Undertow — Sebastian's Background
Sebastian "Skeet," Son of Flora
© 2005 Jarrod Van Kirk and Simone Cooper
DESCRIPTION:
I will be playing Skeet (real name is Sebastian), son of Flora. He was raised in Fae, and had a dark upbringing. He is a Sorcerer/Trump Artist. He learned Trump at the urging of his foster mother.--Simone:
Yes, the difficult and extremely useful art of Trump is widely respected and sought after in the First Realm.--Jarrod:
Skeet was raised in the Keep of Lord Ailill. Skeet can be pleasant and a courtly gentleman, but he is one who does not like to be crossed. He is in his late 20's, slender, about 5'11", with shoulder-length dark brown hair and a goatee. He also has a dark side. There are rumors that he has killed someone for insulting him in the past, but that of course is just a rumor. He is known as a high level sorcerer and Trump Artist among the Fae.Skeet moves easily in all of the circles of Fae society. He has learned the ways of whom he is with to blend with them, and tries to not draw attention to himself.
While in a social situation, there is no doubt that he is a most charming man, and has left many broken hearts among those who would be on his arm at the events, as he has closely guarded his heart.
Skeet would be pleasant and charming with anyone who spoke with him at a court function. He seems to have a few close friends, but not as many as would be assumed by his charming manner. It is hard to get to know him well though. He tends to keep himself apart from others with his most private thoughts. Though, if asked, is always willing to be helpful.
(Carla is sitting with me, and told me that Flora would have left Skeet in Fae with a close trusted friend, whom she charged with raising him.) Is that alright? If so, can you give me a name for this foster mother? She wanted to have a Trump Artist in Fae. It was convenient.
--Simone:
Flora was irritated to learn that Finnvarra gave her infant to someone other than the woman she chose, but she did agree that he had that power by contract. She is forbidden to have contact with the child, though, so Sebastian wouldn't know her, except perhaps in a disguise.--Jarrod:
His sorcery tends to take the form of curses. He has the basics as well, but his training contained a lot of curse-specific and summoning magics.--Simone:
The character points, abilities, etc. are very interesting. The angle on the spellcasting is perfect.BACKGROUND:
--Simone:
The First Realm, which underlies all Shadow, existed prior to the creation of the Pattern by Oberon. The beings there are long-lived, and many are shape-shifters; they are the relatives by blood to both Chaos and Amber in ancient times. They have access to powers that are relatively minor in the hands of their distant kin, but awesome in their home realms. Flora's mother was Fae; Julian has earned his own position as the King in Green. Lately, the Fae have been making war against Benedict -- though in their own minds against him and his forces only, rather than against Amber.Caine, Gerard, Flora, Julian, or Benedict are probable parents. Eric while possible might be less interesting for you since it would not tie you to the current game as well as choosing a living elder. In the cases of the men mentioned above, you would simply have been unknown to them, perhaps kept as some kind of bargaining chip for the future; in the case of Flora, you would have been produced by her as part of a bargain of some sort. Choose what seems interesting to you.
You could choose to be noble in Fae or relatively unknown.
--Jarrod:
I would like to play a son of Flora. A Trump artist from Faerie. Is there anything else I should know prior to coming up with points?--Simone:
A couple of things about your character's background, and some names to hang your coat on...You are aware that your biological mother is Florimel. You are also aware that your biological father is an Unseelie noble among the Sidhe, but you do not know his name. You were given as a gift of sorts to the household of Lord Ailill, Keeper of the Black Oak Way to Arden. You have been raised by various servants of his household, and the lord clearly has affection for you, though he is not warm. Ailill resides on the borders between the Seelie and Unseelie, for the most part. In his past you know he has been a member of the King's Word, a brutal job for uncompromising hunters of men.
Your childhood was one of training and studying, I imagine, as there are few entertainments for the young in this part of the First Realm. Whenever he would have to report to the King's Palace, Ailill would take you and your caretakers, as though knowing a child needed some light in an otherwise dark and serious life. The court of the realm was a place of wonder to you, though you did have one of your closest brushes with death there.
Ailill's Keep is entered through a grove of Black Oak (I know, not a shock) by means of a trod. It also exits onto Arden, if you know the Way.
In the past few months Ailill has kept his Keep's face turned towards Arden, and you know that creatures and men under his command have hunted freely there, harassing and terrifying Benedict's people.
--Simone
A little color incident from your past:
The first and only time Ailill brought you to Finnvarra's Court without an escort, you nearly died. And you found out that if you had, Ailill would have died with you.You were maybe six or seven, and the Court of Thorns was in full bloom for you. You had spent the day dashing from one wondrous spectacle to the next, basking both in the newness of the place and in Ailill's unaccustomed attention. Many women fawned upon you and turned their eyes to Ailill afterwards, calculating.
