Serph Dekker

Background

Physical Description

Serph is considered to be a native Kriovaller by national census, though his ethnic makeup is approximately 80% Pacific Islander and 20% combined Japanese and northern European. He stands at 6'1" (185.4 cm) in height and weighs approximately 185 pounds (83.9 kg). Serph has moderately dark skin, long black hair, and dark eyes. His build, facial features, and skin tone make Serph nearly impossible to distinguish from a "true" native, though an astute observer might notice a slight angularity to Serph's jawline that is not seen in full-blooded natives.

Birth and Family

Serph was born on June 10, 1974, to former Crown Princess Sarina Kriov and Lord Varik Dekker in the City of Valak. His maternal grandparents are former King Sylvan, the Builder (d. 2003), and former Queen Melena Kriov. Also born to the Kriovs was the late Princess Adele (d. 1955). Serph's paternal grandparents are former Chief Erik Dekker (d. 2003) and Yumi Dekker. The elder Dekkers also have Johan, Kara, and Anna as children. Serph remains unmarried as of December 2006.

Childhood

The Chief enjoyed a decadent childhood in the Kriovalian capital Torokara, with the finest home, education, and playthings as money could buy. Serph was remarkably well-behaved even early in his life, and his intellectual prowess was often displayed for visiting dignitaries, politicians, and other members of the Kriovalian aristocracy. The Lord Dekker was said to be able to memorize nearly any information put to him at the age of five, though the Chief denies ever possessing such a talent. He was enrolled in the prestigious Torokara Academy from seven until sixteen, where he earned excellent marks, and Serph then progressed to the University of Torokara to pursue a degree in the biological sciences.

Serph was noted for having difficulties interacting with other children, however, with the most documented conflict centering around another boy named Hiroshi Andros. So far as anybody could tell, the two could not stand being in the presence of one another, and while Hiroshi was certainly the more physically imposing, Serph usually managed to call in "reinforcements", including Hiroshi's older brother Valkai, to intervene on his behalf. Much to the chagrin of both families, Serph and Hiroshi refused to consider reconciliation until their graduation from the Academy, when distance diminished the intensity of their mutual combativeness.

The young Lord Dekker spent many of his formative years with his Dekker relatives, with Sylvan and Melena being fixtures in the democratic transition of Krioval, which may have led to his emergence as a staunch liberal and democrat. As early as twelve years old, Serph was advocating for greater civil freedoms, including the legalization of recreational drug use, the reduction of the legal drinking age to eighteen, and for postsecondary education subsidies. He so strongly believed in these issues that he obliterated a female classmate's defense of the monarchy in a schoolwide televised debate, saying "Sylvan killed eleven thousand people in 1955. Do we really want one person to hold such power?" His remarks about his grandfather's reign remained a point of contention between the two for years to come, with Sylvan lamenting Serph's "radical" beliefs and Serph decrying "ancient doddering tradition for tradition's sake."

College Years

(will complete later)