Oswold IX and I (ahs-wohld)
Oswold Frederick Julius Roman Dumein
Born to the royal family of the Dumein Dominion in 1443 2A, Oswold is the current Thegn of the Dominion (Oswold IX) and first Emperor of the Everyn Federation (Oswold I). In fact, the conquering of all of eastern Ayndrinor, which led to the creation of the Federation, was his doing and his proudest achievement so far. His mother died somewhat unexpectedly (though after battling an illness for several years) when Oswold was just 32 years old, leaving the throne to him and a very capable set of advisors she had trained and hand-picked for him. Between these advisors and Oswold, a plan was concocted to take control of all of eastern Ayndrinor, allaying the regrets of every previous thegn. The identities of these advisors are kept secret, and not even the nobility of the Dominion are aware of who they might be - or if they are aware, they keep the knowledge secret on probable threat of death.
One of the more interesting facets of Oswold's life and rule has been in regards to his race. It was an open secret throughout the Dominion that his father was a half-elf, though he always wore a long hairstyle to cover his slightly pointed ears. The Dominion is not particularly racist or xenophobic toward elves, but some radical nobles found it quite scandalous that the thegn had taken a non-human husband. All accounts of Oswold's early years indicate he was also born with slightly pointed ears, though he has always officially been described as human. All official portraits from his childhood show him with rounded human ears, further cementing that he was a normal human child. But those in attendance at Oswold's coronation and close enough to the dais to see him clearly have reported seeing unmistakably pointed ears underneath the ceremonial crown. In the years since coronation, Oswold is believed to have had the court mages perform some sort of transmutative magic on his ears to change their shape so they do not have to constantly disguise them with illusions. Despite the issue of his ears, many in the kingdom believe Oswold to be of elven descent simply because he has retained his youthful looks longer than most. Though in his early forties, the Emperor still looks half that age. The palace may continue to claim that the Emperor is human, but almost everyone in the Dominion knows that is not entirely true.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Oswold was the oldest child of the previous Thegn and her husband, and he was followed in quick succession by five other children before Oswold was even ten. Oswold's father died shortly after the birth of his youngest sibling, falling victim to some sort of plague, disease, or injury that has never been disclosed to the public. Oswold was the heir apparent from the earliest days of his childhood, and even as his siblings grew up he remained the brightest of them all. By all accounts from within the palace, the thegn doted on Oswold and made sure he had the best possible experience growing up.
Oswold was personally tutored by the brightest minds in the Dominion from a very young age, joining the academy at Tor Golgottli for five years in his teens. He always had a strong affinity for history and civics lessons, mastery of which were required for the future ruler. He was not a particularly gifted soldier or combatant when he received that training in his teens - much to the dismay of his mother and the rest of the militaristic nation. But his aptitude in other areas far outshone his lack of martial skill, and most were quick to forget Oswold had been a poor student of war.
As Oswold entered early adulthood and his twenties, his mother began having him sit in on council meetings and war plannings, though Oswold was never permitted to speak. This was valuable training that taught him to recognize the subtle politics of speech and body language that inevitably occurred when powerful people got together for any sort of discussion. More than any education from a tutor or the academy, Oswold has credited this silent observation of his mother's meetings as the most impactful experience in his young life.
Oswold slowly began taking on smaller duties around the Keep, becoming a de facto mayor by age 28. He still attended the council meetings when they pertained to the business of the nation at large, and he was still only permitted to sit in a corner and observe. But now he had his own council to help him run the capital city, at the direction of his mother. It was during this time that Oswold and his advisors formed a close working relationship - though some salacious rumors abound that suggest the group formed a different type of close relationship as well.
When his mother died in 1475 2A, Oswold was quickly crowned as the Thegn, taking the moniker Oswold IX. The previous Oswold had lived almost 200 years prior and was known for ushering in an era of stability that saw the kingdom repel several attacks and attempted invasions by neighbors. Oswold VIII was not known as an ambitious ruler and did not seek to expand the nation's territory, but he was still loved by the people for displaying the nation's military might in defense of the territory.
Portrait art by me using HeroForge
Age
41
Date of Birth
18 Samradh Dar, 1443 2A
Birthplace
Children
Pronouns
he/him/his
Gender
male
Eyes
Grey
Hair
Light blonde
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Lightly tanned
Height
6'5"
Weight
180 lbs.
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Ruled Locations
Comments