Difference between revisions of "Vairemont Malveaux"
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===Serving Under House Vorsaille=== | ===Serving Under House Vorsaille=== | ||
| − | At age fourteen, Vairemont Malveaux was appointed squire to Ser Rodger Fairclough, a Knight Captain sworn to House Vorsaille. | + | At age fourteen, Vairemont Malveaux was appointed squire to Ser Rodger Fairclough, a Knight Captain sworn to House Vorsaille. His combat training was primarily with the iconic lance, though Vairemont was also given limited instruction with a bow, sword and shield, and some unarmed combat. Training only lasted throughout the morning, when Fairclough could spare the time apart from his regular duties. For the rest of the day, Vairemont was made to shadow his master and assist him on command. |
| − | Often enough, however, Fairclough would have to travel to | + | Often enough, however, Fairclough would have to travel to a locale where Vairemont was not permitted to follow. On occasion, his master would also get called to the warfront, where he would remain for moons at a time. During these periods, Vairemont acted as another servant in the Vorsaille Household, though he still received limited training from the other knights who remained there. |
Tragically, a year into his squireship, Vairemont Malveaux received word that his mother Rivienne had finally succumbed to her ongoing illness. To settle her debts, her home and possessions were seized by the Church and auctioned away. He was permitted leave from Lord Vorsaille to attend his mother's burial. The loss was difficult in many ways. She was the only person in Vairemont's life who was precious to him and the sole reason he had wanted to become a knight at all—so he could support her, as well as fight and protect her and all of Isghard from the threat of the Dravanian horde. As he knelt at her graveside and prayed for her spirit, he made a promise to himself: he would continue on his quest to become a knight. Not to support his mother, not to make his late father proud, but for himself. He would not dwell on what was lost, but prove to himself that despite his unimportant birth, he would make his mark by protecting the Ishgardian people. It was the best thing he could do to honor his parents, whose lives were barely noticed by the rest of society. | Tragically, a year into his squireship, Vairemont Malveaux received word that his mother Rivienne had finally succumbed to her ongoing illness. To settle her debts, her home and possessions were seized by the Church and auctioned away. He was permitted leave from Lord Vorsaille to attend his mother's burial. The loss was difficult in many ways. She was the only person in Vairemont's life who was precious to him and the sole reason he had wanted to become a knight at all—so he could support her, as well as fight and protect her and all of Isghard from the threat of the Dravanian horde. As he knelt at her graveside and prayed for her spirit, he made a promise to himself: he would continue on his quest to become a knight. Not to support his mother, not to make his late father proud, but for himself. He would not dwell on what was lost, but prove to himself that despite his unimportant birth, he would make his mark by protecting the Ishgardian people. It was the best thing he could do to honor his parents, whose lives were barely noticed by the rest of society. | ||
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Having lost both of his own parents as well, Vairemont was sympathetic toward Percevains and remained close to him while he dealt with his loss and the responsibilities of his estate. Utilizing his wisdom and sharp judge of character, Vairemont even became something of an informal advisor to him, especially when Percevain's extended relatives began trying to manipulate the young lord into lending them money. When Ser Fairclough was promoted within the Knights and was stationed elsewhere, Vairemont was an easy choice to replace him as Knight Captain within the Vorsaille House. | Having lost both of his own parents as well, Vairemont was sympathetic toward Percevains and remained close to him while he dealt with his loss and the responsibilities of his estate. Utilizing his wisdom and sharp judge of character, Vairemont even became something of an informal advisor to him, especially when Percevain's extended relatives began trying to manipulate the young lord into lending them money. When Ser Fairclough was promoted within the Knights and was stationed elsewhere, Vairemont was an easy choice to replace him as Knight Captain within the Vorsaille House. | ||
