Emperor Manfred III
The Omnipaladin, Chosen of All Gods
Emperor Manfred the Third rose to the Imperial Throne in the year 500, at 25 years of age, after the death of his older brother, Richard VI at the hands of an unknown extraplanar assailant. Manfred quickly slew the creature, which turned into sludge and evaporated before it could be identified. Being the Emperor at a time of great strife and political turmoil, Manfred III has become famous for surviving over 500 assassination attempts and duels in his 22 years.
His other notable achievements have been encouraging cooperation between the High Ecclesiarchs and High Lords during his first years, and banning attempts to remove the Archmagus Supreme from his position in the High Council. Through his reign, he has been known for demanding cooperation and the smooth running of the Empire with an Iron fist, as well as accepting, and defeating, a number of other claimants to the throne, most notably Dracon Lionel, who would come to be known as The Tainted after their second duel.
Through his travels he not only became a highly cultured individual, but he also did not shy away from danger, and made a bit of a name for himself as an adventurer in his last traveling years. The friends and allies he made during these times would pay dividends later on, as he was called back to Exelnar in 497, for the birth of his sister, Alicia Lionel, and because his father had fallen ill.
When he arrived back to Exelnar, Manfred was able to bring his knowledge of the realities of the Empire, and the people that rule it, back to his brother. He recalls telling Richard about the stagnation and bureaucracy that had been perpetrated by the previous Emperors, and their father. Many of the royal court heard the loud argument that day, which went on well into the night, and is rumoured to have almost come to blows. It only ended when Manfred stormed out of his brothers room, disgusted with the person his brother had become, and frustrated with the perpetuation of the cycle of sloth and politics that has been miring the empire for centuries.
Unfortunately for young Manfred, this confrontation would let those that want to perpetuate the imperial bureaucracy onto him, and many rumors would begin blossoming after that night. Some begun saying that in the years away Manfred was building up a rebellion, and swaying the powerful Dukes of the empire to his banner. These rumors would be perpetuated through the coming years, as Manfred re-introduced himself to the Exelnar court, with the intention of staying. Unfortunately, whatever plans he was making would fall to the side, as his father, Emperor Ferdinand VIII, would succumb to his illness, and die at the age of 57, leaving Richard as the heir to the throne.
While everything was going smoothly, 60 days before the corronation, disaster struck. On the account of Manfred, while they were conversing in Richards room, a tear appeared in reality, breaching the wards that were placed on the royal chambers. Through the tear, a number of heavilly armored monstrous creatures stepped through, and begun fighting the Royal Guard. From here on accounts differ, as what happened during the battle is of great political importance, with Manfred being a heroic leader according to some, and a coward who killed Richard according to others. What really happened that day may never be known, but the most accepted account, is that Manfred led the battle, and pushed back the invaders. As some of the Royal guard members fell, he stood his ground and took on multiple monstrous beasts with his blade.
In the furious fighting, he embedded his trusty longsword in the torso of one of the beasts, which then locked its arms in a death-grip around the blade, disarming Manfred. As the creatures were closing in, and he was unarmed, a divine light shone through the room, and the royal Blade of Bratuul flew from the mantlepiece where it had rested for centuries, into the hands of Manfred. With the power of the divine blade, and his immense skill, Manfred was able to lead the charge against the intruders, beheading a massive armored minotaur with a single swing, which ignited the abomination in holy fire.
As the Royal Guard pushed towards the still-open planar gate, Manfred spotted his brother locked in combat against a winged horned demon covered in metal that seemed to consume the light around it. As he leapt towards the thing, disembowling a smaller foe, he channelled the divine power of the tortured Devil within his blade to smite the enemy leader. As Manfreds divine blade slammed against the creatures maul, sparks and divine flame flew, and ringing echoed through the room. The creature took a step back, and swung its maul wide, aiming not only for Manfred, but also catching Richard on his overswing. While the Emperor-to-be blocked with his magic, he was knocked back and slammed against the wall. Manfred took the opportunity to take advantage of the creatures overswing, and lunged forward, plunging the Blade of Bratuul into the creatures bulging neck. The cracking of hellish plate was followed by the globing splatter of a thick tar-like blood to the ground.
This victory however was bitersweet, as when his gaze met his brother, he saw a large pool of blood in his chest, and a dagger embedded within, as a spindly arm made of shadow receded into the wall over Richards shoulder. As the two brothers' eyes locked, Richard begun to visibly age, and by the time Manfred dashed to his aid, his hair was white, and his youthful eyes had dulled. What was said between the two is unknown, but from that moment, a fire was lit within Manfred, a burning desire to unite the squabling factions of the Empire, and bring down the hammer on his enemies. During this event he also earned his first of many titles, Wielder of the Blade of Bratuul.
As the two siblings burst into the Council room that day, it was clear that history was about to be made. To the shocked members of the High Council, Manfred made his declaration, supported by his sister and mother. Manfred would become the next Emperor and take up his brothers position, and the coronation ceremony would remain as it was, to be held in just 60 days. In the slow institutions of the Empire, such swift changes are anathema, and the 25 year old price found himself on the receiving end of the most powerful individuals in the Empire. In the coming days, dozens of claimants and challengers to the throne would rise and challenge him to a an honor duel. As these claims had to be resolved before the coronation, it was assumed that it would have to be pushed back to make time for the duels. While not something that was done often, this was seen as a necessity by the members of the Royal Court, to stop the upstart Prince from taking the title of Emperor before politics had time to stop him. Unfortunately for them, Manfred had only one thing to say to the dozens of challengers that populated the throne room, "Line yourselves up".
