Lance Antares's page

1. Background for Character

Where was your character born?

– Xoth Sarandi

Who raised him?

-- Lance was raised by his parents. The Antares family first got its big start when several centuries one of the ancestors of the modern family ended up saving the life of a minor elven noblewoman. The man, one Orion Antares, was a wealthy merchant and free trader. The elven maid was promised to him as wife, if he cemented a shipping industry with the city; which he did. The marriage prospered, and occasionally his offspring have married with Elven folk, though it is predominately human.

Even today, Lance's sword (an Elven Blade - name "Telcontar") has been passed down father to son, and was now given to Lance by his father Elriq on graduation from Charter House (more below).

Lance’s father, Elriq, is a stout man of power who has encouraged his son to enlist in the town’s Charter House and serve the nation of Xoth Sarandi. Lance did so, to placate his father’s desire, and was bequeathed a weapon that was passed down for his efforts. However, after graduation, he immediately purchased a small sloop and set sail to make his fortune with his letters of marquee.

What was happening in the region when your character was growing up?

– Xoth Sarandi was, and is, a metropolis of great renown. To this day, when in town, Lance is recognized as a ship’s captain, and a recognized graduate of Charter House, and is regarded with minor respect and accolades due his title. However, he spends little time there, preferring the open sea and the freedom to chart his own course.

Does your character have any relatives?

– Yes. He has a mother and a father (Elriq) a human 50 years old. His mother is Josephine, a human of 41 years of age. He also has a younger sister Madeline, who is 15 and engaged to a 18 year old Human ensign (Derek Rand) that has recently received his papers from Charter House and agreed to serve a 2 year term as part of the Naval Militia, which operates locally rather then at distance. Derek completely loves the Antares family, though is often distrusting and suspicious of Lance, feeling he should have continued to serve with the people that helped him instead of leaving the empire.

2. Motivation

What are your character’s immediate goals? What would he like to do in the coming year?

– Get a new birth on a ship, or find a new crew or trusty companions. He wants a new ship.

What are his long-term goals?

-- Pay off the debt to the crime lord that he owes.

What type of person would be his ideal mate?

– Someone with heart, compassion, spirit, and beauty. Someone with danger, mystery and intrigue.

Who is his patron deity? Is he a devout worshiper?

--- No specific patron deity. He respects all gods alike, both Avillon and Callistan but is a bit partial to Old Heakun and Arosi, though he will place most of his “patronage” to Valkazz.

Is he a devout member of any nonreligious cause?

-- He is a graduate of Charter House from Xoth Sarandi. He is respectful of their military hierarchy, and the government of his home. He also respects the “laws” of the sea, honoring the codes he traveled under while during his time as a Free Trader/Privateer. He still possesses his letters of marquee from Xoth Sarandi, even though he does not have a ship.

Is there any race, creed, alignment, religion or the like against which he is strongly prejudiced?

-- He mistrusts many, specifically those of “evil alignment”. But believes actions, not race should call the man what he is. Those who deliberately choose to align with a cause that he feels to be dangerous or deadly, or evil, he will judge by the actions of the cause. His own code dictates many of his own actions. If he takes a contract with an evil organization, he will conclude the contract on the terms set, even if he despises the organization, as he is obliged to be honorable to his end of a deal.

What is his greatest fear?

– Becoming a slave, and having his freedom stolen.

What is the one task he absolutely refuses to do?

– Carry or transport slavers. Lance may be a bit of a wild person, but he has his own “code” that he always sticks to.

Idiosyncrasies
What is your character’s motto or favorite saying?

– “Never tell me the odds!”

What is his favorite color?

--- Silver

Describe what he would wear if money were no object?

-- He is already wearing it, though if he had the time, it would be better mended and cared for.

What is his favorite food? Drink?

