Sebastien Cristophe Gaulle du Motte
Sebastien is the son of a noble family which does not spend much time at court.
History (Past and Present)
Sebastien is an athleticly built male with sandy brown hair, blue eyes and an easy demeanor. He has joined L'Empereur's Musketters as a means to make positive change in Montaigne. He takes his membership in this organization very seriously and considers himself lucky to assocaite with men of such honor. Only in service to something greater than himself does Sebastien feel that his life will have meaning. Sebastien takes a very specific view point when it come to the matter of honor in that, honor is the gift that a man gives himself, and that others can not take away.
He is generous to a fault at times when it comes to money in that he does invest to further his own fortune, and does facilitate reviews of his lands to ensure they are porperly worked and managed, but he also provides for those in his service and work his land. He ensures they are well cared for and have a higher quality of living than many servants or workers for other property owners. He also pays for certain things that other lord's would never do, like the salt tax.
Upon entering the Musketter's, Sebastien receives orders from the Capitain of the Musketter's, Jean-Marie Rois et Raines, to take hijmself to Piax and report to one Philip du Paix, a nobleman and scoundrel suspected of being in L'Empereur's secret service. The Captain is not happy about sending Sebastien on this assignment, but he too has his orders. His instructions to Sebastien are to do what he can or must, while in service to Philip du Paix, but he does not answer to Monsieur du Paix. He is first and always a Musketter, and need not take any action that would compromise his own honor, or that of the Musketters. Captain Raines also advises Sebastien to keep the local Musketter Commander, Captain (?), informed of what is taking place in Piax and what "erronds" Monsieur du Paix is sending him on. He is to also send sealed communique back to Charouse so that he too is kept informed as to the happenings in Paix.
Since ariving in Paix, Sebastien has made serveral new friends in the Musketters, but these pale in comparison to the relationship he has with Aleksei Courtanvoux and Julien La Croix. The three of them have found their way into the service of Monsieur Philip du Paix, and since meeting their adventures have certainly been hair-raising. Fighting along the roof-tops of Paix, chases through the street on horseback, ship board fights and numerous duals. These three have faced danger and near death experiences that would pale many men, and still, but sticking together they seem to come out on top. All these events have also led ot the cultivation of a few enemies as well. The two most notable being one Captain Crispino, to which Sebastien has begun refereing to as "Cici", and the infamous Castillian spy known as "El Chacal" - the Jackal. Now know to Sebastien as a talented singer named Carlotta. His dislike of this particular woman has begun to take on a life of its own.
Family
Sebastien has a cousin at court who favors him, but they have not seen each other for some time. Sebastien's parents are also quiet people who seldom leave their home to travel to Charouse and attend the court of L'Empereur. Both are considered young for having a full grown son of 22. Sebastien's father, Renee Eberhard Gaulle du Motte (42), is an educated and contemplative man who seldom speaks hastily. Every word carfully considered and tempered before being uttered, to ensure that no misunderstanding can be construed from them. Sebastien has learned from his father that while one must not agree with every decision of the crown, speaking about such opinions is considered treason, and bad form in polite circles. Certainly any opinions that are spoken in disent to L'Empereur should only be done in the presence of personal confidants, and never with much passion behind them.
Many of the things that Sebastien has learned about being a man has come from his father, and presented as wisdom passed from one generation of father to the next. The entry into the Musketters was actually Renee's suggestion to Sebastien as Renee himself had once been a Musketter. In his youth he had also held a number of other positions such as a crewman on a trade ship and a short lived stint as a sell-sword. All these were encouraged by Renee's father as a means to "sow his oats" and get the "wander lust" out of his system. Once Renee came home a marrage to Désirée was aranged and he began taking over managing the family holding. It did not take the young couple long before an heir was born and this was Sebastien. As a boy, Sebastien was constantly pulling off his little doublet and running out into the nearby woods, only to emerge later dirty, scrapped and at times even a little bloody. While this brought a smile to his fathers face, it was some of some concern to his mother, who worried that he was doing something that would get himself seriously hurt or even killed. More to the point she was worried that he would fail to learn proper maners.
