Hans Bruden
From Changeling Venue
| Seeming | Fairest Muse |
|---|---|
| Court | Winter Court •••• |
| Freehold | The Hall of the Mountain Kings |
| Player | James Reardon |
Contents |
Overview
Alias(es): Denver's Winter King
Real Name: Hans Bruden
Age: 38
Concept: Winter King/Speech Writer
Entitlement: None
Physical description: Hans is a tall slender gentleman with long straight white hair. His skin is a soft pale color that almost glows in the light. He dresses in contrasting black suits and fitted shirts. If the occasion is formal enough he typically seen wearing a white bow tie.
Relevant Mechanics:
Character Information
Known History
Basic Timeline:
1956 - Born
1973 - Taken
1974 - Second voyeur onto his Fetch
1979 - First voyeur onto his Fetch
1982 - Third voyeur onto his Fetch
1991 - Final Escape from the Hedge (5 years in Faerie)
1998 - Became Denver's Winter King
2004 - Invented the winter ritual Winter Wake
Current Activities:
Hans is the current Winter King for the Winter court in the Denver, Colorado Freehold. He was mentored by the previous Winter court Queen who passed on the torch after reaching a point in her Clarity that she could not maintain her constant connection to Changeling society.
Hans likes to think of himself as benevolent and a benefactor to those in need. He has known to find Lost who have only moments before come out of the Hedge for the first time to give them hospitality and a place to stay in modest home.
Hans owns the Richthofen castle in Denver, Colorado. He purchased it recently after taking on his career as an assistant speech writer for the Mayor of Denver.
Merit Details:
Hans possesses the benefits of Striking looks 4. His soft pale winter skin almost glows beneath his long white hair.
Background:
It all started with a seemingly amusing Grimm tale:
~Godfather Death~
There once lived a poor man who had twelve children and who had to work day and night just to feed them. When a thirteenth was born, the man was so desperate that he didn't know where to turn. Finally he ran out into the main road leading into town and decided to ask the first person he met to stand godfather. That first person turned out to be the good Lord, and he already knew what was on the man's mind. "You poor soul," he said, "I feel sorry for you. I'll hold at the christening, and you can be sure that I'll take care of it and make certain it finds happiness on earth."
The man asked, "Tell me who you are."
"I' m your dear Lord."
"Then I do not want you as the godfather; for you give to the rich and let the poor go hungry." The man said that because he did not know how wisely God distributes wealth and poverty. And so he turned away from the Lord and went on his way.
Then the devil came to him and said, "What are you looking for? If you make me your child's godfather, I will give him a heap of gold and all the pleasures found in the world to go with it."
The man asked: "Tell me who you are."
"I am the devil."
"Then I do not wish to have you for a godfather," said the man. "You deceive mankind and lead them astray."
He went on his way, and then Death, on his withered legs, came walking toward him, and said, "Take me as your child's godfather."
The man asked, "Who are you?"
"I am Death, I make all equal and in balance."
Then the man said, "You are the right one. You take away the rich as well as the poor, without distinction. You shall be godfather. "
Death answered, "I will make your child rich and famous, for he who has me for a friend will lack nothing."
The man said, "Next Sunday is the christening. Be there at the right time."
Death appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way.
After the boy came of age his godfather appeared to him one day and bade him go with him. He led him forth into a forest, and showed him an herb which grew there, and said, "Now you shall receive your godfather's present. I will turn you into a famous physician. Whenever you are called to a sick patient, I will always appear to you. If I stand by their head, you may say with confidence that you can make them well again; and if you give them of this herb they will recover. If I stand at their feet, they are mine, and you must say that they are beyond help, that all remedies are in vain. Beware of using the herb against my will, or it might fare ill with you."
But this is where the Tale and the Truth truly take different paths
This young man was indeed the thirteenth child of a poor man. Though, when that man sought a godfather he thought he encountered three great individuals. What he really found was just one; one very fair and manipulative person who was seeking out not just his own slave, but true story of misery, deception, and torment. This mask was even adorned by a woman disguised as powerful male figures of mortal life just to add more to the sick pleasures of the tale.
When the he grew to be a young man "Death" did indeed appear to him. He was taken into the woods and the Fae did give a story of a great future to his replacement. The young man, the true human being, was taken into the Hedge and entered a life of slavery just for the sheer pleasure of his cruel master.
This slave was gifted with a keen tongue and excellent skill with the pen. The Fae decided he would be the perfect herald for his court. Hans thought to resist at first, but his duties were not as fruitless as many other Changelings that his master kept. Other slaves that would visit the court as tokens of their own Gentry's wealth were covered in drab clothing and treated as possessions and objects not to be heard or noticed.
Hans was dressed in the finest clothing and taught matters of etiquette and social grace. All of this was to only better himself as his masters Herald, but it meant his life was somewhat gifted. This was all just an elaborate form of domination and manipulation of his life from the Gentry. The mediocre meals, elegant dress, and lessons were also coupled with constant berating, slaps with a reed if he was not in perfect posture, and little time to rest or sleep as lessons blended with formal courts, or even mock courts when his Gentry couldn't muster up the guests to keep his Herald in practice.
