September 1295
1. Who are you?
The name’s Dabeney - Leith Dabeney. Charmed.
2. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A half-brother or two, I believe.
3. How old are you?
Twenty-two.
4. What’s your height?
Five foot ten.
5. Are you a virgin?
Really?
6. Who’s your mate/spouse?
I’m single at present, if you’re asking.
7. Do you have any kids?
None that I’m aware of.
8. What’s your favorite food?
Oh... good question. Roast duck, probably, or marinated beef steak.
9. Have you killed anyone?
That’s rather rude.
10. Have any secrets?
*smiles* That’s such an endearing thing to say! Well, if I had any, they would be secret, so I wouldn’t be in a position to tell you.
11. Do you love anyone?
‘Love’ is a bit of a strong word, isn’t it?
12. What is your job?
I’m a trader in distilled liquors.
13. Boy or girl?
Another good question. I suppose... girl, but why limit yourself?
... oh, I’m male, in case you couldn’t tell. You really ought to be clearer with these questions.
14. What do you do to relax?
Wine, women, and song - the old favourites are the best.
15. There’s a person who's teasing you; what could you do?
Shut them up. How permanently would depend on the severity of the teasing.
16. Let’s say you have a person who you really care about but she/he doesn’t know about your feelings. How do you tell her/him?
I have my ways - though I daresay they wouldn’t work if you tried them.
17. What do you regret most in life?
I’ve been blessed with a life free of regret.
18. Do you like your maker?
Yes, I like the way I'm made.
19. What do you fear?
Fear? That’s for me to know and you not to find out.
December 1295
1. What do you look like? / What are you wearing and why?
My looks are nothing out of the ordinary - medium height and build, brown hair, blue eyes. I'm wearing a white shirt, good hardwearing trousers, a leather waistcoat, and- I would have a cloak, but I seem to have left it somewhere...
2. Where do you live?
I rent out a flat in the north of town. It's quite a nice place, really, especially since I've got it refurbished.
3. How do you support yourself / your dependents?
I'm a distiller. I don't have a still here, though; I sell it on from the family operation down near Winchester.
4. Why on earth do you come to the Wessex Arms on a Friday night?
Why on earth would I want to miss out? It's fun. The company's good, the drinks are free (even if the quality is a little variable), and it's a good place to keep up with current events - even if that's because current events have a habit of breaking the door down every half hour.
5. Who do you normally hang out with and why?
Anyone who makes interesting conversation or is fun to watch. Bonnie, Jasper, the apprentice girls, Willow, Kerric even though he's a tosser, one or two of the paladins...
6. Anyone you avoid? Why?
Bathory. And no more need be said.
February 1296
1. What would you kill for? What would you die for?
I would kill for Lady Sordan and I would die for Her. Any other cause is not worth ending a life.
2. What would you refuse to do under any circumstances? Why?
Anything resulting in certain death - for anything less than the highest glory of my Lady. There is far too much in the world left to experience.
3. What do you dream about? [Either literal or figurative.]
That depends on who's giving the dreams...
4. What's your biggest fear?
The possibility of dishonouring Lady Sordan again.
5. What single object would you be most hard pressed to part with? Why?
My own body. Possessions come and go.
6. What is your fondest memory?
I have a lot of fond memories with a lot of people. *smiles*
7. What is your worst memory?
Committing blasphemy against Lady Sordan. Being cast from Her light was not an experience I think I could endure again, despite all that She showed me.
8. What or who was your most significant influence? Expound.
My parents, who set me on the right course in life, and Lady Sordan, Who taught me the true possibilities of life.
9. What do you believe makes a successful life?
A life experienced with joy and pleasure.
10. What makes you laugh?
Many things... A good display of wit and imagination. Experiencing the pain and pleasure of others. Joy in the power of the Divine. Being tickled. *winks*
11. What are your religious views?
As you might notice from the mark on my cheek... I am a servant of Lady Sordan. I am Hers alone and I am nothing without Her.
