Application for a_facility
May. 24th, 2012 01:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
je_croisOOC Information:
Name: Haley
Age: 19
AIM: avariceawakens
E-MAIL: avariceawakens@gmail.com
Are you new? If not, list your current characters: Amy Pond
IC Information:
Name: Francis Bonnefoy aka France (République française)
Fandom: Axis Powers Hetalia
Timeline: Present day
Age: Physically he looks 26 or so, although France has been around for 2000+ years.
Appearance: Francis is a handsome man with wavy blond hair and blue eyes. He stands at 5’9” (175 cm) and keeps his body fit although not overly muscular. Francis is a lover, not a fighter. Since the 18th Century he has grown a small amount of facial hair because he thinks it makes him look like a “big brother” and he doesn’t like to own up to his actual age. (Which is pretty darn old. Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt.)
When he’s in his military uniform, Francis is quite the sight to see. Red pants, blue coat with a matching capelet and brown boots make up the ensemble. It’s quite fashionable and chic if you ask him. When he’s conducting business he’s always wearing a suit and when he’s not working, even just out on the town, he makes sure to look his best. Every so often, on those rare days off when he never intends to leave the house or to see anyone, he’ll wear jeans and a t-shirt.
Abilities: Francis is a nation, therefore he doesn’t age like a normal person. For having existed over 2000 years, he only looks to be about 26. And he’ll continue to look like it for quite some time. He also has accelerated healing abilities. Francis has seen many wars and conflicts. Hasn’t won many (any?) but he does know how to fight with a variety of weapons from swords to guns.
In recent years, however, Francis hasn’t been much of a fighter and instead focused more on drawing tourists to his country with his food and wine. Francis is a very skilled cook and is quite the savant when it comes to wine. He really enjoys cooking for other people, although he doesn’t get the chance very often, and he finds the action very calming.
And lastly, and what Francis believes is most important, he is quite skilled in bed. France is the nation of love and he very openly shows it to anyone willing to receive it. And he never, ever, leaves a partner unsatisfied.
Personality: Francis is a carefree romantic. He loves to flirt and almost everything he says could be taken as such. He is known to make sexual advances towards almost anyone. Male, female, gender doesn’t make any difference to him and age restrictions are questionable. Regardless, he would never force himself on anyone and only wishes to share his love where it is wanted. He loves beautiful things and beautiful people.
That being said, Francis isn’t some sex-crazed pervert who runs around molesting everyone he meets. He is a sincere and caring guy and can be serious when he wants to be. He has been through a lot in his life; many wars, occupations, takeovers, gains and losses of territory. In recent years, however, he’s taken on a more laid back lifestyle; looking to appreciate the finer things in life and to share them with others who visit his country. Francis is a fantastic cook and loves to cook for others even though he doesn’t often get the opportunity. He’s also a fan of the arts and often sketches and sings to himself.
Even though he can be selfish and melodramatic, he cares very deeply about many of his fellow nations and has a very strong rivalry with England. The two have been caught in a pissing match for centuries and they never let up. Their arguments usually end in shouting matches because neither England or Francis are willing to suffer insult from the other. Francis loves himself so much that he sometimes won’t even bother to remember or speak English in favor of his native French, the ‘language of love’.
Francis is in denial about a lot of things. He likes to think he’s younger than he is and he fancies himself the “older brother” of the European nations. Often referring to himself as suck. He also explains away his military shortcomings (coughcouchDEFEATScough) are all jokes from God. Computers intimidate him but he loves telephones. And his mottos is: ‘Be gentle to the ladies and be gentle to the earth.’
History: The first city in what is now known as France, Massalia (now Marseille) was colonized around 600 BC on the shores of the Mediterranean by Ionian Greeks. During the same time Gallic Celtic tribes moved in from the north. Their occupation spread throughout the rest of France between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC. And thus Francis was born.
At this time, France was known by the name of Gaul. Francis was young and a bit of a wild child. Apart from Massailia and a few other Greek settlements, Francis’ people were from many tribes. These tribes were very prosperous and established many cities. The Greek settlements were often in direct conflict with the northern tribes, who were fierce warriors, and feared them. This fear of the Gauls prompted the Greeks to ask for Roman aid. The Romans, upon hearing of the prosperity of the area, oh so kindly decided to help out their neighbors.
