Andre Broussard

Andre Broussard is the curator and owner of a small museum in Saint Bertrand, Louisiana called the Alexandria House. He is considered by many in town to be a recluse; and those who do know him well consider him to be arrogant at best. He had become an invaluable member of the community, however, in his ability to unravel even the most convoluted of puzzles and solve the many mysterious maladies that often befall the small city.

Personal History

Andre was born in New Orleans in 1895 to Henri and Abigail Broussard. His parents both died in what appeared to be an animal attack in 1907 when he was only 12 years old. It was later discovered that they had actually been brutally murdered, but the culprit was never found. Andre and his younger brother Victor - who was only 8 years old - were taken in by Abigail's sister Esme, a wealthy widow who had inherited a small fortune from her husband's passing. Unfortunately for both Andre and Victor, their aunt was not eager at all to take on the children and often lashed out at them; both verbally and physically. She blamed them for the death of her sister, often citing the brothers' "sinful ways" as the reason "God punished Abigail and Henri."
Esme's husband had been a prominent member of the Jesuit community in New Orleans, and as his widow she retained some influence within the church. She arranged for Andre to be enrolled at Loyola University, and from 1913 to 1915 he studied a mixed program of literature, sociology, and history. This was cut short in the fall of 1917 when Victor decided to join the war effort in Europe and enlisted in the Army. Fearful for his brother's safety, disdainful of the theocratic bias of the university, and swept up by nationalist patriotism; Andre went with his brother to join the war effort.
In 1920, Andre and Victor returned to Louisiana after the war to find their aunt Esme had died of a fever. They both inherited a sizable sum of money from her estate. Victor quickly took up drinking and gambling, and soon was in the employ of a local gang of moonshiners. Rather than returning to the university, Andre moved a the small city West of New Orleans called Saint Bertrand. There he bought one of the old colonial barracks buildings - on the appropriately named Barracks Road - and set about converting it into a small museum of local antiquities and curiosities while setting up the third floor as his personal apartments. For five years he has worked to build the collection, and is now considered a prominent member of society in St. Bertrand.

Quirks and Personality

Andre is meticulous about his appearance, from his carefully kept handlebar mustache down to the finely tailored suits he almost exclusively wears in public. This apparent focus on perfection, combined with his detached demeanor, makes him something of an enigma among the people of Saint Bertrand. In reality, Andre's carefully crafted exterior is hiding the broken man within. From the death to his parents to his overbearing aunt to the horrors of the trenches, and finally his own brother becoming a fugitive; Andre is haunted by his past and his family. He hides these troubles within and presents to the world the image of a man of perfection so that there are no cracks for others to sneak into and see his troubled nature. The one crack he cannot seal, however, is his own temper and arrogance. His only relief comes from mind-altering chemicals, most notably a habitual use of both alcohol and opium.

Year of Birth

1885

Eyes

Blue-gray

Hair

Dark brown; short sides with long top slicked back.

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Lightly tanned

Height

5'10"

Weight

175 lbs