Ambrose Kain
Birthdate: Winter 2nd, 490
Age: 20
Sex: Male
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Zeltiva
Languages Known:
Common - Fluent
Fratava - Basic
Kontinese - Poor
Physical Description:
He is a virile young man of medium height, soft brown but very lively eyes, and is given to frequent smiles that reveal his pearly whites. His hair is a similar color to his eyes, but lighter and with a touch of red, made evident in direct light. As his father always encouraged frequent physical activity and exercise, his skin possesses a fair tan, and his hands and fingers are long and limber, as adept at tying his shoulder-length hair into a gentleman's cue as they are at handling his family's heirloom rapier in the midst of a mock-battle. What he lacks in overt handsomeness--which isn't much--he makes up for in pure charisma, always ready to say just what needs to be said to lighten the mood or assuage wounded feelings.
Of course, only those who are closest to Ambrose are aware that he is blind in his left eye, an unfortunate relic of a disease he barely survived as a child. It was the same disease that would, in tragic irony, claim the life of his mother later on.
Concept:
A native Zeltivan, Ambrose's family is of the craftsman class, rather than fishermen or farmers. Inherently patriotic, he is proud of his heritage and his home, and even dons a bit of elitism toward other cities, particularly Syliras. He has as much respect for the gods as anyone else, though there's no particular deity he pays special homage to.
History:
Born to a well-to-do family in Zeltiva, Ambrose Kain was the younger child of two. His sister Amelia is five years older than he is. She is a "woman with spirit," as those with a kinder tongue might describe her, and is now married with a young son. Ambrose's father Uther was an ambitious and talented shipwright, and still technically is, but his quality of work has suffered in later years. Many blame it on the drink, but those close to him know better. Kelsie, Ambrose's mother, taught at the Zeltivan University. His memories of her are faint, but he keeps her in his heart closer than anyone else. In his mind's eye, she was always smiling, a young beauty in both physical form and inner spirit.
Though the winters in Zeltiva rarely see snow, the winds coming from the ocean are always bitter cold in the frigid months. Uther's work always kept him busy though, as ships were always in need at all times of the year. Kelsie would often take her children to visit their father while he was working, and to bring him a warm lunch, taking time away from the University just to see the family brought together. It was generally an enjoyable outing, fostering warmth and affection between the siblings and their parents.
However, when Ambrose was eight years old, he fell suddenly ill. Bedridden for weeks, his mother never left his side, working her hands to the bone to see her son back in good health. The disease was nearly fatal to him, and a serious infection left him blind in one eye. Thanks to her care, Ambrose's health began to improve, his young body doing much to restore what the disease had ravaged. Yet whatever disease had afflicted him eventually spread to Kelsie herself, whose body was already haggard from caring ceaselessly for her son. Uther and Amelia seemed immune, but Kelsie's condition worsened until she could no longer stand. Though the family did everything they could to dote on her, she eventually succumbed to the illness.
Uther took her death especially hard, and was never the same. He took up drinking and shifted into a reserved, sullen man. He adequately served his children's role as their father, but whatever passion that was in him died with his wife. Feeling the mantle of maternity had been passed on to her, Amelia tried to care for her brother the way she thought Kelsie would have, but Ambrose rejected any notion of a surrogate mother. He became bitter at Amelia for coddling him, and their relationship as siblings has remained sour and awkward ever since.
As Ambrose grew, he fought a certain resentment which he began to harbor for his family, and found himself going in his own direction. He trained as a cook, and began to pursue his culinary talent as a career. On his eighteenth birthday and official passage into manhood, Ambrose's father presented him with a family heirloom: an antique rapier, crafted many years ago by his great-grandfather. As was family tradition, Uther also trained Ambrose in how to use it for defense, should he ever have need. For a short time, it almost seemed as though Uther was moving on with life and coming out of his shell. This period was brief, however, and more and more he made a habit of neglecting his son and daughter and spending his nights at the local pub.
Tired of the pervading melancholy he felt in Zeltiva, Ambrose recently left the city and his family behind, searching for something new to inspire him. Though he briefly stayed in Syliras, he knew whatever he was looking for would not be found in that cold, unfriendly city of stone. Instead, he became enchanted with fantastic tales about Alvadas, the City of Illusions. At his first opportunity, he chartered a voyage on a Syliran vessel across the Suvan Sea to see the renowned place of wonders for himself.
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by Ambrose Kain on October 25th, 2011, 5:36 am 
