Brinus, Duke of Marcith

Sir Brinus

"And His Majesty [. . .] who hast triumphed over the old world, and hast been risen up among the holy temples of Ruuben, took within his court a pale serpent of the old world, and gave it power and authority over his people."

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

After surviving the old world's collapse, the years of the dragon hunt, and ultimately offering his wings to King Aelfrid, Brinus is a shadow of whatever his former self was. It is unknown what he could have looked like before years of physical servitude to survival and willful marring, but he still boasts a size and shape known only to the gods and giants.

Body Features

Brinus is covered in pale, rubbery scales and boasts a vibrant mane about his head. His wings, before being crafted into the blessed greatshields used by Knight Esgard and Knight Sirnel, were an evanescent pearl which has since set apart King Aelfrid's royal knights as the Pale Knights.
His body is long and winding, often humping toward the middle when he stands. Like most of his kind, there are risen lumps along his spine that flatten atop the curve of his skull and lessen near the base of his tail. Brinus has long since become crusted and scarred with age only old world beasts possess. He sheds his skin once or twice a year, which is kept by the college of Ruuben's scholars and once gifted to a neighboring kingdom's museum in hopes of encouraging peace and instilling fear.

Facial Features

Brinus has the typical appearance of recorded dragons, possessing the long, angular snout of his kin paired with milky eyes and slit pupils. His head, unlike the rest of his ghostly body, is crowned by tufts of thick hair that can fully freeze at his will.

Special abilities

Brinus, alongside his vast assortment of spells and magic, is filled with cold mist that escapes his mouth as a concentrated breath, or what some refer to as his sword. Since most dragons have gone into hiding or otherwise passed into obscurity, it is unknown just how diverse their skills in magic can be. The Deep is described as a place of endless ice and dark, and it would make sense that Brinus--having lived on the cusp of the Deep--grew acclimated to its corrupting nature.
It is documented that other dragons shared similar characteristics of hoarding elements within themselves, and some speculate that there is a type of organ or crevice between their lungs that acts as a sort of pouch.
With the rise of curses and myths surrounding the old gods, some believe that the dragons were cursed long ago to hide, steal, and hoard, which would explain their history of constant butchering and servitude under the giants and, not until recently, mankind. It would also explain their unusual ability to hoard magic within themselves as a physical carrier.

Apparel & Accessories

After his introduction as Duke of Marcith, Brinus was gifted a purple cloak fitted to drape the length of his elongated body and a multitude of gold, fitted collars to climb his equally extended neck. While he does not wear anything save for the times he has appeared in King Aelfrid's throne room, he has a unique interest in jewelry and dyed cotton. There is a rumor between the handmaidens and scholars that Brinus has formed and interest in human women, asking them to model outfits in his private chambers. It is debatable whether this is an interest in women or an interest in the shape of clothing against a woman's body.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Born in the twilight years of the fourth cycle, Brinus is one of the few survivors of the old world's collapse, when the old god Balmund awoke from his centuries slumber and plummeted into the Deep. After the opening of the great fissure, he and his kin hibernated within the heated cracks of the divide until King Illsmore and the priests of Ruuben flushed them out. King Illsmore and his knights butchered the dragons in their weakened state, the few that managed to flee hiding away across the expanse of the Deep where Illsmore could not reach them.
Eventually, after the golden years of dragon hunting fell into memory, Brinus approached King Aelfrid on the cusp of the new era. Decades of living within the carnage of the old world had weakened him considerably, but he offered his knowledge of the Deep and old world magic in return for safety. Despite the tremendous disapproval of his people, King Aelfrid accepted Brinus into his court and later gave him the title of duke, encouraging further disagreement from Umelan's citizens.
King Aelfrid gave Brinus further power over his highest ranking spellkeepers, gifting him with unlimited access to the college of Ruuben and dedicating the uppermost wing to Brinus' personal studies. Not long after this, Brinus ordered for half of the college's leading spellkeepers to be expunged from further duty, keeping only a handful of high ranking philosophers and historians at his side for continued work on maintaining the old world's history.
Brinus has further attempted to cement his loyalty to Balbura by forfeiting his wings, which were crafted into the legendary shields held by two of the king's most trusted knights. He has also begun leading the hunt for a protection against curses, granted a following of royal knights, Ruuben priests, and a foreign Hexer to aid him during his travels.
Though once thoroughly distrusted by Umelan, Brinus has become the face of hope to the masses of accursed, most believing him to be able to find a solution to their suffering due to his sheer might and unflinching belief in a cure.

Gender Identity

Though referred to as a 'he' and perceived dominantly as male considering his title of duke, Brinus is also referred to as an 'it' in congruence with being labeled a serpent. This is commonly used by those who do not think highly of him.

Education

Though inhuman, Brinus can speak the native tongue of Umelan and translate the ancient books of the old world into modern language for the college of Ruuben. He is highly skilled in spellcrafting and literature, a living time capsule holding the secrets of the Deep and the old world.

