[hider=Ray of Gerhard]Name: Raymond "Ray" of Gerhard

Class: Prince

Age: 12 (child) --> 17 (adult)

Appearance: Ray is a boy of about five feet tall with a skinny physique about right for someone in his position. His jet black hair is usually well maintained and straight. Its short length makes keeping it in check fairly simple. The same can be said for his posture, for he is a boy who would rarely be seen slouching. His face seems perpetually stern for someone as young as him, his brown eyes giving off a sense of seriousness. Being mainly held within Gerhard's castle has made his skin slightly pale. Ray's clothing of choice is rather basic for a royal. He wears a silk, blue shirt with long sleeves and brown leather pants. 

Biography: Ray is the second born son of Gerhard's king, Darius. Initially born a bastard conceived from the wedlock of the king and one of his favorite concubines, his mother usurped the position of queen from Darius' wife after the two fell in love. The former queen, Ariana, was disgusted and rushed back to her home kingdom, Estrelia, taking the king's first born son, Desmond, with her. Ray's existence itself, unbeknownst to him, is the primary reason for the tension between the two kingdoms. The one thing preventing Desmond's rightful claim to the throne being his own father's refusal to let the child of anyone but his one true love take the throne. Not even the major holy blood of Baldur running through the child's veins could convince him otherwise.

Ray himself grew up fully aware of this fact. The murmurings of others behind his back made hiding this information nigh impossible. This fact motivated Ray to prove his own worth. He studied hard, practiced swordplay with vigor, and did his best to assure that he could be someone his people could happily call king. One nagging sensation always crept in the back of his mind, however. The thought that his father had done something so dishonorable wounded him. He had always looked up to the man due for his fair ruling and natural charisma. The man he was now and the man he was over a decade ago seemed far apart. Thus, he chose to believe that there was some rational explanation for his father's deeds.

Taking to his duties as prince quite seriously, he chose to impose the same standards he had placed upon himself onto other people. He gained quite the nasty tongue for people he viewed as incompetent and would have many choice words for those he felt were shirking their obligations. Making sure to practice what he preached, he made sure to work nearly twice as hard as he expected others to do. 

Of course, any good crown prince would have to listen to the needs of his people. Out of obligation more than anything else, the boy spoke to any servant he could get his hands on and listened carefully to their lives. This act brought him insight on the lives of all the people who served him. Some came from poor backgrounds and came to work directly for the king to provide for their families. Others came under pure devotion to their country, seeking nothing more than a chance to assist their liege directly. These stories made him swear to protect all the citizens of his homeland out of genuine concern and empathy, not just because it was essentially his job. His goal was to become adept with a sword by the age of 15 and directly start fighting bandits on his own, making sure no one under his watch was harmed. 

Despite his lack of any magical talent, he also trained with staves under the guidance of local Gerhardian priests and bishops. If he ever failed to fight, the best thing he could do was heal. While he eventually learned to use them, most of the more complex staves still evade his understanding. 

This dream would soon come tumbling down. At the mere age of twelve, Estrelia attacked Gerhard in an unprovoked assault. The reason for this was obvious to everyone. Lives were to be taken from them due to the petty grudge between the now princess Ariana and king Darius. The king had taken offense that his daughter had been thrown to the sidelines so easily, but was hesitant to attack. That is, until he came into contact with a certain church...

Gerhard's knights were preoccupied with increasing reports of attacks on small villages, all but the children being burnt to the ground. The castle's defenses were easily overcome. Not even the king himself survived the onslaught. Only the holy blade Tyfring and the prince himself were spare calamity. Both were taken by Estrelia. 

Filled with a chaotic mix of fear, sadness, and anger, the young prince awaits whatever trials are in store for him behind bars in Estrelia's prison.[/hider]