Donatello Genovesi

Donatello Genovesi (a.k.a. Phineas Chipplefeld Bundlestuff)

Donatello Genovesi, otherwise known as Phineas Chipplefeld Bundlestuff, is the talented, charismatic, bombastic leader of a famous traveling entertainment troupe, the The Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique. He is a musician, singer, actor, and comic, and serves as the master of ceremonies for the performers of the troupe, as well as the caravan master and business manager. He was one of the four founding members of the troupe, along with Julien Henry, Anne-Laurie Trinh, and Robin Corcoran.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Donatello is physically fit, strong, and agile for someone of his age. Traveling with the caravan of The Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique gives him plenty of exercise, plus his performances require that he practice his instruments and other skills regularly. He is considered handsome and has many admirers.

Special abilities

Donatello is agile, nimble, and has excellent coordination. He is an adept juggler, musician, and performer. He is a skilled make-up artist and costumer.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Donatello Genovesi was born in Okkudo, capital of Da Therasti Okku to a family of performers. His mother was a famous dancer, known throughout the city and beyond, for her grace and beauty. His father was a singer and actor, and he led a troupe of performers in Okkudo that occasionally traveled outside the city to smaller towns and villages to perform.
Donatello started appearing on stage with his father's troupe at a young age. By the time he was eight years old, he was an accomplished juggler and actor. From his father he learned to sing and play several musical instruments, but was most proficient on the Bantar, on which he played melodic, emotional, romantic ballads that brought more than one woman to tears. He loved performing, loved applause from the audience, and loved being the center of attention.
By the time he was twelve years old, Donatello was becoming known in Okkudo and in the smaller villages around the city. He amazed people with his juggling, singing, and acting. Donatello's charisma attracted other young performers to him, and he started putting together acts with his talented young friends. They quickly became a very popular addition to the troupe, and audiences loved the dancing, singing, and acting of the young group of artists. In the skits the young group of actors performed Donatello often played a character he named "Phineas Chipplefeld Bundlestuff." The character was the bombastic and bumbling ringmaster of a circus of equally bumbling performers. Audiences loved the comedy, and over time, they refined and added to that skit. Phineas Chipplefeld Bundlestuff was Donatello's alter ego, ridiculous and homely where Donatella was charismatic and handsome.
As he entered his teenage years, Donatello's father introduced him to the business side of running a troupe of performers. He learned about managing the books and a gaggle of temperamental artists, what acts brought in the most money, how to judge the mood of a crowd, and all of the other ins and outs of running a business entertaining an audience. Though it was often boring, making a healthy profit as validation of how well they performed made Donatello happy, so he was diligent at his study of the principles of managing the troupe.
Donatello's handsome features and charisma attracted many admirers of the female persuasion, and he usually had a retinue of girls following him around. He loved chatting and flirting with them, and they loved chatting and flirting with him in return. When Donatello was eighteen, though, his popularity and charisma turned against him. One of his many admirers was a twenty-year-old young woman, a beautiful, lithe dancer from a prominent and noble family in Okkudo related to the Da Therasti Okku royalty. One day at a party, she started flirting with Donatello, pressing against him and making it clear she wanted to do more than chat and flirt. Donatello, being a young man with no lack of confidence in his looks and virility, and enjoying the attention of an older woman, pulled her against him and whispered to her, "How about we go somewhere more private?" She said, "I was hoping you would ask," and more than willingly went with him.
Donatello led her to a second-floor room of the inn where the party was ongoing and locked the door behind them. From there, their passion took them where it naturally led, with articles of clothing strewn around the room. They were both on the bed in flagrante delicto, passionately kissing and fondling when the door of the room was kicked in with a loud crash, breaking the lock and scattering shards of wood all over the room. The girl screamed and scrambled to cover herself. Donatello grabbed his shirt and crouched defensively.
In the doorway stood a large man of about 25 years dressed in noble finery, flanked by a couple of rough-looking men. He yelled at the top of his lungs, "What are you doing with my fiance?" He pulled out a dagger and started toward Donatello. Recognizing that he had a major problem, Donatello faced it directly - by jumping out the window.