Fifty six official duels were scheduled for that day, one after another, after another. Only 55 days before the coronation, it was assumed that the pressure had gotten to Manfred, and his reign would end before it even begun. Then the rapier of the first challenger hit the ground, and he surrendered. Following were 4 fingers from the hand of an arcanist, who in turn surrendered. As the crowds looked aghast, the line of challengers approaching Manfred became shorter and shorter, and the Prince's form remained the same. The Blade of Bratuul was fast as lightning, his spellcasting form was impeccable, and no opponent lasted more than a few seconds. Most surrendered, except some, who would rather die than dishonor their families.
Duelists, nobles, arcanists, paladins and mercenaries hired to stop him. None stood a chance as Manfred made short work of every single challenger within that day. Some chose to rescind their challenges rather than be humiliated, and the fighting continued through the day, with a single break, imposed by Alicia, for water and food. The final challenger was a man that had come from far, claiming to be the last of a line spawning from a bastard of Gondor Lionel, The Omnipaladin, a very serious claim that could not be ignored. The man's name, which would eventualy become infamous, was Dracon Lionel.
By this time, Manfred had already proved himself to his audience, so the confidence of Dracon was seen as a sign of foolishness. Manfred charged towards his challenger, magically hastening himself to end the duel in a single brilliant strike, but it was met with Dracons metal gauntlet. A weapon not seen before in imperial duels, Dracon fought with two metal spiked gloves, which exuded magic. As the two combatants exchanged blows, Manfred's pace begun feeling slower and slower, and Dracon swifter, however none could draw first blood. In a flash of genius, Manfred dispelled the enchantment around Dracon's gauntlets for but a second, which gave him back his sapped strength and speed, and he used it to duck and slice upwards, taking off both of Dracon's hands, and placing the Blade of Bratuul on his throat, as the metalic fists clanked onto the ground, innert. Dracon left humiliated that day, refusing to be healed by the priests of Vitaria that overlooked the duel, and he would not be seen again for many years.
That day cemented Manfred as the next Emperor, and none could overtly challenge him, especially since most of them had been defeated in the duels. The coronation ceremony proceeded as planned, with Manfred being crowned Emperor in a grand ceremony in 500. No expense was spared, and nobles came from all parts of the Empire, swearing fealty and pledging their support to the new Emperor, many of them previous friends that Manfred had made during his traveling days. When the crown of the Emperor was placed on his head by the High Ecclesiarchs, heavenly light radiated from the skies, a sign granting him the favor of the gods and marking him as the next Omnipaladin, Chosen of All Gods.
However, a specter followed his rise to power, and as an outsider, he was always followed by rumors and gossip. Some still claim behind closed doors, that it was he who planned the assassination of Richard VI, and that he has been consorting with the enemies of the Empire to drive it according to their evil schemes.
In the first 3 years of his rule, Manfed's guards, and even he himself, would have to contend with over 100 assassination attempts, most of which never got to the Emperor himself, much to the displeasure of the High Lords, who had begun forming a rivalry with the Emperor. After the suggestion of the High Inquisitor, Manfred was given the title "The Immortal", for overcoming so many attempts against his life.
While Manfred was not as liked in Exelnar, he was beloved by the Dukes of the Empire for his support and strengthening of the Empire. Stories about him and his abilities spread through his many friends outside the capital, and his adventures grew to Legendary status, becoming grander and more epic with each re-telling. There were always some whispers however, about his quick rise, and his prodigious skill with a blade. Some said he consorted with demons, and orchestrated his father's and brother's deaths to claim the throne, and he would bring ruin upon the Empire. Manfred took a very hard line against such traitorous rhetoric, all who spread such rumors were jailed and trialed by the Inquisition, with which Manfred worked very closely, and any nobles that said such things were welcome to a duel, or self-imposed exile from Exelnar.
Manfred also recognised the importance of the Arcanic Order, and reinforced the imperial commitments to funding research and supporting the Archmagus Supreme in the politics of the High Council. Being arcanely skilled himself, Manfred saw a great deal of power in pushing the limits of arcane power, and there are rumors of a secret project being privately funded by the Lionel family, led by many powerful Archmages to craft the first 10th level spell that can be cast by mortals.
If the demonic horde managed to push past the fortress, they could flood into the Empire mainland and spread their corruption far and wide. The General in charge of the fortress was a close ally of Manfred, and as soon as word made it to Exelnar of the scale of the threat, he did not waste a single second before placing Alicia Lionel as Emperor Pro-Tempore, gathering the Royal Guard, and teleporting to the Fortress himself.
There, Emperor Manfred showed his strength as a wartime leader, masterfully using his troops as well as any mercenaries and adventurers that he was able to muster. A human magnifestation of the bulwark against evil that the Empire is at its core, Manfred led many charges into the foe, riding on his armored Griffin, and wielding the Blade of Bratuul. Many last stands were turned into heroic victories, and great horrors turned to twitching gory messes by him and his Guard's intervension.