Finally evening came, along with Ailill's meeting with the King. Ailill found you a bench in a small courtyard, gave you one of your books and a lamp, and made you promise not to move from that spot. He made you promise to be brave and to be alert--'brave' specifically, as though that virtue above all others would serve you--and you promised solemnly.
Though your father had told you many times he would be with the King only a short time, it seemed that much time passed, perhaps hours, and though you had the patience of any magician's apprentice it seemed a very long time indeed. For a while you dozed as the warmth stored in the courtyard's marble rose into the evening air.
The flickering out of your lamp woke you.
There was a small fountain positioned in the centre of the courtyard. A breeze blew the spray from it across the mosaic tiles of the floor, and that part of the design--the eye and mane of a rearing unicorn--was darker than the rest. Maybe you thought about going to the doors through which Ailill had passed, but you had been told to wait on the bench. Sitting there the tips of your toes could just scuff the ground.
There was a damp to the air, and all the stars of the sky gave little light, and you had to admit you were afraid--afraid already!--after your promise.
You hugged your knees to yourself, and small cloud of Miniscules flew around you on magnificent gold-green dragonflies, but none of them knew you, and you didn't recognize their tribe, and so after prodding you experimentally a few times, they buzzed over to the fountain, darted down to collect tiny dewdrops of water, and flew away.
The absence of their tiny voices made the still courtyard seem suddenly even more empty.
Suddenly you thought you could hear Ailill talking, though you couldn't remember being able to hear him before. You knew there had been dry leaves on the tiles, but the rustling you heard didn't sound like dry leaves in the wind.
It seemed even the stars went out. The low archway leading into this place was a black, pulsing maw across from you. Moist sounds came from the direction of the fountain. You knew from your tutors' warnings that some creatures like the kelpie had no scruples against hurting or killing you, even if you were the Blood of Amber--whatever that meant-- if it thought it could get away with it. The fact that the fountain was so tiny that no kelpie could fit there did not comfort you.
The door into which Ailill had disappeared was the only exit on this side of the courtyard. Vile green light, which you had not noticed before, spilled from beneath it. Finally you stood up. "Be brave. Be brave," still safe on the bench you thought, and drew out the steel dagger you were allowed to carry. You held it out in front of yourself two handed, point-up, like it was a cross to ward off vampires rather than a very unlikely weapon.
There was a sudden hiss of breath in your ear, hot and impossibly close.
You leaped back; your foot slipped off the edge, and you were falling.
The next thing you remembered, you were on horseback; Ailill was carrying you. He didn't notice at
first that you were awake. He was pushing the horse hard, and dark ringlets of his hair clung to his forehead where he had been sweating. Friel the lion rode nearby in ominous silence. You could see
hounds hurrying on ahead of the horses. Their feet were muddy.It seemed to be late afternoon.
"Father?" you said muzzily, forgetting you should not call him that in front of other members of the Court.
Ailill reined in so abruptly the horse snorted its disagreement. "He's with us! Friel!"
A moment later strong warm arms lifted you out of Ailill's lap, and magic was all around you. Friel's golden eyes smiled as he nodded. "Yes. The little brother is back... fully."
You struggled to sit up in Friel's grasp, and he set you upright on the horse in front of Ailill. "But where are we?" you asked them both.
Ailill and Friel shared a dark glance, and Friel answered, "You must have wandered off, Sebastian."
Forgetting you should not answer back, you protested, "I didn't. I waited and waited."
Ignoring you, Friel said to Ailill, "It won't do to confront them now, Ailill. If Finnvarra's promised his protection, he'll provide it, but word of that promise must be spread. Your reasoning is still sound in this matter. The boy may yet be a great asset to you."
"If I don't lose him or my own head in the meanwhile," Ailill growled darkly.
"Why didn't you come?" You looked up into Ailill's face, which was hard set and grim.
He nodded once in response to Friel's words and swallowed before answering, "You're going to have to listen more carefully." That is all the explanation he would give, and the rough edge to his
voice stilled your protests.You rode perhaps five miles through rolling fields of wheat just touched by the gold of autumn. All the while, Ailill said nothing, though he held you against him tightly.
Just as you approached the colored flags of the King's estates, Friel said, "If the intention had been to kill him, they had him completely and could have done so. Perhaps we should look at this as a good sign."
"Perhaps I should have warded him better," mumbled Ailill.
"Your wards would only invite further tests... and hostility. You were given a sign of favor that others were not given. It is natural. Don't draw attention to it. Leave it."
Ailill nodded, though it seemed he would speak.
You were closely watched for many weeks after that... uncomfortably closely watched. Even at your age you noticed it. But then things settled into the routine of study and work, and the adventure seemed forgotten.
* * *
other writings: Background, Sebastian and Aidan, Ebb Tide diary