Lucièn Lafayette

### Other Titles

King of Vesryn and the Astran IslesProtector of the Dominions Arcadia et Astria, Khairys and the Orient

Count of Amareins

### Died

1606 I.E, Caerle, Vesryn *(shot by Ombralya Zovyrin)*

## Game Information

### Appearances

An Esrian Tale III: Dragon's LegacyAn Esrian Tale IV: Wrath of the World Beyond

### Played by

JacquefischNPC

**Emperor Lucièn I of Vesryn**, formerly **Lucièn Lafayette de Amareins**, was a powerful Astanién human, and later demi-celestial, with the ability to control time at will. He was the first sovereign of the Empire of Greater Vesryn, having ascended to the throne of the former kingdom in 1417 B.E.

In the early years of the Blessed Era, he was a former thief turned adventurer who rose to prominence as one of the five heroes responsible for driving back the Asevian Invasion. During this time, he made use of strengths such as the unique temporal power granted to him by the Dragon's Legacy in order to achieve his goals.

He went on to travel through Astria, directly working against the plans of the Asevian Legion of Ash. During this time, he plotted his return to Vesryn. He later enacted these plans with the full support of the Vesryne army.

After the defeat of Empress Escha Artaryan at the Battle of the Aldmarch Plains, Lucièn was confronted by the Angel Epheriel. Denying the fate assigned to him by Heaven, he used his powers to overpower the unaware celestial and ultimately kill her. Absorbing her energies further amplified the celestial powers of his blood, and ultimately paved the way for his immortality.

He later became ruler of the Empire of Greater Vesryn. After Aidan Reyne created tarot magic, Lucièn became bound to The World, a major arcana. This, and the celestial influence on his blood, helped him become aware of further powers yet unlocked.

As Emperor, Lucièn's personality became much more sober. He spent much time in the Hall of Mirrors at Griffon's Rest, attempting to unlock the powers of the world.

## Information

### Personality

Lucièn had a great degree of pride, and felt his entire life as if he was denied a childhood by the enemies who destroyed his family. He was easily driven to anger by that fact, and maturing without any strong parental figures, he was driven by a desire for revenge for his entire life. As such, he lacked a great deal of sympathy for those who stood against him, and routinely committed heinous acts of dishonour in combat. He valued revenge as one of his highest virtues, and was known to bore no insult, often to his discredit.

Lucièn at and early age was deeply religious, but as he grew up he took on a mindset of cynicism and sometimes hatred towards the Church of the Heavens, although he would never admit it to any of his companions.

### Appearance

Despite his flaws, Lucièn was well-trained. He handled a dueling sword with an alacrity that struck fear into the hearts of lesser men. Although it was never recorded or documented, he was one of the best duelists of his time, aided by his time controlling powers later on during his life. He was agile and stealthy, and most important of all, moved with an unnatural grace granted to him by the presence of heavenly blood somewhere in his ancestry. Long forgotten, those powers aided the direct descendants of the Lafayette line.

## History

### Early Life and Adventuring (1389 B.E - 1416 B.E)

#### Childhood

Lucièn came from the once Royal House of Lafayette. Over a century ago, the family came into Vesryne politics through a marriage to the royal house of Venhorn. Their sons and daughters grew to inherit the throne in 1330 C.E, albeit being an Astanien house. Under the rule of Lucièn's grandfather, King Henri I Lafayette, Vesryn saw expansion into the lands of Arcadia and Khairys. However, he was betrayed by his advisors, who sought the return of a leader of Vesryne origins. As such, the entire house was systematically assassinated, and anti-monarchist sentiments were stirred up by the conspirators. After the death of Henri I by violent revolt, the first line of the de Laurelay dynasty inherited the throne. All of the Lafayettes were butchered, save the youngest daughter of the dynasty, Hélène.

She lived in exile, escaping to Saint-Astan where she lived under the radar for 40 years, before marrying matrilineally to an Astanien noble from Amareins, Acelet de Maine. By him, Lucièn was born. He did not learn of his ancestry until the age of 15, when his mother was tracked down by enemies of the house. She was assassinated, although the perpetrators did not find Lucièn or his father. Taking ownership of the personal effects of his dynasty, Lucièn vowed one day to return to the lands of Vesryn, and seize his birthright. He vowed that no-one would stop him from doing so.

