{ app for fade rift }

[insatiably]

PLAYER

Name: Megan
Age: over 30
Contact: megoom or PM
Other Characters: Christine Delacroix, Ellana Ashara, Minka
Interests: Okay so I have my human mage, my elven mage, and my Carta dwarf. Let's see how I do with someone who actually isn't a minority in Thedas: a non-mage human. And a dude! Shock and awe.

CHARACTER

Name: Julian Vincenzo Avonal De Abbrixio
Canon/OC: OC
Journal: insatiably
Race: Human
Nationality: Antivan
Occupation: technically a noble and heir to a cattle ranch, but he's not afraid to get his hands dirty
Division: Forces
Mage or Not: Not
Age: 32

History
Julian is the son of Vincenzo De Abbrixio, of the noble House of De Abbrixio of Antiva. For generations the family has raised their own cattle for the leather that goes into those unmatched high quality Antivan leatherworks. Lesser scions of the House (cousins, second cousins, what have you) deal with the tanning process, the design and manufacture, and the sale of the leather, and by keeping each step of the process within the family, it's made them all very wealthy and a formidable force. Julian is his father's heir, but it's no secret that he's illegitimate: the product of an affair with a slightly unhinged Nevarran noblewoman. However, since his dear (adoptive) mother Aurelia is infertile, Julian was legally legitimized once he reached adulthood and he -- and his fellow illegitimate half-sisters -- have always lived with Vincenzo and Aurelia.

Growing up, Julian believed Aurelia to be his mother, and a very loving one she is at that. But people talk, and his birth mother caused quite the scene when she seemingly lost her mind in public and was removed from public life. That's when the truth came out: she had become obsessed with Vincenzo during their affair, and tried desperately to get him to assassinate his wife so she could marry him. When he refused and took baby Julian to raise in his household, she cracked and tried to hire assassins herself, but was found out by allies of House De Abbrixio and the assassins were paid off. When she had a breakdown while attending the opera, she ranted and raved about her affair and child with Vincenzo. Later this information was used by children Julian's age to taunt him, and he learned that Aurelia wasn't really his mother, but some madwoman was instead.

In later years, Julian began working on the family ranch, herding cattle and learning to care for them, because the hands-on approach ensured that the family business would continue to succeed. He's still very much a nobleman, but his illegitimacy has opened his eyes to the world and made him a great deal more lenient to other views and people outside his station. He enjoys getting his hands dirty and although he knows what his future holds as far as making money goes, he wants to engage with the world and see what it has to offer him. He's always wanted to fight a dragon. Maybe that'll happen.

As far as the Inquisition goes, Julian's been intrigued by it, but he's really here in the hopes of securing a business deal between it and House De Abbrixio. Soldiers need leather armor, gloves, boots, quivers, belts, knapsacks, saddles, and more. Plus leather items that are used daily and have seen battle require replacing, so Julian wants to offer the best of the best, with the assurance that it'll last longer than the leather they're using now. His family can provide the materials or the finished product at a great price! Plus he might stick around to see what all this save the world business is about. He wouldn't want life to get boring.

Personality

Julian is a very laid-back, jovial sort of fellow. Early on, he learned that people's words could only hurt you if you let them, and once he started laughing when snobs called him a bastard son, he realized he had power over them. If he didn't let things bother him, then he would always come out on top. While Orlesians might be able to get away with ganging up on someone for stepping out of line, in Antiva, money talks, and that means Julian has the wealth to laugh off remarks and still be respected. This has made him into a man who hardly ever gets riled up or angry at trivial things. Most things simply roll off his back, and he doesn't take much in life very seriously, except preserving the family business, and that's mostly so he can make sure his two sisters are looked after, should they not end up married. It's also made him a bit flippant, though he's never purposefully cruel. He doesn't want to treat anyone the way he was treated by others, unless they've done horrible things that deserve punishment. If someone's an ass, just laugh at them and then go about your day. If they murdered someone innocent, run them through with a sword. Easy.

He's easily amused and will often laugh at situations and people even if they're serious. Though he doesn't mean any ill-will, it's just natural for him to look on the bright side and think things aren't as bad as they're made out to be. An eternal optimist, to be sure. He knows the world has gone through some serious stuff lately and he sympathizes with those who have been hurt in the process, but he's very much a "live in the moment" type of guy, and believes dwelling on the past or on dreary things is no good for anybody. It gives you wrinkles. Unless you like wrinkles? Look, he's not here to judge. You do you.

