ᴀɢᴇ32
ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴀɴᴄᴇUpon first glance, and perhaps the next few glances after, one will see that August is not an imposing figure. He stands just shy of 5’9”—an unremarkable height, in this day and age—with an equally average build that tends to lean towards the wiry side. August’s physique, however, belies the strength in his limbs. Long days spent tromping through and chipping away at archaeological sites have bestowed upon him a kind of vigour, one that comes in handy when dealing with large, unwieldy objects or drunken ruffians.
Born to an English father and an Egyptian mother, August has a naturally dusky complexion that’s rendered slightly wan by his lack of sleep. While his wealth and general reputation is enough to silence the worst of it, the color of his skin can sometimes elicit unwanted comments regarding his character. August, on the other hand, likes to think that his eyes are his most notable feature. Large, piercing, with irises as black as tar, they’re the first thing most people notice when meeting him. His gaze has been said to be unnaturally intense and penetrating, almost as if he’s able to see right through you.
When it comes to matters of apparel, August is rather understated in his approach. He prefers dark colours—mostly earth tones—though he sometimes eschews the stifling three-piece suits that are considered “in vogue” in favour clothing that’s easier to move around in. This usually translates to a loose dress shirt, trousers held up by braces, and his trusty pair of fell boots. One item you will almost never see him without is his cigarette case. It’s decorated with silver filigree, carved on either side with an icon of the sun and moon. Indeed, it must be said that August is quite the heavy smoker, and wherever he goes, the scent of tobacco and jasmine follows.
ᴏᴄᴄᴜᴘᴀᴛɪᴏɴ / ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴAn antiquarian by trade, August is known by many to be one of the foremost experts in his field, especially with artifacts of a more… arcane nature. He has been summoned by Lord Northam in order to appraise a number of artifacts and antiques present in Manor North and the area surrounding it. He is most intrigued by the rumours that’ve spread—of statues moving by themselves, paintings that inexplicably change from one setting to another, and a mysterious, jewel-encrusted goblet said to be the key instrument of numerous theurgic rituals.
ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏᴀʀᴛɪᴄᴜʟᴀᴛᴇ ◆ ᴄᴜʀɪᴏᴜs ◆ ᴘᴇʀᴄᴇᴘᴛɪᴠᴇ ◆ ᴀʟᴏᴏғ ◆ ᴅɪsʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ◆ sɪɴɢʟᴇ-ᴍɪɴᴅᴇᴅ
August has always been the academic sort. He takes pride in what he does, in learning, and often finds himself consumed by his work to the detriment of everything else. Still, he can be a people-person when the situation calls for it; he wasn’t raised a savage, after all. While he can frequently come off as lukewarm in his attempts at socialisation, there is no denying the eloquence of his words. He has a knack for turning people around to his way of thinking, even if it means he has to sprinkle in a few half-truths here and there. Above all else, August considers himself a scholar, but he can also be selfish with his knowledge. Unless it stands to benefit him in some way, he would rather keep his learnings to himself.August du Maurier was born in Naples, Italy on a sweltering summer’s day. His parents were Edgar du Maurier, a globetrotting archaeologist, and Dr. Khadija Haytham Basir, a distant scion of Egyptian royalty. They met at an excavation site in Pompeii, and found that they both shared a deep passion for history. Following a whirlwind ceremony presided by a local priest, the two were married a mere fortnight later.
From an early age, August began tagging along on his parents’ expeditions. He proved to be an exceedingly swift learner, devouring whatever knowledge he could, and became something of a prodigy in his field of study. By the age of fifteen, he had already been down the subterranean mines of Paris, explored the pyramids of Giza, and trekked through the rainforests of the Amazon. In those years abroad, August learnt much about the mortal plane, though it would be some time before he realised what truly laid beyond it.
August was asked to return to England a few years later, to acquire what his father described as a “proper education”. He didn’t see the point of it when he had everything he needed at his fingertips, but the man was insistent; and so, he soon found himself on a steamship back to England. There, he enrolled in the prestigious Oxford University, a process that went fairly smoothly, thanks to his father’s alumni status.
While August initially dreaded the idea of being stuck in a stuffy, old building for days on end, he soon found that there was much to read in the school library. In time, he grew to enjoy the company of books more than people. Coincidentally, it was also there in the city that he first made Lord Northam’s acquaintance. Much of his time at Oxford was spent studying the countless texts available in the library, though he always seemed to long for something better, something more… exciting.
After finishing his studies, August chose to embark on his own journey. He spent a number of years travelling across Europe, specialising in art history and archaeology. While his parents had their beliefs firmly rooted in science, August was a little more flexible, and held a burgeoning interest in matters of the occult. In his travels, he has seen strange, otherworldly things that could never be explained by logic alone.
In Reykjavík, for example, he came across a collection of paintings from the mid-16th century, seemingly haunted by the restless spirit of an artist that had committed ritual suicide. Every night, the contents of the painting would shift, revealing a twisted depiction of events to come. It was said that those who came into possession of the paintings would find themselves beset with ill fortune, lest they suffuse the canvas with blood from their own veins.
Over the years, August has gathered a collection of such items, turning his own home into a menagerie of sorts. Professional curiosity prevents him from simply destroying the artifacts, despite their inherent dangers. Rather, he seeks to one day understand the true nature and purpose of these objects.
ǫᴜɪʀᴋIn addition to his background in art history and archaeology, August has always had an affinity towards cursed or eldritch artifacts. While he did not actively seek out such objects in the beginning, he has come to regard the study of them as his true calling.
