S E L D O
"True power is attained when there is no one that you fear."
Prince Seldo Leonine Forletus of Forlonia
[ ♚ ] A G E
16
[ ♚ ] G E N D E R
Male
[ ♚ ] I D E N T I T Y
Forloni/Tromani
[ ♚ ] A P P E A R A N C E
Seldo stands at 5’6, on the taller end of his fellow forloni, but on the smaller end of the rest of the world. What he lacks in stature, though, he makes up for with a hawk-like gaze. He has clear, sharp eyes that can be either intimidating or charming at his desire. He has been described as handsome, but that is merely expected of royalty with a full staff of servants devoted to maintaining one’s appearance. He has a slender build, and is not very muscular, though he is very quick.
Seldo has a sense for fashion and takes good care of his long, amber hair, changing the style frequently to match whatever extravagant clothing he happens to be wearing. Likewise, he likes to wear rings with large gem stones to show off his wealth to the rest of the world.
[ ♚ ] P E R S O N A L I T Y
Seldo is ultimately a man of worldly desires. He loves his position as a prince. He loves the power, the luxury, the privilege… and he wants to keep it. While he is not an unkind or unpleasant person to be around, Seldo is always looking out for himself. He is the kind of person who will only perform an act of “altruism” if he has a favor already in mind.
Seldo is a judgmental person, choosing his company carefully, and shooing away those he does not wish to be bothered by. Even among his own family, he deemed some of his cousins too stupid to have around, and feigned illness rather than associating with them during family visits (Ah! How convenient the word “indisposed” is!). However, he understands the importance of loyalty, and once he makes a friend, he will not break that friendship without good reason.
His sense of humor is best described as “dry.” He has an appreciation for wit and a distaste for idiocy. He’ll take a clever joke over a bumbling fool for his entertainment any day. He enjoys competitive sports like jousting, or intellectual games like chess, but has never enjoyed “silly” games that are often played between drunk family members. His appreciation for art does not go beyond its monetary value, or his personal aesthetic tastes.
Despite his good looks and fashion sense, he is actually rather poor at courtship. His family has already introduced him to several potential suitors, but more often than not they bored each other. He is also not very good at dancing. Sure, he learned the steps, but his movements are stiff and calculated. It doesn’t help that the sound of an orchestra puts him to sleep.
[ ♚ ] C H I L D H O O D
Seldo was the second born son of King Leoris of Ferlonia. He lived a comfortable and privileged childhood, effectively given free reign to pursue whatever he wished. The only requirement that were placed on him was that he pursued something. First he tried art, but his sketches were, frankly, laughable, even for his age. Then he was given access to the library and a private tutor in the hopes that he could become a scholar… but the boy just couldn’t sit still. He would always run off and watch the knights train, so they decided to put a sword in his hand, and found out he had a knack for it.
His circle of friends as a boy was always very small, though he always gave the impression that it was the most desirable circle to be a part of through sheer confidence and indifference of what the other children were doing. When he was in the company of younger children, he realized how easy they were to manipulate. They would scamper about performing all kinds of tasks for him and pampering him, just to earn the right to hear his “secret.” Of course, he never formed any lasting friendships with those stupid enough to fall for that trick.
His best friend as a child was actually not a noble, but a squire. They would often be pitted against one another during their swordsmanship training. Most of the other opponents would hold back, but this boy was the first human who ever dared to strike the prince. His trainer laughed, saying, “On the battlefield, only the strong have authority. Now get up and go again.” The two proved to be worthy rivals for one another, both in swordsmanship, and in chess. The squire was frequently invited to the castle to entertain Seldo, and reaped the benefits of nobility while Seldo reaped the benefits of having a real friend.
Then, Seldo’s older brother fell ill. Not even the best medicine could save him, and he passed away. Just like that, Seldo became the crowned prince.
[ ♚ ] M O T I V E S
Seldo was already a teenager by the time his brother passed, well beyond the appropriate age for primary education and the preening required to become a king. He was a talented young man, but he didn’t know how to rule. His parents hoped that The Conclave would fix that. They hoped that he would come out of there with a sense of responsibility that he never had before and would become a great successor for his father.
[ ♚ ] C R E D E N T I A L S
Diplomacy: Wars are expensive. That’s why it is important to avoid unnecessary wars with diplomacy. Seldo was taught that the key to successful negotiation is obtaining what you want without giving away anything that you need. Seldo sees Diplomacy as a tool for gaining control over others. If you can offer them something that they need, then you have that much control over them. This results in a prosperous and secure kingdom. While he was never put in a position of authority to negotiate with other kingdoms, he is quite a persuasive young man and has the wisdom to see things from others’ perspectives.
Faith: Faith is but a tool for controlling the masses. Gaea has been silent far too long to be of any consequence. But, if thinking that their god is on your side will calm the people or rouse the military, then have them believe it.
Intrigue: Information is invaluable, no doubt; wars can be won or lost with information. Knowing how to keep an open ear, whom to speak to, and how to speak to them are all skills a leader should learn. More importantly, though, a ruler must know how to assess the reliability of information and how to act on it.
Magic: Magic is a fickle thing. It is new, untried, and unreliable. Having a working familiarity with what magic is capable of is important for military matters, but a king need not know how to weave the spells himself. That’s what a court magician is for.
Martial: No one fears the wolf because he has fangs; they fear him because he uses them. A strong and active military is necessary for the security of the land, both to protect its borders, and to attain what it needs to survive. One reason that Seldo has been sent to The Conclave is to learn advanced tactics and strategies, to learn the ins and outs of military operations, and to improve his own martial prowess. Seldo has already demonstrated a keen mind and an aptitude for the sword. He has fought in several practice matches, but remains untested in a serious duel.
Stewardship: It is important to learn enough about coin to understand how your economy works and to conduct an audit on your books, but rigorous bookkeeping tasks are best delegated to others.
[ ♚ ] C O M P A N I O N S
Ser Boldwin: He’s nine and thirty past his nameday, but if you call him an old man, he’ll knock you on your ass to prove just how wrong you are. Boldwin serves as Seldo’s personal bodyguard and swordsmanship teacher. He is one of the few people the prince truly respects, and one of the fewer people who’s not afraid to tell Seldo off.
Catalina: Nine and ten past her nameday. Seldo’s personal maid. She is a timid and diminutive girl who keeps to herself and does what she’s told. Seldo doesn’t like knowing so little about her, but he can’t deny that she does good work.
Orchid: Seldo’s personal stylist and fashion advisor. While Catalina does the mundane cleaning and whatnot, Orchid is always keeping an eye out for what’s in style. She styles Seldo’s hair, picks out his outfits, and even has skills as a seamstress to make him custom attire for special occasions. She is a vibrant and talented woman that keeps her prince looking good!
[ ♚ ] R E L A T I O N S
Sister: Princess Seraphiel Anne Forletus, of Forlonia. Seldo got along well enough with his sister when they were children, but as they grew he came to find her ideologies rather naive. So, as Seldo grew older, he drifted apart from his sister, rarely socializing with her unless he was obliged to for appearances. He bears no ill will towards her, and would gladly come to her aid as her closest blood relative, but he considers their relationship an obligation rather than a choice.