As Hans continued his servitude he noticed more and more opportunities to explore his Gentry's extravagant kingdom. Upon a few rare occasions Hans discovered his Gentry leaving and entering a secluded part of a wing of the castle where he would spend several hours in a small enclosed room. This peaked Hans curiosity and one night when his Gentry was not in need of his services he snuck into the room to explore what was so entertaining to his fickle keeper that he would spend so much time within.
What Hans discovered was a largely empty room with a single stone caldron carefully placed in the center of the room. He noticed that the Caldron was filled with a kind of dark yet reflective fluid that swirled within the cold pot. As he leaned over the lip he began to see the darkness fade away and an image formed in the swirling pool. It was his home, but somehow different. There was a large banner on the front of the home that said "Congratulations!" As Hans continued to stare into the pot he felt more like he was actively walking into his home to explore this strange event. He could no longer separate what he was seeing from the idea that he had been freed. Was this a party for him? How did they know that he had suffered, that he had escaped?!? Hans looked down at his tatter of torn clothes and snuck into his bedroom to change before finding his family. He put on articles that he did not recognize as his he heard shouts of laughter and cheer from outside the window. Hans looked out the window to see a garden party toasting and cheering their guest of honor. His horror sank into his heart like a knot in his chest. There he was, standing in that garden below. Surrounded by friends and family toasting his Graduation? Yes, there he was, dressed in a fine suit, with an emotionless glance on his face as everyone surrounded him with praise. His high school sweetheart was hanging off one arm as his own father gave a speech congratulating that imposter. Then a true tragedy hit him, that fake, the imposter, the stranger living his life turned to his sweetheart, his rose, his starlight, and got on one knee. As the hand reached in to his pocket to pull out a small jewelry box Hans gripped himself against the window unable to scream or call out to interrupt this impossible of events. His mouth only forming the words, ~No! No no no no! It's not me.~ As his doppelganger placed the ring on the trembling hand of his love he looked up at the window. He wasn't just some strange unknown imposter, he knew! He knew what he was doing and what he was taking and he was enjoying it! Hans looked back into the room; unable to speak he would find another way to break the occasion. He reached for a wooden chair as the shadows of the room began to fill and cover him. As he reach back with the chair to smash the window dark hands reached out and grabbed him firmly but very smooth. They took him into the darkness, into the Hedge, like he had no choice or ability to fight back. Hans slipped backward his mouth gapped open, trying to call for help, into the darkness and back to his master. He stood there, remembering the cauldron and realizing that what he had scene was not real. He took some quick comfort there before he was scolded by his liege. He was punished severely and watched ever so closely afterward. He was able to notice that the cauldron was moved and he wasn't sure where.
Hans later was plagued by dreams of his glimpse into a life that could have been. As he was tortured by the idea that he could have had that life the end of many of those dreams had an image of his Gentry coming up from leaning over the cauldron. The Gentry looks at him through his dream and smiles. "That is not your life anymore; your replacement will live it perfectly fine. You are mine now, and you will never see your loved ones again." Hans would wake from each of those dreams screaming and draped in sweat. He would find his Gentry knocking on his door mere seconds afterward telling him to get himself straightened out for a new appointment, training, or just simply to jump through some hoops to please his master.
Hans didn't realize it at the time, but the encounter with the cauldron was perfectly planned. The second and just as elaborately orchestrated by his master and happened a year later. Hans found his Gentry making more frequent visits to a secluded part of the courtyard. Within, a small gazebo was placed in the middle of his elaborate garden maze. Hans again found an opportunity to slip in unnoticed and again found the cauldron placed in the center pavilion. He leaned over it again to see and escape once again to this fantasy. Again the images began to swirl before him and quickly he was misplaced into believing he was actually free of his shackles and back home again. It was a more familiar time. He found himself an observer again to an event for his Fetch, a term he learned since their last encounter. This time his Fetch was graduating high school. He had been accepted into Harvard and was pursuing a degree in Political Science. Hans tried to resist the urge to interrupt, but he had a moment of clarity that he was here before. This time he could intersect and stop what he knew would come to pass in a few years time. He could take his life back and prevent the imposter from marrying his love. Just when he realized how perfect his plan was a clawed hand reached out from the brush he was hiding in. He was struck and pulled from the vision to find himself waking again to the familiar slavery he had thought he escaped. He was again chastised for his disobedience and watched like a hawk for months to come.
Each moment was perfectly planned by his Gentry and each time increased his hope and then struck him with despair. The recent encounter only increased his dreams of the events. They also continued his torment by his master to end each dream with a reminder that his dreams are a taste of what he will never have. Hans began to see that these dreams and the vision in the cauldron was not some charade, but actually a glimpse into the event of his life he was no longer a part of. His greatest clue was in the cruelty of his Fae captor. He wouldn't enjoy tormenting him about it so much if it wasn't true.