The Roman Republic began its campaigns against the Gallic tribes in 121 BC and successfully conquered and annexed southern areas of the region. The in 58 BC, Roman general Julius Caesar led his armies into Gaul. Francis and his people fought tooth-and-nail against the invading forces but the Romans were more advanced than the Gauls and ultimately they were defeated. By 50 BC, Gaul was under Roman control and the military actions taken by Caesar during those 8 years were known as the Gallic Wars.
Gaul was under Roman rule from 50 BC until 486 AD. Papa Rome (as Francis came to call him) taught the young nation many things. He taught him how to speak Latin (although Francis and his people still retained some of their Gaulish tongue) and taught him how to run an administration following the more advanced Roman standards. Papa Rome also brought Francis’ people a new religion. They were no longer allowed to practice their old Druidic religion and the Romans introduced them to Christianity. In the end, Francis still held much of his former culture inside himself and his people but at least from the outside he began to look like a proper Roman. After becoming a part of the Roman Empire, Francis experienced a happy childhood; running around in pretty dresses, bothering Albion (the largest island in Britian) and generally enjoying the spoils of a Roman education.
In the 4th and 5th centuries, the Roman Empire saw threats to its lands from several different ‘barbaric’ tribes in Europe. They attempted to pit the tribes against each other, rewarding whichever tribes fought in their interests with land. Francis was in turmoil as parts of his lands were given away to other groups. Papa Rome had plucked Francis from his tribal roots and paid so much care to ‘civilize’ him. He never had much say in what he did while Papa Rome had control over him as he became integrated into the Empire. And then, all of the sudden, Rome abandoned him. It was jarring for Francis and left him generally lost as he watched the powerful Empire faltering and left him very vulnerable to outside powers.
Rome tried to keep control but the entire Empire was on the verge of collapse and eventually the Roman administration in Gaul collapsed as the majority of Roman troops withdrew to protect Italy. Francis’ lands were essentially abandoned to the invading tribes, the Visigoths, the Burgundians and the Franks. In 486, the last remnants of Roman rule were wiped out by the Franks and Francis found himself reporting to a new boss. King Clovis I, the leader of the Franks and the Merovingian dynasty.
Under the rule of King Clovis I, Francis gained back the lands lost during the Roman struggles again the other European tribes. The pagan Franks adopted Christianity from the Gallo-Romans and even King Clovis I himself converted to the religion, solidifying his bond to his Christian subjects. Francis was generally happy with his new boss who respected his people and their religion. However, the prosperity of the Frankish kingdom didn’t last beyond the death of Clovis I. Upon his demise, a part of Clovis I’s kingdom was left to each of his sons, dividing the kingdom into four. The borders and numbers of Frankish kingdoms changed often as time passed and the real power in the kingdoms was in the hands of the kings’ chief advisors, known as the Mayors of the Palace. It was generally a confusing time for Francis but he experienced some important changes in the fields of art and Merovingian craftsmen were well regarded by their English neighbors.
By the 8th century, Muslim invaders had conquered Hispania to the south and posed the greatest threat Francis and his Frankish kings, often sending raiding parties into Frankish territory. Mayor of Palace, Charles Martel, successfully repelled a raiding party at the Battle of Tours in 732, earning him a lot of respect from Francis and the Frankish Kingdom. His son, Pepin the Short, assumed the crown in 751 and established the Carolingian dynasty, permanently ending the Merovingian dynasty. However, Carolingian power didn’t fully come to fruition until his son Charlemagne took power.
Francis loved Charlemagne. In 771, Charlemagne united the Frankish kingdoms once again and eventually expanded the Frankish territories into much of Western and Central Europe. His rule is also associated with a renaissance. Through the medium of the Catholic Church there was a revival in art, religion and culture known as the Carolingian Renaissance. As a lover of art, Francis enjoyed the revival immensely while feeling his gains in strength acutely as his territories increased.
When Charlemagne was crowned Roman Emperor of the West in 800, Francis was a super power. He was strong and empowered and for the first time since he was born he was on top. He had come a very long way from being a part of Papa Rome’s Empire to ruling his own. Francis’ triumph didn’t last too long however, after the death of Charlemagne’s son Louis the Pious the empire began to crumble as Louis’ three sons fought against each other. The imperial title was unable to be held and the territories were lost, leaving only an area comparable to the territory of modern France as the base for the French kingdom in the Middle Ages.
