# #### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Aldus Myrvayne - **Race/Species:** Human - **Class/Profession:** Diplomat/Scholar (Presumed Deceased) - **Alignment/Morality:** Lawful Good - **Age:** 68 (at time of disappearance) - **Gender & Pronouns:** Male (He/Him) - **Appearance:** Historical accounts describe Aldus as the embodiment of scholarly diplomacy—tall and slender, with the slightly stooped posture of someone who spent decades bent over diplomatic documents and historical texts. His face featured refined, aristocratic features softened by an approachable demeanor—high forehead, aquiline nose, and thoughtful eyes that conveyed both intelligence and compassion. His eyes were a deep brown that contemporary accounts described as "wells of patience," capable of maintaining attentive focus through the longest negotiations without betraying fatigue or frustration. His hair, white since his fifties, was kept neatly trimmed in a style that balanced dignity with practicality. He dressed in well-made but understated clothing that reflected his position as advisor rather than noble—quality materials in muted colors, with subtle embroidery indicating his service to House Rogarvia. Unlike the warriors and nobles he advised, he wore minimal jewelry beyond a signet ring marking his position and a medallion indicating his scholarly achievements. His hands showed the ink stains common to scholars despite servants' efforts, and he moved with the deliberate pace of someone who believed that proper consideration prevented hasty mistakes. A distinctive pair of reading glasses, crafted by dwarven artisans with gold wire frames, became his signature accessory in later years, often perched on his nose or held thoughtfully during complex negotiations. #### **Personality & Traits** - **Historical Personality Summary:** Contemporary accounts describe Aldus as embodying the ideal of the scholarly diplomat—an advisor who balanced historical knowledge with practical wisdom. He approached both diplomatic negotiations and policy development with methodical thoroughness, weighing immediate political advantages against historical precedents and long-term consequences. To House Rogarvia, he represented institutional memory and continuity, providing context and perspective that tempered the family's sometimes impulsive tendencies. To foreign diplomats and domestic officials, he presented a carefully calibrated blend of formal courtesy and genuine engagement that earned respect across political divides. His scholarly background manifested in his attention to procedural details, his talent for finding historical parallels to current situations, and his belief that properly documented agreements prevented future conflicts. Though capable of firmness when necessary, he preferred to find solutions through patient negotiation and mutual understanding rather than force or intimidation. Beneath his diplomatic exterior lay a man of principle who viewed his role as serving not just House Rogarvia but Brevoy as a whole—a perspective that occasionally put him at odds with more narrowly focused members of the house. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Diplomatic Expertise** – Exceptional ability to navigate complex political situations and find compromise solutions - **Historical Knowledge** – Comprehensive familiarity with Brevoy's past and the precedents relevant to current issues - **Languages** – Fluency in multiple tongues that facilitated direct communication with diverse parties - **Documentation** – Meticulous approach to recording agreements and maintaining diplomatic archives - **Institutional Memory** – Unparalleled recall of past negotiations, agreements, and their contexts - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Physical Frailty** – Limited stamina that became more pronounced in his later years - **Excessive Deliberation** – Tendency toward over-analysis that sometimes delayed necessary decisions - **Conflict Avoidance** – Preference for compromise even when firmer positions might have been advantageous - **Blind Loyalty** – Occasional failure to recognize or address House Rogarvia's more problematic actions - **Scholarly Detachment** – Sometimes viewed situations too abstractly rather than recognizing emotional factors - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Spoke in measured, precise sentences rich with carefully chosen words and diplomatic nuance - Listened attentively to others, maintaining appropriate eye contact and responsive expressions - Used his hands expressively when explaining complex concepts, often adjusting his glasses for emphasis - Habitually referenced historical precedents when addressing current issues - Employed diplomatic pauses rather than direct contradictions when disagreeing with powerful figures #### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Born to a minor noble family with a tradition of scholarly service, Aldus was educated at Brevoy's finest academies before being selected as a junior diplomatic aide to House Rogarvia in his early twenties. His natural aptitude for languages, history, and interpersonal navigation quickly distinguished him from his peers, leading to increasingly responsible assignments. His defining opportunity came during a territorial dispute with a neighboring power, where his discovery of an obscure historical treaty provided the legal basis for a peaceful resolution that favored Brevoy's interests. This combination of scholarly research and practical application caught the attention of the Rogarvia leadership, establishing him as a rising diplomatic talent. Over the subsequent decades, he systematically expanded his knowledge and influence, becoming first a specialized envoy for particularly delicate negotiations, then a general diplomatic advisor, and finally one of House Rogarvia's most trusted counselors. His particular expertise lay in finding historical precedents and legal frameworks that could transform potentially hostile confrontations into structured negotiations. In his later years, he formed a particularly productive partnership with Rordan Rogarvia, whose military background and pragmatic approach complemented Aldus's scholarly perspective. Together, they developed and implemented a series of diplomatic initiatives that strengthened Brevoy's position among its neighbors while avoiding costly conflicts. When the Vanishing occurred, Aldus disappeared along with all members of House Rogarvia, despite not being related by blood. This anomaly has fueled speculation about the nature of the Vanishing and Aldus's possible role in or knowledge of its cause. Like Rordan, he was reportedly engaged in research in the family archives immediately before his disappearance, adding another layer of mystery to the event. - **Historical Significance:** - **Diplomatic Legacy** – Established protocols and agreements that continued to influence Brevoy's foreign relations long after his disappearance - **Archival Contributions** – Created and maintained comprehensive diplomatic records that remain valuable historical resources - **Mentorship** – Trained multiple generations of Brevic diplomats who carried his methods into the post-Rogarvia era - **Theoretical Writings** – Authored several influential works on diplomatic practice and international relations - **Vanishing Connection** – His unexplained disappearance despite lack of blood relation to House Rogarvia represents one of the key mysteries of that event - **Historical Connections:** - **[[House Rogarvia]]** – The ruling family he served with unwavering loyalty for most of his career - **[[Rordan Rogarvia]]** – Close collaborator with whom he developed numerous diplomatic initiatives - **[[Kasmira Rogarvia]]** – Family member whose more aggressive tendencies he often moderated - **[[The Diplomatic Corps of Brevoy]]** – Institution he helped develop and formalize - **[[The Royal Archives]]** – Repository of diplomatic records he meticulously maintained - **Scholarly Contributions:** - **"The Principles of Lasting Accords"** – Definitive text on treaty construction still studied by diplomats - **"Historical Foundations of Brevic Sovereignty"** – Scholarly work establishing legal precedents for territorial claims - **"The Diplomat's Lexicon"** – Practical guide to diplomatic language and protocol - **"Correspondence Collection"** – Extensive personal letters providing insight into Rogarvia-era politics - **"Border Treaties of the Northern Realms"** – Comprehensive compilation of territorial agreements #### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Historical Themes:** - The power of historical knowledge in resolving contemporary conflicts - The tension between scholarly ideals and political realities - The importance of documentation and institutional memory - The mystery of his connection to the Vanishing despite lack of blood relation - **Player/GM Notes:** - Can serve as a historical figure whose diplomatic legacy impacts current events - Might be connected to quests involving lost Rogarvia documents or knowledge - Could be used in storylines exploring the mystery of the Vanishing - His writings provide context for current political situations and conflicts - Despite his presumed death, his influence continues through institutions and protocols he established