#### El Deya and the lands of the sun

Lucièn left the lands of Saint-Astan far behind, and at the age of 26 years old, he set off southwards. Narrowly escaping pursuit by those who would wish to end his family line, he went southwards through the lands of the Orcs, fighting and stealing his way to the city of Narantuya. From there, he sailed to Agria in Medira, and then to Astrega, in Angarra. His journeys took him southwards in the company of a mercenary band called the Bronzeskulls, led by a particularly fierce man of Vesryn. Under him, Lucièn learnt much about his ancestral homeland, including their culture and ways. As the band marched its way south, they found employment under the territory of Khairys. Lucièn, however, did not see the appeal in being tied down as regular soldiers. He took what little pay he had accrued and headed east, arriving in the town of Masara, in El Deya. It was there that he was enlisted by a local provisioner by the name of Zarak Al-Ahmad. He was enlisted by the man to help with the raiding of the Tomb of Marratan, a local tomb.

There he met with new friends, and enemies. He became familiar with other adventurers, Gabrielle Moreau, another Astanién nomad, whom Lucièn would grow to know intimately for a while, as well as Theobold Cagus, a simple but well-meaning Half-dragon turned adventurer. Other members of his party included Tark Zelhardt, a missionary heralding from Leoben and fighter loyal to the Church of the Heavens, as well as a wandering Temirian nomad by the name of Ishka Vural Yasar, whom Lucièn almost instantly came to hate.

At the tomb, the group were given powers by a mysterious blue orb found within the tomb. It unlocked within them latent powers that had never manifested themselves before, and in Lucièn's case, the orb helped him to control the flow of time with ease. The tomb later revealed itself to have been transformed into a gigantic colossus of stone following a tremendous burst of chaotic magical aether, and the party slew the creature outside the town, although this deed seemed too far-fetched for the local townsmen who refused to believe that they had killed the beast. Zarak Al-Ahmad, however, was present and as such completely believed in them. In the following week, he gave them jobs and tasks to do on his behalf, including venturing into the Crypt of Khalif Afira.

#### Followed by the Legion of Ash

In 1416 B.E, the mountains to the east erupted in brimstone and fire. Spewing forth from the peaks of the mountains were countless volcanoes. The town of Masara was ordered by local adventurers to evacuate. Amidst the panicked refugees, Lucièn watched as the Legion of Ash introduced themselves to the world. Attacking the town in droves, they fell upon the guards and adventurers who stayed behind to protect the fleeing refugees. It was at this time that the Asevian Empress revealed herself to the party, who barely managed to fight her off. The timely arrival of the Arrow, a restored Vesryne warship, allowed Lucièn and his party to escape, though at the loss of Zarak.

Heading north, Lucièn and the party were chased by a gargantuan dragon known as the Mountain Tyrant. Narrowly escaping with the help of the orb, they were shifted through time and space to the lands of Leoben, to the island-parish of Endehegen. There they met with many different peasants who had been stranded in the parish due to a travel ban instituted by the Earl on behalf of the Duke of Rynburg. They were soon found and taken to the Earl by his personal guards. Despite initial reservations, Lucièn found that the Earl wanted them to discover what was really going on with the Duke, and recieved a writ of travel for his worries. With a bag load of a cash, the writ and a newly fixed ship, the party set off westwards, making their way to the coastal city of Leneheim, once known as the Jewel of Leoben.

There he became involved deeply in the affairs of his Leobische companion Tark Zelhardt, who he later learned was the rightful heir to the Duchy of Rynburg. Deciding to help the man, he decided to carry on his affiliation with the group. After discovering the survival of a certain Sir Elmar Beck, the group was tasked with infiltrating a party and finding Herrard Falk, a guest hiding loyalties to the House of Leverenz. Whilst at the party, Lucièn encountered three members of the Royal Air Arm, including the current Sky Marshal at the time. He met secretly with them somewhere away from the rest of the party to discuss the future. However, these negotiations would not have any effect until later.

However, after capturing Herrard Falk, the group realised that they had been too slow. The Legion of Ash had landed on the shores of Leoben just two days behind them, and was already destroying every spot of resistance in their way. Lucièn travelled with the others on his airship to the Duchy of Rynburg, where he negotiated with the Duke to use his men against the enemy he had once served. Whilst preparing the defences, Lucièn found resistance in the form of Sir Elmar Beck, who had escaped Leneheim with a small train of soldiers and refugees, intending to go to the mountains. Lucièn, who had already conscripted the townsfolk into the Duke's army, refused to allow Elmar and his much-needed men to leave. The old man was insistent, and backed up by the words of Tark Zelhardt, decided to leave. Lucièn could not let it happen, and instead used his powers to blur time, ramming his sword through Elmar and killing him. A fight ensued between him and Tark, and although it did not end in blood, Tark did not take it well. One of his father's closest confidants was dead, and Lucièn had blood on his hands.