[hider=The Black Baron][center][img]http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/84/20/74/8420746ee7d4365660f4248f3c66c3c9.jpg[/img]
[i]"You gotta try your luck at least once a day, because you could be going around lucky all day and not even know it."  --Jimmy Dean[/i][/center]
 
[h3][b][color=#008000]Name:[/color][/b] Alcides Demophon[/h3]
[b][color=#008000]Alias:[/color][/b] [i]The Black Baron[/i] or simply, "Al" as a nickname.
[b][color=#008000]Age:[/color][/b] 28
[b][color=#008000]Height:[/color][/b] 70" (177.8cm)
[b][color=#008000]Weight:[/color][/b]  176 Lbs (80 Kg)
[b][color=#008000]Hair Color:[/color][/b] dark brown 
[b][color=#008000]Eye Color:[/color][/b] blue
 
[b][color=#008000]Crew Position:[/color][/b] Navigator
 
[b][color=#008000]Physical Appearance:[/color][/b] Alcides Demophon, is 5' 10" tall weighing 176 Lbs on his lean slender frame. His brown hair shapes his oval shaped face with his baby blue eyes being his best feature; drawing attention to him where he goes. His occasional smile is his best feature, but this bit is saved for the ladies, because that is his primary goal in life. 
 
[b][color=#008000]Attire:[/color][/b] "The Black Baron" prefers to dress in black which lends itself to his sobriquet. His knee-high patent leather riding boots and heavy leather drover's coat with black fur lined wide collar are signature articles for the Black Baron. He may wear either a buttoned shirt with a high, straight collar or a heavy black turtleneck sweater under the leather drover's coat. Occasionally, he wears a black leather aviator's cap with vintage goggles, sun, wind and dust propped up on top of his head.
 

[b][color=#008000]Personality:[/color][/b] Alcides, The Black Baron is confident, to the point of being cocky (cheeky).  He also holds himself in high esteem, acting in somewhat of an aristocratic or [i]entitled[/i] manner. The Baron may occasionally drift into sarcasm, if the situation suits him. He enjoys producing a gentle facade that makes him appear an aristocrat, but alas, he is more scum than you can imagine. His roots lie in the gutter. Wealth acquired aboard the [i]Ocean Horizon[/i] has afforded him the ability to maintain an appearance. Alcides is driven by lust for women and greed. Conquering as many lasses as possible is one of this man's priorities. He is not prone to over drinking, but will imbibe on occasion. Alcides is a risk taker, enjoying the thrill of a game of chance. Gambling and women are his primary vices. Making money is his primary desire and motivation. Spinning a finely crafted confidence game is one of his favorite pastimes.
 
[b][color=#008000]Weapons & Equipment:[/color][/b]
 
- As a gentleman, Alcides prefers and carries a swept hilt rapier constructed of fine quality white steel. He has trained in its use, naturally priding himself in this ability.
 
- The Baron carries a pair of ivory handled cryslock pistols designed for close-range accuracy in holsters at his hips. These weapons utilize specially refined Light Crystals as ammo. The mechanisms within the guns are designed to release the light energy stored within the crystals in such a way that the hardened crystal shells are propelled out of the barrel like musket shots.
 
[b][color=#804080]Shard Ability:[/color][/b]
[b][i]Carnomancy[/i][/b] - Part of the Baron's persona is his embodiment of complete awareness and control over his body and its functions. As a result, Alcides feels a heightened sense of energy, which translates into increased speed, an abundance of strength and an increased constitution allowing him to withstand a great battery of punishment.
 
[b][color=#008000]Brief History:[/color][/b]
 
Alcides originated in the Broken Spires to the west. Home was a tiny flat on the 197th level. Themicles, his father spent most of his life on the docks; a longshoreman of sorts; loading and unloading ships for merchants. He was paid well, but spent most of his money in the local drinking establishment. The money was spent on alcohol, women and gambling. When not working, Themicles was sleeping. As a result, Alcides came and went as he pleased. He was educated [i]on the spire[/i] as most of the children were. They had a formal educational institution they attended, but it was more for socializing than learning anything useful. He did  pay attention on occasion, but it was not his priority. Alcides earned a reputation for slick talking or what others call [i]"Spire Speech"[/i].

Following in his father's footsteps, Alcides worked the docks and signed onto a [i]C-Class[/i] merchant ship as a deck hand when he was 15. He quickly learned how the engine worked and was assigned as a mechanic in the engine room. The one aspect of this experience he hated was always being filthy. He bathed as often as he could finding it difficult to get the grease off his fingers. He vowed  to get out of the engine room as soon as he could.

At age 18, he found employment on a [i]Victory[/i] class freighter. Instead of working in the engine room, he befriended the navigator and found himself as the man's apprentice. The ship's navigator taught him his profession and Alcides learned quickly knowing his alternative was the dark, filthy, hot, sweaty cave known as the engine room. It did not take Alcides long to understand the art of navigation, even learning how to navigate by the stars. His Navigator, who he referred to as Duke Grandy or just Grandy took him under his wing and taught him all he knew about the job.

