Basic Information Full Name: Christopher Oliver Black Age: 38 Gender: Male Culture & Race: Heartland Ceardian Ailor, Nautilaan Lineage Main Ambition: Christopher seeks to provide for his family, support them in their endeavours, and leave a legacy for his children; make a name for himself as a skilled admiral and conqueror for the Regalian Empire; and continuously ensure that his family's lands, businesses (e.g. his family's merchant guild) and other endeavours are running smoothly via the delegation of work to competent stewards where required. Skill Information Aged-based Proficiency Points to spend = 5 + 38 = 43. Core Group Proficiencies: +20 Sword Combat (20 Proficiency Points) +3 Linguistic Science (3 Proficiency Points) (distributed to Sofaal) +1 Rapier Combat (1 Proficiency Point) Talent Group Proficiencies: +10 Admiral Command (5 Proficiency Points + 5 Ailor Nautilaan Lineage Racial Boost) (name of Anglian Nautknight = Ursus Maritimus II) +10 Statecraft Command (10 free Talent Points) +1 Woodwind Instrument (1 Proficiency Point) Hobby Group Proficiencies: +15 Sailing Art (10 free Hobby Points + 5 Ailor Nautilaan Lineage "Favoured by the Sea" Racial Passive Ability) (name of yacht = Peregrinus I) +10 Writing Art (10 Proficiency Points) +2 Drawing Art (2 Proficiency Points) +1 Fortification Art (1 Proficiency Point) Body Shape: +29 Physical Statistic (+20 from Sword Combat, +1 from Rapier Combat, +7.5 from Sailing Art) Ripped Body Shape Low Body Fat Languages: Common (Native speaker; a language of his parents.) Alt-Regalian (Native speaker; a language of his parents.) Sofaal (A useful tool that he is gaining competency in as a result of his frequent military and political interactions with the Songaskians.) Visual Information Eye Colour: Green Hair Colour: Blackish-Brown Hair Style: Straight, about 8cm long. Dry and untameable due to the effects that sea salt and wind have on it. Skin Colour: Nominally white. Tanned due to an outdoors, nautical lifestyle. Clothing: Silk shirts, pants and sturdy leather boots. A long overcoat in the winter with gloves; or a brocade doublet (like this one) in the summer. A leather belt bearing an heirloom blacksteel Regalian naval cutlass. Usually wears his family's colours of black and dark grey, trimmed with gold or silver. Height: 190cm Weapons of Choice: A fleet of battleships or a cutlass. Visual Information Expansion Christopher has an angular, defined face. His skin is neither completely smooth nor pocked. He has some acne scarring on his forehead and a number of irrelevant occupational scars. His eyebrows are blackish-brown, average in size and straight, not having much of an arch. His nose and ears are well-proportioned with respect to the rest of his face. Christopher usually has some beard stubble. He wears no facial accessories. Christopher is of a medium, mesomorphic build. His arms and legs are well-proportioned with respect to his torso. He is healthy and keeps athletically fit by regularly fencing or sparring with cutlasses and generally maintaining an outdoors, nautical lifestyle. Christopher has two tattoos. The first is on his left side, level to his rib cage, and extends up onto his left shoulder. It is "tribal" in style and is of the Schwarz family's sigil (i.e. a black bear from the Dragenthal region of the Regalian Archipelago). His second tattoo is on his right, upper arm and is also "tribal" in style. It is of a phoenix-like bird (depicted below) and symbolises his family's rebirth after Travis' sewage incident. Christopher has a medium amount of body hair on his arms, legs and chest. Christopher wears a man's ring crafted from Metalitra that Dianne gave to him as a good luck charm and token of her love. Christopher speaks at confident, moderate tones and speeds, adjusting his voice to be louder and dominant when the occasion calls for it (e.g. when giving commands on his ships). His accent is almost fully typical of a blueblood Heartland Ceardian Ailor from Dragenthal, except that it has a very slight Alt-Regalian tinge to it. He speaks both Common and Alt-Regalian fluently, having learned these languages from birth; and also knows some Sofaal due to the interactions that he's had with the Songaskians (e.g. he was imprisoned by them for several months during their occupation of Regalia, he has fought in multiple campaigns both in the water near Farah'deen and on Farah'deen soil for Regalia, and he once saved the Regalian-friendly boy Massya's life when the boy was fleeing from his uncle). Christopher's phoenix tattoo. (Link to Original Image Source) Personality and Abilities Alignment: Chaotic Good Personality Type: Architect (INTJ) Religion: Unionism (strength of belief = 5/10) Personality and Abilities Expansion How Christopher is perceived by others: On first impressions, Christopher is likely to be perceived as friendly. In social gatherings, he can sometimes be chatty and play the host to a conversation or scene. At other times, he might exhibit a more passive-like or reserved type of behaviour, choosing instead to sit and listen. A reason for this is that Christopher is typically very goal-orientated, but on occasions when he finds himself in a setting where he has no immediate objectives to fulfil, he might simply behave according to how he is feeling at the time. If he has a lot of energy, then he might be talkative; while, if he is in a quieter mood or feeling