Old Radovan

Old Radovan, also called King Radovan (he prefers Old) or, more correctly, Prince Radovan of the Shattered Isles. The Admiral-Prince of the Interior Sea, Radovan is a great leader of united Zellish tribes, and he is the only one who has managed to unite worshippers of all of The Seven under one banner.
Radovan's belief is that Zells, once united, have the power to repair the damage done in The Great Shattering, returning the void to a state of tranquil water. This state of eternal sail, of unending voyage, is in the Sugaardin religion called Zell. It's where their name comes from, according to their lore (the Orredin maintain that it was in fact a corruption of Asinus, the term for ass, or donkey) and it is the centerpiece of their religion.
Radovan differs from most Zells in that he preaches that Zell is not of this world, but of the next. In other words, in his mind, the afterlife is an eternal voyage into the land of the gods, which must be prepared for in this life, through the veneration of all of the Seven, not just one.
His unitarian philosophy holds a lot of sway with his people, what began as a weird cult has essentially become an enormous religious movement that has even started to attract human worshipers.
Radovan's Principality in the Interior Sea was built around trade. Trade from East to West, North to South, and of course with the City of Helion. Since Radovan's religion emphasizes the eternal journey, trade is an act of sacrament, and the pious constantly travel from port to port, following an endless trail of demand, supply, and surplus. Profit is, of course, a happy byproduct.
Overseeing all of this trade is Old Radovan himself. His ships, and those who swear loyalty to his fleet, bear the Seven Spoked Wheel as their banner, a guarantee of protection from pirates, justice for the weak, and swift death for the wicked
He looks to be in his mid-40s, going a bit gray in the hair, and given that he spends most of his time in the jacuzzi these days he's not exactly Mr. Universe. Still, he's handsome enough. The ears are serious head-turners for Zells, though. Almost nobody makes it to an advanced age like that--most of them end up being struck by lightning or decapitated by a boom after a bad tack long before them.
=== The Vortex ===
Radovan's ship, called The Vortex, is an enormous vessel that has over time absorbed several others. It sits immobile but ever-turning, a sort of floating port of call for vessels, and the heart of his merchant empire.
In the depths of this enormous fortress-ship can be found the old man's court, a smoky hall heavy with incense, where visitors may request a boon from the Prince, express their grievances, or offer their services. Radovan himself spends most of his time in his "throne," which is in fact a great bronze tub, in which scented water and medicines are heated for him to bathe in. He is attended by a small legion of serving girls, who braid his hair, heat the water to his liking, massage oil into his muscles, firecup his shoulders, and keep his enormous ears from touching the water so that they do not get cold.
The rest of the court is a network of pools, sluices, and baths, where Radovan's many children spend their time playing in sight of their father, and where favored servants and petitioners are permitted to be tormented by the young ones as they wait for their turn to speak to the Prince.
It might still be able to move, but it hasn't been tried in a century. Abnormally, Radovan's control of the ship is incredible, probably a byproduct of his age and his long relationship with the vessel. It's the point that he can quite visibly control the actions of the vessel--opening doors or windows, pulling out chairs for visitors, etc. The most hostile action the ship will take unbidden against a visitor is to occasionally untie their shoes when they aren't looking, or snag a pant leg in passing.
Ladies are also advised not to wear laced garments--the ship has a bit too much of the old man in it.
Category:People