[Nathaniel Crane]

- Player Info -

Name/nickname: Ashton

AIM/e-mail/whatnot: copandcon@hotmail.com (only for msn, do not send mails here), mairetar@gmail.com (mail)

- Character info -

Name: The Hon. Nathaniel Edward Crane

Nickname/Alias: Nathan for close friends.

Age: 26

Gender: male

Rank/Occupation: lieutenant

Appearance:

Slim, almost fragile build, average height, creamy blonde hair, worn in a quee or a ponytail, sometimes lets it down, dark blue eyes, fine milk-white skin. Do not yourself be deceived by the cherubic looks, he can be dangerous. Always wears perfect and expensive uniforms, and cares about his clothing.
He wears a pendant with Lucy's miniature and always keeps a poem, written together with Gaston in Greek, about Castor and Pollux, next to his heart.
Has a Spanish sword, inherited from his uncle who got it in a battle. Gracious and catlike in his movement, and very fast in combat.
He's got a long scar from a swordcut on his left shoulder.
Wears tricornes slightly larger than average to protect himself from the sun.

Personality:

A quiet, sensitive, dreamy young man, always polite and lately he sank into a deep melancholy, although the voyage to this sunny, exotic world helped a little already. A lover of the classics, he sees legendary Greek and Roman heroes as an example of how to serve his country and live with honour and virtue. He's a fierce warrior when it comes to that.
His true love is the sea, and "danger" means to him "what are we waiting for, let's go and face it".
A very clean man, he bathes every day, even if the water is icy cold. He's used to coldness.


Bio:

Born in 1715 as the second son of an Earl, and raised in an old castle, full of the glory of the past, portraits of ancestors, cobwebs, withering flowers in the garden and a big lake.
By the time he was born the family was in a decaying state, despite their wealth. Too many cousin marriages and too much intrigue. Gardeners had no chance to bring a bit of fresh blood in the line; all servants were seemingly as ancient as the castle, and the little Nathaniel often wondered if they are the same servants the first Earl got. Maybe they were just too busy to die.
His mother died when he was born, and the boy was very like the late Lady Margaret: sensitive, beautiful and his health was weak. Nobody thought he'd live long enough to grow up, but he clinged on life more strongly they'd think.
His brother was almost and adult at the time of his birth, and never cared much about "that dreaming child" borne by "the second wife". His sister, Lucy, eight years older than him, became his hero. She protected him like the mother he could never know, and they were inseparable till Lucy's death.
He was around ten when he met his best friend, Gaston Piers, son of a baron. The fathers were related from far and both were glad about the children's bond. Gaston was often invited to the castle and Nathaniel also visited them. They lived in a mansion that was very different - normal and built by a sober man, where the sunlight was not banned from the rooms. Nathaniel felt more home there than in the "vault" as he called the castle.
He, of course, always had the best teachers, and he learned Latin and Greek with an enthusiasm rare by children. Both he and Gordon were fascinated by mythology and heroes, and they longed to be warriors. He also learnt French from a very early age from his governess, Mlle Fabrieux.
They were around 13 when Lucy died. The official version was that she fell into the lake, but Nathaniel knew the truth. She was in love with a man her father would never allow her to marry, a commoner. After Lord Henry found this out, Lucy's lover met an early fate by "highwaymen". And the poor girl drowned herself that night, after telling everything to Nathaniel and blessing him.
The boy began to hate his father from that day, but never told him. He just became silent. The old man felt the accusation in his soon's look.
Not much later he joined the Navy, along with Gaston, and his father didn't protest at all.

Ships:

1728-1733 HMS Dagon (midshipman)
1734-1740 HMS Queen Anne (lieutenant)

On Queen Anne, he found a benevolent mentor in the person of Admiral Haye. The old man saw a promise in the boy, and gave him tastes of command with various prize ships. Nathaniel proved to be worthy. Despite his young age, he was a serious man, no hothead, always aware of the responsibility. Well-liked by the crew for his good nature, and accompanied by his friend who always fought at his side, it looked like the mists of his childhood had vanished and he has found the perfect lifestyle. He began to think about marriage, although didn't have a fiancée yet, but on shore leave, he visited balls and he was always popular with ladies. They called him "Adonis in uniform" and when he blushed, they flirted even more. Still, he couldn't decide whom to choose, all those husband-hunting girls seemed to be stupid. He wanted someone who reads books and has some thoughts on her own.
Things stood like this when the Queen Anne had to deal with a mutineer, the HMS Catiline, and after a long chase a fierce battle broke out. They won and managed to sink her, but Gaston was mortally wounded while boarding, and he died a few hours later, leaving Nathaniel alone with his guilt and grief.
He felt as if he lost a twin, his other half, and he was inconsolable. The good old Admiral wanted to help and thought a long voyage and some adventure would do good to his protégé. He sent him to the West Indies, with a letter to the local Admiral, in which he asked for a position for the young man, either on a ship or a diplomatic quest, or even something dangerous. Nathaniel knew about pirates and he thought he might even try to be a spy if needed.


Birthplace: Cornwall

Family:

Father: Lord Henry Jasper Crane
Mother: Lady Madeleine Crane (deceased)
Brother: Lord Isaac Morgan Crane
Sister: Lucy Crane (deceased)



Skills:

Swordfight (very good in it) and pistol. Dances well (but doesn't enjoy it) and plays the mandoline. He speaks French as a native, thank to his French governess (he could pass for one) .

Weaknesses:

Shy and afraid of women. Sometimes finds them scary or even coarse. (Especially the girls' mothers.) He thinks they just want him because of his noble birth, not for himself. So if that's a weakness, he has not known yet woman in biblical sense.

Another thing he's afraid are rats, so every ship he was on he had a jihad against them. Doesn't like animals in general, but rats make him feel sick.

But his biggest weakness is his sensitive nature and his inner demons. He blames himself for Gaston's death, even though he couldn't prevent it, and Lucy still haunts him in his dreams.

His left shoulder is a bit stiff (due to an earlier injury), and it can hinder him in things where he needs all his strength.

He's hopeless when it comes to mathematics, so he had difficulties with the navigation studies. Although he passed the examination, he still has nightmares in which he didn't, and he has to face a problem he can't solve. Still very mediocre with navigation.

He's also too hasty when it comes to dangerous situations. Although he feels responsible for others, when it's only himself, he often jumps into things before thinking.

Also, he has an almost maniacal obsession with bathing and keeping his cabin clean. The same goes for his thoughts. He might have a darker self (just like everyone) that'd want to break out, but he refuses to allow it, or even to admit it exists. Where it leads we can't tell.



Theme Song: "Solenne in quest' ora" from La forza del destino

The definitive version


Anything Else: The plan is that he travels with Annie and then lands in the hand of the pirates, later on Steadfast.

[The Seven Seas]

Approved.