Name: Giovanni D'Ario
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Appearance: Giovanni is a tall and strongly-built man, and despite being somewhat on in his years, he retains an appearance no older than a young man of eighteen or nineteen. His features are striking and finely-wrought, giving him an elfin, almost androgynous appearance, though his piercing red eyes stand out greatly on his otherwise serene face. Giovanni's skin is fair and without blemish (with one notable exception), almost reminiscent of porcelain. Dressing in finery whenever the occasion allows, Giovanni is a great purveyor of silks and supple linens, often garnished by a tasteful amount of jewelry. Meticulous in his grooming, the length of his golden hair is always shining and without tangle, his nails are immaculately cut and polished and his entire body carries a clean, fragrant presence. However, the great disruptor of Giovanni's almost ethereal beauty is the thick, obvious scar that runs all the way around his neck, which he makes no effort to hide.
Role: Court Physician
Interests: Despite his obvious interest in matters of fashion and personal grooming, Giovanni is in fact a dedicated scientist, quite committed to his field of study. He has an avid interest in the functions and failings of the human body, and how it may be repaired and maintained. He frequently experiments with both alchemy and magic, inventing remedies and maladies all the same. He also takes an active role in matters of the court, politicking as well as any noble Witch.
Skills: Giovanni is a master alchemist, and an expert in magics relating to flesh, vital essence and living things; an art generally known as "biomancy." Skilled in anatomy, surgery, chemistry and herbology, Giovanni's ability as a physician has never been called into question, as he can quickly deduce what is ailing a body, and soon conjure a spell, potion, or other such treatment to right it. Often overlooked, though, is that the ability to heal often goes hand in hand with the ability to kill. Giovanni's alchemical ability and biomancy can bring an untimely end to many, frequently in seemingly natural or undetectable ways. Giovanni is also an authority on the creation of haemonculi, simple little creatures given life by magic that serve as his lab assistants. A skill not often seen in Giovanni is his charisma and ability as a shrewd negotiator, as he can quite easily read body language and use this knowledge to aid in manipulating others.
Personality: An eccentric and enigmatic fellow, Giovanni is known for his melodramatic and capricious nature. His mood and demeanor shift suddenly and dramatically; Giovanni may be a preening dandy one moment, and a startlingly serious scientist the next. He takes his work very seriously, though his patients he often does not. While paying the dues owed to the noble Witches to whom he owes his livelihood, Giovanni has a habit of subtly mocking or teasing them, which is considered playful by some and uncouth by others. However, those adept at reading into people find his presence incredibly discomforting, claiming that he wears the face of an actor, and yet they cannot tell what lies underneath.
Biography: The D'Ario family has served as the Court Physicians of the D'Cerf Coven for several generations, beginning with a wandering gypsy Witch-doctor employed by the noble house to cure ailing members of the Coven from a plague that was circulating at that time. Generations' worth of research, formulas and wisdom have been passed down to Giovanni, who was trained in the the skills of the healer by his father, Diego D'Ario. Even so, as a young man Giovanni had no interest in serving the D'Cerfs, instead choosing to travel the world, helping people wherever he could and learning esoteric secrets of medicine and magic.
However, about ten years ago, he received word that his father had fallen gravely ill, and he rushed back to Castle Moonshearth to be at his side. However, he was too late, and by the time he arrived, his father had passed from a condition of the heart. With no siblings, Giovanni took up his father's mantle, as was expected of him, and resumed his duties as the Court Physician. In the recent troubles with the Vilicus, Giovanni has been notably absent from the Castle on several occasions, including the claim to the D'Cerf throne, only to reappear later, acting as though he had never left. Curious letters and literature have also appeared within his laboratory as of late, relating to a mysterious "Order of the Dragon."
