Name: Avenie Le Moal
Age: 21
Race: Eternian
Role: Attendant

Appearance:


Avenie wears dresses befitting her position as a high-ranking servant, fine silks with beads and colorful sashes. Even so, she never comes close to outshining nobles, her dresses finely crafted but subtle and plain. When acting as the prince's attendant, she wears a uniform bearing the Royal colors—a plain white gown with a low v cut at the neck and long sleeves with a dark green sash about the waist.

When out chasing the prince, she typically has to don a long, dark green cloak to hide her clothing.

Personality:
There was a time when Avenie was a meek and mild creature. She trusted too much and asked for too little and resolved to do such things no more. At her core is a very unprofessional love for the Royal family—she does not serve them out of a sense of duty, rather, a familial sense of responsibility. Though she has spent her life performing menial chores and services, she takes to those duties with utmost seriousness and an almost unnaturally intense attentiveness to detail.

At her best, Avenie is a polite, gentle, and efficient servant of the prince. At her worst she is a vindictive cynic, very capable of abusing her power to root out enemies of the prince. Although she rarely, if ever, drops her guard, she smiles often and is skilled at making conversation.

Skills:
As a servant, Avenie has been trained to personally perform any task a royal might require—one does not become a personal attendant overnight, after all. She sews, cooks, launders, and knows just about every cleaning remedy out there.

Avenie also has a strong sense of culture and fashion. She's the one who advises the prince's wardrobe and carries around his notes. Thanks to her absurdly accurate memory and well used downtime, she has become something of an understudy to the prince, memorizing cultural nuances for greeting members of foreign nobility and navigating Eternian law.

Avenie has a few creepy habits, one of which is an obsession of poison. She claims it’s so she can catch any toxins that might come the prince's way, but then she also carries vials of the stuff herself. Add that to an unexplained penchant for practicing with throwing knives… but that’s just a ridiculous rumor, right?

Weapon:


Armor:
None.

Notable Possessions:


Brief History:
Avenie's childhood was a little fairytale. Though she was born a commoner in a long line of royal servants, the Eternian queen treated her—and the rest of the children born among castle staff—like her own. Queen Vertrude was graceful, beautiful, and kind, even going so far as to encourage personal relationships between her family and the serving staff. Avenie was one of the prince's playmates at the time for largely this reason.

As for her father—who could say? She was born as a product of a love affair between her mother and a Reni merchant, who she has never met. Her mother still speaks fondly of the brief love affair, and even dreams of living in Renanon someday—wishful thinking that has kept the mother and daughter at odds for some time now.

At any rate, things were going well, with Avenie taking to her servant duties like a fish to water. She learned to read and write and became an avid reader, particularly fond of non-fiction. Tragedy struck when a visiting Reni councilman visited; much of his profit had been ruined by rice tariffs, and as reparation, he took Queen Vertrude's life during a personal visit and fled. In the ensuing political chaos, the councilman was accused of being an Aethern plant, but in order to keep in good standing with their treaty, the Reni government denounced the councilman, exiled his family, and sold what little remained of his land.

Avenie hasn’t been the same since. She resolved to protect the remaining family as best she could and trained with single-minded resolve to become a worthy attendant of the prince’s. Though she made no friends in the process, she had the respect of her peers. Few were surprised, despite her young age, when she replaced the prince's dismissed attendant.

Name: Dyan Whitewing (Pronounced Dee-ahn)
Age: 19
Race: Aethen
Role: Alchemist

Appearance:


Personality: Dyan, to those who don’t know him, is a surly and abrasive individual. It doesn’t matter what social status you are; he’s going to speak plainly. He might hold his tongue if he considers them a friend, but such people are rare. Around animals, though, it’s a different story – cats in particular. With them, he’s gentle and kind, and he doesn’t mask his emotions. He is more comfortable around them than people, that’s for certain.

Skills:

Potions Master – As long as he has the right herbs or powdered gemstones at hand, Dyan can make a powerful potion. He keeps a pouch on him for this reason with a few of the less common ingredients.

