Full Name: Basiliscos Vespertino Argomedo.
Race: Human.
Age: 20.
Birthday: Fall of 489 AV.
Gender: Male.
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History: Basiliscos was born Basilisko Arkomedes, the fifth and final child of Petrus and Ambrosia Arkomedes, two Zeltivans living near Ahnatep. He was their fifth and final child, among two sons. Basilisco's paternal grandfather, Vesper, was a merchant who settled in the outskirts of Ahnatep. Acting as a broker and merchant banker between farmers and the city, he managed to improve his station. He taught Basiliscos some of his craft before he passed on, Basiliscos being something of a spoiled favorite of his.
Basilisco's father Petrus, on the other hand, was more interested in gambling and pursuing a life of leisure, than being a merchant. He was very charismatic, so his absences and lapses in judgment were left mostly unnoticed by Basiliscos. At least until his family became nearly bankrupt, and his father almost a slave, during Basiliscos' adolescence. Basiliscos' love for his father was strengthened at this point. It became more of a protective kind of love, when he realized he was actually more responsible than his father.
Despite living the life of a veritable noble for most of his life, Basiliscos eventually chose to not only reject the pursuit of wealth, but many of it's trappings, as well. His decision was not just due to the negative effects wealth had on his father, though, but also the gradual effect of racism he experienced at the hands of the wealthy oligarchy in Ahnatep.
Being the youngest son, he was mostly allowed to follow his own interests, and not those of the family. This saved him from inheriting some of his father's flighty habits however, many of which his brother, Belisario, suffers from. Mostly his current interest in potion making began after befriending a philterer in Ahnatep. As he began to learn more about his profession, his initial curiosity turned into a love, and finally an obsession.
To help the family, Basiliscos first took on an apprenticeship, and then a job, at the philtery. To advance his studies in the science, he headed to Zeltiva at the age of nineteen. It took a great deal of sacrifice to make the trip from both himself, and his family. It took just as much effort to survive in his new home. When he arrived, he also changed his name to a spelling more common in Zeltiva. After the initial shock was over, he went on to excel in Zeltiva University's Philtery classes. He did have trouble with many of the classes he wasn't as interested in, however.
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Character Concept: If there is one characteristic always present in Basiliscos, it's a desire to maintain his independence. It's an attribute he displayed as a child, and one that was reinforced by his environment. This quality has served him greatly in many of his endeavors, but also tends to get him in trouble.
Due his tenacity, independence, and his privileged upbringing; Basiliscos has a knack for leading. He might even be good at it, if it weren't for the fact he projects his desire for independence onto others. He only really leads others when he feels there aren't any more options. This desire for independence in others, combined with his experiences with slavery, has also created in Basiliscos a deep distaste for the trade. He has trouble not meddling and trying to free slaves, willingly or not.
Unable to impact the arrogance and unfair laws outsiders suffer in Ahnatep, Basiliscos always sees himself as one. This has also given him a perpetual distrust of authority. This is almost automatic, as is his tendency to take the side of the weaker side in conflicts, regardless of mitigating factors. Competing with Eypharians have also given him a tenacious spirit though, mirroring their own.
Despite the fact that Basiliscos has tried to reject large portions of his past, he is incapable of realizing that he will never be able to escape it. One of the ways this manifests itself, is his apparent age. He was raised almost entirely among adults, and so he always conducted himself in a way most people associate with more mature individuals. This is as much a visual, as a social, phenomena. For this same reason, he has trouble relating to people his age.
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Appearance: Basiliscos is approximately five and a half feet tall, and inhabits a rather lanky and thin frame. This quality is most apparent in his fingers, being longer than even fingers of those taller than he. Fingers which have proven useful in his chosen field. His eyes are large and round, framed with prominent eyelashes. His curly black hair quickly becomes matted when he doesn't take good care of it, which is often. He usually wears some form of facial hair, which also tends to escape his halfhearted attempts at tidiness, quickly developing a roguish appearance. His skin is rather pale, as his mother taught him from a young age that his skin was not made to take the strong sun of Ekytol.
Basiliscos tends to carry himself with a strangely disaffected curiosity. Generally, his gaze will rarely linger on anything specific for long. His stare can become as unflinching as his personality when something captures his attention, though.
Basiliscos makes a conscious effort to play down some of the social graces he was taught as a child, with mixed results. He drops back to his old habits when around sophistication, however. These old habits consist of keeping a rather straight and haughty posture, all the way up to his neck, along with a higher nose than normal.
All pretenses at seriousness, or lack thereof, are lost when Bailiscos begins to ponder or explain future projects and plans. During times like these his eyes will become wild and unfocused, as will his gestures. His hands will gesticulate wildly. These behaviors are magnified greatly when he makes a breakthrough; which are punctuated by loud shouts, grunts, fist pumping and even shadow boxing.
Basiliscos wears clothing heavier than normally appropriate, as he gets cold easily. He prefers baggy clothing, which is a more of a holdover from his desert days. This usually includes a black half-cape once used by merchants in Zeltiva. They were popular when his grandfather left, and it became a tradition for the men of his family to wear them. He usually wears pointed leather shoes.
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Miscellany: Basiliscos' favorite beverage is a fermented tea particular to Yahebah, steeped in hot milk. As far as savory food goes, he likes very strong cheeses, olives and generally heavily salted and sour foods. In the sweets department, he devours anything with honey.
Basiliscos has impeccable table manners, even when a table is absent. He always eats with proper cutlery, having several forks and spoons for tackling particular foods. Watching someone eat with their hands or chew with their mouth open drives him insane. If he has to dine with people doing this, he will try to correct them, even if it means letting them borrow some of his dining set.
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Skills:
Business 15.
Leadership 10.
Negotiation 10.
Philtering 30.
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Lores:
Lore: Properties of Ahnatep Minerals and Ores.
Lore: Structure of Ahnatep Economy.
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Languages:
Fluent - Common.
Basic - Arumenic.
Poor - Ancient.
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Possessions:
Half coat, baggy trousers, shirt, and shoes.
Water skin.
Backpack.
Toiletries.
Eating knife.
Flint and steel.
General journal.
Philtery journal.
Deed to Zeltivan Apartment.
Four winter blankets.
Candle-making kit.
Dining set for one, with alabaster saucer, two bowls, two plates, drinking vessels and silver cutlery. Comes with a case.
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Properties:
Zeltivan Apartment: Two bedrooms and a privy right outside the Old Quarter. It is on the third floor of a building meant to look Pre-Valterrian, but with a few 'modern' architectural features. Vines cover a good deal of the outside of the building, and there is a common bathroom and balcony on Basilisco's floor. The building is located on a cobble stone street, with a few trees. Basilisicos' room has an ample view of the university, particularly the back end of the Registar's Office. The imposing mountains surrounding Zeltiva frame his view of the Old Quarter. A hearth is located in Basiliscos' room. His bed is piled high with extra blankets.
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Ledger:
+100 gm, Starting package.
0 gm, Family heirloom: Dining set.
+500 gm, Turned in shelter.
-350 gm, Simple bedroom.
-20 sm, 4 Winter blankets.
-6 gm, 2 Blank books.
-20 gm, Candle-making kit.
-3 gm, Average hearth.
Current Total: 220 gm, 80 sm.
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Threads: N/A.
