Realistic or Modern [SYN] ACT I CS

[Pilgrim59]

SYNDICATE: ACT I

CHARACTERS

GRIMALDI HOUSEHOLD (FULL)
_{Those that are part of the Grimaldi's Household by bloodline or official occupational status.}
LADY MARIA GRIMALDI by Primula
JOSEPHINE BONHEUR by Kol
XAVER DE ARCANGELIS by Dragonsfire


ASSOCIATES (UNLIMITED)
_{Grimaldis' acquaintances and distant companions - independent or contractual.}
PHILIP FAIRHURST by WorthlessPlebian
CONOR MCGREGOR by Huntertabbysandshark3
REGINALD CLARKE by Optimo
FINNEGAN WILDE by Meme Man
ERYN C. WATSON by Doctor Nope
CONNOR MCKINLEY by Soviet Panda
LORENZO DE AUDITORE by Sicarius
CASSANDRA LENOIR by Scarl3ttSavage
ARJUN DHAWAN by Spiderverse

​

GUIDELINES

I. If unsure, run your ideas by me. Feel free to ask questions in OOC or in my PMs.
II. Approved profiles will be given a reaction by me.
III. Limit of one character submission.
IV. Illustrated or anime face-claims only.
V. BBCode is optional, as long as the necessary information is provided.
​

I. General Information
Name: (Character's name must include their given name and surname.)
Alias/Nicknames: (Any nickname or moniker. Disregard if inapplicable)
Gender: (Self-explanatory)
Date of Birth: (Self-explanatory)
Legal Profession: (Outside of their criminal capabilities, what is their official capacity?)
Organization Profession: (Within the Grimaldi's association, what is their capacity?)
Nationality: (Where are they from?)

II. Appearance
Height: (Both in imperial and metric)
Hair Color: (Self-explanatory)
Eye Color: (Self-explanatory)
Appearance: (Optional if using a faceclaim. May include other details not portrayed.)

III. Background
Personality: (Optional)
Backstory: (A summary of their background.)

IV. Abilities & Network
Relevant Skills & Experiences: (What do they bring to the table when it comes to illegal activities? Maximum of five.)
Criminal Network: (You may choose one criminal network that your character may contact for support. Notable network examples may include but are not limited to: hired gunfighters, consultancies, couriers, , etc.)

 

[Pilgrim59]

• I. General Info
• II. Appearance
• III. Background
• IV. Abilities & Network

• 
  Name: Maria figlia di Luca di Grimaldi
  
  Alias/Nicknames: N/A
  
  Gender: Female
  
  Date of Birth: Aug. 30th, 1825 (31)
  
  Legal Profession: Business Owner / English Professor
  
  Organization Profession: Crime Adjudicator
  
  Nationality: Italian (Piedmontese)
  
  
• 
  Height: 5 ft. 5 in. (165 cm)
  
  Hair Color: Blonde
  
  Eye Color: Blue
  
  Appearance: -
  
  
• 
  Personality: An amiable soul among the upper class and a lethal enemy to those that opposes her, Maria is both an effective politician and a business woman. While placid on the outside, her wrath is often concealed behind her perfect smile. Towards her associates, she often commands them with relative courtesy and elegance.
  
  Backstory: Having studied abroad in England ever since a young age, Maria had learnt much of what the Western world has to offer. While she holds a strong sense of patriotism during her youth, she came into contact with a mysterious gentleman that gave her cause to abandon her ideals and to serve a higher cause. Despite holding a high sense of personal integrity, the young Maria had a knack for organizing activities that would otherwise be deemed as "heinous" in the eyes of others - that was, if she was ever caught in the act. Unbound by the desires to change the world as she saw fit, Maria gave in to his words and pledged herself to his cause. Having her gift utilized during the war in Crimea, she and her companions managed to disrupt communication efforts, leading up to the failed Charge of the Light Brigade - which allowed them to accomplish their primary objectives. While they gained much experience out of the war, Grimaldi grew weary of the bloodshed and gave reasons to keep away from any detail that persisted on the necessity of violence. That was, until the Institution's telegraph arrived upon her doorstep.
  
  Grimaldi's past actions have often spoke for itself, as she looks after the well-being of her associates before committing them to a mission. Over the years, the roots of her connections run deep, covering both officials and statespersons that allow her to operate abroad with moderate success. Armed with the confidence of her associates and opportunities provided by her relations, Grimaldi is heralded as a powerful and opportune crime architect of her time. But even she must remain docile in the eyes of those that can simply extinguish her flames just as easy as they could orchestrate a war to resolve their differences. With the wide world as their playground, it would take more than assassination and defamation to defeat Maria.
  
  While the Grimaldi's assets in Europe and Asia provides a steady income, as well as acting as international outposts from which she could launch her operations, Maria had often stuck to her linguistic skills to infiltrate developing countries.
  
  
• 
  Relevant Skills & Experiences:
  - Arithmetic proficiency.
  - Intermediate accounting skill.
  - Fluent in 3 different languages.
  - Political animal.
  
  Criminal Network:
  [The Grimsby Company] - The Grimsby Company is known for their smuggling services within the criminal world. They specialize in transport of goods or people to places that would otherwise be difficult to find a path to. Having owed Maria a legal contract that kept them out of the East India Company's light, their cutthroat price are reduced for Grimaldi and her associates.
  

