Difference between revisions of "De Haguns Family/Orpheu"

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* [[De Haguns Family/Orpheu/Legacy of Haguns|Legacy of Haguns: the past, the present and the future]] - The Knight discovers he is to father a child with his commoner squire and lover, Thea Oakshield. He makes a promise to her and their future child, while breaking a vow to his fiancée.
 
* [[De Haguns Family/Orpheu/Legacy of Haguns|Legacy of Haguns: the past, the present and the future]] - The Knight discovers he is to father a child with his commoner squire and lover, Thea Oakshield. He makes a promise to her and their future child, while breaking a vow to his fiancée.
 
* [[De Haguns Family/Return of the Lioness|Return of the Lioness]] - Aila Storme, the Duchess of Perdan, returns to the Court. Meanwhile, Orpheu finds himself in trouble, and he is separated from Thea due to intrigues in the Court. Orpheu develops a deep hatred against the Aila Storme and  Oliver Laststar.
 
* [[De Haguns Family/Return of the Lioness|Return of the Lioness]] - Aila Storme, the Duchess of Perdan, returns to the Court. Meanwhile, Orpheu finds himself in trouble, and he is separated from Thea due to intrigues in the Court. Orpheu develops a deep hatred against the Aila Storme and  Oliver Laststar.
 +
* [[De Haguns Family/Summons|Summons]] - Orpheu is summoned by the Queen alongside the Earl of Brive, Daario Vulparan.
 +
* [[De Haguns Family/Letters|Letters of a Knight of the Perdan Mines]] - Contextual letters and events of Orpheu disparaging against everything he saw wrong in the Perdanese court, from his point of view. Includes only the important ones that led to his hatred for Laststar, Aila Storme and a small annoyance with Lucius Poe.
  
 
==Non Playable Characters==
 
==Non Playable Characters==

Revision as of 04:15, 15 May 2021

Orpheu de Haguns
Darkling2.png
Status: Alive
Continent: East Continent
Realm: Perdan
Titles Held: Knight of the Perdan Mines
Class: Warrior
Honor: 18
Prestige: 4
Age: 17
Height: 6'1
Weight: Slim
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
Art by MORGANA0ANAGROM

Haguns.png

Motto: Through Iron and Fire!


Sir Orpheu de Haguns is a knight of Perdan in the East Continent, currently living in the estate of Pelasgia, which he rules in Earl Joreb deLacy's stead.

Appearance and Character

Raven haired and slim, he has striking blue eyes and broad shoulders, towering over 6 feet tall. Graceful and quick, Orpheu has a solemn face which gives the impression of a strict and disciplined personality when serious. Orpheu takes after his mother's appearance, while his personality resembles that of his father. His face is sharp and his features handsome, and the knight tries to keep it well shaved, which only highlights how young he is.

Guarded as he is, smiles are reserved to those who earned his trust and friendship. Orpheu is formal, humble and respectful to a fault towards those who have earned his respect, but downright petulant to those who have not, even if they outrank him in the social ladder. It could be said that he is as rigid as Perdanian steel, stiffy , and he can be quite stubborn when his mind is made up over some matter, to the point he may break and not bend to stick to his convictions.

At seventeen years old, he is still a lanky teenager, and while serious most times, he is still to reach the level of maturity expected as the scion of his House. Knowing well this fact, both his squire (and lover) Thea and bride Cerise demand that the knight becomes more focused on honing his abilities and improving his reputation, so he can achieve glory.The nobleman has a good eye for opportunities and intrigues, to the extent some would say he tries to be too cunning for his own good. On the other hand, he struggles between what he wants for himself and what others, especially his family, want of him.

Only time and experience will allow him to unlock all his potential, that is certain.

Calm by nature, he is still young and may be prone to a hot temper, and is quick to catch a slight. His reaction to what he perceives as an offense may vary depending on the circumstances and the audience. At times, the flames of youth may push him forward to impulsive actions he may later regret. In spite of this, he is fair minded and has reasonable character, and is slowly learning to recognize his own shortcomings and faults, always striving to better himself.

Orpheu considers himself honorable and just, and believes one's reputation to be their greatest treaure. He is fiercely protective of his his squire Thea Oakshield, whom he cares profoundly.

As of now, his retinue - the Haguns Silver Guard - consider him a highborn and inexperienced leader, and are loyal only to his purse. They consider his reserved and distant personality to be a sign of noble privilege and disdain, to the point they openly mock him, calling the knight "The Lion Cub of the Mines".

While riding his stallion Thunderlight, Orpheu wears black padded leather, breastplate, graves and cuisses and a fur cloak with the coat of arms of his House. When ready for battle, he dons full plate mail. In most social gatherings, especially indoors, he wears tunics made of silk and linen, either black embroidered in silver or gold, or wears red and gold, the colours of his House.


