AA: Balthazar Siegel

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6/14/16: Updated bust art and turned 27 years old! ... My style now looks so jarring next to my year-old art....

5/27/17: Updated app art and turned 28 years old. I did the math and realized he was actually a year older than I thought he was this whole time based on his birthday (oops). Revamped his entire written application as well, including updated personality and history!

 

The colors on the fb were done by the BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL AND LIGHTNING FAST and she made Balto look FAB AF!!!1 Like dude check out his gun-- which reminds me, he was also upgraded to Sniper class! (Just in time for the War to End All Wars!)  

 

Name: Balthazar Cecil Siegel  
Age: 28
Standard Birthday: Thursday, Day 14 of the Month of Stars, Year of Beginnings (8265)
Standard Zodiac: Lucernae the Lantern Bearer
Song-Lu Birthday: Day 18 of the Month of the Cat, Year of the Incandescent Amber Bee
Song-Lu True/Secret Animal: Raven/Silkworm
Gender: Male
Height: 5’10” (5’11" with his boots) 
Race: Human

Class: Sniper
Occupation: Noble - Burgraf Imdael, Heir Apparent to the Heldar Estate 
City: Koben
Allegiance: Koben Empire

Personality: 

Balthazar is at first glance a charismatic man who has all the charm and ease of a man who has passed a comfortable life free of troubles. But as one will plainly see in due time, this means he is equally incapable of overcoming anything particularly distressing by himself. He will always choose the path of least resistance, and in most cases he would rather bend to a strong opinion than try to fight it. Notorious for pretending problems don't exist, he can be very reluctant to admit that they do- an escapist through and through. His resolve to avoid conflict both internal and external is so strong that Balthazar can actually be unreasonably stubborn about it.

Yet in all actuality Balthazar is a very capable person should he choose to do something of his own volition-- or should someone force his hand in a way he can't refuse. He has potential, but usually lacks a drive of his own, and simply finds it too troublesome to take advantage of the greater breadth of his talents. After seeing the pressure that standing out can cause first-hand, he prefers to plod along in mediocrity to avoid inciting any inconvenient expectations from those around him. However, he is entirely capable of supporting others in their pursuits, and if to that end he must expend what little goodness he has in him, he's always glad to do so. Though he dislikes serious conversation, insightful words of comfort have occasionally slipped through his normally evasive nature.

As someone who is accustomed to getting his way, Balthazar is particularly adept at maneuvering into the hearts of those around him so he can live easily- but when feeling cornered by a person or a situation, he can become quite unpleasant. He is aware that he has the ability to show a very ugly side of himself that is the epitome of obstinate, vindictive, and self-centered, he makes painstaking efforts to never be caught losing control of his temper, and has only (unwillingly) revealed his ugliest side to choice individuals. Yet despite his inherently selfish nature and increasingly materialistic disposition, Balthazar is at his heart pacifist who struggles to reconcile his distaste for fighting with his love for his country-- and the people who live in it.

 
Likes:

| Fashion | Jokes and Funny Stories | Sailing | Competitive Riding | Horses | Hunting | Technology | Travelling | Music | Long Walks | Sleeping | Guns | Drinking | Gambling | 

Dislikes:

| Sweets | Expectations | Implications that he is incapable or a failure | Conflict | Gossip | Rules | Dancing | Being compared | Fencing | The Military |

History: 

Born the eldest son of Luther Siegel, the Earl of Heldar, Balthazar’s childhood was a balance of both bitter and sweet. He was spoiled endlessly by his mother and father, who provided the young boy with whatever he wanted- yet rigorously forced him to apply himself in his studies so that he could someday take up his father’s title. Ecstatic that rote memorization and understanding seemed to come easily to their son, they slackened their overbearing ways in his teens, hoping for him to find his own way as he grew closer to reaching adulthood. Their hopes were quickly dashed however, when this taste of freedom quickly turned their son from the path of politics. He found a hobby in sailing, travelling, and anything that took him far from home. His studies all but abandoned, his parents attempted to rein him back in by shipping him off to the army- where he could be supervised and relearn his lost discipline. They made sure he saw little beyond the base however, and his stint in the army was more for image than anything else. It was around this time that he grew to dislike the gossip that seemed to envelop him whenever he returned home to attend stuffy balls and social gatherings- he had no interest in the petty affairs of the aristocracy, and could not fathom why they were so interested in his personal matters. He learned the value of keeping his secrets secret, and did so with the utmost care.