 

[Worthlessplebian]

Art by Betty Jiang

• I. General Info
• II. Appearance
• III. Background
• IV. Abilities & Network

• 
  Name: Philip Fairhurst;
  
  Alias/Nicknames: Sinbad, The Aristocrat;
  
  Gender: Male;
  
  Date of Birth: Sept. 17th, 1815 (40);
  
  Legal Profession: Banker;
  
  Organization Profession: Serial Killer
  
  Nationality: British (English);
  
  
• 
  Height: 6'0 aka 180 cm;
  
  Hair Color: Dark Brown;
  
  Eye Color: Auburn;
  
  Appearance: - This reclusive banker is the epitome of the brawler. A thorax as round and hardy as a brandy barrel accompanied, contrasted by the face befitting nobler aspirations. Short, sooty, dark brown hair with mirthless auburn streaks for eyes. Knuckles bruised by jabs, hooks, or straights while the finger pads adopted a permanent reddish or brownish sheen from handling leather ledgers at the carmine-brick establishment for finances. His skin fair but slick with sweat. The suits are varied in style, but follow gradients of the same colour. It is only when he dons that owlish ceramic that he changes, nearly supernatural. The contours of his Stygian cloak thin his physique, the popped collar elongate the neck, silvery patterns draw the eye's focus to the red gem over his heart. Until argent talons rob theirs — or swords stab through them.
  
  
  
  
  Art by Fate-Lee Deviant Art.
  
• 
  Personality: An unaffectionate gentleman passively coming and going from his workplace. Affable to newcomers and tolerated by associates. Philip does not harbour endearment to the upper class, but will happily conduct their expenditures and accounting. There is no denying that he is avuncular, however that comes with strict demarcation; those that cross him, this goes for all activities, will be shunned as if afflicted by leprosy.
  
  But what Philip shares with the common man is the undeniable mask, he dare not reveal. A pristine thing, this Avian visage. An abase, abstruse to the world around him. He fancies himself an artisan, but the truth of the matter is beguilement to the act of killing. A bedrock to his psyche, or lack thereof. The cause of his peers intrigues him greatly, except he educes his principles and goals above them. The gory, bloodied, cadaverous deed placed above the regulatory creed of man and his ideals. Almost a dichotomy, just like himself when he dons that sable waistcoat and Stygian cloak —in his day to day, the colour of his voice is light and passionless, but the mask darkens it with driven depth.
  
  The savage animal with the callous, deadeyed man.
  
  Backstory: Philip's family were always effluent with affluence. They can trace their origins to Bohemia, when they were known under the surname of Horowitz. It is there they cut their teeth with money-handling for the richly noble of society. Alas the Horowitz could not remain in their precious lands for long, although this is beyond Philip's notice as it happened generations before his father's birth. They emigrated to bright Britain in search for better prospects. Naturalising themselves with the local English becoming the Fairhurst. Philip, however, never cared for this. The young boy spent a lot of his youth rabble rousing with the urchin boys of the streets. An unsightly affair for a family that seems to value themselves so highly. Fervently punishing Philip time after time after time. The resentment in his heart grew, but Philip is no dumb boy. Biding time until he grew strong enough. He took up pugilism to strengthen his knuckles, tighten his iron bowels, and grow an adamantine jaw.
  
  When the time came, Philip returned from his studious apprenticeship to his family's house. It is nothing to be dismissive about, though clearly lacking the extravagance that their betters possessed. He entered with his luggage, greeting his family lovingly. Overjoyed, he proposed to travel to a peer's manor to celebrate the completion of his tutelage. This had been a farce, a grave one. As the days turned to nights, nights to days the morning came to depart. They did so swiftly. Along the way, discussing all manner of pejorative happenings that Philip witnessed, his family were quite the gossipers.
  
  When they arrived at the manor, Philip wasted no time in directing his family to the courtyard. Which he immediately bludgeoned his father over the head. Knocking him unconscious. Backhanding his mother with a fist as hard as a gauntlet under the white glove. Dazed as they are, Philip beat them. Their blood staining the rocky path to the circular centre. He removed his coat, draping it on the bedding of a bush. He dragged his genitors by their hair, throwing them against the ground. He beat them again. Then brandished a longknife. Profuse bleeding from their mouth and nostrils, his mother bled from an open wound in the back of her blonde head. He stabbed each fifteen times, then vivisected his father from crotch to sternum while slicing open his mother from shoulder to shoulder.
  
  Days later, he would report his friend as the culprit; pretending to be utterly devastated that he would ever do such a thing. By sheer luck or genius, Philip evaded justice.
  
  But an ennui caught him. For the next several days, he worked inanimately. Like Talos the Automaton from Crete. Until he found the red path to the future. A mysterious man offered him purpose, but the purpose reflected back on him. Sprouting his newfound idée fixe; the killing.
  
  
• 
  Relevant Skills & Experiences:
  -Proficiency in Numeracy-related skills;
  -Bare-knuckle Boxing;
  -Knife work and swordsmanship;
  -Fluent in two other languages, excluding English;
  -Cooking;
  
  Criminal Network:
  [A Mole or Two Hidden In Ye Yard] - Philip has one or two moles sequestered away in the midst of Scotland Yard's finest queued in waiting to assist him with his endeavours. Whether ferreting away critical evidence or informing him, their duty is to help him. Fortunate is it then that Fairhurst has never revealed himself, taking on the anonymous role of a third figure to them. A mutual acquaintance by the name of Albrecht Tenpenny, a fake identity and faker face. It is to this falsehood that they send their letters.
  
  

 

[dragonsfire]

Painting by Daniel Murtagh

• I. General Info
• II. Appearance
• III. Background
• III. Abilities & Network

• 
  Name: Xaver Heinrich De Arcangelis
  
  Alias/Nicknames: Heinrich Xaver
  
  Gender: Male
  
  Date of Birth: Nov. 1st, 1836 (19)
  
  Legal Profession: Steamboat Clerk/Engineer
  
  Organization Profession: Private Courier of Lady Grimaldi
  
  Nationality: German (Bavaria)
  
• 
  Height: 5'8 (172 cm)
  
  Hair Color: Brown
  
  Eye Color: Light Hazel
  
  Appearance: Though not one for fashion, an intentionally limited wardrobe tells much about it's owner. That which is best worn and most comfortable is paradoxically the most ragged, his hessian boots and leather trousers so stained with horse odor even Persley could never pull it out. This garb brings fingertips stained in coal dust and scalding scars along the arm below notice, while the lowly casual garb that is an altered Bavarian lederhosen goes to highlight the presence -and accent- of a foreigner. More rarely worn are the armful of light jackets, frock coats, and accompanying trousers he hardly considers his own, even if the fine quality is to be appreciated.
  
