Louis (Updated)

[B]Name:[/b] Louis Alan Fritz

[B]Age:[/B] 41

[B]Sex:[/B] Male

[B]Race:[/B] Human, of mixed medieval Western European origin.

[B]Height:[/B] 6’0”, rather tall for his era.

[B]Weight:[/B] 183 pounds, much of it in muscle from his days as a farmer.

[B]Eye Color:[/B] An earthy brown with a grayish tint.

[B]Hair Color/Style:[/B] Messy, dirty blonde-colored hair he keeps cut short, with somewhat neatly trimmed sideburns, thick stubble, and a small, newly graying goatee. He’s also going slightly gray at the temples.

[B]Skin Color/Complexion:[/B] A fair, healthy, peachy tone that has over the years acquired a farmer’s deep golden tan.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/sailormichiru/louisprofile-1.png[/img]
[URL="http://superaiko.deviantart.com/gallery/765176"]-More pictures of my characters, including Louis, on my DA account-[/URL]

[B]General Appearance:[/B]
[U][i]Face:[/i][/U] Louis is attractive in a rugged way, with sharp, pronounced features, reflecting a possibly mixed German-and-Scandinavian heritage somewhere further back in his family. He has wise, fatherly brown eyes of an average size, and a straight, long nose that suits the long, lean lines of his face. His facial structure could almost considered an oval, were it not for the angular lines of his cheeks, and the strength of his jaw, which is more squarish than round, but still lean. Louis has slightly bushy, more masculine eyebrows, but they’re not wild or overwhelming, instead adding character to his expressions. They’re a dirty blond color that matches his hair, but slightly darker, tending toward a light goldenrod hue. His smiles are warm and expansive, his teeth clean but yellowing some due to his smoking, age, and the hygiene of the middle ages. Since coming to live in a modern world, his teeth have improved. His chin is rough with stubble, and covered with a small beard, almost small enough to be called a goatee. The area around his eyes show the most signs of his age, where he has light wrinkles and crows’ feet. When he laughs, his laugh lines show more deeply, beginning to wrinkle. His ears are on the slightly larger side.

[U][i]Body:[/i][/U] His body is tall and lean, but with dense, whipcord like muscles earned over years of hard farm work and travels through rugged terrain. His shoulders are a bit broader than average, giving his frame a sturdiness, like a tall oak tree that has weathered many storms. His legs and arms are a bit hairy, as is his chest, covered with hairs the color of straw. All his body is tough and tanned, his hands and feet on the rougher side and scarred, with calluses on his fingers from work and playing instruments. He has large hands and feet, befitting his tall frame. He has put on a bit more weight as he has gotten older, but still maintains his toned muscles and natural tall 'n' lean build. He looks every bit the picture of an old farm hand.

[U][i]Clothing:[/i][/U] His favorite travelling outfit consists of loose, dark brown slacks fastened at the waist with a tan leather belt, and tan boots on his feet, along with an old white shirt (although it's now yellowing at the edges) with wooden buttons open down to his hairy chest, and a loose-fitting, dark red vest over top. Otherwise, he wears rather similar, casual outfits in his day-to-day life, but more modern and clean, often a button-up shirt of any neutral or earthy color, and blue jeans or slacks in various shades of brown. He prefers boots over other footwear, preferring brown leather over other kinds.

People have grown to recognize him by the floppy, tall, brown hat with a wide brim he has taken a liking to wearing since becoming a minstrel and leaving Brantmill.

On his back, he occasionally carries a tan suede bag for supplies, and both his small, oaken clarinet case, and larger, brown, hard leather fiddle case. The straps of the bag and cases are worn across his chest.

[U][i]Mannerisms and Movement:[/i][/U] Louis walks with relaxed, long strides, often taking his time to see the sights and smell the roses, so to speak. He often walks with his hands in his pockets, in a casual posture, and enjoys chewing on a sprig of hay when he can (it serves as a healthier alternative to his pipe.) It's rare to see him standing perfectly upright and at attention, but if he does, you can expect that there's danger or something else grave going on.

