Full Name: Bertrand Darby
Nickname: Bert, Bertie, Beaker, Beaks, Birdie. These are mostly among those he has recently studied with, rather than how he might introduce himself. Ghosty, exclusively among those he played cricket with.
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Occupation: Student of Chemistry at University College, London. Technically employed by the Coalbrookedale Company.
Nationality: English
Languages: English (primary fluency), Welsh (professional working fluency), Greek (professional working fluency), Latin (professional working fluency)
Current status: Unmarried
Current Residence: Bilberry House

Overall Appearance: Bertrand is of an average height, built perhaps a bit on the sturdier side. He carries himself with a sense of purpose and direction, as though he were intent on achieving some particular goal and that he is on the cusp of its completion. This might appear at a first glance to be an air of confidence and surety in the man, however this may be not be the truth. Similarly, he can be seen striding when he walks, with an intensity or focus on arriving at a destination and no desire to waste time. Bertrand tends to be clean-shaven and lacks the tell-tale yellowing of teeth and fingers seen on many tobacco smokers. He does not seem to smile overly much and is often seen with a serious expression on his face that might indicate that he is thinking deeply about something of utmost importance, but when he does smile it is a delightfully warm and open thing. His gaze can be off-putting to those who are new to him, he has a tendency to look at a person with direct and focused attention as he actively listens to him. To some, this may come off as judgmental or intimidating, but to others it might feel as though they are receiving his full attention while the rest of the world falls away around him.


Height: 168 cm
Weight: 71 kg
Eye Colour: Blue
Hair Colour: dark blonde, depending on the light
Hair Style: short, largely not styled.
Complexion: Fair, though not pale.
Body Shape: Rectangular/athletic
Distinguishing Marks: Seldom seen beneath his clothing are an eclectic collection of scars which tell no consistent or cohesive story on how they might have been acquired. Their ages are dissimilar with some appearing to be from burns and others from punctures. Perhaps notable to those who might sneak a glimpse of them are a matched pair of thin laceration scars that run along the inner sides of his wrists. As he is often gloved in the London weather or at the elegant social events of the ton, it may be overlooked that he has no small collection of smaller scars from cuts and burns on the backs of his hands.
Clothing: Three-piece wool and linen suit in darker greys and charcoals, with a slightly longer jacket and vests that are slightly lighter in colour. He will usually wear a colourful cravat to break it up rather than a tie and often keeps this tucked out of the way. He usually doesn’t wear a hat, when he does his preference is an English bowler style to a silk or top hat.


Basic Personality: Bertrand can come off as cold and aloof in a brief encounter, but is actually just introverted and shy. He can become agitated or flustered when in uncomfortable or unfamiliar situations, often times resorting to fidgeting in order to self regulate. When speaking on his passions, he can become quite enthusiastic and energetic in his speech, which may be disconcerting for some given his usually reserved and quiet outward demeanor. At his core he is conscientious, empathetic and kind. While he has no specific vision for what the future should be, he does intend to leave as large a positive mark as possible on the world and on the people with which he finds himself surrounded.

Magic Percentage: Nec37/Tra8
Special Skills:
1) Rational, tends to consider problems from a number of angles rather than jumping to a snap decision.
2) Good with numbers and scientific principles.
3) Strong memory, particularly working memory.
4) Fine manual dexterity, though this can disappear under stress. He is able to perform some sleight of hand and other magic tricks.

History: Born in Dale House in Coalbrookdale, Bertrand is the youngest of five. He spent his youth in and around Ironbridge Gorge, so named for the Ironbridge the Darby family had built in the early days of their metalworks that saw the small village now town spring up around it. His forebears were Quakers and so he was brought up in this tradition though while he did see the virtue in a number of their beliefs, such as being able to see the light of God in every person, he did not enjoy the often evangelical nature of religious instruction. He proved to be an intelligent young boy who took to his early education like a parched man in a desert who has stumbled upon an oasis with an unending spring of life giving water. He had soon devoured all that his local teachers could give him and he was set to shadow members of his family as they worked at the Coalbrookdale Company while his father Alfred attempted to source some appropriate tutors to sate Bertrand's appetite for learning. Of the various uncles and cousins he was set to follow about, he most took to his Uncle Abraham who spoiled him for his every desire and taught him principles of engineering, metallurgy and business. After a few years of this, ill-equipped to further educate his son and tired of sourcing new tutors for his son semi-annually, sent him to Rugby to board at the school for the next several years. When Bertrand returned home he found it more and more difficult to get along with his father and would often get into heated arguments with him. At this time Abraham was also finding himself more and more distant from the rest of the extended family, partly due to his conversion to the Church of England, and invited Bertand to come live with him for a time which only served to deepen the divides that had formed. Bertrand lived and worked with his uncle for a couple of years until Abraham married Matilda Frances, Abraham's cousin, and it became time for Bertrand to make himself scarce. Abraham offered to pay for all that might be required for him to live and study in London with the proviso that he would pay him back by coming to work for him when his studies were concluded. For the last couple of years Bertrand has been studying Sciences at University College, London. Primarily his studies are focused on chemistry, pyrometallurgy and engineering.

Living or Dead Family: Bertrand is part of the historical Darby family of English Ironmasters, owners of the Coalbrookdale Company and many other industrial and commercial enterprises.

Son to Alfred Darby  and Rosemary Babbage
Younger brother to Grace, Alfred, Victoria and Douglas
Nephew to Abraham Darby IV, who is particularly close after some family fallouts.
Large extended family though none are overly close.

The family has long been known to have had Transmutation magic (albeit relatively weak magic) in both the males and females of the bloodline since Jane, an illegitimate daughter of Edward Sutton the 5th Baron Dudley, married into the family. What is not known is that among the males, and the males alone, every so often one is born with powers of Necromancy. Such a thing has been kept secret, and left largely unused, by the family in order to protect them from those who might misunderstand or seek to abuse the power that they have inherited.

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