Post by Arazlam Durai on Oct 6, 2015 21:02:50 GMT -8
Played by: Az
Face Claim: Jeremy Irons
Age: 57
DoB: Oct. 29th - Scorpio
Home Town: Bervenia
Master Class: High Confessor
Supplemental Class: --
Physical Description: Every aspect of Æthelstan's physique is pretty average, from his height, his build, and his posture. If his garments didn't suggest otherwise, only could easily lose him in a crowd without ever really realizing he passed by. His features are aged with the silver nearly claiming the entirety of his younger years in addition to the wrinkles born of having survived two wars and religious turmoil in the process. Though he is not one to be easily noticed, he is certainly not forgotten once encountered. Ætthelstan's presence is subtle, but powerful. He shoulders an aura that is hard to read and nags at the back of one's mind in the process. His dark eyes spark a certain clarity, and the ornate garments of the High Confessor are worn with deceptive humility. Æthelstan might not be the type of man who towers over people to intimidate them, but as far as he's concerned he doesn't need to.
Personality: Externally, he is an ambitious individual with a pious agenda. His life's work is with the Glabados Church and failures to maintain its glory are hard-hitting for him. The majority of his time prior to his rise to the role of High Confessor was spent in silence. Silence and in service to the church, he committed to his menial tasks without complaint and merely vocalized support in the forms that those who held power wanted to hear. But now that he is the voice of the Glabados Church, he wields that silence with selective tactics in order to ensure confidence in others. Very little is known about Æthelstan's private life or thoughts, and he prefers to keep it that way.
Certain things people will notice is that he has little tolerance for incompetence and a bizarre demonstration of magnanimity. Despite his open arms and apparent generosity, there is a veil that separates Æthelstan from the rest of the world. People would almost call it a detachment. Perhaps it comes from years of cultivated introspection as he prefers books and games of chess against himself over the company of others. In silence, he says that he hears Saint Ajora's words the clearest and thus wishes to surround himself within it.
History: Born the youngest son from a minor noble house under the Delacroixs, Æthelstan is no stranger to privilege. He was the last of his name as his birth came at the time of the Fifty Year War just beginning to rear its ugly head. He was noted to be somewhat of a strange child, preferring to be secluded from the others rather than partake in social affairs. Philosophy was his greatest interest since his social awkwardness left him little to be desired among the 'normal' children his age. His family followed the code of House Delacroix, so when his brothers became of age they followed in their father's footsteps into the fray against the kingdom of Ordallia. Æthelstan was left to his own devices, a fly upon the wall to some extent. Their father had already sired eight children, six of them sons, so having the youngest of the litter go astray was nothing of importance to either parent and only fostered a complete detachment from any kind of bonding he might have had with them growing up. It was no surprise that while his siblings chose the sword, he preferred the pen.
It was in his early teenage years that came to discover the path of the priesthood within the Glabados Church. The city of Bervenia was a strong supporter of the church, so Æthelstan's ability to gain access to the cloth was easier than trying to acquiesce to the barbaric demands of the military academies. It was here that Æthelstan chose his path of theology while House Hughes chose their own ruin. The Fifty Year War was a costly affair that depleted the Hughes of their coffers and bloodline. While war took his father and brothers, plague claimed the lives of his mother and sisters, leaving nothing but a mess of debts to be paid and bodies to be buried. With a quick stroke of the quill, Æthelstan sold off all remaining lands to the Delacroixs to square the debts before finding salvation in the Glabados Church. Turning his back on Bervenia, he traveled to Mullonde where he entered the clergy and spoke his vows to the heavens in constant service to the High Confessor.
Through strife and turmoil, Æthelstan observed in silence as the higher authorities of the church tried to mediate the aftermath of war and sickness. He played his part to every degree, providing council to the other priests and bishops, and performing blessings upon those in need. Staying only seen but not heard as the Fifty Year War came to closure only to have the War of the Lions unleashing civil turmoil upon the whole of Ivalice.
