Leopold Starke

Leopold Starke
Gender	Male
Race	Hyur
Clan	Midlander
Citizenship	Ul'dah
Nameday	12th Sun of the 6th Astral Moon
Age	23
Height	5 fulm 8 ilm
Birthplace	unknown

Character

Appearance

Leopold certainly isn't the best looking guy. His hair is a blend of red and brown, kept a bit shaggy and in his eyes. He has a strange patch of chin fuzz at the point of his chin reaching up to his lower lip. His features are sharp and angular, his eyes somewhat small for his face. His eyebrows are rather minimal as well, and are usually obscured by his bangs.

He prefers to wear red and black, despite the heat, and always wears thigh-high boots. Rarely is he seen with any kind of weapon, but he is always armed. While Leopold has a considerable amount of money, he dresses like he's lower class.

Personality

Leopold has a rather poor outlook on life. The knowledge he was abandoned nearly at birth sat sourly with him, but he was still thankful that he had a family to care for him. The family wasn't the greatest, often partaking in Syndicate-type activities, but they taught him what he needed to know to survive. He has trust issues, and it's pretty apparent with his antagonistic mannerisms. He can trust people, it just takes some time to get past the wall he puts up.

Leopold is a bit of a douchebag. He is quick to anger and has no hesitation in hitting people with whatever he's carrying. He's also incredibly vain, thinking that he looks good, when in truth, he really doesn't. Compassion isn't exactly beyond him, but there are rare times he shows it.

He considers the Starkes his real parents, as they're the ones who raised him. However, there is a part underneath all the layers and douchebaggery that wishes to find that lost family that left him behind and give him a piece of his mind. In a way, he hopes that he has a sibling or two out there, especially if those siblings share similar interests and hobbies.

Leopold is what one might consider an honest crook. While much of his business involves shady activities, he will rarely double cross anyone and always lives up to his end of the bargain. If by chance Leopold doesn't have the funding to pay, he'll offer items for trade or on rare occasions work. It really depends on how much he wants something done or how good the trade is for him. If someone attempts to scam him or double cross him, he has no hesitation in striking them down or leaving them with a scar or two.

Family

The Starkes aren't exactly the most respectable of people. Miners by trade, they often implored in less honorable trades when off the job. They had their hands in trading addictive substances and otherwise illegal supplies. Aside from their more underground activities, they both love Leopold very much and believe he was the greatest trade they've ever made in his life.

As the Starkes weren't able to have children, Leopold is an only child, though he has a handful of cousins.

Adoptive family

• Father: Ansell Starke
• Mother: Rohesia Starke

Birth family
Currently unknown

Relationships

• Augustine Frost - there's just something about this guy that piques Leo's curiosity, mostly his appearance. While Augustine is taller, their facial features and even hairstyle are remarkably similar. Augustine is the first person he's come across that looks like he could be related. Surely it's just a coincidence, right?
• Renault Delumiere - a purple-haired hyur who seems to have decent connections. Leo found him on accident, following a conversation between R'ikve and Augustine about if the carpet matched the drapes. Leo made a deal with him, agreeing to pay for Renault to find if Leo had any siblings from his birth parents. He doesn't actually expect Renault to find anyone, as with virtually no information, no one has been able to uncover any information.
• R'ikve Niall - a miquo'te who seems to pick fights with Augustine. She apparently works for Renault, somewhat like a right-hand man.

Trivial information

• Leo will always introduce himself as Leopold, but he won't object to being called Leo.
• He is well aware he was adopted, and he isn't ashamed to admit it.
• His favorite foods are roasted nopales and salted cod puffs. His favorite drink is orange juice (spiked, of course)
• His favorite colors are red and black. He doesn't like white. It can't cover blood stains.
• Even if he looks unarmed, he isn't. He keeps a small thaumaturge's brand tucked into his boot.

Rumors

Common

• "The kid may look like the butt of a cactuar but he certainly knows his way around a deal. Surprisingly honorable, considering the work he does. He always fulfills his end of the bargain and hates being double crossed." ~ shady female merchant
• "I heard he's been acting as his parents' guard when they do trades." ~ traveling merchant
• "Have you seen his parents? He looks nothing like them. They're blond-haired and blue-eyed and he looks like he's been rolling around in the mud too much. At first, I thought they'd hired him to protect them, but turns out he's their son!" ~ tradesman and wife

Uncommon

• "I'm pretty sure the Starkes have connections with the Syndicate. Either that or they're just super shady." ~ adventurer
• "That kid is really into magic. I'm pretty sure he's trying to summon bad things." ~ frightened Ul'dahn kid near the Thaumaturge's Guild
• "Even if he looks unarmed, don't let it fool you. He's crafty, that one." ~ tradesman in Horizon
• "I'm pretty sure he has some highlander in his blood. Did you see that face? Those cheekbones and lack of eyebrows? Sure-tell sign of a highlander, if you ask me." ~ midlander merchant

Rare

• "Don't double cross that guy. See this scar? He gave it to me when I tried to undercut him. Struck me with a magic staff he pulled out of his boot!" ~ scarred Ul'dah trader

History

Before the Calamity

Leopold was adopted as an infant by a mining family living in Horizon's Edge on the Royal Allagan Sunway in Western Thanalan. The Starkes weren't able to have children of their own, so they bought Leopold off his birth family using gil and drugs as a payment.

At an early age, Leopold became very aware he wasn't related to his parents. They were both blond-haired and blue-eyed and he was most definitely not. They explained they adopted him from a family which didn't want him, not telling him the details of the exchange. They told him his birth name was Leopold but they didn't know much more than that. They gave him the name Starke because they said he was part of their family, adopted or not. They considered him their son.

He accepted this, as the Starkes were the only family he knew. But that didn't mean the idea of what his birth family had done didn't sour his outlook on life. They'd given him up, but they put him in a suitable place. Still, there was that curiosity to find out who this birth family was and beat them with a stick.

Leopold didn't particularly care for the family business of mining, but he did it anyway as a means to pass time and pound out frustration. Truthfully he longed to fight, to be on the battlefield and in the middle of action.

The New Era

The Calamity didn't affect Leopold or his family as much as some. The family maintained their usual business. Leo took up fighting so he could defend his parents in their deals. He learned he had some talent in the magical arts and took up Thaumaturgy.

At 18, Leopold began taking up jobs of his own. He took on odd jobs, whatever paid the most and kept his interest.