The International
04-30-10, 02:26 AM
The following is a registration of a member of Vespasian Villeneuve's immediate family (his father). 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 (even though I never intend on using them in battle unless given the permission of the opponent). Level one updates are in red. Entire categories have been updated, so I've highlighted the title instead of the disctriptions.
Esme Villeneuve
The Majestic Mystery
http://www.mediablvd.com/magazine/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4572&g2_serialNumber=1
Age: 7241 years old
Weight: 150 lbs
Height: 5’10
Race: Human (primary form)
Appearance
The best word to describe Esme Villeneuve is princely. His skin often takes on a healthy tan, especially after long trips on The International. It complements the clearly masculine cut of his jaw, which is lined by a well kept shadow of a beard. His side burns lead to a meticulously fashioned head of short brown hair that serves to create an illusion of height. They, in turn are complimented by a set of hazel eyes that paralyze the limbs and stop the heart if only for a moment. Esme always stands poised yet relaxed, strides with momentum yet ease, and smiles with purpose yet simplicity. He is a paradox in motion. When looking at Esme, it should be noted where Vespasian gets most of his looks and signature elegance from.
Personality
Even in the events that have transpired in the last few months, Esme has managed to still retain the title of Epitome of Ease. 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. He is more than willing to give you the cold hard facts of the universe, but he is somehow able to make it easy to swallow. The only two people who have managed to break past this are his wife, Alix, and his middle child, Ludivine. As easy going as Esme is, he is not to be trifled with as the head of the family, and although he will often opt to stay out of disagreements and squabbles, when his words are serious they are obeyed.
History (as revealed in The Three Ouellets (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19428))
Esme Villeneuve was born and raised in Raiaera more than seven thousand years ago, just after the end of the Wars of the Tap as an Elf of unknown name. His early life is still a mystery as he contends that none of it mattered before he met his wife Alix Villeneuve, but when he was of proper age, he became a spy with the Raiaeran government, and was immediately charged with a task that would pave his destiny. He and his team were to rescue a few hundred Valinthe from the ritual imprisonment of the legendary Battle of Khu’Fein, and harbor them as a kill switch. He would shelter them and help them preserve the Valinthe culture, and the hate for Alerarans until the day came that they would have to bring the Valinthe back from the Anti Firmament and destroy the Dark Elf nation from within. He succeeded in this endeavor to rescue a few Valinthe much to the extreme displeasure of one Alix Villeneuve.
For decades Alix, on behalf of the Aleraran government, attempted to locate and kill the few hundred Valinthe survivors, and Esme would always foil her plans. As cunning and as ruthless as the future Villeneuve Matriarch was (especially when it came to destroying the Valinthe), Esme always proved to be her match with ease. They had many violent encounters, which mostly ended in Alix’s frustration and Esme’s satisfaction. One day, extremely rare circumstances forced the two of them to have a civil exchange, during which Alix revealed herself as a Valinthe, and the Valinthe tribe’s destructive and abusive nature towards women. After hearing and seeing proof of this in the very enclave he had set up for his own refugees, Esme naively reported this to his superiors, who had already known of the tribe’s nature. Disillusioned about his country, Esme defected to Alerar and joined Alix in her mission to foil Raiaera’s plans. Unfortunately, they reached a point where all they could do was wait for an opportunity to end the threat. That opportunity wouldn’t come for seven thousand years.
Meanwhile, Esme and Alix fell in love, Alix presented him with the items that would lead to the Villeneuve Transformation, and the two of them decided to get married and work for themselves. They faked their deaths, stole a ship, and began to travel the world and offer their services as free agents to the governments of the world. They both soon found out that they could cheat death by using Alix’s Transformation abilities to take on the age of any being she drew, which allowed them to live even longer than the oldest elves. It is unknown how instrumental the two of them have been in the advancement of the major powers of Althanas, but the potential is nearly limitless, and they are unwilling to divulge relevant details.
