08-11-2015, 12:57 PM
(This post was last modified: 20-11-2015, 06:33 PM by Spitfire333.)
Name:
Theodoor Lodewijk de Kuijper, casually Theo de Kuijper
Age:
23, Birthday is the 29th of every even month
Gender:
Male
Appearance:
6'1 with a strong but compact structure. He's somewhat muscular but not exceedingly so. He has dark blue eyes and dark brown hair with fair skin.
Personality:
Theo is adventurous, somewhat spontaenously so. He gets along well with others and has a fairly immature sense of humor. Theo, growing up a priveleged nobleman, doesn't like to admit to himself that he's been sheltered, and believes that he's hardier that her really is. He enjoys the finer things in life such as extravagant meals and hunting expeditions, but fails to see that these things don't just happen on their own because he's had most things in life done for him. He has noticed this about himself to some extent, which is part of the reason he's gone to the forbidden lands; he wants to prove to himself that he can live and thrive independently of his noble family's funds and resources.
Backstory:
Adriaansbrug is a thriving port city on the mainland, and has been ruled for centuries by the de Kuijper family. Originally a relatively small trading and fishing hamlet, the settlement grew exponentially during the Veld War when a large number of Lucin soldiers garrisoned there to defend the strategically important harbor from an Xitian attack. The Lucin occupation lasted several years, and during that time the Lucins made themselves at home, intermarrying with the inhabitants and getting involved in the government. After the influx of Lucins died down, the port facility grew as well, bringing in new trade and residents; Adriaansbrug was finally on the map.
Theodoor Lodewijk de Kuijper was the fifth son of Maurits Constantijn de Kuijper, who reined as Duke of Adriaansbrug. He grew up in the palace as a nobleman and had a privileged upbringing. He was schooled privately by Mesalian and Lucin tutors, and by the age of seven was bilingual, as was the entire nobility of Adriaansbrug. He also excelled in mathematics, history, and reading. After all, he recieved the best education the Duke Maurits' gold could buy.
Despite his high standing among the general population of Adriaansbrug, Theo had little to no hope of ever holding the title of Duke. He was the fifth son, and his eldest brother Willem already had two boys of his own. Accepting his fate never to be Duke, Theo lived lavishly and dreamed of adventure. He participated in grand hunting expeditions, travelled with his father to foreign city-states, and when he was 12, he first joined one of his older brothers on a trading mission to the port city of Provensia.
It was this first taste of the open sea and the freedom it offered that would change Theo's life forever. The trade of Adriaansbrug was trade, Theo planned to take full advantage of this. He started focusing his education on economics and sailing, promising himself to be the greatest merchant captain in the city. This promise, of course, was the delusion of a well off 13 year old, but it would nonetheless shape his future.
He spent his early teen years aboard the merchant vessels and warships of Duke's navy, learning from skilled Lucin sailors how to command a ship. In this fashion he travelled across oceans to countries of every sort, both on the mainland and the forbidden lands. He proved a quick learner, and at the age of 15, reaching adulthood in the culture of Adriaansbrug and the surrounding lands, was given command of one of the Duke's finer merchant ships in his older brother's fleet.
His attitude towards sailing across the world was one of ignorant wonder, and this brought him the ire of many of his sailors. These hardy men were annoyed by being under command of a foolish young noble, but they were content to follow his order so long as their salaries were still being paid.
A skilled (if loathed) captain, Theo continued to rise through the ranks, but around the age of 18 he began to feel incontent with his life. He was wildly successful financiallyband had a cool head in times of crisis, but he couldnt help but notice his crew's attitude about him. He heard what they thought about his luxurious upbringing, he heard the nicknames he was given. At first, he brished them off as simply things sailors say about their leaders.
Until he realized something that troubled him deeply: they were right.
All of these men had more experience at sea than he, and his promotions had been practically handed to him. Theodoor had never seriously faced a challenge in his young life.
With this in mind, he retired from sailing temporarily at the age of 18, deciding to become more involved with the politics of Adriaansbrug. He was immediately given an adminsitrative position upon his return, but this did nothing to help him. He had yet again been simply given an opportunity and done nothing to work for it. Theodoor's position as Treasurer was, of course, well deserved. He was extremely knowledgable about economics and the trade that allowed his city to thrive. He found little joy in this work, but continued doing it until he was 21. His three years as Treasurersent him into a mild depression, for he was a man withour purpose, and he began looking for ways out of Adriaansbrug.
