King Wilfred of Engham

King Wilfred of Engham, full name Wilfred Degenhard Bertram Vuernes of Engham, is King of Dergeria, having acceded to the throne following the deposition of the previous monarch, Alphonse VI of Dergeria, as a consequence of the unconditional Dergerian surrender at the end of the Zenith War. An ally of and collaborator with the Dragonbane dynasty of Grasynnia, Wilfred was hand-selected by Supreme General Althea Dragonbane to serve as the southern kingdom's new monarch. Known for his capricious nature and love of luxury, Wilfred is unpopular in the kingdom, seen by many as a weak-willed sycophant forced upon the nation by the enemy.

Biography

Wilfred Degenhard Bertram Vuernes was born to Count Degenhard of Engham and Countess Milisandia, at the Comital Castle in Engham, a non-sovereign county west of Prinstead. The youngest of four sons, he attended the Statesman Academy in Neesehurst while his three elder brothers all fought in the war. When Wilfred returned to Engham after his studies, he found it under the direct possession of the Falchions, used as a waystation between the frontline in the Marrens and the newly-established military headquarters at Camp Sonthill. It was only there and then that he learned that two of his brothers had lost their lives fighting for Grasynnia, and that his father the Count was on his deathbed. Wilfred took these developments surprisingly well - putting into practice what he had learned at the Statesman Academy: patience, poise, and above all, seeking powerful individuals and maneuvering himself into their good graces. Lucky for him, that person just so happened to be Merxellis Dragonbane, the Strategist King.
After his father died, the young Wilfred declared himself 'Acting Count' until his only surviving brother would return from fighting. It was during this tenure that Wilfred ingratiated himself with King Merxellis, providing the monarch with every single thing he might need, no matter how small or big. The county's coffers were drained to support the war effort, the Comital Castle was partially torn down to aid the construction of new barracks, and eventually, Merxellis saw Wilfred as an important and easily-maneuverable piece in his grand strategy. Upon receiving word that Wilfred's last brother had also met his demise, the monarch convinced Wilfred to formally dissolve the county and transfer all its assets to the crown. In return, he was promised an important position after the war's end.
After the war, Wilfred moved to Hartmere and gained a seat at the Strategic Committee. However, he could only fulfill this position briefly, as upon the death of the Strategist King, his daughter Althea ascended to the throne and dissolved the committee. Fearing for his cozy lifestyle, Wilfred repeated his earlier tricks to ingratiate himself with the new monarch. She proved to be harder to win over, as she saw little use for the man. That changed, however, when the Supreme General decreed a "puppet king" was needed for the puppeted Kingdom of Dergeria, in order to placate the people and prevent uprisings. For that, she saw no one better than the easily-maneuverable noble without a charge, who of course immediately accepted.
Crowned king at a heavily-guarded ceremony in the City of Dergeria, Wilfred's role as ruler is extremely limited due to the direct orders he follows from the Dragonbane regime in Hartmere. Because these orders are often relayed directly to ministers and subordinates, in reality, Wilfred is little more than a ceremonial ruler. He often holds megalomaniacal speeches from the Royal Palace, forcing citizens to attend. Beyond those, he rarely ventures outside of the palace gates, instead indulging himself in lavish luxury, paying no mind to the dour and starving populace. As such, he is a very unpopular monarch, constantly reminding the citizens of the Grasynnian oppression.

Personality

King Wilfred is known as a man of many vices, enjoying luxury, food, games, concubines, and other frivolities of life. Wilfred makes many references to Tymora, Goddess of Luck, and those who have been inside the palace report having seen a shrine to the goddess within its walls. As his rule as puppet monarch is inherently limited, he stands largely divorced from the plight of his subjects, waiting for orders from Hartmere and otherwise not bothering with any of the people. An incredibly self-centered and ostentatious man, he is delighted by praise and attention, and is prone to lash out towards critics, imposing the harshest and most random of penalties upon those who insult, demean, or question him. He has described the Royal Executioner as his "greatest friend".
When dealing with Althea Dragonbane, he panders to and grovels before her at every opportunity, never hesitating to fulfill any command she may give. His speeches often include long sections where he sings the praises of the Supreme General and her late father. Among the dejected Dergerian people, he is often referred to as King Brownnose behind closed doors. He has many bastard children with various concubines and bedpartners, yet is still without queen or official heir. Any bastards are quickly disposed of, tossed out of the palace along with their mothers when discovered. None have ever received affirmation from the monarch.

Wilfred of Engham

King of Dergeria

Race
Human

Age
45

Birthplace
Engham