Brendan
From Himitsu no Sensou
Contents |
[edit] Summary
The former Lord of House Keirnan, Brendan was born to clear skies and the promise of health and prosperity ... promises that were never kept by fate. Brendan was constantly sickly and weak, a condition that only grew progressively worse as his life wore on, and the rest of his family died and he was presumed the shakey last of his line. When it was found he was incapable of impregnating his hastily courted wife, Brendan became involved in a conspiracy to be sure the line of Keirnan wouldn't die. However, by this point, Brendan knew that wasn't possible: his elder sister Alyson was still alive. Brendan died in the confidence that Keirnan was not truly dead, with the belief that his sister would return home to claim her title.
[edit] Basics
Name: Brendan
Age: 18 deceased
Birthdate: November 25 [sagittarius]
Blood Type: A
Languages: Trade [Fluently], Dentorian [Decent], High Dentorian [Fluently]
Class: Mage (unpromotable)
Weapons of Choice: Wind magic, badly.
Mount Name: n/a
[edit] History
Born on a bright, calm, winter morning, Brendan of Keirnan was predicted to be great, to be strong, to be brave and righteous, a man of justice and presence. However, when he was finally brought from his mother’s womb, quiet, sickly Brendan seemed to have the same curse afflicted on many dead brothers and sisters before him. It was said he would never live to be a man, said that he was cursed by his only living sibling, Alyson, ten years his senior, the stormbringer.
Growing up was a trial. The simplest of tasks, so easy and natural for any other child, drained all of Brendan’s little energy. Climbing stairs. Getting dressed. Even being out in the bright sun was hard on his sensitive eyes. Attempts to train him in Keirnan’s signature style of mounted archer-mages failed, as he couldn’t handle the weight of a bow, and hard riding was impossible for his fragile bones.
Despite Alyson being much older than he was, and all the whispers that it was her fault he was what he was, Brendan loved her, and was very close to her. His life was always hard, but the first time he ever hated living it was when news reached Keirnan that while she was travelling to the capital of Hanalan with their mother, their ship was brought down in a storm. Both were swept overboard and died at sea.
Only weeks after that, his father died of illness, and Brendan was left was nothing.
For 16 years, he was been Lord of Keirnan in name, while a council of regents did the ruling for him. He spent his time reading, learning, and waiting to die, like all said would happen at any time. And yet, either through mercy or punishment, the Dragons never took him, and he continued to live.
Recently turned 18, Brendan now has complete control of Keirnan’s lands and assets, and all near him are making every possible attempt that they can to save it’s line from dying out. Pilgrammages, unorthodox treatments, hasty marriage preparations, anything that can be tried will be tried. However, after his wedding to Eriena of Rhia, it was found he was incapable of producing an heir. A conspiracy formed by Stephan of Rhia was quickly put into place, to have Eriena impregnated by Matthias of Diarnay, a youngest son of a nearby House who spent most of the year in Korin at the university there. Brendan strongly protested these plans, but his reservations were ignored.
It was about this time that Brendan discovered the Captain Alys on the magic journals with his sister Alyson, never drowned at all, now completely different and unwilling to return home. As his health continued to spiral downwards, he convinced her to come to Keirnan and see him one last time before he died, after she refused to take her rightful place as the last surviving member of House Keirnan. However, Brendan could not hold on in time. He scribbled out a affidavit to Alyson in the journal, testifying his acclaimed child to be a bastard with no blood of Keirnan, and Alyson to be his true heir.
He died as Alyson's Stormbringer docked.
It's impossible to say if she brought his end like it was claimed she would, or if he only lived as long as he did so that he could know she was alive and he was not alone.
[edit] Personality
Upon first meeting Lord Brendan of Keirnan, it was easy to assume he was what he seemed to be, an unfortunate young man, who, despite having been delivered a horrible lot in life, was polite, well-spoken and friendly.
Of course, that was not exactly as things were.
As one would expect, from one who had spent his entire life waiting to die, Brendan was often bitter, and held an extremely pessimistic and morbid view of the world. Everything dies, all beauty fades, night always follows day, the sky is only clear until there is a cloud. He resented religion strongly, wishing that the Dragons would simply kill him or heal him, but choose one or the other. He was prone to sullen or angry outbursts.
He honestly believed that he loathed the way he was treated like a porcelain doll, but was completely incapacitated without constant attention and paniced when there was not constantly someone nearby to serve his needs.
Brendan did not want to die, so to speak. He wanted closure, an ending, no more sitting and waiting. If that involved a miraculous, instant healing, he would gladly have welcome it. But it didn't.
[edit] Relationships
- Alys, his elder sister, who was the only person he found treated him human when they were children, and who was assumed dead in his childhood. They met again via the journals, where they took an instant dislike to one another, eventually culminating in a tearful journal reunion and Brendan testifying that Alys was his only heir, in the faith that she would return home after his death.
- Eriena, his wife, who he was never especially fond of.
- Emmeline, another sickly Dentorian noble, who outlived him.
- Lillian, a sister from Megam, a friend.
- Stephan, the leader of the council of regents who presided over his entire life, and who orchestrated the conspiracy.
- Matthias, the man who impregnated his wife as part of the conspiracy, who Brendan quite frankly despised.
- Hazel, another daughter of the South. Brendan envied her attending Rayla Academy.
[edit] Appearance
Brendan looked younger than his eighteen years, frail, small boned. His blue eyes were watery and often unfocused, and his skin pale. He spoke with a rasp, and often fell into coughing fits. His hair was dark and cut short.
[edit] Quotes
- "that's impossible. it couldn't -- she's dead. everyone is dead."
- "Are you enjoying my wife, then?"
- "... it's you, isn't it?"
- The healers say that the time is coming, yet it seems difficult to believe. To be dying, for all these years, what does it mean when they say that I am dying? Hm. It IS strange isn't it ...?
[edit] Other
Brendan's journal was located at borrowedtime_. It is now used by his wife, Eriena. He is played by Rosa and is PB'd by Souma Yuki from Fruits Basket.
