Blai Frayus
Affiliation: House Frayus, independent Matriarchal house. Supports the Republic, at least the Matriarch does.
Species: Human
Age: 28
Identifies as/Biological sex: Male
Hair: Reddish light brown, long, sometimes braided.
Eyes: Hazel
Height: 179cm (~5'10")
Build: Wiry
Background: Middle child in a minor Noble house, nature explorer, xenobio nerd.
Occupation: Xenobio researcher/ (often remote) lecturer at the University of Alderaan
Marital Status: Single
Blai is the second of three children of the inevitably complicated marriage of a Jedi Knight, third cousin to the Matriarch of Minor House Frayus, to a previous aide and courier to the House that later became a bureaucrat. Between his mother's long absences working for the Jedi Order, his father's focus on work, a serious and very diligent older brother who grew to become a politician in the Lower House, and a young sister who showed great gifts in manipulating the force from a young age and went on to become a Padawan as well, Blai always felt like the "normal", less important member of the family. Instead of lingering too much on the inevitable middle child issues, though, he relished the greater freedom that came from being less often in the spotlight to become a teenager and youngster who was often exploring different wild areas of Alderaan in the company of commoners - or alone.
Becoming a student at the University of Alderaan (UniAlde) was his chance at finding himself and a purpose in life. He thrived as a xenobiology undergrad, then as a graduate student - under the helpful guidance of Professor Amira Greenfield, who helped him learn not only about science, but also about himself. After years describing and researching the morphology, behaviour and ecology of a variety of lifeforms (but mainly mammal-like beings, which were the focus of his PhD) from multiple worlds around the Outer Rim and Wild Space, two and a half years ago he finally got hired as an official researcher and lecturer at UniAlde. His life since then has been... not too different from before, in fact. Some more bureaucracy, which he often forgets about, more freedom to decide (haphazardly?..) on his research topics... and lectures. Which, considering the schedule of his fieldwork, he most often either holds remotely (when the connections available are better than appalling...), or records in advance. Those who have taken Principles of Xenoecology, Alderaanian Fauna 101 or Topics in Beast Behaviour and Training at UniAlde during the last 2 years may have seen his classes (on a screen...).
Recently, while conducting research on the denizens of the dense forests of Pzob, ecological relations within the forests the forest's use by Gamorrean settlers, he received a message from Matriarch Dariana Frayus. Her own son not even considered a Frayus anymore after going rogue, and older male heirs to the family already married, she asked him to come to the festival of the flowers to represent the house as a possible suitor for the twins. So, after spending the best part of two and a half years away from home, he puts his research on hold and packs to go back home...
Appearance and personality
The reddish-brown haired, hazel eyed noble's kind heart and his easygoing, happy-go-lucky attitude haven't changed much since his teenager years. He's not quite as awkward around other nobles and oblivious of social norms and customs and the political maneuvering going on in important places as he was when he was younger... but it doesn't take long for a career politician to notice he's far from used to the court. Most often he'll be seen in a set of T-shirts (often depicting some weird creature of one backwater world or another), cargo pants, jackets and sometimes a modular backpack. All in all, way more pockets than one would expect in a serious noble. When in court, however, he does wear a well-made set of noble regalia... even if it seems a bit out of place on him.
Hooks
Love nature and critters? - Blai's a xenobio expert and nature lover, so he'll definitely be interested!
Explored wild Alderaan some 18 to 8 years ago? - Blai met many folks, especially but not only commoners, during his time exploring Alderaan before and during his undergrad studies.
Studied at the University of Alderaan? - He's dealt with UniAlde for most of his life, and ended up knowing many people there.
Travelled around the Outer Rim and Wild Space? - He's been travelling around these areas and others for his research for the last 6 or 7 years now - not always through legal means. If you've spent long in the area, you may have met him.
Trusty Companion - Icewolf Elur
Blai has a trusty companion (and infallible "live cargo" around when he's travelling, which he insists on keeping in decent living quarters...), Elur, a female and quite large Icewolf he found as a cub that had been separated from her pack while conducting research in Spintir. Elur is generally shy around people she doesn't know, but remarkably friendly and playful around those she gets used to and notices Blai has a friendly relationship with. Of course, tame or not, she's still a large, wild icewolf, so if she feels threatened (or sees Blai in danger) her ferocious side quickly comes to the fore.