Bastien de Morhban

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Bastien de Morhban
Statistics Name King Bastien de Morhban Status Alive Age 26 Class Royalty Rank King Affiliation Kusheth Royalty Nobles Themesong Sympathy for the Devil Quote “He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.” -Niccolo Machiavelli Portrayed by  Jonathan Rhys Meyers App Status Taken

King Bastien de Morhban is the ruler of Terre D'Ange. He has two seats of power. The Royal Palace in the city of Elua, and the Palais de Morhban in Kusheth.

Contents 1 A Kusheline Upbringing 2 The Long Winter 3 The Kusheline Crown 4 The King's Loyal Subjects 4.1 The Royal Family 4.2 House de Morhban 4.3 Allies to the King 4.4 Peers of the Realm 5 Noteworthy Logs 6 Links 7 Family Portraits

A Kusheline Upbringing

Bastien de Morhban was raised in the province of Kusheth in Terre D'Ange. His upbringing was one typical to any noble house. He received the finest education from esteemed tutors and peers of the realm, and he was also trained at arms, all in preparation for the day he would succeed his father as Duc of Kusheth.

Danton de Morhban, Bastien's father, wielded the title of Duc as though it were a weapon in order to gain and expand the family's estates. Bastien was much modeled in his father's likeness, sharing his tastes and ambitions in the spheres of courtly intrigue. Money, fame, power, all of these were impressed upon him as distinctly worthy enterprises.

Kusheth, of course, is the Punisher's chosen province, and those that populate it are his scions. It might come as no suprise, then, that Bastien's own father counted himself an adept in wielding the tools of Kushiel's justice. Whether upon his countrymen or his wife, Bastien's father believed himself quite talented with this gift. In this matter, just like all the others, he groomed his first son Bastien to serve as his successor.



From boyhood, Bastien was raised to embrace his strengths, most especially his streak of cold calculation. He was taught that those who did not possess those same traits - most specifically, those who allowed themselves to be governed by anything other then logic and reason - were weak and lesser beings. And in this manner was Bastien prepared for the day that he might assume his father's title as Duc of Kusheth.

The Long Winter

Though raised and groomed for his position as Duc de Kusheth, Bastien was not prepared for what would occur during the historical long winter that settled upon Terre d'Ange during the year 1184. Serving Kusheline interests, Duc Bastien had traveled to the City of Elua for what was planned to be a short stay. But the sudden onset of winter, which showed no immediate signs of lifting, caused both he and many other nobles visiting the city to be forced to remain in residence at court.

During the long winter, much of the focus of people's attentions were upon the impending Royal Vote. The late Queen Eliresse Andelieu de la Courcel had died less then four years earlier, and left no heir to succeed her. Her familial line was laid to rest with her, and the country of Terre d'Ange was under the leadership of her crown Regent, Nicolas the Grey.

The population was anxious for many things. For the long winter to lift, for the Royal Vote to be held, for the declaration of who would lead them. During this time, Duc Bastien had invested his support in the one known as the Lady Mistral, the Duchess Talaith Trevalion of Azzalle. Rumors even went so far as to indicate that an engagement was planned between them, born of political and strategic motivations. Such an engagement never came, however, and neither did the Lady Mistral's campaign for the vote come to fruition.

On the contrary, the Duc of Kusheth emerged as a frontrunner for the crown, spoken of as the strength that the country so needed to see itself restored to its former glory.

During the long winter, in the time leading up to the Royal Vote, the Duc announced an engagement. It was the Dowayne of Valerian house that had laid claim to his heart, and their engagement was hailed as a true demonstration of Elua's precept.

When the Royal Vote was at last upon the city, those who were eligible to cast votes (notably the Ducs, Duchesses, and a few other high ranking dignitaries) were summoned by the crown Regent, Nicolas the Grey, to cast their votes during the fete of the Longest Night. Early in the new year two things occured. Bastien wed Athenais in a ceremony presided upon by the crown Regent, and the winter finally showed signs of melting away. Shortly thereafter, the results of the Royal Vote were announced.