Sebastien's mother, the ever beautiful Désirée Giselle Gaulle du Motte (37), has always been considered one the sweetest and most delicate of women to attend court. Her slight stature yet full figure make her a sight to behold, especially when dress for a ball or party. Her grey-green eyes make her appear shy but that is far from the truth. She is a woman of noble birth and takes her position in her husbands house-hold very serious.
She would never cut harsh words about another, especially when not in their prescence, but is not considered a push-over either. Her kind and pleasant disposition makes her a friend to most of the noble women who make her aquaintence. While she cuts a striking figure when out with her husband, she does not respond to the many advances thrown her way at any of the events she and her husband attand, and has been know to remind would be paramours that one can lose their head in Montaigne just for alluding to indecent proposals with a married woman. She has gone to some length to ensure that Sebastien learned what proper behavior in polite society truly is. During his youth, Désirée ensured that every teacher possible was brought to their home to instruct Sebastien in the proper forms of court. Then the first time that he attended court with his family was made to feel the fool and never attended again whiel growing up. In fact some of the other local nobels who came to the country in the summer made Sebastien feel even more foolish for not going to court, thus sealing his fate to go unnoticed at best when in polite society.
Current Events
After a few weeks at sea Sebastien finds himself welcoming the site of the port at Piax. It has been a long voyage and there has been much time for him to go over the events of the past few weeks time and again. While he understands that some things could not be avoided, it always seems as if he and his friends are destined to have to deal with unexpected hipcups in their planning, no matter how elaborate or detailed they try to be. Now he just wants to sleep in his own bed, and have the world stop rocking back and forth. Life aboard ship is something that Sebastien has becided that he can do without. After a couple of weeks of sleeping late, spending time with Christine, and healing from this last adventure, Sebastien is starting to get a little restless. He has a new cabinent built to specific specifications to allow him the ability to show off his sword collection, when he feels its appropriate, and have it cleverly hidden the rest of the time. Somehow it seems jsut a little dangerous to Sebastien to have the philigree Lightening Guard sword so prominently displayed for anyone who enters his home to see. At least for the time being decrestion seems to be the better part of valor. One morning, three weeks or so after having gotten back to Paix, Sebastien finds himself on the way to Aleksei's for the morning drink and the consideration of where to eat the noon meal when he is approached by corporal Benoît Bagot, another Muskettier assigned to the local post. He asks Sebastien if he would take his Friday shift as corporal in charge of the morning guards so that he can get away for a long weekend with his current romantic interet. Thinking that this is another chance to advance his carrier in the Muskettiers he agrees to take the reposnsibility.
Upon arrieving and greeting everyone, Aleksei, Marie-Celeste and Julian, he sits down and takes the offered glass of wine from Aleksei. As they make small talk a messenger arrieves with an invitation. It is from the Lady Moncrieff requesting the presence of the group at a special party she is throwing the next night at house Moncrieff. This is a special invitation, not one of the normal parties that is open to the majority of the nobles, but a private, invitation only affair and considered to be an event not to be missed if your name has made the guest list of such a high-brow event. Lady Christine is happy at the news of being invited to such a special event and cant wait for Sebastien to pick her up. Sebastien on the other hand is as always, a little lerey of attending another party where the guest list is considered to be the elite of Montainge sociaety. However he enlists Aleksei's assistance in selecting proper attire and making sure that he is on time to pick up Christine. Once at the party, the reception line is a who's who of the Montaigne nobility. Some of the guests are famous writers, playwrites and poets, but the one thing that stands out is that most of these people are those that would be considered the dissidents of Montaigne, the ones who express their concern over L'Emperer's decisions on the running of the country. As drinks are served and people are mingling, many come up and introduce themselves to Sebastien, who promtply redirects said introductions to Christine so that she is included in conversations. Many ask Sebastien what its like to be a member of Kings Muskettiers. So even go so far as to ask his opinion towards some of the social policies, such as the salt tax, and other varrious topics.