However, even with the leadership of the Emperor himself, the enemies were too many, too brutal, and their guard of the gate at the end of the Gorge was tight as iron. It is said that a group of Adventurers were tasked with a mission from the Emperor himself, an almost suicidal task that had to remain a secret, and whose details are hotly debated, by drunkards and historians alike. The unknown band of adventurers is said to have been granted access to travel to the Abyss, where they then made their way to where the demonic portal was located in the hellish realm, and destroyed it from within. It is unknown if the heroic adventurers made it out, and the Emperor himself refutes this recalling of events, stating that it was by divine grace that the portal was closed. The truth might indeed hide between the two.
What is known, is that the defendants of Eltergrad held out for many weeks until the portal was closed, and thousands of Guards and Soldiers sold their lives as dearly as they could, to stop the demonic tide. A final push was planned by Manfred, when the walls themselves were almost broken, and creatures of madness pouring from every hole in the walls. They would break their own occupied walls with arcane magic, and through the large gaps pour in soldiers that would charge into the demonic mass, and push them to the hell from where they came.
On that day, it is said that the clouds parted above the gorge, and over the tens of thousands of demons poured the divine light of the gods. For as the Emperor pointed his sword at the abyssal gate, and bellowed his order for charge, a beam of light smashed against it, leveling the entire area like the fist of a god had impacted the ground. As the terrifying shockwave impacted the defenders, the occupied walls exploded with arcane fury, and the ranks of the Empire, invigorated with divine zeal charged headlong into the demons. The fiends themselves, seeing their exit collapse, fought with hellish fury to escape the only way they could. As metal and magic met demonic flesh, and abyssal claws and weapons crashed against human flesh and bone, it is said that the battle lasted for what felt like days.
In the end, the only thing that survived in the abyssal horde was a creature so terrible that not steel nor magic could defeat. An amalgamation of flesh, scales and bone, as swift as it was massive, that had pushed its way into the center of Eltergrad. Manfred saw the beast and immediately charged it, channelling the full might of the Blade of Bratuul to smite the fiend, but its loathesome form stood still within the courtyard, battering walls and soldiers as it rushed outwards, to spread its vile corruption to the lands of the Empire. Many died to buy time, as Manfred and his Guard held the final door, channelling their divine power to smite the foe. When it reached the final gate in that courtyard, many claim that the wind itself did not make a sound, and all was silent for what looked to be the final stand, of Emperor Manfred III.
The Royal guard charged first, upholding their oaths to protect the Emperor and enforce his rule, but the creature was not shaken. The demonic general incapacitated and killed the Empire's most powerful defenders, tossing their battered bodies aside like a child would a broken doll. It and Manfred exchanged a few words then, but his resolve was unshakable, and he did not flinch as the vile thing threw its curses towards him. Their blades soon met, divine steel smashing against abyssal bone scythes, and in those moments as the survivors looked in horror, they saw Manfred fighting like a caged beast, with the fury of a Dragon, not giving an inch of ground, even as he fell to his knees from the unrelenting assault of the monster.
Towering over him, the massive abomination lunged forth, to take the head of the Emperor for itself, but at that moment a brilliant light shone above the courtyard, so bright that all had to shield their eyes. A divine form came from the skies and lifted up Manfred, Gondor Lionel himself, First Emperor and First Chosen of All Gods. The two, fighting as one charged towards the foe, which stepped back in fear of what had been unleashed. White hot fire covered Manfred's blade as it smashed against the creature, cleaving flesh and armor like paper, leaving trails of fire on its body as the creature was pushed back with each blow. One final strike and the deed was done, the Abyssal abomination laid in a broken pile, ablaze with the divine fire of the gods. It died then, but not returning to its realm, with the fire of vengeance and fury, the thing would see its eternal soul destroyed forever, never to return to life again, purified by the light of the Omnipaladin.
In the conclusion of the war, Manfred was granted many titles by the members of the High Council, and the General of the fortress. He was titled Blade of Light, Sword of Justice, Demon-Bane and Vanquisher of Evil, in honor of his deeds. From that day on, Manfred would no longer be regarded as a new Emperor. He would command respect and obedience wherever he went, and nobody would even question him aloud. In the shadows however, assassins from many planes would still descend upon him, and be defeated. But something else, even darker was building up, where none could see.
After his experience with leading in war, Manfred also took an interest in reinforcing the Legio Imperallis, and making the army more flexible and quicker to respond to calls for aid. Working closely with the Adeptus Justicari Archpaladin Imperalis and the Warmaster, he restructured the mechanisms and priority systems for requesting aid, and also worked with the Dukes to ensure that the system worked even on the lower levels of nobility.
He also worked very closely with the Arcanic Order, encouraging the funding and formation of many arcane schools, and launching many ambitious projects funded by the increase in taxes from the bureaucracy changes. From this nurturing and growing of the Arcanic Order, Manfred managed to change its position in the Empire at large. Lifted from a supportive role, the Arcanic Order would quickly become the fastest-growing faction in the Empire, and in many courts Archmages would find positions of power, following the example set by the Emperor.
During those years he also hosted many tournaments and dueling competitions, and made a point of strengthening his personal entourage by hiring the top performenrs. Subsequently, these tournaments would become a hotspot for upstarts and mercenaries looking to cash in and earn a life of luxury. This unfortunately also gave ample opportunity to the enemies of the Emperor, and assassination attempts would not slow down, as the underworld contracts on his head would skyrocket in value.
As Manfred's achievements begun to pile up, and the Empire functioning better as a result, he was showered in praise by the Dukes, while secretly cursed at by many of the High Lords. For his work with improving imperial bureaucracy he would be titled "The Uniter", for his work with the army he became "Master of All Men", he was declared "Friend of the Arcane" by the Archmagus Supreme, and by common use around his court, took up the title "The Undefeated". This decade of relative calm however would be broken with a new crisis, taking him to the Wicked Pass, where he would face his greatest challenge yet.