The Duc and his new Duchess were coronated by Nicolas the Grey, and presented to the peerage of Terre d'Ange as their new King and Queen. Bastien's reign then began, and though it is still young, he has taken a fair deal of action to restore the country to its state of excellence, as it was before the loss of its Queen, and the long and ravaging winter. And so with the new royal house, the season turned, and the Kusheline Crown was forged.

The Kusheline Crown

For almost three years, Bastien has presided over Terre d'Ange as its King. In the time since his ascension to the throne, Eisheth has blessed both he and Queen Athenais de Morhban with a set of twins. The royal heirs are named in honour of Bastien's late parents. The Dauphine, Marielle Leonore de Morhban and her brother, the little prince Danton Lucien de Morhban, are both approaching two years in age.

In that time, the family de Morhban has been reunited. Though Prince Balcime managed to travel to the city of Elua during the tail end of the long winter, their youngest sister Marie was abroad in Alba. Having been fostered there since her teenage years, she was unable to join them earlier, but the King sent for Princess Marie as soon as the winter lifted and the voyage became possible once again.

Since being installed as King, Bastien has devoted his efforts to public works projects, including the construction of Terre d'Ange's first university, which was built in the city of Elua. His most notable article of law was passed in 1184, pertaining to the leadership of the duchies. According to King Bastien's law, only true scions of each respective companion may lead their province. Those who were present during the long winter may remember the event that lead to this piece of legislature - a scandal of which a lesser member of House Shahrizai had the Duc of Siovale killed so that he could lay claim to the ducal seat. Under Bastien's leadership, the seat in Siovale was restored to its true claimant.

The palace in the city of Elua has been home to the new court since the forging of the Kusheline Crown, though plans have recently been put into development for a new palace to serve as the royal seat of power in Kusheth, upon old Morhban lands.

The King's Loyal Subjects

The Royal Family

Queen Athenais de Morhban - Wife. When Bastien was a Duc, and Athenais was Valerian's Dowayne, they fell in love and were married. Athenais went from Duchess of Kusheth to Queen of Terre d'Ange in a month's span, and is the mother of his twin son and daughter. It is clear to most that there is an implicit sense of trust and loyalty shared between Bastien and Athenais, and that the love they share runs deep.

Marielle de Morhban (NPC, infant) - Daughter. Marielle the first of a set of twins born to the King and Queen, and at a few minutes older then her brother, she is Terre d'Ange's Dauphine.


Danton de Morhban (NPC, infant) - Son. A few moments younger then his sister, Danton is a Prince of the blood and second in line to the throne.

House de Morhban

Prince Balcime de Morhban - Brother. Balcime is the King's younger, and only, brother. He is the second of three Morhban siblings.

Princess Marie de Morhban (NPC) - Sister. Marie is the King's younger, and only, sister. She is the youngest of the three Morhban siblings.


Danton de Morhban (NPC, Deceased) - Father. In life, Danton was the Duc in Kusheth. His cause of death was an unknown illness which mystified his physicians, who were unable to cure him.


Marielle de Morhban (NPC, Deceased) - Mother. Marielle was wed to Danton when they both were very young, bearing for him three children: Bastien, Balcime and Marie. It is believed that her death was caused by severe heartbreak, following the passing of Danton.

Allies to the King

Duc Donatien Shahrizai - Trusted Advisor. When Bastien became King, he appointed the patriarch of House Shahrizai as his successor. Donatien is a man he trusts implicitly, arguably more then any other individual at court. The pair have often worked together in dealings of state, and the confidence offered the Duc by the King results in his frequent involvement in matters of import.


Marquise Anne Shahrizai - Maitresse en Titre. The romance shared between Anne and the King is tempestuous, though none could deny that the pair are extremely close. As Bastien's recognized Maitresse en Titre, Anne is afforded a good deal of power and prestige at the d'Angeline court, and their love is the subject of an endless amount of rumor and speculation.