He'll remove his hat when in church, at meals, or meeting a lady, and occasionally when he's indoors otherwise. He usually smells of faint pipe smoke, hay, and the outdoors.

[b]Theme Songs:[/b]
[LIST]
[*][url=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPjRTvMAptg"]Secret of the Forest[/url] (Chrono Trigger)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go"]Hurt[/url] (Johnny Cash)
[*][url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDm_ZHyYTrg]Devil Went Down to Georgia[/url] (The Charlie Daniels Band)
[*][url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svuyjzfjpjU]Dandelion[/url] (Audioslave)
[*][url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9IfHDi-2EA]The Man Comes Around[/url] (Johnny Cash)
[*][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J28KhdB8kE&feature=related"]Ixtapa[/url] (Rodrigo y Gabriela) - song for him and his best friend Cadenza, the guitar for Cadenza and the violin for him
[/LIST]

[b]Known Family: [/b]
Julianne Fritz – ex-wife
Melinda Fritz – eldest daughter (deceased)
Caroline Fritz – youngest daughter (deceased)
[URL="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/characters-and-resources/70881-sakumes-friends-of-mental-instabilities.html"]Katherine "Kate" Anne Seraph[/url] – adoptive daughter

[B]Familiars/Nonhuman Companions:[/B] A male, tan, beige-speckled pony, Eram, who was born to Mannie (Hunter Merridale’s mare) and a strong stallion. The young horse belongs to Louis’ daughter Kate, but since the minstrel’s home is better suited to the animals’ needs than the girl’s home with her mother in the desert, Louis looks after Eram much of the time. The pony lives in the grassy meadow of his Dome room, grazing free and drinking from clear, clean streams.

[b]Homeplace:[/b] Brantmill, Choras, Guardia, Medina [I](city, country, continent, world)[/I]

[b]Current Residence:[/b] His room at the Dome, described below, is his main residence:
“Beyond the plain oak door is a grassy meadow, with stars perpetually twinkling overhead and trees interlocked in a sort of natural border before the simple dark brown walls. If one looks closely enough at the trees, they may find doors in a few of them. These doors are said to lead to a kitchenette, a bedroom, a full bathroom, and a few locations scattered throughout the Dome complex.

Despite all the shifting of the Dome halls, Melody Ferrier’s former room is always right beside Louis’ quarters, and joins with it by a door that runs between the two of them. The lilac-colored door opens to a lavender-hued room that is very easy on the eyes, and consists of a soft bed covered with sheets that have musical notes printed on them, a small white writing desk, and a dresser of the same tone. Kate has since taken the room as her own, and repainted it pink and decorated it for herself. The two doors at the east end of the dorm lead to a full bathroom and a music studio.”

Besides his dorm, Louis also owns a small townhouse with a garage in the residential side of Blancwood, Rubato, on Earth.

[b]Languages:[/b]
[LIST]
[*][I]English[/I], spoken with less medieval flourishes than noblemen because of his upbringing on a farm
[*]Some [I]German[/I], mostly learned from music
[*]A few words in [I]Rubatoian[/I] (a mix of Spanish, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese), learned from time spent around his friend Cadenza Madrigal
[/LIST]

[b]Vehicles:[/b] A tan [url=http://images.usedcheapcars.org/used-ford/1994-ford-taurus-station-wagon-ford-3-8l-6-cylinder-ffs-4-speed-automatic/thumbs/ford_taurus_sho_silver_lights_1994-ucc.jpg]Ford Taurus[/url] station wagon he uses often, and an old, white [url=http://images02.olx.com/ui/1/24/67/f_901767_1_1170101286.jpg]Ford pickup[/url] truck he keeps at the townhouse.

[B]Occupation:[/B] Minstrel and song-writer, occasional tutor at the Dome

[B]Weapons:[/B] He favors a short, lightweight sword made of titanium steel with an onyx-colored hilt, which he keeps hidden in a thick cloth inside his clarinet within its case. A custom-forged, medieval-style steel halberd, which he has had reinforced with diamond-hard adamant, is similarly hidden within his deceptively large fiddle case.