Rune Worker – Alchemists know the power of runes, and utilize them to make enchanted items. As long as there’s a magic gemstone on hand, he’ll be able to enchant something. Though, he has only memorised a few, so you’ll need a compendium of runes as well if you want something more complex.

Scientist and Alchemist – Dyan is devoted to his studies, scientifical and alchemical, and strives to expand his knowledge. While sometimes he trips up on his work, he eventually gets past it.

Weapon: A carved rowan staff. Dyan isn’t quite a fighter – he can use his staff to keep people at bay, and has before, if the scratches in the wood speak for anything – but he isn’t what you’d call skilled on the battlefield.

Armor: - A leather jerkin with metal plates to protect the vital organs. And steel bracers and greaves to protect his wrists and shins.

Notable Possessions: A simple band of twine, to be worn around the wrist. On it are three beads of sea glass – one red, one blue and one green – to remind him of his sisters.

A potion pouch – as mentioned above, he keeps some ingredients on him in case they’re needed. He also has three spaces to store vials, so he can have some on hand if needed.

A black cat called Kali. She’s not Amber’s cat, but she is one of her kittens.

Brief History: Dyan was born into a simple life, on an Aetherdale farm with his family. He had three older sisters, and no brothers, but he didn’t mind that. After all, he had the animals. Given he wasn’t actually strong enough in his younger years to help with things like the harvest and tilling the dirt, it was often his job to watch the goats, the chickens, or the cows – it didn’t require much bulk.

When he was ten years old, the local lord had raised the taxes, causing outrage among the townsfolk. His family, though they’d never had much difficulty, would be unable to pay the tax for long. And so, came a difficult choice. To sell their land or their animals, which made up their livelihood... or to sell their children into slavery. Dyan can’t remember whether the choice they made was out of desperation, fear, or lack of morals. And he doesn’t want to.

He ran into the forest, with only the clothes on his back, and his wits. It was a long time before he stopped. He doesn’t remember what happened then, either. But he woke up in a ramshackle old hut, being tended to by an elderly woman with warm, twinkling eyes. She’d found him unconscious whilst gathering herbs, and had brought him to her home among the trees. She offered to guide him home, but he told her he had nowhere to go back to. His story was soon told, and he learned hers in turn; she was named Amber, and she lived here in the forest because the townspeople were suspicious of her, and she had no desire to disrupt the peace. But, she offered him a place to stay, and a bed to sleep in. It wasn’t for free; he would have to search for the herbs with her, feed the geese she kept, and stop the cat from eating aforementioned geese.

He eventually grew to consider her his new family, and she him. He slipped into calling her his Grandmother almost without realising. A few months after his stay began, he secretly watched her use the herbs they’d gathered to make a potion of some kind. But, predictably, he was discovered the next time he tried. While angry at first, she could neither fault his curiosity, nor blame him for wanting to know. At first, she only let him watch. Then she taught him how to make a basic salve. Soon enough, she was teaching him all she knew. Potions, runes, biology, even a little chemistry. He studied by her side for years.

And then she got ill. Despite his desperation, and every potion he made for her, nothing seemed to work. She got sicker, and weaker. And eventually, she told him that when she died, to travel to Eternia, and seek audience with the Royal Court. He would have to give her name; Amber Roselia Whitewing. If any there remembered her, then they would take him on as an alchemist.

Four weeks later, he was standing over her grave. He stayed for a fifth, then began his journey. Selling the geese and all the potions they had stored, he once again was without a home. At least this time, he had more than just the clothes on his back – taking with him Amber’s five only books, her ring as proof he knew her, and her cat, Dusk, and the clothes on his back, he bought passage on a ship to the Eternian lands. Eventually he got to the court, presented himself and his proof, and well...settled in. He made a name for himself quite quickly, even gaining the position of a royal retained alchemist, despite having only limited knowledge. He continues to study to this day, always aiming to better his knowledge.

