Stephan Brante

## Summary

*"Robert Brante's son from his first marriage and a noble by birth. From a young age he has been striving to be first in all things and demonstrate his superiority to the Family" - In-game description of Stephan*

Stephan Brante is a noble by birth. His father is Robert Brante, and his mother is Amalia El Borne, a noblewoman of the Sword. This makes him have the inherited position of a Nobleman of the Sword, unlike your father or yourself. She suffered True Death after giving birth to Stephan, and the player never meets her. You are the half-brother of Stephan Brante, sharing the same father.

From the beginning of your life, Stephan considers himself superior to you, and everyone else in the family, for he is the only one who never suffers the commoner's Lot. He is a proud, foolhardy boy, who takes any opportunity to remind those around them that his blood means more.

## Relationships

### The Brante Family

#### **Sir Brante**

Stephan's relationship with you is adaptable and changes based on the actions you take and the choices you make. Generally, however, he is inclined to see you as lesser than him, because you suffer the commoner's Lot in life by birth. It is easiest to connect with Stephan if you work to become a Noble of the Mantle. Only then does Stephan truly consider you to be his equal. In many ways, he is influenced by your shared Grandfather, Sir Gregor Brante, who shares the sentiment that Stephan is superior to you and your siblings.

#### **Robert Brante**

Robert Brante is Stephan Brante's father. At first, Stephan is sympathetic to Robert and treats him with affection. However, in the year 1124, Stephan is whisked away by Gregor Brante to study in Eterna and live with him. Gregor insists that Robert Brante is not providing a good education for Stephan, and is a bad influence on him. After he returns some years later, Stephan reacts to his father with icy hostility and indifference, siding with his grandfather in most matters, including harboring great resentment for his father for ruining their chances at ennoblement by the Sword. Despite this, Stephan holds a modicum of respect for his father as the patriarch of the family as is customary for nobles, but he finds every opportunity to criticize his decisions both the past and the present.

#### **Lydia Brante**

Lydia Brante is not related to Stephan by blood, but up until Grandfather's influence, he considers her to be his mother, and acts as such. Lydia Brante and Stephan met when he was three years old. After Stephan studies in Eterna, Stephan and Lydia's relationship takes a sharp turn. He begins to greet her as 'Lydia Brante' as opposed to 'Mother' as he did before. He reacts to her with the same cold hostility that he demonstrates to Robert. Stephan resents Lydia for ruining the family's chances at being ennobled by the Sword and ruining the family's reputation by marrying Robert. In later scenes, it is clear that Stephan still holds some warmth for his step-mother that he conceals from the world.

#### **Gloria Brante**

Stephan has always treated Gloria harshly. When they were children, he teased her for being a commoner and indulging in poetry. In Childhood, until Grandfather takes Stephan to the capital during the year 1124, they would play together and shared a bond of siblinghood. After Stephan goes to the capital, he refuses to acknowledge Gloria's presence at all, and if he does, it is to criticize her or start a fight. He heavily resents Gloria, not only for being a bastard child, but for also holding rebellious tendencies and following flights of fancy that are not within the Commoner's Lot, like poetry and the arts. Their polarized views of the world quickly drive them apart, and they are constantly at ends with each other. Gloria's personality is as strong as Stephan's is, making them perfect enemies.

#### **Nathan Brante**

Stephan holds Nathan in contempt, and generally has no sympathy for him, considering him downtrodden and useless. Most of Stephan's time spent with Nathan happens after Grandfather influences the young Stephan, so his views of the boy are influenced by Grandfather's view of the world. Nathan does not carry any of the attributes that he considers to be required among nobles, so he rejects every part of him. They fight less often than Gloria and Stephan do only because Nathan is highly non-confrontational and aloof, and something in Stephan holds an ounce of respect for their blood relation.

#### **Gregor Brante**

Stephan is by far closest to his grandfather and mirrors his ideals and sentiments nearly exactly. He was heavily influenced, and some might consider him brainwashed, by his time with Grandfather in Eterna during childhood. Stephan, like Grandfather, wants nothing more than to be ennobled by the sword. He resents his family's decisions and views Robert's marriage with Lydia in disgrace and contempt.

### Other Characters

Stephan generally spends time with unnamed noble friends and associates, and when he is at home, he keeps to himself or fights with Gloria. He has mostly good relationships with all nobles, it seems, forming an instant bond with them over what he believes is a shared superiority.

If you are able to secure the requirements to unlock the "Stephan's Disgrace" Subplot, you will learn that in adolescence, he is having a secret affair with the already engaged Maria El Velasco, a noble of the Sword from a family far more prestigious than yours.