"Against all odds, a seed rises from darkness."
~ Matshona Dhliwayo
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Silas Richard Buchanan
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"Si" - sigh - a nickname from a time gone by; he hasn't heard this one in ages
"Upstart" - though not as common nowadays, this snide nickname followed him closely for his first few years in Arcadia as a way of demeaning him
"Excellency" - it's a title that comes with his job, but it's often used sarcastically
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January 12
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Thirty-four
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Doyen
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Male
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Bisexual - with a preference for women
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#7417a3
Silas Richard Buchanan
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"Si" - sigh - a nickname from a time gone by; he hasn't heard this one in ages
"Upstart" - though not as common nowadays, this snide nickname followed him closely for his first few years in Arcadia as a way of demeaning him
"Excellency" - it's a title that comes with his job, but it's often used sarcastically
ļ¼¤ļ¼”ļ¼“ļ¼„ ļ¼Æļ¼¦ ļ¼¢ļ¼©ļ¼²ļ¼“ļ¼Ø
January 12
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Thirty-four
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Doyen
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Male
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Bisexual - with a preference for women
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#7417a3
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It is Silas's unique appearance that often defines his presence when he enters a room. He stands somewhere around six feet and three inches, weighing about one hundred and eighty pounds. It gives him a strong build that is certainly overpowering and compelling without being outright intimidating. Silas has only an average amount of muscle for his build, retaining a decent appearance without being anything outstanding.
His hair is extremely dark, just about black, and he has let it grow out over time so that it rests a few inches above his shoulders. It has a natural volume about it, and thus it creates a sort of flowing, fluffy look. Quite often, it ends up in his face or flying about in disarray, but it merely adds to an aesthetic he has cultivated for himself. His beard often stays trimmed, but he allows it to also grow out - though it only seems to do so on his chin and upper lip.
Silas has quite a few freckles about his body. These, as well as a few scars from his childhood, are some of the only marks on his otherwise even skin tone. His sense of style is one that appears simplistic but, upon closer examination, is far more ostentatious than that of his peers. In public, he often dresses in simple colors but of expensive materials as if he is daring his peers to question his wealth, only for him to flaunt it in closer, more awkward quarters.
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Age has fallen on Silas like a shroud. With these years as Doyen, he has grown to keep to himself and to watch his every action. And so, he often comes off as either pretentious or simply guarded. Superficially, he is both, but he dislikes describing himself as such. His home is an ostentatious display of wealth, and he takes pride in keeping up with most of society's latest trends. He places the utmost importance in ensuring Canan looks her best at all times of the day. And he quite often comes off as guarded or stoic because he keeps to himself more often than not. It, unfortunately, has become one of the only fool-proof ways of avoiding unnecessary drama.
He is renowned throughout Arcadia for his natural eloquence which can quickly captivate and light up a room. Indeed, he would never have made something of himself without it. He has one hell of a competitive streak, and though he often shies away from arguing, it is in his nature to turn to his old, scrappy ways and pick up a debate when one comes his way.
Silas ought to be far more confident in himself and his position in society, but he likely never will. He has always played the role of underdog, and it's a role he would be hard-pressed to outgrow. He does a good job at appearing annoyed rather than timid or shy. When he does feel confident, he is a very compassionate man who enjoys making small-talk. Overall, it gives him a sort of mysterious aura that is often the subject of political gossip.
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ā (Exotic) Animals - Silas has always had a soft spot for animals because they bring him back to his childhood. However, with his new wealth, he has a penchant for acquiring the most expensive, rare, and outright bizarre animals he can find.
ā Alcohol - Though still far from being considered an alcoholic, he has quite a fondness for drinking. Perhaps he sees it as something to affirm his wealth to himself.
ā Social Gatherings - Rather than enjoy them for the socializing aspect, he only really enjoys gatherings because he believes they secure his position in society.
ā Music - It was something he never had as a child, and so it too is a luxury he likes to appreciate thoroughly. It doesn't matter what genre it is, but he does like the music of the old America.
ā Public Debate - Though he prefers to keep to himself, he does enjoy the rush that speaking before a crowd gives him.
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ā Gossip - Deep down, it scares him because he has a sneaking suspicion that his peers speak about him whenever he is not present in a conversation.
