Albert de Tours
Helmsman Albert De Tours (a.k.a. The Tower's Wings)
Five windships hung in the air, their sails rippling in the controlled winds, flashes of colour emerging and vanishing as the Gaoithe Sidhe danced along the fabric. The largest vessel, an Akitanian hulk, sat placidly in the center of the pack, the Wheel of Taranis on its deck sparking with excess energy. Grisly emblems of severed hands clutching falchions on the sails were lit in the eerie twilight, the winds and crackling light making them appear animated.
"Flying the Thieveshand" Enora de Chinon clicked her serpentstone spyglass back into its compacted form, having satisfied herself with her scan. "They certainly are a confident lot."
"But they're pirates!" Beside her, Antoinette shifted, the squire's nervous anticipation cracking through her attempts to replicate Enora's stoic manner. "They can't surely think of attacking the Radiant Dawn.. Not when they know that Lady Enora stands guard."
"5 to 1 advantage, and a Wheel of Taranis on the hulk." The young man at the large helmwheel remarked, his expressionless face looking almost bored. "The hulk blasts the Dawn with that and the two Carracks close in with a full assault from both port and starboard. The two cogs are doubtlessly loaded down with as many men as they can muster and will close the distance while the Dawn fights off the ranged attacks. They come over the decks before the brassguard can respond. They have the right to be confident with their setup."
Antoinette paled considerably, but Enora calmly walked to her seat behind them helm, holding up a gold and crystal glass. A crewmember poured the red wine into the goblet. "My my." she said with a smirk as she swished the red liquid. "It sounds like those pirates have us against a wall. Such a shame, that my family's ship will fall into the hands of those ruffians and used to attack our merchants in the Mor Bras."
Antoinette's face turned as white as snow.
"Milady..."
"Of course, I suppose if my helmsman decided to stop scaring my maid and use that lovely dramatic buildup to show off why I allow him to remain on my ship, then perhaps there is hope for us yet. See to it that my Dawn is the last one that these murderers ever live to see, Albert."
Albert turned again to the wheel, his smirk widening. He flashed a confident smile at the nervous maid and with a dramatic flourish, spun the wheel.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Albert is the model of an Anjevin windguard, dashing and good looking with an athletic build.
Facial Features
Albert sports a long scar across the bridge of his face, although it has had little effect on his popularity and reputation for good looks. The story behind the scar often changes, but the most commonly accepted version of events was that Albert received the scar from an Akitanian pirate hunter during a pitched battle over the Mor Bras.
Apparel & Accessories
Albert typically wears a personalized version of the Anjevin Windguard uniform, sporting a long coat of dark blue and red, and a beltshield charge of the Arms of Tours.
Specialized Equipment
Albert, a skilled fencer, carries a bronzesteel Schiavona and a small Wheel of Taranis of Bronze and Silver. a gift from an Akitanian nobleman.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Albert is the bastard secondson of Francois Goüin, a minor bureaucrat responsible for Gregoy de Chinon's wine exports and an Akitanian prostitute. While not abandoned or disowned, Albert's father attempted to keep him hidden from the gossip of Court, constantly shuffling the child between the different warehouses, river barges and windships in his network. Albert grew up on the docks and ships, becoming fast friends with the colourful inhabitants of the trade routes between Anjev and Akitania. He learned all manner of navigation techniques, at home at sea and sky.
As Albert grew from a headstrong child into a young man, his gregarious attitude, dashing demeanor and good looks made him a popular fixture at the bistros, coffeehouses, and taverns along the Silvercoast. Well liked by the workers, but without the favour and courtly gamesmanship of the noble shipowners, Albert found his career stalled. He could no longer rise in the ranks, but he grew bored with the challenges of the lower decks he had long surpassed.
In 1234 SI, the city of Labourd in Southern Akitania erupted into a short lived rebellion, now known as the Dock War. Backed by the Trade Guilds of Port De La Lune, workers seized control of the city from the noble backed garrison, protesting the arrest of several guild leaders.
As Kont de Tolosa's forces laid siege to the city, Albert, heavily ingrained in the revolutionary labour movement of the ports of Silvercoast, stole a windship from the Tolosan forces, repurposing it into a blockade runner to supply the rebels with food, medicine and weapons, as well as bringing key figures in and out of the city. One such run was witnessed by a young Enora de Chinon on her first military engagement, from the bridge of an Anjevin ship moored offshore.
Albert's success drew the attention of the Grand-Dug of Akitania and his Anjevin allies. After numerous failed attempts to bring him in, he was eventually "recruited" by Enora, who had been impressed by his skills. With Albert untouchable in the skies, Enora took a different tactic, placing herself and her guards in a tavern he frequented. With the Grand-Dug's men surrounding the building, Enora offered Albert a choice. Leave with her as her personal pilot or leave with the guards for a speedy trial and imprisonment. Albert left with Enora, becoming the helmsman of the Radiant Dawn.
Sexuality
Heterosexual. Albert has established himself as a popular ladies man, with the saying that he has a "girl in every port", while not strictly true Albert does little to dissuade others of this notion.
