Blaise Black
From Turtledove
| Blaise Black | |
| Fictional Character | |
| Atlantis | |
| Appearance(s): | Opening Atlantis |
| Nationality: | United States of Atlantis |
| Race: | Black |
| Religion: | Christianity, with some polytheistic elements |
| Occupation: | Slave, Farmer, Soldier |
| Spouse: | Stella |
| Affiliations: | British Army in Atlantis; Army of the Atlantean Assembly |
Blaise (took the surname Black in 1763) was a former French slave who'd fled into the swamps of Atlantis. After a chance encounter with Victor Radcliff, Blaise became Radcliff's aid and a sergeant in the English army, participating in the French and Spanish War.
Blaise fled with two copperskin slaves, Francisco and Juan shortly before the outbreak of war. Taking refuge in the swamp the three slaves met Victor Radcliff, who helped them to escape into English territory. Now a free man, Blaise entered the hastely recruited army as Radcliff's aid, becoming a sergeant in short order. He followed Radcliff on every campaign and battle. During that time, he and Radcliff became true friends, often ruminating on the nature of race and slavery, and what role the institution of slavery would have in the newly expanded English Atlantis. In many ways, Blaise acted as Radcliff's conscience on matters of race. He became popularly known as Radcliff's shadow.
After the French and Spanish War, Blaise married a woman named Stella, another African slave who happily spoke Blaise's language.
Blaise again served as Radcliff's aide during the Atlantean War of Independence. During the Battle of Weymouth, he lost a finger on his left hand. That didn't force him out of the war and he again followed Radcliff throughout the conflict.
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