Ruven Malthen

Ruven Malthen is a High Elven nobleman, living in the city of Parnos. He is the husband of Arryn and father to Venali, Idril and Aerith.

## Biographical Information

### Relatives

Arryn Malthen, Venali Malthen, Idril Malthen, Aerith Malthen

### Empoyment

Elven Ambassador to Royal Court in Parnos

## Description

### Appearance

He is 5ft 10, though generally hunched over a little. His golden skin is now marked with small veins and his blue eyes are often slightly bloodshot. He is overweight and walks slowly. His silver hair has thinned and he wears both make up and a wig to formal events at Court.

### Personality and Alignment

Ruven is Lawful Evil in alignment. He is manipulative and power hungry. He seeks to control those around him for maximal personal gain.

### Religion

Publicly Reuven follows The Church of Light but has no religious affiliation and sees those who do as weak. He attends religious festivals to ensure he retains connections to the powerful elements within the church.

## Skills and Traits

He is a master negotiator, smoothly spoken and persuasive. When required he can be intimidating and has a great feel for exactly how a situation is evolving and how to manoeuvre for maximum effect.

### Languages Spoken

Elvish
Common
Dwarvish
Draconic
Tabaxi
Undercommon

### Armour / Clothing

He is normally seen in fine robes, usually made to measure by the halfling merchant store, Sew and Tell. He prefers robes in rich deep colours edged with gold. He owns ceremonial chainmail armour, embossed with the Malthen family crest but rarely wears this.

### Weapons

Ruven rarely carries weapons and was poor with most martial weapons as a youth, preferring instead books and politics. He carries a slim dagger for personal protection.

## Treasure / Prize Possessions

He has a significant wealth and many expensive gems and items in precious metals.

## Relationships

### Family

He was born to noble parents and was an only child.
He is married to Arryn, although she has currently disappeared. He has three children, Venali, Idril and Aerith.

### Allies

It is unclear who he considers allies. Anyone who can advance his personal career or is otherwise useful.

### Enemies

He has no overt enemies, always being careful in his manipulation.

### Animals and Familiars

Ruven has no animals and has a particular dislike of horses. He rarely if ever rides and usually uses carriages where possible.

## History

Ruven was born, in 19,593, to noble parents and has always lived in the city of Parnos. He has never travelled and spent almost all his younger years in the company of other noble elves.
He was brought up to be proud of his lineage which he was taught by rote as a young child. The family traced their descent back to the House Ilbaereth and maintained the Ilbaereth crest of a pegasus rearing over 6 wands. The clearest memory of his childhood was of reciting the names of his ancestors and getting a swift slap for any errors.

From an early age Ruven had a talent for enterprise and used his skills to make money. As a young student he bought and sold the services of his most intelligent peers to write papers and complete assignments for others who had the money to pay for this service. He used the money he made from this scheme to invest in Finbul Nitas and his shop, Sew and Tell. Ruven helped him develop his business, importing furs from the dwarves, hides and pelts from the dragonborn, goliaths and lizardfolk and beautiful silks from the tabaxi and human traders who visited the city.

Ruven had a rare talent for negotiating and built a reputation as the "man to deal with" with traders around Randore. In addition to buying the textiles he also used his noble contacts to generate a market for the products, allowing Finbul to sell the wares at a grossly inflated price. Sew and Tell became the premier textile shop in Parnos and attracted business from all over The Far East. Finbul became a wealthy halfling as a result, but Ruven seemed to benefit disproportionately from the relationship. Finbul's younger brother was suspicious of Ruven's integrity as a business partner but Finbul would hear nothing against him and forbade his brother from interfering.

Ruven began to use his contacts in with the traders to more political gain as he entered his 180th year. Already extremely wealthy he developed a hunger for power and influence and the prestige that came with high office. He had Finbul make a beautiful gown for the Queen of Parnos and delivered it to the palace with his respects as a gift. An audience quickly followed. The King and Queen of Parnos were impressed by the confidant elf who seemed to have great knowledge of The Old East, its people and trade. He suggested that the success he had within the trading people could be expanded to other trades with the aim of making Parnos a centre of trade in Randore.

