Kingsley Family/Erik
| Erik Kingsley | |
|---|---|
| |
| Status: | Alive |
| Continent: | The Colonies |
| Realm: | Halcyon |
| Titles Held: | None Senator of Naan Forest (Former) Viscount of Lavraz (Former) |
| Class: | Courtier |
| Honor: | 21 |
| Prestige: | 4 |
| Age: | 27 |
| Height: | 6'1 |
| Weight: | Slim |
| Eyes: | Brown |
| Hair: | Brown |
Erik Kingsley is a Portion noble, lord, and former priest of The Valentic Order. Born as the third son Caleb Kingsley, the last prince of Minas Ithil, Erik was expected to be great by his father. Living in the shadow of a great warrior Erik is everything his father never was. Cowardly, moody, and usually sullen, Erik was never strong or skilled and mostly kept to himself reading books or off riding. He is miserable at the thought of making any sort of name for himself and terrified of warfare and responsibility.
He began his career in Wetham after his father forced him out of the house to make something of himself, and became a priest of sorts for the Valentic Temple in the city. When the realm merged with Portion he became an advisor to Queen Amélie Tempest, as well as her lover. After her disappearance and the decline of Portion, Erik decided to leave his home and the Valentic Order and travelled through the Naan Forest to Halcyon where he unwittingly found himself in the position of Senator. Once the War of the Lich King began in earnest however, he was driven from his newfound home and led a band of refugees south to Oritolon.
Contents
Early Life
Erik was born the son of Caleb Kingsley and Raziella Himoura. He was the pair's third and final child, his brother and sister being Raziel and Raziella, (named after his grandfather Raziel III), while Erik himself was named as a nod to Ravendon Eirikr, a man who worked and fought alongside his other grandfather Sidd Kingsley.
Erik was raised as an Ithilian, inheriting the culture and style of education of both of his parents' fallen homeland. Despite this, Erik showed little interest in the fallen kingdom now sunk far beneath the waves, much to the frustration of his father. As he grew up, Erik was expected to be a noble warrior as his father and grandfather Sidd were. However Erik was a sullen and cowardly child and did not take well to combat. He never learned to swing a sword and was often distracted in his lessons, most of which were about the history of Atamara and the old kingdoms. He did enjoy some artistic pursuits such as poetry and drawing, and he took quickly to horseback riding which was the only task his father had ever complimented him on.
As Caleb regularly pushed Erik towards noble pursuits and regularly berated him for not living up to the standard of a prince of Ithilia, which his father insisted was a title he would pass onto him, Erik became even more withdrawn, and often sought to get away from his family when he could. After both his brother and sister had left the house in rebellion, Erik's father told him he needed to make something of himself for the family, as he was the last hope for the Ithilian kings to reclaim their honour and glory. He then sent Erik on his way to make that life.
Journey to Wetham
Once Erik was sent away from his home, he gathered up a few meager belongings and headed North across the river towards the realm of Wetham. As he crossed the river, he encountered a man called Benjamin Bailey, a mercenary captain with his band of seedy-looking warriors. Frightened by Captain Bailey's description of the dangers of the wide world, Erik agreed to use some of the pittance his father had given him to pay Bailey to escort him to [Wetham|Wetham City]] where he knew his sister Raziella II had last been seen. Deciding he'd go help her with whatever she was working on would be his best bet, he and Bailey's Odd Company travelled North and arrived safely in the city.
Wetham was in a bustle when he arrived, as protests against King Rian Voogt were reaching dramatic levels. After meeting with his sister and seeing firsthand Rian's excesses he helped Raziella and Evoria Gildre in overthrowing the ruler through protest. Emerging from the chaos was Luca Anderbliss who was crowned King of Wetham in the aftermath. King Luca, gracious for Erik's help in overthrowing the tyrant king Rian, appointed Erik as the Count of Lavraz. Mortified at the thought of having to do work Erik noted his uncertainty which King Luca responded to with encouragement. Reluctantly, Erik accepted the role.
During his time in Wetham City, Erik had begun staying in the Temple of the High Father, the main temple of The Valentic Order on the Colonies. While he was there, he was perusing some of the old lore there, looking for something to read when he was mistaken for a priest and sent out to go perform sermons which, in his confusion and awkwardness obliged. After this he continued to be tasked with errands on behalf of the temple, and thus, accidentally did become a priest of the Order. Erik did not enjoy most of these tasks, and he regularly shirked them, pretending to have accomplished them when he returned each day to the temple. Still, he was looked to as a leader, as the High Priest, Rian Voogt had been banished from the realm for placing bounties upon the realm's nobles, including Erik.
