Early Life (1044 MH - 1065 MH)
Education in Rusager is commonplace, even among the poorer households, yet the type of education can well differ. Raised in a Wood Elf family, Seardon was taught two things; Being different would make you weaker, and that the remedy to weakness was power. The lessons from his parents would be wasted in his youth, James grew and lived in the rural plains on the outskirts of Atcaster, helping on the farm and having very little in the way of interaction with the outside world.
It was only as he entered his teens, taking up an apprenticeship as a seamster in the city, where the words would certainly hit home, albeit for a very different reason for the one his parents intended. As part of his apprenticeship, he had access to the libraries of Atacaster for the first time, and would absorb himself in books on history and culture. The tailor’s he worked for stood on the High Street, and the moderately wealthy would often pass through those doors. The boy took note of this, studying carefully what it would take to fit, whether he could, as he noted the vast majority of these patrons were human. Etiquette, he quickly picked up on, able to ingratiate himself easily with customers and colleagues alike, and often using his insignificance as an advantage to gain insight into upper society.
Joining The Provincial Members Club (1065 MH)
As he worked his way up the ranks of the tailors, he realised that wealth alone was not power, but how one used that. The neighbouring butchers had recently be purchased and set up as a private club, and Seardon gambled an investment here, buying an early membership with an aim to build connections with like-minded individuals. Seardon himself has since been criticised for a lack of patriotism, maligned to only act in self interest, as many do, but appeared to fit well into the Club.
The early days is where much of this lack of patriotism is said to lie, the membership then being younger, idealistic and veracious in an appetite for external change. Many of these members would later be expelled by the founder, Cristin Fortun, for behaviour unbecoming of a Provincer’s name, something often attributed to Fortun and Seardon’s relationship. The two allegedly bonded over a shared childhood in agriculture, both growing up on farms before moving to the city.
Becoming the Chairman (1074 MH - 1077 MH)
While an ordinary member, Seardon had been continuing to run the tailor’s after inheriting it from his owner. As Fortun’s health declined and he began to struggle with the Club, Seardon considered the viability of making a purchase.
It was with his inheritance that Seardon would tender his bid to take control of the Club. Fortun initially refused, the Club had been his life for nigh on three decades at this point, but he eventually recognised he could do no more and sold the Club to Seardon who immediately took control as Chairman. There was no more than minor mutterings from the membership about this, Seardon was one of their own and was well liked, if a little more ambitious than Fortun. As his first act as Chairman, Seardon suspended meetings indefinitely.
Fallout was immediate, with the devoted membership immediately calling for his resignation. It may have been easier for Seardon to reveal his plans earlier, but in the end, he was able to control the bristling mob that was now his following with assurances they would soon hold positions that would at least triple in value, and offering a goodwill gesture of 3R to the most steadfast opponents.
The Grand Re-Opening (1077 MH)
Whether the wood elf believed his ambition would ever come to fruition can never be known, and the man himself always remained modest on the matter. Whatever the case, he travelled abroad for nearly two years, taking with him a large portion of his wealth and it seemed to some that he absconded never to return. Return however, he did, and in the possession of large quantities of exotic furs.
Seardon would use his skills as a tailor to fashion these into vestments fit for a king, or more appropriately a Magnus, as he began to court government officials, tendering a grand reopening of the Club. To those who had known him, he had changed little, as charming and charismatic as ever, yet he was more refined, careful. The reassurances he had made those years prior, seemed within reach and the membership, despite a two year absence, returned in almost its entirety. The inroads he made with politicians went well, he secured funding from the Acarius and was even able to convince the Magnus to attend the opening, rumour had it, on the skill of his tailoring of a particularly fine bear fur robe.
The reopening signalled a change, for the city and for the culture of the upper classes, who had been shown what to expect from high class events in future. Interest in the Club was at an all time high and Seardon became the face of success as the membership grew exponentially over the next decade.
Official Licence (1141 MH)
The licence granted to the Club in 1141 MH would be Seardon’s crowning achievement, recognising it as an official Lodge of Rusager. It was an affirmation of success that had taken nearly a century of work and appeared to finally satiate Seardon’s ambitions. For the next three decades Seardon would continue to diligently run the Club, however many saw that his fire had dimmed and he no longer reached for further heights. One could hardly blame anyone at his age for taking a step back, but it was undoubtedly a loss for the Club in the long run.
Retirement and Death
Seardon oversaw the Club until 1178 MH, retiring to his perfumery and continuing to work there until his death. His eldest son and daughter both hold a joint interest in many of the Clubs holdings, although only one of his great grandsons presently holds a membership.
He died in 1194 MH, reaching a grand age of one hundred and fifty years old, an impressive feat for anyone at this time.