Donatello crashed through the flimsy shutters, and he hit the ground on his feet and rolled. Fortunately, Donatello's youth and acrobatic abilities prevented him from suffering a serious injury, but his ankle was somewhat sprained. He took off running as fast as he could. Behind him, he could hear screams of rage from the girl and her apparent husband-to-be. Hoping they would be busy for a while, he made his way to the home of one his close friends, Julien Henry, who was one of the young actors in his group. Two of the other performers were there with him, Anne-Laurie Trinh, a dancer that performed in his father's troupe, and one of the acrobats, Robin Corcoran. He told them what happened, leaving out the more salacious details. Anne-Laurie said, "You idiot! Don't you know who she is? She's engaged to the Royal Magistrate's son! Why were you messing around with her, of all people!" Donatello realized he was deep, deep trouble and broke out in a cold sweat. The Royal Magistrate was not known for leniency or compassion. At the least, Donatello was going to get flogged within an inch of his life, leaving him permanently scarred and crippled. If the magistrate's son found him before he was arrested, Donatello was likely a dead man.
Julien stood up and said, "You've got to get out of here. They aren't going to let you live after dishonoring their family. You have to get out of Okkudo." Donatello, trembling, said, "Yeah, but where should I go? What can I do? They'll be looking for me everywhere. She was the one that started it. I wasn't thinking about who she was!" He was terrified. Tears were trickling down his face.
Robin Corcoran said, "It doesn't matter. You have to get out of here if you want to stay in one piece. I'll go with you if you want. We're performers. We can make a living anywhere, right?" Julien and Anne-Laurie agreed, "Sure! We can go with you." Donatello thought about it for a couple of minutes. Staying in Da Therasti Okku was impossible. What other option did he have? He said anyway, "How can you just leave now? What about your families and your jobs?" They all said, "Don't worry about us. We'll come back once this blows over in a couple of weeks. It's not a big problem for us, but it is for you! We've got to get you out of the city." So, they planned to leave Okkudo together the next day.
That night, Donatello's three friends gathered their things at Julien's house, and then crept stealthily through the dark streets to Donatello's house. His parents were away at the time, performing in a village near Okkudo. Donatello left them a long note, apologizing profusely, that said he'd gotten into some trouble, needed to leave for a while, and not to look for him. He didn't want to implicate them in his problems. He packed his clothes, his Bantar, and everything else he thought he would need. By that time, it was getting late into the night, so they all slept for a few hours.
Early the next morning, the four, Donatello, Julien, Robin, and Anne-Laurie intended to head out of Okkudo from the north gate to take the caravan road north toward the pass through The Great Western Mountains to Voatyon, hang out in one of the villages north of the city for a while, then go back to Okkudo after things had cooled down. But as they left Donatello's house and headed for the gate, they spotted some guards questioning street vendors, showing them a flyer of some sort. That made them all nervous. They got out of sight, then took aside one of the vendors the guards questioned and asked what they were doing. The vendor said they had a drawing and were looking for a violent criminal - apparently a young dancer had been raped and murdered by some actor in a jealous rage. The Royal Magistrate had issued a warrant and orders for his immediate arrest. And then, "Hey! That picture sure looked a lot like you!" pointing at Donatello. Donatello said, "I didn't murder anyone! What are you talking about?" Julien grabbed his arm, and said, "It's time to go, right? We have business elsewhere." He pulled Donatello away and hissed, "We have to get you off the streets, now! I have an idea." They went back to Donatello's house.
Back inside Donatello's house, Julien said, "We're actors. Now's the time to use those skills. You aren't Donatello Genovesi now. You're an old fisherman, heading down to the docks to catch a few fish." They made use of some of Donatello's father's makeup and clothes, disguising Donatello as an older fisherman carrying his pack of fishing gear. Julien said, "We'll trail behind you a little way. Head for the docks. We'll catch the ferry across the lake and go south along the Desert River Road. There are villages along the road we can hide out in for a while."
So, that's what they did. They took a ferry boat across the lake, then started walking down the road, hiking as fast as they could. It was pretty hot, so they had to rest and get some water before too long. A few miles down the road, they came to a river village where they were able to rent a room and buy some food and drink, but the next morning, they saw a troop of guards from Okkudo coming into the village. The guards started questioning villagers, and the four friends knew that they had to get away. They left heading south along the river, staying off the road as much as they could. When they got to the next village, there already were posters with a drawing of Donatello in the main square promising a considerable reward for information on a wanted rapist and murderer and his three accomplices. They couldn't stay there, so they continued south.
