“Zeke is just fine. My parents were being wilde when they named me. Haha, wild-e, get it?”

Gender: Male

Zeke is a young man with a slightly disheveled appearance, undeserving of his royal title, in fact one would scarcely be able to guess that he even holds a title at all. He’s not tall by any means, standing at an even five foot eight, however his height is often underestimated owing to his rather bad posture, much to the distress of his aunt, but her countless lectures and speeches never really breached Zeke in any way. He has got a somewhat narrow physique, with a slender and proportionate body, willowy arms and legs and wide shoulders. Zeke is not very muscular, mostly due to the fact that he needed to subject himself to any heavy training, but he does have some lean muscle from fencing and the like.

He has a long and oval face, with high and defined cheekbones and moderately square jawline that are definitely his most prominent features. A dimple on his right cheek can be seen whenever he smiles. Zeke has a natural olive skin tone (here), which is slightly tanned from time spent outside in the sun, likewise his lips are a darker shade of brown. They are wide and plump, with the upper lip being a touch smaller, giving him a pouty look. On the right side of his lip, he has a scar running from around his chin to just shy of nostril, the scar is not very deep and has a pink color. His nose is best described as “Grecian,” fairly large, a straight nose bridge from beginning to end, with small nostrils, while his forehead is a bit on the bigger side.

Zeke has heavily hooded eyes that are turned a few degrees upward. His eye color changes depending on the lighting, in dark spaces it can be described as a deep chestnut, but while illuminated it is more accurate to an amber color with dark circles around the irises. His eyebrows are thick and softly angled, they are a light brown color and complement his eyes quite nicely. Loose honey-blonde curls frame his face with cool undertones. His hair is unruly and unkempt, despite his best efforts. It reaches to around his nape, with the back being longer than the front, but not by a large margin.

Zeke much prefers wearing neutral-colored clothing, and his tunics often come in blacks, browns, creams and greens. He’s not one to wear regal attire either, while his clothes, unlike his hair or posture are tidy, they do not often stand out as he dresses quite plainly. But if he must dress in the colors of his kingdom, he’ll usually don a red tunic and gold jewelry as a stand-in for the yellow. Zeke also has several gold earrings accessorizing his ears and a leather necklace with an iron pendant that he never takes off.

Not a very extroverted person, Zeke has always preferred to keep to himself. He could spend days without speaking to anyone and be fine. Of course that’s all in theory, because Zeke was raised as a prince and was always surrounded by countless nobles, servants and guards pestering him. He’s not a shut-in exactly, just more on the reserved side. He can be talkative when the need arises and has no problem mingling with royalty or peasantry. Although if it were up to him, he’d much rather be reading, playing the lute or sneaking out of the castle. Otherwise, Zeke has a rather even temper and mellow attitude when you first meet him.

Zeke is very independent, he values his individualism and hates being dependent on anyone or anything mostly due to his own pride and the neglect he received from his own family growing up. He is very self-sufficient and competent, as he mostly relies on himself. This has its negative sides however, as he almost never asks for help or support from others and rarely takes another’s advice into consideration. He is rather restrained when it comes to his emotions, rarely showing or expressing them in any meaningful way. Frankly, he doesn’t even know where to start when it comes to emotions, as he usually deflects anything and everything using humor.

Zeke has trouble trusting others. His first instinct is to assume is that everyone is out to get him, and although he’d never show this sentiment outwardly, he’ll maintain his guard and be wary of anyone, even if it is subconsciously. While it does take a lot for Zeke to get seriously upset, and even more for him to make it evident. But when he does get upset or angry, it is usually a very cold and subtle anger. He stops talking completely, seizes the jokes and puns and redirects his rage elsewhere. He can hold that resent for a long time and has no problem being malicious and hostile.

Zeke possesses a strategic mind. Despite everything, he is a very pragmatic and rational person. While Apostle’s forte may be making battle strategies, his battlefield is a vastly different one. Politics. He is very diplomatic when it comes to such matters and has a way with people. This is where his “kill or be killed” mindset comes in quite handy, as most nobles are of the “kill” type, his status as prince does help immensely as well when mingling in high-society circles. Zeke very rarely uses eloquent or persuasive words, but it’s precisely that which makes him so disarming. He has nonchalant charm that makes him likeable.

His only passions in life would be music and occasionally playing cards and dice against sleazy men in inns. It’s the simple pleasures. His lute is one of his most treasured items, and he’s almost mastered it. Music is highly-valued among common folk and he plays and sings in inns and to the commoners as often as he can. However not many at the castle know of his musical capabilities, Zeke would wager that not even the king knows. Zeke does not place his loyalty with kingdoms or causes, he finds those things pointless, and as such he does not have a very patriotic spirit. He is only heading to Odyine as a suitor because his aunt forced him! And maybe because he is slightly curious.

Diplomatic: While Zeke might not have a way with words in the usual sense, he does have a certain charm that makes people gravitate towards him.

