Lord Summer's Wind

"I have placed my seal, may my word be done"

Edmund Hardwarde, Lord Summer's Wind

Lord Summer's Wind uses his close personal relationship to King Roland and his high rank in Ludo to his advantage. 
There is no pie he doesn't have his fingers in nor any deal that he doesn't know of. He pays handsomely for what he wants, but has no problem using unscrupulous means, and his power, to take what he wants either. 
Hardwarde is so charming that people don't often realize they've been ensnared until it's too late, if they ever even realize at all. 

The Role of Lord Summer's Wind

Lord Summer's Wind is the most powerful person in Ludo after the royal family. Currently, Hardwarde is directly behind the Ludovian princesses in terms of power. 
It is his job to help run much of Ludo's politics in the form of yearly conferences with the other lords, reverend abbots, and reverend abbesses. When with other lords, they must defer to what he decides. 
It is a position which is meant to be taken with great gravitas, with many elder sons of past lords refusing the position and choosing to enter the army, navy, or church. Sometimes even forced to abdicate.    In general, the title of Lord Summer's Wind is considered a person worthy of trust among his peers. 

The Hadley Affair

Though now largely forgotten, it is how the current Lord Summer's Wind, learned his talent for manipulation and bending others to his will. 
While away at school, Hardwarde discovered a professor at the school, Master Hadley, was having an affair with the reverend abbess, when a classmate pieced the whole thing together. 
Hardwarde used the classmate's insecurity to learn the truth, and then blackmailed both the professor and abbess first by pretending to be innocent and then trapping them into delivering more secrets in exchange for not revealing the truth. 
It led to Hardwarde meeting the dowager queen and then King Roland, further cementing his hold on others. 

Characteristics

Title: Lord Summer's Wind Addressed As: Summer's Wind, Lordship, My Lord Current Lord: Edmund Hardwarde Current Lady: Della Beane - Hillshur Children:

• Hayden Hardwarde
• Ebba Hardwarde
• Deana Hardwarde
• Marigold Hardwarde (w/ Eda Burtone)
• Carreen Hardwarde (w/ Eda Burtone)
• Hale Hardwarde (w/ Gleda Crawforde)
• Osgar Hardwarde
• Gleda Hardwarde (w. Gleda Crawforde)

Lord Summer's Wind and The Golden Apple

Several Summer's Winds have gone in search of their own golden apples. While several more have entertained the idea. Though only one lord has ever been successful in Ahmenebar's Reign 476. 
However, most of the past lords have been content with their power and role within Ludo. Many feel that they have enough power, without having to resort to going into The Shadow Woodlands and certain death.

Edmund Hardwarde & King Roland

Lord Summer's Wind befriend's Roland when they are both still very young, just as Roland is crowned king, but while his mother still rules as regent.
While Roland is not given any reason to distrust him, he keeps him at arms length at first. It isn't until they are both in battle that Roland truly starts to interact, and trust, Summer's Wind. 
Once Roland is king and the war is over, he insists on running many things on his own, until pressured by others to work with Hardwarde. Roland only defers to Hardwarde in his proper roll when his third daughter is born and he wants to spend more time with his family. 
From there their relationship grows to one of friendship, with Roland none the wiser of Hardwarde's less scrupulous deals.

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Image of Lord Summer's Wind made on Artbreeder