Thunderlight will be donned in full modified perdanese plate for battle, silver and gold plating and detailing across the pieces, particularly around edging. A gift Orpheu received during the celebration of Wintersgreen by a mysterious benefactor:

  • Chanfron: Added silver-alloy spiked horn, gilded edges and earplates. Hinge added to flanges over eyes to remove for ceremonial usage.
  • Criniere: Edges of plate segments lined with Gold-Alloy.
  • Croupier: Detailed carvings of rampant Perdan Lions etched into each side, plated with gold.
  • Flanchards: Both side pieces engraved with ornate designing, gilded edging.
  • Peytral: Chestpiece decorated with lion carvings, steel rivets plated with silver.
  • Reins: Reinforced with Perdan Steel links, plated silver.


Upbringing and life before knighthood

Orpheu is the second son of Gregorius and Cathari of the House of Haguns. He was never destined to become a knight of the realm, since his brother Marcellus was the eldest by three winters and served as a squire to an older knight. Orpheu would succeed his father’s mining business and manage the Haguns estate.

However, fate is unavoidable. While still very young, on his first year as a squire to the older knight, Marcellus fell from his horse and broke both legs. While the eldest one lived, he became incapable to mount a horse and would never walk again.

Orpheu and Thea. Art by John William Waterhouse (1905). "Lamia".

All eyes fell on young Orpheu, who was now to replace his older brother’s duties as a future knight of the realm. Their roles reversed, the older brother would manage the family’s estate. That unfortunate event had happened not long after Orpheu had seen his fifth winter.

In grief for Marcellus and worried about young Orpheus, his father decided he would receive his education in seclusion on the Haguns manor, which stood between the mines of Aurocastrum and the town port of Pelasgia. He was not to wander off as anyone’s squire until he was of age to be knighted, and the House of Haguns would ensure the best tutors money could pay for the young boy. Meanwhile, Marcellus was sent to the Haguns villa in Pelasgia to learn the intricacies of trading and managing the family’s wealth.

Orpheu was educated in court etiquette and in arms within the boundaries of his estate, learning to fight, ride and read, as well as in the principles and morality of chivalry.

Had he been sent as a squire to another House, he would have the company of children around his age. Noticing this, his parents would occasionally invite neighbouring noble’s families and their children, as well as other affluent folk, so their child wouldn’t feel so lonely.

However, he had one constant companion ever since infancy, one who became his best friend: Thea Oakshield, a commoner, daughter of Orpheu’s nursemaid. They were the same age, with only a few months of diference.

Their relationship blossomed into true friendship and trust, to the point Thea became quite informal with the young noble. While this was frowned upon by the Haguns, Orpheu never minded it. There was certainly a spark between the two, but Orpheu never dared to make a move, nor did Thea. It would never be accepted by the Haguns, and Orpheu feared she would be sent away or married off.

On his fifteenth winter, the Haguns sealed a lucrative deal with another noble family with residence in Pelasgia, the Aumerle family, who were to invest in the expansion of mining operations. To cement the new partnership, Orpheu was to be married to Cerise Aumerle within three years, once the lass had her eighteenth birthday. Her dowry would be the investment on the mines expansion. It was expected that by the time of the ceremony the young Haguns would have already been knighted and have his own household to support his future family.

As time passed by, his feelings for Thea became stronger and he could not see himself married to Cerise. The Aumerle girl was growing into a beauty and was an essential tool for the Hagun’s business plans, but still… she was not Thea. As hard, strict and cold as Orpheu was becoming as he aged, he still couldn’t bring himself to marry for money.

On his seventeenth winter, Orpheu was knighted. As a gift from his father, he was awarded a retinue, which he named as the “Haguns Silver Guard”, in reference to his family's origins. As befit of a knight, he should have a squire. When presented with a list of potential candidates from nearby noble and affluent families, including the Aumerle, the knight surprised all with his choice: Thea Oakshield, his childhood friend and companion, a commoner. Despite the protests and objections of his father and elder brother, sir Orpheu was adamant in his resolve to have Thea as his squire. He trusted her utterly, needed her sound advice and wanted to stay close to her. For the time, Orpheu and Thea would not part ways.


The Lion Cub of the Mines

On his way to the City of Lions from his headquarters in Perdan, the newly knighted Orpheu de Haguns came across the royal escort of Queen Alyssa. He was requested to join the queen's party with his men and accompany her majesty on a diplomatic mission to return the region of Lundel to Alexandria, after it's Lord Hamilton changed banners and swore allegiance to Perdan. The flames of war and love are interwitned as the War between Perdan and Perleone (supported by Shadowdale) starts, culminating on the Battle of Woolton.

