King Percival Alderley Ashdown

His Majesty King Percival (né Jetworth) Alderley Ashdown, the Twin

Along with his wife Queen Aveline Ashdown, King Percival ushered in an unprecedented time of unity and prosperity in Crathlia, known today as the Sun Age. In the midst of the turmoil of the beginning of his reign, he and Queen Aveline created the Senate to placate the nobles. They also were the first Alderley monarchs to reach out to the shapeshifters, saving the aignaoithe race from certain death.
The king ruled alongside his twin brother Prince Roland Jetworth Alderley, whom Queen Aveline's diaries lead us to believe also acted as king on occasion by swapping places with King Percival. This allowed the king to accomplish more than he would have been able to otherwise. considering that his brother was able to act in his stead.

Personal History

Family

As much as I love you, Aveline, as much as I would kill anyone who touched you, I believe I'd be able to recover if you died. My brother, on the other hand. Saints, I'd be incomplete. Half of a person.

— King Percival, recorded in Queen Aveline's Diaries, Diary 2

Then-Prince Percival began life with his brother Roland in 976 in the midst of King Hadrian the Usurper's duel for the throne. After King Hadrian killed Percival's grandmother Queen Siobhan Alderley in ritual combat, the king executed both of Percival's parents. The boys were saved and hidden by Ethelinda Blackburn Iceworth, who saw their value in challenging King Hadrian.
When the nobles led by Ethelinda Blackburn killed King Hadrian and placed Percival on the throne, the boys were thirteen years old. They took orders from Lady Blackburn, shaping the country in her image. Though Percival was a Healer according to Queen Aveline's diaries, he was also reported to be able to kill people with a touch--like a Drainer. Queen Aveline implies that Prince Roland was the one to perform these executions in King Percival's place, but missing pieces in her diaries prevent historians from coming to a solid conclusion.
According to tradition, King Percival was required to select a wife from the most powerful eligible young women in the land before his twentieth birthday. As they competed for his hand in marriage, he evaluated whether they were truly loyal to him--and many, including Ethelinda's daughter Morgan, were not. Queen Aveline's first diary reports that Roland poisoned Ethelinda Blackburn in order to free his brother from her influence, allowing Percival to make his own decisions. They cracked down together on dissent among the nobles, imprisoning those disloyal.
After falling in love with her over the course of the trials, the king married Aveline Ashdown in 995. They had two children: Prince Raymond and Queen Catherine Alderley Scaleburn. He lived to see his five beloved grandchildren. He and his queen died together, at last killed by the naered who despised them so.

Education

The twins were raised in secret in the small ruined compound Foraois Dhlúth. They were educated by tutors who prepared Percival for the throne and Roland to protect him, though Queen Aveline's diary notes that even the tutors couldn't always tell the twins apart if they truly wanted to fool them. Thus it is believed that both learnt similar skills.
After he was crowned king, Percival studied privately in his free time, reading "as often and widely as possible" according to Diary 4. He read the works of great philosophers and storytellers worldwide, especially those of the upper Aviumi city-states.

Written by Cordelia Colbreak Evenbrook

Species

Humans

Ethnicity

Paragons

Honorary & Occupational Titles

His Majesty, King of Crathlia, Heir of Alden Ó Flaithrí and King Matthew the Great.

Previously Held Ranks & Titles

• Hereditary Crown Royal of Crathlia
• Hereditary Monarch of Crathlia

Life

976 DA 1057 DA 81 years old

Circumstances of Birth

The firstborn identical twin to his brother Roland.

Circumstances of Death

Died peacefully in his sleep.

Gender

Male.

Eyes

Hazel, described as typically between dark green and blue.

Hair

Shoulder length, wavy, black.

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Pale.

Height

5'10.

Weight

135 lbs.