There, Manfred quickly took over leadership, and organized the army and militia that he would take with him to defeat the oncoming horde, and carve out its heart before it managed to push into imperial land. As mercenaries and glory-seekers flocked to his banner, Manfred led many raids through the Wicked Pass, and many other smaller groups that wanted to make a name for themselves charged soon after, hunting fame and fortune. More details can be found in the story, Shadows of the Wicked Past. In those short months, Manfred would be titled by the local rulers as Taurus Hunter, and Scourge of Beasts.
In one of the later raids, Manfred aimed to take off the head of the snake, and end the war decisively, as political matters were urging him to return to Exelnar. Accompanied by his Royal Guard, and retinue of mercenaries and adventurers, backed up by volunteer militia, Manfred charged into the Pass itself, ignoring the maze-like tunnels, and heading straight for the lair of the beast which led the horde. On the edge of the Wicked Pass they found the large cavern that housed the vile thing, and cutting through any opposition pushed their way there. Standing atop a mountain of skulls and scrap, Manfred stared hatefully towards the armored minotaur monstrosity, which all those years ago had claimed his brother.
Charging headlong, the creature was at first confident, but nothing could resist the Emperors fury, he had banished this creature once before, and he would do so again, forever this time. The Blade of Bratuul sliced through the air, and impacted on the creature with the force of lightning, every strike denting and carving through armor. Manfred charged in for a final blow, but as the creature's head was about to roll on the floor, he felt a sharp pain in his side, and looked only to find an all too familiar dagger, held by a shadow-formed hand, which emerged from the wall. Mirrorring his brother's fall, Manfred saw himself dying there, never to be found, and allowing the Empire to return to its status quo before him, being only a tiny wave in an enormous pond. He could not allow it.
Manfred's vision darkened, but his resolve remained as steel, and in that last moment he pushed through and took the head of the beast that was now confidently advancing towards him. And that was the end of Manfred III Lionel, Emperor and Chosen of All Gods. But he would not allow it. He refused, and whoever it was that killed his brother, and now him, they would pay. Suddenly, he felt his strength return to him, and his weakened arms regained their power. Immediately Manfred reached for the now retreating shadow-hand. He would find who was responsible and bring them to divine justice. He felt around his neck a fiery warmth, that filled him with vigor, and looked to see the legendary Heart of Light around his neck.
Image Credit: Wizards of the Coast
Manfred soon returned to the Royal Court, his efforts to improve the Empire redoubled. Dracon's fate is a closely guarded secret, and the location of his body is unknown. As to what he meant, and who the King of Fell is, that remains a mystery to this day.
His other notable achievements have been encouraging cooperation between the High Ecclesiarchs and High Lords during his first years, and banning attempts to remove the Archmagus Supreme from his position in the High Council. Through his reign, he has been known for demanding cooperation and the smooth running of the Empire with an Iron fist, as well as accepting, and defeating, a number of other claimants to the throne, most notably Dracon Lionel, who would come to be known as The Tainted after their second duel.
Early Life
Manfred III was born into the Lionel Royal Family as the second son of Ferdinand VIII Lionel and Eleanor Maville Lionel. His older brother, Richard VI was the heir to the Imperial throne, after their father passed, which enabled him to focus on his own pursuits as a child, and have much more freedom than his brother, whose life was haunted by the weight of the imperial crown. As an adolescent, Manfred took long trips around the Empire, to see and experience the breadth of Empire cultures and peoples, and was known to be very sociable among noble courts during that time.Through his travels he not only became a highly cultured individual, but he also did not shy away from danger, and made a bit of a name for himself as an adventurer in his last traveling years. The friends and allies he made during these times would pay dividends later on, as he was called back to Exelnar in 497, for the birth of his sister, Alicia Lionel, and because his father had fallen ill.
When he arrived back to Exelnar, Manfred was able to bring his knowledge of the realities of the Empire, and the people that rule it, back to his brother. He recalls telling Richard about the stagnation and bureaucracy that had been perpetrated by the previous Emperors, and their father. Many of the royal court heard the loud argument that day, which went on well into the night, and is rumoured to have almost come to blows. It only ended when Manfred stormed out of his brothers room, disgusted with the person his brother had become, and frustrated with the perpetuation of the cycle of sloth and politics that has been miring the empire for centuries.
Unfortunately for young Manfred, this confrontation would let those that want to perpetuate the imperial bureaucracy onto him, and many rumors would begin blossoming after that night. Some begun saying that in the years away Manfred was building up a rebellion, and swaying the powerful Dukes of the empire to his banner. These rumors would be perpetuated through the coming years, as Manfred re-introduced himself to the Exelnar court, with the intention of staying. Unfortunately, whatever plans he was making would fall to the side, as his father, Emperor Ferdinand VIII, would succumb to his illness, and die at the age of 57, leaving Richard as the heir to the throne.
