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Background
The late King of Couviere and Defender of the Faith, Maris l’Valdan was a wise and capable ruler whose reign was nonetheless beset with misfortune and setbacks, though he handled them well in hindsight. He was known to be pragmatic and just, but in has last years suffered due to the treachery of Cardinal Lucien Ramius, though he recovered in time to more-than-redeem his reputation with a spectacularly heroic death.
Maris Ulbrecht l’Valdan is the eldest son of the late King Robert Isaac l’Valdan. At his birth in 1798 IE, it seemed unlikely that Maris would ever be King of Couviere. His father was the brother of a King who already had an heir, the Crown Prince Alphonse l’Valdan. So Maris grew up largely being trained as a warrior. Still, Maris was a bright young man, and while he enjoyed his lessons in warfare and did well at them, he also showed a surprising interest in matters of stewardship, often accompanying his father on diplomatic trips and keeping keen watch while he attended to the business of both their King and their house. His was a tight-knit family, but above all they doted upon the youngest daughter of the family, a lovely young lady named Andrea.
At age 12, Maris was squired to another of his uncles, Prince Stephen l’Valdan, where he continued his education with an eye towards Knighthood. For a time, Maris strongly considered one day pledging himself to one of the Holy Orders, but in 1817 IE, tragedy caused him to suffer a crisis of faith. His beloved young sister Andrea fell from her horse, striking her head upon the cobblestone walkway she had been riding along. She lingered for three days before passing…she was only 13 years old. Andrea's death was a major blow to Maris' family, and though they remained close and supportive, a noticeable pall settled upon the household. Matters did not improve when a year later, the young King Alphonse died of a fever only 72 days after taking the throne. With Alphonse having no heir, and his only surviving sibling being a sister who had been wed to the Prince (now King) of Rivana a few years prior, it fell to Maris' father Robert to take the throne, as the eldest surviving sibling of the late King's father. Unfortunately, the King of Rivana now claimed Couviere was his by right, as to his mind, the inheritance should have fallen to his wife. Thus did the War of Thirty Years begin.
Maris was Knighted quite early in the war, at the age of 20. He had proven himself a capable if not spectacular combatant, and showed a knack for command, and particularly the management of logistics and personnel. He soon found distinction upon the battlefield, as well, winning battles in both the North and the South over the next several years. While none of his victories were spectacular routs or large enough to shift the tide of Couviere's two separate wars, by that time the war-weary people of Couviere were quite happy to hear of ANY victory. Perhaps more significantly, in the areas where Maris was assigned, the soldiers rarely lacked for food and basic supplies, as Maris developed more efficient systems of transporting and distributing supplies to the Rivanan front in particular. While it's unlikely to be recorded in the history books, it was quite likely Then-Prince Maris' influence that helped Couviere keep fighting considerably longer than it otherwise might have, and at the very least maintain the tenuous stalemate with Rivana in the south, though his success was more limited in the North, where the terrain and climate made everything more difficult.
While Prince Maris' competent command and management of the Southern Armies did garner him much respect from his fellow commanders, the man himself did not engender great love. He had always been an emotionally reserved young man, and as he grew to adulthood it made him appear cold and forbidding to most who met him. Possessed of an icy, piercing gaze and a baritone voice that could fill a room, Maris cut quite an imposing figure. He was known to brook no foolishness and had a reputation as a harsh disciplinarian (well deserved). Put bluntly, his abilities were admired, but he did little in the way of fostering camaraderie, and with few real friends save his younger brother and a few childhood companions, he became increasingly isolated.
Perhaps seeing the signs in his son, and with Maris having been so occupied with the war for so long that he had gone well beyond the usual marrying age, King Robert set out to find Maris a wife. King Robert pulled him from the front lines for a time, and sent him to Sanctum, to discuss possible marriage alliance with the wealthy noble families of the city-state. Being the Crown Prince of Couviere, the noble houses paraded their daughters before him, but after a few weeks of meeting with many ladies of House Toulan, Lancella, and Vetulus, Maris grew discouraged. He was more than perceptive enough to see that there was little genuine admiration from the ladies he was introduced to. His authoritative personality was off-putting, though of course many of the ladies pretended otherwise for the hope of a crown. He was staying in the home of House Lancella one night, unable to sleep for worry that he was going to fail in what seemed a very simple task, when he decided to take a walk in the courtyard gardens…and that was where he met her.
