Valor Majestic

Though prior rulers are referred to by name, and more formally by their order in succession (such as King Arlick, First Monarch of Valor, or his daughter Queen Rolina, Second Monarch of Valor), the reigning monarch is always known as Valor Majestic. This is both an honor and a reminder: no matter the power they weild, they rule in the name of the god Valor Ascendant, and will always rank second to her.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

The current Valor Majestic has been king for just over 60 years. He took the throne as a young man, and has perhaps never fully re-taken the reins from the advisors who helped him as a teenager. Said advisors do the job well, though: the parliament is adequately overseen, the royal decrees are reasonable, and the Valor Majestic is decently popular, if unremarkable. So, while the Valor Majestic may sometimes be unhappy in his position as a figurehead, answering to his aging guardians, his rule will likely be considered successful.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Amidst a mostly uneventful rule, the primary accomplishment of the Valor Majestic is almost certainly his advancement of diplomatic relations with Deeproots Elidian, a Faun-majority country. It was (at least supposedly) his assertion that improving the status and cultural engagement of fauns in Valor would yield dividends in dealing with their foreign kin, as well as benefiting society locally. Both have been proving true--while they were never particularly oppressed, the drive to increase the opportunity and respect afforded to fauns has seen a boost in the quality of universities and scholarship at large. It has also increased the number of qualified applicants to the Valorian Knights, allowing for more competition and thence a stronger knighthood. Finally, as hoped, emissaries from Deeproots Elidian find themselves more comfortable in Valor, and engage with perhaps more goodwill than they might have.

While there are some who resent the initiative, both among humans and among the other races (who perhaps feel a little overlooked), the increased prosperity and the standing-down of tensions with D.Elidian have made the drive more popular than many in the parliament feared. Probably its greatest success is that it was accomplished without any direct decree or law--only by continuous political pressure on the people most capable of driving structural change.

Failures & Embarrassments

The Valor Majestic's early rule was less successful. As a headstrong teenager, he made several diplomatic missteps, initally worsening tension with Deeproots Elidian before managing to improve them. His blunders with Shaodan are still a stumbling block to their diplomatic relations. His embarrassment at failing to take matters skillfully in hand from the start was leveraged by two of his advisors; though they were barely older than him, they were already well-trained statesmen, and they used his embarrassment to cow and bend him to their control. Though now an experienced ruler, it is difficult for the Valor Majestic to stomach again taking up true leadership and engaging in diplomacy without following his advisors' careful scripts.

Intellectual Characteristics

If he had not been in the royal succession, the Valor Majestic would most likely have been an academic, and perhaps even a very successful one. Even in his current position, he is known to the archivists at The Valorian Temple for his requests of materials--where other monarchs would prefer a summary, and a short one, he avails himself of long scrolls and thick tomes. The information is his best ally when he finds himself at adds with his advisors or with parliament; and moreover, it is a true pleasure for him.

Morality & Philosophy

The Valor Majestic is kind, but not too soft-hearted for rule. Those used to dealing with him may be able to influence him now and then by appealing to his great capacity for sympathy, but not to the point of utter manipulation--he is not so naive now as he once was, and it is difficult to outright fool him. That his initiative for the advancement of fauns was undertaken sincerely, though with political gain as additional justification, probably did much to help it go so well.

Known To

Common Knowledge
Expert Level: Diplomat

Current Location

Castle Albion

Ruled Locations

• Albion
• Castle Albion

Family

Wife

Alissalien

Children

2 sons, 3 daughters

The eldest prince is an obnoxious young man, with a thin layer of arrogance over his insecurity and a deep jealousy of his younger siblings, whom he feels have upstaged him. The twins, a boy and a girl, are only two years younger and gleam by comparison--though they would be outstanding regardless. They are both trained fighters, and will presumably be their brother's generals someday, unless the crown passes to one of them instead.

The other girls are considerably younger, and as their looks take strongly after their mother, there is some gossip questioning their paternity. The middle daughter, Ameia, is shy and quiet, with a scholarly streak to match the king's. The youngest, Pelia, is a true Princess in every sense: sweet, gracious, and quite spoiled.