As the evening unfolds, Lady Moncrieff announced that the evenings special guest would be late that that everyone should begin making teri way towards the dinning room as supper was ready. Seated some way down the table from the head, Sebastien and Christine once again found themsleves the center fo attention as some of theother guests continued to question Sebastien about his feeling on politics and other issues concerning the state. Since Sebastien is a noble and a Muskettier he felt that making any direct comments other than to state that the unpopular salt tax is something that he takes care of for those that work on his land. As dinner began winding down, the Lady ....., the evenings special guest, arrieved and created some stir. This is a woman who's sharp wit has cut more than one noble to the quick, and her sense of style and fashion seem to set the standard for many of the Montaigne nobles. Both Aleksei and Julian seem particularly interested in making a good impression with this women, Aleksei going so far as to arrange and outing with the lady in two days time. As the dinner plates were cleared and the liquor began flowing once again, some of the notable poets began reading their latest works. Since much of what was being said is normallhy not considered proper converstaion at normal society gatherings, Sebastien began looking around to see who might be out of place, or even taking notes on who had attended and was saying what to whom. As he looked around, what he noticed was that many of the nobles who seemed as they were regular attendees of events such as this, were actually watching him and his friends, looking to see their response to what was being said. Sebastien relaized that all of the poeple who were in attendance, to include the servants, were probably well vetted, and that it was himself that was the probable concern by many of these patrons. After politely listening for atime he excussed himself and Christine and they took a tour of the house itself. Admiring this or that and generally staying away from everyone else for the rest of the evening. When it seemed an appropriate time, he thanked his hostes for a lovely evening, feining tiredness for leaving and taking Christine back to his home for the night.
The next day is basically uneventful, if one considers remaining in bed with your paramour until midafternoon uneventful. Once Christine left for home Sebastien prepared his uniform for duty on the morrow, had an early supper then fell asleep enjoying some wine and reading a book. In the morning he arrieved a few minutes early with a basket full of goodies, to include a linen table cloth, real glasses, hard boiled eggs, meat, cheese, freshly baked bread and wine, for the men on duty. When he entered the guard room all the men seemed to perk up at the fact that Sebastien was there, and that he came bearing breakfast. The men immediately set in to preparing the main table and setting the food out in an orderly manor. Once everything was prepared the men began eating in earnest, enjoying the unexpected repast. After a few hours of sitting around playing cards and chatting Sebastien began working on his reports for his shift when one Piere Fagam, the Chief Attendant of Paix, came through the doors to the guardroom. "Where is the corporal in charge," he asked? Looking up from his paperwork, "I am in charge, what can I do for you Monsieur?" The somewhat short man turns and approaches Sebastien going into how he is the Chief Attendant and that he recently received information regarding a conspirator to the sewer bombings a few months prior, and that he has a warrent for the man immediate arrest which he offers for Sebastiens inspection. Upon reading the document two things become appearant to Sebastien, the first is that the warrent is issued by the man in front of him, and second, the man named was one Sebastien had met just the other night at Lady Moncrieff's party. A printer by trade who did not come across as a conspirator of much of anything. A bit concerned by the fact that this particular warrent has shown up on the shift that Sebastien is covering leaves him very suspecious about its validity. He stands up and tells the men to prepare to ride out and go to work. As the men begin gathering their things Sebastien pulls on of the Musketters he knows personlly by the name of Olivier Godeno' to take a horse and immediately ride the printers and inform him discretely that he is about to be arrested, and to ensure his "ass is wiped."
As the Musketteirs begin saddling their mounts Sebastien does what he can to slow the entire process to provide Muskettier Godeno' ample time to follow his specific instructions. After close to 20 minutes, the group mounts up and begins making its way through the streets of Paix. Some 10 minutes later the Muskettiers round the corner of the street the printer is located and stop infront of the shop. Pulling his pistol and making a show of entry for the Piere Fagam, Sebastien enters the shop and announces rather loudly to the only person in the shop, "Monsieur ....., in the name of the King, you are under arrest." The heavyset man is a little confussed and stammers his innoscense. As the Muskettiers fan out they begin to search the place and some documents are produced showing that there is indeed proof of possible conspiracy. Sebastien tells the man that they will be taking him to jail and then leaves the specific task to some of the Muskettiers.