Maximus Corvinus - Kingsguard. Following an instrinsicly successful campaign during the Hazaran war, Sir Corvinus returned to Bastien's court in the city of Elua and was appointed to the King's own personal guard. Rumors abound regarding the man's sudden rise in Bastien's esteem, and though he has come to be referred as the King's shadow, whispers cannot help but revolve around how quickly Corvinus seems to have garnered his power and priviledge.


Aristide de Rousseau - Priestess of Esteem. A recent addition to the Kusheline monarch's court, Aristide is a priestess of the Punisher and has been seen in the King's company with increasing frequency. Though little is known about her arrival or the reasons surrounding it, it would seem that the monarch has made a place for her at the palais royale.


Comtesse Estelle de Malestroit - The Perch. An associate of the King's, from his days of childhood in Kusheth and his presiding as Duc of the same, the Comtesse de Malestroit is a trusted friend and advisor to the monarch. During the progress to Kusheth of the winter of 1185, Bastien persuaded her to join his court and serve as an advisor, as her father had before her. The precise nature of their relationship is unknown to many, though it is clear that a deal of esteem is afforded her.

Duchess Jehanne L'Envers - Loyalist. The Duchess of Namarre has become an extremely close confidant and ally to the King, and as a result rumors about the nature of their relationship, beyond matters of politics and state, have frequently been sparked. The Duchess is frequently involved in Bastien's official dealings at court, indicating the calibre of trust and respect he holds for her as a friend and associate.

Anton LeFebvre - Old Friend. Anton and Bastien are close friends from their days of youth in Kusheth, and the King is very happy to have Anton at court. Their friendship is not without its conflicts, however, and it is said they once fell out over an armwrestling match.

Peers of the Realm

Briar D'Rosiers Renaud - Briar Rose. Some who have witnessed exchanges between Briar and the King might have noted an odd dynamic shared between the two. Rumors indicate that recently the woman has risen in the monarch's esteem, and that he has more then once consulted her regarding matters of considerable import - most importantly, that she has not failed him in those instances. For that reason, if no other evident one, Briar has tidily ensconced herself in Bastien's favor.


Talaith de Trevalion (NPC) - The Lady Mistral. There was a time when the Lady Mistral, Talaith de Trevalion, and Bastien de Morhban were rumored to have formed a very powerful and ambitious alliance. The curious circumstances in which the former Duchess took an abrupt absence from social life has been a matter that Bastien has found perplexing; some hint that he has been attempting to reestablish contact with her, though none are sure of the reason for the extent to which he has made this effort to locate her.


Duc Hermes de Trevalion - Neutral Associate. Though Bastien legitimized Trevalion's claim to the duchy of Azzalle, dealings between them have generally been tentative and without an evident sense of trust. They have taken opposing stances over points of contention in the past, and it is speculated that the King's wariness toward the man has transformed into impatience and frustration when it comes to attempting to successfully handle matters of politic and state with him.

Noteworthy Logs

• The Wedding - This log contains the wedding ceremony of Bastien and Athenais, officiated by Nicolas the Grey. Their marriage marks the end of the long winter, and the return of spring.
  

• Royal Coronation - This log contains the result of the royal vote, and the royal coronation of Bastien and Athenais.
  

• Hazaran Arrival - This log contains the arrival of the Hazaran diplomat and his meeting with the royals.
  

• Ducal Inauguration - This log contains the official inauguration of Jehanne L'Envers and Hermes de Trevalion as Duchess of Namarre and Duc of Azzalle, respectively.
  

• The Triumph - This log contains the triumph celebration of the return of the d'Angeline army after defeating the Hazaran.
  
  

Links

• Bastien's Livejournal - Follow this link to the in character journal of King Bastien de Morhban. Please note that content found therein is for entertainment purposes, and not for use in game.

• Morhban Wikispace - Follow this link to the wikispace of the Morhbans, where logs can be found and read.

Family Portraits