[Nicholas Gray]

- Player Info -

Name/nickname: Ian

AIM/e-mail/whatnot: deadmentallnotails@yahoo.com

Substitute players: Lei

- Character info -

Name: Nicholas Gray

Nickname/Alias: Lieutenant, (or sometimes Commander), Gray, (by military personnel/those addressing him formally), Nicholas, (by friends/those addressing him casually)

Age: 27

Gender: Male

Rank/Occupation: Lieutenant and Commander of the Marine compliment aboard the "HMS Steadfast", (Commissioned Lieutenant of the British Army, 48th Regiment of Foot, designated 5th Regiment of Marines)

Appearance: Modest of demeanor and grizzled of complexion, Nicholas looks unlike many of his fellow aristocratic officers, with their noble bearings, and well-groomed appearances. His straight brown hair falls to his shoulders when it is unbound, and his face and chin are usually covered by a dark straggly beard. Sad grey eyes and a thin morose mouth make Nicholas appear always solemn.

The scars upon his face make him look the part of grizzled veteran, though one of them was given to him by his father long before he became a soldier. Of an average stature and size, Nicholas may not appear to be overly strong, but does in fact have a great deal of strength in his lean sinewy arms. His uniform was once the standard brilliant crimson hue of the British Army, but years of service in the harsh Caribbean climate have turned it a pale, unremarkable shade of red

Personality: Nicholas is generally of an amiable nature, although his manner is frequently sarcastic, which can be somewhat off-putting to his peers. While not averse to engaging in idle conversation, Nicholas tends to be rather reserved when it comes to expressing emotion. Moreover, Nicholas tends to have a straight and to-the-point attitude when it comes to social interactions, although he does enjoy to joke and chat from time-to-time. As a commander, Nicholas is strict but fair. He inspires the loyalty of his subordinates through the justness and quality of his command, as well as through his reluctance towards using corporal punishment.

Bio: Nicholas was born the son of Archibald Gray, 2nd Baron of Metford and member of the House of Lords in London England. Due to complications, Nicholas' mother died during his birth. Nicholas' father blamed him for his mother’s death, and used this as an excuse to beat him. In truth, Archibald was just a violent and mentally troubled man, who, like his son, had a terrible temperament.

One night, after a harsh day in the courts, and a long night at the pub, Archibald returned home in a drunken rage, pulling a knife on his son, giving him the fore-mentioned scar. Only a few days later, Archibald was killed in a duel, incited by a fight between himself and another gentleman off ill-repute. After his father’s death, Nicholas and his older brother Henry were adopted by their uncle, Richard Drake, their mother’s older brother. Though his life would generally improve from this point forward, both the physical and emotional scaring his father had caused him would remain an inescapable part of his past.

Richard Drake, Nicholas' adopted uncle, was a successful barrister in Portsmouth England. Drake was a caring and compassionate guardian, who encouraged Nicholas to succeed. He used Nicholas's inheritance and his own money to send him to the finest schools, giving him the best education possible. During his schooling Nicholas developed a keen interest in the military, studying military books whenever he had the chance. Growing up in Portsmouth, Nicholas fell in love with the sea, and had planned on entering the Royal Navy. Nicholas's uncle used his sway to secure Nicholas a position as midshipman aboard a ship when Nicholas was fourteen.

Nicholas excelled in close-quarter combat and weapon expertise, however struggled greatly with navigation. When Nicholas attempted the lieutenant’s examination at the age of 19, he failed despite his best efforts. He attempted it again at the age of 21, yet failed once again, unable to pass the navigational part of the exam. Nicholas was terribly distraught by his failure, having committed seven years of his life towards becoming a Lieutenant. Nicholas, decided not to remain in the navy, returning to Portsmouth to once again take up residence with his uncle. (His brother had since returned to London to take up his seat in the House of Lords). Nicholas entered into a depressed state, isolating himself from the world, and taking to drinking.

Nicholas remained in this state of chronic depression and self-pity for over a year, until a chance meeting with Francesca Rosewood. Francesca was the daughter of a wealthy physician and statesman, who was currently the MP representing Portsmouth. She and Nicholas fell in love, which aided Nicholas in his return to a state of mental and physical stability. When Nicholas asked Francesca’s father for her hand in marriage however, he unsurprisingly refused. Nicholas was, after all, an unemployed ex-Midshipman with alcoholic tendencies.

Francesca's father suggested to Nicholas that he buy a commission in the Army, considering his impressive combat skills, and military knowledge. Nicholas did so, using what little savings he had left to purchase a commission as an Ensign in the British Army. Following this, Francesca’s father agreed to Nicholas's proposal of marriage to his daughter, and a wedding was planned to take place the following month. The wedding however, would never take place, as Nicholas' unit was deployed to The West Indies just over a week before the wedding.

At the time tensions in the West Indies were running high, especially between the rival nations of Spain and England. The War of Jenkins’s Ear was sparked by several incidents involving the boarding of English ships by the Spanish. To help fight the war six marine regiments were raised from the Army. Nicholas volunteered to join the marine forces and was accepted due to his history of naval training, and familiarity with sailing life.

Promoted to Lieutenant, Nicholas was put in command of a platoon in the 5th Regiment of Marines. Nicholas and his men played a part in many of the key battles of the war, including the capture of Porto Bello, the Anson Expedition, and the Battle of Cartagena. After the Battle of Cartegena, and the near devastation of his regiment, Nicholas and his platoon were reassigned to the Steadfast. Nicholas now longingly awaits his return to England and his bonny lass.

Birthplace: London, England

Family: Nicholas is the son of Archibald Gray, 2nd Baron of Metford, and member of the British peerage prior to his death. Nicholas has one brother, three years his senior, who is now the 3rd Baron of Metford. After his father’s death, Nicholas and his brother moved to Portsmouth to live with their uncle, Richard Drake, a well-respected barrister. Nicholas's older brother has since returned to London to take up his seat in the House of Lords. Nicholas recently became engaged to Francesca Rosewood, the daughter of Portsmouth’s MP.

Skills: Nicholas is excellent at close-quarter combat, as well as an excellent shot with both pistols and muskets. He is also an excellent leader, commanding great respect from all his men, and attempting to keep their morale high through even the toughest of times. And finally he is an excellent military strategist, having spent most of his school years studying the subject in his spare time.

Weaknesses: Nicholas' biggest weakness is without a doubt his short temper. Nicholas will turn on people who do even the slightest thing to anger him. Nicholas frequently lets his rage control him, and has on occasion let it turn to violence. The one person who hasn’t ever ignited Nicholas' temper is his Fiancé Francesca Rosewood. Nicholas is also a recluse, shutting everyone but close friends out of his life, which frequently isolates him from members of the crew other than those under his command. Finally, and probably least important, Nicholas is a poor navigator, this however, has only affected him in the past, and is no longer relevant.

Anything Else: {(Appearance and Personality revamped as of 1/8/2011)}
{(Bio and Family revamped as of 1/11/2011)}

[The Seven Seas]

Approved! Well developed, well-written character, and extra points for referencing the War of Jenkins' Ear! Welcome to BtQ, my friend.