Your Nickname: Thea
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Are you over thirteen? Yes
How did you find us and decide to write with us? Friend
If you have written other characters here: Yes
If Yes, list them all: Corduroy Canterbury, Dervla Bagnold, Lenora Amherst, Liadan Whitman, Tiberius Bulstrode, Winifred Oliver
Is this a Primary or Secondary Character?: Primary

Full Character Name: Caesar Salazar Selwyn
Character Birthday & Age: 56 | October 17, 1953
City & Country of Birth: River Piddle, Dorset, England
Blood Purity: Pureblood
Alma Mater: Hogwarts | Slytherin
Job/Position: Potions Professor

Wand: Caesar's wand is precisely thirteen inches long. It is made of elm wood and has a dragon heart string core. It is inflexible and smooth. The shaft is intricately decorated with a large, ornamental emerald laid into the wood.

Physical Description:
Caesar was a very handsome man in his youth- tall, with dark hair, a nice physique and a brooding appearance. But that was many years ago. Now that he is nearly sixty, Caesar's once chiseled physique is now soft and he has achieved that middle-age spread and paunch. His hair- once dark and thick- is now gray and starting to thin. He has piercing blue eyes set under hooded lids and perfectly groomed and arched eyebrows.

Traditional in every way, he dresses professionally and in traditional wizard wear. He has the walk of an arrogant man and carries himself with over-confidence. He has a bounce in his step, practically bobbing back and forth- a physical manifestation of his self-importance in his strut. He has perfected the indifferent, detached, sarcastic purse of his lips and can silence most people with a well-placed glare.  

Personality Description:
Caesar is a self-important man. Having been considered one of the most talented potions masters for the majority of his life has given him an air of know-it-allness that can grate on the nerves of the most patient individual. He likes to brag about his accomplishments and his achievements and is quick to suggest his own published works to anyone who seeks his advice or his aid when it comes to potions brewing. He thinks of himself as superior. He takes ridiculous pride in being a Selwyn- one of the sacred twenty-eight- and having married a witch who is also of the sacred twenty-eight. He is riddled with arrogance and finds it impossible to even fathom the idea that he might not be perfect.

He is definitely a purist. Caesar thinks of purebloods as superior to all others in the wizard world. He has never done much to hide this fact as a youth and even as an adult. He has been a pureblood supporter his entire life and has raised his children to be purist as well. He is traditional in most senses. (And has even considered arranging marriages for his children- but his wife refused to let him. Now that she has passed, he probably will arrange a fiance for his daughter so that she doesn't find herself duped or sullied by some random young man.)

Caesar is a loyal friend to those in his inner circle. He has a strong personality and is a good leader. He can "rally the troops", so to speak, and enjoys exerting his influence over others who might be more weak minded or those who are useful to him. Maintaining his reputation and having others exalt him are two of the most important things in his life.

He is a responsible individual. A good father (albeit not very affectionate) and a decent husband, he has always provided for his family, protected them, and taken care of them. Of course he had his moments of infidelity (of which he feels little guilt for considering he thinks of it simply as the pureblood way) and might have a couple of illegitimate children- but he takes responsibility for what is rightfully his.

Short tempered and short sighted, it takes little to cause him to explode in a fit of targeted rage. He holds grudges for a long time and rather enjoys exacting specialized revenge. (Generally damaging the social reputations of those who would dare to cross him.) He does not always consider the long-term consequences of his decisions that are made when he is highly emotional.



History:
River Piddle is the hometown of Puddlemere United- something that Caesar's specific branch of the Selwyns takes great pride in. The quidditch team was founded in 1163 and Caesar (along with many generations back) claim to have founded the team and even now take great pride in funding the quidditch pitch and the team as needed. They have won the League Cup at least twenty-two times and the European Cup twice.

Caesar's home on the River Piddle was large- yet rustic. It was on the river front and cloaked by magic to cause muggles to avoid it. (A common practice among wizards and especially among purebloods.) His childhood was... typical of a pureblood. He was taught the purist views of his parents from a young age, expected to behave in a particular way, and he was always more like a little-adult more so than a child. He was the youngest of four children- all boys. Caesar knew that this meant he would end up having to make his own way in the world. He would not be the heir, but he had nothing to be ashamed of.

