Post by Constantin Albescu on Mar 26, 2015 21:54:00 GMT -5
__Q U I N C Y__
The Monk of Destruction
On The Surface___
Name: Constantin Albescu
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Loyalties: House Albescu, then Quincies as a whole, then humanity.
Height & Weight: 5'11" (180.3 cm), 160 lbs (72.57 kg)
Hair & Eyes: His hair is shoulder blade-length and a well-maintained, glossy black, often tied back. His eyes are a particular shade of gray-blue that verges on lilac.
Bloodline: Echt (Pureblood Quincy)
Languages Known: Fluent in Romanian, German; Skilled at French, Spanish, Italian, English, Russian; Passable at Arabic, Japanese, Turkish
Physical Description:
Constantin stands at a slightly-above-average 5'11", with a leanly muscled build; meet his eyes, though, and none of that matters. They are a shade of gray-blue that verges on lilac, an unusual and arresting color; the irises are nestled in eyes that spend most of their time half-lidded, but have the intense focus of a diamond-cutting laser. When he looks at you, you know that he is devoting the entirety of his attention to you, analyzing and dissecting every word you say, every twitch, every bead of sweat. The other features arranged around those eyes include a high forehead, slim nose, and wide mouth, with a narrow, angular bone structure that leads others to term his features "hawkish" or "wolfish". Either of these animals, of course, is immediately recognized as a highly capable predator.
His movements are marked by a kind of precisely measured grace, whether he is drawing his spirit bow, lifting a glass of wine, dancing at a formal gathering, or simply walking to greet a guest. To most, it appears simply the product of refined breeding; to those in the know, it is recognizable as the result of a dynamic conflict: a lack of concern for the opinions of their lessers, while feeling the constant weight of the ancestors. As a corollary to this, filth, injuries, exhaustion, drunkenness, and most other cosmetic marrings generally seem to have little influence on how he is perceived; his poise is such that rather than being dirty, he is just temporarily choosing to be ornamented by dirt, and so forth.
When given the choice, Constantin dresses in elegant, finely-tailored suits, generally in dark colors. When such clothing is inappropriate, he follows very similar guidelines in choosing whatever other garments are to be worn. Even his Quincy combat gear, generally colored in white and electric blue, is patterned in charcoal gray and slate blue instead, almost as though viewing the "proper' coloration's reflection in a puddle of murky water. His hair, glossy black, unparted, and long enough to reach his shoulder blades, is generally tied back, whether messily with a sturdy tie, or with an elegantly knotted ribbon for more formal events. His skin is smooth and well cared-for, with a light, general tan that could come from time in the booth or exercise outside. In polite company, he generally has a faint scent of juniper or pine. Regardless of circumstances, he has a fondness for narrow cigarettes rolled with a mixture of tobacco and other herbs that have a sweet-but-acrid aromatic scent.
Underneath his finery, Constantin has no tattoos, although he does have a plethora of scars - some like the claws or teeth of a beast, many burns shaped like hands of varying sizes, a small number of sword wounds, and then some that defy any rational comparison. If they were to be seen by someone, he would wave them off as relics of a misspent youth and make no further comment; however, if it can be avoided, he does not put himself in a situation to have them observed by those who do not already recognize their significance. He is similarly devoid of jewelry, with two exceptions: around his left wrist he wears a silver chain, from which hangs a five-armed cross (detailed below), while on his left ring finger he wears his wedding ring, a simple band of silvery metal, the edges cunningly crafted to appear braided. At times, he will wear a monocle designed to rest upon the bridge of his nose. He will claim it to be a simple corrective for a minor defect; unbeknownst to most, it is actually made of Quincy spirit-glass, a tool he uses to help identify illusions and other spiritual effects.
Constantin's voice is smooth and cultured, although it tends towards cold. He speaks Romanian and German like a native, and has a high degree of skill with many other languages used in Europe. He can even get by in Arabic, Japanese, or Turkish, although his command of these languages is much more limited. He is not a natural polyglot; rather, these capabilities stem from lengthy and focused study, coupled with practice with tutors. No matter the language, his voice very rarely leaves the range of volume and emphasis dictated by a polite conversation, although as he grows angrier, it begins to snap and bite. Matching his voice, his general conduct is unflinchingly courteous and polite, but not warm or familiar.