ā Rats - He has never liked them, and he never will. He finds them to be nasty creatures with no remorse or compassion. Also, he finds them simply gross.
ā Shouting - He is quick to grow upset if he can not carry out a civil argument, and so he often tenses when yelling occurs.
ā Needles - Or anything dealing with surgery, for that matter. As a child, he only visited doctors when he desperately needed to, so these instances never gave him a good impression.
ā Strawberries - The seeds always seem to get stuck in his teeth, and it's so hard to figure out which strawberries taste good.
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ā Losing His Wealth or Reputation - He fears this more than death itself, for he is certain that if he lost the life he has built for himself, he would amount to virtually nothing and, perhaps, finally have to give into a life as a Gilded.
ā Failing to Build a Legacy - Though monogamy is no longer a virtue for Arcadia, Silas still wishes to have children of his own who will remember him and all he has achieved. Further, he hopes he can build a legacy for himself in the government.
ā Being Used - Silas worries his companions are only associated with him for his political power rather than for who he is or what he has done.
It is Silas's unique appearance that often defines his presence when he enters a room. He stands somewhere around six feet and three inches, weighing about one hundred and eighty pounds. It gives him a strong build that is certainly overpowering and compelling without being outright intimidating. Silas has only an average amount of muscle for his build, retaining a decent appearance without being anything outstanding.
His hair is extremely dark, just about black, and he has let it grow out over time so that it rests a few inches above his shoulders. It has a natural volume about it, and thus it creates a sort of flowing, fluffy look. Quite often, it ends up in his face or flying about in disarray, but it merely adds to an aesthetic he has cultivated for himself. His beard often stays trimmed, but he allows it to also grow out - though it only seems to do so on his chin and upper lip.
Silas has quite a few freckles about his body. These, as well as a few scars from his childhood, are some of the only marks on his otherwise even skin tone. His sense of style is one that appears simplistic but, upon closer examination, is far more ostentatious than that of his peers. In public, he often dresses in simple colors but of expensive materials as if he is daring his peers to question his wealth, only for him to flaunt it in closer, more awkward quarters.
ļ¼°ļ¼„ļ¼²ļ¼³ļ¼Æļ¼®ļ¼”ļ¼¬ļ¼©ļ¼“ļ¼¹
Age has fallen on Silas like a shroud. With these years as Doyen, he has grown to keep to himself and to watch his every action. And so, he often comes off as either pretentious or simply guarded. Superficially, he is both, but he dislikes describing himself as such. His home is an ostentatious display of wealth, and he takes pride in keeping up with most of society's latest trends. He places the utmost importance in ensuring Canan looks her best at all times of the day. And he quite often comes off as guarded or stoic because he keeps to himself more often than not. It, unfortunately, has become one of the only fool-proof ways of avoiding unnecessary drama.
He is renowned throughout Arcadia for his natural eloquence which can quickly captivate and light up a room. Indeed, he would never have made something of himself without it. He has one hell of a competitive streak, and though he often shies away from arguing, it is in his nature to turn to his old, scrappy ways and pick up a debate when one comes his way.
Silas ought to be far more confident in himself and his position in society, but he likely never will. He has always played the role of underdog, and it's a role he would be hard-pressed to outgrow. He does a good job at appearing annoyed rather than timid or shy. When he does feel confident, he is a very compassionate man who enjoys making small-talk. Overall, it gives him a sort of mysterious aura that is often the subject of political gossip.
ļ¼¬ļ¼©ļ¼«ļ¼„ļ¼³
ā (Exotic) Animals - Silas has always had a soft spot for animals because they bring him back to his childhood. However, with his new wealth, he has a penchant for acquiring the most expensive, rare, and outright bizarre animals he can find.
ā Alcohol - Though still far from being considered an alcoholic, he has quite a fondness for drinking. Perhaps he sees it as something to affirm his wealth to himself.
ā Social Gatherings - Rather than enjoy them for the socializing aspect, he only really enjoys gatherings because he believes they secure his position in society.
ā Music - It was something he never had as a child, and so it too is a luxury he likes to appreciate thoroughly. It doesn't matter what genre it is, but he does like the music of the old America.