[B]Armor:[/B] Louis wears a byrnie (down to the waist) shirt of chainmail crafted of mythril rings underneath his clothing, which can protect against any mundane metals (such as steel, bronze, etc.), and against all but the strongest force from magic or mythical metals.

[B]Carried Possessions:[/B] His wallet, keys, Zippo lighter, some tobacco, a wooden pipe, and a simple cell phone to keep in touch with his daughter and friends.

[B]Powers/Magic/Skills:[/B] Louis possesses no magical skills of his own, but he is a former soldier, and a warrior to be reckoned with in combat with swords, axes, knives, spears, and other forms of fighting. He specializes in armed combat over unarmed, but is a formidable boxer and wrestler in his own right. Thanks to his friend and protégé Melody Ferrier (a newly awakened Muse of music), he has a few abilities that can manipulate sound or that draw upon the girl's own mysterious energies.

[LIST]
[*][I]Dome doors[/I]: As a privilege granted to him as a former Teacher of the Dome, Louis is capable of summoning up Dome doors at will, by visualizing the place or person he wishes to find. Destinations he is already familiar with are far easier to summon doors to than new, unfamiliar destinations. With the former, he can call a door by with just the will to do so. With the latter, it often helps to imagine many sensory details or other known information about the place or person, such as looks, smells, sounds, etc.
[/LIST]

[i][u]~Special battle skills:[/u][/i]
[I]
Sonic Whistle[/I]- A special technique taught to Louis by his protégé, the musical prodigy Melody Ferrier, where Louis emits a high, shrill, whooping whistle. It makes all metal or metal-like weapons vibrate, and causes his own sword or halberd to let out a sonic-wave that can harm opponents. The attack is powerful enough to knock a human male onto the ground, but its main purpose is to surprise a foe. Louis first used the skill against Zachary Leos in "Misadventures of the Minstrel - Northern Dojo".
[I]
Sound Barrier[/I]- A special technique taught to Louis by his protégé, the musical prodigy Melody Ferrier. By playing a tune with special qualities on his harmonica, which he composed together with the girl, he can generate a clear, rectangular barrier around his body, which can last for a duration of 10 minutes.
[I]
Healing Sonata[/I]- Louis begins this spell by playing the first few measures of a song with magical qualities, which was specially composed for him and Cadenza Madrigal by the minstrel’s own protégé, Melody Ferrier. As the melody flows, energy gathers at the man’s feet, and rises in bright rings until it has traversed his whole body, healing any non-lethal injuries, internal or external, as it goes. Melody’s flute can be heard echoing in unison with the song when the spell is cast.

[I]Sonic Strike[/I]- Using his impressive strength, Louis can produce a strike with his blade that can cut through the sound barrier and is powerful enough to sever a human's arm if they are without armor. The strike can be performed with both his sword and halberd, but is more effective with the latter. Because of the speed of the attack, the minstrel needs more energy to use this attack than to slash normally, and the more he uses it, the more it tires him out.


[B]Battle Strengths:[/B] Louis is a very versatile fighter who is proficient with a number of weapons and fighting styles. He is patient, able to wait for the right opportunity to make a strike, and knows how to roll with the punches. He is quick-thinking, and has a great degree of physical power and stamina beyond that of normal humans, thanks to Melody’s blessings.

[B]Battle Weaknesses:[/B] Louis lacks magical abilities of his own and is somewhat slow on his feet. He refuses to harm women or animals, and is still new to guns and some other modern weapons. In the areas unprotected by his armor, he is as vulnerable as any normal human to bullets, fire, poison, etc. He is more of a close range or sword or spear range fighter than a long-range one.