As he strolled, the sound of song reached his ears…a sad and sweet melody sung to such perfection that tears welled in his eyes. As he rounded the great fountain that dominated the center of the courtyard, he saw her. A young, beautiful, golden-haired young woman bathed in moonlight, seated on the edge of the fountain while she sang. Faced with such a vision, it was a moment before he noticed her dress was not-so-fine as many of the other ladies he had seen, and for a moment he feared her a simple servant. Thankfully, this notion was quickly disabused when he introduced himself, and then the pair of them sat at the edge of the fountain and simply spoke with each other until dawn's light started to creep across the courtyard. They spoke of their lives, and their hopes, and their pains. He told her of losing his young sister, she spoke of a beloved elder brother who had perished fighting in the north. Her name was Lady Cynthia Lancella, the youngest daughter of one of the poorest cadet branches of the Lancella family. Even though she was just past half his age, he felt a connection to the young Lady that he'd not shared with any beyond his family, and after just a few hours, his decision was made.
Cynthia had not been invited to meet the visiting Prince because it was already assumed she would devote her life to the Faith. Needless to say, both Cynthia's father and the Lord of House Lancella proper were more than a bit astonished when Maris and Cynthia went straight to them in the morning and Maris announced his intention to marry the young lady. If that astonished them, they were dumbstruck when Cynthia herself announced that she would forgo her prior wish to enter the service of the Faith and gave her full consent to the notion of marrying Crown Prince Maris. Not that her consent was necessary, but it removed any conflict from the minds of the gentlemen in question. More than willing to handle matters of dowry for his cousin's daughter if it meant a strong alliance with the King of Couviere, the Lord of House Lancella concluded negotiations with Maris quickly, with Maris securing the generous infusion of wealth into House l’Valdan's coffers that his father desired to keep funding the war, and securing a young wife to help secure the l’Valdan dynasty.
Maris and Cynthia were wed in 1831 IE, to much fanfare. Two years later, she would give birth to Maris' first son, Jean-Paul. He would not be the last, though, and over the course of the next twenty years Princess (and later Queen) Cynthia would give Maris several treasured children. She would be his strongest supporter, his trusted confidant, and both lover and closest friend forevermore. By the time Maris inherited the throne in 1845 IE, theirs was a bond that nothing could rend asunder, and a source of strength that would serve King Maris well in the trying years to come.
By the time both wars that he had inherited came to a close in 1851 IE, Couviere was very nearly in ruins. The vassals were upset because land had been ceded to Pacitta (and their gains in the north obliterated). The royal coffers were nearly empty from decades of war. House l’Corren, The military backbone of the Kingdom, had nearly been broken by House Haldis of Rivana. Fortunately, King Maris had a new ally in the soon-to-be Cardinal Lucien Ramius. Ramius was insightful and had a true genius for politics, and became fast friends with King Maris, as well as the Queen's personal confessor.
Despite all the adversity that faced him, King Maris embarked on a long-term rebuilding plan. Sadly, while his plans would indeed start bearing fruit within just a few short years, many of the vassals and certainly the common folk didn't seem to realize that things were getting better. House l’Corren replenished its' forces swiftly (though its' morale was longer in coming). The coffers of both the royal house and the vassals began to fill once more, but not so quickly as many would have liked. When King Maris chose to avoid invading Rivana while it was in the midst of its' own Succession War, accusations of weakness and cowardice dogged the King. Still, with his queen by his side and his friend the Cardinal working behind the scenes, Couviere continued to strengthen…quietly…patiently.
King Maris did take some comfort in being invited to attend the official coronation of Queen Alysande Tracano of Rivana. While surprised that the invitation was extended, he and Queen Cynthia accepted, and during the several days that they were guests in Sunsreach, Maris and the young queen engaged in long and productive diplomatic discussions, once again opening some of the trade routes between their nations and de-escalating some of the tensions that lingered between them. As a King that had become quite weary of war, the prospect of peace was a most welcome one. It surprised both monarchs that by the time they parted ways, they both carried a mutual respect for one another.