tired, then he might simply observe. How Christopher feels inside: Christopher is a quietly confident and brave individual, and will usually not hesitate to assert himself when he must. Christopher is also intelligent, and thus feels generally capable. As a result of this, towards the outside world, Christopher will strongly defend his and his family's independence. Along with his goal-orientated personality, he feels that he and his family are best-off making their own decisions. As such, Christopher can find it very hard to ask for help. He has a prideful, stubborn and brooding streak. How Christopher acts towards friends and family: Dianne and the rest of his family, staff and friends are Christopher's world. He loves them greatly and will do anything within his power to protect them, support them, and encourage them in their endeavours. He is very warm and loyal towards them. Moreover, Christopher is not whole without them; for example, their strengths, such as their diplomacy, altruism or warmth towards others, or abilities to ask for help, can balance out Christopher's pride and stubbornness. On Christopher's morality: Alignment-wise, Christopher is Chaotic Good. He detests cruelty and has no time for self-glorification or pomposity. He does not like boundaries being placed upon himself either. Christopher seeks to protect those who he loves; and the Regalian Empire, and the Emperor. Christopher is a Unionist, but is not a religious zealot. Relationships Dianne Black (née Howlester): (@darkarely) Dianne is Christopher's best friend and confident, his wife and lover, and the mother of his children. He adores her, admiring her kindness, maternal instincts and inner strength. He proudly throws his support behind her in her endeavours, from her medical work, to her political aspirations. Life Story Childhood: Christopher is born into Regalian nobility in the summer of 270 AC, in Narlas, Dragenthal, to Daniel and Angela Black. Over the next few years, Christopher receives three younger brothers, Samuel, Eric and Neil; and a younger sister, Jocelyn. Christopher has an older first cousin by blood; namely, Travis Black, who is heir to the family's landed titles and an only child. The House Black mostly follows a patrilineal succession, and Christopher is second in line to the Black family inheritance, after Travis, in terms of the young and upcoming generation of Blacks. It is determined by Christopher's parents and the family patriarch, Alistair Black, that Christopher will enter the Regalian Admiralty Academy when he is of age, to become a leader and help continue on his family's nautical legacy. In the meantime, Christopher physically and mentally enjoys a stimulating childhood. With his brothers and cousins, he is heavily exposed to experiences of an adventurous and nautical nature. Private excursions with his family on some of their smaller, non-military vessels during his navy father's or navy uncles' off-duty days, to places like High Trollar to map terrain and catch glimpses of ogres, or to beached ship wrecks to look for treasure, excite the boy to no end. Through private instructors, tutelage from his own father and uncles, and consistent training with his siblings and cousins, he delves into a world centred on sailing, cartography and navigation, and how to spar with a cutlass and fence with a Leutz Épée. Christopher is also schooled on subjects more traditionally taught to noble children; namely, Regalian history and politics, reading and writing in Alt-Regalian and Common, and noble etiquette. By adolescence, Christopher can sail a small fishing boat. With a future in the navy ahead of him, Christopher's lessons in history and politics have a military tone about them too. Adolescence: When he reaches his teenage years, Christopher’s childhood adventure-orientated learning is put on hold and his studies take a more grown-up turn. Christopher enters the military and begins his naval training proper. Specifically, Christopher commits to the Regalian Admiralty Academy. The first major war that Christopher participates in is the Chrysant War. Young Adulthood: Christopher graduates from the Regalian Admiralty Academy. The next years see him working in the navy, on his family's ships, frequently being posted in the waters between Regalia and Farah'deen, where he is heavily involved in the Regalian altercations with the Songaskians. In 302 AC, disaster strikes the House Black. Travis Black, by now the patriarch and primary title owner of the family, finds himself the subject of the neighbouring Red family's ongoing attempts to acquire more land. After a series of bribes, threats and underhanded tactics on the part of the Reds, Travis orders that sewage and waste be dumped on their borders. The result of this poor decision is a catastrophic fatal plague of cholera that sweeps across the north of Dragenthal. Travis is executed by the Regalian State for mass manslaughter, and the remaining members of the Black family are cast, by the Emperor, from Narlas. They are sent to the earldom of Rogdland, in the north of the Archipelago, under orders to maintain it instead. Christopher is called upon to become the new family patriarch and principal title holder. Christopher must work out how to lead the family, and manage their new lands and existing businesses, all the while being committed to remaining in the military. Christopher has a difficult