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Background
Philippe Giscard is born a commoner, though hardly common. He is the bard of House t'Corbeau and can most often be found there, when he is not off on one of his personal adventures.
Born in the Rovilon countryside to a pair of commoner farmers, Philippe Giscard always wanted something more than to just be a lowly farmboy. From an early age, he just knew that farming just wasn’t for him. Growing up, he watched as his parents toiled, working from the wee hours of the morning until night for some paltry crops to barely eek out a living. And for what purpose? So that they can do it all over again, day in and day out. There just had to be something more to life than the endless repetition of a commoner farmhand.
Whenever young Philippe could, he would sneak away to the nearest village, just because it was something different than the daily routine that he dreaded. He would pay close attention to the few travelling minstrels that inevitably made a stop at the local tavern and listen to the music they provided. Often times it was bawdy and lewd, but always captivating. He’d frequently be caught singing some of the more blue songs while out in the field with his parents, which would both irk his parents and yet entertain them, for Philippe’s raw musical talent was great and his ability to retain what he has seen and heard was uncanny.
When it became apparent that Philippe’s passion was more with the musical arts and considerably less with farming, his parents encouraged him to develop his talents. More and more, Philippe spent more time in the village, gleaning all he could from the travelling musicians. He riddled those unfortunate to stop with questions and sat with rapt attention as they answered what they could. Everything they said was locked away within Philippe’s mind…and not just what they said. Philippe studied their mannerisms, their body language, their physical mechanics. Not just what they sang or played, but the how as well. He worked to learn to write, not just the rudimentary teachings his parents were able to offer, for literacy was never a strong suit for farming, but also the ability to write prose and verse, to translate what he heard and saw into word and song. But, yet, it wasn’t enough. There was only so much Philippe could take before the minstrels would move on. There was one thing that needed to happen, one place that Philippe discerned from his studies with the bards that Philippe had to go if he was ever to become a great bard and break free of the farm life destiny had in store for him.
He had to go to the Bard’s College. And…not just any one. He had to go to the best. Fortunately, he would not have to go far, for the best was in Couviere. But, Philippe couldn’t go just yet.
There was a little matter of tuition.
Philippe did what he could to scrimp and save in the hope that he might be able to afford the endeavour. He worked extra at the farm, volunteering to take the harvest to market, so he could skim a couple coins off the top. At the marketplace, he wasn’t above taking a little from the crowd, as well, using his keen sense of perception to pick out easy marks and ‘free’ them of the burden of a few pennies. Of course, he knew it was wrong, but it was a matter of his personal freedom at stake. He also used the marketplace as his own personal stage, singing and playing a beaten-up old lute that one of his traveling minstrel idols gave him, along with the basics of playing. He often brought home more with his busking than with the marketplace and his extracurricular activities. Still, even with his efforts, Philippe wasn’t able to finally make his journey until the spring of his 16th year, leaving his family behind to finally make his way in the world.
There was a slight catch, though. Once Philippe got to the Bard’s College, he realized that life was considerably more interesting outside of the farm life, but also harder. He had enough to attend the college or to have room and board, but not enough for both. Determined to make it on his own, he managed to persuade the college to allow him to pay for half of the tuition up front, promising that he will be able to provide the other half before the end of the year. With the few finances he had left, Philippe negotiated for a simple room in which to stay, while he was responsible for his own meals.
Pressed for a means of supporting himself, Philippe fell back to what he knew best. When he wasn’t studying, he busked, playing for what few copper people were willing to part with. He was good, there was no denying, but busking near a bard’s college is not fruitful, with the intense competition. However, Philippe had more than just his bard skills to fall on. He had his rudimentary pickpocket skills as well. When the busking failed, Philippe had to rely on his perception and his sticky fingers to generate the income he so desperately needed to keep afloat. However, the city is certainly more complicated than any meager village marketplace and it is easier to make a mistake…to pick the wrong pocket. It was only a matter of time before Philippe picked the wrong mark and got caught. By a caporegime of the t’Corbeau Syndicate family.
The Syndicate members wasted no time with Philippe. He was snatched off the street, taken to a dark alley, and held at knifepoint, where he was interrogated quite vigorously. Frightened half out of his mind, Philippe quite quickly revealed that he was in dire need of money to continue his studies and that he would do anything to earn the money and finish his studies. Perhaps it was Philippe’s silver tongue that swayed the caporegime, or, more likely, the caporegime had a sadistic streak and wanted to see the little pretty-boy worm dangle on his hook. For whatever reason, it was determined that Philippe would live, but only long enough for him to be brought in front of the avatar of fate, to decide whether or not he lived or died.