At the next village, Anne-Laurie said, "We can't keep doing this. The guards can move faster than we can. Pretty soon, every villager will be looking for us. We have to get completely out of the country." Donatello was feeling downhearted and guilty for what he was putting his friends through. He said, "You three should go back. This is my problem. I caused it. You have your own lives to live. I'll figure out what to do by myself from here on." Robin answered, "Uh, didn't you see the posters? We're wanted as accomplices to murder now. We're stuck in this mess as much as you are! So at this point, wherever you decide to go, I might as well go, too." Julien and Anne-Laurie agreed. They might as well stick together. Staying together gave them all a better chance to survive. Julien said, "The only way to move faster than the guards and get out of the country is by boat down the river." So they went down to the docks. It took a couple of days and most of the money they had, but they were able to discretely buy their way aboard a river boat, a small barge carrying trade goods.
The four headed down the Desert River on the river boat. Along the way, they entertained the crew by doing some small skits together. Donatello juggled, sang, and played his bantar, Julien acted some scenes, Robin amazed them with his acrobatics, and Anne-Laurie danced. For the first time in several days, they felt relatively safe and relaxed. They started to talk about their predicament and what they should do in the future. Julien said, "Well, there's no going back now, at least not for awhile. You know, we all know this lifestyle as traveling performers already, it's just that we're cut off from the troupe, and we're further away from home than we've been before. Why don't we start our own troupe of performers? We have a good core here, and Donatello, your father taught you the business side of things, right?" Donatello said, "Well yes, but we only have the four of us. It's going to be hard to call ourselves a performing troupe with just four." Robin said, "That's easy. We can keep an eye out for good people along the way and ask them to join us. We'll grow the troupe with only the best artists. No troupe will surpass ours! We'll be like magic!" Donatello said, "Yes! We'll be the The Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique!" And from then on, that's what they were.
After the river boat got to Nislokshi, safely out of the reach of the Royal Magistrate of Da Therasti Okku and his lying thug of a son, the four left the river boat. With little money left, they had to find a way to make a living. The four of them got some odd jobs and performed in the streets and squares of the town. It took a few months of scrimping and scraping by, but they saved enough money to buy two mules, a small covered wagon, and some supplies for their journeys. They bought some paint and crafted some decorations, and with them they made their little wagon look as bright and festive as they could. Finally, they were ready to start off.
As they travelled, Donatello, Julien, Robin, and Anne-Laurie performed in every town and village they visited. They were frugal, investing most of what they earned into the troupe, buying costumes, props, and instruments they needed for performances, as well as more wagons and mules. Wherever they went, they gathered together the best actors, musicians, singers, dancers, acrobats, jugglers, magicians, storytellers, and other artists that they could find. They asked around, "Who are the best entertainers in the area?" They watched dozens, even hundreds, of other performers, and if one was really good and seemed like a good fit, they invited that artist to join. Some joined, like Diaanen Elorialir Alea'athem, the first performer they recruited. Most didn't, not wanting to live the life of a nomadic entertainment troupe, but some did, and slowly the troupe began to grow. After about a year, they had around 30 performers that stuck with the troupe full-time, plus some people to be stage hands, guards, and drivers. Other entertainers would come and go, joining in one town, then leaving when they got someplace they wanted to stay for awhile.
Donatello sent word back to Okkudo, telling his parents where he was and what he was doing, and asking how they were doing. He was relieved when a long letter found its way back to him. It said that they were worried about him and missed him, but that they were happy he was alive and making his own way. It went on to say that the Royal Magistrate gave them some trouble for awhile, but that he finally left them alone. There were some witnesses to what happened at the party and a lot of rumors that it was the magistrate's son that had killed the girl in a fit of rage. They knew Donatello's character and that he would never kill anyone. The magistrate was smart enough to know that digging too much wasn't going to help his son, and it was better to let the rumors die. The letter signed off with their love for him, hoping they could see him again soon.
Donatello got that letter almost 24 years ago. He hasn't been home since, but recently got word that his father's health is not good now, so the The Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique are wending their way back toward Da Therasti Okku.

