Post by Retrograde on Sept 13, 2017 2:24:15 GMT
King Arno VI de Merov
Name: Arno Thredan de Merov VI
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Rank: King of the Routais, Osais and Tlem
Appearance
Arno is not an especially massive figure, standing only a few inches over 5 and a half feet tall, with a lean, wiry frame. His face is angular and edged, with a long, tapered appearance complemented by deep set eyes under thick eyebrows and a very thin, pointed nose. His skin is pallid and smooth, marked by small nicks and deformations. His mouth is small and thin-lipped, framed by a black goatee, while his hair is a similar ebon colour, usually slicked back with oil. His eyes, which are down-turned and have a sleepy quality to them, are a dark forest green that twinkle when he is interested in something.
He tends to favour black clothing, mostly out of a desire to keep attention off of himself and not appear too ostentatious. He avoids jewelry save for a simple silver chain and pendant given to him by his childhood friend Cressida, along with his ring of office. In general, he favours anything that is understated or not too flashy, and tends to avoid showing skin in his clothing where he can.
Personality
Arno is an incredibly pensive and thoughtful person, given to long deliberation and contemplation. He is best described as an introvert, preferring mostly to keep to himself and work on his books, although given his position this is more or less impossible. He is, however, more than capable of being charming, aided by his own natural good-naturedness and patience. A diplomat at heart, Arno looks to resolve conflicts through mediation wherever he can and sees violence as ultimately the result of failure, though he is unafraid of fighting for the rights of himself and his people if he feels his hand is being forced. He is also someone loves his family dearly, and those close to him find him to be an incredibly steadfast friend. He values forgiveness, and is almost never one to hold a grudge.
Biography
Arno was born to Albare de Merov and Margarethe Cassian some 25 years ago, the second cousin of the reigning king Odo II. He spent much of his early youth in his mother's native Rjillund in the summer estate of his uncle, Ferrus Cassian. It was there that he developed a studious and serious nature that would follow him for the rest of his life, and earned him the childhood nickname of "the Little Old Man". He was close to his Cassian family and well-liked, if perhaps seen as odd for his preference of books over play. He was especially close to his mother, whom he continues to adore.
Later, he was warded under King Alexius of Alendron, where he learned the ways of being a man. He also struck up a friendship with the king's daughter, Cressida, whom he quickly came to see as a baby sister. He enjoyed his time there, balancing out the chaos of the young Cressida with his own more serious, restrained nature. While he never excelled in the physical aspect of his martial studies - except for pugilism - he did come to understand the tactics and strategies. His greatest love, though, was the theories of governance and how to be a good king. This was what Arno loved the most, and he enjoyed reading the histories of the most well-beloved emperors and kings from all across Trevast. Though he himself never expected to rule, he took from these an informed opinion of what a leader should be like.
Then, the civil war in his homeland began. Arno wasted no time in returning to his homeland, though he was but 15 years of age. After hearing of the cruelties perpetrated by his cousin, Arno felt the need to throw in his lot with the Revolutionaries. It was then that he struck up a friendship with a teenaged girl named Marielle, a former actress and one of the focal points of the civil war. The two got along quite well, for in some ways Marielle reminded him of his friend Cressida.
Later, he was warded under King Alexius of Alendron, where he learned the ways of being a man. He also struck up a friendship with the king's daughter, Cressida, whom he quickly came to see as a baby sister. He enjoyed his time there, balancing out the chaos of the young Cressida with his own more serious, restrained nature. While he never excelled in the physical aspect of his martial studies - except for pugilism - he did come to understand the tactics and strategies. His greatest love, though, was the theories of governance and how to be a good king. This was what Arno loved the most, and he enjoyed reading the histories of the most well-beloved emperors and kings from all across Trevast. Though he himself never expected to rule, he took from these an informed opinion of what a leader should be like.
Then, the civil war in his homeland began. Arno wasted no time in returning to his homeland, though he was but 15 years of age. After hearing of the cruelties perpetrated by his cousin, Arno felt the need to throw in his lot with the Revolutionaries. It was then that he struck up a friendship with a teenaged girl named Marielle, a former actress and one of the focal points of the civil war. The two got along quite well, for in some ways Marielle reminded him of his friend Cressida.
The Revolution raged on, and Arno experienced both defeat and victory, each battle making him wiser, smarter and more prepared for the next challenge. In many ways it was hard on him as well. He fell in love with a merchant girl during his time by the name of Aussina, and he impregnated her. He planned upon marrying her, but she died in complications from pregnancy. That cast a dark shadow over Arno's life that he is only just now truly getting out of. Yet in the end despite such a dark chapter in his life, Arno was able to see it through the end of the Revolution, where he was crowned as the King of a new Commonwealth.
These days, Arno is working his best to keep the Commonwealth together and be a good king, though it causes him much stress. In addition, he has adopted the youngest daughter of the old king as his own, and now must play the role of father to the young Fernanda, which is no small task.
Fernanda de Merov
Name: Princess Fernanda Augusta de Valdez e Merov
Age: 6
Gender: Female
Rank: Princess-Royal
Appearance
Fernanda is a blend of her parents’ features, although at her young age it is not yet apparently who she shall favour more once she hits puberty. She has pale skin and dark, voluminous and curly hair that falls to her back. Her face is still round with baby fat, although one can make out the high cheekbones and pointed chin common to both sides of her family. Her eyes are large, and blue in colour, and sit underneath angular, thin eyebrows. Her mouth is small, and she is missing three of her front teeth.
Fernanda is a lover of the colour purple, and tries to incorporate it into whatever she wears, even if it clashes with whatever else she is wearing at the time. She has entered a “barefoot phase” in which she basically refuses to wear shoes and will throw a fit if forced to wear them. She has a tendency to sneak into the make-up drawers of the older women of the Merov household, and put it on herself despite constant warnings not to. After being punished, she will stop for a while, and then promptly resume about a month later. Even when locks have been applied.
Personality
She a bratty babbu.
Biography
Born during the Revolution to Odo II and Maria of Valdez, Fernanda wanted for nothing as a child as the Royalists saw her as the last vestige of their cause once her father was killed in battle. This had the effect of spoiling the child, convincing her that she was due everything her whims dictated and that those who would deny her were to be shrieked at until they acquiesced.
This changed somewhat when the war ended as her mother was deported home to the lands of Valdez and her supporters scattered. She was adopted by the newly crowned Arno, who hoped that in doing so he would ensure that she would not be used against him and that he could help raise her to be a better person than Odo ever was. Now, two years later, she is dealing with the fact that she has suddenly had discipline introduced into her life. Whenever Arno cannot intervene, it falls to his mother, someone Fernanda has learnt takes very little guff from bratty little girls no matter how much they protest they're the true queen.