Regardless, he managed to find close friends in the noble sphere, partners in crime with others his age such as the Rotherzogs or the Crown Prince. The sudden death of the latter was a great blow to Balthazar, who held him in high regard and had looked forward to his dim future in government thanks to his companionship. Though still charismatic in crowds, he grew unwilling to make new friends, and preferred to keep everyone not already familiar with him at a polite arm’s distance. With the charged tensions surrounding the empire, Balthazar also put an end to his travels to stay put at home, learning the finer points of managing of his family and tenants’ affairs. But what he had cursed as a mundane and boring lifestyle was plagued by increasing pressure to marry, and marry well. His extreme indifference towards women and self-sabotaged engagements had caused his parents endless worry, and they took a heavy handed approach to rectifying the situation. It was no surprise to Balthazar that his father would never accept anything less than his own flesh and blood, so he was faced with a reality that his own pride and personal habits could not endure: If he did not marry a woman, his inheritance would go instead to his younger brother Lars.

Yet all was not lost. His unhappy situation was improved, upon the adoption of an heiress into the family of their neighboring estate. Of similar age, interests, and rank, Ludovika Waryslav was a perfect match for Balthazar- in both the opinion of his parents who pushed the acquaintance upon them, and over time, in the opinion of Balthazar himself, who found that her disposition was the most bearable he had ever encountered in a woman. But nearly a year has passed since they first met, and Balthazar, who is by now honor bound to follow through on unspoken promises, is now running out of excuses to delay the inevitable...

Additional info: 

- He dislikes the nickname ‘Balto’, though it was his military nickname. He's gotten used to it, but can still be a bit prickly if someone he's not friends with (or his mother) tries to use it.

- He was to be married to a fellow noblewoman when he turned 21, but a man of higher rank than his own became infatuated with her (at his subtle encouragement and suggestion) and the engagement was broken off much to his relief.

- He has three dogs, one of which was a gift from the Gravina of Luritz's illustrious line of magic(?) hunting dogs. That dog in particular, close in appearance to a long haired Weimaraner, accompanies him nearly everywhere he goes and is usually in the background somewhere minding her own business. Her name is Misty. His other dogs are a golden retriever named Daisy, and a French Spaniel named Parsley.

- The Heldar Estate is located in the far Eastern part of the Koben region, on the Bratkowice border. It is a relatively large estate due to the value of the land there being rather lower than in other parts of Koben, and specializes primarily in wheat farming and the crafting of beers, with a small market in cured meats. The westernmost part of the estate once belonged to the Marienkafer family, but was combined with Heldar during Balthazar's grandfather's time. It has since been returned to Martin Marienkafer after the purchase was facilitated by the Rotherzog family and Balthazar’s agreement to his father’s extraneous terms.

- The Imdael Estate is located Northwest of Koben City, and borders the Erzthal estate. It is significantly smaller than Heldar, and much of its economy is based on refining ores and minerals from surrounding lands into intermediate goods that are then sold to be finalized in the city's factories. The title and estate were brought into the family through his mother.

- Their proximity to Bratkowice has resulted in quite a bit of Bratkovan blood in the Siegel family ancestry on his father’s side. Most locals in Heldar tend to be capable of communicating in Bratibran to some extent or another-- and some are either immigrants or directly descended from Bratkovans themselves. Balthazar however, is famously terrible at Bratibran amongst his father's tenants, who revel in asking their lord-to-be to make paltry attempts for their amusement. 

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Family

Luther Ulrich Siegel (51) - The Earl of Heldar. A charismatic, talkative man who takes the well-being of his estates very seriously and has nothing more than the best interests of the Empire in his heart. He is perhaps a little over-concerned with climbing the social ladder, however, and often revels too much in his eldest son's "successes". He is a jolly man, but his children understand that he is not a force to be reckoned with, and his wishes are to be obeyed without question. He speaks Bratibran fluently, as his mother was born and raised in Bratkowice, and he often travels there for holiday.

Cecilia Siegel (nee Basch) (49) - The Gravina of Heldar. Famed for being incredibly beautiful, Cecilia is equally notorious for being incredibly stupid. She loves her eldest son a little too much, which affords him more freedom than he should’ve otherwise enjoyed. Her dowry was very impressive, and so she was able to have more of a say in who she selected as a husband. Balthazar loves his mother dearly, but doesn't think very highly of her intellectual capabilities, and often suffers at the hands of her silly whims and sensitive feelings. (She is the reason he finds the company of most women unbearable, as his patience is very quickly used up on her.)

