First of all, a disclaimer: I'm not really like my character. Among other things, Gavin Knightsbridge is much more arrogant, self-centered and pig-headed than I ever want to be. True, he has many redeeming qualities, but on the whole he's not even someone I could have as a friend.
That said, I'm having a grand time RPing someone so different from me. I get to explore and express parts of myself that rarely get to shine... and let's face it, it's a lot of fun being an arrogant SOB sometimes.
Raven's Keep isn't my first role-playing experience; I started with that venerable granddaddy of all RPG's, Dungeons & Dragons, back in 1978 or 79. Soon I moved on to AD&D, where I stayed for many years. But I hadn't RPed for a few years before discovering this wonderful game; I came across it pretty much by accident in February of 2000, and was intrigued by the reference to "Arthurian-like legends". I spent a week or so checking out the archives and getting an idea of how the game was played, and then humbly requested to join.
The rest is history. Or infamy, if you prefer.
But let me introduce myself. My name is Martin Fran�ois Demers, age 29 at the turn of the millenium, living north of the border in Montreal, Quebec. I'm currently employed as a program assistant for the Canadian government, a good job that pays the bills. I speak and write fluent French and English, with some rudimentary Spanish and a smattering of spoken Japanese, mostly from my Budo practice. I've been in the martial arts for many years: I started Karate in 1986, then moved on to Aikido in 1991. It's become a very important part of my life, and it just seems natural that the character I portray has a martial-arts background as well.
As some of the other players know, I've been a practicing Wiccan for several years now, and my spiritual path is also an important part of who I am. Yet, surprisingly, Gavin Knightsbridge is a confirmed atheist. Go figure. I guess it's just one of those instances where the character gained a life of his own...
This happens a lot, to tell the truth. Gavin often surprises me. But I know we do have some things in common: we both have a curious mix of freethinking and respect for tradition, of aloofness and desire to belong, of strength and vulnerability. My job doesn't involve me waving a sharp sword around, but I try, in my small way, to make the world a better place.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." (Theodore Roosevelt) |
