Julien was the youngest of three children, coddled and spoiled throughout most of their childhood, and the undisputed favorite. Raised within a prominent merchant family, they chaffed under the many restrictions placed upon them by a noble upbringing. They eschewed their studies to indulge in stories of chivalric heroes, both real and imagined. They especially loved reading the tales of the noble Balduran, the city's illustrious founder, along with the various rogues and warriors who had saved the city from certain destruction over the centuries.

Due to their father's rank as a patriar, Julien was invited to attend various social functions catering to the city's elite, and it was during one of these soirées that they chanced to meet Coran, infamous among patriars as something of a 'patron' to budding adventurers. Julien was immediately taken by his charming demeanor and, after one too many drinks, convinced him to relate his (highly-embellished) account of his exploits as a former rogue and 'hero' of Baldur's Gate. Julien confided that they also dreamed of exploring the world and becoming a hero themself, and the two eventually formed a fast friendship. Coran saw a bit of his younger self in Julien's eager eyes, and summarily took on the role of 'eccentric godfather' in an attempt to nurture this 'little spark,' as he affectionately referred to them.

It was through Coran's wealth of connections and resources that Julien was able to train in secret beneath a master swordsman, for they knew their father would not approve of them turning away from the stability of the family business to seek their fortune in the wider world. Julien trained for several years as a disciple of war, and subsequently discovered they had a latent spark of magic that could surely be nurtured if they had the proper tutor. Coran, of course, was quick to deliver several pertinent books for them to study, and Julien expressed a desire to learn more about bladesinging. It was no secret that Coran once travelled in the company of the elven Greycloak, Xan, a well-known bladesinger and wielder of an enchanted moonblade. They wanted very much to train beneath him, but as the elf rarely visited the city, Julien dedicated themself to following the path of an eldritch knight—a versatile swordsman that wields both spell and blade in battle with equal skill.

Eventually, their father learned that Julien was training in secret, with plans to someday leave the city and make their way in the world. He adamantly refused to support such frivolous notions, and gave Julien an ultimatum: put away their sword and take up a respectable trade, or be disowned. Julien, unsurprisingly, refused to capitulate, and once more Coran swooped in to aid them in their hour of need. He provided a room for them at the Elfsong Tavern, and in exchange for his generosity, he asked for Julien to become one of his 'personal couriers', which was his euphemism for 'information broker'.

Julien agreed to take on whatever odd job Coran threw their way in exchange for room and board, and thus they began to cultivate a reputation for themself as a would-be-hero and knight-errant, champion of the people who would defend the city from corruption. They eventually fell in with a local theater troupe and, due to their androgynous appearance, was cast equally in both masculine and feminine roles. Their skills with a blade made them well-suited for heroic roles involving swordplay, and they often performed in fencing tournaments in order to financially support themself and their fellow actors between jobs.

In more recent times, there were whispers of a newfound religious cult that had taken hold of the nobility in Upper City, and Coran bid them investigate. During the course of their investigations, Julien learned of a "newly discovered god" known only as the Absolute, but despite their best efforts, Julien could turn up no promising leads as to the cult's aims and activities. Before they could make their report, Julien learned that Coran had been murdered during an altercation with the cultists, his body horribly disfigured.

(In truth, Coran had been infected with a mind flayer tadpole, and rather than succumb to ceremorphosis, he chose to end his own life, with the aid of his half-elf son, Krydle.)

Swearing vengeance against those who were responsible for their mentor's death, Julien was working on their own private investigations when the nautiloid passed over the city, and they were subsequently captured and infected with a tadpole.

Now, thrust into circumstances beyond their control, Julien will soon realize that the cult's influence stretches further than what they originally had surmised. Having never left the city prior to their capture, they have much to learn about the world outside the city's gates. Though their heart is filled with trepidation, this is also an opportunity for them to truly test the limits of their fighting prowess, and to embark on the sort of adventure they've only read about in books. They face the coming challenges head-on, with steadfast courage and, hopefully, with stalwart allies at their side.

Only time will tell if they prove themself worthy of the title of 'hero', or if their name will be relegated to a mere footnote in history...