• 
  Personality: Ever one for change, having been surrounded by the benefits of industrialization and development since birth, Xaver’s dull eyes are so often lit up by the world’s happenings that it seems he is enamored by life itself. This innocent mien, the look of countless young men who are sought out to fuel revolutionary armies or fill the role of a protégé, has persisted beyond the stage where he actually feels the need to find such a purpose. The thrill of boldness and bravery, traits he finds many seem to lack, replaces the most fundamental human need of toil, while his higher mind's desire for curiosity and purpose has become enraptured by the cause of the household he has dedicated himself to.
  
  Like the company he keeps, his dealings run the risk of sullying trust and reputation, so amiability is the bright and bold trademark of almost every interaction. Whether lending his ear without a hint of bother, or being called upon for some gentlemanly favor, the aforementioned dull eyes and hurried demeanor come to a halt with a pleasing smile. Perhaps unique among his fellow scoundrels, this guise is the goal itself, for every pleasant interaction presents an opportunity for not just the connections and confidants his lady requires, but the decision between fidelity or treachery he finds strangely satisfying.
  
  Backstory: Embraced by the fruits of German innovation from birth, and embracing it in turn, Xaver crossed Nuremburg's ill-fitting divide of labour and liberal arts at the cusp of an oddly unsupervised childhood and adolescence. Soot stained letters marked his path towards Germany’s expanding railways as he followed the revolution of architects and engineers on foot. Though he would never lay his eyes upon their schematics, locomotives carried Xaver and his messenger bags across the many borders of the confederation; and when a second or third-class train carriage wouldn’t suffice, an oft-illegitimately obtained Barvarian or Prussian postal stamp would generally secure him a horse to finish the journey.
  
  This travel centric youth came to a halt after a visit to England on his fifteenth year, the short trip becoming extended residency as father Nevio De Arcangelis’ entry into Grimdali service would mark the end of his duty in Germany; excused as his family’s diplomatic reassignment to London after the disastrous conclusion of Italy’s first independence war. From here, Xaver would reembark his wanderings upon the elitist tracks and trails of London in an alternative fashion, working dual-capacity on the rural-oriented steamboats of England's outskirts while his father found the retirement his employer did not at the conclusion of the Crimean War, taking it upon himself to place his son in the space he had filled for half a decade before making his leave.
  
• 
  Relevant Skills & Experiences:
  -Seamanship
  -Proficiency in Forgery & Ciphers
  -Fluency in English, German, Italian
  -Animal Handling
  
  Criminal Network:
  [Burringbill Conspiracy] - One may take note of how passive Xaver's role often seems. His acts against the upper class consist of the soft violence of collecting and spilling secrets, and even that has lessened since they have begun to recover from the disarray of war. In actuality, his active role is the hidden precedent of spreading lies and rumors, which can catch like wildfire between town to town and city to city. Not the only rumormonger in England by a long shot, his relative immunity to the consequences of the rumors is a boon the masked merchants of the Burringbill Conspiracy do not have, whose desperate and destructive drive for power makes the exploitation of their multinational speculative power a very easy, if risky, task for the handful of people who know their identities.
  

 

[Huntertabbysandshark3]

Name: Conor Macgregor
Alias/Nicknames: Mac
Gender: male
Date of Birth: october 1st 1830 (25)
Legal Profession: rat catcher/ pest exterminator
Organization Profession: gunman/poison
Nationality: Irland

II. Appearance
Height: 5.6 feet (170.688cm)
Hair Color: ginger (so souless)
Eye Color: blue
Appearance:

III. Background
Personality: (Optional)
Backstory: Irish born and raised Conor family where like many just potato farmers his own job on the family farm being to deal with vermin up until the great famine hit, many starved due to this, Conor's family was hit like any other at only 15 years old his proficiency in firearms, lead him to less then "legal" work to survive turns out rat posion kills people just as well too even as the famine ending conor ended up deep in criminal world and frankly he didn't much feel like getting out afterall all that was left back home was suffering and sad reminders. Ending up kinda just falling into working with the syndicate afterwards still using his old job as a cover and income afterall, there are plenty of vermin.. some bigger then others.

IV. Abilities & Network
Relevant Skills & Experiences:
>marksmanship,
>understand of and ability to produce various poisons,
> ability to cover up evidence
>firearms maintenance and assembly
Criminal Network: "i know a guy" a reliable source to acquire compounds needed to making posions and other thing

 

[Optimo]

• I. General Info
• II. Appearance
• III. Background
• IV. Abilities & Network

• 
  Name: Reginald Clarke
  
  Alias/Nicknames: Reggie
  
  Gender: Male
  
  Date of Birth: May. 20th, 1823 (33)
  
  Legal Profession: Politician
  
  Organization Profession: Hired Gun / Professional Killer
  
  Nationality: British
  
  
• 
  Height: 6 ft. 4 in. (195 cm)
  
  Hair Color: Blonde
  
  Eye Color: Yellow
  
  Appearance: -
  
  
• 
  Personality: Reginald is a consummate planner. He has such millimetric precision and obsessive attention to detail that he will frequently boast of being "X seconds ahead of schedule", or berate people with "You're X seconds late". Part of this habit stems from his OCPD. Everything has to match some kind of pattern that he approves of. He is incredibly intelligent, widely considered a mastermind among his peers. His advanced way of thinking surprises even the smartest people in his field. People describe it as him always being one step ahead. In addition to his intelligence, he is also exceptionally charming. Using the two in conjunction to make sure his plans fall in order by manipulating events and people.
  
