Personality

Amiable || Courteous || Curious || Biased || Easily angered || Stubborn || Private || Critical ||

Laverne greets everyone with both a welcoming smile and a respectful distance, accommodating to the familiar and stranger alike, but on the contrary of being difficult to read, he is equally–if subtly–expressive about who he likes and dislikes. Quick to harbour judgement when it comes to differences in race and ability, he has a rather narrow viewpoint in most topics in spite of his wide interest in magical studies, many contributions of which came from the half-elves and humans he unconsciously condescends.

One to sooner raise his voice in disagreement and yet be the first to brush conflicts aside, Laverne's anger is as transient as it comes. Those unaware of his habits may find his temper fickle and cutting for the most trivial of matters as he speaks sharply to carry his point, but his forward words are testament to his obstinance. He simply deals with emotions on a case-by-case basis, a manner of forgive-and-forget, having learned to favour retrospection and unvoiced ills in privacy. While it is unlike him to nurture resentments, he persists in secrecy to the point of appearing icily objective in more personal affairs; he may extend a hand out of courtesy, but he will not broach others' thresholds if they do not open the door themselves.

Perhaps his most admirably crippling trait would be his desire to learn and perfect– beyond the point of fault. The pride he carries in his abilities and standing far exceeds himself, manifesting in friendly but competitive arrogance, or self-sabotaging headstrong independence. Gracious as he acts, he expects the same fire in others for better or for worse, and has difficulty understanding those without the will to surpass themselves.

History

[Knighthood aspirations]

Fourth-born and youngest son to a branch of the Zelders, a humble family of Delvan knights serving the Belrose vidames, Laverne knew his path from the moment he could walk. With a childhood not unlike many, he learned the way of the sword with a passion and excelled in his practice. But where skill grew with obsessively driven tendencies, so too did overconfidence and a lack of foresight.

All intentions set on some greater service– perhaps to the Templars of the Church, or to the higher nobility, or to his family in furthering their name– Laverne as a youth cared little for setting limits. Yet these unrestricted, soaring thoughts led to the most restraints in his life: all it took to knock him down was an overestimation, an unfortunate mounted fall, and the accumulated negligence of his own physical extents he'd been straining the entirety of his years. In just his 40's before his knighthood ever properly took foot, he'd crippled his legs and sword hand unexpectedly.

[Crippling, to Magical pursuits]

He handled the abrupt change of pace far worse than those around him, lashing out at family, friends and his betrothed's relations alike. Even he was disgusted by his senseless self-pity which only drove the cycle on. In spite of the excellence of the healers he'd seen, taking up his former aspirations again proved consistently too difficult to be of any lifelong worth. But eventually, as all things did, his despair passed. With aid from his mother's side of the magic-oriented family, he looked to another road; studying the arcane was as welcome a pursuit as any sword-wielding duty.

While Laverne's easing into magical affairs was not without pitfalls and resentment, the gradual results of both his studies and rehabilitation only spurred him on in this new direction. The more he learned about the workings of various magic, the more enthralled he became with unraveling their threads. At 67, though no longer anything of the Champion he used to be, he had become a fledgling Sage only too impatient and willing to dive into more books for further research.

[Baron's employment]

By this chance he had the honour of meeting a travelling noble doctor, Baron Dokeîn'Ma, and subsequently the invitation that followed: to be a librarian of the peer's household, given the opportunity for occasional research amongst family tutoring and scholarly duties. With both pay and living expenses accounted for, Laverne had little trouble accepting the new connection and found himself serving under the Dokeîn'Ma House... for the better half of his life so far.

Current:

Indifferent to the goings-on outside of Delverne (Lady Bianca's excursions aside), with his recent accompaniment of her missionary work to Cantor he has come to some understanding of recent events. Although Delverne's justifiably prophetic, arguably peaceful conquest was a tad boorish in taste, the Kingdom's equally contentious response led to far more bloodshed than necessary. But he had always been one for theory lately and so he is unashamed to admit his lacking stance. On their return to Delverne to witness the lingering damage wrought by the Kingdom's dragons, Laverne could recognize this much at least: something needed to be done to prevent tragedies from striking their home again. Something needs to change, and some places are more ripe for such discussion than the blind faith in the church. With Baron Dokeîn'Ma's abrupt and regrettable passing the prior year, Laverne felt that little sheltered Bianca could do for some insight in these matters from other Delvan peers.

