Maximus Corvinus
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Background
Death has been his constant companion since he was young and it is nothing new to him to have people hate and fear him because of it.
In the winter, when Maximus was only six years old, both of his parents died of mysterious causes. At least, they had been mysterious causes to everyone except Maximus. Although he was so very young, he still remembers every detail of their death.
He witnessed the murder of his parents that cold winter night. It was also that same time that he developed his taste for it. There were two men, D'Angeline both. His father exchanged killing blows with one, as the other fell his mother, opening her throat like warm butter. It was the little boy's arrow that ended his life.
After that the lad lived the winter alone until his Uncle and Aunt arrived to return him to the heart of Kusheth. He lived there in a small village until death tracked him down once more. The rest of his family died with fever later that year. The villagers cursed the young boy, whispering he was evil.
He spent his time hunting wolves and protecting the fools despite what they thought of him. It wasn't until he caught the eye of Duc Danton de Morhban of Kusheth, that Maximus left that place. The Duc noticed him while passing through, and offered the boy a position as a squire in the legion. Maximus didn't have to be asked twice.
Already an able hunter and tracker, and without fear by age ten, Maximus was turned over to Sahl, a Cassiline monk, for his molding. Years swept by after that, and Maximus grew from a boy to a man. He became the tip of the spear some say. Loved and respected among the Kusheline legion. By then Bastien de Morhban had been crowned King. At the request of Sahl, Bastien gave Maximus his Knighthood. Not long after the Knight led the Raven to glory in the Battle of Camlach.
His legend only grew from there.
First Knight
In the Battle of Camlach, Sir Corvinus led a small company known as the Raven (or the King's own sword). They circumvented enemy lines and engaged in merciless, hit-and-run battle tactics. No Hazaran man woman or child was shown quarter. His actions on the battlefield earned him a reassignment to the City of Elua. Sir Corvinus now serves as the Royal Guard, stationed in the Palace to safeguard the elite against familiar tactics like assassination. But more importantly there are whispers that he is an extension of the King’s will here in Elua, one without opinion or remorse. They call him the King’s Shadow.
Throughout his role in Bastien’s court Maximus has proven loyal beyond reason. He has sacrificed his morals, his principles and even his heart for love of King and Country. Recent evens have left the Knight somewhat, if possible, more dark than he was before. Still he remains ’true’ to his duty. It is all he has left.
The King's Shadow
No one is more dangerous than he who imagines himself pure in heart: for his purity, by definition, is unassailable.
Maximus played the loyal bodyguard, confidant, and enforcer. Unofficially, Maximus served his King as judge, jury and executioner. His Royal Majesty Bastien de Morhban has been called a cutthroat politician who seeks power through intimidation, trading favors, and especially through knowing people's darkest secrets. This is where men like Maximus come in. While he may appear similar to a Cassiline monk, of a certainty he isn't. Of course Bastien knew that the dangerous Knight broke laws and cheated when necessary, but he didn't question his actions - especially when his results did more good for people than harm. Maximus compensated with stridently good manners and a rigid code of ethics, both of which made him seem like a courtier to the untrained eye.
Description & Personality
Physically, Maximus is very strong and intimidating. His dark eyes seems to bore into the soul of those he sets them on. His personality is violent, menacing, and brooding. Cold and calculating, he rarely expresses any emotion. He has extensive in-depth knowledge of war and what it takes to win a battle. No matter what it costs in morals. This has become terrifyingly more true in days more recent. It started when he dismissed his beloved Squire, Etienne de Lerond from his service for unknown reasons. Since that moment the Knight has spiraled into a darkness so deep, its left him an ominous and foreboding mirror image of what he was. He is D’Angeline, however there are those that might question the origins of his otherworldly lineage.
Quote
"Death is but a doorway. Please. Allow me, I'll show you the door."
"When you strike do it without mercy or regret."
"It's not who I am underneath, but what I *do* that defines me."
Allies
Family
Dedication: "Scar Tissue" - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Nobility
Dedication: "Broken" - Seether Featuring Amy Lee
Dedication: "Evil Angel" - Breaking Benjamin
Dedication: "Big Girls Don't Cry" - Fergie
Dedication: "Fake it" - Seether
Enemies
Dedication: "You Make Me Sick" - Egypt Central
Courtesans
Dedication: "Pain" - Three Days Grace
Associates
Recent Events
.
A single movement by the Kusheline takes off the head of his smaller opponent. It rolls into the darkness towards where Aristide ran while the body stands aloft a few seconds longer, spurting blood across the Knight's angry features. For a moment he's in Camlach again, fighting the Hazaran. The dead body is ran through with the Gladius, then lifted until it splits down the middle grotesquely. From behind the half Skaldic man takes the opportunity to kill the Knight, but in it he finds his own folly. Before he even manages to bring his blade to bare, Maximus spins and opens a rift along his belly with his Gladius. He punches in with his other hand, curling his fingers around the man's organs and pulling them free to pile at his feet in a pool of warm gore. After the violent disembowelment, the man stands there dying. The color fading from his face. The Knight embraces him, pulling his head close so he can whisper a few departing words in his ear. "May you find mercy in the afterlife. You'll find none here." The sound of battle dies in that instant.
