Character Profile: Zoe Olineaux
Duke Olineaux is one of the leaders of the Four Families of Finsel, and thus one of the most powerful nobles in the nation. A retired knight, family man and cynic, his default stance on the world is to be unimpressed - but Duke Olineaux delights in surprise and the unexpected.
What we know about him
Duke Olineaux is someone who has a great deal of cynicism about politics and noble society, in a way that suggests he rather wishes things could be more straightforward. This can be seen in his early conversations with Magda - he knows exactly what game she’s playing from the start, and amuses himself by calling it out. He’s not always self-aware enough to realise that as a duke, he has all the power in that game and none of the stakes that others have to live with! As a powerful noble disillusioned with being a powerful noble, he likes entertainment and the finer things in life and seems to try not to get involved with more complicated matters, although he has been known to launch a scheme or two with quite a manipulative touch. As his everyday outfit kind of suggests he seems like a fairly active person despite his passive nature in other things, enjoying hunting and other physical pursuits (and despising his son Balfrey’s lack of interest in them).
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Once you know Duke Olineaux’s alignment, a lot about him makes more sense. This is commonly the alignment of “for the lols,” of doing whatever amuses you in the moment. The Chaotic comes in with this lack of concern for consequences or propriety; Zoe often likes it more, rather than less, when people speak out of turn or go against authority. It makes things interesting. There’s an edge of danger in the Neutral part in that he won’t consistently act for the good of other people, or his own interests or his family’s necessarily (as much as he loves them). Chaotic, and fun, wins out every time.
Element: Earth
Despite his chaotic nature, Duke Olineaux is solid... even if only for himself. He’s not overly emotional, or flighty, and it takes quite a lot to get him worked up. Rather than Earth lending him a steady and loyal nature, in Duke Olineaux it represents a tendency towards ennui. An Earth personality lets him weather a storm and come out still very much himself, but he also seems disillusioned with a lot of what goes on around him. He won’t get mad about things often, but he also won’t express love for things often. Zoe just... goes with it.
Politics: Dissident
This one should come as no surprise at this point. Rather than having strong views one way or the other, chaotic Duke Olineaux sees the whole thing as more of a game played by the powerful rather than really being about the good of the people and the state. It’s a cynical stance. It is, of course, easy to be cynical and dismissive of politics when you’re one of the most powerful people in the system! His eye-rolling at others’ scheming is a kind of privilege in itself.
Connections: The House of Olineaux
The Duchess Olineaux is Christy, Zoe’s beloved wife. Despite their differences and his lack of commitment in so many things, they love each other very much. It helps that Christy is also a woman of many sides and much strength, who will stand up to him and surprise him.
Hugh Olineaux is Zoe’s son and current leader of the Amber Knights. And probably transgender? The translation is a little unclear. He is a proud knight who takes duty and honour very seriously, making him a good heir for a tradition Zoe doesn’t quite fit these days.
Vicky Olineaux is the daughter of the family, and like most of them there is more to her than meets the eye. She definitely inherited a subtle love of chaos from her father.
Balfrey Olineaux... oh Balfrey. While he’s a problem child in many ways, Zoe in particular seems to be often frustrated with him. I suspect it’s because appearances are more important to him than he would admit - not appearance of power, so much as keeping your cool. Balfrey is not cool.