-- He enjoys seafood; shellfish, salmon steaks, lobsters, cracked crabs, oyster stew, gumbo, shrimp, and so forth. He has a refined taste for wine, preferring “Elven” wine, to human style; he enjoys white with his sea food, namely mead, and also likes sweater types; liquor’s, port, and a type of Elven Sangria.

What is his favorite animal?

-- He enjoys falcon’s and also dolphins. Both are wise beasts that are good to sailors and epitomize “freedom” to him.

What habits of his friends annoy him most?

-- His tendency to go on with long stories and occasionally talk down to “common folk” a bad trait he developed while being “classically educated” while serving with his family.

Traits: rank each trait from 1 to 10 (ten being highest)

Courtesy 8
Valor 6
Self-sacrifice 6
Generosity 4
Sobriety 4
Calm temper 4
Optimism 8
Curiosity 5
Forgiveness 4
Cheerfulness 6
Patience 3
Honesty 8
Helpfulness 7
Loyalty 10

Miscellaneous

What well-known media figure from sports, movies or politics most closely resembles your character?

-- Most likely Harrison Ford, with a touch of Nathan Fillion.

What would be his theme song?

-- As for THAT… go here: Song

If his friends were to write his epitaph, what would it be?

-- Here lies Lance Antares. He may have been a bit of a rogue from time to time, but he was always true to his friends, and good to his word. We’ll miss him.

What would be his job in modern society?

-- Soldier of Fortune.
Further Notes

Xoth Sarandi Charter House:

-- This is an officially recognized academy within the confines of Xoth Sarandi. Its purpose is to use the best teachers in naval combat, tactics, navigation and general seamanship to train upcoming officers. The teachers are Elven, but the students are not.

Charter House exists to teach non-humans the tactics and style of sailing utilized by the somewhat xeno-phobic Elven ruling elite. Though the nation of Xoth Sarandi is well stocked with a full navy, this is a large strain on Imperial funding and taxes. Charter House was founded to teach non-elves the style of sailing and combat needed to be successful in the Elven navy. A student who completes the course receives (in addition to their education), formally recognized Letters of Marquee which allow the student the right to attack, sink, pillage or capture vessels or towns that are governed by legally recognized enemies of the government of Xoth Sarandi. Upon the completion of such an action, the captain of the vessel is required to record the appropriate treasure taken, and deliver one tenth of it to the government of Xoth Sarandi as a “tax”.

In this way, the Elven nation can take on a tremendous host of privateers. The government does not have to pay for a ship, ship upkeep, feeding and taking care of a crew, this is the responsibility of the captain. The government gains the advantage of ten percent commission of plunder when the captain returns and can call on the captain if he is in home waters to defend their city from naval attacks.

In addition to the right to plunder enemy vessels and education, recognized privateers are given special benefits in the town. A captain of a vessel, even non-elf, is considered an officer or a man of quality (such as a minor nobleman might, in modern times in England a “squire”, for example, or a person of gentry and good breeding).

In modern times a captain of a vessel would be recognized in “military terms” by any Elven military personal as an “acting Lieutenant”. That is; such a person, even human, has jurisdictional rights over any non-commissioned officer (such as bosun, gunner’s mate, ship’s cook, master sergeant, and so forth) and can give orders to them accordingly as needed while on shore. In other words, if the town is being attacked, a member of Charter House has legal jurisdiction to order a group of sailors Action Stations or Battle Stations as needed, and can direct and give orders (for example). Further, they can expect some amount of respect and courtesy from all rank-and-file soldiers as afforded to an acting officer. However, these “acting lieutenants” have no formal jurisdiction over elven officers on shore or on sea, unless specific instructions have been stipulated or given by their own superiors.

It should be noted that an Elven officer in the Elven navy can “Commandeer” the ship of any officer under them while they are on board a ship. However, this is the right of a senior officer to a junior officer. A Elven officer cannot “Commandeer” a ship of a graduate of Charter House, as these privateers are not formally under their command, though they can certainly give such men orders while during combat if the situation arises, and graduates of Charter House are required to obey these orders, if they are (for example) acting in a flotilla or squadron of ships that are being commanded by an Elven admiral or commodore in the defense of the city, for example.

