Rouland de Archer

[Rouland de Archer]

| ~ • ~ | Character Basics | ~ • ~ |

.:Name of Character:. Sir Rouland de Archer
.:Nick Name:. Rouland, but only to his close friends and family, to everyone else he expects ‘sir’ or ‘lord’
.:Age:. 43
.:Race:. Mercian
.:Status:. Noble

| ~ • ~ | Appearance | ~ • ~ |

.:Physical Appearance:. Rouland is a man of medium height and dark features. His hair is dark brown with occasional strands of grey to display his age. He often has a sly look about him, which matches his cunning personality. He is of a slim, trim build and is often considered ‘too thin’ by his wife. He always dresses to impress, and considers it important to show off his wealth at feasts and whilst at court in Camelot.
.:Height:. 5"9
.:Portrayed by:. John Simm

| ~ • ~ | Personality | ~ • ~ |

.:Personality:. Rouland is individual and prefers solitude to being at the hub of society. Consequently he does not attend that many feasts or functions in Camelot, unless of course he believes they will be beneficial to him. He is a sly and cunning figure, and although he does not have the intelligence or the know how to create an alliance or situation where he is in charge, he would readily allies himself with whoever he thinks is on the winning side to ensure his lands, wealth and family are kept safe; in that order. He loves his family dearly but the years of knowing he would have nothing to inherit from his family have made his relationship with his finances an intimate one. He enjoys wealth and showing how wealthy he is. He is also incredibly witty and uses his wit to wind up his niece and wife.

.:Strengths:.
1 His ability to know to be on the winning side, no matter what the occasion.
2. His wealth (or so he believes)
3. His alliances with other nobles within Camelot, and with his brother in Mercia
4. His good looks

.:Weaknesses:.
1. His greed where his wealth and land are concerned
2. His cowardice
3. His lack of loyalty to anyone in particular

.:Magic Abilities:. Rouland has no magical abilities and his attitudes to magic coincide with Uther Pendragon, he has no time for those with magic and believes those with it only want to use it for evil purposes.

.:Special Skills:. He has no skills which make him stand out from the crowd but he is able to fight, ride a horse, partake in archery and he prides himself on his wit.

.:Accents:. A mixture of refined upper class and Northern English

| ~ • ~ | History | ~ • ~ |

.:Birthplace:. A medium holding in Mercia

.:Family:.
His mother and father have been dead for many years.
Wife: Ygraine
Son: Dristan- 22
Brother: Sir Payton
Niece: Caitrin- 19
He has other nieces and nephews but pays them little attention as he lives in Camelot, and they reside in Mercia

.:Occupation:. He inherited his wife’s families lands so his job is essentially being ‘lord of the manor’ to the peasants who work on his land.

.:Current Location of Residence:. A medium sized holding in Camelot, around a fifteen to thirty minute ride from Camelot Castle

.:History:. Rouland’s future was always set to be the younger son of a noble Mercian family. From a young age he was contantly reminded by his elder brother, Payton, that he would not inherit a penny of his fathers lands and that Payton would inherit everything. However, their mother caught wind of this teasing and sought to change it against it and petitioned her husband to find a suitable and wealthy marriage for her younger son, knowing everything would be provided for her elder son.

No family with a daughter set to inherit the whole estate wanted to ally themselves with the de Archer family, fearing more land would make them more influential within the Royal courts in Mercia. Therefore by the time Rouland was in his manhood at the age of sixteen he was still unmarried. His mother insisted that he should have the same upbringing as his elder brother, including being taught how to run an estate, ride, fight and of course partaking in archery.

Rouland’s father sought to look further afield to marry his youngest son at the constant nags of his wife. He sent his squires into Camelot, knowing the King to be an ally, but not expecting any news from any of the nobles. He was surprised as a month later his squire returned with a marriage proposal from a medium sized holding in Camelot. There was only one daughter set to inherit and her father’s health was rapidly deteriorating meaning a quick marriage was to be preferred.
So, a few months before his seventeenth birthday the de Archer family made the journey to the holding in Camelot where they met the family their youngest son was to be married into. Rouland was glad to find his wife was surprisingly attractive and had a kind disposition. They were quickly married and her father died less than a month later, leaving Rouland his own holding and a wife at the age of seventeen; much to the shock and jealousy of his elder brother.

Despite a relatively happy marriage only one issue was produced, Dristan, who at the age of twenty declared he would find his fortunes fighting in lands further afield. All Rouland hears of his son is tavern gossip and the odd letter from Dristan. Since coming to Camelot, Rouland has built up ties within the different households, and is on good terms with most people. Rouland of course prefers to be on the winning side, so allies himself with as many people as possible.
He saw his brother Payton only a few times since Rouland’s departure to Camelot, once for Payton’s marriage, for the baptism of his first child and lastly for a surprise visit when Rouland was thirty. He was surprised to hear from his brother after many years of silence petitioning him to accept the wardship of his youngest daughter Caitrin. Roulands only memories of Caitrin was of a tomboyish four year old, but at the instruction of his wife he sent for his niece to decide whether she would fit into his household. Needless to say he was pleased he found her much changed and took on her wardship in a heartbeat, seeing the advantages of having such a beauty under his roof.

Since taking Caitrin into his household she has become like a daughter to him and loves her dearly. He treats her like he treated Dristan, which is not well at the best of times.

[Camelot]

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