Astraeus
From Changeling Venue
| Seeming | Fairest Muse |
|---|---|
| Court | Spring Court ••• |
| Freehold | Dormant Fire |
| Player | Sean Morris |
Contents |
Overview
Alias(es): Star
Real Name: Aaren Grant
Age: Appears: early to mid-20's. Chronologically 47.
Concept: Former Bardic Show Horse, Teacher
Entitlement: Blackbird Bishopric (pending)
Physical description:
Mask: Astraeus is "second-look" striking. Many eyes will pass over him the first time, but only for a moment as the brain registers that something needing attention nearly escaped them.
He is just under 6 feet tall, with shoulder-length black hair that, among the Lost, is never tied but is always pulled back when among humans. There is a streak of white hair on each side, framing his face. His eyes are bright blue but otherwise unremarkable unless he is focused. Astraeus almost never smiles -- he maintains a straight and serious face most of the time, arrogant for much of the rest. He has a sharp patrician's nose and keeps his face shaved.
He is slender, though not skinny. Muscles are obvious when he wears light clothing. He dresses well, but in old styles. He never slouches -- his posture is typically wary, a hand always ready to draw a weapon or lift an instrument.
Mien: Similar to his Mask, but more striking. His ears, normally covered by hair, bear small points. His eyes are more piercing. When he focuses on one person, it seems that anything is possible for them.
Relevant Mechanics:
Character Livejournal:
Character Information
Known History
Basic Timeline:
1960 - Born in Portland, Oregon. 1969 - Parents discover their child is a musical prodigy. 1976 - Quits school and runs away from home for a life of music. With no plan or real passion, he fails miserably. 1978 - Poor and directionless, obtains his GED. Studies the music whose mechanical performance comes easily to him. 1979 - Starts performing on the street again, but with a passion to match his skill. Enough money comes in for a low-overhead lifestyle. 1981 - One of the Gentry, who Astraeus only remembers as the Patron, approaches him. After weeks of negotiation, Astraeus follows the Patron into Arcadia, though he doesn't understand his destination until later.
Current Activities:
Teaches a self-created arts class at PSU.
With the action of late in the freehold, he is pondering his place in the scheme of things. He spends much of the time thinking at home: Laurel's.
Merit Details:
Background:
Astraeus is known to have been a street performer in Portland in the 80's. Convinced into following his Keeper willingly, but not knowingly, he was molded into a show horse of sorts. He performed in competitions and duels of music, story and poetry as well as combat -- often more than one at once. He remembers very little -- that he will admit to -- beyond that.
In 2001, he was drawn back through the Hedge. He does not admit to remembering why he chose to make his escape when he did, but his adamant and often hostile refusal to talk about it implies he knows more. As soon as he returned, he went about creating a new life that had little to do with the one he was taken from for Arcadia. He somehow convinced the powers that be at Portland State University to allow him a general arts class with little supervision and full control. His handpicked students have gone on to success in several artistic fields, so much that there is a large list of students willing to do anything to get in to his class. Since his second year, there has been an ongoing, low-key investigation from police and the university into accusations of impropriety. In the third year, he started having the police following him audit his class -- this has had the effect of continuing the investigation (nothing remotely improper or illegal has been discovered) as detectives vie for who gets to "investigate" Astraeus this year. He is known among humans as Aaren Grant, though the Lost do not know whether this is the name he was born under.
Among the Lost, he immediately fell in with Swan and Laurel. They are close, but he won't speak of why or how close.
Motley
Motley of the First Bud - Laurel, Swan, Astraeus, Vanessa
Allies
Enemies
Character Inspirations
- Maximus - Gladiator
- Eric Banyon - Bedlam's Bard series (Mercedes Lackey)
Soundtrack
Paramore, Hallelujah (video)
Quotes
"Do I want revenge for my lost life? Of course I do. I simply believe that the best revenge is living on."
Rumors
- Astraeus never comes to gatherings because he is always recovering from Laurel's "special" attention. Apparently despite his good looks and muscles, he is a bit frail and easily tired.
- Astraeus stole his motley mate, Laurel, from the other courts in a strange Spring rite. Her green blood will be a sacrifice to Spring.
- Astraeus managed to obtain his job and its special status with the university with a hefty amount of blackmail and Contract usage.
- Astraeus has used many tactics to obtain results from his students, from physical and verbal abuse to illegal drugs.
- Astraeus has some sinister hold on everyone who passes through his class, as noted by the fact that they all refuse to speak ill of him.
- Astraeus is an object of much envy, jealousy and plotting, both in his mundane profession and in the Lost community, being mysterious and incredibly good looking has its price.
