Graham Harshond Daranieh V
Chosen by: Honor
Age: 25
Summation: Named for his great grandfather, Graham is the eldest son, due to inherit, with an income currently at three thousand a year and the title of Viscount. Responsibilities of his own investments have already been placed on him and nearly everyone is pressuring him to find a pretty wife of good breeding, a matter which he is agreeable in, though his definition of amiable varies from his relatives. Disgusted by his family's largess, he has become the ringleader of the little rebellion in the Daranieh house. Overall, he gives the impression of being strong of body, iron of will, and stoic in dress; a young man of age that will take over the family name. But under it all lies a man with a fire in his soul to do what is right and good.
Physical Description: His height is 6'2", with broad shoulders and the strong build of a natural boxer. He is vigorously devoted to staying fighting fit, skilled with a sword, and is as stealthy as a cat. He dresses in the modern fashion, keeping with brown and black coats and trousers, and this lends him a stern, disapproving look. He does bathe often and sometimes wears masculine scents, though a hint of the outdoors clings to him, lending a bit of wildness to him. He moves with purpose, and never wastes a motion, whether in conversation or combat. He has a notoriously irritating habit of simply disappearing from a room or location, especially if he has made his point and no longer wants to speak of things that do not interest him.
Personality: Mostly, Graham just wants to be left alone and doesn't suffer fools easily. He finds the endless small talk and frivolity of parties and other social gatherings to be tediously dull, and would rather be riding, hunting, or reading. He does enjoy the company of a select few, namely Dracen, Lucian, and Dahna, and can on occasion be convinced by them to attend balls or other events.
In such public places, Graham is perceived to be mainly unpleasant, but rich and influential, so he must be tolerated. He will dance and participate in games, so long as he is not required to act like a fool or waste time and money. He particularly hates when mothers throw their daughters at him, or the eligible girls throw themselves, but is always respectful in his manners to them. With his peers, he is known for being a fine hunting and dueling partner, but a bit too fond of debate.
To his elders he is tolerably respectful, not looking for approval, but neither wishing to lose it for fear of losing his own power. He obeys orders, insofar as ones he can agree with or not talk his way out of, but is not so dull as to only obey and nothing else. He is perfectly able to be responsible and makes his own choices readily and well, with great thought and taking many opinions from his siblings, who mostly have good sense.
In his investments, he is both kind and shrewd, and is usually rewarded with a good return. On 'his' estate, the Bolain House, he has made many improvements not only to the house, but to the surrounding tenements; laying out roads, keeping up with repairs, and encouraging trade, renewal of the land, and social charity. He keeps from throwing parties on the estate by endlessly renovating it to a 'proper' noble house. This has the added benefit of not interesting his relatives at all.
In company of his closest relatives, Dracen, Dahna, and Lucian, Graham is a smiling, benevolent friend. Though he can sometimes be preoccupied with his goals, and his temper can flare when he feels progress is not being made, such moods do not last long in the face of their presence. He is extremely protective of them, and can stare down any intruder. With Dracen, the two often butt heads, amiably, as Graham can never hope to win against his brother in intellect, but does try. Dahna is his darling little sister, and she can get him out of any mood, no matter how poor. He dotes on her endlessly, spoiling her a little and rarely allowing others to do the same. He is extremely understanding of Lucian's limitations, always listens to him carefully, and gets him what he needs when Lucian cannot.
With his other siblings, Graham is notorious for a wicked temper, a sharp tongue, and a frustrating inability to make sense. As most of them follow in the indulgent and expensive habits of much of the Daranieh members, they possess the singular ability of being thick in the head, unwilling to see the consequences of their callus and reckless actions. Graham is often infuriated by this, but the root of his crossness towards them is never comprehended, and thus has led to them calling him The Beast behind his back.
History: There was once a faraway time when Graham remembered happiness and harmony in his family. He, his elder sister, and Dracen were the only children at the time, and he can recall that then there were smiles and laughter. His parents had loved each other, and no one was ever angry. They'd been attentive, sweet, and loving.
As he'd grown, his education had been increasingly handled by his grandfather, a military man. He was taught all manner of things, from map-making to fencing. Often the two of them would go on hunting adventures for weeks at a time, which he enjoyed despite his grandfather's harsh nature. This gave him plenty of time away from his increasingly frivolous and distant parents, who could sometimes be abusive when tested. It was into this atmosphere that Dahna was born. She was the last child Malcom and his wife would have, though there were a few others before her.
It was during his teenage years when things went from bad to worse. His older sister, Celeste, had grown more outspoken about the greed and waste of the family. Their first tragedy occurred when she suddenly died. The manner of her death was hidden from Graham and his siblings by the adults. A great bitterness broiled to life inside him with the loss. The only bright point was the addition of his cousin, Lucian, to the family. He was to be fostered indefinitely, due to his odd habits and unsociable nature.
Graham and Lucian became fast friends, and soon were often in each other's company whenever either could find the time. The brief period of peace was quickly broken when Malcom and Valean were killed by pirates while sailing to Nipoor on a second honeymoon. After that, all the Dalanieh siblings, plus Lucian, were moved into the house on Golden Street with their grandparents. By this time Lord Warrick had become a recluse and Lady Kaletra was his mouthpiece.
The cold, stale house suddenly was filled with the chatter of several teenagers and children, their things, and their staff. Being moved from the country to town was a big step, and Graham found himself alarmed by the effect of his extended relatives on some of his younger siblings, who embraced the extravagant lifestyle whole-heartedly.
It was not something he felt he could change until years later, when he, Dracen, Lucien, and Dahna were all chosen by Guardians. As the four oversaw the mystical deer to adulthood, a plan began to form between them all; a plan of mayhem and generosity, secrets and intrigue. They would carry on Celeste's plan to change the family, but from the shadows.