  Backstory: Born and raised in England, Reginald was troubled growing up. As a child he had trouble understanding people and certain things. He wasn't stupid, it just took him longer to catch on to things. He quickly overcame this minor flaw by becoming very analytic. Relying on psychology, pattern recognition and eruditeness to predict the short and long term actions of people and systems. This allowed him to take advantage of people before they could take advantage of him. As he grew, so did his intelligence. Eventually landing him a job as a politician. Reginald mostly does what's in his best interest or whatever he feels like so he's not opposed to accepting bribes from people. One day, he ran into a shady person and was offered a job. Curious, Reginald inquired more about the job only to find out it was an assassination job but it paid well. He completed the job and somewhat enjoyed the process of planning a successful kill and the thrill of actually killing. He started taking more jobs and soon became a professional. He did exceptionally well in this field because of his knack for planning and analyzing. Reginald isn't a psychopath who kills anyone for fun, he has morals and a strict code. A part of him also did it to test his own abilities. And of course, he made good money.
  
  
• 
  Relevant Skills & Experiences:
  - Exceptional planner.
  - Superb manipulator.
  - Expert combatant both armed and unarmed.
  
  Criminal Network:
  [The Aces] - The Aces is somewhat of a secret organization that runs an information-gathering system with a network of informers. Their organization basically hires guns for specific hits. The man who got Reginald into assassinations was from here.
  

 

[Midrick]

​

---

I. General information

Name: Finnegan Wilde

Alias/Nickname: The Irishman, Frenchie, Finn

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: February 9th, 1828

Legal Profession: Mercenary/Private Security

Organization Profession: Contract Killer/Gun Runner

Nationality: Irish/French

---

II. Appearance

Height: 5 ft. 11 in. (180 cm)

Hair Color: Red

Eye Color: Grey

---

III. Background

Personality:
A man of few words, Finn has always put a greater value on an individuals actions rather than their words and self professed beliefs. A life in the military has made Finn disciplined and well mannered, his years dealing with gloryhound commanding officers and fellow officers who were promoted based on family prestige rather then merit have galvanized his temper, despite his feelings of displeasure working for and with the unqualified and incompetent, he will always attempt to turn a losing situation with every once of strength he can. Despite his somewhat aloof nature, Finn's experience leading men as well as his ability to predict the outcomes of events well before they have transpired have made him popular with whoever has worked with him, and his ability to think on the fly is matched only by his drive to succeed. Despite his maturity Finn was and still is a bit of a bachelor, army life was always uncertain even for an officer, far be it for him to say he wasn't going to enjoy his life with the fact that it could potentially end at any time hanging over his head.

Background:
Born in Paris to two Irish exiles, Finn seemed destined for a career in the military, his father having joined Napoleons Irish legion and serving with distinction. Finn ate up the stories of Bonaparte's campaigns and the reforms and policies put in place by Napoleon to benefit the common man, deciding from a young age that he wanted to be just like his father and fight in the army. Due to his service and status as an officer, Finn was able to enroll at the Ecole Militarie academy in Paris where be quickly found success in marksmanship as well as fencing and unarmed combat, holding a record as one of the youngest champions in the schools annual boxing tournaments, as well as flourishing in classes of theory and history. He graduated near the top of his class and was given a post within Paris, but a series of events involving Finn and the granddaughter of Louis-Achilles Baraguey d'Hilliers saw him transfered to Italy just in time for the first Italian War of unification to begin.

Finn distinguished himself during the the invasion of the Roman Republic, earning himself the nickname of "Cafard" or cockroach for his continued survival in fierce battles and where heavy fighting took place. After Rome had been secured by the French, Finn remained in the city for a period of 4 years before being recalled to fight in the Crimean war. While the Italian Wars were a good place to cut his teeth, Finn was nowhere near prepared for what the crimean war threw at him. Part of the first wave of french forces sent into Russia, Finn took part in the siege of Sevastopol in its entirety, distinguishing himself in the battle of Malakoff for taking command of and rallying his unit after their commanding officer was killed on the battlefield. Although being promoted to captain and being offered a command, Finn declined and mustered out of the French Army by late 1856, despite his love for the army, he had changed since fighting in Russia. He was quiet and introspective as opposed to his former raucous and wild tendencies in his youth. After living with his parents for a time and helping them relocate to Provence, restlessness took hold of Finn, and he returned to Paris. It was there through a former comrade that he learned of a group of former soldiers who had taken to working privately for those who could afford their skills and services, despite being skeptical at first, Finn accepted his offer to work for an Italian heiress in England in exchange for a handsome sum of money.

---

IV. Abilities and Network

Relevant Skills & Experience:
-Veteran of the Crimean war and first Italian War of unification
-Accomplished Marksman
-Former commissioned Officer of the French Army.
-Proficient Fencer
-Champion Boxer in his academy days


Criminal Network:
[Soldats Sans Frontières] - The Soldats Sans Frontières, or soldiers without borders, is an organization of independent foreign as well as domestic mercenary companies. Rising from the brigades of foreigners in continental European armies after the wars had ended, the SSF contains the likes of Poles, Swiss, Irish, Scots, Italians, Prussian, French, and even English. The SSF maintains close ties with men high in the chain of command of multiple European militaries, most of the SSF forces being ex military, allowing them preferential treatment including the procurement of arms as well as contracts in whichever territory they operate in. Because of the perceived threat of a multinational force of well trained, well armed men that work for the highest bidder. SSF takes great care to keep itself hidden in plain sight, using multiple groups of men to pose as differently groups, their military benefactors conveniently writing them off as hoax and rumor, and silencing anyone who knows more than upper management wants them to.

