Charles III

Charles III is the current King of Almeron and the archon of House Laurent, his reign having begun sixteen years ago at the age of 19 in 967 4E. Though he held little power for the first half of his reign, during the events of the Six Years' War and after he has become a much more powerful monarch, free to direct his country and the development of new laws. He is a considered a renowned strategist and military leader, though in the past he has struggled greatly with uniting the nobility of his country to act as one against major issues. His greatest accomplishments by far have been defeating the Empire of Stahlheim in the Six Years' War and leading his army to victory in the Battle of Alstedt.

Appearance
At 35 years of age the weariness of time and the stress of leading has begun to act against Charles, but he remains a physically fit man. He has never been considered remarkably handsome, though in his youth his plain features were oft overlooked in favor of his intelligence and talents. His skin is tanned from long spans of time spent in the sun of his homeland, a sharp contrast to much of the nobility in Almeron. His eyes are forest green and piercing, ever aware of the dangers that surround him. His hair is cut short and maintained that way, and hee maintains a well-trimmed mustache and goatee. A long scar that runs diagonally from the left of his temple to the right of his lip mars his features, a scar earned in single combat eight years into his reign. It has only healed somewhat well, and though it has given him a heroic image among his people it has contributed little to his handsomeness.

The King of Almeron must don armor fitting of his position in battle, resplendent and elegant as well as functional. The King must be a shining beacon to all those fighting for him, bringing them hope while also protecting his person as much as possible. Charles is no exception to this rule, wearing an expensive suit of armor that rallies his men and brings despair to his enemies. His helm is crested with dragon's wings, his breastplate inlaid with hundreds of rare golden sapphires in the shape of the royal dragon of Almeron. He rides always upon the finest destrier in the country, and with him are a contingent of Knights of the Dragon that follow his beck and call in battle. His weapon is the ancestral blade of his House, the greatsword Summer.

Personality
Charles III never truly received a chance to flourish as a ruler until the onset of the Six Years' War, and prior to that was considered what most Almeronian kings have been: Reliant upon the nobility and unable to push back against them. His experience in battle and expertise in leading soldiers made him the perfect King to go to war with Stahlheim, and over the years managed not only to evade total defeat multiple times but invade the heartland of the Empire and achieve an improbable victory. His victory has allowed his rulung qualities to shine, a strength and decisiveness that is needed combined with an understanding of compromise that is wanted providing a well-loved King. His increased power has only seen him rule with fewer restraints, and he is widely considered one of the strongest Almeronian monarchs in decades.

Charles is known for his strict adherence to the principle of justice and his willingness to compromise in spite of the law to see it met. He is comfortable in both fighting and leading soldiers, though the art of eloquent speech making is lost upon him. He is a man of few words in general, his humor laconic and his rulings in court free of any superfluous language. While Charles understands the necessity and purpose of politics, he despises the deceit that is innately a part of it and actively seeks it out to destroy it. Since his recent meteoric increase in influence, it is likely he will be able to purge the Court of Nobles until it is far more to his liking.

History
Charles was born the eldest of three brothers in 948 4E. From birth it was understood he was the most likely heir to take the Almeronian throne, and thus his parents saw to it that he was prepared as much as possible. He had less of a childhood than his younger siblings, occupying his time with the pursuit of knowledge instead of playing games throughout the castle. He studied history, strategy, languages, etiquette, politics, combat, everything that he might need should he become monarch. He took to it dutifully and learned well because of it, though his lack of childhood joy gave him a sort of humorlessness that still infringes upon him now. He had the privilege of training under elite knights from the Order of the Dragon, developing within the young lad a skill with combat and respect for justice and chivalry that remains staunchly with him.

At the age of 19, Charles' father passed away from a common illness and he ascended to the throne. He was wed swiftly thereafter to his betrothed Adrienne Guillot, the daughter of an important Almeronian nobleman. Over the first eight years of his reign she gave birth to three children, two boys and a girl. Not many notable events marked the first half of his reign, a powerful Court of Nobles frequently overruling his desires and preventing any act that might have lessened their power outright. He dealt with other heads of state and was able to maintain peace but elsewise was not considered remarkable, a common thing among Almeronian kings in times of peace.

The first sign of greatness in his reign occurred in his eighth year upon the throne. As tensions with Stahlheim grew increasingly heightened, a Baron by the name of Jean Cheval openly insulted the King's leadership and declared that he was a fool to lead the country to war with so powerful a nation. The man said that Charles was unfit to lead and challenged him to single combat for his place upon the throne. Though he was under no obligation to accept, single combat is seen as vital and Almeron and to decline or have a champion fight in his place would be to invite further criticisms and disgrace his name. So Charles agreed, facing the man in single combat for the entirety of the Court of Nobles to see. A few minutes into the duel Jean managed to remove the King's helmet, though at Charles' insistence the duel did not pause and he continued. His opponent managed to land a vicious strike that was not parried fully, deeply cutting into the King's face and practically blinding him with his own blood. The King responded with a riposte that sliced into Lord Cheval's hamstring through a gap in his armor, bringing him to his knees. Then, before the shocked and wordless Court, Charles removed his opponent's helm and beheaded him.

The action galvanized the Court to his side, the manful way that he fought and the swift, merciful end to the duel proving him to be a man of high caliber. The war that soon started between the Crown and Stahlheim fully united the country behind him and he was soon able to prove himself a true King. Despite his healing wound he led Almeronian armies many times throughout the war, often winning battles that would have otherwise resulted in a near insurmountable defeat. His most famed victory came at the Battle of Alstedt, wherein he outmaneuvered a vastly numerically superior Stahlheimian force and effectively ended the war.

King Charles III is currently ruling from the Court of Nobles deep in the Almeronian capital, passing progressive measures and seeing to a boom in national pride and economic strength that hasn't been seen consistently for a long time in the Kingdom. His wife and children both remain at the castle with him.