Education
The majority of Albert's education came in the form of business transactions as he learned various skills and tasks associated with his father's wine transportation company. While his father was never particularly acknowledging of his bastard son, he refused to have any child of his, legitimate or otherwise, harm his reputation as a learned businessman and ensured that Albert learned enough skills and etiquette to not indirectly embarrass him in front of noble or business associates.
Employment
Albert, having spent his entire life around windships, barges and boats, has obtained a diverse skillset in operating these vehicles. This expertise, in return, has secured him the position of the helmsman of Enora de Chinon's personal windship, the Radiant Dawn, serving as its pilot, as well as First Mate of the ship. Albert is often on hand to assist in other tasks as well and commands the ship in Enora's absence.
Beyond his duties as helmsman, Albert also serves as Enora's bodyguard and confident, handy with a sword, his wit and a natural flair for performance.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Albert's greatest achievement is obtaining his position on Enora's crew, working up from the illegitimate son of a minor steward to being the de facto captain of a state-of-the-art Anjevin windship. Albert successfully ran a small, but lucrative smuggling operation in Akitania, successfully avoiding the combined police, navies and secret police of no less than 3 major nations.
Albert, along with Enora herself, obtained recognition for his actions during the Battle of Sluys, successfully rescuing the Gallian Windguard from the jaws of defeat after a disastrous rout by the forces of Logres. His strategic piloting, daring risks and technical expertise bought valuable time to prevent the total destruction of Gallian forces, earning him commendation from the Anjevin Admirality, and a begrudging erasure of his prior crimes, ending his probation under Enora, although he remained with her after his sentence was commuted.
Taboos
Albert refuses to attack defenseless opponents, whether on foot or in command of his windship, going so far as refusing to follow an order to ram a burning windship at the Battle of Sluys, which would have had him court-martialled by his commander, save for the man's death in the battle moments later and Enora's assumption of control of the embattled fleet.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Albert's unique position has given him access to a wide network of personal and professional contacts, ranging from Akitanian longshoremen and Norman thieves to Anjevin noblewomen and Tolosan artists. Able to make fast friends, Albert adapts quickly to new surroundings, establishing a report with the locals. His primary loyalty lies with Enora and the crew of the Radiant Dawn, and he does not hesitate to call upon his seemingly endless supply of friends, supporters, debtors and professional contacts to aid them when needed.
Family Ties
Albert has a strained relationship with his surviving family. His mother, a Tourained chambermaid for a minor house, died of the Shivers shortly after his birth. His father, Mssr. Martin Dejolais is a clerk for the de Chinons, managing the transportation aspects of their lucrative wine trade, while his elder half-brother, also named Martin, serves as a captain of a civilian windship out of Karregennig. Despite Albert's rise in society, neither Martin is on good terms with him, seeing him as an upstart and a smear on the family name because of his illegitimacy, criminal history and general outlook.
Religious Views
Albert had little interest in organized religion, instead picking up on odd rituals and beliefs that he has encountered along his journeys. He often disapproves of Church rhetoric regarding the Milliget and druids, and has taken steps in the past to spirit threatened individuals out of dangerous regions at risk to his own freedom and life.
Social Aptitude
Ever the hotshot pilot, Albert is charismatic and witty, sliding easily into social situations with confidence and flair. His flashy persona and brash nature that makes him a popular and evocative figure to some also angers others.
Relationships
History
Antoinette is impressed and enarmoured with all of the Radiant Dawn Crew, including the hotshot pilot and adventurous scoundrel, Albert. Albert, a troublemaker at heart, is the one responsible for starting the trend of calling Antoinette "Enora's Squire", at first in mocking jest, then with increased sincerity. He actively encourages some of Antoinette's more fantastic flights of fancy, but keeps her out of real danger when he can.
Shared Acquaintances
Albert ran a smuggling operation during the Dock War, which Joela Millinmad took part in as a member of the rebelling faction. Albert did not learn the two were related until after Antoinette had long been part of the Radiant Dawn crew. The imagined blackmail that Antoinette doesn't actually have has led to a more respectful tone from the pilot to the squire.
Wealth & Financial state
A member of Enora's inner-circle, Albert lives in relative luxury aboard the Radiant Dawn, maintaining a small, but well appointed cabin on the windship, and largely unfettered access to its galleys and other facilities. He also maintains a small set of apartments at Enora's chateaux at Amboise and a room in Tours. Albert is granted a fairly large stipend and income from his role as ship's captain and has used this wealth to establish a reputation as a bon-vivant, with a penchant for flashy clothing, the latest gadgets and artistic patronage, establishing his own small entourage of fans and followers, who shower the pilot with gifts and favours.
Currently Boarded Vehicle
Species
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Capitaine de vaisseau of the Anjevin Windguard.
Birthplace
Tours
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Pronouns
He/Him
Sex
Male
Gender
Man
Presentation
Masculine
Eyes
Brown
Hair
Brown, neck length, unstyled
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Pale caucasian
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
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