James Balfour Vartouhi

In Character


Name: James Balfour Vartouhi
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Note: Has the rank of lord due to his adoption firstly by his mother, and grandfather and then by his father. He is the current Sheriff of Lansfield. He has also been knighted for valour in battle.


(For family, just enter names and if there alive or dead please)

Parents: Ragnar and Agnotha Vartouhi
Grandparents: John and Allegra Torren and Kain and Charlene Vartouhi
Siblings: Ianthe Lystrya, Unnamed infant (died at birth), Adrian John, Seth (died at four months), Allegra (died at age 3), Hafwyn Dane and Fabron (died at birth)
Aunts & Uncles: Charles Torren, Palma Vartouhi (died age seven) Lacey Vartouhi (died age eleven) Edward Vartouhi (died age twenty-six) and Santon Vartouhi
Nieces & Nephews: Syhn and Virgil (Ianthe's sons) Agnotha Grace (Adrian's daughter) Christoffer, Britt, and Agamemnon (Hafwyn's children)
Cousins: Kael Torren, Gabrielle Richon and Mignon Torren/ William and Kain (Edward's sons) Santon, Rachel and Jillian (Santon's children)
Children: Unnamed infant (died before birth) Robert (died at birth) Catherine, Hortense and Viviane (Mabon Denn- product of his night with Kaethe Denn)
Grandkids: none as of yet...



Skin color: Tan
Hair Color: Brown
Hair length: Cropped short
Eye color: Brown
Size: 6 foot
Build: Large and well-formed
Play-by: Russell Crowe
Picture:






Crushes: (one night affair with Kaethe Denn)
Mates/Spouse: Apphia nee' Borken-Vartouhi (playby: Saffron Burrows) picture TBA
Status: married




Personality
A man of many means and devices, James does not squander time, affection or reasoning. He has become a man of such delicate balance, that everything within his life must reflect the greatness that he sees within himself. Therefore, everything must be done well and with an air of perfection. His family is important to him, but so is wealth and often he has trouble dividing his time between those two most important avenues of his life's path.

Around Family/Friends
He is a good father, husband, son and brother. Quick tempered, he often unfortunately hurts his family members or friends. However, he is always careful to apologize so caringly that most forgive him rather quickly. His daughter's are all special to him, as he desired, unusually, them rather than the sons he may have received. He is aware of the son he had with another woman, other than his wife, and is his best kept secret. As a man of some compassion, he sends the woman money to care for their son, on the exchange that there will be no contact whatsoever.

Around Enemies
He is ruthless as an enemy and therefore, has many. As a sheriff, there are many who find him as unjust and uncaring as the heavy taxes he does not mind raising to pocket the extra bit. Though some have gone against him, in the effort to stop him, none had ever reached His Majesty to report the pocketing. And regardless, the king cares little anyway as he and James get along well.


Usual Mood around strangers:
Aloof and well playing the part of a rich and well-set man of means, James does not hesitate to discomfort strangers by his regal bearing. He is not shy, easily making as many friends as he might enemies with winsome speech. Time is the main enemy in his path; for he believes it to be precious and will not waste it.




Your Story Please?
Born to a large peasant family with neither wealth, power or status, it was by sheer good fortune or as his adopted mother would say, 'God's grace', that allowed James to grow to be a man. His entire family were killed by a plague before his first birthday. Lady Agnotha Willon, who had nursed his parents before their deaths took him under her wing. As she had no children, he was the sole object of her affections for several years after those first days. Soon, he had become her son and none would ever refute that he was as loved as a birth child.

He was roughly two when his mother married Ragnar Vartouhi, a man who James looked upon as a father from that day forth. As Ragnar had married his mother, James was officially adopted and given the proud Vartouhi name.

As do many young children, he grew from childhood to manhood, learning much from his father and the world around him. He trained as a solider first by the trials his father set before him and then later when he went to join the army with his family's permission.

It was there, under the rainy skies, disease and blood that he truly became a man. For the first time of his life, he hated himself for the tears that filled his eyes at the injuries his enemy inflicted upon him and over time, he hardened himself into a soldier.

He returned home having completed his time as a solider and straight away sought his childhood sweetheart, Apphia Borken. They wed in a quiet ceremony in which all present were nervous but happy. He was nineteen and she was eighteen; both young enough to be foolish in mind, but old enough to know what a journey they were about to set out upon. Soon they were expecting their first child and James set to building them a house where they could happily settle with the large family they desired.

Tragedy took their child before its time and James wept long hours with the still wrapped body in his hands. Not allowing any else to touch the child, he dug the shallow grave beside those of his lost siblings, his mother watching over him, afraid he would go mad with grief. His love for his wife allowed him to continue on in sanity and he cared for her as her health nearly took her to the grave as well.

As Apphia's health improved, they sought to have another child, this time confident it would survive. Together they went to the church his father had sworn to never again enter, begging the angels, Christ and the Holy Father to grant them children.

Their prayers were answered when they found another child was too come. The pregnancy seemed to go well, with Apphia resting often and eating only those things the healer said were best. Her time completed without incident and James paced outside the bedroom door, hopeful that the cries he would hear would be the healthy wails of his newborn son or daughter. But though they were indeed loud and he thanked God above for the safe arrival, the little boy breathed only twice, his blue lips tinged as his lungs froze in operation.

They named him Robert and buried him beside their first child. During this time of grief, James sought the comfort of his wife, but she failed to give it, lost in her own agony. So he took the company of another woman, who had recently lost her young husband and together they healed each other wounds. Coming to his sense soon after the affair began... James hurried to return to his wife, repenting of his adultery to her and God. Their love deepened and forgiveness was given on all wrongs.

However, the woman came to him soon after, weeping as she told him that a child would be born of their brief sinful union. Frightened of what such news would do to his marriage and reputation, he gave what money he had to the woman and sent her away. From that day on, he sent money, providing for the son that was born... never even knowing the boy's name.

Later, James and his wife finally had a healthy baby girl. They named her Catherine after his mother's middle name and over the next few years they had two more healthy girls, Hortense and Viviane.

(More of his history can be found in Agnotha's profile)




Magic Side: N/A
Favorite Spell: none



Weakness:
Quick temper
A bit monetarily greedy
Inclined toward selfish tendencies
His left hand is weak due to all of its fingers having been broken at one point

Skills:
Sword-play
Archery
Hunting
Fishing
Arithmetic
Plays the lute
Painting (only when forced)

Items:
-His grandfather's sword (given to him by his mother)
-A signet ring of his position as Sheriff
-Wedding ring (gold band with ivy etchings)
-Lucky coin (attached to a string, given him by his wife and daughter)



Favorite Color: Red
Voice: Deep with a slight gravel quality- faint Scottish brogue
Theme songs:
Soldier's Eyes by Jack Savoretti
In For A Kill by Tarja