During the Middle Ages, Francis no longer had an all-powerful ruler. The Frankish Kingdom was very decentralized and the king’s power was more religious than administrative. His power was recognized but not always respected and the royal power was very weak in more rural areas. Some of the king’s vassals became some of the most powerful rulers in Europe due to the weakness of the royal authority.
This disconnection was quite the fall for Francis from the immense power and strength he had experienced as an empire. As his people were, he did not respect the authority of his king as much as he should have and he generally felt his pride wounded by the failure of his rulers to hold onto their empire. But deep down he knew, he knew from seeing it happen to Papa Rome all those years ago, empires couldn’t last forever.
But knowing you’re going to fall doesn’t make landing any easier and Francis really wished he’d had a little more time to enjoy the power.
Over the following centuries, however, the monarchy began to rise again and slowly it regained its power until it finally reached its former glory. In the 16th century, the monarchy achieved absolute sovereignty over France. As the monarchs tried to regain power of the kingdom, they used their strong ties to the church to their advantage. Starting with Hugh Capet who came to power in 987 and established the House of Capet.
During the 11th 12th and 13th centuries, the French Kingdom took part in the Crusades. Francis and his people- royalty, aristocrats and peasants alike- took part in the religious military campaigns. The Crusades brought together all of Francis' people, as well as others across Europe to fight a common enemy in the name of God. Francis rallied behind his people and lorded his leadership in culture over the rest of Europe, generally having a grand old time.
The House of Capet held power in the French monarchy until 1337 when the last Capetian monarch died, leaving a succession crisis that created a vast amount of tension between the House of Valois (French) and the House of Plantegenet (English). This tension was what sparked the conflicts known as the Hundred Years War. Francis' people suffered greatly during this time. Not only were they at war with the English, but there were also several civil wars and the black plague was sweeping though Europe. Francis hated to see his people suffer so, but he was not willing to see his lands in the hands of the English.
The French needed to rally; their collective suffering brought the people together as a nation but they needed was a symbol of their nationality, a hero. That hero was Jeanne D'Arc. Jeanne claimed to have the divine guidance of God and she helped lead the French army to several victories during the Hundred Years War. Francis loved Jeanne. She was a symbol of hope for his people. He couldn't help but respect her bravery and dedication to God and her county- his country. She was dedicated to him and he was dedicated to her. He loved her as much as he had ever loved a person, and maybe as much as he ever will. So when she was captured, turned over to the English and put to death, he was heartbroken. It devastated him beyond description but he found the strength within himself, within his people to keep fighting.
France as a nation developed politically and militarily during the Hundred Years War and eventually the House of Valois came out on top, leaving the country with a French monarch. After the Hundred Years War, the French monarchy had essentially achieved absolute monarchy, however, the idea of "being French" was still a foreign idea to many citizens who still stuck to more local identities. But by 1600, many people considered themselves French. Francis was ecstatic to see his people coming together and sharing an identity as they had during the Hundred Years War. France began to form colonies in North America, some of which would eventually become the country of Canada who Francis saw almost as a son to him. Over the next couple centuries, many wars were fought, often in the name of religion and tensions began to grow between the aristocrats and the people. These tensions continued to build until they came culminated in the French Revolution.
Wracked with debt from the Seven Years War and helping the United States win its revolution against England, France fell on extraordinary hard times. The ones who suffered most was the majority of the population who lived in squalor and were starving while the clergy and the aristocrats were still living the high life. Inspired by Enlightenment ideas as well as the American Revolution, the citizens of France rebelled against the monarchy in an attempt to form a Republic. The Revolution stretched on for years, people continued to starve, France ended up at war with most of Europe as well as itself. Francis hated seeing his people fighting each other. All of the turmoil made him sick; it literally tore him apart. But he did not want to see his people dying. France struggled to write a constitution that could last and to create a republic but in the end the people lost faith in almost every institution, except for the military which was actually pretty successful. That is why when General Napoleon Bonaparte took control the French people supported him as a leader and ultimately failed at becoming a stable republic, and instead became the French Empire.
Napoleon went on to lead the greatest expansion of French territory since Charlemagne. He brought the French glory and power until ultimately he lost when trying to conquer Russia. After Napoleon the French went back to being ruled by a monarchy, then the Second Republic, then the Second Empire and ultimately the Third Republic was established in 1870 after the country saw its Industrial Revolution.