Name: Lady Camile, Countess Camile
Age: 26
Race: Genivan
Role: Noble (Countess of Vayu)

Appearance: Camile has a tall, slender stature, standing at 5'10 with slim, toned arms and legs. Freckles are scattered just below her emerald green eyes and along the bridge of her nose to her high cheekbones that help to resemble her soft expression and angular facial structure. Camile's short, curly hair is sun-kissed by the hot sun and is generally accessorized by an ornament such as a beautiful hair clip, or a small head-piece. Camile's fashion tends to be green like the jungle such as her everyday dress or her more revealing gown when the weather is more humid and hot. She also has other dresses that have no color scheme, but she often accessorizes them with emerald or other green jewelry. Camile will also wear an insignia, in different sorts of fashions, that resembles her loyalty and hierarchy of the Vayu city-state.

Personality: Camile is kind-hearted, stout, and generous, doing her utmost best to keep the consistently warm comfortability of her people -- often resulting in showers of gifts from the civilians, whether it be beautiful jewels or random, handmade items. She is admired by, not just the rest of the hierarchy of Vayu, but from many of the other leaders among the royal order of all of Geniva. While keeping her enemies few, she tends to extend her kindness too far, even to her enemies. With a big, forgiving heart, her anger can be peaked when the people of Vayu are threatened, or even Geniva entirely -- especially when it's reoccurring.

Skills:

• Knowledge of multiple languages
• Good understanding of people and social interactions
• Diplomacy
• War strategy
• Proper education (i.e reading & writing)
• Trained in melee combat with various short swords and daggers as well as hand-to-hand combat
• An understanding of other various weapons, but not as skilled
• Great at hosting guests, celebrations, and parties
• Pleasant singer
• Harp player

Weapon: Camile has a beautiful sword and dagger that is crafted by the best smiths of Vayu and from high-quality metals of Geniva. The matching weapons belong to Camile, and to Camile only, being the only set of it's kind, appearance and all.

Armor: Camile's armor is crafted by a renowned armor smith for his high-quality work and his beautiful artistry with metals. The armor contains distinct details that symbolize her nobility during battle. The armor contains few scrapes and dents from only engaging in battle a handful of times, but also from several repairs post-combat. The armor also contains a metal-skirt, covered in a layer of brown material, with heavily armored greaves. Although Camile makes an appearance in most battles, she stays along the backlines at the side of the war commander, helping to manage the battle and give pointers, only pursuing combat when deemed necessary.

Notable Possessions: Camile contains several hair ornaments such as tiaras, clips, and crowns. Among the many jewels she possesses, her armor and weapons are notable and related to her. Camile also has a very well-carved and crafted harp that she is seen playing few times at ceremonies and gatherings, not frequently exercising her skill with the instrument. Camile also wears an amulet infused with magic to fend off the jungle's severity of poisons and toxins from all sorts of plants and insects, possessing this item a few months after being accepted into the castle.

Brief History: Camile was adopted into the hierarchy by Vayu's best and most revered war commander at the age of 4 years old when her biological, farm-owning father, and friend to the war commander, died during battle. Her father consistently participated in battle as militia, but never deciding to join the military from his love of agriculture. She was welcomed into the castle with open arms from being such a loving and kind child, gaining the favor of the people rather quickly by being optimistic and having a warm spirit. Camile became a fast learner in religion, nobility, and diplomacy -- being taught first in how to lead rather than in combat. Being raised primarily by the war commander, she was taught the ways of battle simply by observing their strategies and asking several questions out of curiosity.

Once Camile grew older, her place in the castle became unknown, not having any form of noble title to go by. They first gave Camile the rank of a Baronet, having little, to as small as none, of an influence on decisions, but having enough reverence to attend important meetings and learn what decisions needed to be made to keep a kingdom prospering. After having a much bigger impact on important decisions and working hard to make a positive difference in the kingdom, she began to climb the ladder of the royal order -- although she was already placed at a relatively high rank. Camile then became comfortable at her rank of Marquess, consistently gaining the benevolence of the people and having effects on royal decisions, but as time went on, the Count of Vayu soon passed from illness.