 

[Soviet Panda]

​

I. General Information
Name: Connor McKinley
Alias/Nicknames: N/A
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: 2-6-1805
Legal Profession: Doctor. Veteran Dragoon.
Organization Profession: Enforcer.
Nationality: Irish

II. Appearance
Height: 5'3", 160cm
Hair Color: White
Eye Color: Blue

III. Background
Personality: A kind and friendly soul that managed to survive the horrors of war unbowed and unbroken. Connor has a pleasant grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye, even when in the middle of an operation. He's willing to lend an ear and listen to the problems of anyone who wishes to speak, and to come to an agreement with those he's sent to straighten out. And though he does not enjoy his role in the Organization, it is simply something that must be done, and so he goes and does it.
Backstory: There is nothing very note worthy in Connor's life, not that he can think of at any rate. He is adamant that the most exciting part of his life was when he was marched out to war. "The glory days" he calls them. Soldiers that served with Connor claim he was like a man possessed when the time finally came for battle, rapidly reloading even while on horse at full gallop, snapping off fairly accurate shots that hit most of the time. And when they inevitably had to get stuck in, those same soldiers stated that his horse was just as deadly as his sword work. Connor himself humbly states that his horses have probably killed just as many men as he has.

Why he decided to leave the military and take up doctoring, who could say? Perhaps he wanted to save lives instead of take them for a change. Perhaps he wanted to improve his blade work with a scalpel instead of a sword. Regardless, after the Crimean War, where he was called back to action albeit as an officer and advisor, he had become a well known and recognized doctor made popular for his reasonable prices.

IV. Abilities & Network
Relevant Skills & Experiences:

1. The Good Doctor: Connor has taken fairly quickly to the medical field. Particularly in the field but he is quite the capable hand with the scalpel.
2. Rough Rider: Due to his time as a Dragoon, Connor can easily ride most horses, and quickly break in anything that gets any ideas.
3. A Noble Swordsman: Dragoons did not always fire from a distance. Sometimes they were ordered to charge an exposed flank.
4. A fine shot: You don't do much good if you can't hit what you're aiming at. It's even better if you can do it from horseback.

Criminal Network: Some Good Friends. A group of now discharged servicemen that Connor has recruited over his long life.. Connor loans them out to those seeking protection of some kind. Whether that be a place or a person. While not all of them could be considered veterans, they have taken more towards the violent life style of soldiering and less towards being a dish washer or milk man.

 

[Doctor Nope]

• I. General Info
• II. Appearance
• III. Background
• IV. Abilities & Network

• 
  Name: Eryn C. Watson
  
  Alias/Nicknames: N/A
  
  Gender: Male
  
  Date of Birth: Jun. 12th, 1834 (22)
  
  Legal Profession: Doctor
  
  Organization Profession: Violent Doctor
  
  Nationality: British
  
  
• 
  Height: 5 ft. 7 in. (170 cm)
  
  Hair Color: Red
  
  Eye Color: Red
  
  Appearance: -
  
  
  
• 
  Personality: Eryn is reserved and soft-spoken, but is still friendly to most and doesn't mind idle conversation. He makes frequent use of deadpan humour in tense situations, and seems to revel in his work (both legal and illegal). When he sets his sights on completing a task, his full determination is applied not necessarily out of a desire to treat his patients or slay a foe, but rather to prove to himself over and over that he is almost unmatched in his talents. A subtle showman indeed.
  
  Backstory: Like many, Eryn is a veteran of the Crimean war. Given his young age and low rank, he of course did little more than follow orders. He was an apprentice doctor at the time, having been in the middle of his studies, and found that the casualties of the battlefield could provide an invaluable learning experience. With so many to practice on, including those he felled with his own hands, his skill skyrocketed both as a doctor and a fighter. He'd never been particularly squeamish anyway.
  
  After the war, he was heralded as something of a prodigy in the medical field, quickly establishing himself as a successful and respected doctor, with a reputation that would otherwise be unthinkable for anyone as young as him. Something was missing though. The other part of war that he'd become so familiar with. Most doctors emerging from the war had the reasonable thought to replace their sword for a scalpel, but Eryn had the opposite idea. Scalpels and Swords would become interchangable. After all, it only takes a few accurately-placed cuts to disable the tendons of an opponent's weapon arm.
  
  Now serving the Grimaldi house, Eryn accompanies parties of hired mercenaries and other fighters in Grimaldi's service on their missions, officially playing the role of medic to support their efforts, but frequently engaging in battles himself alongside them. Hanging back can get boring, after all.
  
  
• 
  Relevant Skills & Experiences:
  -Surgical prodigy
  -Above average swordsman
  -Limited grappling experience
  -Makes really good candy
  
  
  Criminal Network:
  ["No Questions Asked"] - Treating combat wounds so frequently requires quite a lot of supplies, moreso than what his own clinic's activity would reflect. Eryn's suppliers ask no questions into his spending habits nor do they raise suspicions, and even offer discounted prices for him specifically, as he's such a reliable business partner.
  

 

[Sicarius]

• I. General Info
• II. Appearance
• III. Background
• IV. Abilities & Network

• 
  Name: Lorenzo de Auditore
  
  Alias/Nicknames: The Arbiter, Lorenz
  
  Gender: Male
  
  Date of Birth: June 3rd, 1821 (35 years old)
  
  Legal Profession: Ambassador, Industrial Leader
  
  Organization Profession: : Gun Runner, Weapons Manufacturer, Diplomat
  
  Nationality: Italian (Venetian)
  
  
• 
  Height: 6’2” (187.96 cm)
  
  Hair Color: Dark Brown
  
  Eye Color: Hazel
  
  Appearance: -
  
  
• 
  Personality: Lorenzo is charismatic, refined, and charming. A master of the oratory and gifted in persuasion, the young Italian captivated all who heard him speak. It took minimal effort for Lorenzo to have control of a conversation – strategic in his words and perceptive of his audience. He is a natural romantic, finding the beauty that lives among the world and in those who contribute to its arts. However, though his patience exists in an abundance, those unfortunate enough to warrant his wrath find Lorenzo to be very uncouth and brazen in his speech; a stark contrast to his otherwise collected and tactful demeanor.
  
