The Villeneuve Family

[The International]

The following is a registration of Vespasian Villeneuve's immediate family. They frequently occupy supporting roles in his quests and battles. Normally I wouldn't register non-player characters, but since Vespasian's family is a family of spies with various tactical assets I thought it might be wise to do so.


The Villeneuve Family
This Villeneuves are a prominent merchant family favored and respected in every region of the known world, from Corone to Dheathain. Publicly they are known for their successful trade and their ship The International, but it is likely that they gained the attention of great nations through their private business. Their merchant business, although a legitimate and successful one, is a front for their involvement in the clandestine arts. The Villeneuves are a family of spies, and they consist of Esme & Alix (Father & Mother), who have three children (oldest to youngest), Maelle, Ludivine, and Vespasian.

Family Skills
When Alix gave birth to the first of the Villeneuve children, she and Esme agreed to teach them everything they needed to know to succeed in trade and covert operations alike. Every member of the family has these skills unless stated otherwise.

Linguistics: Common is a Villeneuve's native language, but they are all fluent in Aleraran, Raiaeran, Salvic, and Akashiman. They are all learning Fallien's native tongue and are catching on to it very quickly. Such exposure to the many languages of the world prove advantageous when picking up new ones, for most languages are in some way related. When communicating in the field they will often mix words from different languages together in order to throw off any listeners.

Culture: In addition to the language of the major countries of the world, the family is well versed in their culture, traditions, and current events. This is mostly due to first hand exposure.

Mathematics: Because of the family business every member is able to make quick and effortless calculations as advanced as college level algebra and complex geometry without paper and pen. Percentages, measurements, and scales come to them instantly as well. Esme and Alix made sure of this for the children at an early age, not just for counting coin, but for tactical reasons. They also need this in order to better take care of the ship they live on.

Villeneuve Transformation: Each member of the family wields a small sketchbook with drawings of members of different Althanian peoples. When a Villeneuve looks upon one of these drawings before they lay to rest, they will wake up as the person in the picture. This is not illusionary magic, this is complete and utter biological change down to the smallest cell. It is required that the transformer must enter the deep sleep stage at least once during their rest, which usually takes from one to four hours and still depends on how well the sleep is. Only Alix Villeneuve's drawings have this effect, and they only seem to work with her family. Each family member's particular list of transformations will be covered in their respective section.

The International
The Villeneuve's primary mode of transportation, dwelling, and business, The International is a three masted sloop. Being the potential targets of more than just pirates, Esme and Alix chose this ship because it was incredibly fast and great for negotiating shallow waterways, essential when running from pursuit. They do their best not to fill the ship's cargo hold even if that means opportunity costs.

Now on to the cast...

[The International]

Esme Villeneuve
Mystery Incarnate

http://www.divasthesite.com/images/Divos/Divo_Eric_McCormack.jpg
Age: 48
Height: 5'10
Weight: 140 lbs

Appearance
Esme stands at average height and build, and he maintains this for visual flexibility on the field. If he looks like most people, he can blend in and stand out whenever he chooses to do so. His eyes are dark brown and his hair is straight and black, and they fit well within the chiseled features of his face. His disarming smile is his greatest weapon. When observing Esme, it should be noted where Vespasian gets his signature elegance although he is a bit leaner due to his fighting style. (This only refers to his human appearance.)

Personality
As tense as both his professions can get, Esme seems to be the epitome of ease while being a fidgety character at the same time. He can always be seen doing little things to distract a part of his mind such as eating an apple, or playing with a pen. When he speaks he is a voice of humorous and easygoing wisdom. The only two people who have managed to break past this are his wife, Alix, and his middle child, Ludivine. More on such matters later.

Skills & Abilities

Nautical Arts
Esme is the de facto captain of The International and having lived on it for years he's been able to gain expertise on it. At first, he and Alix required a crew of nine to operate it, which was a little higher than the average minimum to operate schooner such as that one. He was uncomfortable with the risk of a crew possibly betraying his secrets so he worked to make operating the ship more efficient. As he learned the physics, points and advanced sailing techniques he was able to cut the minimum number of operating the ship down to four, and as the Villeneuve children grew in size they became that crew. Now, with his management The International need only be operated by the five members of the Villeneuve Family.

