Ayl
The Tale Weaver
Sebastian W. Scathelocke
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WRITTEN DESCRIPTION: Sebastian is the type of guy every person in the room notices, and will either like him on the spot for his humorous attitude, or want to punch him in the face just to quiet him down. Standing at about 6'2", his muscular build and rather handsome, wildish look can be both attractive and intimidating at the same time.
His ocean blue eyes have been the death of many members of the opposite sex, and have stared down many opponents over the years. His age is hard to tell because of the dark scruff that dons his face, which matches his curly, raven black hair, making him appear a tad older than he actually is, which is why he keeps it, as he hates being viewed as young. His hair can also vary in length, but is never kept too short.
Most of the time, he maintains a poker face, making it almost impossible for people to tell his expressions apart, but when he is gripped by powerful emotions, his face becomes as easy to "read" as a child that broke his mother's favourite vase and is trying to lie about not being his fault.
Sebastian is quite a fashionable man, when it comes to clothing. He does not keep tabs on the latest fashion designs and releases, but he does know that the way he presents himself in society has a major impact on the way people perceive him, thus he dresses accordingly. While not wearing a suit on any occasion, he mostly goes for the "smart casual" style, with some personal touches, of course.
NAME: Sebastian William Scathelocke, referred to as "Scathe" by his closest friends, but may be also called "Will" from time to time, though it tends to irk him.
AGE: Appears to be in his early thirties, but can also appear to be in his late twenties.
FAIRYTALE INSPIRATION: Will Scarlet, “Robin Hood”.
GENDER: Male
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PERSONALITY: A rather easy-going person, Sebastian will either impress you through the force that he emits around him, or through his blatant carelessness concerning other peoples' emotions. He lives the day for himself and for those he considers worthy of his attention and interest. While a loyal friend, he is a stern believer in the "trust, but verify" dogma, meaning he will be considerate enough to trust the words of a close person about a certain fact, but will also run his own investigation of the matter, just to be on the safe side.
Although being able to bond with others, Sebastian is reluctant to "open up" to other people, thus his annoyance when somebody tries to pry into his private life, when he obviously does not want to discuss it. This has been a major impediment in his love life, which explains why he hasn't been able to maintain a relationship that would last more than two months, not that he cares much for that sort of things, not since his wife had been taken away from him. Sebastian is his own man and knows he can deal with anything by himself, very rarely asking for advice on a matter.
At the same time, Sebastian is a reliable person. One he deems someone worthy of his attention and interest, he goes at large lengths to protect and help that person in any way he can, as long as his own moral code isn't stepped on in the process. Otherwise, he is loyal and witty, but steadfast in his own, personal vendetta against the people that murdered his wife long ago.
STRENGTHS:
- "Strong Willed". One word that can describe Sebastian is “driven”. No matter how many hardships someone can throw at him, his perseverence and ambition, coupled with an iron will is what helps him finally overcome the issue, plus the occasional good advice and a large amount of bitching.
- "Tough As Nails". Over the years of his long and endless lifespan, Sebastian has been subject to many events that have left their mark upon him, but not as most people would. The overall effect that all the disasters in his life have had on him was that of "steeling" him, making him more and more immune to whatever he encounters in life, making him able to not let himself get affected by every small setback, but quickly pass over it and move on. That may also be a reason for his muscular physical condition, which he never neglects.
- "Moral Compass". Due to his past as a member of the Merry Men, but also an effect of his character and personality, Sebastian has a very strong sense of justice and balance. He does not actively pursue injustice, but whenever he becomes a witness to a crime, no matter how small, he jumps ahead to take matters into his own hands, solving the problem however he deems fit, varying from a simple scold to an outright brawl. He may also betray people close to him, should he consider they have done something that comes in contradiction to his moral code.
- "The World Is Vast". Sebastian is an adventurer through and through. Ever since he was a child, he loved studying maps and reading books, dreaming of places he would wish to go. Once an adult, his wish turned into a goal, as he started to spend money on different vacations and trips so that he could enrich his knowledge of the world around him. The bigger the risk involved in the said trip, the more likely he'd take it up!
- "Give Back". Sebastian considers himself among the more privileged of people, due to the fact that his wealth, while not ridiculously large, is enough to let live a rather comfortable life. Because of that, he is thankful and likes to do his best to help those he considers in need, donating various sums to charity organisations, hospitals, or volunteering in special centers designed to help out homeless people, orphan children and others. Of course, he does all that under a false name, to avoid any unwanted attention.
FAULTS:
- "Serious, Much?". Sometimes, Will likes to deflect reality with jokes or sarcasm, the latter being his favourite, in which he has become an expert in during his long lifespan. Whenver a serious situation or decision pops up, Will likes to beat around the bush, using jokes or sarcasm to buy him some time to take in the information and think about the next step.