time at first and hits a number of rocky patches. He is engaged to Lidia Santorski for a brief period, but Lidia proves to be a villainess. Among other unsavoury behaviours, Lidia leaves Christopher and their bastard son, Oliver, who Christopher legitimises as a Black. Christopher finds solace in his family and perseveres in trying to put the House Black back together. Hard work and determination see him fight for Regalia in multiple wars; participate actively in Regalia's political sphere; build fame for his family's merchant guild, rising its status in the Crown Isle; and host a range of events for the public, from jousting carnivals, to open forums on current affairs, to naval exhibitions. In 304 AC, for example, in regards to the global bone horror catastrophe, Christopher is tasked by the Emperor with the job of enforcing a naval blockade around the Archipelago. The Emperor eventually permits the Black family to return to their Dragenthal homeland of Narlas. During this time, Christopher also becomes closer to his long-time friend, Dianne Howlester. The pair fall in love. After much politicking, William Howlester allows them to wed. The Present: Christopher and Dianne are now happily married and, in addition to Oliver, who Dianne has adopted, the couple have a number of children. With various relatives of Christopher's family frequently visiting and/or residing with Christopher and Dianne, and Christopher feeling fulfilled in his admiralty duties for the Empire, the House Black's future is looking bright once more. Some more of Christopher's most recent exploits, adventures and achievements (list is not exhaustive): Participated in the First and Second Songaskian Wars (and also helped to save the Massya's life); in the battle of the Curag Fields; in the uprising against Andrieu Anahera; and in the uprising against Freya Lo and the Deathlings. Convinced the Noble Assembly to allow the Open Ocean Merchant Guild to establish trade posts in foreign lands and levy its own tariffs. Participated as Division Admiral in the war against the Dread Empire. Was elected by the Noble Assembly to be in charge of redistributing food supplies around the Archipelago during the Anglian Mist crisis. Organised teams to study and help combat the Anglian Mist. "Get the f**k out of Dragenthal."
Life Story Update The Qadir Invasion (21st of November, 302 A.C. - 24th of April, 303 A.C.) The Opening Move of the Sultanate The First Regalian Counter Offensive The Defence of Steinberg Battle of the Old Rivergrand Battle of the Sudlandet Landing The Three Failed Rescue Attempts Orcs, a Shipwreck and Eastern Fury Rescue Attempts The Flight of the Gold Even the Crown Jewel is Not Safe! Administrative Proclamation of the Pashawa The War Rages On Better Safe Than Sorry, Right? Battle of the Pointy Black End The Crownguard Resistance Makes Their Move The Parlay and Departure The Suffron Order and the War
My Review Overall, a very well done application. You provide very in depth detail for a character that was very enjoyable to read. There are a few things however, that will need to be addressed in order to mark Christopher as accepted. In your first bullet in the body tab you list his height and weight in cm and kg. For the sake of the applications format, we request that you write this in feet/inches and lbs. Also you have a slight lack of detail here. While it is not the largest issue, I would like you to go more in depth about his body build. While an image helps to depict the character's image, it cannot be your only reference. I would like you to do more in depth about your character's facial structure for this bullet. Overall very well done. As you were told within your Travis Black application, first person narratives aren't generally accepted. However, as usual you have done a very well job. Feel free to tag me once the two items in question are remedied and we can see about getting Christopher approved. PENDING
Life Story Update Interlude After the Qadir invasion and his Greygate imprisonment, Chris returned to nobility feeling flat, discontent with some of his peers and their shady ways, considering them an embarrassment to the ruling class of Regalia. One such example was the incest exhibited by Aron Santorski while Chris was in prison, and the accompanying first glimpses of betrayal that would follow more solidly from Lidia Santorski (Chris' fiancée) later on. The breaking point, however, was on the night of the Debutante Ball of 303 A.C. when Chris received a number of childish-like threats from William Coen, Thomas Kade and Tristan Lampero, intended as intimidation tactics, when they emerged on Chris at one of his private residences. Chris might have fended off the attacks once again, as he usually did, had it not been for what was then to follow. Lidia walked out on Chris that night, seemingly coerced by Thomas Kade and William Coen, as well as driven by her own desires for power and her embarrassment over their child, when Chris needed her most. Feeling powerless, and with his fiancée abandoning him and believing that he had few real friends (Dianne Coen, a long-time friend, having also betrayed him that night to aid her brother), Chris felt disillusioned by the ruling class. They had won. He relinquished his landed titles and honours and on the 5th of May, 303 A.C., after then having the blow of a Weapon Permit rejection, headed to New Ceardia to concentrate on commandeering his family's fleet and operating the family's businesses that arose from such there. He gave acting family head responsibilities, as far as management of the family in Regalia was concerned, to his younger brother, Philip. Chris remained in touch with his beloved siblings, Philip, Neil and JoJo (Jocelyn). The Wayward Son