The arbitrator of Philippe’s existence would be the head of the t’Corbeau family herself, the Viscountess Talia t’Corbeau.
The trip was harrowing. With Philippe thrown unceremoniously into a carriage, locked inside with only the light spilling through the cracks of the door and just the sound of the unseen outside. The brief walk from the carriage to the room where the Viscountess laid in wait was even more harrowing, for seeing where he was going brought Philippe no respite. It was becoming increasingly clearer to Philippe that he needed to convince the Viscountess of his worth or he would be no more. As so, when addressed by Talia directly as to the extent of his crimes, he was honest and shared all, including his hope to break free of destiny and his desire to be more. He assured her that he was talented…that he would be of more use alive than dead. And, when asked to perform, he did, somehow channeling his fear, the terror within, into his performance.
And…he was good. He was extremely good. Philippe tapped into his experiences and sang about a foolish minstrel and his chance meeting with a beautiful but cold noblewoman. The lyrics were obviously created on the fly, but it wasn’t the music or lyrics that captured Talia’s attention. It was the amount of detail within those lyrics…the clear, intricate points that should have been impossible for a man fearing for his life to capture. The cut of the caporegime’s clothing, the audible shift from dirt road to brick as the carriage approached the t’Corbeau estate…every detail presented as if Philippe was staring at a painting. The bard’s memory retention was impressive, as was his eye for detail. Intrigued, the Viscountess herself tested Philippe’s perception and memory further, seeing the potential of what Philippe could be…an informant and spy, if not more.
When Philippe proved his worth, passing the tests to Talia’s satisfaction, it was decided. In exchange for the finances needed to complete his bardic studies, he will work for the Viscountess t’Corbeau , and the Syndicate in general, to do whatever she asks. He learned his bardic trade, but he also learned the tools of the Syndicate….stealth, deception, forgery, trickery. He also became Talia’s personal bard, which provided a legitimate position for Philippe and made it convenient to keep an eye on the young bard.
For Philippe knew that the Viscountess t’Corbeau was the reason that he is still alive. And Talia didn’t want Philippe to ever forget it.
Philippe took to his dual role of personal entertainment for the Viscountess Talia as well as soldato for the t’Corbeau Syndicate family. He assisted with the attempt to rig a Tourney, which did not go fully as planned, but was not a total loss, for money always flowed when there was a tournament…and those that provided entertainment always stood a chance to cash in when spirits are high and people are inebriated. He also accompanied Talia when her investigations in regards to a missing slave shipment led her to Venderos. He served, though mostly in his role of bard and information gatherer than anything particularly violent. The visit was cut short, causing Talia and Philippe to leave, due to the principality’s thorough and harsh attempted lockdown of all Syndicate activity…by killing members when discovered.
Philippe’s normal non-violent tendencies dissipated when he was challenged by his patron and employer to test the loyalty of a particular employee at one of the t’Corbeau brothels. Through subterfuge and charm, Philippe was able to determine that the employee was selling information to a third party and pocketing the proceeds for himself. However, when reporting the misdeeds to the Viscountess, Philippe found that his own loyalty was also being tested, when Talia had asked him, in an effort for him to prove his intent, to torture the individual, strapping him to a chair and breaking each and every finger with a pair of pliers while Talia watched on. Philippe agreed…and performed as requested. The willingness to step beyond, to actually get his hands dirty, proved not only to Talia, but to Philippe himself, that the bard was able to take on the more dastardly aspects of his Syndicate duties. That he could be fully trusted…that Philippe was more than willing to live up to his marked man status.
It was from that point on that Philippe was taken on more dangerous excursions…more hazardous investigations that involved the deaths of more than a few individuals. Philippe was one of the Syndicate family members that Talia took with her when tracking down the lost shipment of slaves led to a strange cultist group called the Heralds of the True Gods. Raiding the warehouse where the cult practiced their dark rituals prompted the discovery of mass human sacrifices, including most likely the missing slave shipment, though the bodies were too numerous to have been just the shipment alone.
In the time to come, Philippe fell back to more of his other duties…those of a bardic persuasion, with the side business of forgery to supplement. There was less call for his blade and more for his words and wit. However, during this downtime, Talia continued to see to Philippe’s education, with a focus upon the more murderous aspects, improving upon his stealth and fighting skills. He was not able to accompany Talia when she tracked down the one responsible for the troubles of the land. It stood to reason. Philippe was not one of her best assassins, so there was no love lost. It just provided more of a chance to work on improving his skills for his patron.