France underwent most of its industrialization through the 19th century, although it did start, albeit slowly, in the 18th. The new technologies intimidated Francis at first but after a while he accepted them as much as his people did.
Distracted by his own internal problems and workings, Francis and his people didn't pay much attention to the growing conflicts leading up to World War I. So when war broke out in 1914, it caught them by surprise. Francis had seen many wars but this wasn't quite like any war he had been a part of before. The couldn't ignore the conflict any longer so on August 1st, France mobilized its troops so it was ready when Germany declared war on August 3rd.
The war was brutal, a large part of it was fought on French soil, so when the fighting finally ended, Francis and his people were just as traumatized as every other nation involved. The Treaty of Versailles was also signed on French soil, and little did they know that it would lead to a whole other conflict.
In the intermediate years between WWI and WWII, France suffered along with everyone else through the Depression. And it was Germany's invasion of Poland that caused England and France to declare war on Germany. France planned to hold a defensive stance during the conflict but France still ended up falling to Germany in June 1940, starting the German occupation. The occupation was very hard on Francis. It was horrible to not have control over his own country, his own people. He had been conquered before but that had been a long time before but this time was different. It really messed him up to be under the control of Nazi Germany. It's a very dark time from his life and it still effects him today. When he was finally liberated, he was more than grateful to his Allies.
After WWII, Francis didn't want to fight anymore and he took a much more passive stance. He would rather make love, not war. He's back on his feet again and is not a leading member of the EU. In recent years, he has been much more focused on the finer things in life, art, food, wine, etc. And he likes to focus on drawing tourist to his country.
So it is more than a surprise when he finds himself on a strange space ship, disconnected from his people with a collar around his neck.
Roleplay Sample - Log:
Francis always liked fancy parties. Dressed to the nines, drinking fine wine, and working the room; he was in his element. The world summit gala in Vienna was no different but after a long night of talking of talking business he started to get tired. His head was fuzzy with wine and his patience worn thin enough that it only took a passing comment from England to push him over the edge. He had to get away from those people.
So he made an excuse and slipped away politely. The party was held in a gorgeous old mansion- impeccably decorated if he could say so himself- in the main ballroom. But that meant there were plenty of other deserted rooms to escape to. He wandered off down the west wing hall and tried door after door until he found one unlocked that lead into a sitting room.
The room was dark and quiet, perfect for the headache that had started to pulse against his temples. There was even a couch set back against a big picture window. Closing the door behind him, Francis crossed to the sofa and stretched out across the cushions. It certainly was a handsome piece of furniture but it certainly wasn’t meant for much practical use since it wasn’t very comfortable at all. However, at the moment, it felt simply lovely to Francis. The drapes over the window were drawn. Strange, Francis thought, for a room that wasn’t being used but he let the thought slip from his mind. He could make out pin-pricks of stars in the blackness of the sky through the spotless glass. He watched the tiny lights for a long moment, the pounding in his head slowly began to lessen, before he closed his eyes to everything.
Roleplay Sample - Journal:
[video]
[The feed opens and Francis is lounging across his bed. Although the view is only from the shoulders up it is obvious that he’s not wearing a shirt and it’s probably a safe assumption that he isn’t wearing anything else either. He gives the camera a winning smile and when he speaks his French accent is very pronounced.]
Bonsoir, everyone! How are you doing this evening? I, myself, am feeling just fine. Now, in the short time that I have been here I learned that this place we live now is a truly dreadful. These experiments are perfectly horrendous and I know that all of us could use an opportunity to relax. That being said, I would like to offer to help any of my fellow passengers on this ship who wish to relax in the best way I know how.
[It’s easy to tell what exactly he means by ‘relax.’ Whether it’s his lack of clothing, the sensuality that is all but dripping from his words, or even the red rose that he has pulled out of nowhere and offers toward the camera.]
Boys, girls, I love everyone equally. Feel free to call me any time. And I assure you, I have never left a partner unsatisfied.
[With that, Francis winks and blows a kiss before cutting the feed.]
This game includes horrible mental and physical torture of your character. After reading the rules/faq for clarification, how do you expect your character to handle this and continue to function? Francis has lived for thousands of years. He has seen countless wars, revolution, occupation... Frankly, a lot of bloodshed. He has so many mental and physical scars already; he’ll definitely be able to withstand a few more.
