Character Avatar: Miles McMillan
Character Name: Ezekiel Simeon de la Mer (formerly Harel)
Age: 30 (sept 30 '94)
Rank/Title: Citizen
Race: Yeshuite (In RL terms, Ezekiel was brought up in a sect that followed something akin to a strict Catholic faith, albeit with Jewish overtones)
Country/Province: l'Agnace
Townhome Request:
Country Home Request:
Player: Janet
Appearance: Slender and wiry, Ezekiel has the pallid skin tone and musculature of someone who spends all his time indoors. His dark brown hair is wavy, hanging no shorter than his jawline and often unkempt. His chocolate brown eyes are frequently unfocused, though that could be down to either his flights of imagination or his busy mind. He stands at 5'9 which, whilst of average height for his Yeshuite brethren, makes him seem a touch short compared to the male D'Angeline population.
Aside from that, Ezekiel cuts a very striking figure - whilst clearly not of D'Angeline stock, he is a very good-looking man. Though vanity is not his style - in fact he tends to get exasperated by compliments as to his looks, feeling that he had little choice over what they look like and people might as well compliment his hair colour or some-such.
Now that he has landed on better times, Ezekiel has filled out a little more, though he's still slender, and his skin and hair look a lot healthier. His formerly baggy and patched clothing has been replaced with those of far better quality and fit - both in the D'Angeline and Yeshuite style. He holds himself with more confidence, and is much happier, which is clear to see.
Personality: Ezekiel's passions are his writing, philosophy and the truth of all things. With everything else he is laid back. He's a firm believer in that things will work out, one way or another...and oddly enough, it usually does, though not in the way that he expects. He is also a firm believer that he is the author of the next masterpiece... he just has to find a way to write it, and then get people to read it. He believes in the One God and used to believe that love should be betwixt man and wife... though that has been turned on its head. He's a personable sort, pleasant and genial, though prone to drifting and forgetfulness, and anxious worrying.
His mind is always seeking answers, and he tends to ask a question as soon as he thinks it. His dogged pursuit of truth means that he sometimes is driven to bluntly challenge points of view or beliefs - a trait that has made him an outcast in his community.
Additional Information
Marital Status: Married to Honore de la Mer
Known Languages: D'Angeline - fluent, Habiru - fluent, Vralian (conversational at best), and learning Caerdicci
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths: Generous, kind, compassionate, resolute
Weaknesses: prone to absentmindedness, tactless and blunt, honest to a fault
Family Members/Important NPCs:
Mother: Eliane Harel - estranged
Father: Simeon Harel - estranged
Rebbe in Elua: Rebbe Betzalel (more tolerant to same sex relationships but not quite accepting)
Rebbe in Azzalle (Bréauté): Rebbe Alard (completely accepting of all kinds of relationships)
History: Ezekiel is the only child of Yeshuite parents - members of a very strict sub-section of the Yeshuite community. His family settled in Terre d'Ange over thirty years ago and Ezekiel was born in Elua. His father, Simeon, is a physician, his mother, Eliane, a housewife. Simeon is a practical man, who does not understand his son's imaginative ways, or quest for knowledge. His mother always sides with her husband and against her son. However, he was educated as best as they could manage, grew up in a fairly decent neighbourhood and did not want for too much, though it took some effort to get to that point. Simeon working hard to build a business to keep his family in good standing.
Both his parents wanted the best for their son and despaired of him ever getting a job or a wife. He'd held down a few jobs here and there, but usually ended up fired for forgetting to turn up, or 'drifting away on the job', much to his parents' disappointment - and the subject of frequent rows. Neither did he seem particularly inclined to take a wife - despite being set up on numerous occasions to facilitate such a union. To them, his writing was a hobby, nothing more and his steadfast reluctance to marry or even show an inclination in that regard was baffling. And, despite their 'encouragements' to the contrary, Ezekiel persisted in his quest for knowledge - preferring books to the hard graft his father tried to encourage.
Eventually, his parents 'motivated' him to move out in the hope that the world out there would make their son wake up and be more responsible for himself, rather than rely on free house and board with his head in the clouds, or so his father deemed it. So it was that Ezekiel, in his nineteenth year, came home from a friend's one evening, to find a bag packed for him and with instructions to find lodging elsewhere. Tough love was their reasoning. Much to their chagrin, it didn't work.
It began fairly well - with Ezekiel renting a room, and getting himself a job, but then he drifted from room to room, couch to couch, job to job. All the time working on his manuscript, refining, editing and finally, managing to get it published. A book he describes to anyone that will listen as ' philosophical fiction'. This was a huge day for him. His parents were very surprised and a little proud, though they still thought that his writing should be second to an actual job - until they discovered what it was he'd written. Cue more rows.
However, his book hadn't taken off as well as he'd hoped and he kept visiting Armand's bookshop to see whether anyone has bought it. To him it was his shining glory - to everyone else, it seemed to be something else entirely... Neither one thing, nor another. His book is brown leather, with the title indented. It's called the 'Journey with the Companions'. It's a fictional tale of a man's journey and the lessons he's learned from each of the Companions (think Celestine Prophecy) - it has a number of misconceptions and vague on events and details in some respects, yet insightful and knowledgeable in others.
Updates:
At the Longest Night celebration, Ezekiel was sat on the side-lines watching the crowds at the street faire when he was approached by a nobleman, Honore de la Mer. The two got to talking philosophy and a friendship was born. They were both so different, from very different walks of life, but had a common interest in philosophy and the workings of each other's mind.
After some time, Honore expressed his attraction to Ezekiel, and he struggled with this revelation - homosexuality being forbidden in his religion (amongst many other things). It took some time, and a lot of angst, but Ezekiel eventually cut ties with his community and began a slow-burn relationship with Honore de la Mer.
With encouragement from his new suitor, and his new foray into the world of D'Angeline nobility, his book has sold a lot more copies and he has started writing a new one. His new book (currently in progress) will be called 'A comparison of D'Angeline and Yeshuite philosophy', though he has plans to rewrite his old book - now he has a new understanding of D'Angeline religion - and has thought of several other topics he wishes to write about..
His relationship with his family has devolved even further and now he is truly estranged from his parents. They have opted to make a pilgrimage to Vralia, and when Ezekiel visited to bid them farewell and try and mend the bridges between them even a little, it only made things worse and unrecoverable.
Ezekiel has now married the love of his life, Lord Honore de la Mer and is getting used to life as a noble lord, running in very different circles to what he was used to.
His books:
- 'A comparison of D'Angeline and Yeshuite philosophy' has been published with Lords Honore and Ezekiel de la Mer as the authors.
- 'Journey with the Companions' - the rewrite - is due to be republished shortly. The author is Lord Ezekiel de la Mer, and the dedication within reads: To my Lord Husband, without whom my life would be bereft. This book was only possible thanks to his love, lessons and never-ending patience.
- 'A D'Angeline guide to the Yeshuite Faith' - a book explaining the religion, ceremonies, holidays and meanings of the Yeshuite faith. The dedication is: to my husband, without whom I would be bereft.
- 'Comparing the shared history of Cassiel and Yeshua' is being written at the moment. The dedication will be: To the man that has believed in me more than anyone else has. A man that is as noble of heart as he is of stature. To my love, my life, my soul - Honore de la Mer