Writing Sample - TITLE PROMPT: –
Face Claim: Jeremy Irons
ÆTHELSTAN HUGHES
Age: 57
DoB: Oct. 29th - Scorpio
Home Town: Bervenia
Master Class: High Confessor
Supplemental Class: --
Physical Description: Every aspect of Æthelstan's physique is pretty average, from his height, his build, and his posture. If his garments didn't suggest otherwise, only could easily lose him in a crowd without ever really realizing he passed by. His features are aged with the silver nearly claiming the entirety of his younger years in addition to the wrinkles born of having survived two wars and religious turmoil in the process. Though he is not one to be easily noticed, he is certainly not forgotten once encountered. Ætthelstan's presence is subtle, but powerful. He shoulders an aura that is hard to read and nags at the back of one's mind in the process. His dark eyes spark a certain clarity, and the ornate garments of the High Confessor are worn with deceptive humility. Æthelstan might not be the type of man who towers over people to intimidate them, but as far as he's concerned he doesn't need to.
Personality: Externally, he is an ambitious individual with a pious agenda. His life's work is with the Glabados Church and failures to maintain its glory are hard-hitting for him. The majority of his time prior to his rise to the role of High Confessor was spent in silence. Silence and in service to the church, he committed to his menial tasks without complaint and merely vocalized support in the forms that those who held power wanted to hear. But now that he is the voice of the Glabados Church, he wields that silence with selective tactics in order to ensure confidence in others. Very little is known about Æthelstan's private life or thoughts, and he prefers to keep it that way.
Certain things people will notice is that he has little tolerance for incompetence and a bizarre demonstration of magnanimity. Despite his open arms and apparent generosity, there is a veil that separates Æthelstan from the rest of the world. People would almost call it a detachment. Perhaps it comes from years of cultivated introspection as he prefers books and games of chess against himself over the company of others. In silence, he says that he hears Saint Ajora's words the clearest and thus wishes to surround himself within it.
History: Born the youngest son from a minor noble house under the Delacroixs, Æthelstan is no stranger to privilege. He was the last of his name as his birth came at the time of the Fifty Year War just beginning to rear its ugly head. He was noted to be somewhat of a strange child, preferring to be secluded from the others rather than partake in social affairs. Philosophy was his greatest interest since his social awkwardness left him little to be desired among the 'normal' children his age. His family followed the code of House Delacroix, so when his brothers became of age they followed in their father's footsteps into the fray against the kingdom of Ordallia. Æthelstan was left to his own devices, a fly upon the wall to some extent. Their father had already sired eight children, six of them sons, so having the youngest of the litter go astray was nothing of importance to either parent and only fostered a complete detachment from any kind of bonding he might have had with them growing up. It was no surprise that while his siblings chose the sword, he preferred the pen.
It was in his early teenage years that came to discover the path of the priesthood within the Glabados Church. The city of Bervenia was a strong supporter of the church, so Æthelstan's ability to gain access to the cloth was easier than trying to acquiesce to the barbaric demands of the military academies. It was here that Æthelstan chose his path of theology while House Hughes chose their own ruin. The Fifty Year War was a costly affair that depleted the Hughes of their coffers and bloodline. While war took his father and brothers, plague claimed the lives of his mother and sisters, leaving nothing but a mess of debts to be paid and bodies to be buried. With a quick stroke of the quill, Æthelstan sold off all remaining lands to the Delacroixs to square the debts before finding salvation in the Glabados Church. Turning his back on Bervenia, he traveled to Mullonde where he entered the clergy and spoke his vows to the heavens in constant service to the High Confessor.
Through strife and turmoil, Æthelstan observed in silence as the higher authorities of the church tried to mediate the aftermath of war and sickness. He played his part to every degree, providing council to the other priests and bishops, and performing blessings upon those in need. Staying only seen but not heard as the Fifty Year War came to closure only to have the War of the Lions unleashing civil turmoil upon the whole of Ivalice.
Writing Sample - TITLE PROMPT: –