Unfortunately, much of Maris' last years were not kind to the King of Couviere. Thanks to a slow-acting poison administered by the assistant to the Royal Physician at the behest of Cardinal Lucien Ramius, Maris began to evidence symptoms of an addled mind. As his lucid days became further and farther between more and more power was quietly invested in the Cardinal, though Lucien was often quietly stymied in this by Queen Cynthia, Duke James l'Saigner, and to a lesser extent King Jean-Paul l'Valdan and the Archduke Manfred l'Faust, who often inadvertently foiled some of the Cardinal's smaller schemes without realizing they were interconnected (or, of course, engendered by the "good" Cardinal).
Amidst all this, the relationship between Maris and Jean-Paul began to fray as the Cardinal exerted more influence over the King, to the point of a screaming match sending Jean-Paul storming off to the North after Maris seemed to dither on the matter of dealing with the growing Tirian threat. Maris withdrew more and more over the next months, only making rare public appearances. He did greet the Rivanan delegation that arrived in Mai of 1865, which saw negotiations begin to wed his daughter Princess Aliza to the Champion of Rivana, the Viscount Jaren Cassomir. However, the (later revealed to be intentional) blundering of the Archduke Alyanna Gerrell stalled the negotiations somewhat, and in the interim the Cardinal took advantage of the King's addled state, and insinuated that the Viscount Cassomir was surely engaged in a sexual relationship with Queen Alysande of Rivana, which could only be seen as disrespectful to his daughter. Maris thus hastily cut off negotiations entirely (though Queen Cynthia wisely prevented any public condemnation from being issued).
In his next period of lucidity, Maris deeply regretted what he had done, fearing that he had destroyed the chance for lasting peace with Rivana. Fortunately, Cynthia had been secretly corresponding with Duchess Eleanor Greycen and together the three of them swiftly arranged for their daughter Ariane to marry the Heir to House Greycen, Lord Thaddeus Greycen. Maris attended the ceremony in Octobre of 1865 IA, in Pacitta, and was much more his old self. This small sign of hope however, was tinged with treachery when one of the King's Blue Cavaliers attempted to assassinate him with poison.
Queen Cynthia took control of Maris' ailing self, and placed him in the care of the Royal Physician, the Viscount Mattias t'Andalucci. During the course of his treatment of Maris, Mattias came to realize (due to the interactions of some of his treatments) that there was more than one poison affecting the King. Through careful investigation, he and Queen Cynthia were eventually able to trace the older, more slow-acting poison to Mattias' assistant, who under not-so-gentle and "alchemically-assisted" interrogation by the t'Andalucci revealed that he was being paid by the Cardinal. More importantly, during this time Mattias was able to not only save the King's life, but his mind as well, and while it took a few months in seclusion (during which the Cardinal seized more power and moved directly against the Crown Prince Jean-Paul), by Fevrier of 1866 the King was fully recovered, and not a moment too soon.
When Maris emerged from his seclusion, healthy and whole, it was just in time to see Cardinal Ramius and a few of his guard threatening the lives of his wife and three of their children. Taking advantage of their surprise at his appearance and a sword plucked from a fallen guardsmen, Maris cut down two of the Cardinal's Guard and wounded Lucien himself before the Cardinal managed to flee. Maris quickly gathered his closest counsel, tearfully reconciled with Jean-Paul and his family, and immediately set to a decisive course of action to deal with the Tirians, who now besieged Valetta yet again. Most radically, this course included entreating the Rivanans for aid, and to demonstrate his sincerity, he sent his beloved wife and Queen as well as his youngest daughter to Rivana to engage in negotiations that would ultimately prove fruitful. Realizing Jean-Paul was far better suited to battlefield command than he was, Maris appointed his eldest son Lord-Marshal and sent him to gather forces to relieve Valetta, while Maris himself would put his own strengths to use managing the logistics of the armies from Rovilon. For a brief few weeks, hope reigned in Rovilon and Couviere. Then on the Mai 9, 1866 IA, the sails of Brodlund Raiders filled the harbor of Rovilon, as a large raiding party attacked the city, having been tipped off as to its' relative weakness by the Cardinal.