Hans' Gentry put together what he did not know was her last torment of freedom lost. Hans had discovered the cauldron again, this time it was enclosed in an underwater bubble of air in the keepers crystal lake. The vision presented him in his Fetches future again. It was on what Hans had imagined as the greatest day of his life, only it was not his day. The Fetch and his love were getting married. The ceremony was in the extravagant back yard his graduation party had been in. Hans realized that his involvement, his decision to take back what he lost was his downfall the past two times. So he kept quiet and watched the entire ceremony from the shadows. He stayed for the ceremony, the reception, the wedding night. When it was all over he forgot he was watching this again from an outside perspective. He thought maybe he could make something for himself. If he didn't attack his Fetch he might just- A muffling grasp, and blow to the head, and he woke up again to the evil grin of his Gentry. The punishment was even more severe this time, despite all of it being planned by his master. The dreams continued and were more developed now possessing the dreams and memories of three encounters with his Fetches life. Still plagued by the frightful ending of his Gentry reminding him that those dreams are not his own.
Hans began to realize what cruel joke was being played on him. Each vision was a tool to keep his hope alive enough for him not to want more. Each event a tactic to keep him from thinking he could get more if he was truly free. Three years had passed, each year with a new chance to see the cauldron. He wouldn't be so foolish again. Almost a year later another chance showed up, another convenient opportunity. He didn't take it this time. He let it go. So another opportunity came up and was passed on, and another, and another. Finally after 5 years the opportunities stopped and his Gentry became frustrated and bored with their game. He played plenty of others, so as not to become bored with his toy. Hans started to plan a true escape this time. He convinced some other Changelings, some of whom were the kind who hunted lost servants. He knew that if they were hunted with him they would not be hunting after him.
This time his escape was perfect.
Hans discovered the Changeling Freehold in Denver quite by mistake as he stumbled into the bar of Mavis, Cold One. Mavis took him in, as she grudgingly has done with many new Changelings. Though her demeanor is rather gruff she was a great boon to Hans as he coped with the transition of reclaiming a new life.
Shortly after Hans found himself back in Denver he had already achieved a position as assistant speech writer for the Denver mayor. The then Mayor Web had plenty of uses for the services of his speech staff and Hans was grateful to become a part of the city’s future. Later Mayor Hickenlooper retained the previous speech staff as his successful aids in the continued growth of the city.
Hans' connection to the political lifestyle in the real world began to inspire ambitions in the Changeling courts. He saw plenty of room for improvement that he could offer the other courts as well as his own. Hans followed the movements of his current Queen and offered any and all assistance he could get in. The Winter Queen was traditional in her values of the Winter court and the freehold itself. She passed down these ideals to Hans and he embraced them as his own to honor her and his court. His Queen later achieved a higher Clarity and desired to step down from the position to embrace her true self and complete her stealth as a full member of mortal society. As she stepped down Hans took the obvious succession as a valued member of the court and known leader in the Freehold.
Motley
Allies
Mavis Thornsby - Mentor and Confidant
"S" - Helped him when he was just recently out of the Hedge.
Emma Hart - Sister to Raina Hart. Hans rescued them both from the cold shortly after her escape from her Keeper. Introduced them to Mavis who later became their employer.
Raina Hart - Sister to Emma Hart. Hans rescued them both from the cold shortly after her escape from her Keeper. Introduced them to Mavis who later became their employer.
Enemies
Harry Leroy - Minor Nemesis, Goblin Merchant
Character Inspirations
Soundtrack
Hazy Shade of Winter - Bangles
Quotes
"Who needs the Goblin Market when you can sell your wares at Winter Market?"
"Honestly I don't understand why anyone associates with those dirty little beasts."
Rumors
King Bruden is quite traditional. He often scoffs at the activities and wares associated with the Goblin Market. He does not look down upon those who take part, but he does not interact with it as a lower form of commerce in Changeling society.
Hans is known for starting a local Denver tradition called Winter Wake. The Winter Wake is a ceremony where Changelings are invited to bring aspects of their life before they entered the Hedge. The donation can be a story, or trinket of their past. Everyone offers some description of the item donated and how they were attached to it. The story or charm is then sealed into a container to be released again at the end of the year. It is a ritual made to help Changelings let go of things they cannot regain and help them move on with their lives.
It is rumored that Hans never donates or gives a story during the Winter Wake that is truly connected with his past. It is said that he is so consumed by his sorrow and loss that he dare not part with it.
The Denver Spring court has also developed a ritual in concert with Winter Wake that is designed for Changelings to celebrate their new lives and the lives they have forged for themselves now that they are free of their Gentry. Hans is quite flattered by the compliment to his own invention.
Hans Bruden owns and lives in Richthofen castle. He often invites members of the Denver Freehold and Changelings visiting Denver to join him for hosted events at his home.