Education

Donatello was educated primarily by his father, who taught him to read, write, do arithmetic, and how to keep the books to run an entertainment troupe as a business. He also taught him some practical psychology - how to manage temperamental artists, negotiate, and resolve conflicts. On top of that, Donatello was trained as a musician, singer, actor, comic, and master of ceremonies. In the latter roles, he usually appears as his alter ego, Phineas Chipplefeld Bundlestuff.

Employment

Donatello Genovesi is self-employed as the leader of the The Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique.

Intellectual Characteristics

Donatello is quite intelligent and charsimatic, but not always wise. He is a bit of a rogue and scoundrel, but is generally honest, especially with the members of the troupe. He has the ability to draw people to him, and most people that meet him like him. His charisma has been both a blessing and a curse for him, getting him into trouble almost as often as it has gotten him out.

Morality & Philosophy

Donatello hates bullies and will stand up for someone being bullied when he can. He sees himself as upright and honest, and generally is, but his relationships with women are sometimes dramatic.

Personality Characteristics

Vices & Personality flaws

Despite as a young man barely escaping with his life after an unwise dalliance with the fiance of another man, Donatello still likes to flirt with beautiful women. His romantic relationships are often fraught with drama, tears, and broken hearts.

Hygiene

Donatello is fairly meticulous about his hygiene and appearance. As a performer, it is a necessity.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Being so widely traveled, Donatello has numerous contacts and friendships throughout Sudland, Senyon, and even further throughout Derkomai.

Family Ties

Donatello's father and mother, plus some other relatives, live in Okkudo, capital city of Da Therasti Okku, but he has not seen them in a number of years.

Speech

As a master of ceremonies and actor, Donatello speaks clearly and can project his voice quite far when needed. He has learned to speak with a more standard Sudkou accent, rather than the accent of Da Therasti Okku that he grew up speaking.

Wealth & Financial state

Donatello and The Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique have been successful and won the admiration of commoners, nobles, and royals from many cities and countries of Dermomai, so they have earned themselves a healthy income from their travels and performances.

Current Location

Kinsanaile

Species

Human

Year of Birth

9118 42 Years old

Birthplace

Okkudo

Current Residence

Kinsanaile

Sex

male

Gender

male

Presentation

male

Eyes

Dark brown, wide, deep set, with prominent lids

Hair

Dark, loosely curled, cut relatively short

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Medium-light brown

Height

6'1" (185.5 cm)

Weight

180 lbs (81.6 kg)

Quotes & Catchphrases

"Ladies and gentlemen! Let me introduce to you...the Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique!"

Aligned Organization

The Unsurpassed Artists of Theatre Magique

Known Languages

Donatello reads and writes the Sudkou language, and speaks it with the particular accents of Da Therasti Okku, though he has learned to speak with a more standard accent over time.