Post by Amedio Malateste on May 24, 2010 8:23:18 GMT
Name: Amedio Malateste
Age: 47
Sex: Male
Class: Citizen
Appearance: Weathered from sun, sand, and salt water, Amedio clearly shows his heritage as a southerner. Standing a little under six foot, he is of average build. Fit but not overly muscular, he comes across more as a tradesman than a warrior. His clothing is well made, if not luxurious, and clearly designed for utility and comfort. He is most often seen wearing light cotton and supple leathers. His hands are often stained with dark spots of ink, particularly on his fingers, though the marks are not so noticeable against his dark skin.
Character: Amedio is a quiet, soft spoken man, who carries himself with a calm self assurance. Polite to a fault, he comes across as a perfect gentleman. Generous, friendly, and charming, he is always happy to talk of his life back in the south, and can find something to compliment almost anyone on. He is a likeable man, the good natured sort to quickly make friends, though always somewhat reserved. He tends to avoid direct personal questions, and although a comfortable talker, if pressed for details, he will often use both his accent and his claims of not being totally at ease with English as an excuse to not answer. More often though he will simply swing the conversation back to another topic.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
+ Literate (in several languages)
+ Fast learner
+ Eloquent speaker
+ Very well educated
+ Herbalism, alchemy, and black magic
- Overly confident in his own abilities
- Although cheery, he finds it impossible to actually trust anyone
- When alone, he is prone to outbursts of rage since in truth, he despises most people.
- Cannot ride, as most horses, dogs, and other domestic animals seem somewhat unsettled by his presence
- Paranoid
Magic: Alchemy and black magic. Amedio has spent years studying the dark arts, and the results have not always been what he expected, though any power he gains he sees as good results. Possessing the ability to communicate with ravens, rats, and snakes, Amedio has developed an almost repulsiveness or offensiveness to most other animals, and they tend to be uneasy around him.
Minor bio-manipulation, allowing him to cause pain in others, though no real lasting injuries.
Weaponry Skills: Although skilled with daggers both in hand to hand combat and throwing, he prefers not to use weapons, seeing them as a poor substitute to magic.
Character History: Born in Castile to a wealthy merchant family, Amedio was the second son of Emerico and Francesca Malateste. Amedio’s childhood was idyllic, comfortable, and generally relaxed. His father, a scribe and text trader, travelled often, both around Castile and across the border to the south into Al Andalus. As Amedio grew older, he and his brother learned their father’s skills, and ventured farther with him, aiding him in his business. And whereas his older brother Herminio was more interested in the tales of battle and stories of the soldiers they met, Amedio was consumed with the desire to learn more of history, alchemy, and magic.
By his early twenties, Amedio had learned enough of his father’s trade to begin work as a manufacturer of inks, quills, and parchments for himself, and began his trade in Toledo, setting up a small shop. But always, the business was simply a necessity to pay the bills and finance his research into darker arts.
During a trip to Cordoba, Amedio met a man who could finally take him from the books and theories of magic into the world of true magical practice. Over the years, Amedio continued to visit the man, gleaning whatever knowledge he could. But in time, he grew impatient and began to believe that the old mage was holding back on the true secrets, and teaching him just enough alchemy and minor magics to keep him interested. Frustrated by the lack of advancement, Amedio began experimenting more on his own in his home in Toledo. Intent to learn more about how to control others physically and mentally, and bend them to his will, he began to study anatomy, and resorted to stealing corpses from graves for his experiments. Caught in the act of grave robbing, he was arrested and sentenced to death. However, using the small amount of magic he had learned, he managed to control some of the many rats which infested the dungeon, and used them to get the keys to his cell and make his escape. Fleeing Toledo, he made his way north, posing as a scribe and ink vendor to support himself, always keeping an eye out in case anyone recognised him.
His paranoia began to push him further and further north, always worrying that at any moment the authorities may burst in and take him back, or worse, simply kill him on the spot to save time and trouble. Constantly on the move, fitfully sleeping and often waking in terror at night, the next few years of his life seemed a constant waking nightmare. Finally, after a brief stay in Aquitaine, he arranged passage on a ship to Britain. And for the first time in years, Amedio slept soundly. During the voyage, he began to construct a new persona for himself, as a kind, friendly merchant of writing materials. After some time of travelling around Britain, he made his way to Camelot, seeking a fresh start. However, his desire to learn more of the dark arts is still as strong as ever, though he has learned over the years how better to hide it, and how better to work in secrecy.
Sample Roleplay:
Amedio sat in the back room for what seemed like hours, though no doubt only a short time had actually passed. The Moor sat silently on the mat across from him, looking almost as if he had fallen asleep. Shadows from the oil lamps, gently swinging in the night breezes, made his face look as if it were melting and reforming. The smell of the incense filled the closed space, and its smoke hung lazily in the muggy air. Amedio’s eyes burned from the acrid fumes, and he ached from sitting on the stone floor. Finally, just as he was about to say something, the Moor opened his eyes and spoke in a voice like scraping gravel.