  Backstory: Lorenzo de Auditore was born in Venice, Italy on June 3rd of 1821. His family consisted of a small nobility whose lineage were known diplomats that served the Holy Roman Empire during the time of its rule. However, the fall of Venice eventually led to the Auditore family losing any semblance of their authority and forced many of Lorenzo’s predecessors to fall onto woodworking and carpentry as a means of survival. By the time Napoleon had conquered Venice and become King of Italy, the Auditore family saw a return to prominence as ambassadors for the Kingdom. The tradition of oratory and literature within the family soon carried forward, finding its way towards young Lorenzo.
  
  Lorenzo had a peculiar upbringing, as he was born during a time where his family was involved in Italy’s secret societies. He was not even one year old before instances of revolution and insurrections took place; proving to be quite costly as Venice had fallen far from grace and was left devastated and war-torn. As a result, the vast majority of Lorenzo’s early life consisted of poverty and strife, while also being exposed to conspiracy from his family’s involvement with Young Italy. It was during this time that Lorenzo began to develop his understanding of the human psyche and the power behind words – as the ideas of nationalism began to circulate, with moving speeches and cries for unity empowering the Italians. The Auditore family began to make powerful connections, and soon they would find themselves viewing their poverty as a thing of the past.
  
  Tensions between Austria and Italy were at their peak, and the people of Venice longed for all of Italy to be free and unified. Lorenzo found that he excelled in negotiation, following in his family’s footsteps as he contributed to the cause of the unification of Italy. By the age of twenty-four, Lorenzo had ventured into London in hopes to implore the royalty for their assistance in retaking Venice from the Austrians. It was there that Lorenzo learned about industrialization, mesmerized by the advancements made by the British and the results of mass production. Inspired by such developments in technology, Lorenzo brought back many ideas to his homeland. After a bit of reluctance from his parents, Lorenzo eventually was given adequate funding to open his own factories producing ship parts as well as furniture. The trade rapidly expanded, and Lorenzo found himself as being one of the leading industrialists in all of Italy. Soon, he would garner the attention of a mysterious organization, who later contacted him about a “very exclusive” offer. Seeing the long-term benefits and finding the terms to be agreeable, Lorenzo began mass producing weaponry comprising of various firearms, canons, and swords in secret. Smuggling said weapons into various countries, Lorenzo became a high-profile gun runner who had silently participated in the Crimean War – supplying both France and the United Kingdom’s armies as they assisted the Ottoman Empire’s fight against the Russian forces.
  
  At the end of the war, Lorenzo had become acquainted with the Grimaldis at the behest of The Institution; offering both his diplomatic and manufacturing services as needed by Lady Grimaldi. Now at the age of thirty-five, Lorenzo continues to advance his industrial exploits and political pursuits as he hopes to one day experience a fully unified Italy. However, Lorenzo is unsure of his future, as The Institution was unpredictable. Very little is known about the organization, and the Italian was not comfortable with how long he would remain an asset before being inevitably “taken care of”. He knows not what fate has in store, though he knows that he will be continually available at the request of Lady Grimaldi; and more importantly, The Institution.
  
  Or will he?
  
  
  
• 
  Relevant Skills & Experiences:
  - Master of Negotiation and Persuasion.
  - Proficient Writer.
  - Adept at Psychoanalysis.
  - Bi-Lingual (English and Italian).
  - Expert Violinist
  
  Criminal Network:
  [Raw Material Suppliers] – As a leading manufacturer in Italy, Lorenz has many connections throughout Europe that procure any and all supplies he needs to keep his industrial plants running; be it for legal or illegal purposes.
  

 

[koala]

• I. General Info
• II. Appearance
• III. Background
• IV. Abilities & Network

• 
  Full Name: Joséphine Annamarie Bonheur
  
  Alias/Nickname: Josie (default), Jo (family only)
  
  Gender: Female
  
  Date of Birth: April 19, 1826 (30)
  
  Legal Profession: Operatic Actress / Singer
  
  Organization Profession: Intelligence Officer / Spy
  
  Nationality: French
  
  Ethnicity: French-Italian
  
  
• 
  Height: 5 ft. 7 in. (170 cm)
  
  Hair Color: Light Ash Blonde
  
  Eye Color: Ice Blue
  
  Appearance: -
  
  
• 
  Personality: While she is gentle and kind-hearted to most, Joséphine is undoubtedly a strong-minded woman who will do whatever it takes to reach her goals. When it comes to a battle of willpower, she’s hardly ever the one to wave the white flag regardless of the obstacles blocking her path. However, it’s easy to believe she’s the type of person that falls for authoritative figures’ games with her doey words and airy laughs, but it’s those types of people, who believe they can get away with anything, that find themselves being strung along by her in the end.
  
  To those who only know her as a performer, she’s a simple-minded fool with no other talents. To those closest to her, she’s a loving, vengeful woman who will protect those she cares for no matter the costs to her own well-being.
  
  Likes: Baking, singing, dancing, autumn colors, fluffy animals, gift-giving
  
  Dislikes: Drunkards, cigar smoke, muddy winters, sour flavors, coffee, cheap alcohol
  
  Fears: Heights, snakes
  
  Hobbies: Flower pressing, scrapbooking
  
  Backstory: Born in the heart of Paris, France, Joséphine was raised in a lower, upper class environment. Unfortunately, her father’s gambling debts left them homeless and shunned by the rest of the family for the latter half of her youth. One situation led to the next, and her mother soon died after the loss of their fortune. However, her exquisite beauty eventually saved them as she was recruited by the owner of a local theater, and it was like the darkness of poverty was erased from her past.
  
  A few years before the Crimean War, she met a man named James Huntingham from London. The pair fell passionately in love, but he died months before their wedding date. The police and detectives ruled it as an accident, but she knew there was more to her lover’s death; and so she dug into the corruption–something she’d been too wary of before. Using all of her feeble influence in the world of aristocracy, she dug. Until she found why he had died and who had ordered his death.
  