ā Public Debate - Though he prefers to keep to himself, he does enjoy the rush that speaking before a crowd gives him.
ļ¼¤ļ¼©ļ¼³ļ¼¬ļ¼©ļ¼«ļ¼„ļ¼³
ā Gossip - Deep down, it scares him because he has a sneaking suspicion that his peers speak about him whenever he is not present in a conversation.
ā Rats - He has never liked them, and he never will. He finds them to be nasty creatures with no remorse or compassion. Also, he finds them simply gross.
ā Shouting - He is quick to grow upset if he can not carry out a civil argument, and so he often tenses when yelling occurs.
ā Needles - Or anything dealing with surgery, for that matter. As a child, he only visited doctors when he desperately needed to, so these instances never gave him a good impression.
ā Strawberries - The seeds always seem to get stuck in his teeth, and it's so hard to figure out which strawberries taste good.
ļ¼¦ļ¼„ļ¼”ļ¼²ļ¼³
ā Losing His Wealth or Reputation - He fears this more than death itself, for he is certain that if he lost the life he has built for himself, he would amount to virtually nothing and, perhaps, finally have to give into a life as a Gilded.
ā Failing to Build a Legacy - Though monogamy is no longer a virtue for Arcadia, Silas still wishes to have children of his own who will remember him and all he has achieved. Further, he hopes he can build a legacy for himself in the government.
ā Being Used - Silas worries his companions are only associated with him for his political power rather than for who he is or what he has done.
ļ¼¢ļ¼©ļ¼Æļ¼§ļ¼²ļ¼”ļ¼°ļ¼Øļ¼¹
Silas's story is one of a certain resilience and fight against all odds that, in such a polarized society, is often unheard of. He was born Silas Richard Nelson in around what would have once been Oklahoma. His family lived with a few other lower class families on a relatively large farm where they raised an array of animals for slaughter. Growing up on a farm in the middle of nowhere gave Silas a very idyllic childhood where he spent his free days roaming the fields with family dogs at his heels.
When he was about seven, his family made the journey to Arcadia, looking to set up a contract to sell their products in the restaurants and shops of the capital city. It was here that a young Silas first became amazed by the dazzling city - and repulsed. A man old enough to be his father's father seized the boy by the wrist, speaking in a quick, harsh voice to Silas's parents. Words like "sell" and "Gilded" passed between the adults, but Silas hardly focused as he continued to struggle, eventually breaking free and running to his mother. Their visit did not last much longer than that, and they returned home - but it was easy to see that something had changed in the once cheerful boy.
He became despondent, afraid to talk about what had transpired even though his parents assured him that he would never have to worry about what the man had said. They scrounged up enough money to send him to a proper school, hoping it would assuage his fears. It hardly did, but what it did succeed in doing was igniting a passion in Silas for learning and achieving a level of knowledge that no one in his community had ever dreamed of.
Silas picked up each and every opportunity to learn that he could, and he certainly excelled past what anyone thought possible. Perhaps he would have made something of himself regardless, but he would never know. When he was about fifteen, his parents' farm collapsed, the land they were working having been worked to exhaustion. They resolved that, with what little money they could find, they would send him to Arcadia and pray he would make something of himself.
He could have turned to the far easier life of a Gilded, but the thought of that man eight years ago pushed him to enter the work force, which allowed him to save up and put himself through the rest of school. It was during his schooling that he came across a debate between two representatives of the republic. He paused, looking into the forum just as a man at the head of the room got to his feet, ushering in a silence that gripped the room. In an almost magical moment, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life.
It was a struggle to go from a virtually unknown street urchin to a voice to be reckoned with, but Silas managed to do it nevertheless. He left school and immediately began to trail after the representatives and, more importantly, the Doyens. It was one Doyen, a man named [url]Harvey Buchanan[/url], who took the young man under his wing and promised him a life in which he truly could make something of himself. Silas changed his name and moved in with the older man, becoming his companion and harkening back to the days before The Gilded. His time with Harvey allowed him to get into politics more quickly than he ever could have by himself. By the time he was twenty-five, he was already serving as a representative, and he had been nominated as speaker on multiple issues that were championed by men far more experienced than he. His eloquence became renowned, and before long, he was able to build a reputation for himself that was independent of Harvey's.
