Name
Reynard Braddock
Name Info
He took Braddock from his father’s surname, though he likes to introduce himself as Reynard Reeves. Reynard, as might have been guessed, was his mother’s idea, a bit of ego-stroking on her part. He has been referred to as “Reyn,” his most common nickname.
Age
25
Gender
Male
Sexuality
Homo/Bisexual
While it might be more acceptable to be non-straight out on the sea, Reynard couldn’t risk his reputation in Naint by being with a man. He feels that he could be happy with a woman, but he has yet to find one to prove that right.
Parent
Reba “Vixen” Reeves
Appearance
Reynard doesn’t bear quite enough resemblance to his mother to be immediately identified as her son. He has her rosy complexion, heavy lower lip, and a tint of auburn to his hair, but in general he looks very little like her. His skin is light and untanned, with a warm blush to his cheeks and a healthy luster to his complexion. It’s soft but not totally unscarred - Reynard wasn’t always so good at keeping himself out of trouble, and his adventures as a young boy left him with a few marks. His face is distinctly round, with a soft jawline and ears that stick out from the sides of his face. His nose is slightly curved and not too big. He has a fairly thin upper lip, but a larger lower lip. His mouth is always stretched into a small, slightly quirked up, and his large lower lip makes his smile seem even bigger. He has good enough teeth with only a cavity or two. His eyes are slightly hooded and straight, almost almond-shaped with dark lashes. His irises are a kind of hazel that looks like flecked green, brown, and blue, but the predominant color is brown. His brows are defined and dark, nearly straight but with slight curves. One is often angled upwards, and they always look relaxed and friendly. His hair is down to his shoulders, and is slightly wavy. His hair is fairly dark brown, with auburn undertones and a certain warmth to it. He wears it loose, though he’l tie it back once in a while to keep it out of his face.
Reynard stands at about six feet tall, and he’s in good shape. He’s not as muscular as many sailors, but he has sinewy strength and he’s very healthy. He’s toned and has some tanning on his shoulders and arms. He has a few scars scattered across his body, though nothing too nasty or deep. He has long fingers and trimmed fingernails, and he’s a very clean person. His skin is fairly soft, his palms showing that he’s hardly worked a day in his life.
Despite what Reynard’s position and home would indicate, he doesn’t have money to throw at his outfits. In fact, most of his mother’s money - the portion that she doesn’t spend on herself - goes directly to the town. So Reynard’s outfits, while they’re high-quality, aren’t very expensive. For instance, he doesn’t own a single wig, which is a common sign of wealth where he’s from. He wears a white linen shirt with a collar and cuffs, and over this he wears a short waistcoat with tight sleeves, typically color-coordinate to his coat. His coat is bright red, and so his waistcoats are in shades of red. His coat is fairly long, below the knees, and has a center-front button closure and wide cuffs. It also has pockets and a slit in the back through which his sword sticks. His sword is tucked into a belt. He has barely-visible dark brown breeches tucked into his shoes. He wears tall black leather boots with slight heels and a black beaver-skin tricorner hat, though he knows better than to wear this in the wild winds of the sea. He has a bright silk sash across one shoulder with a folding knife and his two pistols. Each of these is attached to the sash with a lanyard. As for jewelry, he has vey little except for the occasional necklace and, more importantly, a large golden ring similar to those which his mother wears.
Personality
Reynard was raised as a landowner in the wealthy British town of Naint. He shows all the class and sophistication that can be expected of someone like this. He’s a dashing young man with a loose sense of fun to please the lower class and a set of manners to please the upper class. He seems to get along with any kind of person he meets, and to fit in just about any place. He’s always ready with a compliment or a throwaway gift to buy people’s affections. If you can’t win them with your words, more tangible things are a good backup plan. It’s obvious that he’s eager for people to like him, though whether this is manipulation or something less sinister is unclear. He has a sincerity and a genuine appearance to him, but one can’t trust that he’s always being honest. He doesn’t seem the type to set up those who are close to him, but his loyalty only extends so far. He’s quick to extend a friendly hand, and is very easy to befriend. He seems to enjoy company, and can find something good about everything that makes them worth being around. But there’s never any trust there, and nobody should expect there to be. He assumes that people will do what they have to to get what they want, even if that means throwing him over. In return, he treats his friends the same. In some cases, he goes into a friendship planning to betray them, his relationship with them existing only because he wants something. He knows how to weasel what he wants out of people, and he does this at times with his charm, but more than that with his own smooth kind of logic. Reynard is a very intelligent person, and while he sometimes uses this in a more straightforward manner, he also knows how to rationalize nearly anything. He can talk his way out of bad situations, make deals, navigate his fair share of politics. He just sounds so reasonable, it’s hard to argue with him. He’s a calm, collected, and perfectly frank-sounding person, and he prefers to talk people down instead of fighting them. His permanent smile won’t drop even in the direst straights.