12. What is your greatest strength?
I would say either my erotic expertise, or my ability to see the good side of everything.
13. Do you have a fatal flaw? If so, what is it?
The thirst for new experiences does sometimes cloud my judgement. With my Lady's blessing, though, I remain alive and better for each and every one.
14. Who is the most important person in your life?
My Lady Sordan. If you wish to dispute whether She is strictly a person... my mortal affairs are private, thank you very much.
15. If you died or went missing, who would miss you most?
I couldn't possibly say.
16. How would you describe yourself?
I am Leith Dabeney, esquire, distiller, trader, epicurean, lover, and Sordanite. But I don't think a mere description can do a person justice.
17. How would others describe you?
“You don't look like a nice person, Mister.” - Alferwen Greyfinger
“You filthy bastard!” - Maia Clearwater
“You're a Sordanite?!” - Lord Keric Desanq
“You're weird.” - everyone
April 1296
1. How do you look different to your player?
There's not a lot of difference - Leith has a tattoo and a number of elaborate scars, and is a bit paler.
2. What are your hobbies or entertainments?
Wine. Women, occasionally men. And song. I think that covers everything.
3. How do you support yourself?
I'm a distiller and importer. From time to time I get access to some of the family funds as well.
4. What is your home like?
Currently a pile of smoking rubble... I'm staying with a friend until I can clear things up with the landlord.
5. What are your most cherished possessions?
My body, I suppose...? I don't have a lot else at the moment.
6. What are you proudest of?
That Lady Sordan has chosen me to lead a life full of excitement and delight, in Her holy name.
7. What are you most ashamed of or feel most guilty about?
Having dishonoured my Lady - though I have definitely been improved by Her punishment.
8. Under what circumstances is it justifiable to resort to violence?
It is justified if it is the will of Lady Sordan. As interpreted by me.
June 1296
1. Your character is being announced at the Royal Ball by the most pompous, enthusiastic and long-winded Master of Ceremonies in recorded history. What do they declaim?
“Leith Dabeney, Esquire, Bastard of Solderidge, Devotee of Sordan, Gifted of Luca, Distiller and Importer to the Nobility.”
2. Give a 6-word backstory and/or history for your character, prior to their entering play - it is needed for the character bio on the back cover of this season's DVD.
‘Filthy bastard beneath a civilised veneer.’
3. However improbable it may seem, your character just won a boasting competition. What was their winning boast?
“And the poor Nightmares just ran off in terror... it must have been something about the candlewax.”
4. Your character loses a hand irrevocably, and is given the opportunity to have something grafted on to replace it. What do they pick?
Something adaptable. If he can't use it to hold a dagger, a corkscrew, or a sex toy as he chooses it's not good enough.
5. What one impossible thing would you most like to have, be, or be able to do, in order to better physrep your character?
This is a hard one. Some sort of special effects for his miracles, perhaps.
6. Your character is asked by their immediate superior which one thing they would choose to save from their dwelling, were it on fire. Sensing that a flippant answer is not called for, how do they instead answer?
“Myself - I don't plan on dying anytime soon.”
This was proven true in play when an outraged Vala set fire to his apartment and liquor stockpile...
7. Your character was abducted by Nightmares (or local equivalent) on the way out of the Arms, and wakes up in a sack (just as armed as they left the pub). What do they have in their pockets, and what one further thing do they wish they had also picked up from home this morning?
Leith would have a pile of cash, a Gift, and two or three daggers on his person. If he wanted to pick up anything from home it'd be a bottle of port...
8. Your character's life is flashing before their eyes. Describe briefly any two of the following: Leaving their childhood home. Losing their first love. The first time they killed. The first time they lost a comrade. Another occasion on which they nearly died. A time they lowered their standards. A time they abandoned hope. Something that terrified them.
