Aelius Draekar

Aelius Draekar, son of Archeon Draekar, is a high-ranking government official for the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire. His career has primarily been defined by his role in political office, having served 3 terms in the senate before dedicating himself entirely to his ministerial duties. He is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mayor for Steigenbirge. Having been born in the southwest territories of the Onthukhan region, Aelius Draekar was a member of the Silbernian tribes which belonged in the area. During his lifetime, he has seen the rise of the Wandenreich, the formation of the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire, and has played a pivotal role in the AWE's reputation internationally.

Appearance
Aelius Draekar is a man of average height and builds for a Silbernian, standing at around 180cm. His skin is a warm beige, often tanned due to his misadventures atop the mountains' peaks surrounding Steigenbirge. His irides lack the gloss and shine typical of other people instead; they are more akin to a void of fog, deep and purple, a trait commonly inherited by members of the Favnix clan. His hair, kept long and pulled back, is a carob brown; notably, there's a streak of bleached hair which shows prominently on the left side of his hair—a permanent quirk from a misguided experiment Aelius attempted to perform in his youth.

Aelius is often seen wearing a simple cloth around his face. His adornment of the cloth has in the past led to much speculation as to the condition of his lower face. Some conjecture that his face is outright melted away, no doubt another repercussion due to an experiment gone awry. Unfortunately, or rather, fortunately, some may say, the mask's purpose is merely an attempt to keep out toxic fumes when conducting his research or to keep his face warm during the cold winter month in Steigen. While in the military, Aelius has revealed that he would often douse the rag in a potion so that the effect may linger when in combat.

Another notable detail often associated with Aelius is his emerald pendant which he seemingly always carries on his person. The emerald, set in place by silver, is held around his neck with a simple leather strap. The jewel shimmers in the sunlight, displaying a range of hues from light shades of azure to a near-perfect hue of sacramento green. The necklace is often the only compliment of color that Aelius outwardly wears. The chain was a gift from his mother, given to him on her deathbed.

As for clothes, Aelius is disheveled. Instead of keeping a vast wardrobe of fine clothes as is expected of aristocracy, he keeps a tiny closet of similar garments. He often dons a simple light gray shirt, a black coat with purple highlights sloppily fastened at his waist by a gray sash, and a leather tool belt. He is often seen wearing dark shades of gray for pants, with maroon pants making the occasional appearance. During the winter months, he adorns a wool scarf around his neck. Efforts to make Aelius change his style, or at the very least put in the effort to tidy up, have been unsuccessful,

When in the military, Aelius will forgo his shades of gray for the frost white wool uniforms of the AWE military; he retains his gray pants, but he elects to wear cavalry boots while in service. His amulet is still worn, but it is safely hidden underneath his wool jacket to discourage its theft.

Personality
Aelius is often more of a recluse then he lets on, he's perfectly content keeping to himself and finding entertainment in topics he chooses to research. Always oberserving but hardly speaking, this had been true for much of Aelius' life. Never one to get in the way. However, as Aelius grew to be one of the more well know people of the Ashtrokan-Wandenreich Empire, he often found himself having to speak up more to defend his positions. As a result, Aelius would learn to assert himself more often then not when it was evident his input was necessary. Ironically, Aelius would often seem to be one of the more boistorous and joyful people during social events but he could only endure so much socializing before one would find him sneaking out and heading home.

Overall, Aelius has always shown a level of loyalty to his country. Regardless of a difference in politics, if a member of the AWE were to be the target of libel or slander, Aelius always rises to defend the honor and reputation of an Imperial Citizen.

Likewise, Aelius has proven himself to be a vital member of the Draekar Dynasty. Having taken an early role of leadership in the family, he now stands as one of the more senior members of the family and he acts as a guiding hand for those that have come after him.

Life among the Favnixes
Aelius is the natural-born son of Archeon Draekar and an unnamed Silbernian woman. His father, having been initially a visitor from the nation of Falnir on the Rathnir continent, had no knowledge that he had conceived sons and so elected to return to his home nation of Falnir after a short stay in the Eldham. As a result, Aelius, and his twin brother Oscar, were raised in the southwest lands of the Onthukhan region amidst the care and support of his tribe, the Favnixes, worshippers of Dietrich.

Aelius's shy and often reclusive personality meant that he had little in common with the tribe's children. Rather than play sword fighting or chasing wolves, Aelius would much rather spend his time reading whatever scrolls or bound books he could get his hands on. Often being chastised by the local elder for the theft of his books. As a result, Aelius would often showcase an excellent understanding of human behavior, though not emotion, and a natural curiosity for the sciences.

The Arrival of the Falconians
Just shy of 6 years old, Aelius was on the eastern shores of the Onthukhan. He had been curious about the large wooden ships passing by with an increasing frequency. Some meandering by, having clearly been damaged by some conflict, others confidently gliding across the pearlescent seas, their oars taking them to destinations unknown. Today, however, the waters remained still. Disappointed, Aelius turned back to return to his tribe, hoping that tomorrow would be different.

Then, a crash. From behind a hill, Aelius had not seen the approaching vessel; all Aelius had a chance to hear was the sound of the boat running aground on the sands of the Onthukhan. Voices, strange voices everywhere, men, women, and children, disheveled in appearance, began to drop down from the ship. They had clearly been the former types of ships Aelius had seen sail by. In front of the group was a man with blond hair and fair skin; he looked less like the people around him and more like the Silbernian tribes. He walked with a sense of familiarity about him. But it wasn't long before the man, and his group walked into the forest and out of sight. Aelius ran home. A sense of excitement and fear welling internally.

The Creation of the Wandenreich
From afar, Aelius could see the Falconians set to work. He saw how they moved great sandstone blocks to build their buildings, how their soldiers set about defending their new home, and how diplomatic emissaries would leave their city, some never to return. No doubt they had met their end due to some other tribe. But they persisted. Aelius would often see that man among the emissaries; he would always return, with people in tow.

Over the years, Aelius would see how the city grew beyond just the Falconians. He could see Silbernians among them, brandishing their new Rapiers and Sabers as if they were gifted to them by the Obergotters themselves. Where Aelius first saw a broken people, he now saw a proud people. They carried their flag, a blue banner with a white cross. Each time venturing further into the land, each time being more successful. As time passed, they grew powerful, and soon Aelius would hear the name of their tribe, Wandenreich.

They strode in, their soldiers atop their horses, prancing around our villages, seeking to talk with our elder. Among them was that man, Franz Kaisser III.

By all accounts, it was a short meeting. Hardly an hour had passed before Franz Kaisser III and the village elder walked out side by side. In such a short span of time, Aelius was no longer just a mere Favnix, he now belonged to the Wandenreich. Aelius was ecstatic, he would grow up amid the hustle and bustle of the city beside the river. Too young to follow the Silbernians and Falconians on their conquests to further establish the Wandenreich, but just young enough to grow up as a new generation of Silbernian.

The Return of the Father
At the age of 12, the Wandenreich was firmly establishing itself among many new nations which had emerged during the genesis period of Eldham’s history. While wars were still being fought at the fringes of their realm, Aelius grew comfortably in the relative safety of the interior. It was around this time that Aelius had begun to hear murmurs about a kingdom that had fallen back in Rathnir. That was nothing new to Aelius, news came from across the sea all the time. What was most peculiar to Aelius was the kingdom in question, Falnir, He had heard the name in the past, his father, Archeon, was from Falnir.