History
Childhood
It is a Flameheart tradition that a child isn't properly introduced to the outside world until their twelfth birthday. Before then, they have limited contact with others, focusing mostly on training their abilities. The main reason for this is the survival rate of those too talented in the flame. By the time Aodhán was introduced to the world as Marquis, he had already lost both of his older siblings, as well as his mother.
Despite all that, he was a joyful youth. When he first met Marquise Eirwen Verglas, both already could be considered magical geniuses. Seeing the rapport they had, Duchess Verglas immediately approved of Duke Flameheart's proposal for a betrothment between the two heirs. In the years that followed, the two grew closer and over time deeply fell in love with each other.
The two spent a lot of time together in their teenage years, often meeting at each other's territories or those of others. Carraig Castle, located in between their ancestral homes, served them well as a meeting location. Here they would also meet up with their friend, Baroness Aoife Carraig.
Royal Capital
From age eighteen to age twenty-one, both Aodhán and Eirwen were sent off to the royal capital, where they learned etiquette and more at the royal academy. They met a lot of other nobles there that were around their age, befriending many of them. With the amount of knowledge available to them, as well as being able to see others wield their own techniques, the two their talents truly shone.
It turned out that Aodhán's and Eirwen's talents not only resembled but also complimented each other. As a team, they managed to refine many a mana technique by constantly refining the work of the other. And while they kept specific techniques classified, Aodhán taught many a friendly noble how to better handle their own abilities.
While many a noble marries for politics, the loving relationship between the two earned them the admiration of most of their peers. Aodhán would often take his time to take Eirwen on dates, perfectly romantic in public. As for their time in private, they made sure to never show any signs of how they spent that.
Making A Name For Himself
When Aodhán became twenty-one, his father brought up an archaic western tradition. He ordered his son to make a name for himself in the cold mountains bordering the Flameheart territories. This required Aodhán to leave his name behind and earn another, with very limited support. So for a year, he did so. He returned a stronger man, his techniques refined in lethal combat.
He came back too late. Shortly before he descended from the mountains, Duchess and Duke Verglas were murdered. It was easy to figure out the culprit, but impossible to prove. The sixth Flameheart Duke, Cináed Flameheart. The very instant Eirwen succeeded her late mother, all of Verglas declared war on Duke Flameheart. Unfortunately for Eirwen, her former betrothed chose his father's side, and a years-long war began.
Commander Of Armies
During the war, both leaders stayed away from the battlefield, as either being captured could bring an immediate end to the war. Duke Flameheart chose to appoint his son as the main commander, sending him off to wage war against his beloved former betrothed. Defying the odds, he excelled at this assignment, leading from the frontline and personally resisting the ire of many a Verglas knight and soldier.
A few things set Aodhán apart from his father. He fought together, not alone, his personal guard never leaving his side. He also fought fair, preferring capture and ransoms over mindless slaughter. And he had no mercy for those that stepped out of line on either side of the war. Those that needlessly harmed opponents, or worse, harmed citizens, faced strict justice from him. In some cases, this meant private imprisonment. Others faced public execution. The troops feared him, yet ironically it also meant both the armies and the people greatly respected him.
When Aodhán takes the field, he does so with a strict chain of command. He also employs his mana senses and ability to speak to other people's minds, meaning that even in the thick of battle, he always keeps a proper view of his surroundings. As a result, he rarely faces defeat. Though his victories are often smaller than they could have been, on account of his restraint, he still wins battle after battle. As a result, Verglas is bleeding out, not from a decisive strike but death by a thousand needles.
Appearance
Aodhán Flameheart stands
six feet and four digits tall, which is almost a digit taller than his father. He has the typical wiry build of many a knight and combat-able noble. His hair has the typical red hue that runs in his family, which is not as rare in the Flameheart territories as it is in other parts of the kingdom. The same goes for his bright blue eyes and his great height, making his appearance almost normal inside the Flameheart territories, yet rather eye-catching elsewhere.
His clothing is always navy blue, with the Flameheart coat of arms blazoned over his heart. The same applies to the surcoat he wears over his armour in battle. No matter whether he wears light armour, full plate, or none at all, the coat of arms is always on his heart. As if he demands his enemies to try to strike true.
Personality
Normally, users of flame mana are rather unstable. Using their powers greatly amplifies their emotions, making them a hazard to deal with. The Flameheart Dukes are known to be berserking enemies near impossible to stop in combat, which comes with consumed emotions and a lack of self-control.
Somehow, and none truly know how, Aodhán has managed to avoid this. He still wears his heart on his sleeve, his emotions clearly visible in his eyes. The way those eyes used to light up whenever he looked at Eirwen, and how now they are filled with guilt and shame instead, proves just how deep he loves her. But even though his emotions are on the forefront, unlike his predecessors, Aodhán doesn't lose himself to anger. Instead, he becomes cold and calculated, always in control.
As a commander, he leads with a rightful fury, turning his sword on his own if they cross the line. At the same time, he is feared by his opponents for utterly crushing all that go against him. On the battlefield, he is an unstoppable force of nature, even if he isn't a berserker.
Personal Armoury
Aodhán wields a variety of weapons, proficient with all, allowing him to adapt to every situation. One of those is the typical western greatsword, with its narrowed cross-guard. But he also may wield a spear or a pole-axe, and of course the combination of longsword and shield, for once the other weapons no longer serve their purpose.
As all knights and nobles, he possesses a splendid set of full plate armour. However, in combat against Verglas, he almost always forgoes said full plate, likely choosing mobility over protection due to having to avoid
Verglassed blades. Instead, he wields a variety of shields, adjusted to the circumstances and whoever he faces on the battlefield.
Abilities
By last count, it is hypothesised that Aodhán has mastered dozens of different mana techniques, and learned far more. In combat, he will alternate them and uses some only at crucial moments, making sure none properly learn what he is truly capable of.
These techniques include ones that greatly amplify his physical abilities, allowing him to be faster, stronger, and even far more enduring. While those around him grow weak from exhaustion, he will fight on. By limiting how much flame mana he uses, he also manages to keep his focus well.
Aodhán has copied many a technique from others, then tweaked it to make it his. These copies are often wasteful, though mixing flame mana allows him to pull greatly from the ambient mana around. As such, his wasteful techniques still are a large threat. These methods include the Carraig Defence, which allows him to turn both his skin and gear into armour that even a Verglassed blade has a hard time piercing.
Lastly, he is extremely skilled in mind techniques. From mana senses that can cover entire battlefields, to being able to communicate at a large distance, his strong mind makes it impossible to ambush him.
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