The Household
Captain Nathaniel Roth – Human Male: LN: Warrior L5
Str:12 Dex:10 Con:12 int:10 Wis:10 Cha:10
The young Nathaniel was an ambitious man, with a shock of red hair, from a long standing Military family, whose members generally served as sergeants or junior officers (Note 1). Nathaniel was fortunate in that he managed to arrange a marriage to Marayne duFeu, the daughter of the Guard Captain, that guaranteed his promotion into the offer ranks (Note 2).
All was well, He got his promotion to Lieutenant and his own child came along, a daughter with hair red enough to match his own. That was fine. He let Mary (as he had started calling her) bring up Wyn (the first child) her way, but he spent a lot of time with his own daughter, trying to mould her in his own family image. He an Mary had different interests and lived their own lives, but there was a mutual understanding between them, and life was fairly happy.
When the third child was born, he was initially happy, however as the child grew he realised that it was not his. The child just looked wrong to start with, and as he grew the differences became more pronounced. He started drinking more heavily, was more violent with Mary. Eventually he banished the child from the house, although even he couldn’t bring himself to really throw it out on its ear - and he turned a blind eye to the servants raising Gedd (as the child had become known), so long as it kept out of his sight.
With his salary and Mary’s allowance, they could afford a decent place to live – so there was space for the half-orc to stay out of his way.
Then the first one, Wyn, started exhibiting weird traits – magical abilities no less, and in the Roth family. That was unheard of. And the kid was a wimp, he would never make a soldier, so the army wouldn’t beat it out of him. The next best thing was the church – after all they were strict with their apprentices and they would get him in some sort of shape. It was a good job the girl took after the Roth family, she would be able to cope with the military!
By now there had been a promotion to Captain of the Watch and he had started drinking more. Since Wyn had been sent to the temple, Mary had been acting strangely, she wasn’t her normal self. She had become more isolated, shutting herself in her room more, perhaps even neurotic. He worried about the effect that would have on his daughter, or even if some of the mother’s wildness would rub off on Betha. And the child was starting to turn into a woman. So he decided that his little girl should not mix with boys unless he, Captain Nathaniel Roth, was present.
He realises that he had probably reached the end of his career path – and is a bit resentful that he won’t go higher. But he knows (deep inside) that he really doesn’t have the ability for more. He drinks too much (and knows it) – but only to really drinks to excess when he is at home. He took on one bastard child – and has then been betrayed sexually by the woman he took in. And he resents the fact that he wasn’t good enough for her, or couldn’t satisfy her. He also resents the fact that she can mange without his company. It all festers slowly - not enough to stop him doing his job - just enough to make him rough and domineering with his family. He does his duty by them, but ….
Those serving under him laugh behind his back and use his vanity to manipulate him, not to the point of making him do anything stupid, but to make their own lives easier, and keep a little harmless corruption hidden from his eyes. Something he would certainly not tolerate should it come to his attention, since for all his faults he does not let his troubles at home colour his approach to his job, scrupulously sticking to the letter of the law (if lacking the wit to sniff out real evil or to know when the needs of justice should prevail).
Marayne duFeu never quite lived up to her name. She was quite pretty, vivacious and chatty – but she was vacuous. Silly conversations were her thing, ball gowns, fancy dinners, baubles, dancing. But when it came to a serious conversation, she lost interest very quickly indeed. Nor was she particularly good at physical skills - she did just as much as she needed, to keep her instructors happy – and for many that was just a pretty smile and an earnest “I really am trying my best”.
Still, she got invited to all the parties, which suited her very nicely. It was at one of the smaller society events that she met The Elf. He was good looking and popular, much in demand, but it was Marayne who caught his eye. A few days later he moved on, but Marayne was left with the consequences of their brief liaison – a pregnancy.
The family swung into action – and a quick marriage with a junior officer in the Town Watch, called Nathaniel Roth, was arranged. Marayne duFeu became Marayne Roth and a few months later Wyn was born. From being a single girl with no concerns, Marayne become a mother at twenty, married to a serious minded man who was seven years her senior.
It was OK, Nathaniel was a more distant and formal than Marayne was used to, and he wasn’t close to the boy, so Wyn spent a lot of time with his mother as he grew up.
It was different when Roberta turned up a couple of years later. She was a real daddy’s girl and Nathaniel spent hours with her. Almost as if she was his firstborn – and he would have preferred a boy.
Then came a shock – Marayne gave birth again - a nine months after a party she had attended while Nathaniel was on duty. The new child didn’t look a bit like his father, and Nathaniel wasn’t interested in the child at all. In fact he was so hostile towards the child, that Gedd (as he became known) spent most of the time with the servants.
The relationship between Nathaniel and Marayne changed. Nathaniel became even more distant and formal, and Marayne became even more isolated with just Wyn for company. Nathaniel even insisted that she made herself ‘feel’ more married, and started calling her Mary. Even the parties stopped, Nathaniel put his foot down – Mary was NOT to go to social events with out him - and when they did go he only stayed as long as he had to – taking Mary back home at the earliest opportunity.
Then, as soon as Wyn was old enough, Nathaniel arranged an apprenticeship for him. The boy wasn’t suited to the army, so Nathaniel arranged an apprentice shop with the church. But it meant Wyn was taken from Mary. Gradually life became less bearable – Nathaniel ignored her almost completely now – he was more likely to stay at work or spend an evening with a bottle or two of wine for company. Mary became more and more introverted, less and less sure of herself. There were visits from Wyn, of course, and the other children - but she spent most of her time alone.
As time went by she started to receive visits from the Sisters of Minor Mercies – they had come looking for a donation the first time they called. Then there were more visits, and she gave them something each time they came. Now she has decided to join them, to do something with the rest of her life.
Sister Mary now lives inside the cloisters of the convent, helping the women there who are in need. Her children and husband don’t need her anymore, but there is someone who does …
The Servants
Hank Gardener, known as Gardener, is the ‘Outdoors’ servant who does tend to the garden, among other chores. He is also sent out the local villages to bring back fresher food than can be found in the town’s markets and, in recent years, he has taken Gedd with him. Gardener tells tales of being seriously injured when he was a young man and was working as a patrolmen defending his village against Orc patrols. Cookie nursed him back to health, married him and insisted they come to the big town. However, he is still prone to severe coughing fits and struggles with heavy work. Gardener is well liked and has many friends, particularly among those who spend a lot of time outdoors.
Gardener (M Half-elf Ranger1/Commoner2 - with a low con, speaks Common, Elven & Orcish)
‘Cookie’ Gardener is the household cook – and a very good cook she is too. She is a motherly figure always ready with a glass of milk, a cup-cake and a hug. While Maryane was often distant and un-sympathetic – Cookie was the surrogate huggy-mum for all three children when they needed it. She bought Gardener to the town so he could live more gently, but she finds many an excuse to send him out around the local villages for special, or extra fresh, ingredients. She is quite a skilled herbalist too, as Berta can testify.
Cookie (F Human Expert2 – high sympathy rating)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Mon 16 Dec 2013.