Strategic: He is quite calculated and is quite goal-oriented, but at times it can seem borderline manipulative.

Level-headed: He does not lose his cool often and can remain calm even under pressure.

Fencing: Only as a sport, if he ever got into a real sword fight, it would probably not end with him as the victor.

Swimming: Absolutely terrified of deep waters, would drown before you could even see him sinking beneath the waters.

Combat: Anything other than swords, and he is done for. Especially when it comes to brute strength as he’s got none of that or hand-to-hand combat.

Insensitive: Cannot handle emotions. If someone cries in front of him, he’ll either walk out, freeze or make the situation worse with a corny pun.

Stubborn: Will not ask for help. Even if he’s about to drown from his lack of swimming skills, he’ll either save himself or die trying.

Music, singing, nature, animals, warm climates, gambling, ale

Nobles, snow, being ordered around, his aunt, Odyine, dressing up

Open!

Zeke’s father died when he was very young, and he has no memories of him nor his mother. He died just before he was to inherit the throne of Apostle and the official cause of death was drowning, but Zeke has his suspicions. Apparently, he was a strong but fair individual and would have made a great king, according to Zeke’s uncle. Alas, he never made it to the throne, and it passed down to his younger brother.

Carolina Wilde – Mother – Deceased

His mother, likewise, died while Zeke was very young, at the same time as his father in fact, as it is said they drowned side by side. Zeke has no memories of her apart from a memento in the form of a simple leather necklace. He has never taken it off. She was a very generous and calm person, according to Zeke’s uncle, and she had a beautiful singing voice that would charm the masses.

King Orlando Wilde – Uncle – Alive

The king of Apostle, Zeke’s uncle and his father’s younger brother is a mild-mannered but benevolent ruler. He has always treated Zeke with care and love, but his duties as a king and his real children often kept him busy and without enough time to dedicate the proper care to his nephew, so Zeke was often neglected as a child. This has made him harbor unfair resentment towards his uncle.

Queen Albertine Wilde – Aunt – Alive

The wife of the king, Albertine was previously a powerful lady in Odyine before marrying Zeke’s uncle. She’s much harsher and more conceited than the king, and her and Zeke’s relationship isn’t… the best. Zeke suspects it is because she feels threatened by his presence, and they often have been at odds over the years. It’s probably the reason she sent him as a suitor, so she can be rid of Zeke once and for all.

Prince Marco Wilde – Cousin – Alive

Zeke’s younger cousin by a year, although you would scarcely believe it, as he towers over Zeke and possess a much more serious attitude as the heir of Apostle. They don’t really talk often and don’t have much of a relationship, if one at all. Zeke is put off by his dutiful and devoted personality, and likewise Marco is probably put off by Zeke’s recklessness.

Princess Lucia Wilde – Cousin – Alive

Zeke’s younger cousin by eight years, he’s not very close with her but they do share a love of music and animals. Lucia is probably the only one in the royal family who’s had the privilege of hearing Zeke play the lute and is the only member of the family that Zeke can confidently say that he genuinely likes.

Backstory

Growing up as third-in-line for the throne often put Zeke as a simple afterthought, especially because he was not even a biological child of the current king. He was more or less always in the background, and found himself being more comfortable amongst the servants and guards. He still received a formal education, was forced to learn swordplay to “keep up appearances”, and was treated like a prince, at least in the castle, but he never fit in with his cousins or the other nobility. From a very young age, Zeke had the habit for abandoning his duties and sneaking away from the castle to mingle with the commoners. His somewhat ragged appearance helped and he was never recognized as a member of the royal family. He immensely preferred it that way. While he was younger, the people of Apostle were always cheery and lively, and he would often bring his lute to sing and play in inns and in front crowds, he made friends with many other children and orphans that roamed the streets and would play with them until sunset. His absence from the castle often going unnoticed. He always looks on those memories fondly.

As he grew up, the effects of poverty, sickness and famine took its toll on the people, and no amount of kind and encouraging words from the king or sweet melodies from his lute could cheer them up. So, gradually Zeke stopped sneaking away as he couldn’t handle seeing the previously vibrant and dynamic streets of the city so desolate and bleak. Zeke developed a hatred towards the king for not taking care of his people properly, but more so at Odyine for subjecting them to these conditions in the first place. But he was stuck with nothing else to do other than to annoy his aunt and take out his frustrations on a dummy with a rapier. It all culminated with his aunt reaching her breaking point and sending him away to Odyine to try to win the princess’ hand in marriage, even though they both know that the chances of that are slim to none.

Other: Hopefully finished! Extremely sorry if there are any mistakes, it is very late and I don't have to reread.

I may be interested in joining. What's most needed, if anything?

It looks like there's still a suitor or two available, if that doesn't interest you then maybe a sentinel for a suitor? But there's plenty of roles available and I don't think any are particularly more needed than another. Covidic if you disagree feel free to correct me

Reserve a suitor, a civilian and a servant please!