WIP

[hider=Manuel Skleros]
[u][b]Name:[/b][/u]
Manuel Skleros, Lord of the Free City of Ardaza

[u][b]Titles:[/b][/u]
The Many Faced, The Fowl ((pun pun pun))

[b][u]Type:[/u][/b]
Exarch

[b][u]Rival:[/u][/b]
(Given Archon/Exarch's long lives and time spent in the political sphere, you no doubt have a few enemies or those you dislike for one slight imagined or not. This is not always two-way and is optional though advised.).

[b][u]Appearance:[/u][/b]
[img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/db/47/fe/db47fe20c3f37a2cdd098ca5a87b294e.jpg[/img]

The idea of truly [i]knowing[/i] the look and build of an illusion wizard is a tenuous and often untenable one. When such a wizard has specialized in the art of tricking the throng for the better part of their life, the proposition is outright ludicrous. That said, Manuel has worked tirelessly to cultivate a recognizable image, a visual identity as it were. High and defined cheekbones, clean shaven but for a closely trimmed beard, perfect hair all but frozen in place, Manuel's visage is one that reeks of design and vanity, but is seldom forgotten. Of a somewhat above average height and seemingly fit build Manuel looks to project an image of class at all times, wearing the finest jackets and rings.

[u][b]Personality and Drive:[/b][/u]
Manuel is a conceited and petty man, and he has always been one. That having been said, he is not a fool. Perhaps a result of his former life as a street urchin, perhaps a result of some conscious effort, Manuel is a rigorously cautious man. While he may lack the vast knowledge or refined wisdom of other Exarchs, Manuel takes care in every action and often finds himself gaining the upper hand on account of this. Fickle, amoral, and often brutal in even the most trivial reprisals, Manuel ensures that his most depraved acts are carefully committed and even more carefully buried.

Once having nothing and now having gained everything, Manuel is surprisingly content in his position. Regardless of how grasping he might seem, for the moment Manuel is free to enrich himself beyond the wildest dreams of most men; for him this is more than enough. To Manuel what is good and just is what makes his pockets swell, and with the Empire looking south he would prefer to be exactly where he is. So long as the money flows the right way and he is left to his little fiefdom, then all is well and right in the world.

[u][b]History:[/b][/u]
Born in the slums of the Imperial port city of Ardaza Manuel's earliest memories are those of being a nameless orphan, begging on the streets and suffering the beatings of those that fed him if he didn't produce enough coin. For many years he was nothing, an urchin, a rat, a beggar. Once he was old enough begging became pickpocketing, and sooner rather than later he was the one giving out the beatings. Life seemed to be following the predictable path, and somewhere inside he loathed it.

The moment that would change Manuel's life came when his distaste for his circumstances led to him working up the nerve, and the gang, to rob a local Magician. Even though everything would change from that day forward, Manuel would never recall the old man's name, nor those of the starving boys the wizard took with him into the dark. Taking the old wizards tomes Manuel first taught himself to read out of curiosity, then he taught himself magic out of pragmatism. In the beginning the tricks were simple, a ball that doesn't exist appearing under the cup you want it to be under, an obnoxious fog before the eyes of a mark blinding them before the gang moved in. That was just the beginning.

Before long Manuel was hustling card games, cheating travellers of all their coin and slipping away before they got drunk enough to do something about it. He became known in the taverns of the port and fewer and fewer would play, soon enough forcing him to escalate yet again. Manuel's first real rise to prominence came when he led a small ring of illusion magicians to con hundreds of sailors. Incredible deals would be offered for nonexistent goods, and the fools that swabbed decks all day would fall for the ruse time and time again. His ring of underworld amateur wizards expanding Manuel soon came to be a figure known among the huddled poor of Ardaza. He was a thief who would trick anyone with anything and for no reason at all, but he was a problem for the poor alone.

That changed when the Exarch of the city discovered Manuel's ring fixing the local gladiator matches. Apparitions would be used to distract or throw off one of the fighters as an interested party desired, and Manuel and his gang would make off with a share of the gambling profits. Once his little operation began to affect the upper classes Manuel's time was short, and he knew it. Eventually the hammer fell and while his men were arrested one after another Manuel spent weeks in hiding, studying as best he could while his magic grew with the word of his crumbling gang spreading. When the city guard finally cornered him, Manuel was more than ready. Using all he had learned he managed to trick the thick skulled soldiers into arresting a chicken instead. Once news of the bird attacking the city's Exarch after it had been thrown at his feet spread, Manuel became a powerful wizard in his own right. The humorous tale spread far and wide, feeding his ability to trick the senses of others.

Impressed by the young man's potential the cities Exarch offered to take Manuel in, to bring him out of the filth and shadows and to appoint him the successor Exarch. It was an offer only a fool would refuse, and the hundreds Manuel sold out in taking it meant nothing to him. Even when they would come after him in the years to come most would find themselves stabbing their spouses or mothers instead of their arch enemy. Manuel had gotten what he wanted, he had escaped the fetid lower classes and in doing so broken away from the typical path he’d come to loathe more than anything.  Nothing would reduce him to what he was.

Time went on, and eventually Manuel was able to orchestrate the demise of his former master.  It was done subtly, slowly, and though many suspected it the day the old Exarch tripped down the stairs and didn’t stop his fall was never connected to Manuel.  Ascending to Exarch Manuel quickly looked to sate the taste for finer things he’d acquired.  At first he ran the city much like those before him, but over time he saw where there was more profit to be made.  Deals could be made with certain shipping companies and merchants.  Soon enough inexplicable taxes came to levied on some companies, whereas others found themselves docking without fee.  Those who didn’t pay the new taxes found that contraband was all but omnipresent on their ships, and though they avoided criminal charges they were left to go to the next port without food or cargo.  Local merchants soon found themselves the sole recipients of city contracts, so long as they made sure to send a gift to the Exarch every so often.  With time these new arrangements came to be enforced by a city guard that looked out for dissent as much as they looked for crime.  Those complaining too loudly found reason not to, and those stealing from the favoured local merchants found themselves without their heads.


Ardaza is still the major trading hub it's always been, even with what many would call the Exarchs corrupting influence, and Manuel's rule has been left unmolested by the aloof Archon of Change.  Manuel has managed to live comfortably, and has perhaps mellowed somewhat from his fiery youth.  He still gets what he wants, but these days he’s far more careful in covering his tracks.  Ardaza looks forward to the new southern war many expect will come any day, and Manuel looks forward to the next arrangement he’ll make. 

[u][b]
Armaments:[/b][/u] 
(These are a list of powerful magic relics that belong to your character. They can be a weapon, piece of armor, jewelry, etc that have some unique power. These are not just mere enchanted items, they have been given further power from the virtue that you wield them. Give each one a small bit of lore, how you got it, and most importantly what they do. Think the artifacts from D&D or most any item used by heroes in Warhammer.)


[u][b]Abilities:[/b][/u]
(What powers does your Archon/Exarch have? This includes magic or anything of the sort. Exarch can be pretty damn powerful, Archons many times more so, so feel free to play around. I will be taking special notice of this category, however, so don't be a brat with this freedom.)  
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