[center][b][color=green][big]Samuel Hartly[/big][/color][/b][/center]
[center][b][color=cyan][big]Professor of Mathematics at Tarant University[/big][/color][/b][/center]
[center][color=yellow][sup]_______________[/sup][/color][/center]

[b][color=cyan]"Magic? I'm a skeptic personally. It is merely a facet of reality we have yet to study quite so thoroughly, and nothing more."[/color][/b]
[b][indent] - Samuel Hartly[/indent][/b]

[justify][b]Professor Samuel Hartly grew up in a small town just on the outskirts of Cumbria. Always the curious sort, he had little trouble exploring the worlds of magic as well as the up and coming disciplines of the sciences. However, Samuel found little interest in both as he grew older. Instead, he looked to understand [u]all[/u] things at their most basic level. Studying the most recent and impressive works of Cedric Appleby on the design and use of various machinery as well as the ancient texts on the importance of proper measuring and equitable distribution of reagents in spells, Samuel found himself making connections between the two disciplines. In his mind, they were two sides of the same coin. Something intrinsic tied the ideas together, and Samuel was determined to look into it. While his research has born little fruit, he did indeed find one concrete connection. Numbers. It is Samuel's hope to one day pioneer the field of Theoretical Mathematics, in which he hopes to more accurately understand both Magic and Science, and hopefully some day bring the two disciplines together.[/b][/justify]

[collapse=In Depth With The Professor]Samuel is a rather shy and awkward sort, though he is not at all someone who would turn away good company. Rather, he seems to be wary of who he spends his time with. Most who do not enter his inner circle of colleagues report him as curt and rather to the point in verbal exchanges while being thorough and detailed in written dialogue. This is of course mostly due to Samuel's tendency to focus intently on his subjects of study. While deep in thought, Samuel has little tolerance for outside distractions and frequently finds himself annoyed by interruptions. However, when his mind is free from preoccupation, Samuel is jovial and quite personable -- typically attempting to find someone who will enjoy a fine stout and a meal with him.

The professor absolutely loves to eat, and to explore cuisines of foreign lands. His first stop in each new locale is of course the local repository of knowledge, e.g. libraries or schools. However, his second is most always the local inn where he asks for whatever is most popular in the area. More than once this has ended with a stomach ache, but often Samuel is found to say "...the experience is worth the mild discomfort."

In addition to said fascination with cuisine, Samuel is quite fond of animals of varying sorts, often found stroking them with great care and affection while speaking to them as if they were children. He takes great joy in playing with the creatures however he can, so long as nobody's life is jeopardized by the process.

Strangely, though Samuel is quite well educated, he does not seem to read for pleasure. When asked about it, his response was only that "[noparse][he] reads enough for [his] research, it'll be a cold day in hell when [he does] it for fun.[/noparse]"

Perhaps the most shocking thing most people find is that Samuel has a unique vision of Magic and Science. He views them as two sides of the same coin, and dabbles in both at once. This is largely taboo, but to Samuel it simply makes sense. His current working hypothesis is simply that "[noparse][Magic][/noparse] is merely a facet of reality we have yet to study quite so thoroughly, and nothing more." [/collapse]

[center][color=yellow][sup]_______________[/sup][/color][/center]

[justify][collapse=The World of Arcanum]Welcome to the world of Arcanum, where magics of times long lost and the sciences of tomorrow meet in today's most raucous present! While most fantasy worlds seem to be perpetually stuck in the times of swords and sorcery, the world of Arcanum has moved forward quite a bit. It is a place where machines and electricity are new and exciting prospects for the layman, a sort of common man's form of magic to aid in every day life. Factories are beginning to spring up, and the fire arm is slowly becoming more and more common place. Gentlemen are wearing top hats and coats with tails, and the ladies are wearing prim and proper dresses -- sure to not show their ankles as they walk! It is a wondrous and interesting place, but it is not without its problems. While technology and science are on the rise, there is most certainly a sect of people who wish not to see it come into common use! When first developed, it seemed that magical workings and the arcane arts muddled the machinery... the mages simply able to overpower science with their abilities. However, as machines grew to be more complex and capable, it seemed to work the other way instead! With large machines interfering with magic and the rise of large factories, the mages of the world are beginning to take action against the rise of technology and the revolution of industry! Arcanum is a place filled with adventure and possibility, but it is also a world filled with danger.[/collapse][/justify]