Behind The Eyes___
Positive Traits
- Calm. When he was very young, Constantin had a loving mother and father. Then one died and the other left, abandoning him to the care of his busy grandfather and various tutors instructed to give him the finest education possible. Amidst this storm of emotions, with his younger brother to be concerned about, Constantin developed the ability to separate himself from his emotions, to remain calm when almost any sane person would be sobbing or raging. He had to be strong for his brother and those around him.
Yes, you've lost your leg. I've applied a tourniquet; a medic should be here soon. Stay conscious, soldat, and you will survive.
- Magnanimous. As the heir to a centuries-long dynasty, Constantin is well aware that he has greater resources and greater responsibilities than most people. Thus, he feels a certain sense of realism about the capabilities of other people, and a certain sense of obligation towards his lessers. If one of his employees makes a mistake, then clearly he has expected too much of them; if a beggar offers sex for money, clearly she and her child could use a new apartment and a job interview. This magnanimity stops when he feels that someone is not giving their best effort, or attempting to take advantage of his kindness.
As you requested, I've looked into your son. He is quite brilliant; if he attends a top school, I will pay for what of his education you cannot.
- Honorable. Constantin's word is not merely his own; it is the word of every Albescu, back to the founding of the house. His honor must be unimpeachable if the honor of his house is to be preserved, and with it the reputation of all of his ancestors. Due to this he rarely swears major oaths; regardless, once an oath is sworn, unless he knows of a reason why it is not being obeyed in good faith, he will do all in his power to ensure that it is followed to the letter.
I said you could leave unmolested; you did. I even gave you a day to see your family again. But you're too dangerous to allow to live.
- Courteous. The world is a place of nightmares and horror. Humans savage each other like the animals they are, and then die and become horrible monsters that continue. One thing that separates the truly conscious from the animals is courtesy, or so Constantin believes. A few words or a simple action of politeness can create a spot of order in that morass, a place where civilization holds sway. Humans may still kill one another, and may battle monsters, but they can at least be civilized about it. It hurts nothing to ask even an enemy about how their family is doing.
Good evening, Prefect. I hope you are well? Excellent. Your son, how is his arm? I'm pleased to hear it. Now, to business. Don't worry about them, look at me, please. My father is most distressed by your recent actions.
- Disciplined. All people have certain natural talents and inclinations, accompanied by various weaknesses. As the next link in the Albescu dynasty, Constantin is not permitted any weaknesses, and his strengths must be greater than those of the common masses. Some of those could be dealt with via the proper encouragement - whether punishments, or simple inducements - but many had to be dealt with on a more internal level. To this end, Constantin was trained to maintain focus on an objective to a nearly frightening degree; this allows him to absorb new knowledge, new practices, new techniques with great speed, and to quash undesired impulses very quickly.
When do I sleep? When I must, of course. Now, back to these plans. As I said, you're missing a vital support in this area.
Negative Traits
- Arrogant. The Albescu dynasty is one of the premier dynasties of the world. Period. Constantin, as a product of the family, its Voivode, and the likely next Domnitor, is among the cream of that already elevated crop. Lesser folks can make contributions, of course, but it should always be up to their betters to make the final decisions and greatest impacts. Constantin freely disregards the opinions or actions of those he considers beneath him, and expects them to acknowledge his clear superiority.
Thank you for your opinion, doctor. Good bye.
- Secretive. There are many dangers in the world: some subtle and some gross. In all cases, having resources that only you are aware of can be of tremendous benefit. Constantin takes pains to never show more cards from his hand than are necessary in any situation, whether it be a negotiation, a mission briefing, or even a friendly chat. Information is power; controlling it is a vital technique to leadership.
Why wouldn't I tell you? I chose not to. Be assured, your job is still quite secure.
- Vengeful. Constantin is polite, obeys his word, and fights to protect his family and humanity from the evil spirits the dead can become. Despite all these admirable qualities, sometimes someone takes it upon themselves to oppose him, whether with violence or other means. Depending upon its nature and severity, he can take this very poorly, dedicating his resources to destroying an obstacle or taking his vengeance upon someone's family.
