Newcomer: Ferdinand Bennett, the artsy altruistic vagrant

Hey. Freak Boy here. Long time lurker/fan, first time poster. Be gentle.

Name: Ferdinand Bennett
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Physical Characteristics: Dark skinned. Tan, not black. Arab or latino looking. His nose is slender and pointed, his hair up in a Pompadour of sorts with a long pony-tail in the back. His facial hair, a trimmed moustache and pointed soul-patch, make him look like a muskateer or knight. His dress is shabby and ill fitting, often falling apart or in disrepair. He lives out of a backpack and carries more booze with him than coin.
Trade: Minstrel, Bard, Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Scribe, Writer, Scribbler, Artist, Philosopher, Slave

Bio: Ferdinand grew up the son of well to do nobles. They had no actual clout or power, but they lived a comfortable and cushy existence in Negav. As a member of the lower aristocracy, he and his brothers were raised with an education and appreciation for the arts. Ferdinand is the polyglot renaissance man of many talents, skills and languages. A well-rounded figure. As a child he took violin lessons and sang in church choir. A natural artist, he sketches whenever he can on whatever is available--regardless of whether or not it might be private property. Around the age of 10 his mother decided he was becoming a nuisance and sent him off to be a scribe's apprentice in the library. Ferdinand had always loved reading about the wonders throughout Felarya.

Since before he can remember, Ferdinand has suffered from insomnia. This suited him just fine, as he found people in general to be tiring and he enjoyed his solitude under a blanket of stars. When he got older he would find he liked the nightlife and the crowd that comes out after dark. He would go so far as to chastise the so-called "daywalkers" who seem to live half-lives without purpose or direction. After he began working in the library, it became the place he would spend most of his evenings. And he would spend almost all of them alone. He did not care for his family, petty social climbers and materialists who were more concerned with putting on appearances than trying to understand each other as human beings. He did not care for his class or the luxuries and safeties afforded to him.

Some would say Ferdinand is a man ahead of his time. He has trouble relating to his generation and his citizens, who seem to be content with what he learned to be "bread and circuses." Bennett is a bona-fide radical, believing wholeheartedly in people's right to govern themselves. In addition to the natural laws of the jungle which govern Felarya, Ferdinand also sees the inherent class war within the various civilizations and histories. The more he read, the more he realized history is just a big story. All the characters have their wants and motives, and in the end only a few can get what they want. While most of his contemporaries view war as something of honor or valor, he sees the political and economic motives behind the war economy and power struggles of Felarya. His beliefs are varied and many, you might loosely label him an Anarcho-Communist Pacifist. A socialist advocate of workers autonomy and, in some cases, armed revolution to bring about an end to monarchies or otherwise "corrupt" institutions.

By the age of fifteen, restless and lonesome and itching to change the world--feeling an alien amongst his own species, he set out on his own. Tired of reading of the wonders of the world or painting pictures of what they might have looked like, writing grandiose tales of adventure and romance that he had only dreamed of, he was determined to live life for himself and set out for the seedy streets of Negav to make his mark and change the world. Almost immediately, he developed a drinking habit and a taste for fine tobacco. Soon thereafter he found a delightfully green smokeable herb that seemed to turn all his sad thoughts into happy thoughts, and really helped him zone in on his art and his music and his writing. And so, finding work where he could--on street corners, in lounges, at festivals and gatherings--he subsided with a nasty substance abuse problem while hopping from relationship to relationship. His lovers are different, his affections knowing no prejudice or preference. He sought any that would hold him close and take him in her arms, Humans, Elves, Nekos, Tinies--even a Mist Elf, once upon a time. The starcrossed lovers were truly in love, but it just wasn't meant to be.

Varied as his lovers were, they shared the same problem: none were able to relate to or tolerate Ferdinand's passion for... well everything. Where he is furious and outraged, up in arms and ready for revolution--they are content, they want to keep their heads down and avoid causing trouble. Where he wants law and order and protection for sentient beings, his Neko girlfriends complain it would interfere with their lunch. He fears his dedication to his views--what he sees as the absolute truth--will ultimately force him to lead a lonely life absent of love. He is a depressed and self-loathing individual, which is ultimately why he drinks. Despite his tragic nature, he is often the purveyor of comic relief--albeit black comedy.