“Child, you seek to learn from me of the dark arts? And tell me, why should I teach you? For that matter, what makes you believe you even have it in you to learn from me?â€
Amedio was completely taken back by this line of questioning. He had paid the man, had done all that had been asked of him in the previous weeks, and now, now this husk of a man had the nerve to question him? Growing furious, he lashed back. “Why, you ask? Simple! Because I have paid you. Because I am the best student you will ever have. I am the brightest, the most learned, the most capable, and the strongest willed student you could hope for! I am...â€
The old man cut him off with a simple wave of his hand, the bony fingers making a strange gesture. In fact, he literally shut Amedio up. Clearly some sort of magic had been used, because Amedio could not speak, not make a single sound. Panic and fear flooded through him as the Moor spoke. “Enough. You are correct, you are strong willed. But you are arrogant, and brash, and foolish. However, you are also correct when you say you are bright and capable. I will train you, but at my pace, and only what I feel you are ready for. We will begin with alchemy, a simple art and one which you are already somewhat familiar with. You make inks, blending pigments. The methods are similar, though the process much more demanding. I will show you the ways of poisons, and of elixirs. But know what you are embarking upon, child. The coin you paid is nothing compared to the price that true magic will charge from you. And it is a price that you will not be able to haggle over, or negotiate. It will simply be demanded, be ripped from you.†A slow grin spread across the Moor’s face. “But it is one I can see you will happily pay, and still greedily ask for more. I do not know what in your life has caused such anger, such burning hatred, such vast desire to wield power over your fellow man, nor do I care. Simply remember this, Spaniard, in this bargain, I am master, always. And I am in control.â€
With that, the old man stood and made his way towards the entrance to the small room. Pushing the curtain aside, he paused. “Return tomorrow, and I will have writings for you to take when you return to Toledo. Read them, study them, and learn every word. Do not return to me after that for a time of at least three months, and when you do, be able to recite the writings I give you. Then, when you return, we will begin your training.†With that, he left the room. Only after he had left did Amedio relax, testing his voice to see that he could once again speak. Realizing he could, his mind raced with questions, but by then the old man was gone. Standing and stretching the aches out of his back, he left.
Age: 47
Sex: Male
Class: Citizen
Appearance: Weathered from sun, sand, and salt water, Amedio clearly shows his heritage as a southerner. Standing a little under six foot, he is of average build. Fit but not overly muscular, he comes across more as a tradesman than a warrior. His clothing is well made, if not luxurious, and clearly designed for utility and comfort. He is most often seen wearing light cotton and supple leathers. His hands are often stained with dark spots of ink, particularly on his fingers, though the marks are not so noticeable against his dark skin.
Character: Amedio is a quiet, soft spoken man, who carries himself with a calm self assurance. Polite to a fault, he comes across as a perfect gentleman. Generous, friendly, and charming, he is always happy to talk of his life back in the south, and can find something to compliment almost anyone on. He is a likeable man, the good natured sort to quickly make friends, though always somewhat reserved. He tends to avoid direct personal questions, and although a comfortable talker, if pressed for details, he will often use both his accent and his claims of not being totally at ease with English as an excuse to not answer. More often though he will simply swing the conversation back to another topic.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
+ Literate (in several languages)
+ Fast learner
+ Eloquent speaker
+ Very well educated
+ Herbalism, alchemy, and black magic
- Overly confident in his own abilities
- Although cheery, he finds it impossible to actually trust anyone
- When alone, he is prone to outbursts of rage since in truth, he despises most people.
- Cannot ride, as most horses, dogs, and other domestic animals seem somewhat unsettled by his presence
- Paranoid
Magic: Alchemy and black magic. Amedio has spent years studying the dark arts, and the results have not always been what he expected, though any power he gains he sees as good results. Possessing the ability to communicate with ravens, rats, and snakes, Amedio has developed an almost repulsiveness or offensiveness to most other animals, and they tend to be uneasy around him.
Minor bio-manipulation, allowing him to cause pain in others, though no real lasting injuries.
Weaponry Skills: Although skilled with daggers both in hand to hand combat and throwing, he prefers not to use weapons, seeing them as a poor substitute to magic.
Character History: Born in Castile to a wealthy merchant family, Amedio was the second son of Emerico and Francesca Malateste. Amedio’s childhood was idyllic, comfortable, and generally relaxed. His father, a scribe and text trader, travelled often, both around Castile and across the border to the south into Al Andalus. As Amedio grew older, he and his brother learned their father’s skills, and ventured farther with him, aiding him in his business. And whereas his older brother Herminio was more interested in the tales of battle and stories of the soldiers they met, Amedio was consumed with the desire to learn more of history, alchemy, and magic.