| − | Thus began Vairemont's final year in service to Vorsaille family. | + | Thus began Vairemont's final year in service to Vorsaille family. |
===The Fall of House Vorsaille=== | ===The Fall of House Vorsaille=== | ||
Revision as of 20:26, 21 August 2020
| Vairemont Malveaux | |
 "Ambition? I've forgotten what that feels like. I followed the road of my life's purpose to its bitter end, yet I am somehow still alive. I don't need ambition, but I may yet be of use to the ambitions of others." | |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Elezen |
| Clan | Wildwood |
| Citizenship | None, formerly Ishgard |
| Guilds | Archer, Botanist, Weaver |
| Nameday | 24th Sun of the 1st Astral Moon, 1553 (Age 26) |
| Patron Deity | Menphina, the Lover (loosely), formerly Halone, the Fury |
| Grand Company | None |
| Current Employment | Merchant of the Dawn Vigil Trading Company |
Vairemont Malveaux (born on the Twenty-Fourth Sun of the First Astral Moon, Year 1553 of the Sixth Astral Era) is a Wildwood Elezen originally hailing from the Coerthas region, former Knight Captain of House Vorsaille, Merchant Director of the trading company Dawn Vigil, and the recipient of a woefully common Elezen name. Having left his homeland behind in 1576, Vairemont is a fugitive of Ishgard who traveled south to make a new home within the Black Shroud. While he fashions himself as something of a jack-of-all-trades, much of his talent has been lately honed into the harp and bow. His free time is usually spent eavesdropping at local taverns, searching for inspiration write his ballads—some of which are put to use in combat.
Contents
Overview
Physical Appearance
Vairemont stand a fair bit taller than even the average Elezen. A long, clean scar sits vertically to the side of his left eye, conspicuous as anything and impossible to miss. He wears it well, the warmth in his deep blue eyes and his placid smile enduring despite. Though he prefers to avoid mentioning his homeland, the angles of his words retain a subtle but fading accent when he speaks, betraying his origins to anyone who may know well enough to take notice.
Personal Demeanor
Overall, Vairemont could be described as quick-witted, confident, curious and genial, although his motivations are sometimes cryptic or quick to change. He seems reluctant to be honest about his feelings on any given situation, but he does demonstrate genuine desire to see something to its end. Plagued by boundless empathy, he is easily and deeply moved by dramatic events or heartfelt interactions between other people. Vairemont is a habitual eavesdropper, undoubtedly curious about the goings-on of others.
In a crisis, he is quick on his feet and skilled with a bow. Killing seems hardly a chore for him; his experience in battle is apparent from his calmness during combat.
History
Early Life and Family
Vairemont was born to Vaudclairt and Rivienne Malveaux, a young couple who secretly wed after Rivienne's unexpected pregnancy. With each having tenuous to nonexistent ties with their respective families, they were left to raise their new child on their own, going relatively unnoticed within the choking walls of Ishgard. The small family functioned surprisingly well despite its sudden nature, enjoying their lack of importance to anyone in particular. Vaudclairt made a modest living as a weaver, able to remain at home with his son while Rivienne, a botanist, traveled Coerthas to gather raw materials to sell on the market.
The peace of the Malveaux family was short lived however, as a few short years later, Vaudclairt was one of many selected by the Archbishop to join the front line in the war against the Dravanians. He left reluctantly, fearing the danger to his family if he did not. Vaudclairt never returned, leaving Vairemont to be raised alone by Rivienne.
As he grew, Rivienne told Vairemont stories of Vaudclairt's nobility and kindness, speaking fondly of his willingness to sacrifice his own well-being for the greater good. Having only the faintest memories of his father, Vairemont adored these stories and grew to admire this idea of a man he never really knew. This attachment emboldened him and filled him with a strong sense of duty. When Rivienne began to fall frequently ill and became unable to work, an adolescent Vairemont set out to work in her stead to provide for the both of them. As he grew older, he began to fear conscription by the Church. To avoid suffering the same fate as his father, thereby leaving his mother on her own, Vairemont sought to prevent his early demise by rushing headlong into the maw of the beast--seeking a squiredom within the Knights of Ishgard. An aging Hyur Knight took him under his wing, serving the House of Vorsaille.