Typically, graduates of Charter House spend one to two years as local naval auxiliaries, acting as defenders to shipping lanes and ports, and not leaving the waters to seek treasure of adventure. For example, while Lance’s “brother-to-be” (Rand, see above) believes that this term of service was a worthwhile action, Lance himself left as soon as possible to seek his fortune.

Ohkwá ri:

-- While spending time in “The Shard” Lance attended a gambling contest in which an unusual form of “bear baiting” was taking place. Instead of a bear chained to the ground with wild dogs let loose to attack it; wild bears were encouraged to attack a MAN chained to the ground. However, this was no ordinary man, but actually a native of the Boskenlands, and werebear. The man, or werebear, named Ohkwá ri, was about eighteen years of age. He had already killed three out of four of the bears surrounding him, but was badly wounded. The last bear attacked, and would have most likely ended the life of Ohkwá ri, but Lance intervened. A well placed shot into the bear’s skull ended the fight, and saved the young man.

When the young lad was taken from the pit (Lance settled all bets, and paid out the lad’s freedom to his owners), he was eventually nursed back to health and taken back to The Scarlet Succubus, Lance’s ship. The lad was trained as a warrior, but had been captured by slavers and taken across the seas for sale as a slave and survived as a pit-fighter. Yet he spoke of his people, a tribal culture who worshiped nature spirits and had a deep sense of personal honor. For saving his life, Ohkwá ri has pledge his services to Lance.

After Lance lost his vessel to the crime lord Vorta (see below), he charged Ohkwá ri to return to his families estates in Xoth Sarandi and deliver his ship’s log and documentation for his parents, as well as some letters to his family. Lance misses the strength of his loyal companion, but felt he owed a duty to the government which he pledged his services, and to his family; to assure them that though he lost his ship he was alive and doing what he could to regain his family fortune and restore honor to his family name.

Vorta; Clan Sleen-ka:

-- Vorta is a pirate lord and moderate crime boss in the nation of The Shard. A ruthless Dark Naga, Vorta has collected a large band of motley pirates and other scum who have flocked to his banner. He indulges in all sorts of disreputable actions, including: slaving, narcotics trafficking, piracy, murder, assassination, arson, racketeering, and theft. He himself is extremely dangerous and his bloodline is mixed. He therefore stays in a shape that is part human, part serpent, much like a medusa. His humanlike arms and torso allow him to take much more direct actions in his ambitions and it was said that he started his career as nothing but petty thief, then becoming a Magus, and eventually taking on the title he now possesses.

There are various Naga clans in and throughout the nation of The Shard, mostly reaching far down to Cendra. Vorta has connections to those jungle lands, as well as other nations. Despite his cruelty, he is a cunning businessman and is true to his word, never breaking a deal once it has been struck, though the deals are often very one sided. Rumor has it that he could outmaneuver a Devil in a contract, and there may be truth to that (see below under Selaziel).

Vorta accepted the services of Lance during the freeing of Ohkwá ri. An agent of his (Selaziel – see below) approached Lance and encouraged him to free the imprisoned gladiator, offering to help him with the money if he pledged his service to him. Lance accepted the arrangement not knowing the go between was a sub-lieutenant of Vorta. Once the deal had been struck, he was forced to pay back the crime-boss by smuggling illegal goods through seaports.

Lance earned some respect from Vorta as he was demanding of his own missions, refusing to smuggle anything but weapons and arcane items; even though Vorta promised him more money on smuggling slaves and plundering certain towns or pirating ships (which would have therefore freed Lance from Vorta’s service sooner).