Assassination of Richard VI
After a series of stable but ineffectual Emperors that perpetuated the cycles of bureaucracy and enforced the status quo, Richard VI was seen as more of the same, and the death of his father was not met with much turmoil. Preparations were made for his corronation on the imperial year 500, and he received the support of all major political forces in the Empire. The 1 year period before the coronation was marked with talks of stability and safety, an attitude that disgusted Manfred, who himself was building up himself as a powerful presence in the Royal Court, and a force for change.While everything was going smoothly, 60 days before the corronation, disaster struck. On the account of Manfred, while they were conversing in Richards room, a tear appeared in reality, breaching the wards that were placed on the royal chambers. Through the tear, a number of heavilly armored monstrous creatures stepped through, and begun fighting the Royal Guard. From here on accounts differ, as what happened during the battle is of great political importance, with Manfred being a heroic leader according to some, and a coward who killed Richard according to others. What really happened that day may never be known, but the most accepted account, is that Manfred led the battle, and pushed back the invaders. As some of the Royal guard members fell, he stood his ground and took on multiple monstrous beasts with his blade.
In the furious fighting, he embedded his trusty longsword in the torso of one of the beasts, which then locked its arms in a death-grip around the blade, disarming Manfred. As the creatures were closing in, and he was unarmed, a divine light shone through the room, and the royal Blade of Bratuul flew from the mantlepiece where it had rested for centuries, into the hands of Manfred. With the power of the divine blade, and his immense skill, Manfred was able to lead the charge against the intruders, beheading a massive armored minotaur with a single swing, which ignited the abomination in holy fire.
As the Royal Guard pushed towards the still-open planar gate, Manfred spotted his brother locked in combat against a winged horned demon covered in metal that seemed to consume the light around it. As he leapt towards the thing, disembowling a smaller foe, he channelled the divine power of the tortured Devil within his blade to smite the enemy leader. As Manfreds divine blade slammed against the creatures maul, sparks and divine flame flew, and ringing echoed through the room. The creature took a step back, and swung its maul wide, aiming not only for Manfred, but also catching Richard on his overswing. While the Emperor-to-be blocked with his magic, he was knocked back and slammed against the wall. Manfred took the opportunity to take advantage of the creatures overswing, and lunged forward, plunging the Blade of Bratuul into the creatures bulging neck. The cracking of hellish plate was followed by the globing splatter of a thick tar-like blood to the ground.
This victory however was bitersweet, as when his gaze met his brother, he saw a large pool of blood in his chest, and a dagger embedded within, as a spindly arm made of shadow receded into the wall over Richards shoulder. As the two brothers' eyes locked, Richard begun to visibly age, and by the time Manfred dashed to his aid, his hair was white, and his youthful eyes had dulled. What was said between the two is unknown, but from that moment, a fire was lit within Manfred, a burning desire to unite the squabling factions of the Empire, and bring down the hammer on his enemies. During this event he also earned his first of many titles, Wielder of the Blade of Bratuul.
The Day of Duels and Coronation
As the news of Richard VIs assassination broke to the High Council, pandemonium broke out. For the first time in centuries, there was a possibility for a succession crisis like the Empire had never seen in generations, and everybody scrambled to see themselves on the winning side. While the Royal Council has descended into a shouting match, Manfred, his mother Eleanor and his sister Alicia met and discussed what was to be done with the empty imperial throne. Being a very controversial figure, Manfred was initially hesitant about taking up his brothers birthright, but the situation presented an opportunity that he simply could not turn down.As the two siblings burst into the Council room that day, it was clear that history was about to be made. To the shocked members of the High Council, Manfred made his declaration, supported by his sister and mother. Manfred would become the next Emperor and take up his brothers position, and the coronation ceremony would remain as it was, to be held in just 60 days. In the slow institutions of the Empire, such swift changes are anathema, and the 25 year old price found himself on the receiving end of the most powerful individuals in the Empire. In the coming days, dozens of claimants and challengers to the throne would rise and challenge him to a an honor duel. As these claims had to be resolved before the coronation, it was assumed that it would have to be pushed back to make time for the duels. While not something that was done often, this was seen as a necessity by the members of the Royal Court, to stop the upstart Prince from taking the title of Emperor before politics had time to stop him. Unfortunately for them, Manfred had only one thing to say to the dozens of challengers that populated the throne room, "Line yourselves up".
Fifty six official duels were scheduled for that day, one after another, after another. Only 55 days before the coronation, it was assumed that the pressure had gotten to Manfred, and his reign would end before it even begun. Then the rapier of the first challenger hit the ground, and he surrendered. Following were 4 fingers from the hand of an arcanist, who in turn surrendered. As the crowds looked aghast, the line of challengers approaching Manfred became shorter and shorter, and the Prince's form remained the same. The Blade of Bratuul was fast as lightning, his spellcasting form was impeccable, and no opponent lasted more than a few seconds. Most surrendered, except some, who would rather die than dishonor their families.
Duelists, nobles, arcanists, paladins and mercenaries hired to stop him. None stood a chance as Manfred made short work of every single challenger within that day. Some chose to rescind their challenges rather than be humiliated, and the fighting continued through the day, with a single break, imposed by Alicia, for water and food. The final challenger was a man that had come from far, claiming to be the last of a line spawning from a bastard of Gondor Lionel, The Omnipaladin, a very serious claim that could not be ignored. The man's name, which would eventualy become infamous, was Dracon Lionel.