There, Vairemont trained to fight with a lance and a number of auxiliary weapons. Unlike his father, a civilian, Vairemont would be ready to face the dragons if the time came for him to be called away. The pay he received, though meager, was sent almost in its entirety to his mother, whom he often visited.
Serving Under House Vorsaille
At age fourteen, Vairemont Malveaux was appointed squire to Ser Rodger Fairclough, a Knight Captain sworn to House Vorsaille. His combat training was primarily with the iconic lance, though Vairemont was also given limited instruction with a bow, sword and shield, and some unarmed combat. Training only lasted throughout the morning, when Fairclough could spare the time apart from his regular duties. For the rest of the day, Vairemont was made to shadow his master and assist him on command.
Often enough, however, Fairclough would have to travel to a locale where Vairemont was not permitted to follow. On occasion, his master would also get called to the warfront, where he would remain for moons at a time. During these periods, Vairemont acted as another servant in the Vorsaille Household, though he still received limited training from the other knights who remained there.
Tragically, a year into his squireship, Vairemont Malveaux received word that his mother Rivienne had finally succumbed to her ongoing illness. To settle her debts, her home and possessions were seized by the Church and auctioned away. He was permitted leave from Lord Vorsaille to attend his mother's burial. The loss was difficult in many ways. She was the only person in Vairemont's life who was precious to him and the sole reason he had wanted to become a knight at all—so he could support her, as well as fight and protect her and all of Isghard from the threat of the Dravanian horde. As he knelt at her graveside and prayed for her spirit, he made a promise to himself: he would continue on his quest to become a knight. Not to support his mother, not to make his late father proud, but for himself. He would not dwell on what was lost, but prove to himself that despite his unimportant birth, he would make his mark by protecting the Ishgardian people. It was the best thing he could do to honor his parents, whose lives were barely noticed by the rest of society.
Though it was far from the life of luxury, Vairemont would remember these four years as the best time of his life. For him, it was a time of revelation and personal growth. He came to understand his place in society as one of servitude, a station which he grew comfortable with. His name might never bear weight with the Church, but he would be key in ensuring the safety of those who would. Vairemont came to understand the value of loyalty was worth more than gold.
At age eighteen, Vairemont finally received his knighthood. Though he was the greenest of the Knights serving House Vorsaille, he was quickly a favorite among the family as he had spent nearly half the last decade living amongst them. He was only a few years older than the Lord Vorsaille's only son, the closest thing Vairemont had to a friend. He was promoted after only two years of service, thanks to commendations from Lord Vorsaille. Shortly afterward, he was called to the front, where he spent several moons fighting back the dragons.
Upon his return, prompted by the catastrophic events of the Calamity, he found that both Lord and Lady Vorsaille had perished in Bahamut's fires. Only their young son, Percevains Vorsaille, survived. At the age of seventeen, he controlled his family's entire fortune.
Having lost both of his own parents as well, Vairemont was sympathetic toward Percevains and remained close to him while he dealt with his loss and the responsibilities of his estate. Utilizing his wisdom and sharp judge of character, Vairemont even became something of an informal advisor to him, especially when Percevain's extended relatives began trying to manipulate the young lord into lending them money. When Ser Fairclough was promoted within the Knights and was stationed elsewhere, Vairemont was an easy choice to replace him as Knight Captain within the Vorsaille House.
Thus began Vairemont's final year in service to Vorsaille family.
The Fall of House Vorsaille
Still dealing with the weight of losing his closest family, Percevains fell easily and desperately in love with another noblewoman from a somewhat more prominent house, Lady Iolaine. The only problem was that her hand was promised to another, Lord Estrelaint. The marriage was arranged as part of a political ideal to seal the relationship between two of Ishgard's up and coming noble houses, but Iolaine was obviously hesitant. She hardly knew her fiance, who was a widower and was at least ten years older than she was. Lady Iolaine was fascinated by Percevains' youth and energy, but also saw his pain and was compelled to comfort him. Vairemont saw her utility in this, knowing she could help his lord in ways that he couldn't, but questioned Percevains' sense of judgement for pursuing a woman who was spoken for.