Still, however much talk is had never fully prepares one for the course a world is meant to take. With muted discontent about vague directions far overshadowed by the miracles at Aurea's hand, Laverne settled to watch by the protective sidelines of home as his fellows and family took to the frontlines. Vexing as he found the situation, being equally desirous for battlefield glory like the others, his domestic responsibilities, friends' requests, and personal obstinacy about religious consequences held him fast to his position.

Additional Info

• Blossoming characteristics: glow on hair (younger hair and roots), eyes, scar tissue of skin

• His walking mobility has long since recovered, but symptoms of the post-trauma aches (stiff joints, joint pain, muscle weakness) resurface persistently despite varying treatments. By this point he's figured it has less to do with the healers or doctors' ineptitude and frustratingly more with himself. Some days he can't walk without a cane and a limp. Always wears a brace on his left leg which gets the worst of the chronic pains.
• Uses both a grimoire with readily prepared spells and the cane as his staff. The cane has a blade inside but his hand's a century too out of practice to make it of any use. He's still of a fairly sturdy frame– just a wee bit brittle– [fighter peripheral]

• Afraid of waters without shores, and riding mounts now. He wouldn't ever admit it.
• Doesn't enjoy travelling much around the kingdom for the above reasons so his biases tend to be Delvan-based.

• He struggles with applying more of the sorcerer-level abilities comfortably these days–which upon realisation was by all rights just as upsetting a downfall in life as his first, unwilling to give up unrelated strains to his current practices yet obsessed with finesse as he is. For the most part he makes use of simple telekinesis and the occasional housekeeping spell or two; gets tired quickly when he exercises more in this skillset.
  • True to his competitive champion roots, he prefers the active, offensive applications of spell-breaking–always too eager to see the results of a potential backfire [Redirection] – as opposed to more passive aspects such as imbuing protective enchantments, the latter being very necessary but dreadfully boring work.
  • But he's especially fascinated by the sagecraft in breaking curses and forming seals to keep malignant cases at bay, interest inspired by the late baron's charitable charisma. As a result over the years, he has veered his magic studies to accommodate these aspects. [Memory sealing]
• Plays violin, imparted by his troubadour mother.

Relationships

Immediate Zelder family [Chevalier] [ family ]

3 elder brothers (Léon, Liam, Leith), 1 younger sister (Arietta), mother (Aeliana) and father (Gwenaël). The period of vexing terms with them (much to his own embarrassment in reflection) have recovered, even strengthened with his mother. He admittedly worries about the matter of his younger sister's potential romantic engagements.

Liliéthel Gardinier-Vauquelin [ ex-fiancee ]

Childhood friend and formerly betrothed, revoked upon her family's disapproval. He regrets this deeply but only has himself to blame– and perhaps remedy. She has since returned to Delverne from her travels.

Kienelm Maere [ childhood friend ]

Childhood friend, close in age if further in personality and bravado. Although in distant youth he paid less regard to Keane's particular strengths, seemingly meek and hidden as they were, nowadays he can appreciate the man's attentive manner and patience. Even if he is still a little dweeby

Naevys Aeraviel [ noble peer ]

More recent-met in the past few decades, an intellectual woman of both title and Templar; he enjoys her company as a skilful wizard and experienced researcher (and for her stellar personality too, he supposes), and that of her family's in extension. Her kingdom-minded years lend a degree of freshness to insights that even he can appreciate, despite his insular bearings - although in current times those same views seem more troubling than they are worth.

Bianca Dokeîn'Ma [ young lady ]

A bundle of joy to be around with a willingness to learn, a charming child in spite of her earlier unfortunate circumstances. Because of this, he does find her youthful naïveté a tad concerning, the girl having frolicked about in the human kingdom and even now remaining somewhat absent around issues. While he has warmed up to the human company she brought home from her travels ('adopted', rather) he does not see the need to maintain their relations, given the borders present with some.

Françoise Lachance [ co-worker ]

A respectable but pitiable class to be, friend. Fruitless in earlier attempts to befriend the exorcist in the other's first few years of employ, by now it has become habit to greet the younger and grumpier elf with a few light-hearted jests. Laughter is the best medicine, no? That scowl could use a little more of it. <:D

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Further relations with other characters expanded here