Character Avatar: Michael Fassbender
Other Visual References: The Duchy of Lémieux; Temple at the Pass; Val-Perdu & Château dans la brume
Character Name: Friedrich "Fritz" Gagnon de la Courcel
Age: 41
Height: 6'
Rank/Title: King of Terre d'Ange, Marquis de Val-Perdu & future Duc de Lémieux
Race: D'Angeline
Country/Province: Terre d'Ange/Camlach
Townhome Request: Maison de Lémieux
Country Home Request: Château dans la brume
Player: Merle
Appearance/Personality: Fritz is tall and toned, with the lean physique of a swimmer. His torso and limbs are long, his hips narrow. His is a sinewy strength, rather than bulky. That isn't to say that he appears stretched out or willowy. His shoulders are too broad, his arms and abdomen too defined for such descriptions. Still, it is the weight of his pale blue-green gaze, the force of his personality that one might find imposing, more significant, than his physical presence.
At first glance, it may seem that his countenance is hardly noteworthy, but with every subsequent look the gaze lingers. Finding something else to remark upon. Like the oh-so-masculine cut of his jaw. Firm. Chiseled. Frequently lined with reddish stubble, a couple shades off from the medium brown of his short, at times rakishly unkempt, hair. Or his long, aristocratic nose, bordered by high cheekbones. His mouth might not generate much attention on its own, were it not for his propensity for wide, toothy grins that somehow seamlessly convey his joy or humor while also calling to mind a fierce predator.
There is much to be said about his eyes. How they hold emotion, or the complete lack of it. How his brow is so often furrowed over them, as if he is in deep concentration... or perhaps concern. The faint lines above seem to point more to the latter, a testament of burdens laid on those broad shoulders, but you wouldn't know it from his demeanor. Fritz is more given to smiles than scowls. He is usually a very easy-going fellow, open and friendly, but it only takes a moment, an insult, a subject he doesn't wish to discuss, for Friedrich to turn stony and implacable. Leaving it difficult on occasion to determine if his good nature was ever genuine.
It is true that Fritz can be calculating and ambitious, conniving and manipulative if a situation calls for it, but it is almost always his first inclination to use charm, wit and diplomacy to achieve his ends. When diplomacy fails, however... when he deems it necessary, or sees no other alternative, he is perfectly capable of being utterly ruthless. And no matter the course, when Fritz decides to act, he does so without hesitation. Perhaps fortunately, his goals and priorities tend to be straightforward and down to earth. The security and prosperity of his family and his people foremost among them.
History: The duchy of Lémieux is home to some of the most inhospitable terrain known to man. Sheer rock faces, icy monoliths stretching towards the heavens. Those jagged, snow-capped peaks looming over everything. But not everything is so stark. Lush little valleys nestle in the nooks and crannies like precious gems, some harboring thriving rural communities. Close knit by necessity, these hamlets can tend towards insular, though not to an impractical level. The people are hardy, self-sufficient, and at times as harsh and austere as the mountain vistas surrounding.
One such oasis is Val-Perdu, the Valley of the Lost. A verdant stretch somewhat larger than most high in the mountains, where the air is crisp and thin, that the Gagnon family have called their home for generations. Within the vale is a lake, spring-fed and clear as glass, and on the shore of that lake sits Château dans la brume. It was there that Duc Friedrich Gagnon (Sr) was born, as had been his father before him. It was there that he married Georgine Poiret, the younger daughter of a neighboring Baron. And it was there that he and Gigi raised their own sons.
The firstborn was named for his father, though where the Duc was as severe and distant as the landscape, Fritz tended to take after the more open and friendly Duchesse. Next was Juste, a beautiful, quiet boy, and several years later they were joined by Gaspard, the little terror of the family. While Friedrich did put some additional focus on grooming his eldest to be his heir, all of the brothers were given the finest education he could afford them. They were tutored in academics and etiquette, among other things, and given his devotion to Camael, even as children they received the beginnings of rudimentary martial training.
As was also traditional, it was eventually announced that sweet, shy Juste was to join the Cassiline Brotherhood. It was difficult for the boys to understand why they were being separated at the time, especially the elder two. Being nearer in age, they were closer to each other.... but though Juste did not want to leave his home, nor Fritz to see him go, Friedrich's sons knew duty, and there was nothing for it but to accept their father's will.
The remaining two children, along with the rest of the family, eventually adjusted to Juste's absence. He sent letters on occasion, but even if all went well, the middle Gagnon son would not be able to return home to visit until he'd reached twenty-five. For Fritz and Gaspard, life went on, most of their time occupied by lessons and work, as the Duc would not have his sons be idle. Every day Fritz learned new things, often about the governing of the duchy, the intricacies of commerce, sometimes on a wider scale of inter-provincial trade, and at others the finer points of handling the family's personal business and assets. Much of which came from the production of joie, that fiery liqueur derived from those rare little flowers that blossom like snowflakes up in the mountains.
