Charles De Manteau

"Those who cannot face death and do not live their lives to the fullest are truly the most decayed of souls" Charles De Manteau was a Lorentish aristocrat. Ambitious, devoted, and for a time, loyal to the crown. While rather analytical and calculated in public, he had softer attributes when outside the spotlight. He was a driven and loving husband and father.

Early life
Charles De Manteau’s origins begin in Plagatea. During the early days of the 1st empire, Charles’s family was a wealthy house of Plagatea’s oligarchy. Charles was only 19 when he was killed by a Plagatean peasant, whom his father had just fired from their business. He was only saved 100 years later when a Lorentish necromancer, Stenn De Manteau brought him back to life using a type of blood-magic. With this spell, his body remained mostly intact, while he would sometimes phase into a ghostly state. Stenn then took Charles, and raised him as a younger brother in Lorent. Where Charles soon rose the ranks of nobility.

Lorentish colonialism
Charles’ first venture began with him venturing on an expedition led by the Lorentish government to colonize other parts of Rathnir. Ironically, this would place Charles back in Plagatea, the country in which he had been killed. The Plagatean Empire, which was now long dead, had been replaced by multiple small tribes of people who claimed sovereignty over the continent of Plagos. Since these nations were weak and could do little to stop a nation like Lorent colonizing their lands, they were a prime target. The nation chosen in particular was the Republic of Veldion, a smaller country made up of only a few towns with a very small population. 2 Lorentish settlements were made in the country. One being Marseille, and the other being Charles’ town, creatively named Cape Charles after its founder. For the next few years, these two colonies would extract more than $750,000 worth of gold and iron from Plagos soil. Charles himself made a small fortune of $350,000. This colonial system however, was not to last. The native peoples realized that their lands were valuable and being exploited by forein powers. They protested and demanded that the Lorentish settlers leave Plagos lands. The Republic of Veldion was furious. Back in Relmont, when news arrived that Veldion was becoming a threat to the sovereignty of the colonies, Reince de Relmont, Luth of Lorent, decided to act fast. There was a plan created, and people were notified.

A three sided civil war then blazed within Velion. The sides were the Kingdom of Veldion, the rebel group known as the Plagatean Regency, and The Republic of Veldion, who was backed by neighboring powers that had sent aid to try and prevent the spread of Lorentish dominion. In the end, the Plagatean Regency came out victorious. Led by Basil, this new government would bring a peaceful phasing out of the old lorentish colonial system, while also keeping an alliance with Lorent. This in the eyes of many was a mutually beneficial arrangement. By the end of the 5th year after the civil war, Charles sold Cape Charles to local leaders for $75,000, only adding to his profits already made from the colony.

Auxerre and Fjordmont
Charles moved back to Lorent with business experience, and capital. This was not the end of his story though. Charles, now even more recognized in Lorent for his role in their colonial past, was granted a new plot of land to build a town on. This town, he named Auxerre. Auxerre, though short lived, would be an important learning experience for Charles. Charles would go on for the next year, to build it into a functional city. He would even build his first mansion here.

Just when everything seemed to be going good in Lorent, the Tortugan Empire declared war on Lorent. This came as a shock to Charles, who thought that relations with the Tortugans were just about to get better. Charles partially helped fund the war, and in the end, Lorent won. With the end of this war came a great bounty. Lorent annexed almost all of Sorligste. When Soumere Serenus, a former Tortugan region refused to join Lorent, it was later warred and annexed.

Charles, seeing an opportunity in the new east of Lorent, decided to start a town. This town he named Fjordmont. He plans to turn it into a magnificent city.

First marriage
Around the same time Charles was setting up Fjordmont, he would be approached by a woman from Einburg named Elle. The two seemed to get along nicely and Charles eventually asked for her hand in Marriage. Elle agreed cheerfully and they were wed the following year. Their love burned bright, but fizzled out quickly. Arguments became common, and Elle became particularly concerned with starting a family with Charles. Charles, feeling that he was much too busy to take responsibility for a child, declined her pleas. Elle would become frustrated with Charles, and his constant awayness because of work troubled her even more.

She concocted a radical plan to have a child with Charles. One night, while they sat by the fireplace, Elle tampered with Charles’ drink. He would soon pass out from the concoction. Little did Elle know, Charles had a high tolerance for sedatives. He had, in little time, woken up as she was dragging him to the bedroom. Realizing the situation, he phased out of her grip using his powers, and stormed out of the house. They would divorce shortly after.

