Lord Flint of Overture Manor

## House Overture

House Overture's history goes back a very long way. Not quite back to when Aroden rose from the depths with the star stone, but far enough back to when Absalom was constantly under siege, many times from multiple nations at once. During this era of strife and panic, ratfolk were treated even more poorly than they are now, so it was quite a sight to see House Overture's founding member, Jet Crescendo, as a member of the Absalom army. Horrible treatment by his peers, coupled with the threat of enemy invasion, drove Jet to adopt the standards of excellence that guide House Overture today. Through this diligence of craft and character, Jet was able to sculpt himself into a model warrior, capable of downing dozens of men in a single confrontation. As his prowess in battle became responsible for saving the lives of more and more of his brothers in arms, the initial disrespect for him due to his race began to fade, to a point where even Absalom's current ruler took note.

Many battles later, when the current onslaught at hand was finally repelled, the ruler decided to meet with Jet Crescendo personally, in order to congratulate his unprecedented performance in the war. However, at the would-be moment of their meeting, the ruler's closest aide revealed himself as a turncoat, attempting to assassinate the ruler as an act of revenge for the repelled attack on Absalom. What he did not expect was the presence of Jet, who was able to quickly dispatch of the coward with a swift slash across the jugular. This heroic act was the cherry on top of the sundae of blood Jet had made for the glory of Absalom, and the ruler, in great gratitude, recognized this fact. Heavy rewards were bestowed upon Jet, his service to his country earning him the title of Lord; an almost unheard of act, much more so for a ratfolk.

The ruler gave Jet a new last name, befitting for a noble of his origins: Overture. The word meaning "an introduction to something more substantial," it signified how his nobility was not born to him, but earned through grueling combat and martial ability. It represented how a being of once very humble, insignificant birth was able to become someone important. A nobody finding his own "introduction" of sorts.

The first ratfolk house of nobility in Absalom, House Overture is put through the wringer more than any other house of old. Constantly held to a higher standard, while at the same time being seen with less respect than other houses, the members of House Overture have fought and scrounged for everything they have. Certainly, they are not lacking in the monetary aspect, or in that of class and etiquette, but solely due to their lowly origins, they are treated not even as nobles by many members of the nobility. This mistreatment has led the ratfolk nobles to adopt a very strict, many times overbearing, way about themselves, making sure to perfectly adhere to customs and perfect themselves in every way possible, for one slip up or mistake could spell disaster for the House's reputation.

One such stipulation the members of House Overture follow is taking every action possible to differentiate themselves from what they refer to as "lesser" ratfolk. Their manor is built with the bedrooms on the highest floor to sleep as far away from the ground as possible; their tails and ears are kept tucked inside pants and hidden under hats; they have even gone as far as to name every member of the House after a gemstone. This strange choice is one of symbolism. Gems come from underground, much like ratfolk, but unlike ratfolk, gems are seen as precious and valuable by Absalom society. Therefore, to differentiate themselves as the "valuable" ratfolk of society, they have adopted such a naming system.

However, one feature of ratfolk society that has managed to bleed through into House Overture is their rapid population growth. Though quelled to a reasonable level now, the number of children in the early days of the house has resulted in massively bloated numbers of family members. The result of this being a sort of in-house society, complete with a justice system. Other noble houses do not look too kindly on the overpopulation of House Overture, however, seeing it as diluting the title of noble.

## Notable Members

### Jet Overture

Jet Overture was the founding member of House Overture. A great warrior in the Absalom guard many years ago, his prominence in battle brought glory and honor to him, earning him the title of Lord, and cementing himself as the first Ratfolk noble in Absalom.

### Nepheline Overture

Nepheline was the wife of Jet Overture. Originally named Sheliah, she was given a new name upon Jet's ascension to lordship. A stark contrast to the warrior Jet, she was a mild mannered ratfolk with a grey pelt and soft blue eyes, accompanying a quite soft voice. She was a quite caring wife, preparing hot meals and tending to Jet's needs whenever he would return from battle. Over many years, she mothered an impressive amount of ratfolk children, numbering in the dozens, and paving the way for House Overture to become the most numerous house of nobles in the city. Worrying about the vastly increased numbers of nobles diminishing the value of such a title, the fellow noble houses banded together, pressing a law through the system that limited the number of children a noblewoman of House Overture could mother, or that a male could sire. While the law was a wise move on the part of the other nobles, the family numbers had already expanded to ludicrous numbers by the time it was passed. Many of the young died from disease or war, however, leaving a more reasonable number after the fact, and temporarily appeasing the other noble houses.

### Proteus Overture

Proteus Overture was a genius-level inventor born into the Overture name on the last day of the many sieges upon Absalom. With this in mind, he was thought to be an omen of peace, a sign upon House Overture of blessing, and that he was, but in a quite different way than expected. Rather than approach peace in the spiritual way, like most had anticipated, he used his vast knowledge of engineering to work with the city's most powerful mages and builders to assemble some of Absalom's most powerful defenses, most of which remain unknown to this day. However, though the contribution remains under wraps, it was very significant, earning him several accolades and much due, though not long lasting, praise for House Overture. In the years that followed, knowing he had accomplished his purpose in helping to secure peace for the city, he became a personal instructor for the many young rats born to the nobles of House Overture, instructing them in the ways of technology and science.