When Fritz reached his majority, two things of note occurred. Firstly, as Friedrich's heir, he was named the Marquis de Val-Perdu. More of a titre de courtoisie than a true title, it was nonetheless a mark of his manhood and noble stature. Secondly, he was sent to the Temple at the Pass. A large defensive fortress near one of the Great Passes, it served as both a temple of Camael and a garrison, complete with training barracks.
He wasn't thrilled to be forced away from his family, but Fritz's charming demeanor served him well in his new home. Where it lacked comfort and familiarity, he found instead an abundance of camaraderie with his fellows. When it came to training, he excelled, though he was never the brightest pupil. He was a passable shot with a bow, knew how to acquit himself well enough with sword and lance and other such things, but it was his skilled tongue that proved his most valuable weapon. Where others brawled and feuded, he could often talk and quip his way out of a fight, or was the one to turn to for mediation. Though he only rarely went to court, Friedrich Sr had made sure his son would have the knowledge to negotiate the treacherous waters of politics as well as a battlefield.
Fritz spent years in and around that barren fortress, in the company of those men he'd drilled beside, fought beside. He'd watched his friends bleed and kill and die, and had done much of the former two in an effort to stave off the latter for himself and for his companions. He patrolled hazardous paths that few other men had dared traverse, learned the mountains like the back of his hands. Save for a couple brief sojourns to Val-Perdu, it was as if his life before was a dream. So, it came as something of a shock when the time came for Gaspard to join him.
Where time and distance had created a rift between Fritz and his brothers, this served as an opportunity for him to grow closer to his youngest sibling. They became more than just relatives, but brothers-in-arms, a relationship that went beyond their blood ties, but was all the stronger for it. Gaspard proved to be his equal or better in most forms of combat, but Fritz was not put out by it. In fact, he was quite proud of his brother's achievements, and encouraged him at every turn. So, some years later, when Friedrich called his eldest son home once more, Gaspard remained behind to pursue a military career.
Back in Val-Perdu, the Marquis, a man now in his early twenties, was expected to begin courting his wife to be. Lady Marjolaine, a diminutive, almond-eyed girl of nineteen. The betrothal had been arranged when they were children, and though he'd been aware at the time, Fritz had all but forgotten. While he'd had his fair share of casual trysts and the like, marriage had been the last thing on his mind. Fate appeared kind, however, and the pair seemed to take to each other quite swiftly, and in due course were wed.
It was not a love match, but they were content in their marriage and grew more fond of each other as time went on. Most especially when, after enough time that there were beginning to be some concerns, Marjolaine quickened with child. The lady glowed with her happiness and anticipation of being a mother and Fritz found her more radiant than ever before. Life in the mountains was nigh tranquil, the Skaldi were being relatively quiet along the border, Juste had written to say he would soon be able to return to Val-Perdu to see his family, and Gaspard planned to return as well. It felt as if Blessed Elua himself smiled upon them.
All was not so well as it seemed, unfortunately. Marjolaine had grown very weak and ill near the end of her term, and was confined to the bedchamber. Sickness and restlessness had shortened her temper and she'd grown quite waspish. Fritz took it in stride, confident that the arrival of their child would ease her foul mood and bring back the light in her eyes. With the impending birth, and the visit of both of his brothers to look forward to, little could dampen his spirits. Gaspard's return only bolstered him further. They drank, toasting to the soon to be new addition to their family, made merry and reminisced, catching up over the years of separation and falling back into familiar patterns as if it had been only weeks.
It was not the same when Juste showed up. The affection that had been between the brothers as children had all but evaporated in his long absence, and the man was practically a stranger to his own family. They welcomed him with open arms, but were met with stony silences. He had become much like their father, stern and unapproachable, but even Duc Friedrich showed more feeling. Gigi was determined to treat him as if he were still the sweet boy that they'd sent away all those many years before, but that child was gone as if he never was. Juste was still taciturn, but no longer shy, and seemed to hold no fondness for a family that had turned him away. Gaspard was mystified as to why he'd even returned, but Fritz barred him from confronting their brother, if only for the sake of their lady mother, who was obviously in enough pain from her middle son's callous regard.
All of that was forgotten, or at least put aside for the time being, however, when Fritz's wife went into labor. She was attended by Lady Gigi herself, a bevy of midwives, maidservants, and a single, kindly old priest of Eisheth.
It was not enough.
Their son had come into the world squalling and hale, but the effort of delivering him had been too much for Marjolaine's weak constitution to bear. A newborn should have brought joy to the household, instead the Gagnons were sombre with the loss of the baby's mother. Even distant Juste was saddened by the untimely passing of the sister-in-law he'd never gotten the chance to know. The tragedy seemed to soften the shell he'd put up around himself, and with the exception of his father, he tried to reconnect with his family in the wake of their sorrow.
