War for the Crown: The Royal Family

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ManWithDoor
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War for the Crown: The Royal Family

Post by ManWithDoor » Wed Jun 27, 2018 5:50 am

Grand Prince Stavian III

Personality
As a ruler, Stavian III is as dissolute as the rest of his nation, and prone to much sad bitterness. He is an awkward man who dallies in frivolous activities and surrounds himself with sycophants, while the actual management of Taldor is left to the bureaucracy. Despite his licentious behaviour, Stavian III has proven himself a cunning administrator and has strengthened the position of emperor since the weak rule of his father, Stavian II. While his father's rule was greatly weakened by attempting to appease the squabbles among the royalty, senatorial classes, and wealthy nobles, Stavian III has shown competence in focusing the factions upon national projects.

Policies
Upon his appointment as Grand Prince, Stavian III reinforced his position by ordering the construction of Stavian's Hold, a frontier town on the edge of the Whistling Plain. He launched a massive public works and military campaign to support this move, but his master-stroke was to persuade many of the wealthy nobles to fund and support this venture, convincing them that their involvement would garner them great honour and prestige. These were the same royals to have troubled and weakened Stavian II during his rule.

In order to further strengthen his empire and to gain loyal supporters, Stavian III also created an incentive program which promised formal titles to anyone willing to claim lands from rogue lords. This ensured that lords regarded as "unworthy" of their position by the crown could be forcibly removed and replaced by individuals loyal to the Grand Prince.

The Grand Prince has taken a great interest in the historic and cultural legacy of Old Taldor, and has gone to substantial lengths to keep such relics within the borders of Taldor. Under his direction, heavy taxes and tariffs have been imposed on all antiquities being sent out of the country.


Family
Formerly married to Etroffe, Stavian III had two children before her death. The eldest was his son, Stavian IV. He was seen as a strong heir, bright of mind and hale of heart, it appeared that the royal family was headed to a new resurgence of strength and might. The people even took to calling him the "Golden Prince". Sadly for the nation, the heir presumptive disappeared five years ago on a diplomatic mission to Qadira. The disappearance almost brought the two nations to war, but a lack of motive and a fruitless investigation eventually led to relations stabilizing. Neither prophet nor priest, noble or serf, has been able to determine what happened to Stavian's eldest son.

While the Grand Prince doted on his wife, it was not unknown for him to have dalliances on the side, when his mood was especially dark. Soon after Stavian IV was born, one of those indiscretions bore fruit in the form of his only daughter, Princess Eutropia. Upon reaching the age of eight, Stavian III officially recognized his bastard child, formally adopting her into the royal family. Being a woman in an agnatic primogeniture kingdom, she was never expected to inherit. Even after the disappearance of her older brother, the youngest son was safely the new heir.

Born six years after Princess Eutropia, Stavian's youngest son Carrius II became the new heir with the mysterious disappearance of his older brother. While not the shining star that Stavian III had been, he was alive, and for a while that was enough.

One year ago, tragedy again struck the royal line. Stavian's remaining son and heir, Carrius II, died in a horse riding accident. The Grand Prince forbade any attempts to resurrect the boy - arguing that so pure a soul belonged at Heaven's gate. Stavian III has refused to remarry, grieving for the death of his wife Etroffe, and no new children are expected from the Grand Prince. As of now, the Kingdom of Taldar stands with no recognized heir.
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Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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War for the Crown: The Royal Family

Post by ManWithDoor » Wed Jun 27, 2018 6:21 am

Princess Eutropia Stavian

Personality
Despite her bastard upbringing, Princess Eutropia demands nothing less than the full respect of all those she encounters. She is strong-willed and bold, and has involved herself in a variety of political and social causes. While her younger half-brother was alive, this was seen as eccentric. Now that she is the only remaining child of Stavian III, it has become politically volatile. She is also an accomplished duelist, and has humiliated more than one noble who has dared insult her person.

Politics
Princess Eutropia very publicly intends to inherit the throne upon the death of her father. Such an act would be against the law of Taldor, however, as the nation follows agnatic primogeniture, and thus only male heirs are able to take the crown. Despite this, Eutropia openly rails against the stagnation of Taldor and intends to force the nation into the modern world, even if that requires taking power by force. Many fear that this could result in a civil war that the nation could not afford, but Eutropia disagrees, and has been building support among the Senate. She has also been rallying the youth of Taldor to hold demonstrations and demand that the Primogen Crown appoint her as the official heir. Her father has not officially reprimanded her position, but neither has he declared any support for changing the millenia-long laws of Taldor.
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Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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