Anton Alexandrovich Gudin, son of Alexander Whitehall and his former mistress, Nadya Gudin.

background

Gudin was born as a result of a year long liaison between Alexander Whitehall, a minor member of the Harkanian gentry class, and Nadya Gudin, daughter of a Nuscovite merchant. Whitehall met Nadya forty-four years ago while on a diplomatic mission to Nuscovy. Due to the prestige of the family name, Whitehall could not formally recognize Gudin as his son. However, he did bring the child to his estate to be raised as the “nephew” of the housekeeper Mrs. Bead.

Gudin has two younger, half-siblings – the twins, Eliza and Percy, co-heirs to the Whitehall estate. He has a great admiration for Eliza, and, although not personally friendly with his half-brother, nevertheless has a healthy respect for his rank. Gudin’s childhood was spent with his siblings and he thereby acquired all of the requisite training for children of rank (horseback riding, hunting skills, fencing skills, manners, etc.). Still, he was never treated as an equal. His father’s wife, Mrs. Emilia Whitehall, was especially cold to him.

Gudin’s unacknowledged birth allowed him to develop an interest in trade at an early age (an interest which Alexander indulged even though he would have absolutely forbid it in his legitimate children). Using a small portion of the family money given to him secretly by his father, he created a substantial horde of money for himself in speculation at age 23.

He then moved to Nuscovy and purchased a struggling shipping company. With a few well-made, and possibly shady, dealings he was able to create a lucrative business. The company, Gudin Overseas, imports and exports many items – most notably tea, liquor, and lumber. Its base of operations is in Nuscovy and it has many warehouses throughout the Circle – most outposts are located in Sevilla.

Recently, Gudin has become entangled in an economic scandal. His ties to well-known criminal guilds have provoked rumors that Gudin Overseas is itself running illegally. However, no direct link to criminal activities has ever been made, and many dismiss the rumors as underhanded attempts by rival company Fleet Ltd. to undermine Gudin’s authority. The head of Fleet Ltd., Thomas Fishpool, was a former clerk in the Gudin house. He is thought to have embezzled money from the company in order to start his own business. If this rumor is true, he would be the only known person to have successfully cheated Gudin. While it is true that Gudin holds a deep hatred for Fishpool, the cause of this hatred is unclear.

Much of the day-to-day business of Gudin Overseas is handled by the firm’s clerk, Wutherford "Walters" Whitman. A young twenty-four, Walters is inexperienced and often shocked by Gudin’s aggressive business practices. Nevertheless, ever since being rescued by Gudin from a brawl at The Hogshead Inn, he stands by his conviction that his employer is good at heart. His fiancée, Dora, is consumptive and much of his pay goes to her medical bills.

Gudin has no wife or children of his own, but still corresponds with his half-sister Eliza via letter. Eliza has recently married Sir Philip Lawrence and has a newborn daughter named Catherine. Anton’s half-brother, Percy Whitehall, runs the Whitehall estate. He is said to be a fairly poor master, treating his servants harshly and squandering the family money. Women and hunting are his two interests of note. The old man, Alexander, having some years ago succumbed to mental illness, resides at Whitehall house but rarely leaves his bed. When he drinks heavily – which is a frequent occurrence – he mutters the name Nadya before passing into a stupor. Mrs. Emilia Whitehall rarely pays attention to her husband and indulges Percy in all his exploits, constantly excusing his behavior on the belief that he’ll soon marry well.

Gudin has become aware of the state of his father’s household by means of his contact with Eliza. Although he has many times promised Eliza that he will visit his father, nevertheless he has not returned to Whitehall. “Business,” he has been known to say, “Business does not run itself.”

appearance

43 yrs. of age. Six feet tall, slightly hunched at the shoulders, bony with thin limbs and a small paunch. Short salt-and-pepper hair and a gray mustache. Dresses in drab colors and often wears a dark overcoat to protect against a constant feeling of chilliness.

personality

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Quote

"Supply and demand dictates that we could sell him his pants at a higher price, instead of just giving them to him."