Mr S. Scarsi

[Sabellius Scarsi]

Sabellius Scarsi

Quick Stats (for the Lazy, Hurried & Harried)

Race: Human
Birthday & Age: 460 AV, 49
Gender: Male
Complexion: Pale
Eyes: Watery blue & small
Build: Very fat

Indepth Physical Description (for the Bored & Those Who Wish to Be)

Great rolls of flesh hang off Sabellius’ frame. The necklace of his fat hangs like heavy gold around his throat, and went it moves the slow, smooth motion combines with the slurping sound of his damp sweat to bring to mind the sea on a shallow beach. His dark, pig-like eyes are veiled by his heavy brows; though they try to keep out the wide, milky expanse of his flesh, the two black girders are lost amongst their onslaught, and are pushed into a perpetual frown.

He is accustomed to dressing finely, in dark furs, but can no longer afford it. He dresses in dark linen when possible, but choice for an obese man is scarce, and for a poor one, doubly so. His gait is rolling: the arcs of his movement suggest nothing so much as a centipede or some sand-coloured snake, slithering under the desert sun. It seems he is aware of the image that his movement brings to mind, for his face reddens and veins of sweat open across his face, springing up like some fantastic manipulation of Djed, as if the desert sun did indeed gaze upon him.

He seems a petty, vicious man. He licks his wide, protruding lips with a small, pale tongue, or sometimes merely rests it on the lower of the two, gently gripped in his rounded teeth. His eyes are certainly intelligent, but also cunning, a rather unbecoming quality, and they scarcely touch the face of any he converses with; rather, they sweep the room, or settle, unfocused on some object, whilst he talks as if from some faraway place.

Sabellius Scarsi's History (For Those Without Jobs, Families or Loved Ones to Attend To)

Sabellius Scarsi was born 460 AV to a rather wealthy human merchant family. Based in Zeltiva, the family had begun in the trade of rather simple imported clothing, yet the hint of the exotic in these imports had been enough for the Scarsi’s business to acquire a reputation for being fashionable. With the help of his wife, Aeliana, Caius Scarsi had begun to import the most fashionable items in clothing and cloth; he invested in smaller businesses in Zeltiva and broader Sylira; and, because his clientele were in the business of being fashionable, and not that of being responsible, he became a discreet, but somewhat strict, moneylender.

Caius passed away in the winter of 469 AV. Cauis’ brother Laurentius was named successor to head of the business, though it was understood Aeliana was truly to run the business. Laurentius was given a reasonable stipend, and attended all the most fashionable events in Zeltiva. Under Aeliana, the business thrived, for she had always been the more able member of the partnership, and the death of her husband gave her a zeal that was most marvellous and frightening to watch. Her work almost consumed her.

However, she still doted very much upon her son, Sabellius. She taught him the details of running a business, and also the etiquette of both the noble and fabulous. Her son’s taste ran a little rich, a little ostentatious and a little conservative for her tastes, but she spoilt him and allowed him to pursue his deeper interests. She purchased tutors from the great University; she bought books and elegantly furnished a library at their home; she even summoned magicians so that Sabellius might practice his passion: Glyphing.

Sabellius was often heard to declare, “Glyphs are the language of Djed: all other wizards are waving their arms about, making a fool of themselves, as they attempt to mime their intentions at it.” As might be expected from such a long maxim, others quickly grew excessively tired of hearing it. He practised long and hard at what he considered ‘the pure discipline’, which served him all the purposes of religion, science, poetry and useful occupation.

Laurentius, however, was beginning to crave the last of these four. Useful occupation, it seemed to him, was the noblest goal of a man’s life. Not an unusual view, unless espoused by notorious rake Laurentius, The reason for this rather puzzling change of heart, was that Laurentius had recently been enamoured with a rather beautiful and accomplished lady of fashion, but after an extended flirtation, and several late-night meetings, his courtship had failed.

Having extracted most of what he wanted from this relationship, Laurentius pursued his normal course in such an eventuality. He gambled, took drugs, lost money, seduced beautiful young women, and rich old or ugly ones who would make his newly acquired debts disappeared. But Laurentius was aging, and with his debauched lifestyle, time had not been kind. Whether the beautiful women or the rich were the most important parts of his procedure is immaterial. Neither was successful. So, indebted and depressed, Laurentius asserted his right to govern the family business.

Aeliana was forced into the most menial and insignificant of jobs. She took solace in her son, but he was a spoilt, callous teenager, obsessed with his studies, and froze her out. She died soon after.

When Laurentius was not bankrupting the business through embezzlement, he was bankrupting it through terrible business decisions. He had been adept at following the fashions of the day, but in leading them, he was a failure. His avant-garde attempts were mocked as ludicrous. The reputation of the Scarsi business dwindled. When Laurentius died in 482 AV, it resembled more of a crumbling ruin and the death throes of a giant, than any cohesive enterprise.

The young man that was Sabellius remained only interested in his studies, which was very well, as an obese man in his early twenties, with all the fashion of a professor in his late sixties would have done either greater harm to his inheritance than the fool Laurentius. He hired managers for the business, who turned enough of a profit to keep him in a comfortable lifestyle of secluded study, rare books, and large meals.

The only change came in the late “500”s AV. Sabellius developed a more practical interest: Magecraft. He routinely demanded more books, teachers and reagents to fuel this more passionate scholarly pursuit. He advanced at rather an alarming rate. He felt certain that he would be the greatest practitioner of this rare art since the White Enchantress.

In the Autumn of 509 AV, his usual attempts brushing of the managers of his business failed. They slammed a sizeable ledger, open, on his desk. Sabellius had no choice but to examine it: with Sabellius’ expenditures, the business barely had enough assets to pay off the debts. They would have to sell everything but the servants’ quarters. Even Sabellius’ precious library had to go; there would not even be the chance to finish his latest strain of research. By the end of the season, everything was gone.

Originally, Sabellius intended to try and take an apprenticeship in Sahova, not being aware of the events of the wider world. Upon hearing the dangerous state of affairs there, he was forced to settle for the servants’ quarters in Zeltiva. Without the money to fund his practical craft, Sabellius was forced to rely upon his paltry knowledge of Summoning, and hoping to rent out his services in Glyphing to other mages’.

Training

Arcana

Glyphing - 30 {Starting Package & Racial Bonus}
Magecraft - 27 {Starting Package}
Summoning - 8 {Starting Package}

Lore

Lore of the Successful Operating of a Business
Lore of the Behaviour of the Rich & Fabulous

Equipment and Possessions

Essentials (An house, clothes, etc.)

Ledger

An hundred gold Mizas

Thread List

To Be Arranged