Jean Vespers of Lataine, Light of the West

Player: NPCSpecies/Specialty: Human/Svelte/Lord + Elemental Heritage: WaterClass Abilities: Lancer/Captain/CourtierInterests: Alignment: House Vespers, Studies: Lataine Culture, Heraldry, Religion-----------------Biography:King Jean I was born in Castle Vesperis, west of the capital city of Treves. As the first-born son of House Vespers - a cadet house of the Royal House of Palatine - upon his birth he was second in line to the throne of Lataine by male succession as spelled out by Chidrean Law. But when he reached the age of 9 this was all thrown into question when King Cloveris III (called ‘The Bard King’ after his noble house Menestral) named his young daughter Iolaine his designated successor and heir to the throne of Lataine, as well as future Empress of the West. When the Bard King called the great houses to court to declare loyalty to the Princess and to support her future rule, Lord Lothair of Arnault-Navarre instead came to Jean at Castle Vesperis and declared his allegiance to the young boy, supporting him as the correct and legal heir to Latainian throne. Eventually the question of succession led the entire country into war- on one side the Bard King and his supporters, and on the other side Jean Vespers (called ‘The Supper King’ as a pun on his own house name) and his rebellious nobles led by Lord Arnault. A war that ended with the Bard King dead in battle, his wife and queen sent to live her remaining life as a Vestal Priestess, and his daughter Iolaine fleeing to parts unknown. ***Now aged just 15 years, Jean I rules from the Palace of Treves as King of Lataine and Palatine of Terre Vinges. Just one year ago the young king made a pilgrimage to the ancient city of Sallust: there he was declared Emperor of the West by the Grand Augur. This title links him to the legacy of Milius the Conqueror and the Theadrin Emperors as well as making him de jure (although far from de facto) ruler of most of Western Vistria including Ossitan and the Aenaen Peninsula to the south, as well as Eomer to the north, and even Amenthes and Khaenan towards the Isles of Nodos. Although the title of Emperor grants him great prestige, since the title is either ignored or paid lip service in most of the lands he supposedly ‘rules’ it grants very little in terms of income and influence, and it places a heavy burden upon himself and the already taxed resources of his kingdom whenever and wherever he attempts to enforce the power of it.

***

Early in his reign the Bard King Cloveris III signed a peace treaty with the Arrideans at the Field of Many Colors, ending what had been many generations of conflict and war and granting a few years for the Principality of Ossitan to regroup and rebuild their own institutions.

But now this conflict has sprung up anew, both sides accusing one another of breaking the terms of the treaty. Under the new regime this regional conflict has been transformed into an all-out Holy War, with both sides claiming the supremacy of their respective gods and by extension their priests and rulers.

Leading the charge against the Arridean threat is Lord Councilor Lothair Arnault. A powerful and wealthy landholder with holdings and family in both Lataine and Ossitan he has a vested interest in keeping Ossitan free from Arridean influence and within Lataine’s sphere of power.

***

Jean is a handsome young lad, and quite skilled in combat and field command for his age. Thoughtful, melancholy and soft-spoken, he relies upon his older and more experienced advisers to make day-to-day decisions concerning his empire and it's affairs; most of this responsibility going to his Lord Councilor Arnault-Navarre.

Jean carries within him the blood of the Merowe, a heritage which links him the element of water. Under his rule he has promoted the worship of Diove, Lady of Waters as well as the cult of this namesake, St. Jean (otherwise known as Iohnnes Milius the Conqueror and first Emperor of Sallust).

Raised on tales of the great leaders of the past, he has vowed to reunite the former Sallustrian Empire under his rule as under the Emperors of old. Whatever doubts he might have about his current capabilities, he has none that this both his burden and his destiny, and will take whatever actions necessary within the bounds of honor to make this dream a reality.