Swashbuckling
Esme is above average in this art, which emphasizes distracting acrobatics and the use of a side sword & buckler shield. The majority of his battle experience comes from pirate encounters out at sea, where he could use the various features of The International to his advantage. This has created a healthy habit of using the environment around him as best he can, whether he's out at sea or on land. He also makes use of strong and fast kicks.

Master of Songs
Esme is highly skilled in music. He can play the classical guitar, violin, and his favorite the accordion. He also possesses a smooth singing voice, which he once used to achieve a Master of Songs Degree at Istien University. He can use Ost'Dagorlin magic to summon up the elements in humble amounts to either use offensively (projectiles) or defensively (shields), and he can use Aglarlin magic to motivate and empower others (2x Skills & Abilities for a temporary amount of time).

Villeneuve Transformations
While his children only have a handful of drawings at the most, Esme's sketchbook contains more than twenty different drawings ranging from Dark Elves to Trolls and Humans of different variations.

Equipment
Steel Rapier
Steel Buckler
Compass
Pocket Watch


Alix Villeneuve
Mystery's Mistress
http://laetitia.porte.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/kate_walsh300.jpg
Age: 47
Height: 5'7
Weight: 110 lbs

Appearance
The mother of three looks to be anything but. Her enticing light green eyes contrast perfectly with her long auburn hair, which is always well kept. Her strawberry cheeks add a glow to her smile that is hard to ignore. Her body is that of a dancer even though she fights more than she dances. Her grace is almost second nature, with a walk that is more like a glide, and a sprint that is more like flight.

Personality
The matriarch of the Villeneuve family is sarcastic, quick witted, and comedic in her approach to all things. Some say this is her show of strength in the face of certain danger, which she has admitted to to some extent. Unlike the men of the family she is easily angered, but cares only to show it through monologues filled with insults and sarcasm while still sporting a smile.

Skills & Abilities

Villeneuve Transformation
It is Alix's enchanted art that allows her family to transform overnight, but this isn't something that just happens in mere seconds. The drawings she makes are highly detailed and richly shaded. She must have said family member in mind as she's drawing in order to create a form for them, she must also be in a quiet area, and she must be on land. These drawings take a minimum of one hour to complete. Like Esme she has many forms to choose from for herself.

Taijutsu
Taijutsu is a form of traditional unarmed combat common to a plethora of arts utilized mostly by ninjas. Alix is especially adept in this form specializing in nerve strikes, evasion, and joint locks. She is often amused at how frustrated her opponents become from missing her so often.

Culinary Arts
Alix has a wide range of recipes from a wide range of regions, but that's not why this skill is noted. It's noted because she uses her skills to create pepper bombs, little exploding projectiles made of bell peppers, lemon juice, and peanut oil. She makes them on a weekly basis, and will use them tactical situations to irritate wounds and blind eyes.

Kendo
The art of sword fighting. Alix is above average in this skill. She carries with her a Wakizashi strapped across the small of her back, the scabbard of which is several inches longer than the actual blade which allows for a lightning fast draw and simultaneous strike.

Equipment
Steel Wakizashi
Four Pepper Bombs

History
Alix and Esme's history is shrouded in speculation, but this is what they tell their children. Both Alix and Esme were born a little less than fifty years ago into nobility of separate nations, which are not to be named. From birth they were both raised to be the leaders of said nations, and sometime in their mid teens they were both given jobs as diplomats where they stumbled across the world of espionage and each other. As their clandestine assignments forced them to cross paths and swords, they somehow found themselves in love. They had a problem, however. They worked for opposing nations and any attempt at a life together would be interpreted as high treason. Two people with so many secrets could not get away with a normal civilian life, so they faked their deaths (while killing others to replace them in the process), stole a ship called The International, changed their names and took to the seas where they worked for themselves and not a nation.

The Villeneuve children have their suspicions about this story due to a few secret investigations. There are major questions as to how old their parents are. It is quite possible that they could have used the Villeneuve Transformation to take on a younger body and maintain relative youth for even longer than the oldest elves. The Villeneuve parents, being the perfect spies on their perfect children are aware of their curiosity and are amused by it.

[Witchblade]

Approverized!

Just remember that in battles, you need the permission of you opponent to use NPC's.