Around the time he started drinking, he started gambling. Win some, lose some--but it was evident he had a problem. Unless he had a good friend with him, he didn't know when to just walk away. For years he drank, smoked, snorted and gambled his earnings until finally he bet a lot of money he didn't have. So some rather unscrupulous characters who were intent to collect on the large debt beat him unconscious and then sold him into the slave trade. Which is where our story picks up today... the brilliant intillectual, the cunning rapscallion artist with the rogueish charms about him, is now on his way to market to be sold into slavery by a slaphappy elf with a whip.

Well, certainly an interesting character! At the very least, a refreshing change of pace.

There are a few rough spots in the background, not your fault, but more general questions I have.

I am not sure if the details of his early life sync up with what the Jungle Bowl is like. I don't know - does the Jungle Bowl have nobility?

Also, how would his more radical views emerge amid the environment of the Jungle Bowl? The Jungle Bowl itself would seem to be already a pretty laid back, interconnected place. What exactly was he rebelling against? If he grew up in Negav... then all of that would make perfect sense. I imagine Negav is filled with radicals and errant noble sons.

Also, not to say he didn't, but how exactly did he survive walking from the Jungle Bowl to Negav at fifteen. Even if he was as charming as hell to predators, there are other things out there that don't care how suave you are before they eat/kill/maim you.

Looking forwards to stories on him though - a bio can only go so far in revealing a character.

I'm also uncertain of whether or not the jungle bown has a "nobility." I suppose I was simply referring to the underlings of the ruling class, whatever hive-mind system emenates from their odd symbiotic relationship. I imagine he viewed the Bowl as a surreal dystopia in the midst of an otherwise cruel and unjust world. Ferdinand belives "An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere, for we are all children of Felarya." Still, the communal values and strong unity of the peoples inspired in him potential for massive class action against their opressors, many as there are in Felarya--be they beasts of greed or otherwise voracious appetite. It is his firm belief that the Mermaids and Nagas and other sentient predators should be subject to the rule of law, integrated into society and put on a diet of milk, fruit, vegetables, bread and cooked meat same as all decent creatures--however unlikely achieving this goal may be, he has written many a political treatsie on it. His ultimate goal is to achieve a unified Felarya. "No Borders, No nations. One people, living in harmony for the common good. One people with one government comprised of all sentient beings." Most in the jungle bowl are just content to live life, I'd imagine. Safe from most real threats, content with their feasts and sports and entertainment. People don't want to revolt when they have bread and circuses. Which is why he risked everything to travel to Negav, to find like minded brethren and compatriates in arms. To start the revolution, to change the world with his words.

At 15 he was still more cunning than most. Again, coming from the aristocracy, he was kept lean and forced to play many competitive sports. While he often protested to his parents, he was ultimately appreciative of the skills alloted him from fencing and more traditional games. He did not make his way through the swamps or forests on charm, but rather luck, bravery, and an ability to think on his feet in a time of crisis. Small, fast, cunning and maybe a little crazy. He does not behave like traditional prey. I'll expound upon him later, I suppose, but it's a start.

I'm sure that there is no 'aristocracy' or 'upper class' in the Jungle bowl. Cypress wouldn't allow it.
Talk to WOWandWAS about it if you're not Certain.
Do as JT says and have him at Negav.Nobody is going to survive a trip from the Bowl to negav alone, at 15.
Negav is a pretty big place, pretty dangerous, you could have all that take place inside the walls. if he grew up in a upper class family. Instead of travelling from the bowl to negav, how about he goes from his sheltered, gated part of aristocratic Negav to the lower areas.

Done and done.

Sounds like a character that my character, Nyaha, wouldn't minde following. Aside from the fact that Ferdinand is completely different from most people, Nyaha just likes to help out.