[b]Paul, Duke of Westrock:[/b]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/HKpOJwh.jpg?1[/img]

[b]Physical Description:[/b]
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[*]26 years of age (based upon the story beginning in the Year 926 of the [i]Universal Calendar, or UC[/i]).
[*]6'2", 215#.
[*]Well sculpted, muscular body; very fit, very strong.
[*]Dirty blond hair.
[*]Deep green eyes. 
[*]Multiple scars, to be described later.
[*]Although not yet applicable, well endowed.
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[b]Personality:[/b]
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[*]Confident.
[*]Highly educated, highly knowledgeable, highly intelligent.
[*]Soft spoken unless people who should be listening to him aren't.
[*]Thinks before he acts, but acts nonetheless. 
[*]Charismatic.  Women tend to like him quickly, sometimes [i]too[/i] quickly.
[*]Conscientious lover.
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[b]Background[/b]:
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[*]900 UC: Born, the third and last son of Cranston, Duke of Westrock.
[*]Educated by the best tutors of the Continent.
[*]908 UC: 
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[*]The growing conflicts across the Continent drew Paul's father and eldest brother, Carl, into conflict.
[*]Paul began combat training, contrary to the wishes of his mother, who -- due to his intelligence -- wanted him to join the Priesthood and become a Scientist.
[*]In the mean time:
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[*]Cranston's second son, Richard -- then only 12 years old -- nominally governed the Duchy under the tutelage of Count Barker.
[*]Count Barker was Cranston's most trusted Knight and the husband of Cranston's youngest daughter, with whom he had children who were in yet were far down the line of succession.
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[*]914 UC: 
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[*]Paul proved to be a skilled warrior and tactician.
[*]A band of highwaymen began harassing caravans traveling between Westrock and its neighboring Duchies. 
[*]Paul secretly led an ambush on their camp.  
[*]The highwaymen were slaughtered or jailed and later executed.  
[*]Paul's reputation as a warrior and leader of men was established.
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[*]917 UC:
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[*]Cranston's army was reported to have suffered a major defeat.
[*]The survivors had scattered in all directions, and the fate of his father was unknown.
[*]Paul assembled a force and departed Westrock to locate his father. 
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[*]918 UC:
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[*]Paul's brother, Richard, died suddenly.  The official cause was fever, but poison was suspected by many.
[*]With the Duke and his male heirs absent, Count Barker [i]volunteered[/i] to govern the Duchy.
[*]He vowed that if neither Cranston nor Paul returned, he would turn over rule to the eldest heir present in Westrock, a boy who then was only 4 years old.
[*]Over the years to come, that child [i]and[/i] the next [i]two[/i] children in line died of various illnesses or accidents until finally his own children were the heirs to the Duchy.  Coincidental bad luck...?  I doubt it, though there is no proof.
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[*]926 UC:
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[*]For 18 years, Count Barker had essentially ruled the Duchy, and he was beginning to feel confident that his eldest son would soon become Duke.
[*]Then ... Paul returned.
[*]More to come.
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