Your brother has made himself a problem. You have 48 hours to locate him; your family will be quite safe with me until then.
- Remote. The life of the true nobility is one of rigid control. Every choice occurs within precisely defined boundaries - and for many decisions, there is no element of choice allowed at all. For Constantin, who faces these stresses in addition to those of his Quincy heritage and damaged upbringing, the only way he knows to function is to remain emotionally remote, allowing his intellect to drive his decision-making process. While this control may slip or be lost from time to time, his normal state is one of icy reserve.
You're pregnant? Excellent. Have you notified the staff? I'm sure the nutritionist, doctor, and trainer will need to adjust their regimes.
- Sadistic. In order to instill in Constantin the extreme discipline and behaviors that he needed, one of the common tactics his educators employed was pain. Whether a rod, a cold room, or something more extreme, those harsh techniques allowed him to be quickly broken down and remade as needed. Thanks to his familiarity with pain, Constantin is very skilled with its application; having suffered much through his life, he knows its effects. One of the few safe pleasures he can have is to enjoy the inflicting of pain on his opponents, whether a Hollow or a human, whether physical or emotional. It is nothing less than they deserve for being in his way.
Yes, cry out. Bring your spawn to me, Hollow. Will they come faster if I tighten the wire?
Three Likes: Making an enemy suffer. Feeling in control. Watching his children.
Three Dislikes: Rudeness. Emotional displays. People who do not give their full effort.
Appropriate Music:
Calm: Shadow of Doubt, from Vision of Escaflowne. Wreath of Barbs, by Wumpscut. True, from Silent Hill 2.
Aggressive: Hellraiser (VNV Nation remix), by Suicide Commando. Somewhat Damaged, by Nine Inch Nails.
Psych Test:
Jung Typology Test: Extrovert (11%) Intuitive (25%) Thinking (88%) Judging (100%)
ENTJ: The Commander
Three Personal Opinions:
- The other Quincy families are weak, unfocused, unworthy; House Albescu should be in charge of them all. But the damn Germans would never allow that to happen; they're all fools holding us back from making the world a place safe from supernatural intervention. We should build up our numbers, hunt them all down, and kill them or convert them to our service; then we would be able to truly protect the world.
- I don't understand how to interact with my family. Strangers, yes. Retainers, yes. But family? I know how other families interact, but it doesn't really make that much sense to me. I try to copy them in the ways I can, it seems to work. For the most part, I just treat them like anyone else who is on my level: politely.
- I wouldn't be happy doing anything else. I'm not happy doing this, either; I don't think I really become happy. But I am satisfied knowing that I am exterminating an infestation and carrying out the duties of my house. If all the Hollows, all the other threats, just vanished tomorrow, I'm not sure what I would do. I should go ahead and spend some time studying that, just in case it happens; it's good to be prepared.
Too Much Information:
Constantin convinced Helene to name their firstborn Vlad by striking a deal: any further children with white hair, she got to name, while any without, he got to name. So far, this deal is not working out in his favor.
Constantin made extensive study of romantic literature, songs, films, new items, and adult films as preparation for his marriage.
When he was learning the piano, Constantin's tutor correctly observed that despite the dexterity of his hands and his facility with memorizing songs, there was no feeling, no heart, behind his music - it came across as a mechanical curiosity, rather than something moving. Impressed both by the tutor's accuracy and her bravery, Constantin ended his lessons but retained the woman on staff, allowing her to pick and choose her students from anyone interested within the House staff.
Constantin has a complex relationship with his cousin-in-law, Weylin von Wolfenstein. As a powerful Quincy and heir to a dynasty, he is worthy of respect. As a German Quincy, he is to be detested. As his relative, he is to be treated with hospitality. As one who pushed to be King, he is to be hated. As one who opposes the current King, he is to be supported. Suffice to say, Constantin treats him with courtesy and carefully considers his words and actions when dealing with him.
