Post by Zoilus on Dec 27, 2017 2:54:34 GMT
Appearance[/b]: Maximilian is a jovial man in his late twenties. Unlike his cousins, he makes no pretension to physical prowess, but more than makes up for it with his grooming, confidence, and eccentric (but not unstylish) sense of fashion.
Biography: Maximilian grew up among the Cassian royalty of Rjillund, the nephew of King Ferrus himself. Despite his high birth and royal education, though, Max became disillusioned with his native land more and more as he grew older, finding its conservatism stifling and its treatment of the lower orders overly paternal. In lieu of a military education or service, Max invited tutors and scholars from around Trevast (most noticeably and scandalously from Alendron) to build a small ‘university’ around himself. It was short lived, with the ire of his family and the war with Alendron making it politically and financially impossible for him to maintain, but he never forgot the dream of it.
Maximilian did not participate in the war with Alendron: he found the entire affair wasteful. He was, however, one of the key diplomats for Rjillund in Luska and Valdez, helping keep them from entering the war or cutting off trade. At the war’s end, he arrived home too late to advise in the treaty making process, and was quite surprised to learn that he had been betrothed to Alendron’s queen. It made sense: to the Alendronians, Maximilian was perhaps the least offensive match that could be made, the one with no blood on his hands and the least likely to cause offense in the court of Avindril. To the Cassians, finding Maximilian a permanent position outside of Carenna was also desirable.
Maximilian arrived in Alendron with his retinue to a chilly reception. The wedding was brief, and despite occasionally and unenthusiastically performing their marital duties, he sees Aelin little. Maximilian is in a land he admires, yet despises him, but he remains optimistic: he can and will carve out a place here, and build a peace to last.
Personality: Maximilian is jovial, friendly, and charismatic, always looking to expand his circle of acquaintances. His love of meeting other people is only a small part of what really defines him, though: an intense curiosity about the world, how it works, and how it can be made better. Despite it all, Max is an idealist, and he believes it’s his duty to help built that better world, one step at a time. Despite his difference with his family, he believes in the Cassians and their capacity for good, if only they’d listen to him.
Skills: Maximilian is an expert diplomat, and demonstrated that during the war with Alendron, keeping Rjillish trade routes open. He is also a renowned (and self-taught) scholar of history, diplomacy, politics, geography, and even a bit of religion. Despite this, he has a weakness for the finer things in life: pretty faces, fine food and drink, and wasting the days away on minor projects and hobbies when he could be doing more productive things.