As soon as the news reached him, Maris knew his final day had come, but he also felt the strength of his faith fanned into a mighty flame, and when he gave Sir Michael l'Corren the command to fetch his armor and horse rather than accept the advice of others to flee, none questioned him. King Maris l'Valdan rode forth from Aveyron Castle with but twenty-five Blue Cavaliers and near a hundred of the Castle Guard. Along the way he was joined by near a hundred of the City Guard, who rallied themselves to the King's banner as he rode towards the Harbor. Even so, hope seemed lost as well over a thousand Brodlund Raiders, led by the fearsome Chieftain Ivar Thronson were making their way ashore.
Hope, however, proved to be a more resilient commodity than had been thought, and in the end, the Raiders of Brodlund never made it off the docks.
What seemed like just over two hundred soon became much more, as the people of Rovilon themselves saw the King's banner flying down the streets, and Maris and his Knights riding to their defense. What had been panicked flight turned to resolute courage as the common folk grabbed whatever could be used as a weapon and followed their King into battle. When Ivar Thronson and his war-brothers reached the docks, even the Chieftain was taken aback by the gulf of people that stormed the docks to throw them back, and at their head, the King of Couviere himself.
Maris carved his way through the raiders, ignoring the wounds scored upon him along the way. No less than a dozen-and-a-half fell to his blade, and then, as his Knights rallied around him and the people of Rovilon swarmed the docks to push the invaders back, King Maris met Ivar Thronson, and in but five strokes relieved the Chieftain of the burden of his head. With their chieftain fallen and facing a degree of resistance they had not anticipated, the Brodlund Raiders swiftly turned and fled, incurring far heavier losses than would have been expected, especially when a flotilla of the Couvieri Royal Navy returned from a supply run to Pacitta and intercepted the fleeing longships, inflicting even more losses.
Realizing the great gift he had been given for what it was, and accepting the price that came with it, the grievously wounded King Maris asked to be taken to the Cathedral, whereupon he gave his thanks unto the One God, and while physicians tried to bandage his wounds, calmly wrote two brief letters…one to his son, and one to his wife, before settling back and closing his eyes, remembering well the first time he had heard his wife's voice as he passed into the Kingdom of the Sun, a peaceful smile on his lips, knowing that his most sacred duty had been fulfilled.
The grief that would have accompanied King Maris' passing was tempered strongly by the heroic fashion in which it transpired, and as preparations for Jean-Paul l'Valdan's coronation were made, the people of Rovilon, and soon Couviere in general began to hear of Maris' Last Ride. Bards began composing songs and the nobility and common folk alike began to look back upon the reign of King Maris with fresh eyes, coming to realize just how wise and gifted a ruler he had been. In but a few weeks, already the folk of Couviere began attaching "the Great" to King Maris' name when he was spoken of, and in death, it seemed, Maris finally achieved the full respect and admiration of his people, leaving behind a powerful legacy for his eldest son to build upon.
On the Grid
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Standing tall and straight, with striking blue eyes and all the dignity a King can muster, Maris l’Valdan cuts an imperious figure. He reaches a height of over six feet (not counting his crown!) and has a trim figure carried over from his youthful days as a warrior. His features are sharp, with a pronounced nose, and startlingly blue eyes that bear an intense gaze when he looks upon those around him. Long hair, still retaining much of its youthful golden color, reaches to the base of his neck, just barely brushing his shoulders, and a close-trimmed beard covers his chin. His movements are precise, and carry vigor that defies his age, and his bearing is one of absolute self-assurance. He is, in short, every inch the King.
Personality
Outwardly, King Maris was a cold, distant, and forbidding figure. He was rarely known to smile or laugh, much less with genuine humor, and generally tended to be very emotionally reserved. He was very detail-oriented and demanding of those around him. He did not suffer fools lightly. He was also extremely pragmatic, patient, and had an eye towards the long-term. He considered the consequences of his decisions carefully but did not hesitate to make them. He was a very proud man with a keen awareness of his legacy, which unfortunately he felt wasn't nearly as illustrious as he might have hoped for (though he would undoubtedly be pleased to see how his reputation has flourished in death).