Strength Of The World___
Quincy Power: Constantin is a patient and precise hunter; besides that, he recognizes the value of the fear of pain in restricting a target's movements. Thus, it should come as no surprise that he is able to fire not only the standard Heilig Pfeil, Holy Arrow, from his spirit bow, but also a more particular type of shot: Stacheldraht Pfeil (or, in his Romanian, Ghimpată Sageata Sârmă), or the Barbed Wire Arrow. Using this power, he is able to lay down lines of Quincy soul-silver razorwire with his bow, either to restrict his target's movements or to entangle it directly. Once hooked, his quarry has long moments to scream and bleed and plead before he will end their suffering.
Spirit Weapon and Cross: Thanks to the strength of his skill at reishi manipulation, when Constantin manifests his spirit bow, it takes on a solid form. His bow is a comfortably-sized recurve that appears to be crafted of age-darkened silver, with a tracework of dully-glowing blue lines embedded in the material. However, the bowstring appears to be a length of bright, barbed silver wire; a similar section of shimmering wire carefully wraps around the bow's body from end to end.
Constantin's Quincy Cross takes the form of a five-armed silver cross, with a stylized flame emerging from the tip of each arm, wrought in age-darkened silver and about an inch across. This aged ornament hangs from a much more modern, very sturdy-looking silver chain that wraps tightly around his wrist. The cross is an heirloom of the Albescu family, and reportedly originally belonged to the family's founder, Petru Albescu. Since those days, it has been worn into battle by the family's voivode.
The symbol is quite similar to that of the Order of the Dragon, seen below, save for the differences noted above.
Legacy Created___
Parents: Neculai Albescu and Karin von Galen (here) were both scions of their Quincy families, married due to an arrangement made when they were both small children. Surprisingly, they turned out to have reasonably similar outlooks on life, finding pleasure in adventure and joy in living. This allowed them to enjoy each other's company and form a heartfelt bond, perhaps even love. Either way, their union yielded two children: Constantin, the elder, and Dumitru. More might have come, with time. However, when not burdened with pregnancy, Karin continued to serve as a Quincy, and Quincies are often faced with death. For Karin von Galen, one of these encounters ended, sadly, with her meeting hers.
Childhood (Birth (June 2, 1987) to early teens): Constantin was 6 (and Dumitru 3) when their mother was killed by a Hollow. After a few days of near-catatonic depression, their father left the home, abandoning his crying sons to pursue his revenge. Up until then, the boys had enjoyed a reasonably pleasant childhood: more demanding than many, but still with its share of joys and love. After that point, the joys mostly vanished. Their grandfather Ion, Domnitor of the House, busy with its affairs and angry at his son for abandoning his duties, was a distant figure, giving the boys over to instructors with a command to make them strong and worthy inheritors of the Albescu name. Constantin felt less and less as his physical, mental, and spiritual training began, although he took care to try to keep his brother insulated, keeping careful track of their old memories and calling them up for his brother's peace as much as he could. When his brother was old enough, Constantin told his grandfather that Dumitru would not be able to bear up under the harsh training, that hours spent memorizing facts or enduring cold or heat would break him. Satisfied at Constantin's progress, he relented, and Dumitru embarked on a much lighter regime.
Early Adulthood (early teens to age 20): By the time he entered his teens, Constantin had been shaped quite adeptly into a nascent Quincy: physically fit, mentally sharp, and able to channel reishi (although not quite yet into the form of a bow). Emotionally, he felt only the deepest of feelings, and them only lightly, having disregarded them in his need to master ever-more-demanding levels of training. He had nothing more than an idle curiosity about women, about exploring himself or his world; he knew that his place was with his House, and was fated to be spent in battle with those same entities, the Hollows, that had cost him his mother. It was with satisfaction that he received his great-uncle Laurentiu's permission to begin to train with the active Quincies, to accompany them on hunts and begin to obtain practical experience. As with any young Quincy, his first few hunts went poorly, with him able to do little but observe. Those observations bore fruit quickly, and by the time he was 16 he was able to manifest his spirit bow and fight alongside the others, defeating weak Hollows and helping to corral larger ones. It was during this time that he developed his spirit-glass monocle; by blocking spiritual energies, it allowed him to more easily spot illusions and other spiritual effects by creating a difference between the sight of each eye.
