It is felicitous, then, that I happen to have such a character. This individual, of course, is Joseph, Matt's father and a prominent councilrat, being also the Head of the Supply/Logistics Department, and the de-facto administrative chief (next, of course, to Justin and Jonathan). He manages and directs the supply line, the income of the colony, as it were, and decides how to make the best use of the colony's resources. He is also very involved in administration, having control over the colony's sizable records. These two positions make him very influential and powerful, though of course he does his best to hide the fact. He is even familiar with much of what goes on in the colony in terms of the society, knowing many a secret and hidden tale that, if ever revealed, would prove to be the undoing of the community's security.

I believe it is best that I briefly (ha!) describe his personal history, so as to show others what sort of rat he really is.

Joseph is the sceond youngest of the first-generation rats, being very close to Justin in age. He proved to a quiet, tractable specimen, inquisitive about his new abilities and his enhanced perceptions. During the Wandering Years, he became close to Jenner, having been near his cage and having found common ground in terms of personality and disposition, and soon learned of another ability: his talent to persuade, to convince, and even to manipulate. Under Jenner's tutelage, Joseph cultivated his natural talents and became a masterful politician, cunning and calculating, and Jenner's closest, most dependable assistant. Joseph would have certainly taken Jenner's place as a villainous schemer had not Emmanuel de Leon, the colony's first head doctor and Anita's father, intervened.

Emmanuel was troubled by how Jenner was 'raising' Joseph, and tried to used his own influence to affect the young, impressionable councilrat. He taught him the importance of integrity and honesty, and how one does not necessary need to plot and scheme to be an effective leader. He showed him how to nourish the spirit of charity towards his fellow rodents, and how leadership is the highest form of service to the community. Most importantly, he told him about Christ and teh merits of sacrificial love. Joseph was deeply affected by Emmanuel's lessons, and slowly came to reject Jenner's ways, much to the latter's ire.

Tragedy struck the de Leon family as, almost overnight, Anita lost both her parents and two of her siblings. He was the first to come to her side, giving her the comfort she needed and using his considerable influence to halt the tales of her family's 'special condition' (more on that later...). He had always loved Anita especially, and soon his affection blossomed into love, and he found himself her husband. The rest needs little description n.n

Joseph has stretched his influence a bit to take up the gap left by Jenner, and, though he does participate in much of the political intrigue within the colony, he always uses his power judiciously and with moral clarity. He is the rare example of the honest politician, placing principle over prerogative, integrity over convenience. Still, a politician he is, and a cunning one at that. He uses his considerable power to support his Leader's decisions, however unpopular they may be. He is only one rat, though, and one can only wonder as to how long he can keep it up...

Well, that was so /not/ a brief backgrounder :P I didn't even get to talk about his crippling physical condition, but I guess you'll get to know him more later.

Anyways, I'm not sure about my schedule will fall. I'm rather free at the moment, but things will get chaotic once classes start. Still, I'm hoping to be online on a regular basis, as this seems to be a rather exciting plot (especially since I've never RPed Joseph in a formal, governmental setting before). I put my firm support for this idea, and hope that much good with come from it.

Cheers, now :)