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Background
Manfred l'Faust is the longtime Archduke of Couviere, Duke of Ostvor, and one of the wealthiest men in Creation's Edge. He built his legend brick by brick during the Thirty Years' War when he kept his lands in order despite the ravages of wartime and helped steer Couviere toward a prosperous future. Today, he is renowned as arguably the greatest steward of his generation, and with the passing of King Maris l'Valdan, he is now the clear 'elder statesman' of the Kingdom.
Born the eldest son to one of the most powerful and prosperous men in Couviere, Duke Reinhardt l'Faust, Manfred nevertheless experienced a childhood filled with despair. He saw his family welcome two younger siblings into the world, only to have them taken away far too soon - the one dying in infancy, the other struck down by illness at the age of five. At his father's side, he learned that the nations of the Edge would soon be torn by war, as the crowns of Couviere and Rivana declared their hostility mere weeks after his eleventh birthday. Worst of all was hearing of the first casualties of the Thirty Years' War, the Farrants in Rivana killed in the "Battle of No Blades." A victory for Couviere, perhaps, but all young Manfred saw was that his mother's house had been devastated.
As the boy pursued his lessons as a squire, he saw his mother, the Duchess Alys l'Faust, waste away under the weight of her own depression. She passed a mere handful of years into the war.
Manfred remained at the Duke's side through the first decade of the conflict, and his keen mind gave him deep and growing insight as the battles raged on. He earned his spurs on the battlefield at the age of twenty, and though he was never a great warrior, he kept his wits about him and battled through a number of tough engagements in which a lesser man may have given up and surrendered. Though not gifted for military command, he made up for his limited talent with boundless energy and dedication, and those placed under his authority soon grew to respect the young knight. In time, he emerged as a capable leader, and he was always shrewd enough to surround himself with men with the right skills to supplement his own.
Duke Reinhardt was killed in battle in the summer of 1830, leaving a twenty-three-year-old Manfred as a somewhat bewildered Duke of Ostvor. As he had always done, however, he rose to the challenge in spectacular fashion, working tirelessly - and often foregoing sleep - to get and keep his lands in order. Just a few years later, he was chosen to serve as Archduke of Couviere, one of the youngest in recorded history. By all accounts, he was a compromise candidate, chosen only because the Dukes of Carsonne, Lonnaire and Murnord could agree on no one else. Once installed, however, he proved to be surprisingly capable in the role, immersing himself within the politics of the kingdom and building strong ties with the other Great Houses.
Manfred found his negotiations particularly fruitful with the l'Corren and l'Valdan, the latter of which resulted in a lasting friendship with Crown Prince (and then King) Maris. He was rather less successful in negotiating with the Dukes of Carsonne, and in 1827, he rather famously predicted that the Duchy would fall before the end of the war. A decade later, Manfred's forces were the first to quit the field at the Second Siege of Carsonne, as the Archduke proclaimed that the defense was a lost cause. Though initially forced to eat those words as the Duchy weathered the siege, he was prove right within half a year, as the Third Battle of Carsonne ended in a resounding victory for Rivana.
It was also around this time that Manfred married, selecting a noblewoman named Evelina to carry on his line. The match was well-made and their relationship affectionate, if rarely passionate. Still, it was fruitful, as she bore him two sons and a daughter within a half-dozen years.
The home front, however, was where Manfred did his finest work. His politicking successfully held the Duchies of Lonnaire, Murnord and Ostvor together even as war exhaustion mounted, and his skillful management of his lands meant that the armies of Couviere never lacked provision. His status as Archduke made him one of King Robert's closest advisers on domestic affairs, and he rarely led the king astray with his advice.
Like most others in the kingdom, however, he was taken off-guard when Bryar Haldis struck at Ostvor. Manfred rallied the defenses as quickly as he could, but though he was, by any reasonable standard, a competent commander, he could hardly match the Rivanan Archduke's military genius. His armies were defeated in several pitched battles, his villages burned, and his people wounded and demoralized. All he could do was give word to his counterpart in Murnord, Cesare l'Corren, and send the remnants of the Lightning Brigade to help turn the tide of the Haldis invasion back to Rivana.
As tirelessly as ever, however, Manfred set to work rebuilding Ostvor in the wake of Bryar's March, and his skill for domestic affairs made the process as quick as could be expected. He was also deeply involved in the negotiations to turn Carsonne into Pacitta, working alongside Crown Prince Maris l'Valdan, Lord Arturo Tracano and Archbishop Lucien Ramius - and, not coincidentally, securing several advantageous trade agreements for House l'Faust that would pass through the newly created City-State.
When the Thirty Years' War drew to a close, Manfred turned his attention fully to the matter of rebuilding his duchy - and also to managing his family in earnest. His eldest son, Osric, turned out to be precisely what he'd expected, earning his knighthood with flying colors and proving to be a capable steward and politician in his father's shoes. The spare, not so much. Alaric found himself frequently the target of his father's wrath, and though the Archduke at times allowed his second son some room to wander on his own, he always found that the young man ventured further than he'd like. Fortunately, his third child, Evelyn, capably stepped in in her middle brother's place, taking up the mantle of knighthood that he'd so casually discarded and earning on her own merit the blue cloak of a rider of the Lightning Brigade. The day his beloved daughter came into her own was one of the few when the legendarily stone-faced Archduke softened.