Lance eventually had a deal go south on him when he was smuggling arms and arcane weapons to Ghael in to lend support against the more advanced northern enemy of Caldrazza. His ship was boarded and taken by Caldrazzan agents, and only he and a few of his lads (including Ohkwá ri) managed to reach the shores of Ghael, where, in time, they each decided to chart their own course. Lance has decided to travel to Chillhame, avoiding Caldrazza, and trying to rebuild his fortune. His skills are too good to be known by any common folk in Caldrazza, though it is possible he may have earned recognition and therefore enmity from those in Caldrazza, should he travel there.

Selaziel:

-- Selaziel is the chief lieutenant to Vorta. She is, in fact, a Succubus who has traveled to the world of men and works her wiles on them. She has pledged her services to Vorta for now, for he provides her with a list of willing souls to dominate. During her time with Vorta she has brought him much success, often using her skills at dominating mortals to gain power over them for her chief.

She uses magic to “cloak” her demonic presence and often travels in disguise as a bewitching human woman. It was during one of these expeditions that she met Lance, and used her power to put him in her debt even as he accepted the money to free a trapped pit fighter.

Selaziel spends her time on the Prime Material Plane, bound to serve her chief (Vorta) for reasons unexplained. Yet while under his command she still exerts her power for her own pleasure. She attempted to dominate and break the will of Lance during their first meeting, but was unable to completely dominate him, for he resisted her charms somehow with the Strength of his will.

Though Selaziel will hurt others, she allows those to live and thrive who she respects. Among them is Lance, for his ability to resist her power has both angered and intrigued the demoness. She feels it a personal challenge to “break him” of his morals, and seduce him, but at the same is excited by the challenge he presented in resisting her. Though demons do not “love” others, it is fair to say she has a special place in her heart for Lance. She does not wish him to die or suffer (overmuch) by the hands of another; for to her he is like a toy, and she reserves (with relish) the thought of breaking him personally. If she sees someone trying to outright kill him, she will stop them. She will even aid him, if it means that, in the long run, he will thank her and be “in her debt”.

The Scarlet Succubus:

-- The sloop that had belonged to Lance. Though the ship was named long before he met Selaziel, it amused the demon very much at the title, a point that angered Lance when he realized a clever name for a ship had perhaps fated him to a darker destiny.

The Scarlet Succubus was a small though fast ship. Its crew compliment was eight sailors, as well as himself and an officer. While given rights to plunder towns of enemies to Xoth Sarandi, he never made such attacks. Not only did he not have a large enough sized crew for this venture, but the ship itself was incredibly fast, easy to navigate shallower coastal waters, making it extremely useful for moving down rivers and smuggling goods through heavier and better armed vessels that were typically slower in speed.

The Scarlet Succubus was destroyed by Caldrazzan freebooters when Lance attempted to deliver weapons and arcane tools to the lesser equipped Ghaelic peoples. It should be noted that Caldrazza is not only better armed and defended then Ghael, but it is richer. Lance’s history has, however, typically placed him on the side of the underdog.

Basic Appearance:

-- Lance is currently wearing the armor issued to him on graduation from Charter House. The armor is combat ready, but designed to demonstrate rank and position, and further shows the wearer is a graduate of Charter House. Black boots with black embossed heavy leather shin guards, black leather bracers, black shoulder pads attached to a black leather breastplate which has the silver crest of the Charter House on the front; the prow of a wide sailing vessel with a silver tree on its main sail.

Underneath the armor he wears extremely well-made clothing, though tattered and weather-stained. Dark blue trousers, a white linen doublet, a white cravat with a sapphire pin. A large great cloak covers him; it is heavy wool and midnight blue, and fastened with a silver broach in the shape of a falcon with outspread wings. On his left hip is the ancestral blade of his family and under his left arm is his pistol for fast drawing. On his right hip is a low slung satchel with miscellaneous goods and gear, and a sailor’s kitbag (like a backpack) is slung over his back. He wears his hair long and tied back, and has a silver ring in his left ear. On his right ring finger is another silver ring, with a modestly cut ruby in it.