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Name: Nellens Palaven Grantaire
Dynastic House: Nellens
Sub-House: Palaven
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Languages: High realm
Birth Place: Blessed Isle
Motivation: To bring honor and prestige to his family through martial deed

Appearance:
–Height: 6'1“
–Weight: 190lbs
–Hair: Brown
–Eyes: Green
–Skin: Tannish

Grantaire was the oldest of three children born to Palaven Aramund, an accountant and trader, and his wife Syndra. His Paternal great grandmother, Romana was a wood aspect, while his grandfather on his mother's side was an earth aspect, Durand, who once served in the Imperial army. Growing up, his family life was fraught with tension. Aramund's older brother Theramun married the daughter of a rich merchant. Though Grantaire's family were fairly well off, his uncle's family was just a tad richer, a fact that they would lord over his family. On his mother's side, Syndra was the youngest of three sisters. Being the daughters of a earth aspect and honored veteran, they were quickly married off. However, Syndra's sisters Arista and Marina were unable to bear any children. Arista was eventually widowed, while Marina's husband ran off. They came to live with their youngest sibling, and embittered by their lot in life constantly criticized her and her children.

This affected Grantaire and his siblings in different ways. Seeing his parents unhappiness and wanting to prove his aunts and uncles wrong, he strove to excel, to not give them anything to knock him (and by association, his parents) Exaltation was like an answer to his prayers. Becoming an exalt did much to shut them up. At least towards him. Unfortunately, while this made Grantaire the golden boy, the pressure and expectation put on his younger sister Jenivere and brother Luca proved too much for them. Jenivere would do anything to push her aunts' buttons, sleeping around and eventually getting knocked up at an early age. To avoid scandal, she was quickly married off to the son of a business associate. Luca grew listless and constantly being compared to his older brother decided to just not try at all and became a n'er do well and layabout. He eventually ran away to join an “artist's colony” in Great Forks and the family disowned him.

It broke his heart to see what happened to his younger siblings. But it was always a vicious circle with them. They would screw up, and Grantaire would strive to do better, in the hopes that his accomplishments would be enough to satiate his family's demands for excellence. But he never saw it had the opposite affect, and would serve to put more pressure on his siblings, which in turn would cause them to act out, which would drive him to do better and on and on. By the time he realized it was happening it was too late. He still has an overwhelming need to please his family and make them look good, but with all that's happened, things are now too tense and awkward in the household. That's why he jumped at the chance when he was accepted in the School of Bells. He loved the outdoors, probably because it got him out of the tenseness at home. So his hope was to graduate and get a commission to a unit far from home. He loved his family, he just couldn't be around them for an extended period of time.

Which he did, becoming commanding officer of a scouting scale in House Nellens' forces.

• How old were you when you exalted?15
  
• Were you born or adopted into the house? Born
  
• You were given every educational opportunity, where did you go to school? House of Bells
  
• What are your hobbies? hunting, outdoorsy stuff
  
• There aren't many Nellens exaltations, what were you training to be in life before that happy moment? Always wanted to
  
• Did you always know you'd exalt? Always hoped.
  
• Do you have any notable friends or enemies? Belladonna De Vitrie, a heroic mortal (his henchman) and second in command of his scouting scale, his closest (and platonic!) confidante
  
• Give me a plot hook or two