Reynard doesn’t exactly have a good reputation with people from neighboring towns, but with the full support of his own town, funded by his mother, he’s had little reason to care what anyone outside of his little bubble thinks of him. He’s used to being admired, but also has to maintain a delicate balance: after all, his mother has betrayed the Crown more than once, and the townspeople are risking a lot by protecting her. So it’s his job to keep them happy, and make sure they always think of Captain Vixen as their protector and savior. He has no choice but to be well-liked by his town, or he would be ruined. He’s known as an upstanding citizen, an easy-natured man who attends church, gives his wealth to the needy, and is enchantingly good with children and elders. Even if his mother is a pirate, few people hold this against him. He hardly seems like the kind of young man who would have a pirate for a mother. Though he bears some appearance of a pirate, and he certainly won’t deny his heritage, these things that link him to his mother are shown off to create a positive association with pirates. He has no true corsair blood in him. All the same, he holds an affection for that swashbuckling life. Even if he can’t taste it for fear of being abandoned by his town and family, he cherishes the idea of being out on the sea, following in his mother’s footsteps. He has a certain admiration for the rougher types who roam the seas. He has the skills of a pirate, learned from his mother, and has heard stories since he was young. He yearns for adventure, and for a taste of danger and freedom. But Captain Vixen made it clear that she wanted him safeguarding her homeport, and he would never argue with her.
Nothing is more important to Reynard than family. He never gives his friends an ounce of trust, but he would stake his life on his family. His loyalty to them is unwavering and undying, something they can always rely on - or so they’ve always assumed. It may well be that this curse is where he draws the line - after all, why die to save his mother from a curse that never should have been his? But for his remaining family members, his loyalty seems to remain. He puts up with nearly anything from them, and isn’t prone to fighting with family members even if he’s upset with them. He expects other people to feel the same about their family, and judges them very harshly if they don’t make an effort to please their parents, to protect and help their siblings, to show their spouses that they love them, to give everything to their children. He hasn’t started his own family yet, maybe because he hasn’t felt that spark. With such devoted familial loyalty as his, he has to be very careful about who he winds up spending the rest of his life with. He typically jumps to the conclusion that anyone who would want to be with him would be doing it for political power. And as much as he can see the strategic benefit, he wants to be absolutely sure he can stand being with someone forever before he jumps in. With such pull in his community, he’s used to being flirted with, and is quick to deflect it and shut people down. He doesn’t let it get far even if he might be interested in the person. He would have to know someone for a long time to let them try and pull something like that on him. He says he’d rather take it slow, but with the rate he’s been going it may be that he never winds up with someone.
Reynard is a surprisingly open person when it comes to his emotions, but as is usual with him, it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not. He can easily fake a sob story or guilt-ridden confession, but he also shares his real feelings quite readily. Less so in actions, but more in words. He’s willing to tell the truth about how he’s feeling, for the most part, even if emotions don’t run visibly across his face. That smile always stays on. Those who don’t know him well are more easily sucked in because of his mix of the real and fake, and those who know better discount his real feelings, assuming they’re fake. And really, he prefers it that way, because holding things back would only strain and tear at him. All the same, there are things he keeps to himself. Everyone has their little secrets, after all, and nobody is an open book. That’s certainly what Reynard believes. He’s willing to listen to people, and to sympathize with them if they ask for it, but he never takes their words at face value. He’ll grant them some pity and a few spare coins if that’s what they’re looking for, but that’s as far as it goes. His anger is disconcerting, especially because it seems to be elicited by rather unpredictable things. He keeps on smiling, but his smile becomes venomous and cold, as does the rest of his demeanor. It may take time to detect something off about him, and he’ll insist that he’s not angry at all. He refuses to say what he’s mad about, or admit that anything’s wrong. He never goes out of his way to get revenge, but he holds a grudge for a long time, and if the opportunity presents itself he’s more than happy to kick an enemy when they’re down.
All in all, Reynard’s life has been all about balance. He’s a strange blend of genuine and deceitful, caring and untrusting, wild and refined, logical and emotional.
Likes
Attention
Giving Gifts
Family
The Pirate Life
The Ocean
Stories
Alone Time
His Mother
Being Liked
Pork Pie
Swordfighting
Sailing
Reading
Cycling
Dislikes
The Cold
Anti-Family People
Genuinely Honest People
Being Hit On
The Crown
Bad Parenting
Illogical People
Community Events
Primary Skill
Persuasion
Reynard learned a lot from his mother and father, but has also had to rely on his charisma since he was a young boy to keep his comfortable position in Naint. He’s had plenty of practice influencing people and crafting a reputation, and plenty of practice dealing with the wild accusations and unstable suspicions of his father. Whether through logic, emotion, or some light bribery, Reynard typically gets what he wants.
Secondary Skill
Swordfighting
Reynard’s mother never took the time to teach him a skill she didn’t think he’d use. So he took it upon himself to learn. His swordplay, while masterful and elegant, lacks the savagery and brutal killer instinct of some pirates. Fortunately, he makes up for it with nerves of steel and superior training. After all, swordplay is one thing a young gentleman can learn without raising any eyebrows.