A rough time came to the nobility of Vayu, believing that the new Count should be someone of royal blood, and somebody that dwelled in the castle since birth. Conspiracies came up against Camile and some discriminated against her from her origin prior to her noble-life, but the favor of the people promoted Camile and suggested her as Countess. As jealousy and envy began to die down, and Camile responding only with kindness to the hatred she received, it was then that she was crowned Countess of Vayu. Throughout various battles and harsh-decision making, she soon began to gain the favor of her fellow nobles and won over their respect.

Throughout the hardships and victories of the Vayu empire, Camile often visited Eternia, befriending many of their nobles and citizens, resulting in the respect of foreigners as well. Intrigued by their culture and their vast, and better, understanding of medicines, magic, and technology, Camile sometimes returned with new ideas to further advance the overall practicalities of Vayu. This also aided in her appreciation from the city-state.

Appearance:
The most striking feature of the young knight Elyas is his build. He stands at 192cm tall, his lean and well-muscled body evidence of a life of training. Thin but strong facial features allow for smiles that haven't fully lost their boyish charm equally as much as they allow for sharp glares that intimidate and command respect. Pale blond hair, blue eyes that often appear gray, and pale skin reveal the man's Aethen heritage, of which he is as proud of as he is proud to be a citizen of Eternia.

Personality:
Elyas is an immensely earnest individual who demonstrates all the honor and sense of duty that one would expect from a person who’s known no other lifestyle than that of a knight’s. While he’s a passionate being to his core, years in the public eye due to his position as the Prince’s personal guard has taught him to maintain a composure that radiates chivalry and confidence—though the passion he feels is always there, just beneath the surface. When in more private scenes with those he is close to, he’ll allow himself to be more like his natural self—lively, fun-loving, and a much better partner to have for a night of drinking.

He very much looks up to those who are well-educated, like the Prince. While he isn’t a quite a dolt himself, having plenty of common sense and street smarts, the bulk of his own education was focused on combat. It impresses him greatly how the Prince’s family keeps track of and runs an entire kingdom. Elyas’ own duty, in comparison, requires far less brain power. This admiration is what originally convinced the boy of his Prince’s ability to lead him, and after so many years, that feeling has only grown. Elyas firmly believes in the Prince, and would see no one else succeeding the current King of Eternia.

The darker side of Elyas’ personality rears its head when he is faced with failure; he does not deal with it well. It’s these times when his desire to be a perfect knight shows itself to border on near-insanity—the young man will run himself into the ground to avoid failing, not only never knowing when to quit, but simply never considering such a thing as an option. After any failures, he subjects himself to even more training than usual, viewing it as punishment for his mistakes. When he is experiencing one of these laments, trying to comfort him and tell him things are fine is one of the few ways to get him to lash out in anger, though the feelings are still more directed at himself than anyone else.

While he lives with impossibly high expectations of himself, and is exceedingly hard on himself for not meeting them, they do push him to be one of the most impressive knights in Eternia, even at his relatively young age. He finds the vast majority of his own happiness in the happiness of others, and while such a mindset comes with it's own set of problems, it undeniably makes him an excellent ally and friend. A stalwart companion, there are few one would rather have by their side.

Skills:
Proficient in many styles of combat, Elyas can improvise and use nearly anything at his disposal to engage others in battle. He excels most with a sword, a spear, and his own limbs. He'd also call his endurance and general refusal to give up a skill, as it's something he finds pride in.

Thanks to all the odd jobs he gladly helps out with, he's picked up the skill of being a quick learner, which comes in handy. If you want him to get something done, tell him what he needs to do once, and worry no more as he heads off to fulfill the request.

Being somewhat of a blockhead thanks to his upbringing, however, he doesn't have any skills that require a more delicate hand. He can write mostly fine, but his handwriting itself is akin to chicken scratch and is quite literally illegible to all but his mother, his teacher, and the Prince; the three of whom have spent enough time reading said chicken scratch to be able to decode it. While he enjoys music greatly, and often tries to get a performer to play during his training sessions, every instrument he's ever laid eyes upon confuses him greatly—how do strings produce such pleasant sounds? He mostly understands the science behind it, but still finds the phenomenon amazing. He'd rather just enjoy the product instead of thinking about how it's made, truth be told.