By this time, Manfred had already proved himself to his audience, so the confidence of Dracon was seen as a sign of foolishness. Manfred charged towards his challenger, magically hastening himself to end the duel in a single brilliant strike, but it was met with Dracons metal gauntlet. A weapon not seen before in imperial duels, Dracon fought with two metal spiked gloves, which exuded magic. As the two combatants exchanged blows, Manfred's pace begun feeling slower and slower, and Dracon swifter, however none could draw first blood. In a flash of genius, Manfred dispelled the enchantment around Dracon's gauntlets for but a second, which gave him back his sapped strength and speed, and he used it to duck and slice upwards, taking off both of Dracon's hands, and placing the Blade of Bratuul on his throat, as the metalic fists clanked onto the ground, innert. Dracon left humiliated that day, refusing to be healed by the priests of Vitaria that overlooked the duel, and he would not be seen again for many years.
That day cemented Manfred as the next Emperor, and none could overtly challenge him, especially since most of them had been defeated in the duels. The coronation ceremony proceeded as planned, with Manfred being crowned Emperor in a grand ceremony in 500. No expense was spared, and nobles came from all parts of the Empire, swearing fealty and pledging their support to the new Emperor, many of them previous friends that Manfred had made during his traveling days. When the crown of the Emperor was placed on his head by the High Ecclesiarchs, heavenly light radiated from the skies, a sign granting him the favor of the gods and marking him as the next Omnipaladin, Chosen of All Gods.
However, a specter followed his rise to power, and as an outsider, he was always followed by rumors and gossip. Some still claim behind closed doors, that it was he who planned the assassination of Richard VI, and that he has been consorting with the enemies of the Empire to drive it according to their evil schemes.
First Years
In the first years of his rule, Manfred proved to be exactly what the nobility was dreading, competent, headstrong, unshakable and driven. He immediatelly begun cleaning house, and asking uncomfortable questions such as "Where did the requests for reinforcements that were sent five years ago go, and who is responsible ?". As suspected, his enemies moved in quickly to eliminate the new Emperor, but after the Day of Duels, not many were willing to do such a thing, but when the coin is enough, assassins and mercenaries came from all over to have a chance for the largest payday in centuries.In the first 3 years of his rule, Manfed's guards, and even he himself, would have to contend with over 100 assassination attempts, most of which never got to the Emperor himself, much to the displeasure of the High Lords, who had begun forming a rivalry with the Emperor. After the suggestion of the High Inquisitor, Manfred was given the title "The Immortal", for overcoming so many attempts against his life.
While Manfred was not as liked in Exelnar, he was beloved by the Dukes of the Empire for his support and strengthening of the Empire. Stories about him and his abilities spread through his many friends outside the capital, and his adventures grew to Legendary status, becoming grander and more epic with each re-telling. There were always some whispers however, about his quick rise, and his prodigious skill with a blade. Some said he consorted with demons, and orchestrated his father's and brother's deaths to claim the throne, and he would bring ruin upon the Empire. Manfred took a very hard line against such traitorous rhetoric, all who spread such rumors were jailed and trialed by the Inquisition, with which Manfred worked very closely, and any nobles that said such things were welcome to a duel, or self-imposed exile from Exelnar.
Manfred also recognised the importance of the Arcanic Order, and reinforced the imperial commitments to funding research and supporting the Archmagus Supreme in the politics of the High Council. Being arcanely skilled himself, Manfred saw a great deal of power in pushing the limits of arcane power, and there are rumors of a secret project being privately funded by the Lionel family, led by many powerful Archmages to craft the first 10th level spell that can be cast by mortals.
Siege of Eltergrad
On his fifth year of rule, Manfred would encounter the first crisis of a large enough magnitude to reach his ear. Blackwater Gorge, infamous for its inky black waters, and legends of aquatic demons that drag in wanderers into the depths, has been the home of an underwater demonic stronghold during the second crusade. Now, the rumors that it connected to the River Styx seemed to be true, as a massive army of Demons crawled their way through, and were attacking Eltergrad, the fortress established to watch over the Gorge at its mouth.If the demonic horde managed to push past the fortress, they could flood into the Empire mainland and spread their corruption far and wide. The General in charge of the fortress was a close ally of Manfred, and as soon as word made it to Exelnar of the scale of the threat, he did not waste a single second before placing Alicia Lionel as Emperor Pro-Tempore, gathering the Royal Guard, and teleporting to the Fortress himself.
There, Emperor Manfred showed his strength as a wartime leader, masterfully using his troops as well as any mercenaries and adventurers that he was able to muster. A human magnifestation of the bulwark against evil that the Empire is at its core, Manfred led many charges into the foe, riding on his armored Griffin, and wielding the Blade of Bratuul. Many last stands were turned into heroic victories, and great horrors turned to twitching gory messes by him and his Guard's intervension.
The Siege of Eltergrad, as captured by many artists of the Imperial Court, displayed currectly in the Royal Court.
However, even with the leadership of the Emperor himself, the enemies were too many, too brutal, and their guard of the gate at the end of the Gorge was tight as iron. It is said that a group of Adventurers were tasked with a mission from the Emperor himself, an almost suicidal task that had to remain a secret, and whose details are hotly debated, by drunkards and historians alike. The unknown band of adventurers is said to have been granted access to travel to the Abyss, where they then made their way to where the demonic portal was located in the hellish realm, and destroyed it from within. It is unknown if the heroic adventurers made it out, and the Emperor himself refutes this recalling of events, stating that it was by divine grace that the portal was closed. The truth might indeed hide between the two.
What is known, is that the defendants of Eltergrad held out for many weeks until the portal was closed, and thousands of Guards and Soldiers sold their lives as dearly as they could, to stop the demonic tide. A final push was planned by Manfred, when the walls themselves were almost broken, and creatures of madness pouring from every hole in the walls. They would break their own occupied walls with arcane magic, and through the large gaps pour in soldiers that would charge into the demonic mass, and push them to the hell from where they came.