One of these bounties led to his sister Raziella being assaulted by Nigel de la Fere in the streets of Wetham City. Swearing a hatred for the Assassin's guild, he left the city once Raziella's safety had been secured, in order to avoid the dangers of the open city streets. He returned to Lavraz, and took residence in The Other Lavraz Castle (as Lavraz Castle had been occupied by his then-knight, Skraal Poe).
At the request of King Luca, Erik joined Wetham's crusade against rebel forces in Alebad to help secure the region from Outer Tilog. Though he would not fight in battle, he accompanied the army as a spiritual advisor, something he had no idea how to do. Still he did his best and became friends with many of the Wetham nobles, especially Lady Amélie Tempest with whom he grew very close.
After the army's successful return, the realm returned to peace and quiet, and King Luca became withdrawn. With the resignation of Evoria Gildre, Erik and Amélie agreed that they had failed in their quest to restore Wetham to glory, and agreed to help end the kingdom. Upon Amélie's suggestion, Erik agreed to go with her to Portion, something he dreaded as he returned back to his homeland to face his father with his newfound failure.
Merger with Portion
Returning to Portion, Erik avoided going back to the city where he was born at all costs, mainly to avoid having to hear of his failure from his father. Still, he was heartened somewhat at the familiar land, and the arrival of the rest of his friends from Wetham as they too left the realm to its fate. Erik remained in Lavraz, and was present for the striking
War of the Lich King
Personality
Erik is an unusual man; clumsy, unobservant and airy, he does not often find himself meeting the high expectations of a noble of his name. He is easily frightened and lazy and never truly learned the skills necessary to succeed as an administrator or governor, and his fear of sharp object and pain left him unskilled in the ways of warfare and combat. He is often terrible at most things that he sets his mind too, including basic tasks, and he regularly fails to understand basic principles of his responsibility as a noble and is often confused by changes to his situation. He is entirely oblivious to the intentions of others and regularly misread situations, including ones advantageous to him.
Despite his cowardly and hapless nature, Erik does have strong beliefs in some principles. He genuinely desires to see a peaceful world but has no idea how to go about bringing such a thing about. Still, he will stand up for ideals of goodness and righteousness when they are challenged, and will call out those who he believes are villainous or cruel. He also does not like bullies or those that act imperious to others while doing nothing themselves, especially since these sorts of people remind him of his father, with whom he has a poor relationship with.
Erik is somewhat airheaded and his thoughts often meander off the topic being discussed. As a result he is easily distracted and his letters often result in a stream of consciousness that ends up far from the point he originally intends to make.
While Erik hates doing most things, especially work, he does enjoy reading, writing poetry, and horseback riding. The latter of which is the only thing he is actually good at.
NPCs
Captain Bailey
A mercenary captain with an upbeat attitude, Captain Bailey's pride is almost as big as his mustache, and both are nearly as big as his muscled form. The captain is the leader of the Odd Company. A band of charming mercenaries with a questionable brand of ethics, the Captain and his loyal soldiers have taken jobs both illicit and legitimate. Captain Bailey met Erik on his first trip to Wetham from his home in Portion after Erik's father force him out to make a name for himself. While Erik was grumpy the whole trip, Captain Bailey tried to joke with him to lift his spirits, as well as offering him advice on the world outside of Portion City. Later when Erik was summoned by Monford Valeryon to Alowca to discuss the expansion of the Valentic Order into Halcyon, Captain Bailey escorted the young priest on his dangerous quest through the mountains and desert to reach the southern city. Bailey also accompanied Erik and the Naan refugees after the region was attacked by Outer Tilog and they were forced to flee.
Wulfgang von Closen
A reclusive petty lord in the region of Naan Forest. He presides over a small stretch of forest and the nearby town of Closen in the name of his nephew Erwin who is bedridden with a serious long-term illness. Wulfgang leaves the von Closen land rarely and only when he is required to or is summoned by his liege lord, the Lord of Naan Forest. He is an old gentleman with gray hair and eyes who walks with a cane and wears a mustache that crosses his face to his sideburns. He is often quiet and watches with a stern, detached gaze. He regards Erik with some suspicion and is often unamused by the young man's bumbling words and clumsiness.
