in a light hearted manner regardless of the severity of it as the everyday common joke. His odd sense of humor can make social contact with him somewhat taxing. He's not necessarily a nice person, at least not with his words. Laertes may never tell someone how he directly feels, but does so through implication.
Seemingly takes everything lightly, almost as if it was a game. However, it's a facade to build confidence not only in himself but to downplay his enemies abilities. He comes across as proud, and to a degree he is. He's served in the military for some odd-long years and is versed well enough with a blade in order to assert his attitude. Deep down however, conflict and confrontation of all kinds whether physical or mental bring some sort of excitement. A rush of adrenaline within the heat battle of the blades or words does bring him some odd pleasure. He enjoys it, thoroughly so but won't every admit it publicly to any audience.
Outwardly it appears that Laertes doesn't like fighting. Despite his sharp tongue, he's much more liable to attempt to talk his way out of a situation rather than brashly brandish his sword out. Unnecessary conflict is quite bothersome, and while sometimes it does stir some semblance of excitement within, he's not all the time motivated to cause an excess amount of it. Laertes attitude shifts from being a very engage individual to a more reserved nature.
Laertes has somewhat of a self-loathing nature. He detest some of the qualities he possesses due to the fact that these very same qualities caused a rift between him and his family. Even if he couldn't change the personality traits he posses, he does wish he could've put a big enough facade in order to at least keep his family connections in tact. Maybe even possibly done what his father had wanted him to do, which was pursue a life as a merchant, he would still be with his family. Words and insults don't cause, not completely, the affect that individual might hope. Who could possibly be more unsatisfied with this life than Laertes himself? He's his biggest critic. His biggest bane. He's not always completely calm, but he's far from a breakdown mentally.
Laertes loyalty however, is unquestionable. Regardless of a disagreement on whichever side, he would never leave someone he considered a brethren behind.
Class: Mercenary
Age: 22
This is my time, my choice. Like the whole damn world gotta hear my voice
Background: Laertes didn't necessarily have a bad life, not by his standards. His family was actually well off in comparison to quite a few he assumed, as he was the son of a merchant living in the capital city of Bern. The business was quite good, and his family never when without the necessities. In a sense, he lived closer to a lifestyle of nobility than many individuals. He lived quite the cultured life. His father, Richard, made sure to keep him and his two other siblings, Illiana and Davik, well educated. Their days were spent in with a outdoor activities revolving around culture, and bit of physical play (swordplay for the boys, archery for Illiana for personal protection) and studies during the early evening in order to become well-rounded individuals.
Davik was the more hard-headed individual. He never wanted to listen to anyone, as he believed in personally experiencing all of life's choices by himself. Often he caught the ire of their father, though not as much as Laertes had, which was due to his insistence. Laertes never did like to see his siblings in trouble. Illiana was the more soft-spoken one. She was docile, just like their mother, but her wit was uncanny. She truly was a silver-tongued devil which spokes volumes about her character. She knew how to defuse situations and often talked herself of most confrontations.
Laertes mother was an individual all her own. Quite the contrast to their father really. Maternal. Loving. Docile. Submissive. The prototypical mother, and she helped even out his father. It was only at times when he was with her that he really act more like himself. With his father, it was always a facade he had to present, whereas with her Laertes felt more human. It was no surprise that he always enjoyed his outings with her more, regardless of the activity. His father wanted to cut down the contact between them, as he saw his son becoming soft. Regardless, Laertes always found time to make for his mother.
His father was an interesting man, to say the least. He was eloquent, a gentleman, yet his tongue was sharp and his attitude could be poor at times. Laertes considered him unreasonable at times due to his high expectations for the trio. There was nothing particularly wrong with wanting your children to be the best; parents never want their children to settle into mediocrity, or shouldn't in any case. However, it became less about being the best at a career they wanted, and more of what he wanted. A dictatorship was very much enacted throughout the household. Illiana and Davik were particularly frightened of their father, just due to his somewhat harsh nature. Punishment generally followed any sort of disagreement with their father. Laertes wasn't so much scared for himself as he was for his mother and two siblings.