- "IT'S MINE!". Will likes to be in control of the situation. The most annoying thing that can occur to him is to be confronted with a scenario that he cannot influence or control in any way, leaving him in a hopeless position where he becomes almost useless to the people around him.
- "My Way, Or The Highway". Sebastian can also be very, very stubborn, which is one of the main factors that determined him to leave the Merry Men to pursue vengeance for his loved one, who was taken away from him through gruesome means. When Sebastian decides something, he goes through with it, and only a truly magnificent obstacle may hinder his efforts.
- "Raging Bull". Another one of Sebastian's weaknesses would be, no doubtly, his short temper. Although he tries his best to be patient and relaxed when dealing with anything in his life, sometimes he just losses it and let's himself carried away, acting on instinct, preferring to tackle a problem head-on, rather than wait and think it through. On many occasions, his gut proved wise, but there have been many cases in which he did nothing but cause the situation to take a turn for the worse.
- "Haunted By Memories". Due to his many faults, in six hundred years, Sebastian has gathered more than enough regrets to haunt him over and over. Not a day goes by without him remembering at least one moment in his life where things went downhill and not a night passes without a nightmare in which he is cursed to relive events that brought both him and others great pain.
- "Strong Willed". One word that can describe Sebastian is “driven”. No matter how many hardships someone can throw at him, his perseverence and ambition, coupled with an iron will is what helps him finally overcome the issue, plus the occasional good advice and a large amount of bitching.
- The day the Scathelocke family was blessed with a baby boy was probably the happiest day of their already accomplished life. The newborn heir to the family fortune was given the name "William", same as his father, a minor lord in the employ of Prince John.
By the time he was 6, William already manifested an interest for the world outside of his usual, sheltered borders, set by his mother and father. Of course, they wished nothing but the best for their only child, their caring nature conflicting with William Jr's appetite for life. Thus, the little lord decided to take things into his own hands and sneak out of his bedroom at night, only to admire the beauty Mother Nature had to offer. He would not stray too far into the majestic woods of Sherwood, but night by night, he would stand before the limits between the forest and the city gates, renewing his oath to one day visit the woods and learn their secrets.
Little would "Will" know that his wish would become true faster than expected, but under totally different circumstances. Four years later, on a gorgeous August day, while travelling with his family towards another city for the future wedding of one of the Scathelocke's dearest cousins, William's convoy got raided by a band of dreadful bandits, who shied not from "aggressive negociating". Taking Will's mother as hostage and bargainning chip, the leader of the cutthroats demanded lord Scathelocke hand over all his valuables. Seeing no escape from his situation, the lord complied.
With a devilish grin on his face, the bandit leader let out a "Thank ye!", before drawing his dagger across lady Scathelocke's neck, letting blood gush out, then vanishing into the woods. The despair that gripped Will's heart as he stood there, in shock, watching his mother die could only be equalled by the intensity of his father's scream of denial once he witnessed the vile act. After that horrible day, nothing was ever the same. Slowly and steadily, Will's father turned to the bottle for comfort, while William was left on his own to progress through life.
By the age of 18, William had grown into a fine, strong and educated young man. Among all the skills he'd been taught, the young lord took a liking towards the art of swordsmanship, and quickly became one of the best duelists in Nottingham, which was no small feat! Indeed, many other members of the aristocracy took notice of Will and his aptitudes. There were even some female admirers, but alas, William was not attracted at all to the politics the other lords mingled with, and he found the women that gazed at him from distance too docile for his liking. He craved for wilderness, for the perilous, but soothing forests of Sherwood. His father also wasn't giving any signs of recovering from his now almost permanent state of inebriaton any soon. Over the last 8 years, the Scathelocke family fortune had been spent almost exclusively on booze and lessons for Will, with little to no income to compensate the expenses. And so, the treasury was more than three quarters empty.
Figuring out his rather wild spirit would have no place among the high society of England's kingdom, William Scathelocke Junior decided to take his destiny into his own hands. A few years later, on a windy night with a clouds-covered moon, William snuck into his father's chambers, while the latter was deep into an alcohol-induced sleep. There was one thing Will had to do before leaving behind his lordship for good. His mother, while not a big fan of jewelry, was a great fashionista in her spare time. Her favourite color of all the existing tints was by far scarlet red. In the family mansion, William could see his mother's in any one of the portraits hung on the corridors, but once he would leave his current life and start anew, he would have nothing of hers to help him remember her sweet touch, her gentle presence. And so, from the many fabrics his mother had left behind after her death, William, with the help of his fine sword, took a long sample of scarlet cloth, so that he would always have a piece of his mother with him.
