Hadrick Steelheart
King Hadrick Alexander Steelheart (a.k.a. The Tyrant)
A tyrant for sure. That man will do anything to achieve his goals. I dare say that no one is safe from his ambitions. No one.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Hadrick is overweight due to decreased physical activity and increased alcohol consumption. He still has some fitness, despite the limp in his left leg.
Body Features
Hadrick is naturally a light tan, one that was deeper in youth. He has many small battle scars on his arms, hands, and body. His hair is kept cut short.
Facial Features
He has a square jaw and wide, angled nose. His ears lay flat against his head.
Physical quirks
Hadrick stands tall and stiff backed, despite the pain in his leg. He has a limp, but he refuses to let that set his pace.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Hadrick was born the last of three sons to his father, King Aldric Steelheart, and first to his mother, Lady Amella Ranas as a bastard child. He had a typical childhood for a young prince with little chance at the throne. He looked up to his two older brothers, though he would not admit it, even now. Varid, the crown prince, was on track to become a kind and benevolent ruler, like their father and grandfather and so on through the generations. Evrik, like Varid, was taught what he needed to know to rule in case something ever happened to the eldest brother, destined to be a diplomat in the future.
And Hadrick? Hadrick shunned the options, despite his aptitude for it. He ignored his father and grandfather's suggestions for the longest time, looking to his uncle for guidance. At the age of eight, he began training in earnest to take a military path. His mother urged him to abandon his path, take something safer, learn to rule, fight his way to the throne. He did not listen, intent on protecting his people and his beloved brothers and father.
At ten, Varid died in a hunting accident. It nearly broke him. Evrik became crown prince, both growing closer, eager to protect each other. Distance was inevitable though, when rumors of Varid's death being caused by Hadrick began to circulate around the court. He did his best to ignore them, but his temper and grief got the better of him more than once, earning him nights in the dungeon after several bloody fights. The aggression worked a further wedge between he and Evrik.
Despite this, Hadrick worked to protect his older brother, working his way through the ranks of the military, known as a brilliant tactician and brutal combatant. Yet he could not secure that position as a royal guard. At twenty-three, he set out on a campaign against emboldened raiders to the south. The campaign sent him further west to aid the defenses of the Fae nation of Elvalon. He returned home a hero at twenty-six.
Shortly after his return home, Evrik fell ill. With his brother's health in decline, healers from Agaland's sister nation did their best to tend to him, but the illness took Evrik as well. All he worked to protect crushed, Hadrick took leave of his position and withdrew from Agaland society. His childhood friend, William Ableford, the crown prince of Gyrminia, 'politely encouraged' Hadrick home with him to process his grief. Naturally, the rumors of Hadrick being involved with Evrik's death began to swirl again.
Hadrick spent two years in Gyrminia before being forced to return home by his father. He was named crown prince, much to the dislike of the court. The next five years were a blur of learning everything he needed to know before...
His father died of the same illness as Evrik, leaving Hadrick as king, unprepared. He did his best the first few years to rule as his father had, as his brothers intended. But the royal court was cruel and unforgiving. They tried to manipulate him like a puppet at every turn, eventually forcing his hand. He had to put his foot down and his rule shifted to force and fear.
Hadrick avoided marriage until his forties, disinterested in it. Most of his rule, he was going through the motions, protecting his people, and pissing off the court. Rumors continued circulate around his supposed hand in the deaths of the royal line to get the throne, rumors he put to rest through the sword. He didn't care if it made him look like they were true anymore.
At forty-four, William began to show symptoms similar to his father and brother. This time, the source was identified by the mages of Gyrminia. An ally turned enemy, leading up to the The Siege of Votund. Hadrick was forced to live up to the rumors. Rather than let his friend die slowly from Mana Stagnation , he chose to give him a quick and dignified end with a promise to take care of his children, Lillian Steelheart and Henry Ableford.
He took Lillian as his wife, withdrawn from his grief, and ensured that Henry had every backing he needed to rule the kingdom, young as he was. Overwhelmed by the loss and politics, Hadrick began to turn to alcohol more and more. Over time, the kindled love between himself and Lillian was able to stave off the habit and he passed laws into place that allowed her to moderate him and keep him under control, to the relief of the people. They began to try for an heir, failing time and again. After many losses, he once again lost himself in alcohol.
He began to abuse his maids in manic fits, forcing them into his bed. Any with lose tongues or swollen bellies were quietly removed before they could become a problem.
He missed one, however, stolen away by Lillian and her royal guard. When his wife's maid, Eraina, vanished, he set his assassins to find her in a panic. After four years, he heard no word from them. And then two men appeared with a small child, claiming to be his. Lillian halted his hand, preventing the bastard's execution. She took the boy, Erwon, as her ward, treating him like a son in all but name.
Two years and a few more losses later, finally, Lillian was with child successfully. He remained at the castle, allowing her to take the bastard and visit her family for the winter. She delayed returning home for too long. Whispers and rumors circulated, his own general whispering in his ears.
He tried to teach his son, James, once he was old enough, but the boy was terrified of him, which didn't help his mood. By the time James was old enough to learn the sword, he found it difficult to go easy on the boy. He was a cruel teacher of combat, leaving the rest to the bastard and staff. He ignored his son's existence most of the time, favoring keeping his power absolute and eliminating political rivals.
Education
Hadrick was afforded the best education available to his station, but focused primarily on military.
Employment
Hadrick has an extensive military career, culminating as General prior to his taking the throne.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Hadrick has completed several successful military campaigns, clinching major victories to defend his kingdom.
Failures & Embarrassments
Hadrick's temperament is a major cause of embarrassment and he sees the loss of his father and brothers as a personal failure.
Mental Trauma
Loss hits him particularly hard, breaking him over and over. His coping mechanisms have never been healthy, furthering the trauma.
Intellectual Characteristics
Hadrick is a highly intelligent combat tactictian.
Morality & Philosophy
Hadrick is lawful good, in a sense that he IS the law.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Bring the national discord to an end by uniting the counties by any means necessary.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Tactical, cunning, and deadly with a sword, this man is paranoid, emotionally unstable, and a drunk.
Likes & Dislikes
Loves peace and order, hates discord and chaos.
Virtues & Personality perks
Cunning, charismatic
Vices & Personality flaws
Alcoholic, short tempered, paranoid
Relationships
History
Hadrick married Lillian partially as a political move and partially to fulfill a promise to his beloved friend. Over time he fell further for her, never showing it as he should. Their trouble producing an heir led to Hadrick straying repeatedly, though that stopped after discovering Erwon's existence. Lillian did not like Hadrick and did not want to marry him. She grew to love her husband on some level over time, until his drinking became too much and his cruelty came out. She has come to hate the man after discovery of Erwon's existance. How many other children had he had and successfully murdered? She plays the doting wife in public now, no longer allowing him to share a bed with her once James was born.
Alignment
Lawful Evil
Species
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Year of Birth
1167 AH
69 Years old
Birthplace
Agaland Capitol
Spouses
Lillian Steelheart
(spouse)
Siblings
Current Residence
Agaland Capitol
Gender
Male
Eyes
Midnight Blue
Hair
Short, Black Hair with Gray streaks
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Medium Almond
Height
5'9''
Weight
243 lbs
Ruled Locations
Comments