[B]Personality:[/B] Louis is an eccentric and puzzling character to many; he respects lofty ambition in one person and down-to-earth realism in the other. With age, wisdom and a sense of gentle humor have come to him; he’s not bothered by callousness, especially if he believes it’s justified. Often his motives confuse younger people, only for them to learn he has greatly helped them in some way later. He retains his fatherly side from when his daughters Melinda and Caroline were alive, and is kind and protective towards children and others weaker than himself. Underneath all of this placidity, however, is the side of him that’s pained by his grave losses, and it shows itself in his dislike and distrust of the Merridale monarchy, and in quiet moments when he’s reflecting on his own.

In battle, he’s always willing to fight a formidable opponent, and always gives the match his all if he thinks his foe is worthy—seeing it as a sign of disrespect not to. He’ll only become gravely serious if his life or the life of one he cares about is in great danger. Occasionally, he’ll play a song after a victory in honor of his defeated foe’s efforts.

Since adopting Kate, Louis has become even warmer and more fatherly in his manner. He jokes more often, shows pride in his daughter whenever he can, and seeks to always do what is in her best interest. He is protective and affectionate toward her, and very patient; his experience as a father in the past helps him now, even though it also brings with it old, sometimes bittersweet memories. He tries to look upon these memories from a distance, appreciating them for what they were, and cherishing what he has now. He is not afraid to be strict with her, but often goes about teaching her lessons in more fun ways, and being a father again means the world to him. He tends to put others before himself and rarely thinks anything of it. He makes self-deprecating jokes about his age, but the concern is sometimes present in his mind. The minstrel has tried to lessen his smoking since adopting his daughter, but finds it hard to quit. His pipe has often accompanied him while he has been relaxing or thinking.

Louis loves music and storytelling. He can play virtually any instrument, and when introduced to a new one, takes the time to appreciate its qualities and to try and understand how to play it to its best. He has adapted well to the modern world, embracing it with open arms, and while he still finds some technology challenging, he has assimilated impressively into modern culture. However, there will always be something of the country boy in him, and his sometimes old-fashioned or more rural metaphors or turns of phrase sometimes reflect this. He loves breakfast foods, a holdover from his days as a boy on the farm, and gets along well with animals. Since adopting Kate, he is open to telling stories about his younger days more readily. He fondly remembers his family and their home of the past. You can take the minstrel out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the minstrel.

[LIST]
[*][I]Likes:[/I] Loves all kinds of music, especially country, big band, blues, and classical (Johnny Cash is a favorite, along with Mozart and Beethoven), food (especially breakfast foods), spending time with family and friends, comedy, good conversation, the outdoors, fishing, taking walks, playing his fiddle and other instruments, singing, animals, especially dogs, horses, sleeping, people who can take a joke, people who can laugh at themselves, telling stories, writing songs, poetry, a good laugh, history, farming, smoking a good pipe, baseball, hockey, women


[*]Food likes: Any kind of breakfast food, honey, ale, steak, eggs, bread, baked goods, potatoes, chicken, pork, corn, venison, mutton, raisins, apples, pears, cherries, peaches, crackers, nuts, sausage, bratwurst, fish, home-cooked meals, milk, cool water, ice cream, cake (especially chocolate), pie (especially cherry, apple, pecan), tea, coffee (three sugars, sometimes milk), butterscotch, he’ll eat just about any kind of food.


[*][I]Dislikes:[/I] Bigots, people who mistreat women, children, or the poor or otherwise unfortunate or defenseless, negligent or otherwise unfair monarchs, ignorant nobles, being cooped up indoors for too long, people who mistreat animals, heavy snowstorms, violent drunks, airplanes, war and the losses that come with it, being woken up in the middle of a good nap, wasting food


[*]Food dislikes: Brussel sprouts, asparagus, pigs’ feet


[*][I]Fears:[/I] Losing his family or friends, failing to protect someone, being faced with a supernatural or magical threat he cannot defend innocents against, and the fears that come with living a Christian life


[*][I]Virtues:[/I] Understanding, faithful, kind, good sense of humor, wise, a good father, a good friend, reliable, trustworthy, loyal, knows the value of hard work, doesn’t judge too quickly


[*][I]Vices:[/I] Smoking, can hold some grudges too long
[/LIST]


[B]History:[/B] Louis Fritz the minstrel hails from the imperial-minded Choras, land ruled by the royal family of Merridale. He once lived peacefully in the farming village of Brantmill, several miles from the tragedies and bloodshed of the ongoing wars. But when the latest conflict brought the battling to Bartholomew, merely ten miles away from quaint Brantmill, panic began to brew in the village. Men from Brantmill volunteered to join the ranks of the army to defend their home and way of life, and Louis Fritz was among them.