Name: Haley
Age: 19
AIM: avariceawakens
E-MAIL: avariceawakens@gmail.com
Are you new? If not, list your current characters: Amy Pond
IC Information:
Name: Francis Bonnefoy aka France (République française)
Fandom: Axis Powers Hetalia
Timeline: Present day
Age: Physically he looks 26 or so, although France has been around for 2000+ years.
Appearance: Francis is a handsome man with wavy blond hair and blue eyes. He stands at 5’9” (175 cm) and keeps his body fit although not overly muscular. Francis is a lover, not a fighter. Since the 18th Century he has grown a small amount of facial hair because he thinks it makes him look like a “big brother” and he doesn’t like to own up to his actual age. (Which is pretty darn old. Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt.)
When he’s in his military uniform, Francis is quite the sight to see. Red pants, blue coat with a matching capelet and brown boots make up the ensemble. It’s quite fashionable and chic if you ask him. When he’s conducting business he’s always wearing a suit and when he’s not working, even just out on the town, he makes sure to look his best. Every so often, on those rare days off when he never intends to leave the house or to see anyone, he’ll wear jeans and a t-shirt.
Abilities: Francis is a nation, therefore he doesn’t age like a normal person. For having existed over 2000 years, he only looks to be about 26. And he’ll continue to look like it for quite some time. He also has accelerated healing abilities. Francis has seen many wars and conflicts. Hasn’t won many (any?) but he does know how to fight with a variety of weapons from swords to guns.
In recent years, however, Francis hasn’t been much of a fighter and instead focused more on drawing tourists to his country with his food and wine. Francis is a very skilled cook and is quite the savant when it comes to wine. He really enjoys cooking for other people, although he doesn’t get the chance very often, and he finds the action very calming.
And lastly, and what Francis believes is most important, he is quite skilled in bed. France is the nation of love and he very openly shows it to anyone willing to receive it. And he never, ever, leaves a partner unsatisfied.
Personality: Francis is a carefree romantic. He loves to flirt and almost everything he says could be taken as such. He is known to make sexual advances towards almost anyone. Male, female, gender doesn’t make any difference to him and age restrictions are questionable. Regardless, he would never force himself on anyone and only wishes to share his love where it is wanted. He loves beautiful things and beautiful people.
That being said, Francis isn’t some sex-crazed pervert who runs around molesting everyone he meets. He is a sincere and caring guy and can be serious when he wants to be. He has been through a lot in his life; many wars, occupations, takeovers, gains and losses of territory. In recent years, however, he’s taken on a more laid back lifestyle; looking to appreciate the finer things in life and to share them with others who visit his country. Francis is a fantastic cook and loves to cook for others even though he doesn’t often get the opportunity. He’s also a fan of the arts and often sketches and sings to himself.
Even though he can be selfish and melodramatic, he cares very deeply about many of his fellow nations and has a very strong rivalry with England. The two have been caught in a pissing match for centuries and they never let up. Their arguments usually end in shouting matches because neither England or Francis are willing to suffer insult from the other. Francis loves himself so much that he sometimes won’t even bother to remember or speak English in favor of his native French, the ‘language of love’.
Francis is in denial about a lot of things. He likes to think he’s younger than he is and he fancies himself the “older brother” of the European nations. Often referring to himself as suck. He also explains away his military shortcomings (coughcouchDEFEATScough) are all jokes from God. Computers intimidate him but he loves telephones. And his mottos is: ‘Be gentle to the ladies and be gentle to the earth.’
History: The first city in what is now known as France, Massalia (now Marseille) was colonized around 600 BC on the shores of the Mediterranean by Ionian Greeks. During the same time Gallic Celtic tribes moved in from the north. Their occupation spread throughout the rest of France between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC. And thus Francis was born.
At this time, France was known by the name of Gaul. Francis was young and a bit of a wild child. Apart from Massailia and a few other Greek settlements, Francis’ people were from many tribes. These tribes were very prosperous and established many cities. The Greek settlements were often in direct conflict with the northern tribes, who were fierce warriors, and feared them. This fear of the Gauls prompted the Greeks to ask for Roman aid. The Romans, upon hearing of the prosperity of the area, oh so kindly decided to help out their neighbors.
