"A bad peace is worse than a good war."
"When I go more than ten miles out of the city, the love and loyalty of friends comes to an end."
"All citizens must place the common good before the private good."

Here (at last) is at least [i]one[/i] of my proposed characters. We'll see about the rest...

[b]Name:[/b] Ghisault Carloman Abou Sayeed Abdoul Tariq Albert
[b]Age:[/b] 31
[b]Race:[/b] Human
[b]Nationality:[/b] Valanian
[b]Allegiance:[/b] ???[hider=Appearance][img]http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/29/2d/46/292d462b10cbd237e50561443d89139e.jpg[/img][/hider][b]Profession:[/b] Duke Averre-de-Gris & Count-Septemvir of Mas-de-Bagnères; semi-retired military officer & statesman

[b]Biography:[/b] Born to the Valanian duke of Averre-de-Gris, Guillaume Albert, and Yasmeena, a daughter of famed Sarifen general Al-Tariq over a decade before the War of Sarifen Conquest. Upon his homeland's annexation, his father was rewarded for his fealty to the victors by being raised to the office of Count-Septemvir of Mas-de-Bagnères, one of seven venerated cities rich with culture and commerce on the borders of Valania. It was there where Ghisault spent most of his adolescence and, in time, its rule was passed on to him.

When he came of age, he enlisted in the Valanian Auxiliary Corps, a small but considerably prestigious part of the greater Sarifen army established in order to placate (and inveigle) the conquered nobility. Joining the [i]Chasseurs[/i], a squadron of light cavalry "skirmishers" and colonial law enforcement, Ghisault quickly earned a reputation as an even-(and under-)handed young officer. After learning that a cabal of his fellow auxiliaries were using their position to "punish" local Sarifens for their dubious "involvements" in the war (their heritage, it was insisted, being 'entirely beside the point'), Ghisault set them up to be exposed, handily defusing a political powder keg and winning some accolades for himself in the process.

The more diehard nationalists among his unit saw this as a betrayal and sought to ruin him, but he managed to neutralize their endeavors by leading them in the seizure of a rebellious Sarifen satrap's lands and estate to quench their thirst for Sarifen blood; that this order had anywise come from the Sarifen government was tactfully omitted. As to the idle rumors of secret meetings between the young Duke Averre-de-Gris and those fugitive Hussars who had fled rather than submit during the War, no sources can confirm.

Following his tour of duty, Ghisault established himself anew in Voltas where he became known as a political mediator between the Valanian and Sarifen courts, a patron of the arts and sciences and a generally marvelous host and entertainer. He has dwelt there primarily ever since, occasionally returning to Mas-de-Bagnères or visiting other notable retreats of high society, Orad's in particular.

[b]Notable skills/abilities:[/b] Ghisault was raised with a full classical education, is well-trained in the art of rhetoric and debate, use of the [i]spada da lato[/i], mastery of the horse, has kept close study of economic theory and mercantilism and is fond of philosophy, astronomy, anatomy and the other sciences. He has cultivated an impressive network of friends, acquaintances and allies throughout Carcassonne. Displays some talent for the piano, but prefers the rebec or the ney flute. Speaks the Valanian and Sarifen tongues fluently and can carry on limited conversation in a few others.