Lucien ex Flambeau

Lucien Character Sheet : Lucien at Introduction, Lucien at 1244

Overview

Concept

An intelligent orphan child who grew up normally in early childhood, who is now becoming ostracized due to his gift for magic. He was once a key antagonist in the lives of the monks, who tolerated the acting out due to his potential. Lucien's blatant gift and fiery blood means he now has to stay aside from normal orphanage life, trying to stay out of harm's way. He is frequently absent from roll calls and curfews, and is finding more and more that people react poorly to him whee once they we allies; or at the very least manipulable.

As he was forced to withdraw he found a few remaining holy brothers still sought to tend his natural talent, but they did so almost exclusively at arms length. This has made lessons harder, and forced Lucien to adapt his views. While never negative, he is now healthily skeptical of others; especially those who he knows are either afraid of him or hate him.

Since he has started to mature his gift and personality has begun to get stronger and stronger. Most recently this has expressed as physical manifestations of smoldering and heat, especially when angered or cornered. Lucien is afraid of this new change and knows too well what happens to "different" children, as a troubled girl "ran away or disappeared" a few years ago even though she left her meager but loved possessions in her bed. This may make Lucien even more resistant to change, and is certainly affecting his relationships within the orphanage.

Personality

Lucien is a smart child who's natural intellect has lead to some bad habits forming. Raised as an orphan with parents unknown to him, his development has been ad-hoc and at the mercy of the sometimes welcoming - often brutal orphanage where he lives. Smart children either flourish or get subsumed, and Lucien's determination will cause him to never cease trying. He is a boy who rejects simplified authoritarian rules where the "why" cannot be explained; and this has led to him being labeled a troublemaker. Lucien also needs to learn the value of rules, and when to break them.

He tends to drive the actions of others through observation and subtle advice. While not yet physically strong he is smart enough to attach himself to a figurehead type and push his agenda through that person. A large bull headed boy named Tomas, and a bossy girl named Eloise are his current associates, although they both are withdrawing away from him too. If not found by a Magus soon he might be at mortal risk.

Recently the carers at the Abbey have found a way to entice Lucien to be compliant, which is to offer him additional study. What began as a punishment for a particularly clever prank against a groundsman, exposed a keen interest in learning and books. He has learnt to write in his native French and now keenly is looking to Latin. His inventiveness is also finding a use with illumination and sketching of texts much to the delight of the abbey's librarians. The librarians are frustrated with Lucien's inability to clearly communicate how he thinks his idea up, but are pleased with the results.

Lucien is aware that his interest in study places him socially separated from his peers, and is using that separation to his advantage by frequently assisting those less talented - especially if those other children can be lead toward his goals.

Background

Lucien's magical bloodline is potentially descended from a Flambeau of great renown (could it be even Reculed himself, or not a Flambeua at all?) but also unacknowledged in the hotly debated House Flambeau apocrypha. If discovered his bloodline will create further disorder and volatility in the House due to it's inherent powers being so focused within Ignem. The bloodlone is doubly problematic as Lucien is a foundling, with no direct way to trace his parentage.

During later development I plan for Lucien to start to investigate his bloodline as a story. At some age he will want to know, as he will not be willing to just hope that it was Flambeau.

  • Where else has the bloodline deviated? Is Lucien's past actually a deception designed to undermine the House?
  • How many other children have their been?
  • If not Reculed then who or what creature/ancestor allows such a potent magical connection?

Appearance

Once a slightly quirky looking but ordinary sandy haired child, now Lucien's skin is beginning to physically reflects his mythic bloodline. The areas of mottled, scarred, or reddened skin slowly move and shift week by week, meaning that his physical appearance subtly changes as the rorschach inkblots creep on his skin. Not fast enough to see moment by moment, but different dawn to dusk.

Described by one of the brothers at the Abbaye d'Auberive (Auberive Abbey) as "A very unassuming countenance with a disruptive intellect. Of course we punish him, the brats raided the larder again!"

Along with the recent expressions of fire and smoke Lucien has also seen physical manifestations of power in his own skin. His skin sometimes changes, and is now mottled or discolored in places. Over time this may make the otherwise indistinct child look more monstrous (will rationalise a low Pres score as the mythic blood physically manifests).

His clothes are almost always disheveled and oft grubby, although he does carry a cloak and extra odd clothing in case he needs them. He is learning that preparation is a key to success.

Introduction date: 1239

Quotes

  • Said about him, "… the boy has such promise, just look at his lettering!"
  • "If the brothers can't find it, then they don't need to know. Sure, I'll help you hide the kitten, but I'll need a favor too…"
  • "Don't make me quiet your crying Thomas. Shut up, go back in and teach Audren a lesson."
  • Said about him, "he always has been a strange boy, that Lucien. Something not right about him."
  • Said by one of the brothers, "I know we're all God's children, and that charity is a virtue. But some days I wish that boy never came to us."
  • Said by the other boys at the abbey, "no, you can't play with us. Go away!"

Potential story seeds

  • a rumor of a child who survived a barn fire where many animals and the building itself was totally engulfed,
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