Life Story Update A New Chapter All oceans lead to Regalia, they say, even turbulent ones. For several weeks, Christopher stayed away from the Archipelago. Time did its work. His head cleared and he gained perspective. Finally, he returned. On the 25th of May, 303 A.C., after an interview of sorts, Christopher Black, the Earl of Rogdland and Nordland, was reinstated with his title. He reclaimed his position as family patriarch and once again took the reigns of control over the family fleet. With his re-arrival, came focus. He wrote a letter to the State Council requesting authorisation to hunt Qadir ships. Regardless of the outcome of the request, the exercise of writing the letter in itself allowed him to feel more like his former self. There was a new addition to the Black family household as well. On the night of the Imperial Debutante Fair of 303 A.C., unbeknown to Chris at that time, Lidia had given birth to their son, immediately after leaving Chris, but before she had left the city. The child had been given to a carer and had now made his way to Chris. Christopher named him, Oliver Black, based on Chris' second name. Oliver had the misfortune of being born with dark brown hair, susceptible to dryness, just like his father, but had the blue eyes of his mother. While it was deemed that Oliver wouldn't inherit Chris' landed titles, due to being born out of wedlock and the stigmas associated with that, Oliver was otherwise to be raised like any child born into the Black family. Indeed, Christopher legitimised Oliver so that Oliver would be fully recognised as a Black.
Life Story Update A Few More Troubles A few more rocky patches saw Chris face several trials. He was found guilty of arming negligence and possessing undulled blades for sale in House Black's store in Regalia. Chris' contempt for applying for weapon permits had come about as a reaction to previous corruptions exhibited by Gustavo Anahera. Due to the poor detective work done by a Nelfin, Shayin Crassan, it was then not long after this first trial that Chris was also arrested for vigilantism, supporting vigilantism and libel against the State. For these crimes, however, he was (correctly) not found guilty. The mercenary group, Windvale, had begun carrying out raids on the terrorist group, Kindred, and the Nelfin, Shayin, had presumed that Chris was involved, given that many members of the mercenary group were also Chris' former employees and/or friends. His single adventure into the sewers to visit the Windvale mercenaries' new bar, however, which had prompted the accusations given a run-in at the bar with Shayin, didn't go completely unpunished. It resulted in a new acquaintance for Chris in the form of Frederick Hans, a Violet Order guard, assigned to Chris by Cedric Kade to keep Chris from making decisions, like visiting the Windvale's bar, in the future. For a while, it seemed like the world was against him, but things began to turn around. Chris was awarded his Letter of Marque, allowing him to privateer. Working with William Coen and Ulric Typhonus, efforts were made to cease the feud between House Black and the Typhonus and Coen families, which had erupted due to the betrayals and arrests that Chris had been experiencing. Chris was also invited to join the Violet Order. Player Quest: The Black Carrack Misses Its Mark
Life Story Update The Fog Creatures (2nd of June, 303 A.C. - 20th of August, 303 A.C.) Mershell's Dance The Lone Fisher The Fall of the Arizon Brag The Curag Fields Battle of the Curag Fields
Life Story Update An Estate in Regalia The past few months had been good to Chris. His Violet Guard escort, Frederick Hans, was dismissed by the Lord Commander after a successful written appeal. Chris was awarded his much longed for Weapons Distribution permit, allowing him to begin selling cutlasses again from his store. Work in the Violet Order was proving to be enjoyable and Chris made new colleagues and friends. House Black's prestige rose as well, due to the Black family hosting a successful jousting event and Chris' work in establishing an unofficial Merchant Guild (albeit the Court thinks that the economic union is shady, something that Chris must work to disprove). The Engagement On the 12th of November, 303 A.C., the House Black entered a new relationship with the House Coen. William allowed Chris to propose to Chris' long-time friend and William's sister, Dianne.
I cannot believe that Lizzy has not met the lovely wife of Christopher. Nor was she told. Boy, when she comes back a loud whine and shriek of complete and utter disappointment, perhaps a bit of jealousy (as Lizzy constantly needs her Cousin Christopher's love and attention and now Dianne will just steal it all away </3) But very excited to meet @darkarely and many more of the Black family relatives that I did not know existed.
Artwork More Dianne and Chris artwork, drawn by @MantaRey for @darkarely, that I stole to post. Definitely adorable.
@Staff Roleplay This app. was very outdated. I've completely rewritten it and am tossing it back into review.