Weapon:
The one weapon always on his person is a sword passed down through the Millesol family, given the name of 'Soleil Levant.' Infused with magic that prevents it from ever rusting, dulling, or staining, Elyas views the unyielding blade as analogous to the knight he wishes to be.



Armor:
Rather simple in design, Elyas only wears his full suit of armor when he knows ahead of time that he will be entering combat. Most of the time, he foregoes the chest piece and helm to allow himself an easier time moving around in his daily activities. The outside armor itself is simply well-constructed and of high quality, but the black undergarments he wears beneath it are infused with magic, similar to his blade. The magic grants the fabric greater resistance to pierces and slashes, to help keep his insides inside, but it doesn't help with blunt trauma.




Notable Possessions:
Other than his blade, none that he keeps on his person. He's far more inclined to become attached to objects gifted to him than anything else, especially if the gift came from a person close to him.

Brief History:
Elyas' path in life has been straightforward, if not easy. From the moment he was born, his lifelong duty was decided for him—luckily, it suited him just fine. He began his training as a knight specialized in the protection of a specific charge from nearly the moment he learned to walk, and was assigned to the King's second son when he was only ten years of age—this was more to get the two boys used to each other than anything else, though Elyas did manage to prove some competency in his duty of keeping the Prince safe even at that young age.

Only a few months later was Elyas' father killed while protecting the King himself. An incredible knight known throughout not only Eternia, but the world, Sigric Millesol was nearly completely bested on that night. Though the man managed to kill the assassin and save the King's life, he succumbed to his wounds hours later.

Despite always knowing that his family's line of work carried a great risk of death, the event shook the young Elyas greatly, and marked a shift in his view of the world. He had only ever heard praise for his father from those who knew of him—indeed, the boy was foolishly conditioned to view his father as a nigh-invincible and infallible man. As the perfect knight.

Evidently, he had never been 'perfect,' and as good as he may have been, it hadn't been enough. In an attempt to cope with the loss, the young Elyas came to resent his father. The boy believed that a great knight would sacrifice life and limb for his charge, and the people of his kingdom, if need be. But a greater knight—while willing to do the same—was strong enough to overcome any challenge intact, to protect another day. Sigric Millesol had failed at being greater, and had left his family and the King behind because of his failure.

Now always in the shadow of his deceased father, Elyas worked himself to the bone everyday of his life to be the best knight he could be. The idea of chivalry and protection of the weak became something of an obsession for him as he chased an impossible perfection, all too willing to sacrifice his own mind and body for those around him, while desperately fighting to hide any signs of weakness. He eventually grew aware of his oft self-destructive tendencies as the years passed, but he found pride in them, as they fit his definition of a perfect knight.

His training only got more rigorous as he reached an age where he was expected to be fully capable of protecting the Prince, and he welcomed it. A life filled with nothing but brutal practice began to bear fruit as Elyas experienced his first real battles and managed to come out alive each time, only more motivated to kill any flaws in his technique and any weakness in his body.

Pushing himself so hard, it seems like a dozen new bruises grow on his skin every day—minor injuries that he wears like badges of honor; proof that he’s grown a little more capable of keeping the Prince and Eternia safe that day.

Name: Rayna Cessair
Age: 32
Race: Genivan
Role: Beastmaster

Appearance: Standing at 5’9”, Rayna is lean and lithe in appearance. Her skin is a rich brown, her irises a brown dark enough to appear black, and her dark hair falls in dense, wayward curls to mid-back. Her bearing is proud, demanding, and somewhat domineering. Her features rarely reveal much expression, but have strong and clear lines.