Appearance

First Impressions
Julien evokes the image of a handsome knight that has stepped out of the pages of an illuminated story book. Their voice is on the somewhat deeper end of the feminine register—soft as silk, with just a hint of steel. They can shift easily between an aloof and imperious tone to something warm and inviting, depending on their mood. They're casually flirtatious with a flair for the dramatic. They are fond of grand gestures and theatricality, which means they lack a good poker face. This makes it easy to read their emotions and intentions, even when they endeavor to hide them. They are honest, forthright, courteous, and above all, kind-hearted. They are no paladin and have sworn no oaths, but they strive to become a champion to the weak and a hero to those who need one.

Features
An androgynous elven youth of average height with a slender build. There is a subtle strength to their legs and shoulders, honed from years of practice at both swordplay and dancing. Their hair encompasses a range of sunset hues, indicative of their sun elf origins, which they wear in a fashionable tail with a side-plait along the left side of their skull. Their eyes are pale blue, the color of a summer sky. They have long pointed ears and an overly large nose, which they find quite distinguished. They have a pair of beauty marks under their right eye. Their ears are pierced and they usually wear ruby studs.

Julien is noble hailing from Baldur's Gate, and therefore dresses in accordance with their rank. When presenting as masculine, they tend toward bright jewel tones and saturated colors. Lots of lace at the cuffs, decorative buttons, and metallic embroidery and braiding. When feminine-presenting, they tend more toward a monochrome, pastel color scheme that evokes a soft, romantic look. However, they splash out on accessories, favoring jeweled chokers and dangling earrings. They prefer dresses of flowing silk with three-quarter sleeves, wide lace cuffs, and off-the-shoulder bodices.

Their adventuring gear is just as elegant as their casual attire. They favor embossed plate and chainmail, artisanal pieces that marry both form and function. They wear long tabards and cloaks to help soften the hard edges of their armor, lending it a more romantic feel. Their favored weapon is a long sword paired with a shield, though they may forgo the shield in favor of a two-handed blade when the need calls for it. Their weaponry, of course, is also elegant and beautiful, just like their armor.

A note on gender identity and pronouns
Julien identifies as nonbinary and is genderfluid, someone who freely traverses the masculine and feminine spheres. They do not identity as strictly male or female, even when presenting in masculine or feminine modes. While they refer to themself in gender-neutral terms, they will answer to male or female terms of address from others without issue. They make little distinction between "male" or "female" attire according to human cultural norms and simply wear whatever makes them feel beautiful and flatters their figure.

Personality

• Somewhat spoiled and bratty at times due to their upbringing, they can put on a condescending attitude toward those they feel are beneath them in station. They don't treat servants cruelly, but they are often naïve to the struggles of the working class.


• They're hedonistic, living solely for pleasurable experiences, and want their friends to join in the fun! They can sometimes be overbearing in their desire to include everyone in their idea of fun, though.


• A shameless flirt. They enjoy wining and dining and the thrill of the chase. They can't resist chatting up a pretty face. They're pansexual but have a slight preference toward women.


• Social butterfly. They love to be the center of attention. They're somewhat dramatic and theatrical. Makes friends easily.


• Passionate. They think with their heart rather than their head and make rash decisions in the heat of the moment. Prone to emotional outbursts and are moved to tears easily. Quick to anger, but also quick to forgive. They have no poker face, so it's easy to read their intentions.


• They think of themself as a white knight and adhere to the code of chivalry. They champion the causes of women and will fight on their behalf. They can sometimes take this attitude too far and attempt to "rescue" a damsel that is more than capable of handling herself in a sticky situation.


• They takes oaths seriously and don't make promises lightly. They possess a strong sense of justice and tend toward making decisions that benefit the greatest number of people while causing the least amount of harm.


• Book-smart, not street-smart. They take others at face value and lack guile. Due to their station, they lack many essential life skills and abhor performing menial labor.


• Seeks approval from others, especially those they admire or think highly of. They're eager to please their friends and lovers and go to great lengths to maintain a friendship once established. This opens them to being taken advantage of by fair-weather friends or other unscrupulous persons.

Eldritch Knight - Spell List and Abilities - 12 Levels

✨ cantrips + misc
blade ward - firebolt - light - shocking grasp - conjure us

✨ spells
level i - four spell slots
burning hands - ice knife - protection from evil and good - shield - thunderwave - arabella's shadow entangle

level ii - three spell slots
gust of wind - misty step - scorching ray - shatter

🦑 illithid powers
survival instinct - force tunnel - repulsor

folkloric . ooc perms . est . NaotoCap