Lucien Ramius is a remarkable example of the heights even one of common birth can rise to within the nuturing arms of the One Faith. Born in an isolated fishing village on Couviere's coast, Lucien's father was unknown and his mother died in childbirth. With none in the poor village wanting an extra mouth to feed, he was taken to the nearest church of the One Faith and presented as an orphan. Taken in by the church, Lucien was given his name, and raised from a young age to become a servant of the One.
Lucien proved a bright and capable young boy, eagerly learning his lessons and making friends among his peers. It was no surprise when he was chosen to travel to Sanctum itself to continue his studies and become an ordained Priest. Much like before, Lucien proved a very apt pupil, and at the age of 19 (younger than most) he was ordained as a Priest of the One Faith. His first assignment was to serve as the assistant to another rising star within the church, one who was also of common birth but rising rapidly through the ranks despite it. His given name was Alphonse Bordeaux. Recognizing Lucien's talent, the two men became fast friends, and over the course of the next several years, their fortunes were seemingly irrevocably tied to one another, with Lucien seeming to ascend the ranks almost right alongside Alphonse.
Lucien's duties often took him far afield from Sanctum in the intervening years. As a senior Priest he ministered to villages and towns along Couviere's coast, even returning to the site of his birth. As a Bishop he played a large role in helping to bring about High Priest Alphonse's great coup when the independent state of Pacitta was created, being part of the Church's diplomatic delegation and again serving as Alphonse's right hand in the negotiations. For his efforts, Lucien was raised to the rank of Archbishop just a few short years after the founding of Pacitta, achieving the rank at the astoundingly young age of 35 years old. Then in 1851 IE, he again was part of the One Faith's negotiating party when the Thirty Years' War was finally brought to its' anticlimactic end. It was there that he made the acquaintance of King Maris l’Valdan of Couviere and his wife, Queen Cynthia.
Impressed with the young Archbishop, King Maris requested of Alphonse that he be allowed to return with them to Couviere to serve as his spiritual advisor. Knowing that Couviere's current Cardinal was greatly advanced in age, and seeing the opportunity this presented his old friend, Alphonse acquiesced, and Archbishop Lucien Ramius traveled to Rovilon and took up residence there. He soon took over much of the day-to-day affairs that the aged Cardinal was too infirm to attend to, and became popular with the nobles of the city (and beyond). One notable exception, however, was House l’Corren, who steadfastly followed the spiritual lead of the Archbishop of their own cathedral, a fellow whom Lucien had had considerable personal conflict with in the past, and who did not approve of Lucien's lifestyle, which was rapidly growing more and more opulent.
Eventually, in 1857 IE, Couviere's old cardinal finally passed, and despite the protests of the Archbishop of Murnord, Lucien was elevated to the position of Cardinal of Couviere. He continued to offer wise counsel to King Maris, whose mind began to fade with the onset of age. Sadly, a bit of a rift developed between Cardinal Ramius and the Crown Prince Jean-Paul, which has yet to be repaired. After a failed assassination attempt in 1859 IE, King Maris gave Cardinal Ramius permission to gather his own band of protectors. This "Cardinal's Guard" soon was dogged with rumors of dark deeds and less-than-honorable character, but none could find proof of these accusations, and the Cardinal's reputation barely suffered at all for it.
Cardinal Ramius advised neutrality and a "hands off" approach to Rivana's Succession War, though he did advocate bolstering the southern defenses of Couviere, primarily held by House l’Saigner. This infusion of resources endeared the Cardinal to House l’Saigner, and inspired at least the appearance of greater devotion to the One Faith (though all remain skeptical, given the l’Saigner's reputation). As the Succession War ended and a semblance of stability seemed to settle over the Edge, Cardinal Ramius turned his attention inward, preparing an ambitious initiative to further cement the faith of Couviere, and perhaps provide a model which could be used in Rivana and Pacitta as well, helping to bolster the strength of the Church across the Edge.
