Sir Holden Morgan
The things we do outlast our mortality.
Description: Tall and broad, Holden carries with him the look of controlled power. He has the fitness of a lifelong soldier with weathered beige skin that is prone to tanning with the amount of time he spends in the field. His face is drawn on hard, symmetrical lines, his brow heavy, nose long and straight, and lips more prone to frowns than smiles; it is not an unhandsome face, though, and a rare smile might do much to lighten it. His eyes are a dark, warm copper, and the curls of his dark hair are mostly tamed by keeping it cropped short. The even line of his jaw is marked by a dark, well-maintained full beard.
Personality: Holden is a man of quiet reserve and firm convictions. His habitual restraint might be mistaken for intellectual dullness or dispassion, but underneath lies a deep wellspring of passion if one digs deep enough. He believes fiercely in the codes of honor, duty, and responsibility that he's garnered from both his family and his kingdom, and he can be unforgiving of those who fall short of the exacting standards he holds himself to. And while his personal loyalties to family and friends run deep and true, he sometimes has difficulty weighing them against the demands of fealty.
Background: Holden's life has been one of expectation. The Morgan family has a long history of distinguished service for House Valardin, and this weight settled most squarely on Holden's shoulders as the oldest of seven. He was born to Hardwicke Morgan, Captain of the Guard at Sanctum, and his wife Symanthe, first of a long string of children over the years that followed: Elise, Sergio, Aleksei, Warrick, Sasha, and Briseis. Although his mother was a bright, vivacious, and somewhat dorkily-humored sort of woman, it was his father that Holden rather quickly took after: stern and serious, with a constant weight of responsibility on his shoulders. While all of his siblings (save Aleksei) took on the general mantle of expectation to serve responsibly and productively as commoner vassals of the Valardins, no one took it quite as seriously as Holden. He grew up with a sword in his hand and served as a guard, soldier, and man-at-arms -- whatever was needed at the time -- for the Valardins. He earned commands of his own by his actions in the field, recognized quickly for a clear natural aptitude for leadership and an unwavering sense of dedication and loyalty that outstripped his skill with a blade, and he was a friend and ally to the Valardin heir, Prince Vance.
It was no surprise that he proved himself a hero at the Tragedy at Sanctum, saving many lives at the risk of his own. The knighthood that he earned for his actions -- a recognition he would once have been so humbled by and proud of -- was little solace for the fact that his own husband and child were among those who died that day, as well as his friend and compatriot Prince Vance. He continued to serve, as life can only move forward, but recovery has been a slow, private process. And now, with Bringers at the door several years later, he has been sent to Arx to continue his service for the High Lord and the rest of the family there.
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