Aristarco

Aristarchus Lem
A humanist thinker
The Minstrel of Gharb al-Ândalus
The flemish-breton of Iberia: "Le Troubadour al-Musta'rib"

Appearence and Personality:
He is tall for an Iberian man, with 1.80 m. and is not very strong. Also has light brown hair, brown eyes and white skin.
Aristarchus, also known as "Aristarco" in Portugal, is a person inclined to things of intellection and sensibility, taking always the paths of the Philosophy and Art. He has investigative and inspiring spirit in these areas usually.
He is a typical Iberian "musta'rib": if Aristarchus has flemish-breton blood, in other way he is born in Lusitanian southern and grew up with erudite (and humanist) education, in the moorish culture of Gharb al-Ândalus; the 'mestizo' souls are founded there, open to the world, news, initiatives and dreams.
Although he is troubadour with social skills, the bard prefers to retreat into silence and introspection many times. He has prioritized the refinement of thought and mannerisms, and his clothes are mild usually, except when there are some invitations to play & sing in big halls, where some caution is necessary.
It is very common to see him with traveler clothes, a bit dusty, with his long (and old) softened boots, Moorish lute on his back, and his bag with (dents) scrolls and "campaign ink", inseparable things while he is waiting some inspiration of greek Muse (Erato and/or Euterpe) who will blow in his ear...

“Tierra con cuentos Andalusí,
¿Mas como me encanta así?”
(Valladolid, XIX-VI-MCDLX)

The songs: his works and achievements...

He uses the old codes of Iberian "Cancioneiros" (songbook) in the longest ways of bard tradition: there are many compositions of old form know as "Redondilha", poetry transformed in music by him, but he prefers the "al-Zajál" most numerous in his "cancioneiro". He will develop many forms like "Virelayes", "Layes", "Ballate" and much others.
The songs are in many languages: portuguese and castilian, but sometimes he has tried to do in galaico (old galician) and old provençal of ancient bards. Sometimes the "al-zajál" can be most original in "andalusí" traditions: if it is usual to have two different languages, it can have tree or more languages in the same song, as french, (medieval) latin, and others; he also uses "mozarabs scales" routinely and is not uncommon to mix other traditions such as breton, french, etc. Aristarchus likes to work with many resources about that.
His thematics embrace to human actions by honorable persons, admirable and gentle persons, funny and unexpected circunstances, destiny and sadness, nature and small creatures. He never composed songs of derision.
Currently Aristarchus has a moorish lute made ​​in Córdoba, with beautiful and delicate "andalusí" arabesques.

“Em ond' estiver em terra ou no mar,
Com üa trova minh'alma há d' abismar...”
(personal motto)

The troupe of adventures: his friends and fellows [NPCs]

Martinho Albernaz
The apprentice (L'Apprenti troubadour)

Martinho, a diminutive or "little Martin", is the grandson of Martin Albernaz, the old royal astrologer in the times of Queen Anne Catharina (1460-1461).
It is a young man with different temperament of Aristarchus: he is more expansive and sociable, very dedicated to the study of his master. While his master plays lute only, Martin also plays "pandeireta", a kind of tambourine with rattles of saracen source. He has an adventurous heart.


Iago Brais
O trovador de Galiza (Le Troubadour Galicien)
The "Nortenho"

Iago Bras is a troubadour of Galiza, who met Aristarchus on the return to Portugal from Castile. He decided to abandon Galiza by reason of the oppression of the nobles in those lands.
Besides to sing very well he also plays flute and bagpipe named by "Minhota" (from Minho) and unlike Aristarchus, he has appreciation for songs of derision and mockery about the reputation of others. He has a good-natured temperament.


Pieter Lombard
Agent and Attorney
The humanist and flemish artist: painter

"Pedro Lombardo", as know in portuguese language, is based in Portugal for long time, many years, a resident of Lisbon, and he is a very active representative of the Flemish community. He also is an attorney about the interests of Aristarchus in the capital of Portugal, and makes many types of negotiations too.
Aristarchus met him in Lisbon where was introduced to the Flemish community by Lombard. Besides taking care of the interests of Aristarchus (for friendship) he travels in Portugal usually.
Lombard is a big artist who works with painting and engraving, also is an intellectual heavily influenced by Humanism.


Sans Ximeno
El maese-padanero pucelano
The master baker of Valladolid

Sanz Ximeno or simply "Sancho" in Portugal, is a master baker born in Valladolid, although he belongs to a family of basque origin.
He was crossing the Iberian Peninsula from north to south to arrive to the ta'ifa of Gharnāṭah (also know as Granada by aristotelians) when met Aristarchus in Montemor, near of Lisbon: the troubadour helped him in many needs, gave him work and home. And so was born naturally a great friendship, while they was talking about Valladolid (Aristarchus had been there in very happy times with the Royal Company of Queen Anne Catharina).
He is a mature person with a temper and energy, also has mastery in his work; despite his foreign status (does not speak well the portuguese), he is an simple and happy old man.

“D'Amizade se pode afirmar:
Eis rocha firme ao mar.”
(to be sung...)

It is important when there is dignity in gestures and this principle is most important,
because Aristarchus never forget those words of ancient romans: honesta dict facts.

[under construction always...]
#1 upgrade (all features): 27/Aug/2013 - 04:00 AM

Did you like it? So write to me and let's share more ideas about many subjects :-)
(Maybe we could to plan a RP, why not?)