Within another 2 years, by 18, he had mastered his spirit bow to the point of manifesting it as a physical thing; the bow's distinctive use of barbed wire raised a few eyebrows, as did his Ghimpată Sageata Sârmă technique. Having demonstrated a high degree of skill and mastery over Quincy techniques for his age, Constantin was removed from his post in the hunting parties, instead being dispatched to Balaur Castle for training and meditation in the special skill of the Albescus. Dutifully, he went, and all but vanished from the face of the Earth for two years.
At 20, he was released, returning to Albescu Castle only to find that his father had returned at last, and his grandfather was on the verge of handing over the post of Domnitor to him. Their reunion was anything but heartfelt, the two reacting as neutrally as though they were distant, unintroduced relations.
Adulthood (Age 20 to 23): Having passed through his grandfather's crucible, Constantin emerged strong, disciplined, and capable in nearly every respect. After a few months of hunting with his great-uncle, Constantin was given a wider-ranging series of assignments by his father, traveling to pay the House's respects to other families, to attend meetings, to deliver payments and accept tributes. These new tasks had him traveling over most of the world at one point or another, accompanied by a small group of guards and servants at times, and at other times by neither. Not only did this give him valuable experience hunting Hollows in environments other than those he was well-used-to, but also with interacting with humans and Quincies not associated with his House. The lessons thus learned were illuminating in some cases and painful in others. He was not, however, banished from home, and returned periodically, meeting with his family, going on hunts at his great-uncle's orders, and traveling to Balaur Castle to meet with his grandfather, now retired from the post of Domnitor.
After three years of these expeditions, upon his return, Constantin was greeted with the news that he would be taking on the position of Voivode from his great-uncle, who was past his prime and would better serve as an advisor rather than warlord. Naturally, Constantin accepted the new role, immediately asking his great-uncle to serve as his personal advisor as he adapted to the leadership role, a request that was accepted. As Voivode, it would be Constantin's role to control all the House's hunts, from identifying regions to patrol or Hollows to target, to carrying out after-action debriefings, to actually leading the Quincies into battle. It was, arguably the key role in the House, the one the post of Domnitor was designed to support, rather than the other way around.
Voivode (Age 23 to 24): While nominally Voivode, Constantin lacked much of the necessary experience to handle larger-scale hunts, as well as the personal knowledge of the Quincies of of the House that would allow him to lead them with the greatest effectiveness. Thanks to his House's influence, he was given a several-week crash course in leadership using a modified version of the curriculum employed by the Romanian military; that done, he set about speaking with each of "his" Quincies personally, learning about them from their own lips in addition to observing them during practices. With his great-uncle to coordinate from safety, Constantin took the field with his Quincies, showing them his skill and capabilities while he observed theirs. Quickly it became apparent that he would spend their lives without hesitation if necessary, but only if necessary, and he would ask them to do nothing that he himself would not and did not do. Within the year, at the age of 24, he had managed to prove himself as a worthy Voivode, and Laurentiu retired to Balaur Castle with his brother for rest and meditation.
Family (Age 24 to 28): Having demonstrated his skill, Constantin was next informed by the Domnitor, his father, that his arranged marriage was impending, to Helene von Wolfenstein. As he did before, Constantin agreed to serve his House without question, continuing his normal duties as Voivode up until a week before the wedding date. The wedding itself was sizeable for a Quincy one, occurring at the reasonably neutral site of St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest, and attended by delegations from nearly all the Quincy families. Constantin and Helene said their agreed-upon words, the ceremony was concluded, and they returned to Albescu Castle, from which they departed for a week-long honeymoon in Italy. Neither of the newlyweds were what most would consider to be passionate, or even really friendly, but their conversations revealed that they had many common aspects in their worldviews. Satisfied with each other, the pair returned to Albescu Castle, whereupon Constantin resumed his duties as Voivode and Helene quickly ran through, and passed, the House Albescu training program, demonstrating her skill at the Quincy arts. Within the next month, she was an active member of the combat team, and proved herself to be quite an asset. Within another few months, she was removed from the combat team, having proven herself to be quite pregnant.