Some nights, he would go down to the wharf in the modest dress of a sailor and bring nothing but a dagger and few gold coins. He would introduce himself as Koenraad van Twiller, spinning an elaborate backstory about his poor beginnings and troubled life at sea. He hid behind the mask of Koenraad for nearly a year, and was 22 by the time he gave the act up.
He then decided that he would be leaving Adriaansbrug permanantly. He saw a world of opportunity in the forbidden continent. He studied charts of these mysterious lands and carefully planned his arrival.
Theodoor's 23rd birthday was to be the last he would spend in Adriaansburg. After the feast, in the early hours of the morning. He grabbed his extravagantly crafted dagger, his well-bound leather journal, and purse of coins to pay the captain of the ship he was taking. He was off.
Capabilities:
Lucin Language: Fluent-
He learned Lucin from a very young age because of the large Lucin influence on Adriaansbrug. The lingua franca on the ships he operated on was a pidgin of Common Mesalian and Lucin. He can read, write, and speak the language.
Sailing: Competent-
Theo has spent much of his life at sea, though his life has not been that long. He is probably approaching advanced by now.
Short Blades: Competent-
Theo learned how to fight with a dirk both at sea and at the docks. He can defend himself and fight well against other users of small blades. He has received both formal training from experts in Adriaansbrug and informal training at sea.
Archery: Apprentice-
Theo has been on many hunting trips with his noble family. He is prety good at archery for this purpose, buy has never shot at a person. He can, however, very easily hit a deer or other such animal.
Knowledge:
Economics and Trade: High-
Theo has been formally ecucated in Economics by masters of the craft. He gained a lot of experience as Treasurer of Adriaansbrug.
General History: High-
History was among Theo's most advanced areas of schooling. He knows quite a lot about the history of the Middle Realm.
General Mathematics: Medium-
Theo was formally schooled in general mathematics. However, his knowledge of the general concepts is greatly overshadowed by his knowledge of economics in particular.
Possessions:
1 Ornate Naval Dirk (Whale bone grip, Iron blade) (http://www.sailorinsaddle.com/media/imag...331250.jpg)
1 Leather Journal (Can be found under thread "Theo's Journal")
10 Gold Coins (Seal of the Treasury of Adriaansbrug)
Theodoor Lodewijk de Kuijper, casually Theo de Kuijper
Age:
23, Birthday is the 29th of every even month
Gender:
Male
Appearance:
6'1 with a strong but compact structure. He's somewhat muscular but not exceedingly so. He has dark blue eyes and dark brown hair with fair skin.
Personality:
Theo is adventurous, somewhat spontaenously so. He gets along well with others and has a fairly immature sense of humor. Theo, growing up a priveleged nobleman, doesn't like to admit to himself that he's been sheltered, and believes that he's hardier that her really is. He enjoys the finer things in life such as extravagant meals and hunting expeditions, but fails to see that these things don't just happen on their own because he's had most things in life done for him. He has noticed this about himself to some extent, which is part of the reason he's gone to the forbidden lands; he wants to prove to himself that he can live and thrive independently of his noble family's funds and resources.
Backstory:
Adriaansbrug is a thriving port city on the mainland, and has been ruled for centuries by the de Kuijper family. Originally a relatively small trading and fishing hamlet, the settlement grew exponentially during the Veld War when a large number of Lucin soldiers garrisoned there to defend the strategically important harbor from an Xitian attack. The Lucin occupation lasted several years, and during that time the Lucins made themselves at home, intermarrying with the inhabitants and getting involved in the government. After the influx of Lucins died down, the port facility grew as well, bringing in new trade and residents; Adriaansbrug was finally on the map.
Theodoor Lodewijk de Kuijper was the fifth son of Maurits Constantijn de Kuijper, who reined as Duke of Adriaansbrug. He grew up in the palace as a nobleman and had a privileged upbringing. He was schooled privately by Mesalian and Lucin tutors, and by the age of seven was bilingual, as was the entire nobility of Adriaansbrug. He also excelled in mathematics, history, and reading. After all, he recieved the best education the Duke Maurits' gold could buy.
Despite his high standing among the general population of Adriaansbrug, Theo had little to no hope of ever holding the title of Duke. He was the fifth son, and his eldest brother Willem already had two boys of his own. Accepting his fate never to be Duke, Theo lived lavishly and dreamed of adventure. He participated in grand hunting expeditions, travelled with his father to foreign city-states, and when he was 12, he first joined one of his older brothers on a trading mission to the port city of Provensia.