1965- Caesar's first year at Hogwarts. The sorting hat hadn't even reached his head before screaming out Slytherin. Caesar, in his perfectly tailored and expensive school robes, smugly took his spot at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall- joining his older brothers and his various extended relations. Caesar was a typical Slytherin. Pureblood- a trait Salazar admired- along with traditionalism, ambition, determination, cleverness, and a strong sense of fraternity with his Slytherin comrades.

His magical prowess quickly showed itself in potions and herbology. He had an amazing capability of brewing potions years ahead of his current curriculum, and enjoyed brewing in his off time. (This was especially fostered by a rather nefarious volume he had found at home which was essentially the same as a book of poisons and how they effect the body except it included dangerous potions.) Of course, Caesar wasn't bad with a wand either. He was a particular fan of Transfiguration and exceptionally skilled at that, as well.

Caesar's years at Hogwarts were relatively uneventful. He focused on his grades and his friendships. He played on the house quidditch team as a chaser. He served as a prefect for his house, enjoying the amount of power that it gave him over his peers. (He was dreadfully disappointed to find that he did not make Head Boy in his seventh year, which made him particularly vicious to cross in that year if he happened to dislike you.) He stayed out of trouble- for the most part. He had the odd detention here and there. He was a staunch purist, touting tradition and purism. Upon graduation he had received his NEWTs in the following classes: O's in Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration. E's in Charms, Anicent Runes, Astronomy, and Arithmancy. It was an impressive showing and he has always considered his high number of NEWTs as one of his greatest achievements.

Upon graduation, Caesar inherited one of the family's many properties along the River Piddle. A spacious home that he quickly made his own- and with a large sum of money given to him by his father he enlarged the house and got it up to snuff- something to be proud of and to be envied. Caesar would apprentice under a very famous potions master. Shortly after his graduation was when Lord Voldemort rose to power. Though he never was an official death eater, he was a supporter of Voldemort. (He had various relatives- distant and close- who were Death Eaters, however, and had no qualms aiding them in ways he could if they happened to ask.) He was twenty-eight when Voldemort was eventually defeated. He was suddenly glad that his support never went so far as to being branded- especially as Death Eaters were rounded up and charged by the Ministry of Magic.

After Caesar's apprenticeship ended, he worked as a partner to the potions master he had studied under. He helped him write a few different volumes on experimental potions, and enjoyed learning more about potions and creating some of his own. Caesar's mentor died when Caesar was only thirty-three and the potions master left all of his research and his property to Caesar. The man never had a male heir, and Caesar had been like a son. He continued on his studies with potions.

From 1986 and onward, Caesar continued to work in potions. He has written many books on experimental potioneering. His favorite that he has written is a catalog/encyclopedia of various potions ingredients. He references how they effect potions, how they interact with other ingredients, possible substitutions, etc. It was released when he was 45 (1998) and has since become a standard potion resource. He has since released two updated versions and intends to update the volume every five years to keep up with current potions brewing and procedures.

Caesar got married at the age of 37 to a pureblood witch named Persephone Flint. Another of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. (He definitely prides himself on having that title to his name.) He has three legitimate children. Two sons and one daughter. (Caesar also has two illegitimate children born of love-affairs- though he does not claim them as his own.) His sons are in their seventh and fifth year at Hogwarts as of the 2010-2011 school year. His daughter is a third year. Caesar was never a very... attentive parent. With governesses and tutors and nannies, he was more or less a hands-off parent unless discipline was called for.

He wasn't necessarily cold or detached, he was just always very busy and his work was always more important. He did, however, show interest in their education- eventually joining the Hogwarts Board of Governors when his eldest son was in his second year at Hogwarts. It was important to Caesar to know that the running of Hogwarts went smoothly and to have an inside eye- just to insure that they were not being "corrupted" by the liberal and progressive views that are sweeping the current wizarding world.