  Revenge was too far a goal, though. She needed more power, more connections, more money. Then she met Maria, and all seemed to fall in place.
  
• 
  Relevant Skills & Experiences:
  - Fluent in French, Italian, English, and German, while familiar with certain words and phrases in other languages but she won't disclose which ones.
  - Knowledge of the musical arts and important people in that industry.
  - Talented manipulator and conversationalist.
  - Exceptional lung capacity and stamina.
  
  Criminal Network:
  [Papillon Pipers] - The Papillon Pipers are a group of women of all ages, usually wealthy or influential in one way or form. They’re predominantly located in Western Europe and their origin dates back prior to the Crimean War. Originally designed as a book club, it morphed into a new support network of money, information, and influence after their husbands and fathers went off to war.
  

 

[Scarl3ttSavage]

• I. General Info
• II. Appearance
• III. Background
• IV. Abilities & Network

• 
  Name: Cassandra Bellerose Lenoir
  
  Alias/Nicknames: Briar Rose, Bella
  
  Gender: Female
  
  Date of Birth: March 13th, 1830 (26 years old)
  
  Legal Profession: Cosmetics Manufacturer
  
  Organization Profession: : Grifter / Swindler
  
  Nationality: French
  
  
• 
  Height: 5’8” (172.72 cm)
  
  Hair Color: Brunette
  
  Eye Color: Amber
  
  Appearance: -
  
  
• 
  Personality: A renowned manufacturer of cosmetics, Cassandra is the epitome of beauty, her display of confidence indicating that it is recognized. Classy, elegant, and most certainly bewitching, the young woman is capable of coaxing any person whom she desires to toy with using enamor, her pleasant character nothing but complimentary to her allure. Those who converse with the lady may describe her as tender with a kind heart, implementing the graceful appeal expected of a woman; on the contrary, Cassandra’s charms are but another accessory that she dons in her wardrobe. In actuality, she is a Delilah of cutthroat, using whatever method necessary to achieve her goal–the thorns among roses.
  
  Backstory: “Mon amour, beauty is found within every aspect of the world; be it through fabrication or authenticity. Learn to use it, and use it well.”
  
  Birthed into the upper class within the city of Bordeaux, Cassandra’s childhood was one filled with complexities, as the Lenoir lineage had its dissension. Familial expectations were eminently high within the household; descendants were influenced to become no less than “perfect.” Being the youngest among her two sisters, Cassandra was generously graced with such abnormal beauty that her mother sought to use her for selfish gain, utilizing her daughter to the utmost benefit and shaping her into a woman of stature.
  
  The girl once pondered why she was treated so differently amongst her siblings. However, the answer was quite simple and came quickly to her with reason: Perfection was merely a characteristic that came naturally to her. Curious, calculating, and adaptable, Cassandra was best suited to follow her mother’s teachings, demonstrating her resolve in sharpening her skills and honing her given talents; nevertheless, nothing but defiance was produced. Cassandra found distaste for her family and its expectations, molding her into a woman of rebellious nature, rather than the model woman of their desires. During her rebellious stage, Cassandra often found herself to be bored, as a life of luxury was filled with meaningless drivel. Longing to experience a rush or thrill, it was during her rebellion that she discovered grifting—an art perfectly suited to her skills.
  
  Grifting came with various sorts of tools, ranging from weaponized psychology to enhancing cosmetics, the latter being her true field of expertise. Cassandra particularly enjoyed incorporating poisons and sedatives into her utility for scenarios that may require them.
  Enamored by its ecstasy (and the satisfaction gained from destroying her mother’s exertion), the girl soon broke away from her family and found herself in the organization known as Épines du Fatale, disguising herself as a producer of cosmetics to make further use of her expertise.
  
  Cassandra understood that her sole existence was to become a pawn for those above her; though as to follow the rules of chess, pawns bear the potential to rule among others—its only requirement is to play the game with strategic cleverness. Fabricating her true nature and manipulating others to her advantage was meant to be her true calling since the beginning. Albeit, her strong obsession with defiance and spiteful character tends to cloud her judgment upon action.
  
  Fortunately, her mind was warped from her familial upbringing and she lacked the remorse to find fault in her practice; though, this does not rule out the fact that Cassandra secretly longs to experience genuine connection even if temporary. Neither romantic nor platonic relationships were even accepted within the organization, but the thought of enticing a king rather over a pawn would send exhilarating shivers down her spine.
  
  As a natural competitor, how thrilling would it be to constantly follow suit with an equal in the art of tactless trickery?
  
  
  
  
• 
  Relevant Skills & Experiences:
  - Multilingual (French, English, Italian.)
  - Exceptional in the art of manipulation
  - Potent disguises
  - Vast knowledge of poisons and harmful substances
  - Adept in the fine arts; primarily piano and painting.
  
  Criminal Network:
  [Épines du Fatale] – Épines du Fatale (Thorns of Fatale) is an organization bearing young women who chose to weaponize their femininity, shaped and molded into temptresses in the art of grifting tied to contract; the groups of women consist of children (predominantly abandoned), prostitutes, and middle-class maidens. They offer their services to whomever compensates adequately.
  

 

[Spiderverse]

I. General Information
Name: Arjun Dhawan
Alias/Nicknames: Silver Tongue, Bronze Charlatan
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: October 15th, 1831 (25)
Legal Profession: Journalist / Lawyer
Organization Profession: Counter-Intelligence Officer
Nationality: Indo-European (Hindi)

II. Appearance
Height: 5'8" (172.72 cm)
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Bronze
Appearance: -

III. Background
Personality: Arjun is an extremely blunt and efficient individual, favoring clarity and honesty with those that he associates with. Though it seems impossible, the man often comes off annoyed or bothered by anyone who speaks to him, but that is simply the fault of his serious face and direct personality. While it can often give people the wrong impression, it allows him to get the most work done, and that work is never half assed.