It was this first taste of the open sea and the freedom it offered that would change Theo's life forever. The trade of Adriaansbrug was trade, Theo planned to take full advantage of this. He started focusing his education on economics and sailing, promising himself to be the greatest merchant captain in the city. This promise, of course, was the delusion of a well off 13 year old, but it would nonetheless shape his future.
He spent his early teen years aboard the merchant vessels and warships of Duke's navy, learning from skilled Lucin sailors how to command a ship. In this fashion he travelled across oceans to countries of every sort, both on the mainland and the forbidden lands. He proved a quick learner, and at the age of 15, reaching adulthood in the culture of Adriaansbrug and the surrounding lands, was given command of one of the Duke's finer merchant ships in his older brother's fleet.
His attitude towards sailing across the world was one of ignorant wonder, and this brought him the ire of many of his sailors. These hardy men were annoyed by being under command of a foolish young noble, but they were content to follow his order so long as their salaries were still being paid.
A skilled (if loathed) captain, Theo continued to rise through the ranks, but around the age of 18 he began to feel incontent with his life. He was wildly successful financiallyband had a cool head in times of crisis, but he couldnt help but notice his crew's attitude about him. He heard what they thought about his luxurious upbringing, he heard the nicknames he was given. At first, he brished them off as simply things sailors say about their leaders.
Until he realized something that troubled him deeply: they were right.
All of these men had more experience at sea than he, and his promotions had been practically handed to him. Theodoor had never seriously faced a challenge in his young life.
With this in mind, he retired from sailing temporarily at the age of 18, deciding to become more involved with the politics of Adriaansbrug. He was immediately given an adminsitrative position upon his return, but this did nothing to help him. He had yet again been simply given an opportunity and done nothing to work for it. Theodoor's position as Treasurer was, of course, well deserved. He was extremely knowledgable about economics and the trade that allowed his city to thrive. He found little joy in this work, but continued doing it until he was 21. His three years as Treasurersent him into a mild depression, for he was a man withour purpose, and he began looking for ways out of Adriaansbrug.
Some nights, he would go down to the wharf in the modest dress of a sailor and bring nothing but a dagger and few gold coins. He would introduce himself as Koenraad van Twiller, spinning an elaborate backstory about his poor beginnings and troubled life at sea. He hid behind the mask of Koenraad for nearly a year, and was 22 by the time he gave the act up.
He then decided that he would be leaving Adriaansbrug permanantly. He saw a world of opportunity in the forbidden continent. He studied charts of these mysterious lands and carefully planned his arrival.
Theodoor's 23rd birthday was to be the last he would spend in Adriaansburg. After the feast, in the early hours of the morning. He grabbed his extravagantly crafted dagger, his well-bound leather journal, and purse of coins to pay the captain of the ship he was taking. He was off.
Capabilities:
Lucin Language: Fluent-
He learned Lucin from a very young age because of the large Lucin influence on Adriaansbrug. The lingua franca on the ships he operated on was a pidgin of Common Mesalian and Lucin. He can read, write, and speak the language.
Sailing: Competent-
Theo has spent much of his life at sea, though his life has not been that long. He is probably approaching advanced by now.
Short Blades: Competent-
Theo learned how to fight with a dirk both at sea and at the docks. He can defend himself and fight well against other users of small blades. He has received both formal training from experts in Adriaansbrug and informal training at sea.
Archery: Apprentice-
Theo has been on many hunting trips with his noble family. He is prety good at archery for this purpose, buy has never shot at a person. He can, however, very easily hit a deer or other such animal.
Knowledge:
Economics and Trade: High-
Theo has been formally ecucated in Economics by masters of the craft. He gained a lot of experience as Treasurer of Adriaansbrug.
General History: High-
History was among Theo's most advanced areas of schooling. He knows quite a lot about the history of the Middle Realm.
General Mathematics: Medium-
Theo was formally schooled in general mathematics. However, his knowledge of the general concepts is greatly overshadowed by his knowledge of economics in particular.
Possessions:
1 Ornate Naval Dirk (Whale bone grip, Iron blade) (http://www.sailorinsaddle.com/media/imag...331250.jpg)
1 Leather Journal (Can be found under thread "Theo's Journal")
10 Gold Coins (Seal of the Treasury of Adriaansbrug)