Since he was the oldest, Laertes was often the example for the younger two. He was praised for his work when it was done right, and berated when he was wrong. In one instance, Laertes was beaten for stating his opinion of their father in the way he conducted business. He didn't agree with having to under-cut, or overcharge customers for their wares. He especially wasn't too fond of the travels he had with his father through the black market, the illegal processes involved with the smuggling of certain items; Laertes once heard from the one they called "Crow" that his men stalked the highways at all hours of the day. When they believed that they found someone who had something of value or serious worth, one of the highwaymen would create a small diversion before they looted whoever the owner of valuables were. More often than not, it resulted in the death of many people in order to avoid witnesses. With Bern in the state of turmoil as it was, it seemed as if the pickings were right. Laertes' father was an opportunist at heart and looked for all and anyways to stay ahead. Yet his father always justified his actions by one word: survivability.
Simply put, crush the opposition that's weaker and strengthen your foundation. It was this very same principle that was buried deep within the three children. Even if Laertes didn't agree with everything his father did, he always remembered the cynicism that was incorporated with any action his father did, and throughout all this time it began to become embedded in him that outside his comfortable life, there were others struggling. The odd thing was that despite his regular disagreement with his father, he understood and even believed the ideology of survival.
Of course, Laertes had other intentions outside of living within the household. His family wasn't that bad, but honestly the politics revolving around the merchant career he didn't want too much to become involved in. Laertes wasn't a saint, and he acknowledged this full and well. He understood the privileged life he lived, and while he wasn't advocating for stepping on the poorer people of the town, he wasn't going to be their savior either.
The worst kind of person he considered himself. He knew better. He should do better, but didn't. In large, his reason for just up and leaving his family ultimately came from his lack of desire for a scripted life. A bit of a selfish action really, to just leave without leaving a source of contact for his siblings and mother. It wasn't that he didn't want to keep in contact, but disobedience was not tolerable in their household. Rather than put them through any unnecessary means, he'd carry the shame he would be inflicting to his father by himself.
The two things he realized through his many years of reviewing literature allowed him to justify his actions in the simplest of ways: You either got busy living, or got busy dying. And from right now, he wanted to live a semblance of a happy life.
At least for now.
Personality: To whomever he meets, Laertes comes across as snark, a tad bit cynical and his words riddling. He'll make a joke about a situation in a light hearted manner regardless of the severity of it as the everyday common joke. His odd sense of humor can make social contact with him somewhat taxing. He's not necessarily a nice person, at least not with his words. Laertes may never tell someone how he directly feels, but does so through implication.
Seemingly takes everything lightly, almost as if it was a game. However, it's a facade to build confidence not only in himself but to downplay his enemies abilities. He comes across as proud, and to a degree he is. He's served in the military for some odd-long years and is versed well enough with a blade in order to assert his attitude. Deep down however, conflict and confrontation of all kinds whether physical or mental bring some sort of excitement. A rush of adrenaline within the heat battle of the blades or words does bring him some odd pleasure. He enjoys it, thoroughly so but won't every admit it publicly to any audience.
Outwardly it appears that Laertes doesn't like fighting. Despite his sharp tongue, he's much more liable to attempt to talk his way out of a situation rather than brashly brandish his sword out. Unnecessary conflict is quite bothersome, and while sometimes it does stir some semblance of excitement within, he's not all the time motivated to cause an excess amount of it. Laertes attitude shifts from being a very engage individual to a more reserved nature.
Laertes has somewhat of a self-loathing nature. He detest some of the qualities he possesses due to the fact that these very same qualities caused a rift between him and his family. Even if he couldn't change the personality traits he posses, he does wish he could've put a big enough facade in order to at least keep his family connections in tact. Maybe even possibly done what his father had wanted him to do, which was pursue a life as a merchant, he would still be with his family. Words and insults don't cause, not completely, the affect that individual might hope. Who could possibly be more unsatisfied with this life than Laertes himself? He's his biggest critic. His biggest bane. He's not always completely calm, but he's far from a breakdown mentally.
Laertes loyalty however, is unquestionable. Regardless of a disagreement on whichever side, he would never leave someone he considered a brethren behind.