Aefenglom App | Everett Vaughan | Original Character

[rollfordiplomacy]

Player Information
Name: Pine
Age: 18+
Contact: danceintoastruggle
Other Characters: None!

Character Information
Name: Everett Vaughan
Canon: Original
Canon Point: Just after leaving Sunderroot Court to find Sir Silas.
Age: 40
History:
Everett was born within the Springtide Clan, a people banished to live in the Below Lands of the World of Myddvai. Their cities are located along the bank of a massive subterranean river, which always runs warm. The majority of Springtide never venture from their homeland, going their entire lives without once seeing the sun. Their people can survive in such conditions because of the Druidic Order of the Springtide. These powerful magic users are a small portion of the Springtide population, but are absolutely necessary for the Clan's survival. The Druids supplement for a lack of livable resources by growing food, protecting commonfolk, and providing healing.

Per Springtide tradition, Everett was left at an orphanage by his birth parents. It is not socially acceptable to raise one's biological children as your own in their culture. He was a studious and sociable child, which earned him a swift adoption by a branch of the Vaughan Family. From then on apart of the Springtide aristocracy, Everett grew up privileged. He was educated by the finest tutors money could afford and socialized among the elite.

As he reached his teens, Everett was seen as the Vaughan's Cardinal Heir, the most promising of their many adopted children. This set him up to lead the family in the future. Such a responsibility was akin to inheriting a sinking ship, as the family had some substantial debt worked up over the previous generation. The family's saving grace was a child adopted by another branch of the Vaughan's. A boy who was nearing betrothal age, along with Everett.

Soon to be one of the most important people in Everett's life, Silas was a curious case. He had been a child raised by his birth parents in a humble mining community. Despite these lowly beginnings, the boy ended up with a vast wealth to his name. Silas' father had dug up an unexpected fortune, their family joining the elite overnight. Not long after, Silas' parents both disappeared under mysterious circumstances, likely murdered by their new upperclass rivals. The child was swiftly taken in by the Vaughan's. The family planned to wed him to their Cardinal Heir as soon as possible, assuring the boy's inheritance would be folded into the family, rescuing them from their debts.

Though unrelated by blood and raised in different branches of the family, Everett and Silas were socially seen as brothers. As Springtide marriage is a political contract with no heed to sexuality or gender, siblings are often chosen to marry as that is the best way to foster a "respectable" relationship. Love and sex within a marriage is seen as taboo, but allowable if kept secret. Such displays are outright treasonous to Springtide law if displayed openly.

Trouble arose when Everett and Silas swiftly fell in love with one another.

Preteens upon their initial meeting and engagement, their crush was mutual and innocent. Everett had resented their marriage arrangement prior to meeting Silas, having heard only dreadful descriptions of the other boy. The older members of the Vaughan family looked down upon Silas, scrutinizing every aspect of his behavior and appearance. Upon the two boy's introduction, Everett found Silas to be adorable and sweet, their sense of humor aligning immediately. Happiest when they spent time together, the two became practically inseparable.

Everett was greatly anticipating their union. He did not see the issue with hiding their true feelings. He believed keeping the secret would be worth all the time they could spend with one another. Silas, while adoring his betrothed, believed the arrangement to be a miserable state of being. Marriage to a Cardinal Heir would make Silas a mere puppet of a spouse, unable to pursue anything meaningful with his life. His every action would be dictated by the elders of the family, whom felt no fondness for him. Apart of him believed he would simply disappear, as his parents had, once his inheritance ran dry.

Silas cast aside the engagement. As he was too young to be considered his own man at the time, so he took the only livable path he could. To escape the engagement, he joined the Druidic Order of the Springtide. As this was a sacred decision, nothing could be done by the family to dissuade the choice. Druidic vows cut Silas off from all family and any ownership of property, severing him from the Vaughan's. This left his inheritance in a legal limbo, sealed within a vault none could open. The Vaughan's would need to make due without his wealth.

