Eadwulf Grieve

UNDRESS

HALF DRESS

FULL DRESS

Name: DA
Age: 40
Contact: darkangel998
Invited by: Campa Zodiacrockstar
Other Character: none

Character Name: Eadwulf Grieve
Journal: magicandmight
Character's Age: 35
Canon: Critical Role
Canon Point: Post Canon, after Trent is put into prison but before Caleb starts teaching, around when Astrid becomes an Archmage of the Assembly
Powers:
Eadwulf is a D&D Wizard/Fighter Multiclass. He possesses magic spells that require components which can be very expensive to get hold of. Thus his magic is deeply limited to what possessions he has and what components he can obtain. He has an exhaustive list of spells in his journal and I am willing to nerf all teleportation and level 5 and up. His arcane focus is his sword, which he is highly trained in using and would be bringing if appropriate (as it is magically bonded to him). He also possesses magical tattoos which aids in his specific sort of magic.

Sample: bakerstreet meme

As this is a game set loosely in Regency England, we want to know how your character will adapt to this setting. How might they react to the culture, gender roles, and societal expectations placed upon them?:

For a vast majority of his life, Eadwulf has been a soldier, operating as a Volstruker, an elite shock troop of his country. He's only known peace recently. He's lived as a weapon of other people. He's always had someone to answer to, someone to look towards for his next orders. It will be quite a struggle to not have that anymore. This will be his first hurdle in his life in Andovale is having to make his own choices. Like many soldiers just home from war, returning to a peaceful life is going to be a bit if an adjustment.

If anything, being around those in the Ton will help keep him from reverting to old habits. Having the rigid societal structure gives him a firm framework of what's expected of him. He doesn't have to think for himself or need direct orders when he already knows what's supposed to be expected of him. His own level of personal wants and needs easily take a backseat because they always have. He's very used to denying himself if that's what is demanded of him. So even if he wanted to act out or be more free and warm, he won't. It's not how he's supposed to act. He's so good at repressing himself that even the most stringent locals might find him a bit too restrained. His stoicism could be mistaken for impassiveness and his tendency to let others talk for him might be seen as a failure of masculinity. After all, when a gentleman speaks, people listen. He's a man who is supposed to have his own thoughts and opinions. He's not supposed to be okay letting others stand in front of him and speak for him.

One might think that his stoicism and repression would make it difficult for him to produce Thumos. This is not true. Eadwulf is very open and willing to have physical contact with others. It's inferred that all Vulstruker are trained in seduction, though Eadwulf isn't as good at it as others. His means of seduction usually relies on just how nice his arms look. His mode of dress calls attention to his physical strength, always monochrome black and always tight at the arms and shoulders. He's likely to elicit quite a few gasps if he's interested enough in someone to roll up his sleeves or undo the buttons of his shirt. He also has no gender preference, having had both a male and a female lover, both at the same time. That said his very few romantic entanglements have been done in secret, not to be spoken of. He's very good at keeping things discreet. He's also very good at not initiating such things in public, aware of how getting caught might lead to trouble. The extent of his interest in a person in full public view is the aforementioned show of skin and a habit of trying to be close to them in order to protect them and a willingness to do whatever they ask without question.

Higher society might also find it odd that Eadwulf prefers to do things for himself. He might have a servant and quite a bit of magic, but it's far more likely to see him running errands and doing menial labor. He's a man that likes to stay active and keep strong. He prefers to use that strength and do things himself, with his own two hands. He doesn't mind getting dirty. He'd be more at home with fellow soldiers and the working class than with the high society of the Ton. He might develop a poor reputation as someone who works, who rubs elbows with farmers and servants, and engages in duels for no reason other than to keep his sword skills sharp. High society might also look down on him for his tendency of drinking after very difficult social interactions. This is not social drinking in moderation at a party. This is a battered flask of whiskey from up his sleeve to calm his nerves in full public view.

Another thing he would not be discreet about is how he treats the women of the land as equal to him. He doesn't agree with the notion that women are weak and lesser, though he does want to protect them. He's used to being the more subordinate partner to a very powerful woman in both magic and force of personality. He'll stand behind them and let them make all his decisions for him if that makes them happy. Other men might see this as him "hiding behind a woman" or being controlled by someone lesser than him, but it's where he's most comfortable. He likes to be the muscle and the sword behind the women in his life. This extends to his worship of a Goddess. It will likely be a bone of contention for the locals that Eadwulf will not renounce his faith towards the Matron of Ravens to worship Pheme. That doesn't mean he won't respect her position as a Goddess. There's no denying that she is one and worthy of grudging respect. He just will never pray to her because he's not the Raven Queen. His unwavering loyalty and faith is to her alone.


You've been invited to a formal dinner! How charming! Now, how do you plan to conduct yourself in such a space? Remember, appearance is everything!:

First, I'd be surprised that anyone would want to invite me to such a thing and wonder if it's some sort of trap. I would do reconnaissance to discover if this invitation is legitimate or not and plan accordingly. Assuming the invite is real, I'd go ask someone I trusted to help me pick out something suitable to wear. I've simple tastes in cloths and I would need as much help as I can get to fit the theme of the dinner. As I trust their judgement, I would wear whatever was picked for me.

Once there, I would probably be very awkward if I didn't know beforehand what exactly was expected of me. I've been to formal dinners in the past. I know that I'm not the most adept at social graces, so if I've gotten initial intelligence on who and what is happening at the dinner, I would be prepared. If not and have to go in blind, I would do my best to basically fade into the background as much as possible.

I can get frustrated at all the hidden power plays and a little stressed at trying to figure out small talk. I would rather avoid that. I know that I say anything, I'll end up making myself look like a fool by inadvertently insulting someone. So I would attempt not to talk at all, allowing my companions to hold the conversations around me. If I could get away with simply eating without ever saying a word, I think that would be a pretty good dinner experience for both me and everyone else involved. If I must talk, I wouldn't want to be rude. I would speak but I would keep it short and direct the conversation back to the companions better suited to such things.

As for table manners, I do know what forks to use and when, even if I personally find it a little silly to have so many. I know not to talk with my mouth full and to compliment the meal after it is finished, regardless of how bad it might be. I also know that I have to watch the amount I drink at the table. Alcohol sooths my nerves, but too much could spell disaster. My job at a formal dinner is to be a body in a chair; to sit, listen to everyone else, eat, and then later, corroborate what I've heard and saw with my companion.