Roleplays:

  • Turning over Lundel - Orpheu's ride to the City of Lions takes an unexpected turn as he joins Queen Alyssa's escort during a diplomatic mission in Alexandria.
  • The Loveless Bride, The Runaway Bride and The Bride That Never Was - The Eve of War. Orpheu and Thea's love story blossoms.
  • The Mustering at Brive - War! The Knight of the Perdan Mines has arrived from the City of Lions after the successful mission in Alexandria to join the Blackmane paladins.
  • The Battle of Woolton - The Knight of the Perdan Mines discovers the horrors of war.
  • The Knight moves (limps?) his pieces - After the Battle of Woolton, the Knight has a temporary limp, a cane, a new unit and captain and finds himself playing an intriguing game with his bride. Meanwhile, after a genius and unorthodox aproach to diplomacy, he believe himself to be a master of diplomacy and statecraft and has triumphant limp interrupted by a rude scoundrel lordling.
  • Legacy of Haguns: the past, the present and the future - The Knight discovers he is to father a child with his commoner squire and lover, Thea Oakshield. He makes a promise to her and their future child, while breaking a vow to his fiancée.
  • Return of the Lioness - Aila Storme, the Duchess of Perdan, returns to the Court. Meanwhile, Orpheu finds himself in trouble, and he is separated from Thea due to intrigues in the Court. Orpheu develops a deep hatred against the Aila Storme and Oliver Laststar.
  • Summons - Orpheu is summoned by the Queen alongside the Earl of Brive, Daario Vulparan.
  • Letters of a Knight of the Perdan Mines - Contextual letters and events of Orpheu disparaging against everything he saw wrong in the Perdanese court, from his point of view. Includes only the important ones that led to his hatred for Laststar, Aila Storme and a small annoyance with Lucius Poe.

Non Playable Characters

Thea Oakshield. Art by sandara.

Theodora "Thea" Oakshield - sir Orpheu's squire and childhood friend. Her mother entered into the House de Haguns's service as the young knight's nursemaid and later stayed in the household. She is in some ways the opposite to sir Orpheu's more cold and reserved personality, being quite lively and kind hearted. While Orpheu is just and formal, Thea is compassionate and easy going in her approach to life. This doesn't mean she is easily fooled or trusting - on the contrary, Thea is quite sharp and quick of thought, but can become extremely embarassed with other higher ranking nobles.

Despite being born a commoner, she has enjoyed the perks of being close to a young noble from her childhood, while still growing up fully aware of her place in society. Travelling with ease between two worlds - that of the lesser nobility in the Mines and the lower classes -, Thea grew up with a good understanding of the needs and wants of the common folk, as well as of the pettiness and pride of the highborn.

Her loyalty to Orpheu is absolute. She harbors feelings of love for the young knight, which are mutual but unspoken. She has always believed Orpheu to be unattainable due to their different social standings. An impossible romance, especially after his engagement to the Aumerle girl. Still, to her (and everybody) surprise, once the young Haguns was knighted, he asked her to be his squire and accompany him as his right hand in the affairs of the realm. This was quite unusual, because she was quite old to become a squire, and was expected to be married off as any other common girl... Now with a renewed hope for a better future, she eagerly joins Sir Orpheu.

Cerise Aumerle. Art by Merilliza.

Thea has a plain and somewhat round face, but captivating and welcoming eyes. Orpheu de Haguns ponders that her smile is a window to her soul and endearing to see. Her straight and thick hair used to be worn in a long trance, but after becoming a squire, she cut it shorter. In battle, she wears a breastplate and padded leather armor, carrying spear, sword and shield. In social settings, she wears gowns of varying colours, though she is modest in her attire.

Cerise Aumerle - sir Orpheu's fiancée, the golden girl of the Aumerle family. Born into a lesser noble, yet rich family, she is around the same age of Orpheu and Thea. The young knight barely knows her despite their bethrotal, which was arranged in order to cement a partnership between the Haguns and Aumerle Houses concerning the expansion of mining operations in Perdan. The young knight and the Aumerle girl have met only twice and Orpheu took notice of her beauty as well as her reserved and dignified demeanor. She has a reputation for being proud and cold, and some would say selfish, but Orpheu has yet to know if the rumors are true or not. She is regarded as a keen horserider.

Cerise stands 5 feet and 6 inches tall and has a slender but womanly figure. Her skin is smooth and pristine, porcelain-like, while her eyes are a lighter shade of ocean blue. She dresses in refined and fashionable clothes, usually silk gowns, and is often seen with golden jewelry, her favorite being a gold circlet she received as a gift of the Haguns family when the bethrotal was announced.