In private, Maris had deep insecurities over his capability and was given to brooding over his perceived failures. He was prone to fits of depression and it was likely only the presence of his wife and family that has kept him from turning to absolute despair and bitterness at some points. The onset of age had not helped these matters. Still, he was neither a weak man nor lacking in wisdom, despite what some tales might have saod. Had he inherited an Couviere at the height of its' power, he would likely have been remembered as one of its' greatest kings. As it stands, he held his Kingdom together when it was at its' lowest point since the foundation of the Kingdom, and even more so rebuilt it with remarkable alacrity. Sadly, because he tended to dwell on his failures rather than his unglamorous successes, he did not often see his own merits. While he was slow to trust, he was deeply loyal to those that earned it, to the point that despite all that his eldest son had (supposedly) done, he adamantly refused to give up on him or disown him. It was both one of his great strengths and his great weakness.
Sadly, the treachery of Lucien Ramius addled his mind. Through most of his last few years, at times he was barely coherent. During his "spells" (which could last for days at a time) he was often easily distracted or bored and had great difficulty with his memory. On his worst days, the only people he seemed to remember were his wife, his children and his friend Cardinal Ramius, and he often spoke of days long past as though they were quite recent, while forgetting events that occurred just a few days or weeks prior altogether. Still, he did have his good days, as well, and on those days it was clear that the Maris of old was still very much alive. Unfortunately, those days seemed fewer and further between with each passing month, until he was finally freed of Lucien's poison.
Once he recovered from Lucien's attempt to destroy his mind, Maris emerged more resolute and steadfast than he had ever been. While he was only fully recovered for a few weeks following his recovery from the poisoning and assassination attempt, within those few weeks he shed the doubts of his past, and ultimately offered the most noble of sacrifices in giving his own life to defend the people of Rovilon, proving that beneath the "boring" administrator there was, indeed, a courageous warrior.
Quirks
Personality Quirks
Dignified - King Maris rarely ever lost his cool, particularly in public, and on those rare occasions that he did…well, suffice to say that King Maris could be a very intimidating man when he wished.
Sensible - King Maris always put the good of his House and his kingdom above his own personal needs and wishes, including feeding his own ego.
Tight-Knight - King Maris was very close with his immediate family, at least up until the point that Lucien began poisoning him, and even then his family was what kept him from slipping away completely.
Skill Quirks
Head For Numbers - Maris was a tremendously gifted steward, and his policies revitalized a Kingdom ravaged by war quickly enough to win a major victory just a few short years later.
Persuasive - Maris had a powerful presence, and when he made a decision, it tended to stick without much argument, even if he was diligent about listening to his advisors before making it. Most people usually found themselves satisfied with his judgments, or at least as little-dissatisfied as could be expected if things didn't go their way.
Social Quirks
Afflicted - For the last few years of his life, Maris' mental faculties were highly impaired by a slow-acting poison. He was prone to bouts of lost memory and dementia and evidenced many of the signs consistent with those afflictions that all-too-often plague the elderly. In his lucid moments, he was as sharp as ever, but his lucid moments came fewer and further between…at least until he was freed of the poison. (This Quirk was defunct at the time of Maris' death).
Good Reputation - While much of his reign was considered fairly mundane, Maris enjoyed the respect of his vassals to such a degree that even when his mind was addled by Lucien's poisons, it took a long while before any of them even thought of questioning his judgment.
True Love - Maris and his Queen, Cynthia, were deeply and truly in love for their entire lives together. Their relationship was well-known to the noble and common folk of Couviere alike, and was among the few qualities he possessed that warmed the common folk to him (at least until his heroic death). Cynthia was his best friend, his lover, his partner in rulership and the mother of five children he deeply cherished. His last thoughts were of her, and his memories of their life together insured he passed with a peaceful smile upon his face.
Well-Connected - Maris kept his most powerful vassals close, and cultivated strong relationships and even friendships with them over the years. He always treated them with respect and invested them with levels of trust and authority even beyond their birth positions. He also cultivated relationships with prominent families of Sanctum and important Church figures (most notoriously the Cardinal Lucien Ramius). For a man known to be cold and distant to the public, he had a surprising number of powerful people who were either deeply loyal to him, or his close friends.