The Roman Republic began its campaigns against the Gallic tribes in 121 BC and successfully conquered and annexed southern areas of the region. The in 58 BC, Roman general Julius Caesar led his armies into Gaul. Francis and his people fought tooth-and-nail against the invading forces but the Romans were more advanced than the Gauls and ultimately they were defeated. By 50 BC, Gaul was under Roman control and the military actions taken by Caesar during those 8 years were known as the Gallic Wars.
Gaul was under Roman rule from 50 BC until 486 AD. Papa Rome (as Francis came to call him) taught the young nation many things. He taught him how to speak Latin (although Francis and his people still retained some of their Gaulish tongue) and taught him how to run an administration following the more advanced Roman standards. Papa Rome also brought Francis’ people a new religion. They were no longer allowed to practice their old Druidic religion and the Romans introduced them to Christianity. In the end, Francis still held much of his former culture inside himself and his people but at least from the outside he began to look like a proper Roman. After becoming a part of the Roman Empire, Francis experienced a happy childhood; running around in pretty dresses, bothering Albion (the largest island in Britian) and generally enjoying the spoils of a Roman education.
In the 4th and 5th centuries, the Roman Empire saw threats to its lands from several different ‘barbaric’ tribes in Europe. They attempted to pit the tribes against each other, rewarding whichever tribes fought in their interests with land. Francis was in turmoil as parts of his lands were given away to other groups. Papa Rome had plucked Francis from his tribal roots and paid so much care to ‘civilize’ him. He never had much say in what he did while Papa Rome had control over him as he became integrated into the Empire. And then, all of the sudden, Rome abandoned him. It was jarring for Francis and left him generally lost as he watched the powerful Empire faltering and left him very vulnerable to outside powers.
Rome tried to keep control but the entire Empire was on the verge of collapse and eventually the Roman administration in Gaul collapsed as the majority of Roman troops withdrew to protect Italy. Francis’ lands were essentially abandoned to the invading tribes, the Visigoths, the Burgundians and the Franks. In 486, the last remnants of Roman rule were wiped out by the Franks and Francis found himself reporting to a new boss. King Clovis I, the leader of the Franks and the Merovingian dynasty.
Under the rule of King Clovis I, Francis gained back the lands lost during the Roman struggles again the other European tribes. The pagan Franks adopted Christianity from the Gallo-Romans and even King Clovis I himself converted to the religion, solidifying his bond to his Christian subjects. Francis was generally happy with his new boss who respected his people and their religion. However, the prosperity of the Frankish kingdom didn’t last beyond the death of Clovis I. Upon his demise, a part of Clovis I’s kingdom was left to each of his sons, dividing the kingdom into four. The borders and numbers of Frankish kingdoms changed often as time passed and the real power in the kingdoms was in the hands of the kings’ chief advisors, known as the Mayors of the Palace. It was generally a confusing time for Francis but he experienced some important changes in the fields of art and Merovingian craftsmen were well regarded by their English neighbors.
By the 8th century, Muslim invaders had conquered Hispania to the south and posed the greatest threat Francis and his Frankish kings, often sending raiding parties into Frankish territory. Mayor of Palace, Charles Martel, successfully repelled a raiding party at the Battle of Tours in 732, earning him a lot of respect from Francis and the Frankish Kingdom. His son, Pepin the Short, assumed the crown in 751 and established the Carolingian dynasty, permanently ending the Merovingian dynasty. However, Carolingian power didn’t fully come to fruition until his son Charlemagne took power.
Francis loved Charlemagne. In 771, Charlemagne united the Frankish kingdoms once again and eventually expanded the Frankish territories into much of Western and Central Europe. His rule is also associated with a renaissance. Through the medium of the Catholic Church there was a revival in art, religion and culture known as the Carolingian Renaissance. As a lover of art, Francis enjoyed the revival immensely while feeling his gains in strength acutely as his territories increased.
When Charlemagne was crowned Roman Emperor of the West in 800, Francis was a super power. He was strong and empowered and for the first time since he was born he was on top. He had come a very long way from being a part of Papa Rome’s Empire to ruling his own. Francis’ triumph didn’t last too long however, after the death of Charlemagne’s son Louis the Pious the empire began to crumble as Louis’ three sons fought against each other. The imperial title was unable to be held and the territories were lost, leaving only an area comparable to the territory of modern France as the base for the French kingdom in the Middle Ages.