Manfred continued to work closely with Maris l'Valdan for many years, and together they led Couviere to a bright and stable future following the devastation of the war. In 1865, however, he was one of the first to see his old friend's rather rapid decline - Maris was growing old, true, but Manfred had reason to suspect there was more to it than that. However, he had little time to investigate on his own initiative, as his work as the Royal Steward seemed to constantly grow more and more overwhelming. By now well into his fifties, Manfred started to buckle under the workload, and though he still had some of the boundless energy he'd known in youth, the strain deepened his conservatism and shortened his temper. Some said that the aging Archduke was growing bitter.
Maris' death and the concurrent exposure of the Cardinal's schemes, though as much a tragedy for Manfred as anyone in Couviere, ultimately did a good deal to set his heart at ease. He was relieved of his position as Royal Steward in favor of the Dowager Queen, and though he outwardly bristled somewhat at the change, in truth he was relieved to have his workload so reduced. Though not yet sure what to make of the new king, Jean-Paul l'Valdan, he knows that he has laid a firm foundation for Couviere to remain strong for the next generation.
And so, the Archduke who has dedicated so much of his life to serving his Kingdom, looks to see how he can make certain that his House will remain as strong as ever when he is gone.
On the Grid
A tall, formidable man of about sixty years, Manfred l'Faust may be weathered by age, but he does not appear at all diminished by it. He stands tall at nearly six feet, with long, flowing locks of hair that is still mostly dark brown, though prominently silver in places. As befits one of the wealthiest men in Creation's Edge, he always wears carefully tailored garments made from the richest, highest quality fabrics, but his wardrobe is deliberately understated, designed to quietly impress but not to attract attention overmuch. His eyes are deep and dark, carrying with them the weight of many trying years, but that only redoubles the intensity of his gaze.
Personality Quirks
Dignified - Famously conservative by the standards of his House, Manfred views himself as the epitome of noble dignity, and he's largely correct. He speaks precisely, never letting formalities slip, and conducts his affairs with a strong sense of propriety. Some call him haughty, but in his mind, he is merely meeting the expectations of his station.
Forward-Thinking - As the architect of large-scale projects with far-reaching effects, Manfred certainly knows how to play the long game. His mind is always three steps ahead, considering every possible turn of events and planning accordingly.
Worldly - Though coming of age during wartime somewhat limited his ability to travel, Manfred is a l'Faust through and through. His years of dealings with the merchants of Pacitta and the emissaries of the enigmatic Etharian Empire, to say nothing of the diverse houses of Couviere, have given him a broad understanding of the world beyond Ostvor and an outlook informed by that understanding.
Skill Quirks
Avid Scholar: Political Lore Having served as Archduke of Couviere for decades and acting as a go-between for the dukes of Lonnaire, Murnord and previously Carsonne, Manfred has forgotten more about politics than most nobles will ever know. There are few men alive with a stronger grasp of political dealings in the northern kingdom, and he can draw upon that wealth of knowledge to see the far-reaching implications of seemingly minor happenings.
Head for Numbers Even among a House known for its skilled stewards, Manfred stands out as an exceptional talent, widely regarded as the greatest of his generation. His management of his lands and business interests is nothing short of legendary, and he was a key architect of King Maris l'Valdan's successful domestic policies during and after the Thirty Years' War.
Social Quirks
Privileged Position Manfred was one of the youngest Archdukes in recorded history when he first assumed the office, and he will leave it as one of the oldest. He was one of King Maris l'Valdan's closest advisers for many years, and he is expected to fill a similar role under his son Jean-Paul.
Renowned While not quite as prominent a figure as his contemporaries Maris l'Valdan or Cesare l'Corren, the Archduke is quite well-known in his own right. His eye for political and economic happenings is legendary - for instance, he famously predicted the fall of the Duchy of Carsonne nearly a decade beforehand - and his efforts to keep Couviere strong and prosperous despite the ravages of the Thirty Years' War have given him an excellent reputation throughout the kingdom.
Wealthy The l'Fausts were already the richest house in Couviere when Manfred became Duke, but his tremendous ability to manage that wealth has made them richer still. His careful stewardship of his lands and keen eye for business opportunities have made him the wealthiest man in the northern kingdom and perhaps the entire Edge - at least as far as licit resources are concerned.
Logs and Sundry
(1867-09-03) Ostvor Tourney: Awards Ball
(alaina alina alivia amara ariane cesare clara dalmer darren dawn devlin dixon elaida elrick emilia esyld evelina event gabriel leander log manfred mina orion osric quentyn raelyn raimond reese thaddeus tristan vorian)
(1867-09-02) Ostvor Tourney: Joust Finals
(alina alivia amara drusilla elrick emilia esyld event gabriel leander lero log manfred michael mina odilia orion raimond thaddeus)
(1867-08-28) Ostvor Tourney: Bracketed Jousts Night One
(alexandra alivia amara ariane cesare darren dawn devlin drusilla elrick emilia evelyn event gabriel joffrey jonathan leander lero log manfred michael odilia orion quentyn raelyn raimond thaddeus vorian)
(1867-08-27) Ostvor Tourney: Duels
(alexandra alina amara antonia darren devlin elrick emilia evelyn event gabriel gawain joffrey jonathan leander liam log manfred odilia quentyn raimond thaddeus tiadora vorian)
(1867-08-22) Ostvor Tourney: Free for All
(alexandra alina alivia amara ariane cesare clarke cynthia darren dawn devlin drusilla elaida elrick emilia esyld evelyn event gabriel gastogne joffrey jonathan leander lero log manfred mina orion quentyn raelyn raimond samuel thaddeus tiadora tristan vorian)
Relationships
Couviere
Rivana
Others
Prince Lucius Callidus : Inscrutable. Even I have never been able to make much sense out of matters in Venderos, and I suspect that is by its ruler's design. |