Logs and Sundry
Relationships
All relationships reflect Maris' views at the time of his death.
Couviere
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Queen Cynthia Marianne l’Valdan nee Lancella : My beloved wife. My guiding light, and my strongest partner and ally through the entirety of my reign. Even if little in my life and reign has unfolded as I might have hoped beyond our wonderful family, I would still judge my life a success for having loved and been loved by you. |
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King Jean-Paul l’Valdan : My eldest son. I weep for months wasted by the Cardinal's treachery. You will be a greater King than I was, and the people will love you for it. I know now you did not hide from your greatness, but that it was stifled by matters beyond your control, and some of that fault was my own, for trusting the wrong man. I would tell you to be strong, but I know in my heart you already are. |
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Prince Silvio l’Valdan : My youngest son. (Further information to be added when the character is applied for) |
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Princess Emmaline l'Valdan : My eldest daughter. (Further information to be added when the character is applied for) |
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Princess Aliza l'Valdan : My youngest daughter. (Further information to be added when character is applied for) |
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Queen Louisa l'Valdan (nee l'Corren) : My daughter by marriage. You are a good wife and partner for Jean-Paul for he would always have needed a strong personality beside him. You challenge him when it is needed, and guided him on the path to being a better man with far more finesse than one might have expected from a Knight of the North. I am pleased that what was at first a less-than-ideal relationship has grown into a loving family. You will be a formidable Queen, no less so in your own way than my Cynthia has been. |
Rivana
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Queen Alysande Tracano : If I was amazed to receive the invitation to her coronation, I was even more so upon meeting the young woman herself. Were I half so graceful and astute at her age, I'd likely have conquered the whole of the Edge and saved the North for after lunchtime! As it stands, she was warm and welcoming and I felt our talks were more productive than I would have expected. It will take time to heal the wounds between our two kingdoms, but if this young queen commits herself to that path, I have little doubt it will be achieved. She has pledged aid when we needed it most, after all, and I can see no more telling step towards rapprochement than that. |
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Lord Arturo Tracano (Deceased) : He was as gifted a diplomat as I've ever seen, and possessed of not only powerful charisma but great insight into the human heart, all tempered with considerable wisdom and foresight. In another life, I should like to have called him a friend. He would have been a great King for Rivana, but I see much of him in his daughter. |
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Duke Darren Haldis : We met while attending the Queen of Rivana's coronation and it's attending celebrations. He is a warrior to the core, and while he clearly struggled with remaining polite, he did ultimately manage to do so with only the most mild admonishment from his Queen. He was the only one to provide the soon-to-be Queen's Champion with any real competition during the Coronation Tourney, which speaks of him being a great fighter. |
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Baron Jaren Daved Cassomir : The bodyguard of Queen Alysande (at least at the time of our last visit). He was quite a wonder to behold during the tournament that followed her coronation. I've rarely seen such dominance on the tourney field…and it is not as if the men he competed against lacked for skill and training. In another life, I may have called him my son by marriage, and would have been proud to do so, but treachery poisoned my heart and vision and I shamefully levied unfair accusations against him in my impaired state. Would that I could apologize to him in person, but what's done is done. |
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Lady Ariane Greycen (nee l'Valdan) : My daughter. (Further information to be added when character is applied for) |
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Lord Thaddeus Greycen : He married my eldest daughter. Though I did not have opportunity to know him well, he seems a solid and dependable man. I have hope that he will be a good partner for Ariane. |
Others
[[tab The One Faith]]
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High Priest Alphonse of Sanctum : As formidable as any King or Queen I've known. The High Priest plays at both politics and religion with equal facility. Ultimately, I would judge him an ally, if a somewhat tenuous and tense one given that many of our interactions have been over matters of a less-than-pleasant nature for my Kingdom. Was he too blinded by his friendship with Lucien? I can only surmise that in his own fashion, the High Priest is also a victim of Lucien's treachery. If he were colluding with him directly and intentionally, Lucien's plans would surely have been far easier to enact. |
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Cardinal Lucien Ramius : For what you did to my family, my kingdom, and to me, there are not enough hells for you to burn in, "old friend." I have faith that one way or another justice will be wrought for your treachery, but regret that it will not be my hand that delivers it. |