On that day, it is said that the clouds parted above the gorge, and over the tens of thousands of demons poured the divine light of the gods. For as the Emperor pointed his sword at the abyssal gate, and bellowed his order for charge, a beam of light smashed against it, leveling the entire area like the fist of a god had impacted the ground. As the terrifying shockwave impacted the defenders, the occupied walls exploded with arcane fury, and the ranks of the Empire, invigorated with divine zeal charged headlong into the demons. The fiends themselves, seeing their exit collapse, fought with hellish fury to escape the only way they could. As metal and magic met demonic flesh, and abyssal claws and weapons crashed against human flesh and bone, it is said that the battle lasted for what felt like days.
In the end, the only thing that survived in the abyssal horde was a creature so terrible that not steel nor magic could defeat. An amalgamation of flesh, scales and bone, as swift as it was massive, that had pushed its way into the center of Eltergrad. Manfred saw the beast and immediately charged it, channelling the full might of the Blade of Bratuul to smite the fiend, but its loathesome form stood still within the courtyard, battering walls and soldiers as it rushed outwards, to spread its vile corruption to the lands of the Empire. Many died to buy time, as Manfred and his Guard held the final door, channelling their divine power to smite the foe. When it reached the final gate in that courtyard, many claim that the wind itself did not make a sound, and all was silent for what looked to be the final stand, of Emperor Manfred III.
The Royal guard charged first, upholding their oaths to protect the Emperor and enforce his rule, but the creature was not shaken. The demonic general incapacitated and killed the Empire's most powerful defenders, tossing their battered bodies aside like a child would a broken doll. It and Manfred exchanged a few words then, but his resolve was unshakable, and he did not flinch as the vile thing threw its curses towards him. Their blades soon met, divine steel smashing against abyssal bone scythes, and in those moments as the survivors looked in horror, they saw Manfred fighting like a caged beast, with the fury of a Dragon, not giving an inch of ground, even as he fell to his knees from the unrelenting assault of the monster.
Towering over him, the massive abomination lunged forth, to take the head of the Emperor for itself, but at that moment a brilliant light shone above the courtyard, so bright that all had to shield their eyes. A divine form came from the skies and lifted up Manfred, Gondor Lionel himself, First Emperor and First Chosen of All Gods. The two, fighting as one charged towards the foe, which stepped back in fear of what had been unleashed. White hot fire covered Manfred's blade as it smashed against the creature, cleaving flesh and armor like paper, leaving trails of fire on its body as the creature was pushed back with each blow. One final strike and the deed was done, the Abyssal abomination laid in a broken pile, ablaze with the divine fire of the gods. It died then, but not returning to its realm, with the fire of vengeance and fury, the thing would see its eternal soul destroyed forever, never to return to life again, purified by the light of the Omnipaladin.
In the conclusion of the war, Manfred was granted many titles by the members of the High Council, and the General of the fortress. He was titled Blade of Light, Sword of Justice, Demon-Bane and Vanquisher of Evil, in honor of his deeds. From that day on, Manfred would no longer be regarded as a new Emperor. He would command respect and obedience wherever he went, and nobody would even question him aloud. In the shadows however, assassins from many planes would still descend upon him, and be defeated. But something else, even darker was building up, where none could see.
Imperial Restructuring and Middle Years
Returning to Exelnar to sit once again on his throne in 1409, Manfred would not rest, and used his newly found respect to gain an iron grip around the politics and goings on of the Royal Court. As ruthless in politics as he was in battle, he would not stand for any questions or doubts, ruling with an iron fist, and untangling the web of politics and alliances that mired the High Council. That task however, proved more difficult than slaying a single beast, and where one loophole was closed, another would open.After his experience with leading in war, Manfred also took an interest in reinforcing the Legio Imperallis, and making the army more flexible and quicker to respond to calls for aid. Working closely with the Adeptus Justicari Archpaladin Imperalis and the Warmaster, he restructured the mechanisms and priority systems for requesting aid, and also worked with the Dukes to ensure that the system worked even on the lower levels of nobility.
He also worked very closely with the Arcanic Order, encouraging the funding and formation of many arcane schools, and launching many ambitious projects funded by the increase in taxes from the bureaucracy changes. From this nurturing and growing of the Arcanic Order, Manfred managed to change its position in the Empire at large. Lifted from a supportive role, the Arcanic Order would quickly become the fastest-growing faction in the Empire, and in many courts Archmages would find positions of power, following the example set by the Emperor.
During those years he also hosted many tournaments and dueling competitions, and made a point of strengthening his personal entourage by hiring the top performenrs. Subsequently, these tournaments would become a hotspot for upstarts and mercenaries looking to cash in and earn a life of luxury. This unfortunately also gave ample opportunity to the enemies of the Emperor, and assassination attempts would not slow down, as the underworld contracts on his head would skyrocket in value.
As Manfred's achievements begun to pile up, and the Empire functioning better as a result, he was showered in praise by the Dukes, while secretly cursed at by many of the High Lords. For his work with improving imperial bureaucracy he would be titled "The Uniter", for his work with the army he became "Master of All Men", he was declared "Friend of the Arcane" by the Archmagus Supreme, and by common use around his court, took up the title "The Undefeated". This decade of relative calm however would be broken with a new crisis, taking him to the Wicked Pass, where he would face his greatest challenge yet.
