Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Southland: Prince Maxter Tallus, Governor of Cross

THE SOUTHLAND
A Fantasy Core Setting
© Jerry Harris 2014
(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Index.)


Prince Maxter Tallus, Governor of Cross
(Maxter’s fighting days are long over.  Even before the wound that left him with a pronounced limp, he was never much of a fighter.  Maxter even jokes about it.  His main skills are his charming, foppish personality and his quick mind to exploit possible opportunities.  In other words, he’s not an NPC, he’s a plot device.  He shouldn’t be put in situations where character stats will necessary.  Maxter is a Half-Elf, if you’re using Demi-humans in this setting.)

On the one hand, Maxter certainly acts like he’s Emperor Leon’s older half-brother (he seldom name-drops that fact since everyone knows it), with his courtly manners, intrigues, and extravagant lifestyle.  On the other, what’s he doing here at the near literal ends of the earth?  One day, he’s in the Emperor’s court in the Capital in Krail.  The next, he’s installed in the Far Easter Isles as governor.  After the turning the post over to his brother’s exiled lover, Maysa DesCaster (at the strong suggestion of the Empress), Maxter ends up in the Outback of the Southland, in charge of a nothing town of no consequence that’s not even on most maps.

He frequently claims to be in exile himself.  It’s possible.  Maxter at times mentions an arranged wedding to a gross countess that he’s fleeing from.  Still, for all his affectations, he’s always constantly running various covert schemes, some seemingly trivial, others of obvious international importance.  Maxter’s activities would seem to indicate that he has a much greater standing and reach than his actual posting.  Explorations, covert military actions, surveillance of foreign nationals, the social embarrassment of several prominent members of the colony, and other matters have been linked (often via several chains) to Maxter.  And who has the stones to go after the Emperor’s brother after he’s been implicated?

While his title is governor, he certainly acts the part of a mayor.  Maxter is constantly touring around his little domain, shaking hands, kissing babies, and listening to the tribulations of his people (and even responding and taking positive action.)  No aloof ruler, he knows everyone and everything going in town.  Maxter has made sure that virtually everyone in Cross either loves him or owes him. 

At least Maxter’s motives are fairly transparent.  He is loyal to the Commonwealth, its citizens, and his brother (though not above a few amusing stories about him when sufficiently inebriated).  Any scheme he’s working is never for his direct or sole benefit.  Maxter is already rich and could have been powerful, if he really wanted it.  Is he in exile?  A dilettante over-reaching in matters beyond his purview?  A trusted agent of the Emperor, carrying out his most sensitive tasks?  Something else?  Hmmm.


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