Valtemont Solainteau

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[edit] Basic Information History Relationships Rumours Visuals RP Hooks OOC Notes  Valtemont Solainteau Gender Male. Race Elezen Clan Ishgardian Citizenship Former Ishgardian, now Gridanian. Age 25. Occupation Carpenter. Orientation Bisexual. Affiliation Botanical Foundation. GENERAL INFORMATION Valtemont Solainteau is a formerly Ishgardian painter, known for his skill in his art and the masterful pieces he produces, as well as his charitable contributions and maintenance of the Solainteau Foundation. PERSONALITY Val is the very definition of a pleasant and pretty exterior and facade, with a poisonous/toxic interior. Because of this, I'm describing both public perception and private reality separately. Most people see his public persona, with only a very few (usually those that are easily discredited, or those that would not be missed if they disappeared) seeing the private reality of Val's character. Public Mask: When Val appears in public, he's doing so at a charitable fundraiser, donating to good causes, etc. He has somewhat of a reputation as being a recluse, though when he does make public appearances, he's always charming (if withdrawn) and pleasant. Private Face: Val considers society to be a food chain, with the position in the food chain determined by wealth and power. Those above him are worth tolerating and keeping pleased with him. Those below him aren't worth the time of day -- they exist for his entertainment. BACKSTORY Family History & Early Life Roughly 6 years before Valtemont was born, his father was involved in a scandal that ruined his family's reputation, hurting their ability to do business. Previously, they had been a respectable crafting family, but by the time Val was born, the Solainteau family was struggling to hold on to the comfort they had once known; from a full complement of household staff, they had cut back to just one or two, and no longer did they hold grand feasts at holidays, though they were never so bad off as to risk losing everything and becoming truly poor. And yet, that was enough for the other children his age to know something was not quite right, and to tease and bully him for it. They had the power and the money to back them up, and Val had little by comparison, always being a season behind on fashions, or receiving modest Nameday gifts at best. Fortunately for Valtemont, an older boy by the name of Lavereaux Ferrelains took interest in him, cheering him up any time the noble children's teasing overwhelmed the boy. The two soon became fast friends, with Lavereaux protecting Val from as many harsh truths of the world as he could. The two stayed close for years, becoming almost inseparable, much to the dismay of Val's family, given Lavereaux's relative poverty. Eventually, on Valtemont's eleventh Nameday, Lavereaux received an offer he couldn't pass up; the chance to serve as a foot soldier for a high house. Before he was forced to leave and serve his tour of duty, he promised Val he would return, and informed the boy of the truth of his father's shame, believing it would show there were no lies between them; that he would hold true to his promise. Instead, the truth shocked Val, as did everything he learned when he confronted his father. No longer was the man the virtuous loving father he had once thought him to be. Between that revelation and the fact that his peers had resumed bullying him without Lavereaux around to protect him, Val soon grew bitter, his heart hardening. The adolescents that tormented him did so because their families had power; they were untouchable for someone like him, he realized. Power and wealth determined happiness, and so he set his mind to earning both for himself. Adolescence and Adulthood As Val grew, he spent the next few years helping out with his family's carpentry business by day, then spending what little free time he could spare teaching himself to paint. For several years, he almost completely faded from the public eye, spending all his free time behind an easel improving his skills and planning how to earn a break. By the time he was seventeen, he was ready. Frames that his family crafted began to be delivered to their new owners with beautiful paintings within them -- some of landscapes, others of people, but all beautiful to every exquisitely depicted detail. The paintings were eventually traced back to him, and Val finally began to become well-known among high society for his painting skills. He was commissioned for portrait after portrait, particularly for his ability to smooth over the flaws in a person's visage while still retaining immediate recognition in the viewer. Though he was ever humble and gracious to a fault, he secretly despised those he painted, always thinking back to the torment he had suffered whenever he stepped across the threshold of a well-off family. It was a year or two later that Lavereaux finally returned to Val, having left his military position after eight long years of service. The man who had once been Val's best friend quickly saw through the pleasant facade that Val kept in place; saw through to the bitter, selfish man he had become, though the worst was yet to come. The Calamity Valtemont was 20 when the Calamity hit, shaking Ishgard to its core. As the freezing winds chilled the formerly green hills, it became more difficult for those who had already had little to get by. Depictions of Coerthas as it had once been surged briefly in demand, and Val took advantage of the fact to leverage his skills for power and wealth. Eventually, however, he hit a plateau where, due to the circumstances of his birth, he could climb no farther. In his frustration, he found himself wandering Ishgard during the long, frozen nights, until one night he was strolling past the Brume when a young urchin girl approached him, begging for scraps. He was revolted initially, pushing her away and escaping as quickly as he could, but the seed of an idea was planted in his mind. Over the next few moons he began to intentionally visit the Brume, trading away hot meals and a night in a warm bed under a fine roof for companionship from various