Name: Gilbert Ambrosius Raleigh Age: 24 Gender: Male Nationality: Ylissean Allegiance: House Raleigh, Ylisse Class: Lord Level: 10 Weapon Levels: Mediumweight Lances - C [1/5] Weapons: A spear for throwing, with the Thrown, Glass and Piercing modifiers. It is a light and slightly short spear with a simple and elegant design, looking more like an incredibly oversized toothpick, since it lacks a defined head or grip. A glaive with the Ridersbane, Iron and Enchantment modifiers. The weapon has an ice-enchantment, causing it to freeze whatever its blade touches. When used on a flat surface or ground, it'll solidly freeze a patch of a little under two feet in width and length. The glaive itself is designed with a silver and blue colour scheme, and has a large, arrowhead-shaped blade at the end. Mount: Rosie the Gryphon, cannot be ridden at the moment As per House Raleigh's tradition, each member is tested and, if proven capable, trained in riding the magnificent beasts that make their homes on the territory's cliffs: gryphons. Both Gilbert and his sister Elisa have been trained from a young age to ride them, though they are far from experienced and have yet much to learn. Neither of them are yet fully able to perform mounted combat. Rosie is decked out with mainly brown fur and feathers, though she has a large white patch on her stomach and a few white specks on her legs. She also sports two pointed ears on top of her head, not unlike those of a cat, only bigger. She tends to be very curious and playful, and loves to chew on her master's gloves, whether he's wearing them or not. During the ambush that killed Gilbert's father, Rosie was wounded by an enemy archer and barely made it back to Raleigh territory before crashing to the ground. Her wings and body had been badly damaged in battle, rendering her unable to fly or carry a rider. As such, she remains at Raleigh keep for the time being to recuperate and grow her strength back. Appearance: At first glance, one wouldn't think Gilbert capable of combat, due to his tall and thin, almost lanky build. But his slender form hides a more than capable fighter, and he does in fact possess some muscle. His noble upbringing has taught him to stand up straight, making him appear slightly taller than his actual height of 5'10", and giving him, combined with his wavy white hair, piercing blue eyes and sharp face, an overall elegant appearance. Though the stress of recent events and his sudden appointment as the new Lord Raleigh have started to undermine this elegance, as dark circles have started appearing under his eyes and he tends to let his shoulders hang a little in exhaustion, though he tries his hardest to hide this when in company. Gilbert is most often seen in a deep blue overcoat, with his house's coat of arms embroidered on the back in silver, reaching a little above his knees, matched with white trousers, tall leather boots and gloves. When not at home, this outfit is always topped by a few pieces of silver armour: a chest plate, a pair of pauldrons and a pair of greaves, and two plates covering his hips and thighs, attached to his belt, and a white velvet cape. In formal situations he'll dress in a deep blue, velvet tunic with silver lining and embroidery, over a white shirt and dark trousers, topped with a simple shawl draped around his shoulders in whatever colour happens to be fashionable. His favourite is a pale yellow one, though Gilbert currently wears a black shawl, as a sign of mourning over his father. Personality: Before the current conflict, Gilbert was known as an outgoing and friendly person, and humble for someone of his standing. Things changed, however, when he ran into an ambush of Risen on the way to a conference in the capitol. After his father's death and appointment as the new Lord Raleigh, Gilbert seemingly got a sudden boost in flamboyance and confidence, tending to meet everything with what some would call an overconfident air. Those close to him know it is simply a mask to cover up his crippling self-doubt and insecurity about his new role as head of the family and leader of their territory. Even though he has been trained from a young age to eventually follow in his father's footsteps, Gilbert is still inexperienced and was in no way prepared to take up the task so soon. Behind the mask Gilbert is a gentle and insecure young man, though he still has the stubbornness and impatience so typical for his house. His sister often pokes fun at his softer side, which only comes out when he is dealing with close friends, family or his gryphon, Rosie. One sure-fire way to anger him is to call him by his middle name, Ambrosius. Backstory: Gilbert was born in Raleigh keep, his family's home, built into the cliffs of their territory and raised as every other nobleman's son. Being the oldest out of him and his twin sister, Elisa, he would become the next head of the house, though both siblings received the exact same upbringing. He was educated in war and fighting, and the finer arts that one of noble birth was expected to know, such as music and painting, and riding a gryphon, as per house Raleigh's tradition, for he which he had a natural talent. Any free time was spent roaming the cliffs and beaches below with Elisa and other children at the keep, mostly sons and daughters of knights and servants. One