Then, twenty six years ago, there came a miracle. Alix had conceived her first child, Maelle, in her original Valinthe form, which was deemed infertile due to the abuse she had suffered at the hands of her native people. Alix had spend so little time in her original form over the seven millennia that she was occupying the body of an eighteen year old when she gave birth to Maelle. Then came Ludivine, and then Vespasian. The next two decades would be dedicated to the rearing of the three Villeneuve children, but all the while they kept their ear to the ground, waiting for Raiaera to activate the Valinthe kill switch. The time came a few months ago, when Alerar’s King decided to attack Raiaera while it was still in the clutches of Xem’zund. Alix and Esme were called to stop the threat as they had built ties with the new generation of Aleraran hierarchs, all the while their children were digging into their past. After a heated battle with their children, they united, and the Villeneuves along with their newest ally, Lillian Sesthal, went on to end the Valinthe threat.
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 a 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 an expert 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 classical elements in reasonable amounts to either use offensively (projectiles) or defensively (shields), and he can use Aglarlin magic to motivate and empower others (5x 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.
Wizardry
Wizardry is the practice of magic that derives from the different supernatural and occult sources from all around Althanas. Every major region of Althanas employs a form of wizardry and due to Esme's long lifespan, he has managed to gain a great deal of knowledge.
From the Fae of Dheathain he has learned Scrying Divination, which allows him to use reflective surfaces to look into the past. Said surfaces must have been in the target location during the time in question to be useful. Esme must also borrow the energy of another to be able to look into the past, and the visibility of said surface can affect what he sees.
From the Vampires of Haide he has learned Blood Invocation, which, by offering a mere ounce of his blood, allows him to discover the true biology of a being in question by touching anything belonging to them. This magic is only used when absolutely necessary due to the risk of contracting blood based diseases.
From the Alchemists of Alerar, he learned how to mix potions that serve a wide range of purposes, all of which require at least three ingredients and a specific mixing process that may or may not take a considerable amount of time. He does not have any of these potions on hand, and most ingredients aren’t readily available.
From the Planeswalkers of Fallien, he learned Astral Projection. His consciousness can leave his body for a short time. However, he must reach a state of deep sleep in order to perform this, it is only recommended that he do this for an hour at a time, and his projected consciousness is not completely undetectable.
From the Wood Elves of Concordia, he learned Purification Rituals, which allow him to cure any soul or body of any corruption of a magic or biological basis. Any corruption of a psychological basis is unaffected by this, and in order for him to be successful at any of these he would need a sample of the corrupting material.
Equipment
Steel Rapier
Steel Buckler
Compass
Pocket Watch
Esme Villeneuve
The Majestic Mystery
http://www.mediablvd.com/magazine/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4572&g2_serialNumber=1
Age: 7241 years old
Weight: 150 lbs
Height: 5’10
Race: Human (primary form)
Appearance
The best word to describe Esme Villeneuve is princely. His skin often takes on a healthy tan, especially after long trips on The International. It complements the clearly masculine cut of his jaw, which is lined by a well kept shadow of a beard. His side burns lead to a meticulously fashioned head of short brown hair that serves to create an illusion of height. They, in turn are complimented by a set of hazel eyes that paralyze the limbs and stop the heart if only for a moment. Esme always stands poised yet relaxed, strides with momentum yet ease, and smiles with purpose yet simplicity. He is a paradox in motion. When looking at Esme, it should be noted where Vespasian gets most of his looks and signature elegance from.
Personality
Even in the events that have transpired in the last few months, Esme has managed to still retain the title of Epitome of Ease. 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. He is more than willing to give you the cold hard facts of the universe, but he is somehow able to make it easy to swallow. The only two people who have managed to break past this are his wife, Alix, and his middle child, Ludivine. As easy going as Esme is, he is not to be trifled with as the head of the family, and although he will often opt to stay out of disagreements and squabbles, when his words are serious they are obeyed.
History (as revealed in The Three Ouellets (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19428))
Esme Villeneuve was born and raised in Raiaera more than seven thousand years ago, just after the end of the Wars of the Tap as an Elf of unknown name. His early life is still a mystery as he contends that none of it mattered before he met his wife Alix Villeneuve, but when he was of proper age, he became a spy with the Raiaeran government, and was immediately charged with a task that would pave his destiny. He and his team were to rescue a few hundred Valinthe from the ritual imprisonment of the legendary Battle of Khu’Fein, and harbor them as a kill switch. He would shelter them and help them preserve the Valinthe culture, and the hate for Alerarans until the day came that they would have to bring the Valinthe back from the Anti Firmament and destroy the Dark Elf nation from within. He succeeded in this endeavor to rescue a few Valinthe much to the extreme displeasure of one Alix Villeneuve.
