Character Avatar: Jack Black
Character Name: Ruben Latour (means 'the tower')
Age: 37
Height: 5'6"
Rank/Title: Commoner/Valet
Race: D'Angeline
Country/Province: Camaeline
Player: Merle
Appearance/Personality: Amongst the impressive physical specimens of his fellow Camaelines, Latour stands out as the exception. Where their bodies are hard and fit from a martial way of life, his is soft and accustomed to more genteel work. While they tend to be tall and strapping, he is notably... not. His name may imply otherwise, but Latour does not 'tower' at all. In fact, he is rather shorter than the average for his countrymen. Stockier and scruffier, too.
His hair is a fairly nondescript brown, worn anywhere between short and medium long depending on whim or season, that matches the middling shade of his eyes. Though, one could hardly call the latter unremarkable. Latour's eyes... his entire face is outstandingly expressive. At times, comically so. Whether it's indignant outrage or effusive flattery, he can become a little carried away with his emotions. His passionate convictions.
Near all of these highly emotional displays center around one figure - that of Sovereign Duc Nicolas Liatris, whom Latour serves. He is dutiful, adoring, doting, and loyal to the extreme. A perfectly devoted flunky. Beyond that, he is also a terrible enabler, and frequently feeds his lord's already impressive ego.
History: The Latours are a typical, hardworking family who have resided in Camlach for generations, with no great wealth or influence, but a steady presence. A particular vocation does not tie them together, save for those usual things in Terre D'Ange's harshest province. Many of their sons have lived and died by the blade, whether militia or Cassiline, and no few have served their time along the border before settling into another profession. Those who have put down their swords range from simple farmers to merchants and skilled craftsmen.
One of the latter, Urbain took up the trade of locksmithing after having been injured in a skirmish. He was luckier than some, only coming away with surface scarring and a hand that could no longer hold a sword for any length of time, but still retained fine motor function. His wife Lucinde, meanwhile, was a maid to the distinguished Liatris household, born of a family that had served this noble clan or that for as long as anyone can recall.
In time the pair had three sons, the first two within close succession of one another, and the third many years later. Ruben Latour was the baby of the family, a good decade and more younger than his older brothers. Even so, his parents had every expectation that he would turn out as they had - strong, hardy lads not afraid of putting their backs into their work or getting their hands dirty.
Little Ruben always looked up to the older boys, following them everywhere, but it became clear early on that he did not have the... physical prowess of his siblings. Nor even their stature. Outside his family, people took to calling him by his surname, finding humor in the irony of it. Relentlessly good-natured, Latour never minded, and may even have added a self-deprecating quip of his own. If anyone insulted his brothers, however... they would find a much different sort of reaction. He is not one to tolerate any insult to those he cares about.
Given his lack of martial finesse, when it came time for Latour to find a career it was his mother's line he followed. That is to say that Lucie helped get him a job serving the Liatris family. Mostly menial work at first, eventually he gained more responsibility, and when the lord and lady's only son needed a valet it was Ruben that filled the role.
Ever since he has been entirely devoted to Nicolas Liatris, serving in whatever ways he needs. Or wants. Quite often going above and beyond. Though Latour is the elder, the dynamic is much like an echo of his childhood, when he was chasing after and idolizing the older boys. His adoration and flattery may have begun as exaggeration and simple toadying, but has grown in sincerity. It is hard to say if his absolute devotion is platonic, or something more... Latour himself isn't sure... but it is clearly more than mere duty.