Backstory: Arjun is the second son of a decently well off merchant family in Mumbai, where the trade influence of the British and Portuguese were extremely strong. To satiate the hunger of their foreign partners and remain in control of their own businesses, merchants like Arjun's father had to become more than salesman, they had to be intellectuals and statesman. Many failed to meet the high expectations of these foreigners, their businesses being bought out and their owners left penniless, and Arjun's father would not have that. Although the business was meant to be inherited by his older brother, Arjun had been much more receptive to the higher education that their father had pushed upon him. As a young boy, he learned multiple languages, studied the histories of these lands, and became well acquainted with the mathematics of the time.

What he was most proficient in though, was deduction. As he grew older, his senses became even better, and many of his father's foreign associates urged him to allow Arjun to study law abroad to take full advantage of his talents. The young man leaped at the opportunity, and decided to study law at the University of Oxford. It was almost a dream come true. Almost. Just as he had graduated from Oxford, collections agencies had begun to harass Arjun, spouting nonsense about his father's business going under leaving him with immense debt.

Almost immediately, the young man sensed foul play, and did his damnedest to figure out a way out. But he couldn't, there was no saving his father's business. But there had been a grace given to him, a foreigner had come to his aid. Gave him a job and let him earn enough money to quickly pay off his debts, should he work for them. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, he had become entrenched in the underworld as another loyal associate of Grimaldi.

IV. Abilities & Network
Relevant Skills & Experiences:
- Multilingual (English, Spanish, Portugese, Hindi)
- Uncanny lie detection
- Investigation Techniques
- Interrogation Techniques

Criminal Network:
[False Prophets] - The False Prophets are a group of information brokers scattered throughout Europe that work to maintain influence through the control of information. Through the use of complex ciphers created from multiple uncommon languages, the False Prophets share all kinds of critical information, for a price.

 

[Remembrance]

• I. General Info
• II. Appearance
• III. Background
• IV. Abilities & Network

• 
  Name: Edward Graves
  
  Alias/Nicknames: Gravedigger | Mr. Graves
  
  Gender: Male
  
  Date of Birth: Jan. 27th, 1821 (35)
  
  Legal Profession: Factory Owner
  
  Organization Profession: Counterfeiter
  
  Nationality: American
  
  
• 
  Height: 5 ft. 11 in. (180 cm)
  
  Hair Color: Black
  
  Eye Color: Brown
  
  Appearance: Graves presents himself as a tall statured man, bearing lean but pronounced muscle definition. With calloused hands and age-old scars, he's often been mistook as some paltry warrior. Atop his head sits pitch-black hair, and throughout his face, a strong and chiseled jaw. His eyes pierce through others, yet they carry a gentleness within them. Graves typically dons dark blue suits, with a white formal shirt and black tie accompanying it.
  
  
• 
  Personality: Despite his overall appearance and demeanor, Graves is, in no way, a criminal man. He does not imbibe pleasure from the blood of others, nor does his purpose in his illegal profession have a grand meaning to him. Graves is merely neutral about it all. This isn't to say he is uncaring about the world and its inhabitants, his care stretches to himself and to those he considers close. However, he has lived a short but meaningful life with not much else to strive towards, there is no beat in his heart, no excitement that courses his veins.
  
  Since his entrance into the criminal underworld, Graves has sought something to rejuvenate him. A pursuit of happiness and of a new life.
  
  Backstory: Having been born off the dollar and manpower of slaves, Graves grew up surrounded by plantations. From the start of a young and impressionable age, he had seen the true heart of democracy and capitalism, and it disgusted him. Though he could not revoke the silver spoon his mouth had been born with, he could, at the very least, attempt to change what had he had been given. Starting in his pre-pubescent years, Graves self-enrolled himself into an education, forging documents and signatures from his parents.
  
  There, he perused the seemingly endless library and collection of literature, devoting himself to the reading of countless pieces of work. From Dickens to Hawthorne, he consumed the volumes of information like a starving vulture, picking at only the meatiest parts and what he could divine as educationally nutritious. At some point in his late twenties, he separated from his family, estranging himself. He founded a small company up north, specializing in the construction and assembly of tools.
  
  Over time, he had, by utter mistake, gathered a following of miscreants and fools who had a fancy in forgery. He took them under his wing, and with the experience he had in that field, he not only taught but learned. This gathering would stay hidden in the shadows until later in Graves' life, when he decided to set them up properly, in a way befitting their proficiencies in counterfeiting.
  
  On a gloomy and tempestuous day, he was approached by a thin, gangly man. He requested a less than reasonable contract from Graves. A false identification that was needed to escape the country. A singular yet pronounced beat of Graves' heart told him all he needed and the contract, though metaphorical, had been signed. Following that momentous day, he was introduced to the criminal underworld. Although his heart beat with excitement, after some years, he then grew desensitized and once again exhausted with the dealing of mob bosses and couriers.
  
  Graves, now 35, had felt the aching in bones and the strain of his muscles. Old age was coming, and he could not deny it any longer. He yearned for something he could say in confidence that he had contributed to, and when he was given a letter from a Lady Maria Grimaldi, he had no other choice but to accept. He would not live in the same tiring state nor would his heart stand still, he'd live as a man who put his cents into a major shift in the world.
  
  
• 
  Relevant Skills & Experiences:
  - Advanced Forgery.
  - Advanced Arithmetic.
  - Business Mogul.
  - Desensitized.
  - Beginner in Firearms Practice.
  
  Criminal Network:
  [Graves Licensure Inc.] - An illicit gathering of counterfeiters rallied under Edward Graves. Publicly, the group is presented as a cleaning service that specializes in factory grime and dirt. Graves has set up multiple fronts for the operation all across Northern America. Disregarding his profits in the tool-making establishment, this illegal business creates nearly half of his total gross income. Heeding the call of Lady Grimaldi, a front was established in England to support both Grimaldi and Graves.