Post by Julien Byzantir on Jan 28, 2015 5:47:29 GMT
Julien Callum Byzantir
25
Personality:
Julien inherited the same direct blue eyes and fine bone structure as his brother, but that is where his resemblance to the future king ends. Reserved is not a word used to described the younger prince of Escar. Julien is a brash young man, bold in both words and actions and with little in the way of tact. He speaks his mind clearly and with conviction and rarely worries if his words offend. Though schooled in the art of diplomacy, he has little patience for the decorum of court. He is notorious for his love of ale and women, and has garnered quite a reputation for his transgressions. As second in line for the throne, there are still certain expectations for his behavior, and while, when so inclined, he can make an effort to show the same level as class as his brother, he rarely chooses to do so. He gets away with it partly because second son or not, he is still a prince, and there are few who would dare chastised him, but it is mainly due to his easy charm. Julien is a charismatic man, and with his crooked smile and charming speech, he has little difficulty in getting his way. He has long been able to win over people with ease, be it his nursemaid and tutors as a child, his father, or the many young women who have come and gone from his chambers as an adult.
Being born second in line for the throne was something he sees as a gift rather than a curse. Unencumbered by the pressure that often comes with being born to rule, Julien is able to enjoy the perks of royalty without the responsibility. He is well aware of his station, and takes advantage of it regularly. He has never wished to go unnoticed, or for a more normal life, he finds that he is suited to the spotlight his name grants him, and flourishes with the attention. Julien has often be called fickle and reckless. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, and his passions are close to the surface. He can be infectious when he is good humor, warming those around him with his laughter and gregarious nature, but the downside is that the same is can be said when he is angered. The image he often portrays is that of an entitled man, with little regard for others, he acts on his whims, can be unreliable and will change his mind in an instant. Julien rarely appears to take things seriously, and it can be a fight to keep his attention on things of import. For the most part, this portrayal is fairly accurate save for a few key instances. Those that count themselves among his friends know that he is fiercely loyal, brave to a fault, dedicated to his family and his kingdom, and a force to be reckoned with with a sword. Flippant as he can appear, Julien isn’t quite as shallow as he is perceived to be.... In some instances at least.
Some men may balk at the knowledge that they will always be ruled over, and more over, be ruled by their sibling. Julien has never felt this was an issue, mainly because he has been following his brother since he started to walk. Julien idolizes Christian, perhaps even more so because he is well aware of what his brother sacrifices of himself in the name of the crown. Julien is one of Christian’s biggest champions, and heaven forgive someone who speaks ill of him in Julien’s presence. Family as a whole is very important to the young man, growing up, his siblings were by far the most important people in his life, and age has hardly changed that fact. In his mind, a family united is the strongest front, regardless of titles, and whatever squabbles and bickering arises between them, Julien sees himself as the peace keeper- though admittedly it can frequently be his brash words that cause the rift in the first place.
He is a tall man, broad shouldered and fit. Julien spends much of his time training with the army. Though he will likely never find himself on the battle field, he found at a young age that sword play was an excellent way for him to keep himself distracted and busy, and more importantly, it was one of the few things that held his attention. He was not a natural swordsman, while some can pick up a weapon and it seems instantly like an extension of themselves, Julien had to work hard develop his skill, and counts himself quite adept with a sword as an adult. He is an accomplished rider, is dangerous in hand to hand, though his archery remains only passable (he simply does not have the patience for the bow). Essentially, he simply enjoys the fighting and the camaraderie among the soldiers and makes friends more easily on the training fields among soldiers and guards than he does with other nobles. Even though he shows a proficiency in arms and has a fairly solid grasp on tactics, he will never be a military adviser, as his advice would inevitably be to go in, bash about, crush their enemies with sheer force and numbers, and then crush them some more. No, his father does not rush for Julien’s council, nor should he. Julien’s strengths lie more in people than in his intellect or diplomacy. He is often used for his persuasive abilities and his charm, making him a boon in negotiations.
History:
To come....