Everett did not see Silas again for many years after that. Throughout which, he harbored many contradictory feelings on the matter. Apart of him continued to adore the boy he'd once known. Another part was hurt and betrayed by Silas abandoning their bond. As Everett was nearing his twenties, he met Silas again, this time as a fully realized Druid. From then on, Everett understood the decision. Rather than Silas accepting his misery as a hapless aristocrat, he had become a powerful healer. Silas had dedicate himself to helping others, sacrificing a bit of his humanity to do so. The Druid was doing more good on the daily than ever could have been done if he remained a Vaughan. It seemed Silas was fulfilled and contented with his new life. The two made amends and parted ways, though it was clear both had lingering feelings for the other. Relieved of his feelings of obligation and bitterness, this marked a significant turning point in Everett's life. He did not see Silas again, though he would hear tales told of his former companion in the future.

Inspired by the Druid, he chose a new path for himself. Rather than fall into his expected roll as the Cardinal Heir, he passed on the obligation to another sibling. Though he remained a Vaughan in name, this greatly strained his relationship with the family. Everett no longer valued their esteem and approval over his own happiness.

As an adult, Everett took up a peculiar interest for a Springtide. He was fascinated with other cultures and the world beyond the Below Lands his people called home. Using his charm, he boarded a trade vessel and set sail for the Above World. Seeking adventure, Everett spent his twenties traveling to all corners of Myddvai. Though not an official status, he began to call himself the Ambassador of the Springtide. Many met him with suspicion and distrust throughout his journeys, but Everett sought to disprove the poor reputation of his people. He forged diplomatic bonds with many of the cultures of the Above World. This was not an easy nor safe endeavor, but Everett grew into a thrill seeker. Dedicating his life to this goal gave him direction and purpose.

Within the span of twenty years, Everett gained a vast wealth of personal connections throughout the world. His curiosity, confidence, and kindness were charming to most that he met. He became recognized as the one and only Springtide Ambassador, by both his own people and by the many Clans of Myddvai. His goals pivoted, growing more ambitious. Using his renowned, he wish to elevating his people once more. Everett began campaigning on behalf of the Springtide Clan, wishing for their banishment to be lifted. The crimes of their past were distant history, no longer relevant to their current culture. Though many wished to believe Everett, there was a lot of convincing he would need to do.

Namely, Everett was not the only Springtide to recently become renowned in the Above Lands. Silas had made history with an adventure of his own, one that shook the foundation of the World of Myddvai itself. Given their connection in youth, Everett was charged as a bridge between Silas and the Sunderroot Court, former allies to the Druid whom now saw him as a great and powerful threat. Everett vowed to unravel the mysteries of how the gentle boy he loved in his youth could have become a villain of mythological scale and might.

Personality:
First and foremost, Everett is a kind person. He values the high esteem of others more than any currency. He believes that being thoughtful and considerate is the best way to be well liked. Within Springtide culture, social bonds are meant to be cultivate and exploited for personal gain. Everett shares this value, but sees benefit in each and every moment of shared company. He wants nothing more than the joy and prosperity of those around him. Kindness is no passive act for him, either, Everett is always seeking out opportunities to be helpful. Spending time in good company is a reward in and of itself. He sees no need to manipulate his relationships beyond that.

That said, few would call Everett a loyal man. Everett moves on from relationships relatively quickly. He is always traveling and is unwilling to settle down. He is adverse to commitment, largely due to his engagement to Silas falling through in his youth. Usually, he ends relationships on good terms or simply lets them fade away naturally. He maintains many, many friendships by keeping in contact through letters. Much of his free time is spent writing.

Without company, Everett is quick to become lonesome. This has led him to always keeping a pet around, rats being his favorite. He has kept and trained many, since childhood. He greatly enjoys a grim aesthetic or horror story told around the campfire. There is a certain elegance to the macabre, he thinks rats represent that well.

Everett would consider himself brave, but it could be said he is simply impulsive. Both are rooted in his overwhelmingly curious nature. He wants to know the unknown, but does not despair over his goal being futile. He is the man who will walk towards an unsettling sound rather than flee. He keeps warnings in mind, often without heeding them. This confidence extends to his self esteem, which he has a lot of. Everett believes himself very attractive, something he will casually assert given the chance.