The small auxiliary force of Brantmill was called upon as the fighting progressed to Bartholomew Fields, between the city and the farming village. When the day was over, Louis and his comrades believed they were successful in holding off the enemy’s army from penetrating Brantmill, but when they returned home, they found that their foes had razed the farming community to the ground. The grief was almost too much for the men to bear. Foremost among the mourners was Louis Fritz: a single father raising two daughters his disloyal wife Julianne had left him with twelve years prior. Now both of those children were gone.

Louis could feel his sanity slipping in the following months. Efforts were made to rebuild Brantmill, but he refused to participate. He needed to leave. He needed a fresh start.

Taking what supplies he had left from the packs the army had provided, Louis set off to travel the world of Medina, singing songs and telling stories of Brantmill, the Choras wars, and his life. He made money doing odd jobs, going on journeys and protecting people or small towns. But the bard’s main quest remained the same: to find a new purpose in life.

Louis has, since leaving Choras, traveled to the mysterious Dome and become both a teacher and student. On his way there, he met a young girl named Melody Ferrier, who he discovered was a musical prodigy, and who was heading to the Dome for some unknown reason as well. He and Melody later encountered an orphaned girl named Kate who was being cruelly mistreated by her guardian Pyralis at a music festival. Melody tried her best to help, but her awakening as a Muse of Music drew her away. She could only contact Louis’ friend Cadenza to come to their aid before she was gone. Louis and his friend rescued Kate, but soon learned that Pyralis was only an employee for an even more powerful man named Marcus, who considered the girl his. In order to adopt Kate and save her from more cruelty, Louis and Cadenza had to enter into a contract with this man, and were later subject to occasional visits from his other employee, a man called Ruin.

Louis has since retired from the Dome, but occasionally still tutors students and takes part in other Dome activities. He's taken a liking to a baker named [URL="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/npc-repository/102893-sakumes-many-npcs.html"]Celia Everfields[/URL] and the two have since begun dating. The former farmer now writes music for country artists and other musicians, and plays his own music on the side as well. He still considers himself a minstrel and spreads his stories and songs.


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[B]RPs:[/B]
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/showthread.php?t=59276"]Misadventures of the Minstrel - Northern Dojo[/url] (complete)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/battle-arena/77282-knockin-heaven-s-door.html"]Knockin' on Heaven's Door[/url] (in progress)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/battle-arena/75912-shadows-mourn-puck-altamira-insaney.html"]Shadows of Mourn[/url] (in progress)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/67018-excitement-operahouse-southern-belle.html"]Excitement at the Operahouse[/url] (postponed)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/69223-misadventures-minstrel-away-sea-hurripen.html"]Misadventures of the Minstrel - Away at Sea[/url] (postponed)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/71016-forgotten-lore-altamira-sabbo-vn.html"]Forgotten Lore[/url] (postponed)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/73085-farewells-all-those-who-wish-join.html"]Farewells.[/url] (complete)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/81646-send-me-friend-sakume.html"]Send Me a Friend[/url] (complete)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/81726-winning-end-altamira.html"]Winning In The End[/url] (dropped)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/82650-its-easier-hate-mikey-mike.html"]It's Easier to Hate[/url] (in progress)
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/crossroads/87105-spell-gone-awry-sakume.html"]A Spell Gone Awry[/url] (in progress)
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[B]Character Fiction:[/B]
[url="http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/character-fiction/70585-common-cause-work-progress-everything-still-entirely-subject-change.html#post1789099"]A Common Cause (tentative title)[/url] (dropped)