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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