“I'm very sorry, Sophie,” said Leith, almost meaning it. “Lady Murrell is really putting her foot down this time, and–”
There was a shout from the house. Leith almost bolted then and there, but it was Miss Fitzwarren, the governess. “Leith, this is terribly urgent – you need to leave the estate, right this minute! The guards–”
“You're on first-name terms?!” Sophie drew herself up to her full height, scowling, and inadvertently showing off her impressive cleavage.
“She's got a very progressive teaching style, Sophie.”
“I bet she has! And all the times you said you were having Gaulish lessons!”
By now Miss Fitzwarren was close enough that he could see her expression as well. “Leith! I knew you had an eye for her, but I didn't think you were... together!”
“You absolute bastard!” exclaimed Sophie, reaching up to give him a firm slap across the face. “I knew you couldn't be trusted.” She struck him again, hard, and would have continued had she not been interrupted by Miss Fitzwarren's cane. Sophie gave a high-pitched yell.
“That's quite enough, young lady! I'll teach the both of you some manners and discipline!”
Leith watched with obvious desire.
“I am not going to stand by while Sir Hector's son is attacked by a servant girl! But I am also not going to stand by while that son shows a flagrant disregard for etiquette and social niceties! You could at least have the decency to conceal–”
It was now her turn to be interrupted by a shout from the house, this time heralding the arrival of Lady Murrell's bodyguards. Leith didn't hesitate.
“Sophie, Miss Fitzwarren, I really must dash. It's been a pleasure!” he managed, sprinting across the lawn, jumping the stream, and plunging through a topiary display at full tilt.
Within a minute or so he had reached the wall of the grounds, and one of the small doors that formed a way through. He fumbled with the latch but it proved to be locked; meanwhile the guards were audibly getting closer.
“Ah, Leith. In a hurry, are we?”
“Oh, hello, Tom,” he gasped.
“I think you might need a bit of a hand, sir,” said the gardener, “if you know what I mean.” He produced a set of keys, picked one out, and carefully opened the padlock on the latch. Before letting Leith through, he added: “Do take more care in future, sir. But don't forget to come again...”
Leith saw him wink as he pushed the door open. It was definitely time, he reflected, to put some distance between himself and Solderidge Hall.
Leith found himself waking up, and regretted it immediately. He tried to go back to sleep but found that he ached too much. Hmm. He did his best to work out where he was. On a bed? That was a good start. A four-poster triple with a feather mattress? A very good start, but it did raise some questions. Through the haze he started to make sense of his surroundings – a towering oak wardrobe, a hearth (though the fire had gone out), panelled walls, a chandelier, thick velvet drapes... in the red, white, and blue colours of House Romsey...
He looked back across the bed and noticed that part of James Romsey was indeed occupying the far end; the remainder of Romsey – the head end – was dangling over the edge, smelling of Riesling and vomit. That explained a lot of things, not least the ache and the vaguely sticky sensation. It didn't explain the lizard clinging to the bedpost, or the sack of sugar, or the several cuts on his hands and arms, or the fact that his tattoo stung, fiercely, like it had when new.
It'd been a good night.
Almost as soon as he thought that, another thought came into his head: ‘make me laugh’, but in a mesmerising female voice. Somewhere in the background, there was music. Leith turned and saw nobody. The voice again: ‘say you know what you want’. Leith felt a certainty crystallising inside him. Again: ‘Come along now with me’...
And he did.
9. Your character wakes up in a Militia cell with no clear memories of their last few hours. Given time to think it over, why will they conclude they are there?
Somehow, some part of his sex life has gone spectacularly wrong...
10. Your character was obliged to leave town. As they fled, they left messages with a trusted friend. Most of them dealt with religious and social obligations, and put in place provision for their return (or otherwise) - but they found time for one quick personal note. Who is it to, and roughly what does it say?
‘Dear Maia, I'm rather tied up at the moment with business elsewhere. Keep on enjoying yourself in my absence - I shall be back soon enough. Leith. x’
The other kind of meme
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