By his early twenties, Amedio had learned enough of his father’s trade to begin work as a manufacturer of inks, quills, and parchments for himself, and began his trade in Toledo, setting up a small shop. But always, the business was simply a necessity to pay the bills and finance his research into darker arts.
During a trip to Cordoba, Amedio met a man who could finally take him from the books and theories of magic into the world of true magical practice. Over the years, Amedio continued to visit the man, gleaning whatever knowledge he could. But in time, he grew impatient and began to believe that the old mage was holding back on the true secrets, and teaching him just enough alchemy and minor magics to keep him interested. Frustrated by the lack of advancement, Amedio began experimenting more on his own in his home in Toledo. Intent to learn more about how to control others physically and mentally, and bend them to his will, he began to study anatomy, and resorted to stealing corpses from graves for his experiments. Caught in the act of grave robbing, he was arrested and sentenced to death. However, using the small amount of magic he had learned, he managed to control some of the many rats which infested the dungeon, and used them to get the keys to his cell and make his escape. Fleeing Toledo, he made his way north, posing as a scribe and ink vendor to support himself, always keeping an eye out in case anyone recognised him.
His paranoia began to push him further and further north, always worrying that at any moment the authorities may burst in and take him back, or worse, simply kill him on the spot to save time and trouble. Constantly on the move, fitfully sleeping and often waking in terror at night, the next few years of his life seemed a constant waking nightmare. Finally, after a brief stay in Aquitaine, he arranged passage on a ship to Britain. And for the first time in years, Amedio slept soundly. During the voyage, he began to construct a new persona for himself, as a kind, friendly merchant of writing materials. After some time of travelling around Britain, he made his way to Camelot, seeking a fresh start. However, his desire to learn more of the dark arts is still as strong as ever, though he has learned over the years how better to hide it, and how better to work in secrecy.
Sample Roleplay:
Amedio sat in the back room for what seemed like hours, though no doubt only a short time had actually passed. The Moor sat silently on the mat across from him, looking almost as if he had fallen asleep. Shadows from the oil lamps, gently swinging in the night breezes, made his face look as if it were melting and reforming. The smell of the incense filled the closed space, and its smoke hung lazily in the muggy air. Amedio’s eyes burned from the acrid fumes, and he ached from sitting on the stone floor. Finally, just as he was about to say something, the Moor opened his eyes and spoke in a voice like scraping gravel.
“Child, you seek to learn from me of the dark arts? And tell me, why should I teach you? For that matter, what makes you believe you even have it in you to learn from me?â€
Amedio was completely taken back by this line of questioning. He had paid the man, had done all that had been asked of him in the previous weeks, and now, now this husk of a man had the nerve to question him? Growing furious, he lashed back. “Why, you ask? Simple! Because I have paid you. Because I am the best student you will ever have. I am the brightest, the most learned, the most capable, and the strongest willed student you could hope for! I am...â€
The old man cut him off with a simple wave of his hand, the bony fingers making a strange gesture. In fact, he literally shut Amedio up. Clearly some sort of magic had been used, because Amedio could not speak, not make a single sound. Panic and fear flooded through him as the Moor spoke. “Enough. You are correct, you are strong willed. But you are arrogant, and brash, and foolish. However, you are also correct when you say you are bright and capable. I will train you, but at my pace, and only what I feel you are ready for. We will begin with alchemy, a simple art and one which you are already somewhat familiar with. You make inks, blending pigments. The methods are similar, though the process much more demanding. I will show you the ways of poisons, and of elixirs. But know what you are embarking upon, child. The coin you paid is nothing compared to the price that true magic will charge from you. And it is a price that you will not be able to haggle over, or negotiate. It will simply be demanded, be ripped from you.†A slow grin spread across the Moor’s face. “But it is one I can see you will happily pay, and still greedily ask for more. I do not know what in your life has caused such anger, such burning hatred, such vast desire to wield power over your fellow man, nor do I care. Simply remember this, Spaniard, in this bargain, I am master, always. And I am in control.â€
With that, the old man stood and made his way towards the entrance to the small room. Pushing the curtain aside, he paused. “Return tomorrow, and I will have writings for you to take when you return to Toledo. Read them, study them, and learn every word. Do not return to me after that for a time of at least three months, and when you do, be able to recite the writings I give you. Then, when you return, we will begin your training.†With that, he left the room. Only after he had left did Amedio relax, testing his voice to see that he could once again speak. Realizing he could, his mind raced with questions, but by then the old man was gone. Standing and stretching the aches out of his back, he left.