Brume inhabitants, though he preferred those that looked younger or more attractive. It was a new form of power, and one he was pleased to take advantage of, though he was careful never to leave any of the female urchins with child. In time, this was not enough, and he found his frustration growing once more. He mercilessly beat the companion he'd brought from the Brume that night, leaving the young man battered and bruised, but with enough coin in his pocket to prevent him from seeking restitution. It was a few moons before the next beating, but slowly, Val began to realize the power and influence he had earned for himself had left him untouchable by those in the Brume. Though he faced no legal consequences, eventually enough rumours spread that the urchins of the Brume began to stay away from him, where once they had flocked to the offer of a meal and a night out of the cold. Val had poisoned the very well from which he drank, and one night deep in his cups, he took his aggression out on the last avenue remaining to him; Lavereaux. The man bore the beating, and to Val's surprise, neither reported it, nor left Val alone. Gridania While Lavereaux bore the beatings, Val found himself still in need of more, and soon enough he relocated to a grand manorhouse in Gridania, determined to have a fresh start. He immediately threw a portion of his wealth into forming a charitable organization; the Solainteau Foundation, as well as investing in various other humanitarian opportunities. Between the immediate reputation for philanthropic pursuits and the charm he wore like a mask at all time, Val quickly earned respect, and a reputation for being a generally good person. In the last three years since, he has kept any shadier business or happenings behind closed doors, or restricted to those who wouldn't be believed over his own word, should it come to hearsay. That careful moderation, combined with his continued contact with Lavereaux, has kept his reputation clean for the most part, with any ugly rumours easily dismissed. RELATIONSHIPS RELATIONSHIP STATUS LEGEND ♥ Romantic Attraction – ♥ Physical Attraction – ♥ Platonic Love – $ Business – ❖ Deceased – ✔ Positive – ✖ Negative – ● Neutral – 🔃 Unsure – 🔒 Trust Listed here are the characters that Valtemont has interacted with enough or in such a way for him to form a real opinion about them. Please don't take personal offense if your character isn't listed here, or how the interaction or relationship is described. It isn't that I dislike your character or our RP. I just tend to only add these as necessary for those who make a real impact, and descriptions are purely based upon in character experiences and opinions. Also, I tend to be REALLY lazy about editing this... Last Update... March 20th, 2018. * An asterisks denotes that Haien doesn't know the individual's true name. LIST OF NON-FAMILY RELATIONS Lavereaux Ferrelains. ( ♥ ✖ ) Val's Thoughts: "Insert Val's quote here.." Lavereaux was once his hero as a child, though when the man left, the two grew apart. If asked, Val would claim he doesn't care about Lavereaux; that he hates him, in fact, but the truth is somewhere between love and hate, mixing the two in ways neither man can untangle. RUMORS These are rumors, both from NPCs and PCs, that one might overhear in regards to Haien. Feel free to utilize these in your RP hooks, or add your own! Please do note that not all rumours are completely accurate. Some may be exaggerated or flat-out untrue. ◢ Common Rumors - Easily overheard. Use these freely! "He's one of the best painters in all of Eorzea, though nowadays he does more charitable events than private sittings." -- Picky Patron. "The Solainteau Foundation takes in all sorts when they're down on their luck." -- Homeless Hyur. "Supposedly he's Ishgardian -- do you think he was from one of the High Houses there?" -- Excitable Elezen. ◢ Uncommon Rumors - A little more difficult to hear. Use sparingly or ask first! "He's so charming and handsome; it's a shame he's spoken for, though I heard it's unofficial. Do you think I have a chance?" -- Gridanian Girl. "They say he's been trained as a paladin and defends the good of all in combat as well as in charity. I mean, does his goodness never cease?" -- Glib Gladiator. "I've heard he rescued a young pup once and had a houndhouse built for it out of pure gold. How did he get golden wood? Beats me, but my buddy says he's seen it!" -- Chatty Child ◢ Rare Rumors - Very rarely overheard. Please ask before using! "There's plenty o' Ishgardian gil-diggers after his reputation when he won't give them what they want. Keep saying he's violent and got a temper, but everyone knows he's too much of a giving soul for that. Guess the climate froze their ability to recognize a gentleman when they see one." -- Talkative Traveler "Supposedly he's got a bastard sibling somewhere from his father's indiscretions and that's why he keeps the Solainteau Foundation's doors open to all; in hopes that he'll find that sibling someday." -- Ishgardian Immigrant ◢ Near-Impossible Rumors - You really need to know the right people for these, and we’d have to work something out in advance for a reason for you to know. "There's something not quite right going on with him and that Lavereaux guy, though I can't quite put my finger on it." -- Source? ◢ Player Character Rumors - Feel free to add rumors of your own! (Insert rumor here.) -- Rumor Author / Location (Insert rumor here.) -- Rumor Author / Location (If you add a player rumor, please first copy and paste the above line of code to leave behind for the next person! Thanks!) SCREENSHOTS A collection of screenshots of Valtemont that serves as a visual reference, or snapshots from certain roleplaying scenes. ARTWORK A collection of artwork of Valtemont, either commissioned or gifted by the respective artist(s). Artist names & info are linked when you hover over images. You are not permitted to re-use this artwork for your own characters or purposes, whether on Final Fantasy XIV or on other games, forums, etc. Wanderpus ROLEPLAY HOOKS I fully admit to being bad at coming up with ideas. If you can think of something that's not on this list, please, by all means