[justify][collapse=The City of Tarant]Situated at the mouth of the Hadrian river, Tarant is the newest great power in the world of Arcanum. A place where industry and the ancient magics can come together in peace, Tarant leads Arcanum towards the future, the spirit of innovation and genius visiting upon the place. The birthplace of the steam engine and the home of its inventor Gilbert Bates, Tarant has a rich and thriving upper class culture where ladies and gentlemen of all walks of life may enjoy the easy life. For those who are less fortunate or perhaps are seeking opportunity, employment abounds in the industrial district and the thriving ports where help is always needed. But perhaps the most impressive and incredible part of Tarant is the newly established University. A place where people who wish to study the newest and greatest advances in science and mathematics can gather with like minds. The allure of studying in such close proximity to the magnificent Gilbert Bates no doubt is an opportunity![/collapse][/justify]

[justify][collapse=Tarant University]Funded by private interests, the college was founded in an attempt to find and cultivate the brightest minds of our time. Situated in the city of Tarant after its rousing victory over Cumbria, the university is in a centralized location where any and all people with interest in the sciences can attend. However, due to the natures of Chemistry, Physics, Mechanics and other such disciplines of learning, mages and powerful magical artifacts are strictly banned from the premises without prior warning of at least forty-eight hours such that accomodations can be made for certain devices and experiments. This is of course for the safety of all peoples.[/collapse][/justify]



[center][color=yellow][sup]_______________[/sup][/color][/center]
[center][b][color=cyan][big]Potential Scene Ideas[/big][/color][/b][/center]
[center][color=yellow][sup]_______________[/sup][/color][/center]
[collapse=Adventure!]Since much of Samuel's research involves things that are difficult to find and costly to repair, he is often forced to fund his own research by venturing out into the world. This serves a double purpose of finding strange magical objects to study as well as the occasional rare or valuable artifact to pawn. However, adventuring is a dangerous thing and although Samuel is relatively capable, he is not so foolish as to go alone! Samuel frequently posts advertisements in the local paper seeking qualified and seasoned adventurers to join him on his quests. Perhaps your character would like to join him?[/collapse]
[collapse=Rivals!]Science is a highly competitive field, and although Samuel considers himself a mathematician rather than a scientist, he has made more than a few enemies for various reasons! Are you perhaps an engineer at the university who disagrees with his theories? A mage who finds the idea of studying magic and science together laughable? Perhaps someone that was seeking out an important artifact that Samuel is currently studying! Whatever the reason, a rivalry is a wonderful plot point to discuss, and I would gladly welcome something of the sort![/collapse]
[collapse=Summoning Gone Wrong!]Samuel's studies frequently involve summonings of varying kinds, but what would happen if a summoning were to go wrong? If Samuel is caught unprepared, the thing he looses upon the world could easily have dire consequences! On the flip side, he could also have accidentally summoned something that was especially sad to have been brought to his world. Would Samuel be able to help send the poor creature back home? There are a myriad of ways these stories can go! Everything from a tearful goodbye to a beloved friend going home, or a climactic battle as Samuel tries to banish something back from whence it came![/collapse]
[collapse=Mysteries and Intrigue!]Samuel isn't particularly good at being social, leading him to find most parties rather boring. But what happens when he finds himself walking in on a murder scene? Samuel must race to find the killer and clear his name, or the crime will be pinned upon him! Are you playing the assassin, attempting to elude Samuel's grasp? Are you perhaps a colleague, who is attempting to help prove Samuel's innocence? Or are you perhaps a police inspector, looking to find that key piece of evidence that places the blame on the professor? Whatever the case, mystery stories are always interesting![/collapse]

[center][color=yellow][sup]_______________[/sup][/color][/center]

[collapse=tl;dr]Arcanum is a fantasy world going through the industrial revolution. Magic and Technology are at odds, and complicated machinery and spells mess with each other. Samuel is a professor at a college who is studying that phenomenon, and believes mathematics is the key to linking the two ideas.[/collapse]

[collapse=BDSM Test Results]
Due to popular demand and repeated insistence that I "can't be that vanilla", I present my BDSM test results.

== Results from http://bdsmtest.org/ ==
99% Vanilla
64% Non-monogamist
38% Ageplayer
32% Daddy/Mommy
31% Dominant
22% Exhibitionist
21% Master/Mistress
18% Voyeur
18% Submissive
17% Owner
12% Switch
9% Primal (Hunter)
8% Brat Tamer
5% Experimentalist
5% Rigger
5% Sadist
5% Degrader
4% Brat
4% Girl/Boy
3% Slave
2% Pet
2% Primal (Prey)
1% Degradee
1% Rope Bunny
0% Masochist
See my results online at http://bdsmtest.org/result.php?id=1186787
[/collapse]