Personality: Rayna is, in many ways, much like the beasts she treats. Her moods change like quicksilver, though she has long since learned to obscure the telltale symptoms of emotions. She feels more than others - more rage, more euphoria, more sorrow. She is never merely upset or pleased, but rather tumbles into the extremes. Her anger, when it comes, strikes hard and fast and leaves devastation in its wake. It is not merely the cutting edge of her tongue that others need to worry about, in such instances.

Despite these polar moods, to others she is a quiet, reserved woman who offers the least amount of information necessary and responds to questions in a dry, literal matter that often frustrates others. She strives to keep her emotions contained, occasionally disappearing for days due to the efforts required. In a crowded room, she easily becomes hard to notice - and perhaps would be all but invisible but for her reputation as beastmaster. Despite the title seeming self-explanatory, the position itself and the eccentric people who have ended up taking up the role have always inspired wariness and curiosity. Rayna is no less an oddity, but her closed expression do not welcome questions.

The intensity of her stare and her ability to give an individual her undivided attention makes it difficult for other humans to interact with her, resulting in a seclusion that while not initially sought after, has become welcome and comfortable. She is slow to trust, considering humans the most devious of beasts. Her instincts, closely listened to and heeded, are uncanny and rarely lead her astray.

Skills:
- Animal behavior and training
- Animal husbandry
- Animal medical care
- Hunting
- Tracking
- Archery
- Swordplay

Weapon:
- Bow: recurve, 50lb draw weight
- Short sword: well-used, worn, and much beloved for many more uses than squabbles.
- Various beasties

Armor: Leathers are Rayna’s choice of armor - she is not a warrior and does not need nor want the weight of metal weighing her down and announcing her every move. Her ability to move with ease, speed, and silence are all what allow her to work best with beasts. She usually wears muted shades of grey, brown, and green.

Notable Possessions:
- Few small knives for dressing, wood whittling, dining, etc.
- Leather purse including such things as medicinal herbs, forceps, rope, needle and gut string, and similar small useful items
- A pair of large canines

Brief History: Rayna was born to a Genivan who had migrated to Aloya early in her pregnancy by way of an escort. Rayna had a fairly simple, normal childhood. If it was strange that she had an uncanny knack for understanding, communicating, and working with animals, her mother never said. The eccentric woman had come from the depths of the jungle because Rayna’s abilities were something foreseen - it was why Aloya had been necessary, after all. The loss of her tribe and the security of her home for the harsh climate of Aloya and the far less inclusive people was the price paid to put Rayne on her path as foretold.

Rayna grew up with a hundred small traditions and superstitions, a stern and demanding mother, and a schedule that required her to work hard to keep their farm afloat. This came in handy as Rayna's temperamental nature and wild moods flowered with the passing of years - the strict routines kept her busy, exercised, and secure. Rayna's erratic, violent temper was a trait known to her mother and was therefore handled quickly and fiercely. Every strong outburst was countered until Rayna learned to hide her emotions if she couldn't avoid them altogether - and that was a feat frequently beyond her abilities.

When she was old enough that her mother felt they could travel, she was taken to Eternia for education. The natural climate of Eternia appealed to Rayna and seemed to flame her innate abilities all the brighter - her merely useful skills became something worth noticing - welcomed by some, feared by others. She became something of a word-of-mouth animal doctor, behaviorist, and trainer, but Rayna wished for far more than that.

She was noticed by the royal family when she was 16 years of age - a strain of something highly contagious and potentially fatal swept through the stables, resulting in the deaths of several prized steeds before the obscure “animal doctor” was called in. Although she could not save every single horse, Rayna was able to stop the spreading of the virus by initiating a severe quarantine and working tirelessly to stabilize the animals. She soon found a cure to what ended up being a mutated strain of a virus she had seen back in Aloya. Her calm efficiency, take-charge behavior, and success resulted in her being offered several more jobs at the palace. After she had sufficiently proved herself, Rayna was brought in as the beastmaster’s apprentice. Two years later, the old goat elected to retire and left her in charge.