### Agate Overture

Agate was arguably the most notable of the women of House Overture, next to Nepheline. The great great granddaughter of Proteus, Agate was born into an already well established and well known House Overture, but still one that was egregiously disrespected. Until she came along, many members of the house of ratfolk nobles were still acting about much as a regular ratfolk would, many of them running about with unclean pelts or matted fur. Their choice in fashion, certainly, was in severe disarray. Yes, they still followed the precedents set forth by Jet at the founding of House Overture, but such standards simply weren't enough to keep the house from being seen as common pests by their peers. Seeing this, Agate implemented a strict set of rules in House Overture, ones that are still in effect to this day. Members of the house must bathe 3 times a day, brush their fur and teeth 5 times, never be seen without expensive perfume or cologne, and hide their tails whenever possible. In addition, the men must only be seen in three piece suits and the women in full ballroom gowns.

### Chalcedony Overture

Chalcedony Overture is the current patriarch of House Overture, and is Flint's father. As the current patriarch, he is a very busy man. He is responsible for maintaining authority in the house and overseeing all of the house's business holdings. Additionally, he acts as the chief justice and main arbiter in any inner-family disputes going on, such as a feud between nephew and uncle. All of this responsibility has shaped Chalcedony into a rough man, one with little patience for frivolous nonsense. As such, he is greatly feared and respected by all, well, most, members of House Overture.

### Rutile Overture

Rutile Overture is the wife of Chalcedony, and hence Flint's mother. The wife of the patriarch, Rutile serves the role of house "mom." Though she is only Feldspar and Flint's biological mother, the large family society within House Overture all look up to her as a motherly figure. She is in direct charge of the housekeeping staff that cleans and cooks for the manor's residents, along with the nannying staff in charge of daycare services. As head of these operations, she herself is quite adept in all fields of homemaking and care. Additionally, she serves as a shoulder to cry on for many of the children and women of House Overture, being the mothering figure she is.

### Feldspar Overture

Feldspar is the youngest member of House Overture, being only 2 years old. He is Flint's younger brother, but due to unfortunate events, is next in line for leadership of House Overture. The ratfolk of the house are very private people, and do not divulge too much information about their young to the outside world. Therefore, not much is known about Feldspar, but even at the age of 2, he seems quite distinguished.

## Character Information

### Class

Dealer (Pool Shark)Bard (Kung Fu Exemplar)

## Appearance

As a higher class of ratfolk, Flint and the other Overtures try their best to set themselves apart from their lowly kin with extravagant displays of wealth and high standards. As such, Hell would freeze over before you caught Flint outside of a full fanciful getup, most commonly consisting of a black, three piece suit with a green vest and tie to accentuate his brilliant green eyes. His "casual" days still see him in a fully done up outfit, but lacking a vest, and instead opting for a green bowtie and blazer. In any outfit, his choice of cufflinks, shoes, and pocket square changes day to day, as he has a vast collection that is constantly gaining new additions. Some of his favorite pieces to wear are a silver set of cufflinks engraved with a cat's face (for the ironic effect), a pocket square comically designed to look like a slice of swiss cheese, and a green set of dragonscale loafers. After all, being so high class doesn't mean you have to sacrifice ALL fun in your outfit, as long as you still look splendid.

As for his body type and physical traits, Flint is a rather lanky fellow, with slick, black fur. The Overtures take great care to keep their coats healthy, groomed, and shiny, and Flint is certainly no exception. Black as night, and shiny as though it had just been oiled, Flint's magnificent pelt is a grand sight indeed. Adding to his distinction from his sewer-dwelling brethren, Flint possesses perfect posture, sitting or standing, making him seem significantly taller than most people are used to seeing in the average ratfolk. These things, coupled with his healthy physique rather than one of malnutrition and neglect, serve as enough to make him seem like an entirely different species all together.

## Personality

In general, Flint is a very laid back, suave, fellow, mainly minding his own business and tending to his duties at the bar he works at. However, this is not to say he isn't talkative, but that he is not one to pry into the business of others. In fact, it is quite the challenge to pick out a moment when Flint is not locked in conversation with someone, as long as there are people around to talk to. These conversations are kept light-hearted, mostly consisting of off the cuff comedy and witty statements. Rarely are the topics of these jokes malicious or detrimental to any party, but instead are good fun. Things like clever wordplay, funny or enticing stories, sometimes even really bad puns fill the substance of his conversations. But there are times when he talks to a more discerning individual, and the conversation takes a more serious turn. Though Flint is more accustomed to comedic topics, he is still not one to shy away from any discussion, and will partake in the most philosophical of debates if the other person is so inclined to start one, although he will never begin one himself.