Battle at Wicked Pass and Dracon the Corrupted
When word reached Exelnar of a growing horde of Ogres, Hill Giants and Minotaurs gathering outside Wicked Pass, it did not seem like a big deal. However when word reached Manfred's ear, that the leader of the horde was a winged horned demon covered in metal, that fit the description of the one that led the murder of his brother,Richard VI, Manfred quickly gathered his Royal Guard and was teleported nearby.There, Manfred quickly took over leadership, and organized the army and militia that he would take with him to defeat the oncoming horde, and carve out its heart before it managed to push into imperial land. As mercenaries and glory-seekers flocked to his banner, Manfred led many raids through the Wicked Pass, and many other smaller groups that wanted to make a name for themselves charged soon after, hunting fame and fortune. More details can be found in the story, Shadows of the Wicked Past. In those short months, Manfred would be titled by the local rulers as Taurus Hunter, and Scourge of Beasts.
In one of the later raids, Manfred aimed to take off the head of the snake, and end the war decisively, as political matters were urging him to return to Exelnar. Accompanied by his Royal Guard, and retinue of mercenaries and adventurers, backed up by volunteer militia, Manfred charged into the Pass itself, ignoring the maze-like tunnels, and heading straight for the lair of the beast which led the horde. On the edge of the Wicked Pass they found the large cavern that housed the vile thing, and cutting through any opposition pushed their way there. Standing atop a mountain of skulls and scrap, Manfred stared hatefully towards the armored minotaur monstrosity, which all those years ago had claimed his brother.
Charging headlong, the creature was at first confident, but nothing could resist the Emperors fury, he had banished this creature once before, and he would do so again, forever this time. The Blade of Bratuul sliced through the air, and impacted on the creature with the force of lightning, every strike denting and carving through armor. Manfred charged in for a final blow, but as the creature's head was about to roll on the floor, he felt a sharp pain in his side, and looked only to find an all too familiar dagger, held by a shadow-formed hand, which emerged from the wall. Mirrorring his brother's fall, Manfred saw himself dying there, never to be found, and allowing the Empire to return to its status quo before him, being only a tiny wave in an enormous pond. He could not allow it.
Manfred's vision darkened, but his resolve remained as steel, and in that last moment he pushed through and took the head of the beast that was now confidently advancing towards him. And that was the end of Manfred III Lionel, Emperor and Chosen of All Gods. But he would not allow it. He refused, and whoever it was that killed his brother, and now him, they would pay. Suddenly, he felt his strength return to him, and his weakened arms regained their power. Immediately Manfred reached for the now retreating shadow-hand. He would find who was responsible and bring them to divine justice. He felt around his neck a fiery warmth, that filled him with vigor, and looked to see the legendary Heart of Light around his neck.
Pictured above is the Heart of Light, said to be all that remained from a Solar champion of Vitaria, Empire Goddess of Life after a battle with an ancient Dragon during the arrival of the Gods to the Material Plane. It is said to enhance the vigor and willpower of those worthy of using it immensely, if they are pure of heart and strong of will.Pulling with all his strength, Manfred forced the creature out of the shadowy portal it came through, and as shoulder gave way to torso and then the rest, the being in front of Manfred, tossed on the dirt, was Dracon Lionel, the Tainted. Empowered by the Heart as he was, Manfred could not hold his rage, seeing a member of the holiest of bloodlines corrupted by an evil force, he plunged his blade into Dracon's heart. As Dracon lay there bleeding, his body consumed by shadow, he whispered a warning to the Empreror, or perhaps a message. "The King of Fell is coming to take back what is his". On that day Manfred gained the titles: Keeper of the heart of Light, Guardian of the Wicked Pass, and Destroyer of Corruption.
Manfred soon returned to the Royal Court, his efforts to improve the Empire redoubled. Dracon's fate is a closely guarded secret, and the location of his body is unknown. As to what he meant, and who the King of Fell is, that remains a mystery to this day.
Titles
Wielder of the Blade of Bratuul, The Emperor, The Omnipaladin, Chosen of All Gods, The Immortal, Blade of Light, Sword of Justice, Demon-Bane, Vanquisher of Evil, The Undefeated, The Uniter, Master of All Men, Friend of the Arcane, Taurus Hunter, Scourge of Beasts, Keeper of the Heart of Light, Guardian of the Wicked Pass, Destroyer of CorruptionHeader Art Credit: Steve Shi
Image Credit: Jason Chan, Emperor of Thorns
Current Location
Species
Currently Held Titles
Year of Birth
475 P.F.
52 Years old
Birthplace
Exelnar
Family
Children
Current Residence
Royal Palace
Belief/Deity
Empire Gods
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Ruled Locations
Pictured above is the Blade of Bratuul, the magical sword has belonged to the Lionel royal family for generations. It is said that the blade was pulled out of the heart of a slain Archdevil by a champion of Vindicta , and offered to the Emperor as a gift during the First Crusade. Within the gem on the hilt of the sword, it is said that the soul of the Archdevil Bratuul is being tortured in divine fire for the sins he commited. Many have tried to wield the blade unsuccessfully, and some are even said to have been enveloped and consumed by the divine flames that torture the demon for their huberis. The current wielder of the blade is Emperor Manfred III.
The coronation of Emperor Manfred III, as depicted by his sister, Alicia Lionel.