For decades Alix, on behalf of the Aleraran government, attempted to locate and kill the few hundred Valinthe survivors, and Esme would always foil her plans. As cunning and as ruthless as the future Villeneuve Matriarch was (especially when it came to destroying the Valinthe), Esme always proved to be her match with ease. They had many violent encounters, which mostly ended in Alix’s frustration and Esme’s satisfaction. One day, extremely rare circumstances forced the two of them to have a civil exchange, during which Alix revealed herself as a Valinthe, and the Valinthe tribe’s destructive and abusive nature towards women. After hearing and seeing proof of this in the very enclave he had set up for his own refugees, Esme naively reported this to his superiors, who had already known of the tribe’s nature. Disillusioned about his country, Esme defected to Alerar and joined Alix in her mission to foil Raiaera’s plans. Unfortunately, they reached a point where all they could do was wait for an opportunity to end the threat. That opportunity wouldn’t come for seven thousand years.
Meanwhile, Esme and Alix fell in love, Alix presented him with the items that would lead to the Villeneuve Transformation, and the two of them decided to get married and work for themselves. They faked their deaths, stole a ship, and began to travel the world and offer their services as free agents to the governments of the world. They both soon found out that they could cheat death by using Alix’s Transformation abilities to take on the age of any being she drew, which allowed them to live even longer than the oldest elves. It is unknown how instrumental the two of them have been in the advancement of the major powers of Althanas, but the potential is nearly limitless, and they are unwilling to divulge relevant details.
Then, twenty six years ago, there came a miracle. Alix had conceived her first child, Maelle, in her original Valinthe form, which was deemed infertile due to the abuse she had suffered at the hands of her native people. Alix had spend so little time in her original form over the seven millennia that she was occupying the body of an eighteen year old when she gave birth to Maelle. Then came Ludivine, and then Vespasian. The next two decades would be dedicated to the rearing of the three Villeneuve children, but all the while they kept their ear to the ground, waiting for Raiaera to activate the Valinthe kill switch. The time came a few months ago, when Alerar’s King decided to attack Raiaera while it was still in the clutches of Xem’zund. Alix and Esme were called to stop the threat as they had built ties with the new generation of Aleraran hierarchs, all the while their children were digging into their past. After a heated battle with their children, they united, and the Villeneuves along with their newest ally, Lillian Sesthal, went on to end the Valinthe threat.
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 a 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 an expert 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 classical elements in reasonable amounts to either use offensively (projectiles) or defensively (shields), and he can use Aglarlin magic to motivate and empower others (5x 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.
Wizardry
Wizardry is the practice of magic that derives from the different supernatural and occult sources from all around Althanas. Every major region of Althanas employs a form of wizardry and due to Esme's long lifespan, he has managed to gain a great deal of knowledge.
From the Fae of Dheathain he has learned Scrying Divination, which allows him to use reflective surfaces to look into the past. Said surfaces must have been in the target location during the time in question to be useful. Esme must also borrow the energy of another to be able to look into the past, and the visibility of said surface can affect what he sees.
From the Vampires of Haide he has learned Blood Invocation, which, by offering a mere ounce of his blood, allows him to discover the true biology of a being in question by touching anything belonging to them. This magic is only used when absolutely necessary due to the risk of contracting blood based diseases.
From the Alchemists of Alerar, he learned how to mix potions that serve a wide range of purposes, all of which require at least three ingredients and a specific mixing process that may or may not take a considerable amount of time. He does not have any of these potions on hand, and most ingredients aren’t readily available.
From the Planeswalkers of Fallien, he learned Astral Projection. His consciousness can leave his body for a short time. However, he must reach a state of deep sleep in order to perform this, it is only recommended that he do this for an hour at a time, and his projected consciousness is not completely undetectable.
From the Wood Elves of Concordia, he learned Purification Rituals, which allow him to cure any soul or body of any corruption of a magic or biological basis. Any corruption of a psychological basis is unaffected by this, and in order for him to be successful at any of these he would need a sample of the corrupting material.
Equipment
Steel Rapier
Steel Buckler
Compass
Pocket Watch