Name: Prince Judicael “Judah” Ollivier
Age: 26
Race: Eternian
Role: The Prince

Appearance:
Appropriately or not, Judah likes to think of himself as something of a swashbuckler and it shows. His features are defined but a bit delicate, he inherited his mother’s sharp chin and and cheekbones more than the prominent jaw and stern brow. He also inherited her slight frame, and though he trains hard and keeps himself fit he works to build muscle and keep it rather than to shed extra pounds. That isn’t to say that he’s not athletic--having tumbled his way through boyhood lessons with abandon and vigor, he has an excellent sense of balance and body that carries through in his bearing. Though he admires the sprezzatura of courtly nobility, Judah himself embodies a certain larger-than-life joi de vivre that makes him stand out amongst an otherwise stern and refined crowd.

While Judah may like to think himself a practical man, in truth he’s a showman and everyone knows it. Though his attendants do their best to keep him in the current fashions there’s always a buoyant air of slightly roguish good cheer both in the way he dresses and the way he presents himself, favoring hardy leathers and flowing, dramatic clothing that accentuates what he likes to think of as his daring charm. That he considers himself a swordsman is readily apparent from the cut of his gloves and boots and trousers, though the warmth that shows through his bottle-green eyes cuts through any pretense of malice like a knife.

Personality:
Much like his clothing suggests, Judah likes to be larger than life in the things that he does. Enthusiastic to a fault and more energetic than your average terrier, he brings a sense of energy and dynamism to the world around him that makes it nearly impossible to be bored around him. Indeed, he spends much of his time doing things rather than talking about them and vastly prefers action to discussion. Cutting his role-models from stories of swashbuckling privateers and debonaire gallants, he strives for a daring devil-may-care air of adventure that helps ingratiate himself with nearly everyone he meets. While many don’t appreciate Judah, finding his energy and preference for ‘winging it’ but few and far between are the people who truly dislike him.

While Judah would like to be a daring and free-roaming seeker of adventure, the reality of the world is a sour note to him that he doesn’t ignore but does his best to cover. Having lived through assassination attempts on his father and the assassination of his mother, Judah’s brave front is as much a cover for his awareness of mortality as anything else. He tries to balance living every day to the fullest with what’s best for the kingdom, and though he plays it off as just another chore in truth he feels the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders both deeply and personally. As a ruler he favors his people and likes to think of himself as one of them, which leads him both to make choices that favor their quality of life and their safety. While he cares little for details he at least understands the broad strokes of ruling and has a knack for both diplomacy and talent acquisition, preferring to find the right person for the right job and let them run things rather than take care of the day-to-day details himself.

The exception for this, of course, is anything that could be construed as a threat or a danger to his people. In true crisis Judah very nearly transforms, putting all of his considerable energy and talent towards whatever display of daring and bravery might slay the dragon or topple the army and ultimately save the day. When there’s something to be done rather than talked about it isn’t at all uncommon to see him doing it himself, whether that’s pulling children out of floodwater or fighting off bandits on the local trade road. A prince to Judah is someone who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and inspire his kingdom with personal heroics, and it shows.

Skills:
Judah was a young man afforded every opportunity of education and erudition in Eternia and it shows. A notorious dabbler, he knows a little about almost everything but approaches very few subjects with depth. He can talk with a blacksmith about the quality of iron and a woodworker about what chisels or bits would work best for the project, but much of his knowledge is theoretical rather than applied and in practice he tends to lack a grasp of the specific details to really buckle down on a given task. That said, there are a few subjects he approaches in depth and diplomacy and etiquette is one of them. He may wear his thoughts on his sleeve and approach even most diplomatic problems directly, but his straightforwardness proves a strength more often than not and he’s talented in using the sometimes dismissive view that others with political savvy have of him against them.

Of things that Judah is truly skilled at, both sailing and swordsmanship come easily to mind. Having always loved the waters off the island and the ships that sail them, much of his free time is spent roaming the seaside on either his own or others’ vessel, and the docks and trade cities along the coast are where he tends to disappear to (and get himself in trouble). In keeping with theme, he has studiously applied himself to his dueling lessons since he first picked up a blade and has gained a reputation as something of a bravo. Hardly a knight or a soldier on a battlefield, he instead is a master of the sort of showy dueling that combines panache and presentation with legitimately intricate bladework, footwork, and timing. Though famously able to best three men at a time with his trusty rapier, his style is one of finesse and motion and ill-suited for the battlefield at large and he relies on the magic of his blade to address heavier armor.

