Lucius Besson

Duke of Sicerrone, Marquis of La Patria

Lucius Besson is a La Patrian human and was born over three hundred years ago, his life extended through magickal artifacts and enchantments. He was born into a wealthy noble family in Old Sicerrone. His grandfather was the Duke of the city at the time, and naturally he fell in line to take over after his father would have his time with the title. Due to his father's age, he knew that it was likely to be another fifty years before he would have his chance at ruling Sicerrone, and that was only if he survived his father in the first place. Unlike many in his role as the son of a nobleman, he didn't reject the life put upon him, he just wanted a better way of spending it while he waited for his turn to rule. Lucius decided that his time would be best spent learning life outside the city limits rather than be attending classrooms and court hearings while he awaited the death of his father.

A Life of Learning

The first place he travelled, and where he spent most of his time, was the Ehlen capitol of Amaranthine. Being a noble from neighboring La Patria, he was allowed entry on friendly terms. His grandfather secured him a position in one of their training schools through an exclusive trade deal in the markets. Lucius had no issue taking advantage of the connections and privilege that his family afforded him. He trained for twelve years with the Master Swordmagi of Amaranthine, using the traditional La Patrian knight combination of a lance and sword and focusing his training on adapting elemental water magicks into his repertoire. He would need decades still, perhaps a century, to become a master like the others at his temple, but he was more than satisfied with his skill to travel more of Nora and learn even further techniques.
His travels next brought him to Tor Gamlin, capitol of the Dwehrlen, where he spent a handful of years working amongst the miners to further build his strength and endurance, along with his connection and empathy for the working class. Where he had the learned the skills and elegance Ehlen movement to support his elemental magick, he could now support the weight of his lance and sword techniques further with a decidedly powerful body. With the connections he had established himself amongst the blacksmiths and working class along with the funds from both his work in the minds and his family, he had commissioned an exquisite armory for himself to be forged and enchanted by the renowned Magismiths of the Dwehrlen.
Lucius traveled to other countries during this period of life; Vasileio, Tamaha, and all over the Freelands in search of knowledge and connections that he could bring back to his home. It wasn't until he received word of the insurrection of the Fourth Grand Archmagi of The Collective that he returned to his home country.

War of Magi Ascension

Smoking with and learning meditative practices amongst the Ohrlen of Tamaha at the time, he was late to find out about the planned attack on La Patria. News travelled slow, and although he travelled home with utmost haste, Old Sicerrone was already smoking with fire by the time he returned. When the Grand Archmagi deemed Amaranthine to be his highest priority target, La Patria was the first to announce their allegiance in defense of the Ehlen homeland and mobilize against The Collective. Sicerrone was a farther target than Amaranthine, but it had nowhere near the military strength or defenses that the Ehlen possessed. The Magick that The Collective possessed allowed them to slip easily into La Patria and raze Sicerrone with minimal losses. Sicerrone was a merchant city by nature; The Collective was made up of some of the most powerful Arcane Magick users in all of Nora. Alone, they stood no chance.
Lucius did not make it in time to save his home, but was present for the Defense Council that the other national leaders set up in response. Nearly every nation stepped forward in action against The Collective; only Nioyaathep and Tennotani abstained. None of those involved wanted to see what would happen should the Grand Archmagi set his eyes on their cities as well. They formed an offensive at Amaranthine and pushed The Collective back to their tower to regroup and rebuild their forces. Seeking vengeance for his home and family, Lucius volunteered - or rather, forced - himself into a spearhead assault on the tower. Despite him proving his prowess on the battlefield in Amaranthine, the Defense Council denounced this move as a death wish and a foolish action. Though for just as many speaking against it, there were just as many who wished to see this to a direct end, and those either foolish or brave enough to want to test their mettle inside the legendary tower.
The siege was almost entirely found inside of the tower rather than outside, as their weapons had no effect on the tower itself. The spearhead spent nearly three months invading the many floors of the tower. To their surprise, there was a large number of Magi present on the first floor who immediately gave themselves over - Initiates and teachers who never believed or followed this new Grand Archmagi to begin with. It was the seemingly infinite floors above that presented the challenge. With the improbable size of the internal space of the tower, some floors took days to clear of their adversaries. Many of the group would be magickaly separated from one another, brought to separate floors to thin their numbers and pick them off. Lucius spent an entire two week period separated from the rest of his force and saw unspeakable horrors in the depths of the tower.
In the end, the illusions and machinations of the Grand Archmagi finally gave in to the last five survivors, a group of powerfully gifted individuals with Lucius amongst them. Through their combined strength and magickal prowess they defeated the Grand Archmagi and brought the war to a close. They returned home, each of them becoming legendary heroes and leaders in their home countries.

Rebuilding a City and Legacy

Unlike the rest of the Defense Council, Lucius Besson did not have a home to return to. Sicerrone as he knew it was a ruin with it's population in shambles. However, this couldn't stop him from pursuing a promising new home for his people. He felt he owed it to them - both by his birthright as the next duke of Sicerrone and guilt from the fact that he wasn't there to defend the city in it's time of need. Due to La Patria taking the brunt of the damage that The Collective had inflicted, the Defense Council voted to have a large portion of the spoils of war donated to them in order to afford rebuilding costs. Lucius decided that instead of keeping Sicerrone where it was originally founded inland to move it to the coast; Sicerrone would now have easier access to the ocean and the trading capabilities that come with it, and the old ruins would serve as a memorial for the fallen and a warning for the vigilant.
The connections that he had made in his journey came to assist him, rebuilding Sicerrone as the trade capitol of Nora. The Dwehrlen he worked with in the mines ventured to build up the Duke's Castle and the first housing district, donating building materials and their expertise. The Ohrlen of Tamaha and The Freelands offered their immense strength for manual labor in the rebuilding efforts. The Ehlen supplied food and comfort to their neighbors who came to their aid. After their assistance, they brought their trade, and Sicerrone became the renowned city it is today thanks to Lucius' efforts and allies.
Lucius himself was never the same after the war. Where before he was an ambitious youth, kind and comical in his approach to others, he was now a stern veteran, much more akin to his unemotional grandfather that ruled before him. After the city was rebuilt, he never left the walls again. Due to the artifacts and enchantments he had acquired during the war, he has lived well beyond his years and fathered four generations of children to leave behind him. He rarely if ever leaves the confines of his castle and rules through a series of advisors on the streets of the city. Something beyond the regular stress of war changed him after he left the tower and returned to his country. Though, not even his family could get him to speak of what transpired within.

"We of Sicerrone are a trade people; a conglomeration of cultures and ideals. This city is shaped by the outsiders who call this city the home they never sleep in. Does this mean we should be ruled by an outsider? No. But perhaps the best leader we can ask for is an insider who has seen all the outside has to offer. I have set foot in seven capitals; lived, eaten, and bled beside men of every variety of Risen. I have avenged the death of our old city and have returned as it's champion. I can not say that I will be the best leader Sicerrone has seen or convince every last one of you that I am the most deserving, but what I can say is that I have put my life and soul on the line for this city, and will continue to do so as long as you will have me." - Lucius Besson, Opening of his Coronation Speech upon election as Duke and Marquis.

Ruled Locations

• La Patria