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Eadgar Setch
«Reputation: ....his earnesty and efforts for charity recommend his character greatly; however this gentleman has gathered far more attention for his unyielding and forthright Puritan beliefs....»
This character is deceased.
Despite repeated set-backs in his life, Eadgar Setch has managed to emerge from the mists of obscurity to a position on the periphery of the Whig social group due to his passionate rhetoric and engaging pamphlets. His devotion to his political cause drives him to distraction and he can become easily frustrated with those that fail to see his point of view. As a result, Eadgar finds it much easier to express himself through the written word, away from the threat of sudden swipes and derogatory retorts. With zealous leanings, Eadgar is excited by potentially dangerous situations, although he has little time for games and innocent pursuits.
Independently minded and painfully conscious of his own privileged place in society, Eadgar does not shun the high-life, but remains cautiously aware of it. He has been accused by others his age of acting stuffily and without shred of humour. Eadgar’s own attitudes towards women are somewhat insincere and disdainful; it is a woman’s role to be a wife and mother, not to be involved with politics and the affairs of men.
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First Impressions & Physical Appearance
Standing at 5'7 with a thin wiry frame, plain looks and sullen expression, Eadgar Setch does not make for the most inspiring of first impressions. He has a slender face and wide, sea-green eyes that are offset by a long, heavy nose. As is the fashion of the day, Eadgar has his deep chestnut hair down to his shoulders, and keeps clean-shaven. Eadgar’s slightly olive complexion becomes more apparent after spending time in the sun, hinting at a Mediterranean heritage.
Beyond his uninspiring countenance and awkward, spindly gait, Eadgar’s most noticeable trait is the glimmer of passion in his eyes. Always engaging and alert, they give the impression that his mind is always working away, devising some grand new ambition or cultivating some new idea. Also noticable is his drab approach to dressing, though whether due to his own personal taste or simply a lack of money is not obviously aware from the offset.
Background
Eadgar was raised in the strict years of the Commonwealth; although his parents were Royalists, he was given a government-approved education by an old, poorly-equipped Priest with the prescribed puritanical leanings. The Commonwealth fell when Eadgar was only nine, however, and his parents came out in full support of the returning Royalty, spending great sums on art and fine food. Eadgar was horrified to see such excesses grew to start hating the fanciful outfits he was being dressed in, and made sure his parents knew of it. As a result, Eadgar and his father began to drift apart beyond the point of reconciliation; he did not invite his son, now in his late teens, on hunts, or to social occasions for fear that he would be embarrassed. Eadgar saw no way out of the misery of his family life until the arrival of the Baron Wharton and his son Thomas to the Setch family’s Mansion in 1768. Eadgar got on well with Thomas and kept in frequent contact, a lone friend in contrast with the solitude of his family life. After a tumultuous argument with his father on the role of the monarchy, Eadgar was ejected from the family home and told not to return. With no mention of inheritance, Eadgar’s own status remains ambiguous at best, although he does assert that he is due to become Baron one day. Having no-where to go, Eadgar became a guest of the Whartons and received a much more well-informed, yet thoroughly Whiggish education under the direction of the Baron. This affirmed Eadgar’s political leanings and radicalised him somewhat, but at least he finally had room to air his leanings freely. Aged twenty-one, Eadgar published his first pamphlet, on the subject of importance of Christian charity and the Nobility, called Charity of the Faithful. It was mild in its message, but introduced Eadgar to Whig society and provided a source of income.
With aspirations to eventually hold a parliamentary seat someday, Eadgar’s main focus was on maintaining his place at the edges of Whig society, and somehow working his way into its centre, despite his lack of wealth. These hopes were dashed, however, upon the arrest of Baron Wharton, and his son Thomas in 1676, when Eadgar was 25. Desperate to have his patron and friend freed and eager to acquiring new insights as to the workings of the Monarchy that he was so suspicious of, Eadgar resolved to travel to Windsor, having secured an invitation to the Royal Wedding.
Season V Summary
Master Setch arrived in Windsor on the early hours of the 12th, his first port of call being the chapel. Any peace and quiet he sought was rudely interrupted by a gathering of women, laughing and chattering in this house of God; from that moment on, Eadgar knew that his patience would be tried and his sensibilities challenged throughout his stay.
Later that day, Master Setch met Lady Neuville, but their conversation took a sour turn. Eadgar mistakenly believed her to be one of the women who had so rudely disrupted the peace of the chapel earlier that day, and thus took an instant dislike to her. After that meeting, Eadgar found himself going out of his way to avoid conversations, going as far as to trap himself in a corner of the library on one occasion.
Eadgarhad better luck getting along with Lady Joanna, whom he found to be most polite and engaging. after having met over books in the library and enjoying conversation of history, they met again by chance at the Royal Hunt. Eadgar himself was not fond of hunting and could barely ride a horse, instead occupying himself with shooting. It was there that he recognised Lord Basildon, Earl of an estate close to Eadgar's family home. Master Setch resolved to speak with him to see how his father fared, and assurances were made on Basildon's part that he would find out over the winter. The memory of his father was plaguing the young writer's mind, and he sought to know more of the situation at home since his departure a decade hence.
Another issue on Eadgar's mind was the safety of the Whartons, their imprisonment being his reason for travelling to Windsor. Keen to have them released, Eadgar promised to help Sir Charles Sedley with upholding the moral fabric of court in exchange for assistance. Eadgar was, unfortunately, entirely unaware that Sedley was of the libertine set and endeavoured only to play tricks on him. The pious Master Setch, safe under a disguise, was convinced to berate a woman at the Masked Ball for having spoken of promiscuity, believing that Sedley would reward him later.
Moral behaviour was of utmost concern for the young writer, and also applied to his work in charity. Enthusiastic attempts were made by Eadgar to host a charity event with the assistance of Lord Chilchester, Dr Winchester and Mistress Davina. A meeting was planned, and proved the entire idea quite abortive, as Chilchester soon found himself opposed to Eadgar's writings and opinions. Their differences were acrimonious and resulted in a threat to duel, which Eadgar stubbornly agreed to.
The day before the duel,and feeling quite upset with his lot, Eadgar found himself quite unable to enjoy the special pageant flotilla. Wandering away from the crowd, he wandered across Lord Oakham who was out looking for his wife, who had mysteriously disappeared. Aiding in the search, Master Setch found himself witness to an assassination attempt on the life of the King. So angered by this plot, for its implications that England would be ruled by a Catholic monarch, Eadgar attacked the bow-weilding woman. He was shot with an arrow in the chest but managed to delay the assassin, who was subsequently shot dead by Major Whitehurst. Mortally wounded, Eadgar's last words detailed that his possessions be given to Master Murray, perhaps the only man at Windsor that he considered to be a friend, that his body be taken to Southchurch and that his father and his Lord forgive him.
