Name: Justain Royce

Race: Human

Faction: As of now he is loyal to the crown, by circumstance and oath.

Age: Fourteen

Class: Squire

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Motivation: For the time being Justain is a broken child, lost and confused and terrified for his life. There is a deep set anger against the crown hidden within his heart at the loss of his family. However, whatever honor he might have had was lost in his surrender, and his submission to the throne's demands. Young Royce longs to restore his honor, and reclaim his ancestral seat, to take up arms and destroy the Vanguard and the royal family, but how could one cowardly boy ever hope to rise against the might of the crown? Such dreams are only that, dreams...

Strengths: Perhaps Justain's greatest strength is his resourcefulness, or his sharp intellect, or even his gentle heart and fierce (if somewhat concealed) determination. He is someone who can see the big picture, and reflect wisely upon his choices, and although many might consider his reserved demeanor to be a lacking part of his character, Justain can, in a certain sense, utilize this to his benefit. Reasoning through his choices with well rationed intellect in situations where another might act rashly making important decisions through emotion.

Weakness: To place the charge bluntly, Justain is a craven, with just enough wits in his fear recognize the very unique predicament he is in. He is cowed, a defeated husk of his former self. Subservient to those who did him wrong, and doomed to scurry about like a slave to fulfill their bidding. Before it had been his greatest desire to serve a high office, and squire for the royal family, but now it is his punishment, a continuous reminder of his shame. In remaining alive and good standing it seems Justain has no boundaries of which he will not soil his already tarnished honor.

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Description:
A fair faced lad of tender years, Justain is moderate in both aspects of height and weight for a boy of his years. He has the golden hair of a Royce, alongside the fine tenor voice and grey eyes often associated with his house. All in all Justain is a handsome young man, lean and capable at a first glance, but then one starts to notice the cracks, hidden beneath the surface. His eyes are downcast, his words mumbled and cautioned, his shoulders drooped and his feet dragging along in slow hesitant steps. He acts scared around authority, and hurries about like a whipped dog, muttering the expected curtsies with little to no intensity.

Personality:
Well beneath the fear and awkwardness Justain displays so openly, lies the demeanor of a well meaning and kind individual. He is soft spoken, sincere, and respectful albeit slightly combative and insecure in nature. When it comes down to it Justain has all the qualities of a nobleman, but he resides in the mindset that he is deeply lacking as a warrior, neither courageous or gallant, and in a sense he fulfills his own self deprecating prophesy.

History:
The Noble House of Royce has long stood as loyal vassals of the Tricaelian Throne, serving them dutifully throughout the centuries. They are an ancient family, with a documentation and records of nobility going back many hundreds of years. It was often said that there was a no more loyal or honorable family than the Royce's, and not without good cause either. Which was why, in recent months when Lord Simmion Royce was executed for treason in the capitol it came as a shock and a grim warning for all the noble families. The late Royce's house, including his younger brother, Bar Royce, the now acting regent of the Royce castle levied and rallied together the joint Royce armies, calling forth all the retainers and knights to make a stand against Royal family, urging the other noble families to do the same. None did, and although Bar slew the first Vanguard knights to arrive at the keep, in search of the young son of Simmion, he knew his time was short. In short order the King's armies, led by his newly appointed Lord Commander arrived and laid siege to the castle, storming the walls and putting every Royce to the sword except one.

Justain, son of Bar Royce and the sole surviving heir to both the Royce household and all the titles within was captured on that day of slaughter, and forced to bend the knee to Prince Aaron, and surrender in full. Justain was all to willing to grasp at this lifeline, and clench on with all his might, doing anything and everything required of him by Prince Aaron. Justain was sure in that moment that he would be forced to give up his titles and take up permanent residence in the capitol's prisons, however in a moment of mercy, and ingenuity Aaron decided against this, detailing that to ensure that the House of Royce be restored to its former honor and loyalty Justain would squire for him, while the Royce household would remain under the stewardship of Sir Bennrick. This would ensure that Justain was close, and no friends of the fallen Royces could snatch him up and hide him, perhaps plotting another rebellion against the crown.

It was in this way, that young Justain Royce, son of a traitor found himself in the service of a prince, and returning to the capitol, as nothing more than a glorified hostage.

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