Philippe knows, for an absolute surety, that his future is forever tied with the Syndicate and specifically the Viscountess Talia t’Corbeau. As such, he is set to do whatever it takes to remain in her good graces, for doing so will ensure his own continued survival.
On the Grid
Play for me, minstrel, play
And take away our sorrows…
Play for me, minstrel, play
And we'll follow…
Hear, listen, can you hear,
The haunting melody surrounding you,
Weaving a magic spell all around you…
Weaving a magic spell all around you…
It are the eyes that first capture the attention. Brilliant blue eyes, like the color of the sea after a storm, bright and alive. They are striking, no doubt, speaking volumes at a glance that words could never do. That is to say, the eyes are not the only pleasing feature upon the male figure, for man he is, but they are certainly fetching.
When viewed upon generally, it is rather apparent that the man is indeed, for lack of a better term, pleasant on the eyes. Standing at 5’10”, he is relatively tall, with tousled blonde locks of hair. The hair itself appears to be disheveled…uncombed. However, the messy tufts of hair seems to be purposeful, and actually serve to enhance the figure's appearance, giving a bit more character to him. The facial features reveal that this is a young man, early 20's in appearance, with a charming countenance. He is definitely an attractive sort, though not unusually so. He wears a kind expression upon his face and his mannerisms reinforce the kind persona. Yet he seems distant, as if his mind is working constantly. Despite this, though, the individual still appears cordial.
The ensemble currently adorning the young man betrays his lanky form, thin but not overtly so. He sports a long sleeved deep red shirt, billowy sleeves that taper to his wrists, held firm with cloth laces upon the cuffs. Similar laces descend from the base of the collar down about three inches, allowing for the shirt to be loosened at will…which it seems to be currently. The shirt narrows to his waist, where resides a belt with a nondescript black leather frog upon the left side, big enough to fit anything from a dagger to a rapier within. Upon the right rests a brown leather bag, tied to his belt with a thin strip of matching leather. Loose-fitting olive green pants cover his legs, disappearing under black leather boots that start just under the knee. The boots look well-worn, but still presentable for more public venues. Finally, a lute is slung across his back, revealing that he is some sort of musician, though not much else.
Personality:
Publicly, Philippe is the consummate entertainer. He is charming, polite and always ready with a quick turn of a phrase or a song upon his lips. He is rather outgoing and more than willing to chat with anyone about nearly anything?able to hold an intellectual discussion one minute and sing rowdy and oftentimes lewd bar songs the next. He seems to not take himself too seriously, which makes him all the more affable.
However, behind closed doors and only known to a select few, Philippe's insecurities bleed through. He is an ambitious man, driven to make a name for himself in whatever capacity he can. He has no intention of allowing fate to dictate his future, not when he has marketable skills to offer that may swing things in his favor. His highly perceptive nature allows him to identify who to be loyal to, as well as exactly what he needs to do to be successful in a literal cutthroat world. His drive can send him on dizzying highs. But?with the highs comes the lows, and no one but the most trusted can ever see the lows. After all, no one wants to see a morose bard.
Quirks:
Ambitious
Gifted: String Instruments
Loyal
Marked Man
Outgoing
Patron
Perceptive
Logs and Sundry
This can be a cover, lyrics or anything that encompasses your character.
(adrienne aidric alaric alexandra alina amara antonia ariane artos clara clarke conrad corvin devlin dora elaida emilia esyld evelyn event gabriel james jonathan leander log lorelei lucas philippe quentyn raimond symon thaddeus the-last tiadora tristan vorian)
(alina amara artos clara elaida elrick emilia evelyn event gabriel joffrey log philippe raelyn stephen thaddeus tristan)
(alexandra emilia esyld evelyn event gastogne jonathan log odilia osric philippe raelyn stephen talia)
(amara clara emilia evelyn event leander log odilia philippe raelyn)
(clara clarke emilia event gastogne log miranda odilia philippe raimond thaddeus tiadora)
(amara clara clarke devlin dora eleanor emilia evelyn event gastogne jasper log malcolm martyn odilia philippe raelyn raimond samuel symon thaddeus tiadora)
(aidric alina alysande bella broderick clara elaida elrick emilia evelyn event gabriel hashim jaren log michael nadine philippe raelyn samuel stephen thaddeus tiadora tristan)