With the second rise of Voldemort in the late 1990s, Caesar was once again a supporter of the cause and had hope that perhaps this second-coming would actually stick. Of course, having small children, he could not afford to get overly involved- but it was a well-known fact that Caesar Selwyn and his family were avid purists who more or less broad casted their purity and their dislike of the muggle world. He was glad he played it safe (again) when the Dark Lord was defeated a second time. He was glad not to find himself shamed like the Malfoy family had been.

Caesar's time on the Board of Governors is what piqued his interest in possibly becoming a professor. Of course, his own potions career was still flourishing and his books were doing well. Plus, his wife was not keen on the idea of her husband spending so much at Hogwarts and away from her. She was always a needy, clingy sort of individual. Though their relationship could definitely not be described as loving, he did his best to respect her and treat her as the dainty little thing that he saw her as.

His wife passed away three years ago. After taking a holiday to a tropical destination, she contracted a rare magical disease that would claim her life. Caesar grieved the appropriate amount of time, and distracted himself with his work. The large riverfront home was particularly lonely with his wife gone and his children at Hogwarts.

At the start of the 2010 school year, the position of Potions Professor came open. Having been on the board of governors for roughly fifteen years, he used his fame as a potions master and his position to interview and gain the position at Hogwarts as a professor. He looks forward to getting to teach his children- and also looks forward to getting to shape the young minds and to help instill a sense of wizarding pride in his students.

Describe your job duties and how you go about them:
Caesar's new job title will be Potions Professor at Hogwarts School of Withcraft and Wizardry. It will be his sole responsibility to educate the young minds of the wizarding world in the art of potion brewing. To teach them responsible brewing, basic potions, about potions ingredients, and to encourage them to pursue the study into their NEWT years. (As he considers potions to be one of the most important of the core curriculum.) Maintaining order in the classroom and enforcing Hogwarts rules and code in general will be among is responsibilities as well.

Being a professor is more or less self explanatory. Teaching classes- lecture and practical application. Assigning appropriate homework as a way to enforce learned materials and to encourage outside study and critical thinking. Giving tests to gauge student progress. Making himself available to aid students after-class for potions related work and to offer support as needed to those seeking guidance or advice or aid.

Impartiality is a typical trait expected of professors- though it will be one he does not possess as he should. As an instructor he will show clear favoritism to his alma mater and to those of pureblood descent. He will be harder on half-bloods and even harder than that on known muggle-born witches and wizards. Of course, as a professional, he would never openly admit these things- but it would be obvious after the first few classes he will teach. (This will no doubt cause some trouble in his professional life should students over-complain.)

Elaborate on your expertise in your field:
Caesar has spent his entire adult life working in the world of potions. He apprenticed under a very famous potions master when he graduated from Hogwarts and eventually inherited all of his research and his "laboratory". He began co-writing potions books in his late twenties and by the time he was in his forties had written a number of potions books- many of which were considered to be among the most advanced research methods. He has worked, specifically, in potions research and experimentation- discovering new potions, enhancing current ones, and writing books about potions theory.

He joined he Hogwarts Board of Governors when his eldest son was in his second year (about 15 years ago), taking a vested interest in the fate of Hogwarts and what went on in the walls of Hogwarts.

Having extensive experience in potions, a large number of published texts under his belt (including the current go-to potions ingredients encylopedia), Caesar is qualified as a potions expert. His time spent on the Hogwarts Board of Governors has given him insight on the rules and goings-on of the institution. He has had various apprentices over the years as a Potions Master and is no stranger to teaching and imparting his wisdom as a result of those apprenticeships.

Writing Sample:


Sum up your character in one paragraph:
Caesar Selwyn is an arrogant, purist, self-important man. He thinks of himself as the wizarding world's leading expert on potions, potions theory, and potion research/experimentation. He is a braggart, short tempered, and an insufferable know-it-all. A man who spent his entire life doing potions and teaching apprentices, the last 14 to 15 years on the board of governors, he thinks of himself as perfectly qualified candidate for the job. And will probably end up disliked by staff and students alike for his over-inflated self worth and obvious favoritism.