His confidence led the King to name him lead trade negotiator for the crown and challenged him to double the Royal Treasury within the year. Even for Ruven this task seemed insurmountable, the Royal coffers were already rich. However he set to work with both guile and ruthlessness. His first action was to sever all trade with the Dwarven weaponsmiths and armourers, causing an immediate incident. He met with the head of the Dwarven armourers guild and riled him with his disdain and evident contempt for their workmanship, citing Elven craftsmanship as far superior.

After several bottles of whiskey and some angry exchanges, he then offered the Dwarves a challenge - to make the most impressive weapons and armour ever seen in Randore and to sell them for a 200% profit with half going to the crown. If they could succeed in doing this for 3-months he would name them Royal Armourers of Parnos and help sell their crafts across the World via his trade connections. The dwarves were keen to make this arrogant elf eat his words and sold their wares for an even greater profit. Ruven simply inclined his head and acknowledged what skills they must have.

Similar tactics were employed amongst the other guilds and trades and soon Parnos was a city of inconceivable wealth. The King, who had doubted Ruven's ability, made him Ambassador of the Elven People, the highest political office in The Old East at that time.

One day in his 201st year Ruven went hunting with a party of low level traders whom he felt obliged to entertain on occasion. The goliath, tabaxi and human merchants had no skill and Ruven felt it unlikely that they would neither catch anything, nor be in any danger. As they crashed through the forests drinking and laughing it had more the feel of a walk home from the tavern than a hunt.

Things went well with small deals being made and new contacts exchanged, until one evening the camp was encircled by a pack of wolves. None of the merchants stood a chance and they were slain in short order. Ruven had a moment of fear when suddenly an arrow struck the chest of the large lead wolf who was jumping towards him. from nowhere a female elf appeared, shooting flaming arrows and driving off the remaining pack.

Ruven began to load the carcass onto a cart. He intended to return to Parnos with tales of besting the wolf and avenging the merchants who were so sadly killed. When the female elf returned to the camp Ruven was suddenly subsumed by the need to posses her. He had never had a relationship and this beautiful young elf had to be his. He promised her riches and a life beyond her wildest dreams and she followed him, as he had expected her to.

Ruven quickly realised that [[Arryn]]'s skills would be useful in entertaining and winning over more challenging targets. He used her as another technique in his arsenal to gain an ever widening circle of influence.

Arryn quickly fell pregnant and although initially angry, Ruven saw the value in a "softer" more "family man" appearance, so wed Arryn immediately. The wedding was a state affair with visitors from across Randore and street parties in Parnos for several days. Ruven was not displeased with the birth of a fine elven son and hoped to develop him, much as he had been developed as a child.

He was less happy, however, when Venali showed little aptitude for books or politics, preferring instead to ride and hunt with his mother. He was almost incandescent however when his daughter Idril was born. It was apparent to Ruven that Idril was not of his blood. With her wild red hair and green eyes the court gossip about his wife's fidelity was like a constant knife in Ruven's side. Despite this Arryn was beloved by Parnos, both court and commoners. She had a gentleness that he lacked and her skills gained him influence where he had not previously been able to gain traction. This was worth enough to Ruven to continue his marriage and accept his daughter.

The birth of Aerith was completely different. The child looked like him but beautiful and radiant. The clerics immediately confirmed that she was angel touched as evidenced by the mark on her arm. He had fathered an angel child and the event proved to him that the superiority of his ancestry and lineage was the truth. Aerith was the child that made Ruven a father and she was the first person he had ever loved. The feeling unnerved him a little but he saw redemption in her innocence and unquestioning trust.

On the day that Aerith vanished, Ruven's world imploded. His redemption had gone and Idril was responsible for the loss. He could no longer conceal his feelings towards her, the hatred of her as evidence of Arryn's betrayal. He banished her from the house and she took refuge in the temple of Corellon and Huwl. This served to rub salt into the open wounds as her acceptance into the church was further evidence that she was not his child.

Despite searching and using all his contacts and power, Ruven was unable to find Aerith and his life moved on as an empty husk of its former self. He continued his work but without the energy and drive of previous years and Arryn seemed to retreat within herself and fall away.

One day he returned and the house was empty. Aerith remained lost; Venali had long since left, since joining the royal guard; Idril he neither knew nor cared and now Arryn had gone. For the first time Ruven wept. He wept for Aerith. He wept for himself.

Ruven is now 531 years and continues to work in his ambassadorial role, as he has no idea of how to be anything else. He drinks too much wine and can often be seen with Falben Nitas, a long descendent of Finbul, playing cards and dice.