Boldness fueling him, Everett finds fear to be a thrilling sensation. His favorite hobby is to climb, particularly to free solo without safety equipment. An imposing cliff face or towering building is just a challenge to be overcome, to him. He uses this skill often as apart of his travels, so it is practical to pursue, but he prefers climbing as recreation. This is all because Everett is very much afraid of heights. He doesn't want to face his fear nor overcome it when he climbs, he wants to enjoy the fear itself. A more modern minded person might call him an adrenaline junkie.

With a dark sense of humor about him, Everett will often laugh off a challenging or dire situation. His morals are grey and ever changing, influenced by each new experience. This makes him very adaptable to new situations, people, and cultures. While he can sometimes be judgmental, this is usually a thoughtless reaction driven by his Springtide influenced prudishness. He's quick to apologize when this happens. Everett prefers to seek common ground, rather than dismissing challenging ideas. He is not a man who holds grudges. This also means he's lacking in strong principles, not a man to hold firm to any one belief for long.

Abilities & Skills:
Animal Handling: A special skill all humans of Everett's world are predisposed towards. Everett has a skill for riding many different creatures as means for transport, including both land based animals and those that can fly. His knowledge extends to an expertise for driving animal lead carriages. He can also herd and track animals in various environments. Though he does not care for hunting, he has experience with trapping and field dressing wild game.

His preferred animal to train and keep are rats, of which he has raised many since his childhood. He can teach them to fetch items and obey simple commands. His current rat, Clementine, is usually kept within a Bag of Holding. He uses her to sort and retrieve the many items he keeps within the pouch.

Climbing: His favorite hobby, but also a practical skill for traveling. He sees climbing as a puzzle to be solved with his body. Memorizing a route and executing on it is relatively easy for him. He knows many advance climbing techniques and prefers to free solo (climb without safety equipment).

Navigating: His people, the Springtide, live entirely beneath ground. Everett learned at an early age how to keep track of the distance and direction he has traveled. Having spent most of his life exploring the world, both below and above ground, Everett has a keen sense of navigation. He rarely gets turned around or lost, even in the dark. As with climbing routes, he can recount in detail the ways in which he came and went from any given place and does not soon forget.

Lockpicking: Everett can crack most simple locks. He thinks that "do not enter" is more a suggestion than a rule. He doesn't have much respect for personal property nor privacy. If something is out of his reach, he wants it more. He uses this skill to break into places he was told not to do. The dangling ornaments on either side of his glasses detach and can be used as lock picks.

Steady Hand: Very simple, but Everett has incredibly steady hands. His handwriting is immaculate cursive, smooth and easy to read despite being elegantly flourished.

Inventory/Companions:
Clementine: His pet rat, six months old. She is well trained to fetch items for him, particularly his glasses if he should lose them. He used to keep her in a Bag of Holding. Without that, she will either travel on his shoulder or be left in a cage at his home. She is beige in coloration, with darker hands and feet.

Bag of Holding: A magically woven bag, capable of containing a much larger space within than the outer dimensions. Robbed of it's magic, it is simply a silk pouch. He will likely continued to use it as a normal carrying bag.

Wardrobe w/ Specialty Glasses: Everett's traveling wardrobe is proper Springtide attire. He has an overcoat, tunic, under dressings, gloves, pants, and boots. He also has his specialty glasses, to his eye prescription. These glasses have lock picks disguised as ornaments built into them, which can be detached and used. No matter how well made, glasses are still easily broken or lost, so he has three identical pairs. He keeps his spares in his Bag of Holding, which can fit inside even without the bag's magic. Everett has very poor eyesight and absolutely needs his glasses to see further than a couple inches from his nose.

Awakened Ribbon: A trophy Everett kept from an encounter with a mermaid. In his world, this has a host of magical uses, none of which will carry over. It is simply a long ribbon with a diamond pattern, which he wears around his neck. At one end of the ribbon, two gold wedding rings are attached to the fabric. One is his own and the other was once owned by Silas.

Choice: Monster (Mountain Goat Faun)
Reason: Faun is perfect for Everett, playing into and enhancing many aspects present in his personality. He will specifically be a mountain goat, to reflect his love of climbing and exploring.

Sample: TDM Top Level w/ Multiple Threads!