- Death in a Snowstorm
Excerpts
With the warriors all kneeling as one uniform body, the King rises from the imposing throne to take two steps forward, closer to Maximus. The scabbard, which he holds balanced between two hands, is raised in the air for the crowd to see. In a single fluid motion, Bastien's palm fits around the hilt of the sword, and he pulls it from the sheathe with a brief scrape of steel. With half of the blade freed, the Kusheline monarch pivots his hold so that the exposed portion of the blade is balanced upon his palm, and his other hand cups the scabbard - the hilt is tilted downward, in the Knight's direction. "Speak your oath," he demands.
"Survival of the fittest," The Knight states in a clear crisp tone. "Sages call it the law of the wild. But in truth it is the law of all life. Men like to think themselves above the animals, but in truth they live there lives by the same principles. This is an unforgiving world, and there is no greater instinct in life than survival." He rests his hand on the pommel of his Gladius, silently casting his grave, black gaze over Bastien's feet. "There are other instincts. Love, greed, lust, fear, hate. But they are all part of survival. It is theorized that Elua created our society, and that this is what sets us apart from the animals. Once, in my naive youth, I also held with this perspective. But now I recognize that what sets man apart from the animals is that animals kill to survive, while man kills to thrive." Maximus pauses, turning towards the Priestess, then back to the floor. He continues, dark eyes smoldering. "In all peoples, in all times, those who have power have gained and maintained their position by eliminating all rivals. The main tool is assassination. In decadent empires, assassination has become an art form." There are gasps among the D'Angeline nobles. To speak of such in pleasant company is oft unheard of. Among the members of the Raven, there is only a clear air of knowing. "Assassination, when performed correctly, is the single most impersonal act a man can make. When done incorrectly, it is simply murder. But if a man can become completely impersonal; if he can kill another man for no other reason than that he will be paid for it, if he can kill without hate, or malice, or bloodlust, then he may become the perfect killer." He stops there, allowing the gravity of his words to sink deeply into the audience that listens. "Once, in my younger years, I found such impersonality horrifying. Now I do not. /I/ am counted among those possessing the skill for it. Every man's life is shaped, to some degree, by death and mortality. But I learned to be death's master, and so I became, like an elemental force, the one who gives it to others. I am the bringer of my King's safety. My oath is my bond and I swear it with all that I am. In /your/ protection, my life is forfeit!"
The King hears out the oathgiving with a drawn expression that is unreadable, and he lifts his gaze toward the assembled crowd (gasping at the freeness of the Knight's speech) to give them a measured look. "I cannot accept this pledge," says Bastien aloud, once Maximus falls silent. There seems to be an audible sigh of relief among the peerage, left with no question about the ominous Knight's immorality in the wake of his oath. "Unless it should be tempered first by Kushiel's mercy, and received by his good graces." And if any cue were necessary, this is the one extended to Aristide, whose presence is illuminated by this singular gesture. He waits to be joined by the bronze faced priestess, gazing out toward the crowd, and then pointedly to the Knight knelt at his feet.
There are mummers among the crowd. Lords and ladies whispering their contempt or appreciation for the Kusheline Knight and his singular view of things. Even servant take part, and more than one wager on how things will play out. Only the Raven remain solemn and unmoving. They like Maximus are the epitome of discipline.
The priestess' pale gray gaze switches between her King and his knight throughout the latter's speech, silver pools of moonlight flickering interestedly behind unforgiving bronze. The gasps from various horrified peers in the throne room audience coax a half-smile from her, though certainly no one would know. She returns the knight's gaze evenly, seemingly undisturbed by his sinister words. But why would she be? Her duties required her to beat worshipers to tortuous mercies. His required him to kill those who would kill others. Her interest piqued, Aristide affords Bastien her attention, curious about the Kusheline King's reaction to the dark knight's rather-Kusheline oath. His response warrants a small amount of surprise, though she wastes little time before coming forward to join him. She looks over the crowd evenly from the King's side, her gaze seeming too heavy for some in the audience to hold. After a long few moments have passed, the raven-haired priestess tilts her chin down to look at the kneeling knight before them. "I believe there is no questioning this warrior's ability," she starts, her voice even but firm, carrying to the back of the chamber. After another measured pause, she continues, "Kushiel himself might shrink to think of the horrors this man has seen on the battlefield. We who bestow His mercy know so little about dealing death unto others... We can only seek to redeem those who repent. But this warrior has proved himself capable of bestowing the mercy of death on those who are too far gone to repent, and are therefore beyond Kushiel's reach. It is for that reason that I approve of this appointment."
In rhythm the Raven, all at once clap their steel shod hands down on the metal grieves they wear. Their support of Kushiel's decision is unwavering agreement.
The King inclines his head to the masked priestess for all to see, deferring to her speech when she opts to address the group at large. It is only after the last of her words has come and gone, and the last echo of the steel of Ravens on metal has dissipated that he speaks again. "Then let all those here pay witness to this oath, which is received in good faith with wisdom and compassion." The hilt of the blade is once more offered to Maximus, that he might indulge the honor of cementing his appointment by pressing lips to the prestigious weapon that is the King's own sword, a relic of house Morhban. "May all and one know that your arm and heart both are sworn in duty, service and love to the King of Terre d'Ange."
For his part, Maximus has knelt subserviently to his master, the King of all Terre d'Ange. Aristide's approval doesn't change that, though in truth his eyes can't be seen to be read. Nor can the sight of the shiver that runs through him, when his peers sound their unanimous approval. In what comes next the Knight does not falter. He takes the keen edged blade in his hand, then presses his lips to the Kusheline steel as if it were a prized lover. "Until death," he says coolly. Behind him the Raven speaks as one, "So say we all!"
- Oath giving ceremony: Palace Throne room
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