Alcides enjoyed his time as apprentice Navigator, but knew he wanted something bigger. Ole Grandy wasn't going anywhere, so he knew he would have to look for employment elsewhere some day. For now, he enjoyed his time aboard the [i]"Vengeful Maiden"[/i]. He got into fighting, boxing and other antiquated forms of unarmed combat. He boxed in his free time, he sparred with ship mates. Ole Grandy taught him how to fence as a gentleman and the young man became adept at its use. His insistence on dressing in black enabled him the sobriquet of "The Black Baron" mixed with his self-entitled aristocratic behavior.

Within four years, Alcides fell in with an old chum, he'd met sometime in his past, Fletch Payne. They may have crewed together either on the C-Class or the [i]Maiden[/i]. Fletch assisted Alcides on a few of his cons, taking cash, jewelry and whatever other valuables they could take from a mark. It was fun, terrifying, exciting and risky. These qualities of life Alcides enjoyed the most. Alcides was always feeding the beast, as he occasionally put it. Feeding the beast was his expression for doing whatever it was he (or anyone) enjoyed doing; something that was an exciting thrill, an adrenaline pumping adventure.

When Fletch Payne took command of the [i]Ocean Horizon[/i], Alcides quickly took advantage of the situation and made his way aboard, first as helmsman, and later as Ship's Navigator replacing Herod Elmo, an elderly gentleman with a bad heart. Alcides learned the workings of this ship. Life had gotten so much better for the former dock rat, proficient in [i]Spire Speach[/i]*.

 
[b][color=#008000]Relationships:[/color][/b]
[i]Will fill in as characters are posted.[/i]

[b][i][color=#408040]Captain Fletcher Payne[/color][/i][/b] - Alcides views Fletch as one of his oldest friends. They both see eye to eye on their desires towards women sharing bedroom tales from time to time. Both men are of equal size and martial skill, giving chance to spar or duel with one another as a means of training in the finer ways of the sword an in hand to hand combat. The Black Baron has the highest respect for the King of Storms, impressed at his ability to control the weather.

[b][i][color=#408040]Steward Petros Avakian[/color][/i][/b] - Al views the Steward Avakian as a quiet insular young man who prefers to be left alone. Al gives the young man a wide birth, offering him a polite, cordial greeting when he sees him. He has not had a lot of intercourse with the man and can't state an opinion of him one way or another, just that he does a fine job as ship's steward.

[b][i][color=#408040]Bosun Aloysius Poole[/color][/i][/b] - Bosun Poole is a curiosity to Al to be respected. He has an appreciation for the creature's strength and his capacity to know just about anything. His neutral behavior has taken Al quite some time to get his head around. Al is a very flamboyant personality, living life to its fullest. With this [i]machine[/i] serving as Bosun aboard the [i]Ocean Horizon[/i] Al struggles to determine the beast or machine's place in this community he calls a crew.

[b][i][color=#408040]Master-at-Arms Carlos Cunningham[/color][/i][/b] - Al considers Carlos Cunningham a close friend. They have served aboard the [i]Ocean Horizon[/i] for several years now and have created a bond as friendship. He also appreciates the clothing  Carlos dresses in. They dress in similar manner; he feels a kinship with his younger [i]brother[/i] from another mother. The pair share a common knowledge in engines, although both prefer not to talk about such drivel. All believes it is beneath him.

[b][i][color=#408040]Crewman FERGUS GALLAGHER[/color][/i][/b] - Al views Mr. Gallagher as a father figure. He respects the much larger man's experience and wisdom, calling on the weathered deckhand for advice or counsel on various issues. Mr. Gallagher is usually to wise to fall for Alcides' parlor tricks or to sit at his card table. He enjoys listening to the manner of his speech. It reminds him of Spire Speech.

[b][i][color=#408040]Squadron Leader Silver Kingsly[/color][/i][/b] - Al is unsure about Mr. Kingsly. He is a new member of the crew, but knows how to fly the Sylph. This is a quality Alcides admires about Mr. Kingsly, secretly possessing a slight amount of envy. Mr. Kinglsy is someone Alcides wishes to get into one of his games of chance.

[b][i][color=#408040]Medical Officer Maria Siddiqui[/color][/i][/b] - Due to her position as Ship's Medical Officer, Al insulates himself from Maria. The analogy of a Predator and Prey is best in describing their personalities. Al knows all too well that the Naive doctor would be easy prey to his charms and deceit. But because there could possibly be a time one day that he needs to trust her knowledge of healthcare, he maintains a sense of discipline around her, refusing to allow his lustful airs to get the better of him. It is often best that he stay away from the attractive young woman.

[b][i][color=#408040]Medical Officer Yara Catalina Loras[/color][/i][/b] - When Yara first came aboard the [i]Ocean Horizno[/i] roughly three years ago, Alcides was unaware of the connection between her and Fletcher. It did make for some very tense times when Al played out his normal behavior attempting to hit on the young girl. She parried each of his moves and Al became frustrated. Eventually, Carlos explained the situation to him that Yara had a very close connection to the Captain, they were bonded siblings. [i]Consider her the Captain's Sister, if you may,[/i] was what he heard and from that day on, Al has left her alone. He does not try to play her or get her to do anything some might call immoral. Instead, he protects the young  medical officer, another person who could possibly save his life some day. He treats her with respect because she is both a medical officer and the Captain's [i]sister[/i]. Today, Al views Yara as a friend.


[b][i][color=#408040]Chief Engineer Grant Meagan[/color][/i][/b] - [/hider]