Ser Malveaux turned a blind eye and condoned his lord's behavior, until the Knight Captain of the Estrelaint House, Ser Honoraint Vremaix, took notice of Iolaine's wandering eyes. The Vremaix began to eavesdrop on the pair, but was frequently intercepted by Vairemont. After a few incidents, he made himself heard to Vairemont and Percevains—if Iolaine broke the engagement, it would spell financial doom for the Estrelaint House. If this did not stop, the Vremaix would be forced to take action. Lord Vorsaille argued that Lady Iolaine had the freedom to choose whomever she wanted, and that he cared not for the welfare of Lord Estrelaint. It was not Vairemont's place to speak in this matter, so he did not. Instead, he informed the other knights at the Vorsaille household of the situation and prepared them for whatever the Ser Vremaix had in store.
Two moons later, the attack finally came from an unexpected angle: an Inquisitor was investigating Lord Vorsaille for evidence of heresy against the Church. Rumors had reached the archbishop that the Vorsaille House was harboring cultists and blasphemers bewitched by dragons. Percevains was appalled, but the Inquisitor was deaf to his claims of innocence. Cultists rosaries turned up in the cellars of the Vorsaille manor, indicating that the young lord had been working with the dragons. Knowing this entire scheme was Ser Vremaix's doing, Vairemont Malveaux confronted the Knight Captain and demanded him to put a stop to this. Ser Vremaix agreed to do so—only if Lord Vorsaille swore to stop seeing Lady Iolaine. Vairemont was furious at this ultimatum, but Vremaix promised to indicate Vairemont's guilt as well if he tried to intervene.
Helpless to do anything else, Ser Malveaux relayed Vremaix's message to Percevains. To Vairemont's surprise, Percevains refused to agree to stop seeing Iolaine. He was quite plainly in love, and so was Iolaine, and nothing would split them apart. Not understanding the young lord's romanticized idea of true love, he pleaded with Percevains to change his mind and told him there was nothing he could do to protect him from the Church. Still Percevains insisted he would rather die than give up the woman he loved.
Helpless to stop the events that had come into motion, Vairemont could only vouch for Percevains character so long before the Inquisitor started suspecting /his/ loyalty to the Holy See. It became clear that Vairemont would either have to let Percevains meet his fate, or die defending his young lord's naive preoccupation with love. It seemed an insult to die for something so private and ultimately meaningless to Ishgard. In the end, he chose to live, and attended Percevains' execution at Witchdrop.
Leaving Ishgard
The event shattered Vairemont's sense of fealty. Sick at his own cowardice and powerlessness, and after losing his father to conscription, having the Church claim everything left by his late mother (which /he/ had gotten for her), and seeing an innocent soul from his youth murdered by the corruption and lack of compassion in Ishgardian society, Ser Malveaux became thoroughly disillusioned with his place in society. It seemed no matter what he gave to Ishgard, the avarice of man would only snatch away what little remained precious to him.
Feeling as though a piece of him had died with Percevains, Vairemont had no further desire to remain in Coerthas. While the Ishgardian Knights were expecting him to return to the Dravanian front, Vairemont packed what little he had to his name and simply went south out of the snow and into the Black Shroud. He swore never to pick up a lance again, as he felt the weapon—a symbol of the Ishgardian Knights—was now an insult to his being.
After a brief stay in Quarrymill, meeting with Gridanian hearers and appeasing the elementals, Vairemont finally relocated to Gridania. There, he immersed himself into a hobby of his youth, writing and singing songs about fables and far off places.
Relationships
Family
Father: Vaudclairt Malvueaux. Mother: Rivienne Malveaux nee Forsemart.