Vlad was born within the pair's first year of marriage, although only just; his birth was looked upon with relief by both families. After a few months to recover and bond with her infant, Helene was restored to her position as an active Quincy, although with the restriction that both she and Constantin were not permitted to be in the field at the same time. As a hands-on leader, he put himself in the field more often; however, he did provide Helene with adequate opportunities as well, spending those missions coordinating either from Albescu Castle or a mobile command vehicle. Thanks to the well-paid staff, Vlad was well-cared-for, and although neither Constantin nor Helene were particularly demonstrative parents, they did take pains to spend time with their son, and derived some pleasure from him Two years later, Ulrike was born, and then Alois another year away, Helene bearing the children without complaint, although restoring her fighting shape after each child and demanding to be put back into hunts.
Now (Age 28): Constantin is now a well-seasoned Voivode, with the loyalty of his Quincies and many kills to his name. While he and his wife may not love each other (or perhaps, in their own ways, they do), they do have a respect and appreciation for each other, and are raising their children to embody the best of the Albescu traditions with a leavening of those from the von Wolfensteins. Events in Japan's Karakura Town, as well as the Quincy kingsmoot, are worrisome, but he has no question that he will be able to master them and help to steer his house onwards.
Roleplay Sample:
A sick smile spread across the man’s face, like an oil slick over rancid milk. Constantin’s clacking steps halted abruptly when he reached conversational distance, half-lidded eyes taking in the man’s rumpled suit and slight sheen of sweat. He spoke, his tone neutral and words precisely enunciated in accentless Hochdeutsch.
“Good evening, Mr. Thaler. I told you this place was not secure. Why have you chosen to meet here?”
The man gave a few gulps of nervous laughter.
“Ahh, Mr. Albescu . . . or should it be baron? Or prince?”
Constantin cut him off coldly.
“Mr. will be fine. Please answer my question.”
“Ahhh, Mr. Albescu, the King’s men, I know they will not dare strike here, not on such a crowded square. They fear exposure, unlike you and your men. So I knew I would be safe.”
The Voivode eyed the wretch carefully. With unhurried motions he took a small, silver container from inside his coat, removed a cigarette from it, and placed it between his lips, all without breaking eye contact with the man. The silver case was returned, and a lighter removed, its surface marked with some sort of intricate pattern that his neatly manicured hand obscured. The flame caught on the first flick of the mechanism; the smell of burning herbs began to permeate the room in a cloud of blue-gray smoke. The cigarette dangled from his lips; on someone else, the position might have been considered careless.
“Mr. Thaler, you are correct that you will be safe, from the King’s men. However, they were not the reason why this place was not secure.”
“Ahh, why is it unsafe, then, Mr. Albescu?”
“Because a Hollow has been taking people in this area periodically, Mr. Thaler. And my presence will draw him like none other.”
Thaler’s face, already pale with betrayal, turned jaundiced with fear. He was not spiritually aware, himself, but he had been exposed to enough Quincies to absorb some of their knowledge.
“I didn’t know . . . “
“Nor did you need to, Mr. Thaler. But you chose to disregard my instructions.” With careful motions, Constantin removed his suit jacket, folding it carefully and placing it over the back of a nearby chair; thus bared, his neck already bore a band holding a mic against his throat. He took another drag on his cigarette and spoke a few quiet words, seemingly to the empty air. Thaler didn’t recognize the language, but assumed it must be Romanian.
“It is coming, Mr. Thaler. Please, remain here and do not flee, for your own safety. Then, once I am done with the creature, I will return and we shall continue our conversation. I do hope that the information you carry is worth the loss of you as an asset within the King’s followers.”
A gleam of silver jangled at Constantin’s wrist. His lips compressed slightly; Thaler realized that it must be his equivalent of a smile.
“Or, if you are lucky, I will die. Good evening, Mr. Thaler.”
OOC___
Player Alias: DT seems to be working fine. Or possibly Zangief. Or Beard.
Desired Starting GP: Well, I got 2600 for Daisuke, so I'll shoot for something along those lines here.
Where you referred by anyone?: Nope!
Other Characters: Daisuke Takumi, Shinigami
