De Haguns Family/Orpheu

Orpheu de Haguns
Status:	Alive
Continent:	East Continent
Realm:	Perdan
Titles Held:	Knight of Perdan Mines
Class:	Warrior
Honor:	10
Prestige:	1
Age:	17
Height:	6'1
Weight:	Slim
Eyes:	Green
Hair:	Black Art by MORGANA0ANAGROM

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 green eyes and broad shoulders, towering over 6 feet tall. Graceful and quick, Orpheu has a solemn face which reflects his strict and disciplined personality. 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 and respectful to a fault. Some would even say he is as rigid as Perdanian steel, stiffy even, but a more keen eye would see that Orpheu possess a careful and tactful nature, avoiding conflict whenever possible. On the other hand, 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.

While calm and quite humble for a noble, 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 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 Perdan".

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.

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 fifteenth 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 Perdan

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Retinue

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 cheerful 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.

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. She is resourceful

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