It was good for him that it happened that way, for once Harvey died, Silas was able to fill his shoes without hesitation. He was nominated for the now-vacated role of Doyen, and he took the seat almost unanimously. At twenty-eight, he was the youngest person to take the position. In these past six years, Silas has forged a reputation for himself that has eclipsed Harvey Buchanan's. And yet his past is something he will never escape. Most, if not all, know of his humble beginnings, and Silas fears almost constantly that this will one day be his undoing.
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It would be impossible to name all of his "pets", but his favorites are his dogs (X X X) which wander his mansion quite freely. They are named Helena (F), Titus (M), and Janus (M), respectively.
Silas's story is one of a certain resilience and fight against all odds that, in such a polarized society, is often unheard of. He was born Silas Richard Nelson in around what would have once been Oklahoma. His family lived with a few other lower class families on a relatively large farm where they raised an array of animals for slaughter. Growing up on a farm in the middle of nowhere gave Silas a very idyllic childhood where he spent his free days roaming the fields with family dogs at his heels.
When he was about seven, his family made the journey to Arcadia, looking to set up a contract to sell their products in the restaurants and shops of the capital city. It was here that a young Silas first became amazed by the dazzling city - and repulsed. A man old enough to be his father's father seized the boy by the wrist, speaking in a quick, harsh voice to Silas's parents. Words like "sell" and "Gilded" passed between the adults, but Silas hardly focused as he continued to struggle, eventually breaking free and running to his mother. Their visit did not last much longer than that, and they returned home - but it was easy to see that something had changed in the once cheerful boy.
He became despondent, afraid to talk about what had transpired even though his parents assured him that he would never have to worry about what the man had said. They scrounged up enough money to send him to a proper school, hoping it would assuage his fears. It hardly did, but what it did succeed in doing was igniting a passion in Silas for learning and achieving a level of knowledge that no one in his community had ever dreamed of.
Silas picked up each and every opportunity to learn that he could, and he certainly excelled past what anyone thought possible. Perhaps he would have made something of himself regardless, but he would never know. When he was about fifteen, his parents' farm collapsed, the land they were working having been worked to exhaustion. They resolved that, with what little money they could find, they would send him to Arcadia and pray he would make something of himself.
He could have turned to the far easier life of a Gilded, but the thought of that man eight years ago pushed him to enter the work force, which allowed him to save up and put himself through the rest of school. It was during his schooling that he came across a debate between two representatives of the republic. He paused, looking into the forum just as a man at the head of the room got to his feet, ushering in a silence that gripped the room. In an almost magical moment, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life.
It was a struggle to go from a virtually unknown street urchin to a voice to be reckoned with, but Silas managed to do it nevertheless. He left school and immediately began to trail after the representatives and, more importantly, the Doyens. It was one Doyen, a man named [url]Harvey Buchanan[/url], who took the young man under his wing and promised him a life in which he truly could make something of himself. Silas changed his name and moved in with the older man, becoming his companion and harkening back to the days before The Gilded. His time with Harvey allowed him to get into politics more quickly than he ever could have by himself. By the time he was twenty-five, he was already serving as a representative, and he had been nominated as speaker on multiple issues that were championed by men far more experienced than he. His eloquence became renowned, and before long, he was able to build a reputation for himself that was independent of Harvey's.
It was good for him that it happened that way, for once Harvey died, Silas was able to fill his shoes without hesitation. He was nominated for the now-vacated role of Doyen, and he took the seat almost unanimously. At twenty-eight, he was the youngest person to take the position. In these past six years, Silas has forged a reputation for himself that has eclipsed Harvey Buchanan's. And yet his past is something he will never escape. Most, if not all, know of his humble beginnings, and Silas fears almost constantly that this will one day be his undoing.
ļ¼ļ¼©ļ¼³ļ¼£ļ¼„ļ¼¬ļ¼¬ļ¼”ļ¼®ļ¼„ļ¼Æļ¼µļ¼³
It would be impossible to name all of his "pets", but his favorites are his dogs (X X X) which wander his mansion quite freely. They are named Helena (F), Titus (M), and Janus (M), respectively.