Clara
A young woman in the household service of Lord Erwin, she most often answers to Lord Wulfgang. She tends to typical household chores and cares for the von Closen's animals. Clara has a happy and charming attitude, loving romance and adventure, hoping that someday she will get to experience it for herself. She met Erik at the beginning of the War of the Lich King when he stumbled upon the von Closen property, letting him in from the cold. She acts very affectionate towards him, even calling him "her prince" despite his protestations.
Relationships
Amélie Tempest
Erik met Amélie Tempest after her pilgrimage to Wetham brought her to the Temple of the Valentic Order, where Erik accidentally became a priest. They became good friends, as Erik was one of the few people who took the time to learn to understand her thick foreign accent, as well as bonding through the faith of the Highfather. Erik once gifted her The Grisly Axe, which he found in her region. It was Erik who Amélie first approached regarding the merger with Portion. While in Portion, Amélie was openly affectionate towards Erik which led to rumors of their romantic involvement.
When Erik was captured by Outer Tilog after the capture of Alebad, Amélie helped secure his safety by threatening war if he was harmed. When he returned to her in Portion City, after fending of a Tilogian attack, she confessed her affection for him, which Erik reciprocated, and they became paramours.
Erik holds Amélie in high esteem, and loves her dearly. He sees her as a shining hero out of story and song, looking to her for protection and offering her his comforting affection and what little wisdom he has in return. Her disappearance following the Outer Tilog-Portion BBQ Bonanza left him lonely and depressed.
Caleb Kingsley
Erik's father Caleb was a born prince of land lost to his family's enemies, the De La Fere Family, and to the seas. As a result Caleb longed for a time and place long past, and seeing his children as his legacy and his only hope at restoring the royal name of his family. Erik was no exception, and Caleb pushed Erik towards the path of the warrior, something Erik was terrible at and afraid of. Seeing Erik fail to follow in his footsteps enraged and disappointed the father who threw him out towards Wetham to make a name for himself there and to reign in the rebellious activities of his sister, Raziella. Due to their vastly differing natures, Erik and his father do not get along at all. Erik sees his father as overbearing and a relic of a forgotten age, while Caleb sees his son as weak and disappointing. After falling into a depression as a result of the disappearance of Amélie Tempest, Caleb once again dismisses his son, who leaves home without warning, hoping to never come back.
Raziella II Himoura Nifeleisca Kingsley
Erik's older sister had always been a far reach away from Erik. Where Erik preferred to stay indoors with his books and poems, Raziella was always adventurous and rebellious. He admires his sister for these qualities, knowing he would never embody them himself, but often feels exasperated at her attempts to force him out of his comfortable shell. Raziella is very protective of her younger brother and would defend him against any slander, though she had no problem embarrassing him herself. Erik loves his sister dearly and even tried with entirely no success to defend her when she was attacked on the streets of Wetham by Nigel de la Fere. He still worries for her safety after she disappeared from public view following the attack.
Sevima MacArbin
Sevima was a knight of Portion during Erik's time serving in Queen Amélie's court. During this time, she openly pursued Erik, taking an interest in his "adorable" letters. Oblivious to this, Erik considers Sevima to be a good friend, though to his knowledge they have never met in person. Their only meeting was in Lavraz, when she visited the shrine to the Highfather that he kept there. Mistaking her and her soldiers for a group of bandits, he frightenedly surrendered himself and she took the young priest to a tavern where she, playing along, tried to come onto him. Seeing a moment he escaped and stumbled out hurting himself in the process. Sevima was mostly amused by this, but continued her pursuit of him. They eventually reunited in Halcyon after Sevima was elected as the Governor of Oritolon, and Erik became her knight.
Nigel De la Fere
Erik encountered Nigel when he stabbed Raziella in the streets of Wetham City. The two had a brief exchange as Erik accused him of a personal vendetta against the Kingsley family. Nigel scoffed at this and dismissed Erik outright, but Erik has held a grudge against the De la Fere ever since. This grudge extended to the Assassins' Guild as a whole and Erik has on numerous occasions expressed desires to remove the guild from the Colonies.
Roleplays
Early Erik RPs unfortunately did not get saved prior to the ones listed here because I was lazy and never got around to making this page. They are saved from this point forward.