When not tending the bar, Flint has many other talents suited to the bar environment. First of all, he is the bar's foremost showroom singer and piano player, effortlessly playing and singing simultaneously. His music has been described by many bar patrons as "so good it's magical," most likely due to the fact that it IS in fact a source of magic, due to Flint's bardic training, which he likes to keep on the down low. Another very potent skill Flint possesses is that of a pool shark. When it comes to shooting balls into each other with sticks, nobody can top him. His skill in billiards is so great that he could jump the cue ball over an enemy ball in front of it, with a spin to make the cue come full 360 and hit the ball originally behind the cue. It's truly a spectacle to watch, though he mostly is left to play by himself, as his skill is intimidating to those who've seen him play.

Inside the vast halls of House Overture, Flint embodies a much more rigid, respectful tone and personality. Desperately trying to regain the respect of his family, he is on his best behavior any time nobility is even mentioned. While at the bar he may greet a patron casually, inside the house, his demeanor is all "my lord, my lady" type of stiff. He'll ask to take on more duties, serve his household, do anything to reclaim respect, but it is typically denied under fears that he will make a mockery or utterly fail anything assigned to him. This is a great source of anguish for Flint, who uses the bar life as his only escape from an otherwise life-crushing existence as a family mockery. However, one reason for their mocking is the fact that he IS so entwined in bar life, forming this dichotomy of lifestyles for Flint, further increasing the immense pressure he feels.

## Backstory

Originally named Alexandrite (Alex for short), Flint was born when House Overture was just entering a new era in their acceptance into the noble community. His father Chalcedony, the leader of House Overture, had just secured some major plays with the other, well established houses of nobility. Through these new holds, he was ensuring that the ratfolk of his family were being given a greater deal of respect, being treated more like actual people than animals that happened to have money. While the unexpected birth of Alexandrite, who was the firstborn in the union of Chalcedony and his wife Rutile, was enough to give pause to these operations, it did not completely ruin them, as Chalcedony was able to pick the initiative back up, albeit losing some significant ground along the way.

As Alex grew up through his single digit years, he was schooled in the House's own in-house education system, being taught the ways of nobility, and the special, stricter rules that come with being a noble ratfolk. Almost constant bathing, meticulous grooming of the fur, and only the utmost choice of clothing. Additionally, he was taught the proper way of speaking and conducting oneself in public, with incredibly stiff manners, and an even stiffer tongue. No disrespect was even to be acknowledged by members of the house, for to respond to an outside criticism was not only to accept it, but also could be the gateway to much worse. Strangely, Alexandrite took better to this schooling program than any other ratfolk youth of the house, becoming the visage of noble purity.

In the latter half of his childhood, however, things started to change within Alex. A rebellious spirit rose up inside him as he learned of things like adventuring, bar life, and even the arcane arts. Comparatively, being a stuffy noble began to seem silly, boring, and completely overblown. He first began to act out in quite small ways, such as wearing a mismatching outfit to his lessons. However, the scolding from these tiny rebellions only strengthened his resolve, and he began finding progressively bigger ways to rebel. From clothing, it became speaking the wrong way, from that, it went to skipping a bath. Eventually things got to the point where his behavior was referred to his father. However, Chalcedony was a proud man, and a very stressed one at that. Not having the time or energy to deal with a broken pride, he denied allegations against his son, advocating for his excellence as he remembered him being as a small child.

This defense of his son would just come back to bite him even harder in the future, however, as not long after, Alex was caught rabble-rousing among the common folk at a tavern establishment. Worse still, he was spotted there by a noble from a rival house, who spread word of House Overture's heir being a low class drunk. When word of this reached Chalcedony, he was furious with the son who once would refuse to break a code of nobility even when it was necessary. In a fit of rage, he sent correspondence to Alex, instructing him not to return to House Overture, but to live instead among the "common folk" he seemed to so love above his kin. Additionally, he was stripped of the noble name assigned to him, instead being renamed to "Flint," in that a piece of flint is hardly a precious stone at all, signifying that he was hardly even a noble. In such, he was stripped of his status as heir, which remained empty, giving cause for his parents to have another child and, in their words, "try again." However, such efforts were not enough to keep the nasty rumors from spreading, and destroying all of the work Chalcedony had done for the past several years to increase House Overture's status.

Two years later, Flint was still not welcome in the house, now having established himself as a renowned pianist and singer, along with an excellent billiards player and bartender. However, it was also at this time that Flint's younger brother, Feldspar, was born. With a new heir to the nobility, Chalcedony was reinvigorated on his mission to further House Overture as a legitimate house of nobles, making extreme headway quite quickly, much more so than before. Meanwhile, Flint's status as a musician began to become somewhat legendary, earning him spots playing not just in the bar, but sometimes at high-class events such as noble weddings. Eventually it got to the level where news was spread back to his parents, who, even though the betrayal from their son still stung like a thorn in their hearts, they were happy to see him succeeding. After another two years, after baby Feldspar became a little less of a constant chore to take care of, the new success of the house brought a sense of ease to Chalcedony and Rutile. That, coupled with the fact that Flint was now a surprisingly big name in the music world, was enough for them to restore contact with their son. Readily accepting what looked like a chance at redemption, Flint accepted the contact, trying to restore what was lost.