bring it to my attention and we can hammer out the specifics. Carpenter: Val's built a reputation for himself as a masterful painter, and occasionally receives customers looking for exquisite paintings willing to pay exorbitant prices to own an original piece by him. Solainteau Foundation: Val is both the founder and the monetary force behind the Solainteau Foundation. All members are directed to see him before joining, whether that be on a temporary or a permanent basis. Ex-Ishgardian: Most of his accent remains quite intentionally, as one of the last vestiges of his homeland he refuses to let fade. Elegance: Val is always well-dressed in fashions perfectly tailored to him, and he remains polite and charming at all times in public. ABOUT THE PLAYER I am a mid-20’s man living with his cat in the mid-western United States on a sleep schedule that only some sort of crazed psychic would be able to predict. I enjoy music that's older than I am, food that's terrible for me, and games that are far nerdier than I can reliably claim to be. I have a fondness for bad puns, though I’m rarely witty enough to come up with them myself. My humour tends to be of the self-deprecating variety, though occasionally it’ll flip completely and I’ll joke about how totally amazing I am. Please do understand that I do not take either extreme seriously, and it’s just my (poor) sense of humour. I also tend to joke around in what I’ve been told is a flirty way, and I have a fairly blue sense of humour. Please know that no matter how many ♥s or winky faces I send you, it’s still just me messing around, and I am not looking for a romantic relationship. If this behavior (or anything else I do, really) makes you uncomfortable, please do let me know, and I’ll endeavor to cease immediately. THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND... Trigger Warnings. I try to provide trigger warnings as liberally as I can, but I apologize if I fail to catch something (within reason). That said, even when a character has a trigger warning associated with them, it’s generally due to their backstory, and not because I actively RP said situations. Specifically in regards to Haien, he has a history of self-harm, reckless behavior, and severe depression. This is not to say that I’m regularly going out and RPing him hurting himself, but if you are sensitive to such topics, please please PLEASE let me know ahead of time so I can be aware of your needs. I am not a mental health professional. My knowledge of such things comes from experiencing them myself, knowing people who have experienced them, or light research. I do not claim that my information is perfect, but I do try to treat such things with respect, and I would appreciate it if you would as well. My character(s) sometimes have ties to in-game NPCs. I try to keep relationships between my characters well within bounds of canon. Usually, these are past and/or loose ties, but they are there just the same. That said, unless we’re on the topic of backstories and histories, I don’t suspect they’ll come up all that often, and I am NOT the type to be all, “oh and my character is (NPC)’s waifu but (s)he just doesn’t know it yet/acknowledge it in-game!” I AFK in-game frequently. I promise I’m not ignoring you; I just have a bad habit of leaving my game on for hours upon hours on end when I’m sleeping or doing other things. If I don’t respond to you, try sending the message again in a few minutes, and if I still don’t respond, please assume that I’m just not around. This is PARTICULARLY true if you see me sitting in the Quicksand next to the plant on the east side door leading to the alley, as that’s my usual people-watching/AFK spot. I also enjoy PVE content. Many of my friends, and even my sister play this game, and I frequently want to spend time with them. If I’m not up for RPing, please don’t take it personally; I promise it’s not something you’ve done – I just also have other aspects of the game I enjoy outside of RPing. I can be a bit timid when first RPing with someone. This is particularly true if I’ve seen you around frequently or know you OOC, since it’s entirely possible you (unintentionally I’m sure) intimidate me a little. Please be patient if my replies aren’t at light speed, since I’m probably spending time over-analyzing them in a desperate attempt not to humiliate myself. GUIDELINES Overall, I'm pretty chill as far as guidelines go. It is very, very hard to offend me, so don’t worry too much about it. Still, for the sake of making sure everyone's on the same page here, let me make a few mentions in particular: I WILL NOT... Partake in sexually explicit situations. I’m just not comfortable doing so. If for some reason the situation between our characters calls for it, I prefer to handle it with a fade-to-black. Partake in detailed violence IC. I have nothing against violence, it’s just not something I personally find enjoyable to go into nitty-gritty details over. If you wish for our characters to fight, I am certainly not opposed to it on principle, but I would prefer to work out how it goes OOC, then briefly skim it IC once we’ve come to an agreement. I WILL... Abide by logical headcanons. If the lore abides your headcanon, then I will too. If there's no precedent whatsoever for it, then it's likely to be a hard sell. There are no vampires in Eorzea. There are no werewolves. If I’m unaware of the lore behind your headcanon, please be patient and point me to it, and I’ll be happy to accommodate. Summary of thing to keep in mind. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum viverra augue ut ex eleifend aliquet. Suspendisse eget lectus felis. Nullam varius fringilla metus, in suscipit justo consectetur a. Suspendisse placerat nunc eu vestibulum ornare. In at felis mattis, dapibus tortor ac, tempus justo. Summary of thing to keep in mind. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum viverra augue ut ex eleifend aliquet. Suspendisse eget lectus felis. Nullam varius fringilla metus, in suscipit justo consectetur a. Suspendisse placerat nunc eu vestibulum ornare. In at felis mattis, dapibus tortor ac, tempus justo.

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