During the Middle Ages, Francis no longer had an all-powerful ruler. The Frankish Kingdom was very decentralized and the king’s power was more religious than administrative. His power was recognized but not always respected and the royal power was very weak in more rural areas. Some of the king’s vassals became some of the most powerful rulers in Europe due to the weakness of the royal authority.
This disconnection was quite the fall for Francis from the immense power and strength he had experienced as an empire. As his people were, he did not respect the authority of his king as much as he should have and he generally felt his pride wounded by the failure of his rulers to hold onto their empire. But deep down he knew, he knew from seeing it happen to Papa Rome all those years ago, empires couldn’t last forever.
But knowing you’re going to fall doesn’t make landing any easier and Francis really wished he’d had a little more time to enjoy the power.
Over the following centuries, however, the monarchy began to rise again and slowly it regained its power until it finally reached its former glory. In the 16th century, the monarchy achieved absolute sovereignty over France. As the monarchs tried to regain power of the kingdom, they used their strong ties to the church to their advantage. Starting with Hugh Capet who came to power in 987 and established the House of Capet.
During the 11th 12th and 13th centuries, the French Kingdom took part in the Crusades. Francis and his people- royalty, aristocrats and peasants alike- took part in the religious military campaigns. The Crusades brought together all of Francis' people, as well as others across Europe to fight a common enemy in the name of God. Francis rallied behind his people and lorded his leadership in culture over the rest of Europe, generally having a grand old time.
The House of Capet held power in the French monarchy until 1337 when the last Capetian monarch died, leaving a succession crisis that created a vast amount of tension between the House of Valois (French) and the House of Plantegenet (English). This tension was what sparked the conflicts known as the Hundred Years War. Francis' people suffered greatly during this time. Not only were they at war with the English, but there were also several civil wars and the black plague was sweeping though Europe. Francis hated to see his people suffer so, but he was not willing to see his lands in the hands of the English.
The French needed to rally; their collective suffering brought the people together as a nation but they needed was a symbol of their nationality, a hero. That hero was Jeanne D'Arc. Jeanne claimed to have the divine guidance of God and she helped lead the French army to several victories during the Hundred Years War. Francis loved Jeanne. She was a symbol of hope for his people. He couldn't help but respect her bravery and dedication to God and her county- his country. She was dedicated to him and he was dedicated to her. He loved her as much as he had ever loved a person, and maybe as much as he ever will. So when she was captured, turned over to the English and put to death, he was heartbroken. It devastated him beyond description but he found the strength within himself, within his people to keep fighting.
France as a nation developed politically and militarily during the Hundred Years War and eventually the House of Valois came out on top, leaving the country with a French monarch. After the Hundred Years War, the French monarchy had essentially achieved absolute monarchy, however, the idea of "being French" was still a foreign idea to many citizens who still stuck to more local identities. But by 1600, many people considered themselves French. Francis was ecstatic to see his people coming together and sharing an identity as they had during the Hundred Years War. France began to form colonies in North America, some of which would eventually become the country of Canada who Francis saw almost as a son to him. Over the next couple centuries, many wars were fought, often in the name of religion and tensions began to grow between the aristocrats and the people. These tensions continued to build until they came culminated in the French Revolution.
Wracked with debt from the Seven Years War and helping the United States win its revolution against England, France fell on extraordinary hard times. The ones who suffered most was the majority of the population who lived in squalor and were starving while the clergy and the aristocrats were still living the high life. Inspired by Enlightenment ideas as well as the American Revolution, the citizens of France rebelled against the monarchy in an attempt to form a Republic. The Revolution stretched on for years, people continued to starve, France ended up at war with most of Europe as well as itself. Francis hated seeing his people fighting each other. All of the turmoil made him sick; it literally tore him apart. But he did not want to see his people dying. France struggled to write a constitution that could last and to create a republic but in the end the people lost faith in almost every institution, except for the military which was actually pretty successful. That is why when General Napoleon Bonaparte took control the French people supported him as a leader and ultimately failed at becoming a stable republic, and instead became the French Empire.
Napoleon went on to lead the greatest expansion of French territory since Charlemagne. He brought the French glory and power until ultimately he lost when trying to conquer Russia. After Napoleon the French went back to being ruled by a monarchy, then the Second Republic, then the Second Empire and ultimately the Third Republic was established in 1870 after the country saw its Industrial Revolution.