of these children, the daughter of one of his father's most loyal retainers and personal friends, was particularly close to him. When the first war with Plegia started, Isambard, the twin's father, had permission to remain in his lands, with him and his militia mainly being a backup force if the war turned out longer than expected. Not much changed, as Raleigh's lands were far from the Plegian border, though there were the occasional tense moments when it started to become more and more likely Isambard would be called to arms. In the meantime, Gilbert was first introduced to his gryphon, Rosie, who had just hatched out of her egg. It is one of house Raleigh's traditions to start training with their mounts early, which might be an explanation for the intense, almost telepathic bond between rider and mount. In the final years of the war, Isambard was finally summoned to the frontlines with his militia of gryphon and wyvern riders. He survived the conflict, though he did gain a few scars marring his face, but his spirit and personality seemed to have suffered little. With Exalt Emmeryn on the throne, life soon returned to normal, though tragedy would strike the house later on. When conflict with Plegia flared up again and a new war was looming after the abduction of the Exalt, all nobles were summoned to a conference in Ylisstol, including those of house Raleigh. Isambard, finding his children old enough to start learning more about their responsibilities outside of their territory, decided to take them along. Accompanied by a small group of wyvern riders, they set out for the capitol. Nothing had prepared the group for the ambush of Risen along the way. Isambard was one of the first to be shot down, his gryphon hit with a poisoned arrow while trying to protect his men and children. He crashed to the ground, and was almost immediately buried underneath the writhing bodies of the Risen, intent on ripping their victim apart. In his last moments he ordered his children to flee back to Raleigh territory, and they only just managed to escape. The rest of the group was wiped out by the Risen as well, leaving Gilbert and Elisa as the only survivors. With Isambard dead, Gilbert was appointed as the new Lord Raleigh, though he is yet recovering from the wounds he sustained in the ambush. Though he is taking the loss of his father just as hard as everyone else, he is doing his best to keep up a brave face and take responsibility for the territory, trying to make up for his inexperience with a facade of confidence and flamboyance. Gilbert has yet to be officially knighted as the new Lord Raleigh, but with the recent conflicts and the Exalt missing, the ceremony has been delayed. Notes: House Raleigh (Move your mouse to reveal the content) House Raleigh (open) House Raleigh (close) Members of this house dress in blue and white, and their coat of arms consists of a silver gryphon against a field of white and blue waves. The Raleigh lands are located on the north-eastern shores of Ylisse, with Raleigh keep perched on the cliffs where the house's gryphons and wyverns make their home. Known for their ferocious fighters and death-defying bravery, they rarely back down from a fight, though the recent loss of their house's head has thrown the territory into chaos. His young son is inexperienced, but tries his hardest to fill his father's footsteps. The house specialises in gryphon and wyvern riders, and those with no affinity for the beasts usually take up the bow. There are certain rumours that the house also employs a network of spies and more shadowy figures, though no one has ever been able to prove it, and the family itself will always deny having such people in their service. House Raleigh is generally well-liked by the other houses, though also infamous for their stubbornness and tendency to rush into battle before trying a diplomatic solution. Important NPCs (Move your mouse to reveal the content) Important NPCs (open) Important NPCs (close) Elisa Raleigh Gilbert's younger twin sister. Just like her brother, she rides a gryphon, though hers is a male named Fyrion. They're not only alike in looks, but in personality as well, though Elisa tends to be the rougher and more boisterous of the two. Celia Raleigh The twins' mother, and widow of the late Lord Raleigh. She took the loss of her husband hard, and is currently residing in the family's keep, refusing contact with almost everyone, save for her children and a few servants. Isambard Raleigh The twins' father and former Lord Raleigh. He was tragically killed in an ambush while travelling to an emergency conference in the capital together with his two children, who managed to escape and flee back to their family's territory. He was a well-liked and respected lord, known for his boisterous personality and incredible prowess in battle. Mireille Pentecost A wyvern knight and the twins' loyal retainer. She was raised along with them in Raleigh keep, with her mother being the twins' wet nurse and her father one of Isambard's retainers. With Gilbert's gryphon out of commission for the time being, Mireille often has to carry her lord around on her wyvern, Shelagh. She appears to feel more than just friendship for Gilbert, though she outright denies it when anyone brings it up. Character Playlist Approved by Blonde Panther.