The year following his divorce, tragedy would soon grieve house De Manteau many times over. Stenn’s wife, would commit suicide leaving Stenn in a poor mental state, his children not knowing why their mother had lit those explosives atop the Braavos tower. Stenn, now needing to find peace, left his role as house head, and passed it onto Charles. Stenn would go on to lead a nomadic lifestyle in the lorentish countryside. Charles, who was not capable of raising the two children that Stenn had left behind, sent them to boarding school. More tragedy would strike within the same year, Red Arden, Charles’ sister, would tragically die after altercations with a sickness. As well, Odio Talatra, Charles’ great nephew would also tragically pass away. This drove Charles into a deep depression. The winter of a dreadful year somehow felt colder.

Second marriage
It had been a year since the deaths of his relatives. Charles De Manteau, now recently recovered from alcoholism, was back into politics. The deaths of his family members had driven the family to bankruptcy, and Charles could not support the house by himself. They lost all status and land in Lorent. Charles De Manteau, for the first time in his new life, was a nobody. Though, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Whether it be a blessing from Lutherius, or just dumb luck, Charles would once again find not only regained strength, recognition, and wealth, but also something he had only shortly experienced love.

It was simply a normal day for Charles. He was walking towards his regional capital of Frostmarch, Hafnarfjoll, when all of a sudden, someone caught his eye. There, walking on the same path, was a mysterious woman dressed in fine, red silks. It almost seemed odd, as soon as they saw each other, their eyes locked. Charles had never seen anyone down this road before, nonetheless the figure now stood across from him. Obviously curious about each other, they found a place to the side of the road and began talking. Boreal Marshal, like Charles, was a politician. Their first discussions were the topic of their respective views on Lorent. Boreal would later dive into her personal situation in politics, she explained that she had recently become the head of house Marshal. Charles would explain his situation as well, describing his hardships, and the hardships of his house. This eventually led to Charles admitting how much in decline his house had become. Boreal, explaining that she was the head of a noble house as well, offered advice to Charles. Charles agreed to the proposal, and Boreal devised many options that he could try to use to restore his house. Noticeably suggesting that he find a new wife to help bring his house back. At this point and time, it was growing late in the day. Before the two parted ways, they agreed to meet another time. The two set off, and went their separate ways. The next day, as the two had agreed, they met at Charles’ developing town of Fjordmont. They sat down to have tea, and began talking once more. Instead of the political focus of their previous chat however, their conversation this time gravitated towards talks of past lovers and marriage. Charles, though reluctant at first, described his time with Elle, and the events that led to their divorce. Boreal described her own hardship with her previous partner Godfrey, and talked about how he had done little to support or care for her. Charles then mentioned his house’s cursed nature. The fact that all of his family members seemed to be undead, haunted, or daemonic. Boreal and Charles then shared a laugh because of Boreal explaining her house’s blessed nature. Her, and her family members being seemingly immortal and Godfrey being highly fortunate. By this point, they were very close, and comfortable with each other. Their talk continued throughout the night, covering a wide variation of subjects. Again however, it soon became late and Boreal and Charles went their separate ways for the night. But just like before, they promised to see each other again the following day, this time in Lumaire.

The next day soon came, and the two met at a coffee shop. Soon after sitting down, Boreal would bring up an interesting proposal. Boreal offered to take Charles’ hand in a political marriage, and a house merger that would come along with it. Charles, though surprised at first, accepted the offer. He then began making preparations for the wedding. The wedding destination was chosen to be Hafnarfjoll, and a vibrant afterparty was planned to be held. Then, finally after many days of preparation, the wedding date came. Though the amount of guests was a humble one, the wedding ceremony went wonderfully. The officiation was splendid, and the afterparty was a lively one. Although Boreal would soon have to leave the wedding to access private matters, she left Charles with a promise that they would soon tour Sorligste together someday.

Late life and death
Charles later went on to start a great realm, the Ecliptic realm, taking in part of ato into his archduchy. He’d also father a daughter, Marquisse, who’d grow to be an accomplished woman. Splits though, within his own ideals, and the ideals of the royalty of Lorent led him to eventually opposing the royal family. His brother, soon revealing himself and coming back to Lorent, would disapprove of his actions and disown him. This would reverse the magic on Charles. His still slightly alive body, in which he was still conscious, quickly decomposed. He’d go on to die, beside his remaining friends and family, including Boreal looking out from a hilltop in Plagos, on that same hill he was buried and risen previously.