Lars Dieter Siegel (22) - Balthazar’s younger brother. He is a knight aspiring to join the Koben Militia. His head is considerably emptier than Balthazar’s, but he makes up for it in physical prowess. He respects his older brother and wholeheartedly wishes for his happiness, but is frustrated by Balthazar's unwillingness to act and is very aware of the former's indifference to him. Lars holds no title and has at last convinced his parents to allow him to enlist in the military after the Whelcliffe incident. He is conversational in Bratibran, the only academic subject he has ever been able to maintain a semblance of mastery over.

Gabrielle Siegel (14) - Balthazar's younger sister. She is impressively accomplished for her age and has the sweetest disposition of the family. In the past two years however, she has grown more headstrong and willful, studying nursing in her spare time and doing more charity and volunteer work than is perhaps expected of her. She likes both of her brothers, but prefers Lars to Balthazar by far. 

Relationships:

Kun Li - A Song-Lu Bard who accompanied him and his old travelling friends on an adventure that lasted a few months after Balthazar left the military. Balthazar speaks of him to no one, though his father and younger brother are aware of his existence and significance.

Ludovika Waryslav - The heiress of the estate bordering his father's, at first Balthazar was cautious of her due to his parents' fervent desire for a union between them. He found her company tolerable however, and eventually even found her pleasant to be with. She has an uncanny knack of saying exactly what Balthazar needs to hear at any given moment, and he's shared the weight of his troubles with her. He still keeps her in the dark about a multitude of things that he finds either unsuitable for her ears or simply too distressing for her to be privy to, but he finds her indispensable as a friend. They are now engaged, and he is fiercely protective of her despite the fact that he is the one who will inevitably hurt her the most.

Aeron Rotherzog - Another noble whom Balthazar is not wary of- their similar age and relatively close estates mean that they waved wooden swords together at least once in their childhood- and their mutual distaste for stuffy socializing have seen them sticking side-by-side through a number of unbearable balls. He followed all of Aeron's last wishes for him enclosed in a final letter, and is very glad that he did so upon finding out that his friend is more on the side of the living than even his most unrealistic hopes could have asked for. 

Martin Marienkafer - A childhood "friend" (read: toy) and a very very distant cousin whom Balthazar loved to tease when they were younger. He treats Martin more like a little brother than his actual sibling, having good laughs at his expense despite having spent a fair amount of his youth under his aunt's tutelage. Despite a botched confession from him that left Balthazar rather worried for the future of their friendship, to his relief it rather improved their relationship as Balthazar no longer wondered if Martin held their less-than-amicable past against him. After losing all of his other close friends to the war, Balthazar sees Martin as one of, if not his very best friend.

Freida Marienkafer - His tutor from late childhood to early teens, almost everything he knows about marksmanship, politics, and behaviors befitting a noble was imparted to him through her iron-fisted lessons. Unsurprisingly, he is quite afraid of her- and tries to run away from any possible encounters with her. (Alas, these attempts often fail and he is forced to behave himself...) He feels rather sorry for her, for being handed back her ancestral lands with poor timing, and does what he can to simplify the matters of running their estate as an outsider.

Logan Doherty - The man Balthazar tottered after as a child, admiring him as a role model until he grew too old to believe in role models at all. He respects Logan greatly, but finds him exceedingly dull now that he's gotten married and had children. Balthazar doesn't see the novelty in kids- nor wives. He is under the assumption that Logan was killed in the North.

Fabian Roenach - The Crown Prince and a good friend from his days in the military. To Balthazar's surprise, Fabian was anything but the typical pompous and insufferable royal- and in fact found him quite relatable and fun. He respected the Crown Prince and felt that he would have made an excellent Emperor. Though he refuses to speak of it to anybody, he was quite affected by his sudden death. After Akiela's execution however, Balthazar has managed to find a semblance of resolution-- though the subject is still a sensitive one that he makes clear is not to be broached around him. 

Sigmund Roenach - The new crown prince, Balthazar supports his claim to the throne wholeheartedly and scorns those who would take it from him after he was already deprived of his brother. Though Balthazar's motivations lie perhaps less in the young prince's interests so much as a desire to see his old friend in the boy... He is the only person with whom Balthazar is willing to talk about the late prince. As he grows older however, Balthazar finds it harder to speak to him with the same ease as he did with his elder brother-- it's jarring that Sigmund looks exactly like Fabian yet acts entirely unlike him.

Marquess of Alden - Unhappily triumphant in his suspicions regarding the Marquess, Balthazar is glad that he's gone for good.

RP Preferences:

Unless I approach you for RP first, or if our characters are well acquainted with each other, I only do headcanons via discord! Thank you!