Weapon:
Milady, as Judah affectionately refers to his sword, is a long and thin rapier with a cupped guard and length crossguard. Made for dueling and having belonged to his first (and, he considers, best) instructor, it is a surprisingly unshowy weapon for a prince that Judah nevertheless treasures above all others. Appearances, however, can be deceiving, and the blade has been ensorcelled with impossible strength and flexibility. It is said to be so sharp that a proper thrust will slide clean through the breastplate of a man’s armor, though any swordsman will tell you that simply isn’t how sharpness works. That he can never seem to work the tarnish off the cup guard or the wear off the grip is, as far as Judah can tell, a part of its magic. He uses an entirely different and significantly more showy sword for ceremony, a bit embarrassed about his homely weapon of choice.

Armor:
Judah favors boiled leathers and dueling bracers over the plate and mail of the battlefield, and typically accentuates his mobility by eschewing heavier protection. Though on ceremony he may occasionally done the impeccable plate of his station, it has never seen battle and very likely never will.

Notable Possessions:
As a prince, Judah has a number of fineries, trophies, liveries and tomes that many would consider priceless and he considers fancy baubles. In truth the only things he particularly values is a particular ring of his mother’s that she wore before her death (and he now wears, in memorial) and a small brooch that his brother gave him as a young boy.

Brief History:
Judah has always been a vivacious and precocious young man. As a child he was witty and talented, accustomed to discussion and conversation with adults and enjoying their company over that of his peers. While his older brother took after his father, stern and wise and reserved, Judah was far more his mother’s son and she doted on him even as she chided his occasionally obnoxious antics. Eager to learn and more eager to show off what he learned, early attention and success bred in him a confidence and straight-forward approach to difficulty that would serve him well throughout his life. A fan of stories and storybooks, he idolized the swashbuckling bravos and rakishly charming pirate captains told to him by the common children he was allowed to play with over the more noble figures of his ancestry and legend, and it wasn’t at all uncommon to see him playing with training sword on hand on the castle ramparts, leaping from imaginary masts and rescuing young and swooning ‘damsels’. Though he knew that someday he might have to rule with real responsibility, it never hit him until the death of his mother that such a thing might come with costs of its own.

Assassinated by a visiting trader, her death in many ways shocked Judah into the realization of his lot in life. While before he had approached his studies somewhat flippantly, favoring swordsmanship and letting the rest slide, he began to realize that he would need more than storybook courage to succeed as he knew his mother would have wanted. If not a serious young man even then he at least approached his studies more seriously, gathering as he could an understanding of governance and the kingdom, and he was at risk of becoming a more somber individual until, ironically, the assassination attempt on his father that took the life of Sir Sigric Millesol. An unyielding and legendary knight who had dedicated himself to the king and kingdom, his death and the death of the guards in his service made Judah realize how little there really was keeping any of them from the grave. Rather than fall to despair he rose to the challenge, preferring to make the most of his time in the realms and make better the time had by the men and women of the kingdom.

Thus did Judah begin to roam, sneaking out of the castle to visit with what he was quickly learning were the real people of the kingdom. Disguised so as not to be noticed (though often noticed anyway), he became something of a hero for the common folk for his tendency to solve the problems that he found himself instead of allowing others to do it. Though he lacked his brother’s resolve or political ecumen he excelled as the face of his dynasty among the people, and for a time his antics were tolerated in spite of the danger they put him in. It wasn’t until a run in with a local pirate that very nearly took Judah’s life that his father and brother stepped in to put a stop to such shenanigans. Given a province to run and an estate to look after, the hope was that Judah would tame himself for the sake of others and learn to delegate rather than delve in himself.

It kind of worked.

Sort of.

Not really.