After returning to the barracks guard office and completeling his paperwork for his shift, Sebastien takes the evidence in question and makes his way to Aleksei's home. After a glass of wine and a full acounting of the afore mentioned events, the group looks over the evidence and the map. Julian says that he does not think that the map is a forgery, but that if it is, it is excellent work. The group then begins the process of conducting theri own investigation to either prove or disprove the charges against him. Aleksei take Marie-Celeste with him to Le Labyrinthe to check out Piere Fagam, while Sebastien and Julian go first to the prison to get more details from Monsieur ....., then back to the printers to see what was missed. After having a conversation with the man's wife, Sebastien asks Julian to check the office for anything that might be a clue. While searching the the man Julian finds a blooded feather which seems to have been kicked under the desk, and the corresponding hole in the wall the arrow made when it was shot from the rooftop across the street. Julian states that obviously "portage" interaction has taken place here. After located the original documents of the sewer that were printed in the this very shop some few years ago. Once back Aleksei's Julian states that the original paper is much older than the evidence that was found, so that this is obviously a forgery. These two facts, the feather and the parchment, should be enough to get the charges dropped.
As the group goes over how best to achieve these ends it is determineed that the only real way to make it happen is to send Piere Fagam a message requesting his presence in Charouse, to get him out of the city and allow under-administrator to take over his case load. The message is written in Julian's hand, and delivery to Piere Fagam's office in Le Labyrinthe by Aleksie, who then follows the man home and watches and he prepares to leave the city. Just then, Julian approaches Aleksei and tells him to watch this, he has a plan. Of course this makes Aleksei very nervous as Julian has not informed anyone about a new plan, and Julian walks up to Fagam, speaks with him quickly and then leaves, walking past Aleksei and saying come on. Sebastien and Marie-Celeste are waiting at Aleksie's when both men return under some heated debate and Julian hands a note to Sebastien and says, "in Fagam office desk, thrid draw is a hidden compartment, bang the side of the drawer with your hand and it will open the secret compartment revealing all the mans secrets. Sebastien is a little confussed by all this as now there is a new plan and he is unsure of how that happened.
In the morning Sebastien awakens the Captain of the local Musketter chapter, explains the entire situation, and is then given command of a double-strength squard of 18 men. He has them draw muskettes, and in full display of everyone rides to Le Labyrinthe. He stops at the office of the underling administrator, presents to the man the evidence of both the printers case, and the note that he says was provided by "a source" and they proceed to Fagam's office. Upon entering Sebastien announces that the Musketter's are conducting a criminal investigation and begin going through Fagam's desk. Faram for his part begins complaining then turning to treats of the end of Sebastiens carrier, until the thrid drawer of his desk is opened and the false compartment discovered. The documentation found therein make no question that Fagam has been using his office to further his own ends in a corrupt manor. He is arrested and led away. Sebastien takes the one major find, a ledger iwth a number of names and transactions that have been recorded and gives it to the Captain of the Muskettier. Sebastien, then files his report of the events and returns to Aleksei's to fidn that Aleksie and Julian are still in a heated debate over Julians keeping informatin from those who call him friend, and watch his back. The conversation is interupted when Aleksie's man enters the room and announces the Lady Jamais du Sices - The Lady of Sices. All the men rise and Sebastien bows to the Lady as she speaks. She was coming to tell the group of the events of the past two days and the arrest of an inocent man, but has found that the group has already resolved the issue before she had the opportunity to ask for their assitance. She is greatful that the group has taken care of the situation with the printer and says that if ever they need a favor, and she is in a position to help, they should feel free to ask.
Journal
DM Stuff
Background:
- Rivalry 2; - Vendetta - "El Chacal" 1; - Friend (Earl of Luthon) 1; - Romance 1; - Friend (Adm. Praisse du Richatesse) 1;
Advantages:
- Close family member (cousin) - Musketteer - Nobel - Lightning Reflexes