Aligned Organization

Kingdom of Crathlia

Other Affiliations

• Council of Elders
• Crathlian Creationism
• Everdon Academy

Abilities

Telepathy
Healing (debated)
Telekinesis

Accomplishments and Reign

King Percival is remembered among modern Crathlians chiefly for his creation of the Senate, which distributed the power of the nobility more fairly. It redirected the corruption of his advisors into the vying for seats on the Senate (which are elected by all Paragons), freeing the royal family up to make decisions on their own.
He and his wife led their kingdom into an unprecedented time of peace and prosperity, referred to as the Sun Age. For the first time, Aviumi advancements in technology and philosophy were integrated into Crathlian culture. Increased international trade and better relations with the mainlands brought new ideas and enthusiasm to the people. His long reign is associated with learning and prosperity.
He is considered by many scholars to be one of the best kings of Crathlia, though many qualify this with the statement that his wife Queen Aveline was undeniably brilliant, and he had the constant and unfailing support of his brother Prince Roland, who sometimes pretended to be him. In fact, some scholars argue that Prince Roland acted as king as often as King Percival did, and should equally be credited with King Percival's success.

Physical Appearance

Physical Condition

King Percival is described as having a pole-like form no matter what he ate, and skinny arms no matter how much he lifted. His advisors had to be assured that he was eating properly.

Identifying Features

I saw a hint of recognition and fear flash in Roland's eyes as they met mine, but he smiled easily, the way he typically did. But no, it wasn't quite right. His face reddened. I looked back at him as he hurried past. "Hello, Roland," I said.
"Good morning, Aveline!" said he, with the usual lighthearted brightness, and I was reassured. This was Roland.
I turned, caught step with him, and lowered my voice. "Did Percival find out?"
His eyes narrowed, and he pulled me aside into a sitting room. My stomach leapt. For Roland to be this serious -
He took my hand in his, linking our fingertips, and breathed in.
"Yes, he did. Just now, in fact."
The slight pursing of his lips, the lowering of his eyebrows--that, that I knew. That was Percival.
I had just made a horrible miscalculation.

— Queen Aveline's Diaries, Diary 1

Since the king was an identical twin, being able to identify which was truly the king became important to the Crathlian nobility at the time. Percival and his brother Roland made a significant effort to remain as physically identical as possible, cutting their hair the same length, maintaining similar weights, etc.
However, they had several differences they were unable to change, recorded in the diary of Morgan Blackburn. It is believed that Aveline omitted any such notes to avoid anyone else discovering her observations, out of a desire to protect both herself and her husband. In Diary 3, she reports catching them in the act of swapping, showing that Percival's wife was at least able to tell them apart.

• Percival was an inch shorter than Roland. The king wore thicker shoes when pretending to be his brother to compensate.
• Roland was more muscular than Percival due to his physical training. When Percival pretended to be Roland, he wore baggier tunics and trousers than Roland generally did.
• Percival was paler than Roland due to the fact that Percival spent most of his free time indoors reading. However, the difference was only significant enough to tell when they were side by side in outdoor lighting.

Roland had a scar on his wrist from where it was broken when he was a child. Both wore long sleeves in court both due to the fashion at the time and in order to conceal this difference.

While their expressions were generally quite different, both Morgan and Aveline believed that the twins exaggerated their personality differences when in public to differentiate themselves from one another, so that when one pretended to be the other, he had an easy persona to take on.

Social

Connections and Relations

"Disloyalty will not be tolerated," said King Percival, looking down his nose at the surrounding nobles. "You see what's happened to Lady Blackburn. Any of you could be next." He flexed his hands, a stretch, a warning. Even I had to shudder.
He looked over the crowd then, and met my eyes. A chill ran down my spine. "You'd all best remind me just how loyal you are."

— Queen Aveline's Diaries, Diary 1

The king was distant from his noble courtiers, especially after the death of Ethelinda Blackburn Iceworth. In his early years, he ruled primarily through fear. Though he softened over time, his wife and brother were the ones who were able to connect with the people, with the king as an immovable force who would yield to no one outside his immediate family.

Family Ties

The majority of his older relatives were killed either in King Hadrian's purges or in Ethelinda Blackburn's retribution thirteen years later. His marriage to Aveline Ashdown did not add many members to his older family, since most of the Ashdowns were also killed in King Hadrian's purges. King Percival was fiercely loyal to his wife, two children, and five grandchildren. He was willing to do whatever it took to protect them.