Where before Fritz's joviality couldn't be curbed, now it seemed nothing could cheer him. He didn't weep and mourn outwardly, but his smile was conspicuously absent. Juste gave his condolences, Gaspard tried to ply him with drink and tales to distract him from his wife's death, and Georgine offered a mother's comfort... all to little avail. It was Friedrich Sr's gruff admonishment that he now had responsibilities as a father that finally broke through to him, spurring him to embrace his duty with grim determination.
Truly, though, it was the babe himself who did the most good for his grieving father. Alexandre, named for a lost companion of Fritz's and for Marjolaine's father, inspired in him such fierce joy and pride, like he'd never known. His grief still lingered, of course. He and Marjolaine had not been in love, but they had cared for each other. As lovers, as friends and confidantes. But with his focus on doing the best he could by his son, Fritz could begin to move on.
Shortly after Alexandre's birth, Gaspard and Juste bid their farewells, leaving their brother to the joys and trials of single fatherhood. Honestly, with nursemaids and nannies, he doubted his role would have been much different if Marjolaine had lived, but sometimes it was... lonely. The wetnurse might remark with equal parts humor and chagrin that the boy was teething, but it was missing the motherly pride. He occasionally entertained the notion of remarrying, but the few courtships that occurred came to naught.
Then the wars began.
An attack on Val-Perdu itself was unlikely, but Lémieux encompassed one of the Great Passes, and many smaller, more treacherous ones besides. Leaving his father to head local defense and his young son in the care of his mother and the servants, Fritz joined Gaspard on the front line. The younger was still the superior fighter, even more now with his brother having been out of combat for so long, but nevertheless, the two fought together well, watching each other's backs as they had when they were younger. By the end of the first round of fighting old grudges were being put aside, new allies made of ancient enemies... but it was not without cost.
He may have been the better fighter, but luck was not with the youngest Gagnon brother. While traversing a narrow, little used path through to one of the smaller passes, a rockslide poured down the mountain and ended the skirmish before it had begun, taking Skaldi and D'Angeline lives indiscriminately. There was little left to bring home save for his dented and cracked shield, but Fritz did so with great gravity. He was given little time to grieve with his family, to reunite with his son, however, as another enemy was cresting the horizon.
That second war wrought more death and suffering, and tore Fritz from his home once again in defense of his country and his family. He was no warmonger, but he did so proudly. The well-being of Terre d'Ange was the well-being of Camlach, of Val-Perdu, of his mother, his father, his brother and his son, his friends and companions and their families. It was the honor of a scion of Camael to fight and defend.
When the fighting was truly over, he returned to Château dans la brume weary and scarred. Inside and out. Even so, Fritz was never one to remain heavy-hearted, and rejoiced to be united with Alexandre and his parents. Juste, he learned, had written to say that he had been injured protecting his charge from Carthaginian assault, but was on the mend.
His son had grown while he was away. Not only had he gotten bigger, his personality had shifted as well. He was more withdrawn and solemn. Being reared in wartime, with both his parents absent, had been difficult for the lad. Additionally, there were few children his age around. So, it was at least in part for the sake of his son that Fritz decided that he would split his time between Camlach and the City of Elua. There he could cultivate business partnerships with a more personal touch than his father had done, perhaps serve as a more prominent voice of his people at court, and hopefully the socialisation would do Alexandre good.
He remained a serious, earnest child, but the move did what Fritz wanted. His son was happier, more verbal. He smiled and played with other children. Though they still frequently visit Val-Perdu, in recent years they've spent most of their days in the City. It concerns Fritz sometimes that Alexandre will miss out on parts of his cultural heritage living away from Camlach, but that is a trivial matter when compared to his son's happiness and well-being.
Updates: When Queen Coretta de la Courcel announced that she would be entertaining suitors after the loss of King Marcel, Fritz decided to try his luck with the younger sovereign. As much to see if they would make a good couple as for ambitions sake. Competing with a host of others for the queen's hand, he managed to woo Corri, and in a remarkably short time they were wed. He now bears the title Prince Consort, though the possibility remains that he might one day be named king. It isn't something that troubles Fritz overmuch, as he figures that if he is a true partner to Coretta there won't be all that much practical difference between the titles anyway. No matter what rumor might say.
After the birth of their son, Dauphin Ganelon Sabrin Friedrich de la Courcel, Coretta did indeed decide to give Fritz a crown equal to her own. Thus he is now King Friedrich Gagnon de la Courcel, first of his name. The nation has been peaceful and prosperous under their rule, and the royal family continues to grow--as a few years on, the sovereign couple welcomed a daughter, Alice Fiona, to their family.
