Age: 51
Sex: Male
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Craft: Archivist (Harper-trained)
Rank: Senior Journeyman
Physical Description: Cantorel is a large man, standing just under 6ft tall and weighing a good 250 pounds. He has large jowls, a bulbous nose, and light blue eyes nearly hidden under bushy gray eyebrows. In his youth, his hair was dark; now it hangs lank and gray over a large wrinkled forehead. The Turns haven't treated him especially well; Cantorel is overweight and suffers from rheumatism (and probably diabetes as well).
Personality: The Archivist is nothing if not dedicated to his craft. He comes off as stern or surly and has a difficult time relating to most of the more exuberant weyrfolk. He prefers to remain in the Records room, which he has organized impeccably. His gruff manner has probably frightened many a young weyrling drafted for copying duty. However, the old man means no harm-- as long as his precious Records are kept safe.
History: Born in a small hold in the High Reaches, Cantorel was tapped for the Harper Hall at an early age. Although he has no special musical ability, the Craft valued his attention to detail and passion for history. As a young journeyman he spent his years as a teacher in Crom, Telgar, and at his old home in the High Reaches.
While studying for his Mastery in his early 30s, Cantorel sought a wife. He married the daughter of a journeyman tanner from Nabol, who was visiting Telgar for a Gather. His romance with Marnali blossomed quickly, and they were married.
Marnali soon became pregnant and bore a son. The child was weak and succumbed to a childhood fever. Cantorel and his wife continued to try, unsuccessfully, for a healthy child. Weak and depressed after a handful of miscarriages, Marnali became severely ill. Hoping the Masterhealer back at Fort could help, the couple traveled through the mountains to the Harper Hall. Marnali died a few sevendays after their arrival.
Cantorel was crushed by the death of his wife. After a full season of mourning at the Hall, the Masterharper sent him back out to work. At the age of 40 Turns, Cantorel had lost much of his drive. He had never risen in rank above Senior Journeyman and had no great desire to continue. By this time, the Archivist was an old man, prematurely aged by grief and hard living. His joints ached, his heart had a distressing murmur, and he was prone to chest colds. Hoping a change of scenery would help, Cantorel went to Keroon as a teacher and archivist for the larger Holds there. His health continued to decline, and after a single Turn, the Masterharper ordered him to Ista Weyr, to recover and take over for the former Archivist there.
Cantorel has been at the Weyr ever since. While his health is somewhat improved, he hasn't exactly gotten a new lease on life. He sticks to his work because he's convinced no one else could do it properly, and then what would happen? The Records room would be a disaster and the Weyr would surely be cast into chaos.
Pets: None
Other/Talents: Cantorel is sort of Jessmet's mentor, and she is, in some respects, the daughter he never had. Not that either of them would admit it. He knows of her desire to be a dragonrider, although he'd prefer that she continue her work in the Archives. Not that there's anything wrong with dragonriders, but there are a lot of them-- a suitable archivist is hard to find!
Cantorel is sort of an NPC. I don't know how much individual RP he'll get, but he's around and important to Jessmet's backstory.
Will this character be a candidate? Hahaha, no.
Picture:
By Natsube, who is OSSUM