Mental Trauma

Brinus is highly narcissistic, though this is difficult to grasp considering his very legitimate status of royalty and near immortality. His beliefs in himself have made it possible for him to achieve these goals but at the cost of leading very fragmented, tumultuous relationships between him and those who study beneath him. This overbearing need for control has created a fragile framework between those he travels alongside, most of which continuously taken aback by Brinus' lack of empathy and actual skill in combat.
He does not speak often concerning the years of dragon hunting and, if he does make mention of it, it always includes grand tales of his own survival, overlapping stories of his cunning wit and strength that both excite and discomfort those listening. There is an air about him that has been referred to as 'stifling' and 'suffocating'; most are thankful Brinus is typically locked away in the upper levels of the college since they are left unbothered by his periodical tantrums.
It could be argued that what seems to be genuine interest in Umelan's safety is actually a deep-seated desire for praise and special status. King Aelfrid, who Brinus seems to defend the most and respect above all, is no more than his favorite admirer, showering Brinus in a near god-like position in which he can do no wrong.

Morality & Philosophy

With his inability to empathize with others, or even see others as living beings, Brinus' personal beliefs sway between outright disinterest in anything beyond himself and a growing obsession with curing the accursed. His status and position would entail great depth of thought revolving around the outcome of humanity, but Brinus shows no capability in grasping the basic needs of others and thus fails to assimilate a proper--though fake--understanding of them.
He holds a great deal of accountability in others and unconsciously refuses to apply any of it to himself, making it impossible for anyone to tell him anything beyond the obvious or the mundane. On top of this fact, Brinus often explains away any disagreements as 'a difference in species', himself being the only dragon in known contact with humans and thus admonished from consequence.
It is almost sordidly ironic how much the world has seemingly bent to Brinus' selfish demands, the few who know him personally cursed to act as peasants in the Machiavellian play that is Brinus' life.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Brinus' primary and only interest lies with his own achievements and what others can do to make such achievements feasible. He has become close allies with King Aelfrid because he is a befitting fan and audience who Brinus can rely upon for endless praise and acceptance. He has an undying interest in Umelan's safety because he is the only one capable of saving it, a heavy burden that he, at times, mourns over publicly in an attempt to garner sympathy.
He also boasts a vehement hatred of transparency, those working close to him ridiculing his tendency to lie and smudge the truth when it comes to minor or trivial facts. This caused many scholars within the college to speak out against Brinus with the fear he could be distorting history, which ended in their being expunged from the college and forbidden to involve themselves with its work ever again.
His recent endeavor to solve the plight of the accursed has appeared genuine in his continued efforts, but those traveling with him have become increasingly aware of his frequent lies and remorseless nature.

Savvies & Ineptitudes

While he excels in written language and magic, Brinus belittles those philosophers in the college who study the nature of man and religion, speaking poorly of any art or science revolving around emotion or the human brain and considering it a waste of resources. While he has not outright prohibited those who study it, he offers no help to their cause and makes it a great deal more difficult for them to continue, if only because of his often petty ways of showing his disagreement.

Virtues & Personality perks

While an overall miserable creature to deal with, Brinus' work within the college further defused the religious civil war between unaffiliated magic users and the followers of Ruuben within Umelan. His outspoken nature concerning the passive role of religion has worked well with the rise of curses and the dwindling number of believers. His efforts to stave off curses will also, if achieved, bring peace to many people. It remains that he himself is a creature of insatiable selfishness and will forever be dissatisfied with himself and everyone around him, but those who he will abuse most severely are far fewer than the people he will benefit.

Vices & Personality flaws

Narcissistic and entitled; easily damaged by tiny slights or oversights and forever compliment hungry. Has a brittle self-esteem that vanishes when there is a perceived failure and strives in all situations for attention and adoration. Meets criticism with apparent cool nonchalance or untended rage, punishing those closest to him for acting out of turn with silent stonewalling or unpredictable mood shifts in order to regain control over them. Socially insensitive and exploitative, seeing relationships of any caliber entirely in terms of how they may benefit him without thought of exchange. Though he has perfected his ability to feign sympathy, it is typically given so indifferently that whoever asks for it does not do so again. Enjoys humiliating people.

Social

Contacts & Relations

In close contact to Yelrie, the foreign Hexer ordered to serve with Brinus during his travels outside of Umelan. He first showed favor toward her when she admired his ability for magic, which he further expressed by taking her on as his personal pupil. He enjoyed her company and desire to follow him, eventually referring to her as a close friend, which Yelrie allowed, if anything. It has become known within their traveling party that the two get into terrible arguments, but Yelrie eventually solves the tension by dropping the matter and moving on. Brinus speaks of her highly with regards to how well he has taught her. Most people shy away from their relationship with discomfort, which Brinus is perfectly content with so long as Yelrie does not change.

Species

Dragon

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Duke of Marcith

Aligned Organization

Balburan Empire

Other Affiliations

• The College of Ruuben