France underwent most of its industrialization through the 19th century, although it did start, albeit slowly, in the 18th. The new technologies intimidated Francis at first but after a while he accepted them as much as his people did.
Distracted by his own internal problems and workings, Francis and his people didn't pay much attention to the growing conflicts leading up to World War I. So when war broke out in 1914, it caught them by surprise. Francis had seen many wars but this wasn't quite like any war he had been a part of before. The couldn't ignore the conflict any longer so on August 1st, France mobilized its troops so it was ready when Germany declared war on August 3rd.
The war was brutal, a large part of it was fought on French soil, so when the fighting finally ended, Francis and his people were just as traumatized as every other nation involved. The Treaty of Versailles was also signed on French soil, and little did they know that it would lead to a whole other conflict.
In the intermediate years between WWI and WWII, France suffered along with everyone else through the Depression. And it was Germany's invasion of Poland that caused England and France to declare war on Germany. France planned to hold a defensive stance during the conflict but France still ended up falling to Germany in June 1940, starting the German occupation. The occupation was very hard on Francis. It was horrible to not have control over his own country, his own people. He had been conquered before but that had been a long time before but this time was different. It really messed him up to be under the control of Nazi Germany. It's a very dark time from his life and it still effects him today. When he was finally liberated, he was more than grateful to his Allies.
After WWII, Francis didn't want to fight anymore and he took a much more passive stance. He would rather make love, not war. He's back on his feet again and is not a leading member of the EU. In recent years, he has been much more focused on the finer things in life, art, food, wine, etc. And he likes to focus on drawing tourist to his country.
So it is more than a surprise when he finds himself on a strange space ship, disconnected from his people with a collar around his neck.
Roleplay Sample - Log:
Francis always liked fancy parties. Dressed to the nines, drinking fine wine, and working the room; he was in his element. The world summit gala in Vienna was no different but after a long night of talking of talking business he started to get tired. His head was fuzzy with wine and his patience worn thin enough that it only took a passing comment from England to push him over the edge. He had to get away from those people.
So he made an excuse and slipped away politely. The party was held in a gorgeous old mansion- impeccably decorated if he could say so himself- in the main ballroom. But that meant there were plenty of other deserted rooms to escape to. He wandered off down the west wing hall and tried door after door until he found one unlocked that lead into a sitting room.
The room was dark and quiet, perfect for the headache that had started to pulse against his temples. There was even a couch set back against a big picture window. Closing the door behind him, Francis crossed to the sofa and stretched out across the cushions. It certainly was a handsome piece of furniture but it certainly wasn’t meant for much practical use since it wasn’t very comfortable at all. However, at the moment, it felt simply lovely to Francis. The drapes over the window were drawn. Strange, Francis thought, for a room that wasn’t being used but he let the thought slip from his mind. He could make out pin-pricks of stars in the blackness of the sky through the spotless glass. He watched the tiny lights for a long moment, the pounding in his head slowly began to lessen, before he closed his eyes to everything.
Roleplay Sample - Journal:
[video]
[The feed opens and Francis is lounging across his bed. Although the view is only from the shoulders up it is obvious that he’s not wearing a shirt and it’s probably a safe assumption that he isn’t wearing anything else either. He gives the camera a winning smile and when he speaks his French accent is very pronounced.]
Bonsoir, everyone! How are you doing this evening? I, myself, am feeling just fine. Now, in the short time that I have been here I learned that this place we live now is a truly dreadful. These experiments are perfectly horrendous and I know that all of us could use an opportunity to relax. That being said, I would like to offer to help any of my fellow passengers on this ship who wish to relax in the best way I know how.
[It’s easy to tell what exactly he means by ‘relax.’ Whether it’s his lack of clothing, the sensuality that is all but dripping from his words, or even the red rose that he has pulled out of nowhere and offers toward the camera.]
Boys, girls, I love everyone equally. Feel free to call me any time. And I assure you, I have never left a partner unsatisfied.
[With that, Francis winks and blows a kiss before cutting the feed.]
This game includes horrible mental and physical torture of your character. After reading the rules/faq for clarification, how do you expect your character to handle this and continue to function? Francis has lived for thousands of years. He has seen countless wars, revolution, occupation... Frankly, a lot of bloodshed. He has so many mental and physical scars already; he’ll definitely be able to withstand a few more.
