The Lormanston name is well known in the kingdom of Dawnreach, being one of the older and better established noble families. Mornington is a bard of 29 years of age, an awkward age which sees him caught between youthful folly and the weight of manhood and maturity. In recent years the Lormanstons have been struggling financially due to immodest spending, costly wars, and the family’s inheritances being spread more and more thinly with each new generation thanks to liberal approaches to breeding and heirdom. Mornington can therefore be considered an impoverished aristocrat, used to the very finest life has to offer but with perhaps a few more patches and stitches on his lavish robes than would normally be expected of a noble.
Mornington had a promising childhood, and was an excellent student, specialising in music, sports and history. He absorbed all he could from the worldly travellers who made their way through the lively Lormanston realm; artists, musicians, actors, jousters, acrobats, military leaders and philanthropists to name just a few. But after the untimely death of his beloved, charismatic and indulgent father in his teen years, and with his prudent, pious and priestly uncle Ailward taking charge of the Lormanston household, Mornington began to rebel in sadness and frustration, turning to fine wine and finer ladies and generally making an expensive nuisance of himself.
With his patience nearing its limit, Ailward decided to send Mornington to Usta, both to get some peace around the castle but also to put him to the test and see if there was a capable young man beneath the flamboyance and bluster. Hearing of a wedding between Mornington’s cousin Bella Mordred and the young Prince Heron of the well regarded Capstan family, Ailward sent Mornington away with a precious family heirloom, a golden chalice, to be presented as a wedding gift, the goal being to rekindle family connections and perhaps bring the Lormanstons back into repute (and opportunity of wealth). Mornington gladly took on the challenge, expecting it to be easy for someone of his standing and ability...
His pomposity and aversion to getting his hands dirty made him an unpopular figure in the party’s early history. The battle-hardened Fenris in particular had very little time for Mornington’s soft noble ways, while Edward kept a greedy eye on Mornington’s bulging purse. But with a burning desire to prove himself, Mornington soon adapted, showing that there was indeed a brave warrior and courteous diplomat waiting to emerge from the wayward young bounder he’d once been. He even started to become proud of the tatters and stains in his robes that were picked up in combat and out in the wild, where before he would have been ashamed to go more than a few days without a bath. While often a little fearful and anxious in combat, Mornington draws on the bravado of his comrades to find his own bravery, inspiring and supporting them with the aid of his trusty flute while lunging at foes with his rapier. He also makes sure to stretch the truth when telling the common folk about his “heroic” exploits... He holds his party so closely to his heart that the deaths of Fenris and Artax literally drove him to madness. Indeed, he always refers to the group as “his” men, seeing himself as their leader and protector, with his highly selective hearing simply blotting out the words of his comrades when they suggest otherwise or snigger behind his back.
In the early days, Fenris was Mornington’s natural rival. Stronger, wittier, often more charming with ladies, Fenris would take up any opportunity for a joke at Mornington’s expense. The two even came to fisticuffs on more than one occasion. But as he gained confidence and began to see himself as an equal, Mornington soon began to see Fenris as something of a soul-mate, his very best friend in the world, regardless of what Fenris thought... While before he would take offence at Fenris’s sniping, he soon began to see it simply as jolly jokes between best buddies, not noticing when Fenris was actually being serious with his criticisms. He also began to see himself as something of a father figure or older brother to poor young Edward, again being oblivious to Edward dismissively rolling his eyes. He had enormous respect for Artax for his competence and clear headedness, and he never ceases to be gobsmacked by the sheer muscularity of the almighty Crom.
Mornington is social in the extreme, always having a story to tell or song to sing, at his jolliest in the company of others in the bustling cities. Gold, curly locks, a wild moustache and dazzling blue eyes serve to distract from his bad teeth and slightly ruddy complexion, a result of enjoying his rich lifestyle a little too much, being a lover of wine and with his ornate tobacco pipe almost constantly lit. Mornington loves nobles and common folk alike and believes they love him back, always greeting fellow nobility with a deep bow and a wave of his hat and treating commoners with charity and care. He is a wild and dramatic storyteller, a joker, and a real lover of life and humanity.
Author's Note: A character mostly inspired by Hamlet, Lord Flashheart from Blackadder, and Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull.
