Étienne Saint-Hilaire

OOC Info
Username/Nickname: Étienne Saint-Hilaire
How did you find out about StC? Well, I was digging a hole in the backyard and...
Have you read our rules, and do you agree to abide by them? Yep

Character Info:

Canon/Original: Original
First Name(s): Étienne
Surname: Saint-Hilaire
Nicknames: Sainty
Age: Appears to be 19
Sex: Male
Place of Birth: France

Occupation: Sous Lieutenant, Voltigeur, 17e régiment d'infanterie légére.

Family: Lucienne and Pierre Saint-Hilaire, 2 female siblings - Anne and Jeanne.

Description: Elegant and a well proportioned man, somewhat shorter in stature, his way of standing and presentation makes him appear taller than he is. His hair is light, his eyes mimicking their colour with a shade of their own. He carries himself with pride and confidence. His hands, although adapted now to the hilt of a lieutenant's weapon, carry proof of his work, though by no means do they suggest the hardest types of occupation. They do however more recently carry marks of thorn scratches and cuts. He carries a mark on his hip, where a musket ball had skimmed flesh and skin, and an older one from his childhood, a burnt circle of a cigar on his thigh, and a poker burn from the joyous play which turned much less so.

Saint-Hilaire does not believe that a nation should be led by someone given such a right at birth and by blood, and expects skill and intelligence to be the deciding factors, though blood not an excluding one. His views translate as well to the men that he is leading, rewarding those that had shown promise to the extent of his ability as a lieutenant. His relationship with his men has proven to be fair and well, as some have died trying to defend and ensure his escape. He is of a bright disposition, a gentleman in behavour, polite and learnt, quick though to anger if he believes he is treated with spite. His polite ways of the society are the later learned and are in some way a matter of pride. What else this character may hold in him might yet be revealed.

Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths:
- His loyalty to his men mirrors in his treatment of them. Kindness, mixed with authority seems something he has been able to balance well.
- Observant and alert (even if in a hopeless situation, will try to mentally map his surroundings)
- Can swim
- Can think on the spot and find a solution on his own.
- Has a knack for escaping.

Weaknesses:
- Spiders – when he was a child, he once woke up with a number of little ones crawling all over him. This not being a phobia, he usually is solely disturbed and uneasy if coming in contact with them.
- Loyalty to his superiors, may make him think they can do no wrong.
- Knows to speak only French.
- Is more of the agile, lean type, rather than strong.
- Although generally polite, his temper may override his sense, if he believes he is ridiculed.

Background: He was born in the year 1789, early hours of the 6 of October. A day earlier, women have gathered, with some men joining them, to march to Versailles demanding bread. His mother, a pregnant woman at the time, had delievered him on the grounds of Versailles, after the mob had broken into the palace and continued further, to ransack the chambers of the queen. She was, as all of the people participating in this uprising, soaked from the rain. The child that was born however would carry little affection for the very same palace or its former residents. Loyal already from his early military beginnings Saint-Hilaire was one of the young, enthusiastic soldiers, risen and promoted, believing that Napoleon could lead them to glory. Though there were hardships on the way his blame did not lie on Bonaparte's shoulders but on whom it did, he would not speak freely.
Saint-Hilaire was one of the lieutenants taking part in the assault of the semetary under General Foy's command. General Foy, as soon as he learnt that the British were across the Douro, rushed with the 17th Light Infantry to the place of encounter with the British line. He met with resistance, greater than he had expected. When seeing that the enemy was marching to the assistance of the men already fighting at the Semetary and after failed attempts, the French retired in outmost confusion towards Amaranthe.

Marshal Soult had determined to withdraw from Oporto prior to the attack. He advanced leaving some of the artilery and wounded behind, but – which is yet to happen - destroyed more at a later time, when learning which path he was forced to take in his escape. It is though on the Road to Vollongo that Saint-Hilaire's and the path of many other soldiers have split. Defending the flanks of their retreating army, the light infantry men under the command of the young lieutenant ncountered British cavalry. Although they made an attempt to lure the 15th Hussars into the forested area and had caused injury and death to several, they were too few to offer a lasting resistance. In the battle which ensued and had several men fleeing at last Saint-Hilaire was caught as prisoner of war and offered his parole, with the belief that he would remain – perhaps youngish and ignorant – on the Continent. Upon learning that he would be taken to a prison in England, he planned an succeeded in an escape of 12. Two of which were later caught, leaving him with 9 soldiers. Since he had given up his parole, he was stationed and treated as one of the other private soldiers. During the escape, the men had gone as far as to dress in the clothing of the local women, to escape recognition. When outside Oporto, they discarded these, and continued in their depleted state of what uniform they had left. Their intentions were clear. To rejoin the French army, and continue to fight from there. Without a map or knowledge of the terrain, they were driven to seek a guide and upon stumbling across a house, took prisoners of Portuguese descend. Albeit successful for a short while, they had the misfortune of encountering a man in the service of the British army and some more confidential dealings, Hunter. While believing the tables to be set, they were turned on the day, in which Hunter had killed all but two men. One escaped, a private soldier. The other took prisoner, was the officer. Saint-Hilaire attempted and succeeded in the escape in the succeeding night. Fortune however did not follow him for long. Meeting the British - Sutton, and becoming a prisoner to the Portuguese. His, so far, worst captors.

Anything Else:

2nd July: Presently acquired injuries from his encounter with the Portuguese:

- Back burns from being first covered in grease and then held above fire to sizzle,
- Wound in thigh
- wound in shoulder by knife, has been inserted and twisted.
- a cut across the cheek, from eye down, the first attempt to cut his eye out, gone awry.
- nails removed on both feet (o.O.. somehow i forgot that!)
- eye cut out.
- cut on genitals
- very personal injury, as follow up to an accusation that he had mistreated women in horrific ways taking them against their will (this a LeFevre did, but not him).
- bruising from several occasions, possibly a split lip.
- chaffed raw wrists from attempts to escape (due to bark cuts and rope burn)
- cut on ear, small.
- cut on chest/along collarbone. Not deep.

He is now safely back with the French.

Writing Sample/Past Roleplay:
Code: Staff Edit