That being done, William galloped into the night, on his faitful steed, Morgan. Soon, he would be leaving the city's walls, through an opening he discovered as a child, as the main gates were shut at that late hour, with no possibilit of opening them. Afterall, he was still young and with no real power, so he couldn't command the guards to open up just for him without arousing suspicions and possibly get escorted back to the Scathelocke estate. At the same time, William knew he could no longer use his birth name and title.
Camping just outside Sherwood forest, besides a warm fire, dinning on a share of his supplies, the former young lord was brainstorming about new possible names to go under in his new life. The many options that came to his mind did not please him at all. "George, Allen, Johnathan" did not suit him one bit. Without any luck in finding a suitable name, William fell asleep under the star-filled sky. The next morning, the sound of sword clashing against sword was the one that woke William up from his slumber. Swiftly, yet calmly, he rose up and unsheathed his sword, rushing towards where the sounds were originating from, only to encounter a familiar scene.
A fight was going on between a total of seven people. Five against two. The ones outnumbered were barely holding off the assault of steel coming at them from every direction. Despite having no idea what was going on, William immediatly figured out that the larger group were brigands, cutthroats, like the ones that had taken his mother from him all those years ago. With courage in his heart, he jumped from behind the bandits, flanking them, taking down one of their own with a single strike, well directed to the throat. The others quickly spotted him, and turned their attention to him. While two of them remained behind to deal with their original targets, the other two charged William with the obvious intent of avenging their fallen comrade.
With some of the pressure taken off, it became mighty easy for the attacked to repel and defeat the attackers. Not the same could be said for Will, who in spite of his swordsmanship skills, got wounded under the assault of his enemies. Luckily for him, his enemies got dispatched by the ones he intended to save, making him the one saved. Unfortunately, his wounds were deep, causing him to lose consciousness. Waking up several hours later, William found himself among many unknown faces. That's when he met him. Still groggy from just waking up, William rose to his feet, despite all the protests from those watching them, only to be approached by an unclear silhouette, which called out to him.
"Ho there, friend!" he spoke. At first, William knew not what to respond to the stranger, and was instead called to again by the same, soothing voice. "I owe you the life of my men, yet I know not your name! Would you care to share it with us, so we would know whom to thank?". By the time he'd finished his question, William regained his senses, and was now searching his pockets for the scarlet cloth he took from home. He'd found it exactly as the stranger requested his name. As if a divine inspiration had struck him, William raised his gaze towards the stranger and spoke with a shaky voice.
"Will...Scarlet. My name is Will Scarlet!". "Well now, Will, you have my gratitude for helping out my men in their time of need. As for myself, you may call me Robin. Robin of the Hood, if you will! And these, are my dear Merry Men!". Having heard rumors of the infamous outlaw Robin Hood and his Merry Men, Will's first response was to instinctively reach for his sword, but he found nothing where the handle should've been. Instead, his reaction was met with laughter from the bunch of people staring at him. "My dear friend, would you really think we would leave you armed without knowing anything about you? But have no fear, your sword is right here!" the outlaw spoke again, as he tossed William an object, which indeed proved to be his sharp trusty blade.
"Before you do anything with it, though, I suggest you follow me, and I will give you the honorary tour!" Robin said with a gleeful voice. Deciding there was no point in attempting a fight against so many at once, Will left the blade in its sheathe and followed Robin of the Hood from behind, staying vigilant. A quick march around the camp, paired with Robin's tales of how all the people were opressed by the Sheriff of Nottingham, and all they were doing was tilting the scales in the favor of the poor, convinced Will of Robin's true intentions, and so he offered his sword to the cause, becoming one of the Merry Men.
It wasn't an easy life, but it was a good one. As it turned out, the ones Will attempted to save from the bandits were none other than Much and Alan-a-Dale, with whom he became close friends. Will was among those who laughed at Robin as he got beaten by the little girl who called herself Johnna. The girl was not too big of stature, but sure could throw a punch, and Will respected that, but alas, he remained blind to the girl's brewing affection for him. Instead, he married another maiden that was among of the Merry Men. Knowing Will was a good-hearted man, the father consented to the marriage, and the two wedded soon after. Soon, Marian showed up in their lives and Will was happy his best friend, Robin, found the one that made him the happiest man on Earth.
Alas, life has its ups and downs, and after the grand battle in which the Sherriff of Nottingham was killed and Prince John defeated, things started going downhill for Will. Arriving home after the battle, Will found his cottage burning, and his wife choking to death inside, because of the smoke. After removing a pile of burning debris off of her, he managed to bring her outside of their flaming home. All in vain, tragically, as the smoke completely invaded her lungs, leaving her to asphyxiate to death. Will burried his wife together with all those who had fallen during the attack against the Sheriff. Having no place to go, Robin kindly offered to let Will stay at his house for the time being. Will hesitantly accepted that offer, and moved in with Robin and Marian, who were now married themselves.