Primary Weapons:
Reynard’s main weapon, which he has on him at all times, is a common British smallsword. It has a brass handle with polished wood, a simple curved design, and a coquille guard. The triangular cross-section is hollow ground for added lightness, with a 32-inch colichemarde blade. This sword is made for finesse and easy maneuverability rather than sheer power.
Normally Reynard wouldn’t carry any other weapon, but for something like this he’s opted to bring along a pair of flintlock pistols his mother left at their home. They were a British Officer’s variety, stolen from an officer. They’re a bit heavy, made of bright wood and metal.
Strengths
Rationality
Public Speaking
Politics
Money
Staying Calm
Horseback Riding
Checkers
Finesse
Weaknesses
Sailing
Seafaring Skills
Loyalty to Family
Close-Combat
Lack of Worldliness
Cooking
Brute Strength
Relationship Status
Since Reynard is quick to shoot down anyone who would want to be with him, he doesn’t have anyone at the moment. He’s always looking, though once he finds someone he tends to reject them immediately.
Significant Other
None
Crush
None
Exes
Reynard has had some small amount of very short relationships, but he doesn’t count those as very important.
Kin
Captain Reba “Vixen” Reeves
Mother
Reynard’s birth was a strategic move for Captain Vixen, like many things are for her. She doesn’t see him often, but she raised him to be absolutely loyal to her. Though she’s found him a slight disappointment, she still prefers to rely on his charm over his more practical brother. She relies on him to keep her home port in good condition, but she’s made it clear that she’ll support him financially only as long as he’s useful to her. He’s struggled to be a good son, but he’s finally come to decision that he can’t avoid, a case of his life or hers.
Edgar Braddock
Father
Reynard’s father lived in Naint before Captain Vixen took it over. It was a poor town then, and Edgar was lucky to have been chosen from among the townspeople as Captain Vixen’s husband. She funneled wealth into the town and the land which Edgar was allowed to live on, and in exchange he kept the townspeople on her side and decided how her money would be spent. Later on, he started getting a bit too bold. Captain Vixen set Reynard up to take over for him, but Edgar refused to be shouldered out and started hating Reynard. Finally Captain Vixen got tired of him and asked Reynard to kill him. When he couldn’t bring himself to do it, she asked Todd instead, and Edgar’s death was passed off as an illness.
Todd Braddock
Younger Brother
Reynard’s younger brother was never the favorite, and most of the duties fell on Reynard. Todd didn’t hold a grudge, and they remained close. All the same, Todd’s always been ambitious, and when he saw the opportunity to surpass Reynard and earn their mother’s approval, he was quick to dispose of their father and take his place. Reynard doesn’t begrudge him it, but the two have grown more distant since then.
Backstory
Captain Vixen fought for the Crown, but chose to fight for the other side when she was offered a vast sum of money. After that, the Crown had it out for her. She was no longer welcome in the more civilized ports. As a wealthy and vain woman, she didn’t find it fit that she should make her home in one of the shabby, tough towns along the coast. She instead funneled her wealth into a single town, Naint, giving it the resources to improve to her satisfaction. In doing this, she also earned their loyalty, which was vital to her remaining uncaptured by the Crown. She bribed the lord to turn a blind eye, and purchased a large estate near the town. She made her home there, but soon wanted to be off again. Wanting to be sure everything would stay in order, she picked out the finest young man in town, Edgar, and offered him the home and a great deal of money to marry her and keep Naint under her control. He agreed, and she would come by once in a while. The Crown did try to capture her there, but Naint adored her and wouldn’t betray her to their ruler. She was also their only source of money - she had made sure to scare off merchants, discourage trade, and cut off cooperation with neighboring towns. Eventually Edgar and Vixen had a son, Reynard. Vixen had little to do with raising him, but wanted him to be a symbol of her ties to Naint, and be more active in the townspeople’s lives to keep them liking her. She had Edgar raise him with the idea that family was important above all else, wanting his complete loyalty. When she came she would teach him the fine art of bribery and weaving silver words. When her second son with Edgar, Todd, was born, she did the same for him, though she was less intent. He was more like an extra child. As Edgar got older, he started doing things without Vixen’s permission, taking liberties. This displeased her, and she immediately made moves to set Reynard up to take over instead. Edgar was furious, and tried to shoulder Reynard out. Vixen had him set up to take over, but Edgar took down that ploy. Furious, Vixen decided to dispose of Edgar. She told Reynard that the position and all of the money were his if he would poison his father. But he couldn’t poison someone who was his family, and Vixen turned to Todd. Todd took care of their father, and they passed his death off as an illness. Even though Edgar had hated Reynard and treated him very badly later in his life, Reynard was sorry he was dead. Todd got the position and the home, but Reynard didn’t begrudge him it. He still lived in the house, and he was still the darling of Naint. That was six years ago. He might have been a while longer now, but this curse has certainly thrown a wrench into his plans.
Other
Thunderbird