He knows he's lucky that he came from a loving family, since not many nobles can boast that. Though his father had affairs, he and Aurelia still love each other, and she's raised his three illegitimate children as her own, glad to have the opportunity to be a mother in any way she can. Julian's easy-going manner makes him a good friend, or a frustrating enemy, since he won't rise to bait. He enjoys gently teasing, and his poor sisters have given many an eye roll as he "torments" them. The fact that he at least takes the business seriously enough is a relief to his father, though the man wishes Julian wouldn't take to so many flights of fancy, like the year he spent on an Antivan trading vessel, or his plans to fight a dragon someday. There's a lot Julian wants to experience out there, and the way he talks, it seems like it's never enough. The reason for this -- which Julian has never confided to anyone -- is that he fears his birth mother's madness is hereditary, and he too will need to be locked away someday. He prays not, but on the chance he does go mad, he wants to have the best life he can first. This means adventure, partying, liasions; you name it and Julian has or will try it at least once.

Opinions & Affiliations

Chantry: He's Andrastian inasmuch as attending services with his family. He doesn't pray to the Maker for anything and thinks people shouldn't be so strict about adhering to the Chant or trying to apply it to everyday life.

the Qun: He's against any group that takes away the individuals' wants.

the Mage/Templar War: An unfortunate event that had been a long time coming. Like anyone with a brain, he's wary of mages who use magic to control others (blood mages, probably every Tevinter Magister for all he knows), but he doesn't think the average mage is inherently dangerous. Templars are cool in his book, except those extremists who tortured non-dangerous mages. Chill the fuck out, guys.

Elves, dwarves, Vashoth: He hasn't been around many elves before, but he definitely sees they have a chip on their shoulder. He supposes not everyone can let things roll off their back like he does. Dwarves are crucial to the merchant trade and he never underestimates them. He doesn't even know that Vashoth is the name for non-Qunari, but he thinks if they got out/avoided that life, they've got sense in their heads.

Landed Nobility: His people. A lot are snobs who want to tear others down. He laughs at how petty and sad they are and gets on with his life. His family are awesome landed nobility, because they recognize the value of familial love and all that gooey stuff.

Strengths & Weaknesses
STRENGTHS

Sense of humor.

Can easily converse with most people.

Has a steady income from being nobility (and is generous with his money too).

learned fancy swordplay as a teen, but got the real education while working on a merchant vessel, so he's a decent sword and shield warrior.

WEAKNESSES

Carefree attitude can possibly make him seem uncaring or flippant.

It also runs the risk of making him seem unreliable or unsuited to take over as heir someday. This is why the family business is the one thing he shows he'll take seriously. He won't risk his sisters' futures by appearing to not care, yet people will interpret things as they will, and his attitude about life might hurt business.

He'll try anything once, which means he can get into dangerous situations because he has no fear thank the Maker he hasn't caught herpes yet.

He has deep-seated issues about his birth mother and her madness. It's the one Big Thing he really worries about: that he'll become her.

Inventory

a fancy sword and shield

plenty of clothes (dat Antivan leather tho)

his horse

his valet and additional servants because I'd like him to take a house in Hightown

locked boxes full of documents about signing a deal between the Inquisition (through the quartermaster, I presume) and House De Abbrixio for the acquisition of leatherworks

plenty of good Antivan wine

all that money, that money

Motivation

While trying to secure a contract with the Inquisition is his main motivation, what will keep him around is the adventure and chance for new experiences that the organization will give him. Being that he's a noble, he probably will need to periodically return to the family estate to check in on things, if the Inquisition would be so good as to oblige him in exchange for his service.

SAMPLES

{ sample 1 }

{ sample 2 }
Good people of the Inquisition!

[ The voice is Antivan-accented and in good spirits. ]

I have only just lately arrived on business, but I thought perhaps I might stay awhile and was issued this crystal. While I'm here, I wonder if I might get a story or two out of you. You see, I have heard that there are those among your ranks that have faced dragons! Should you have the time and inclination, would any of you share your experience with me? And even if you haven't, you might as well make up a story anyway. How will I tell the difference between a truthful encounter and a false one?

[ He pauses to laugh. ]

Unless you are an abysmal liar, perhaps? But no, I can't ask for a story and give nothing in return! If you'd like to meet, then drinks are on me.

[ It may be that he's just interested in seeing who turns up, dragon hunters or not. ]

I'll be at The Hanged Man. Ask for Julian at the bar. And if you don't want a drink, than name your price and I'll see what I can do.