During dinner on the first night, Will couldn't help himself and asked Robin for help in tracking down the ones responsible for his wife's death. Not little was his surprise when Robin outright refused him, arguing that enough blood was already spilled and that he wanted no more fighting. The darkness in Will, the craving for vengeance and justice was great, and the refusal to help coming from his best friend did nothing other than fuel his hatred and anger. Dropping the subject for the time being, Will rushed to his chambers after dinner and packed all his bags, leaving again while everyone was sleeping, like he did when he ran from his life as heir of the Scathelocke family.
Although the years progressed and passed by, Will was shocked to discover he was not aging. His face didn't gain one extra wrinkle, no matter how much he'd frown everyday from his failures to track down the ones responsible for his sorrow. But he never gave up, not even once. He was adamant in his search, and so he took on another name, that of "Sebastian", and retook his original family name, Scathelocke. Searching throughout the world, he participated in wars and conflicts, ranging from the Napoleonic Wars, all the way to the World Wars, surviving miraculously through it all, making friends and informants all over, that helped him find out the identity of those who wronged him.
On his way throughout life, he had completely cut off any contact with the Merry Men. No letters, no phone calls, nothing. He didn't even know any of them were like him, ageless, until one day, when he stumbled across Robin. At first, Will was surprised to see Robin the same way he was years back, then he let himself flooded by anger at Robin's sorry state, and a brawl between the two ensued. After the steam was blown off, they shared a drink and talked about each other's lives so far. They started talking about the old days, about Johnna, Much, Alan and Marian. Will didn't stick for long, though, as his respect for Robin was now almost non-existent. Never had he figured that their fearless leader would fall so low, yet he did nothing to bring him to his former self. After all, it wasn't his problem anymore. He left the Merry Men long ago, and had a mission of his own now.
Now, Sebastian's feet brought him to Emerald City, the place his latest informant pointed out might be the hideout of his next target. Eager to cross off another name off his list, Will steps forward on the path of vengeance, with a steeled heart and a clear goal.
- The Beginning Of The End...
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Nothingness. She was gone to a place were not even I could follow. It was done, those who've been here in my absence have achieved their goal and wanted to leave behind no loose ends. I felt empty, as each shovel of dirt was cast down in the hole dug especially for her. Every one of us who fell as a Merry Man was burried together, in a sacred place in the woods, where no one but us could find their final resting place. We were all there, yet I noticed no one. My grief was too strong, fueling my anger which started plotting horrible ways for me to avenge her.
As I was falling to the darkness more and more, a warm hand rested itself on my shoulder and brought me back from the my wicked well of thoughts. It was Robin the one who approached me, one of my oldest friends. His eyes were not stained with tears, compared to mine, which were flooded to the brim. Johnna and Marian were sitting just behind, while the rest were spread out in a semi-circle around the mass of wooden crosses that were sticking out of the ground.
Catching Robin's gaze, I could distinguish compassion. But what the devil did he know?! Marian was still alive, still breathing, still in love with him, while my wife was being burried right before my eyes. "Come, you'll stay with us tonight!". Robin's invitation came as a surprise, yet I accepted his offer. My home was ashes now, nothing to return to. The ceremony was completed shortly and we all went to our homes. The events of the day were exhausting, and we all needed some rest.
The End Draws Near.
Outside, the clouds above looked like they were about to burst, despite the amount of water they were rainning down on the people beneath, who were rushing for cover. The weather in London really lived up to its miserable reputation. It's been almost half an hour since I've been waiting in this tiny cafe, waiting for him. I was using our usual signal. Corner table, reading an old newspaper, keeping it up and open, for an easy ID. Most people who read their paper in public places tend to keep it folded, so I was easy to recognise like this.
The rule was simple: I would give him a call a day before the meeting, and choose the place. No faces, no names. Simple, clean. The newspaper hold up and open also had the role to cover my face, so that he couldn't pick me out from a crowd. Safe for both him and me. If it's one thing you learn by being immortal, it's that you can never be too careful. Yet, I still made mistakes from time to time. We're all human, afterall. Or are we?
The bell above the door rang. The bell was sort of redundant, as the front door squeaked loud enough to be noticed from the very back of the cafe, everytime it opened. I was still holding the newspaper as a disguise, so I could see nothing, but I did feel him sit down, on the opposite side of the table from me.
"So, got something for me?" I asked, gently.
"Have I ever disappointed you so far?" he responded. I could only imagine the smug grin on his face that accompanied his reply. It was important, and it would cost me appropriately, but it did not matter. I was close to the end. Two more, and justice would've been served!
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