Heath Romanov

*His sister was the Queen of the entire kingdom and he was the spawn of a family richer than the gods. It was, unfortunately, Heath's burden to bear and he frequently chose to bear it at the bottom of a barrel of rum.*

## Biographical Information

### Also known as

* The Traitor Knight
* The Golden God

## Physical Information

### Distinctive features

Sandy hair, handsome, a large, flower-shaped scar on his chest

## Relationship Information

### Family members

* Sir Gabriella Skorn-Romanov (wife)
* Serena Helen Romanov (daughter)
* Darion Uther Romanov (son)
* Queen Elsinore Romanov-Black (sister)
* King Daniel Black (brother-in-law)
* Prince Vincent Black (nephew)
* Princess Cassiopeia Black (niece)
* Princess Luca Black (niece)
* Princess Isadora Black (niece)

### Loyalty

* House Romanov
* House Black
* Kingdom of the North Shore

### Occupation

Head Knight

Sir **Heath Kristoffer Romanov**, Head Knight of the North Shore, former Head Knight of Feyshore. He is a part of the illustrious and affluent House Romanov. He is best known for betraying King Cleburn Ramsalot and allowing for the Fall of Feyshore. He now resides in Castle Black in the North Shore. He is one of the most infamous knights in Marin, as well as the most talented swordsman.

## Biography

### Early Life

Heath Romanov was the third child born to Lord Nicholas and Lady Cora Romanov on the Peninsula of Trent. Belonging to one of the wealthiest families in all of Marin, Heath grew up very privileged in a manor that rivaled Castle Ramsalot. His father served as the Head Knight to King Ramsalot, carrying on the tradition of the position that Romanov men held for over a century. Heath was incredibly close with his older siblings, Aleksandr (Aleks) and Elsinore (Elle). The children rarely saw their father during their early years, as he spent the majority of the year down in Stormalong to be near the king. Their mother provided little to no supervision, often drinking until she fell into a coma by the time dusk fell.

By the time Aleks, nearly four years Heath's senior, became a teenager, Lord Romanov decided that it was time to relocate the family down to Stormalong so that he could focus on training Aleks to become Feyshore's next Head Knight. Heath would accompany his father and older brother during their training sessions. Unfortunately for Aleks, he was quite uncoordinated with a sword. Heath, on the other hand, excelled during the lessons. Lord Romanov grew more and more frustrated with Aleks' lack of talent and eventually, disinvited him to training sessions. Impressed with his youngest son's skill, Lord Romanov focused all of his energy on training Heath. Aleks was incredibly hurt by their father's disregard, though he never voiced his true feelings.

## Notable Affairs

### Lady Gabriella Skorn

Sir Heath met Lady Gabriella Skorn at age 21 when they were knights together in Feyshore. He had a general distaste for her, as he found her brutish and feral due to her Northern roots and wolf-like appearance. She found him to be arrogant and 'too-pretty' for a man.

The night of his death, Heath and Gabriella found themselves drinking together at the *Golden Fleece* tavern. Upon leaving, Heath suggested they the frozen pond within *Queen Charlotte's Grove.* They walked together to the middle of the frozen pond and sat down, talking for a long while. Eventually, Heath's nose began to bleed and she used her sleeve to clean his blood. They almost kissed and, uncomfortably, Heath suggested they leave. Gabriella invited him back to her house and he gladly accepted, saying that he would meet her there soon. She went home and he was killed that night before he could go see her again.

It was at his funeral that Lady Gabriella realized that she was in love with Heath.

A few weeks later, Sir Heath Romanov was reanimated and Lady Gabriella confessed her love to him. He reciprocated her feelings and they began an intense relationship. They fought side by side in many battles and spent their free time cliff-diving and swimming in the sea. Their relationship was volatile at times, due to Gabriella's short temper and affinity for violence. When Gabriella's older brother, Aksel Skorn, found out about her relationship with a Southerner, he became enraged and beat Gabriella mercilessly. Heath arrived home and interceded, further infuriating Aksel. Aksel challenged Heath to a fight to the death, as was custom in the Grizzly Isles when a man is dishonored. Heath agreed, realizing that it was the only way for him to be with Gabriella. Heath went on to kill Aksel and was free to propose to Gabriella at the age of 23.

Sir Heath was becoming increasingly busy with work, as King Cleburn demanded more and more of his attention. Heath worried about Cleburn's declining mental state and was further conflicted when Gabriella announced that she was pregnant. Heath decided that he did not want his family to suffer under a mad king and became involved in the plot to kill King Cleburn. Gabriella supported his decision and on the day of their wedding, The Fall of Feyshore began. Their daughter, Serena Helen Romanov, was born that night. They fled to Taemar and lived there for 8 years. They had a second child, a son called Darion Uther Romanov, during their time there. Heath mainly raised the children on his own, as Gabriella went off to fight with the paladins and only came home for two or three months every year. Their marriage became strained due to their extensive time apart.

Eventually, Queen Elsinore Romanov-Black of the North Shore eventually asked her brother to come and serve them as Head Knight. Heath, who had grown bored of his provincial life and longed for the day to be a knight again, gladly accepted and relocated his family to the North Shore. They moved into Castle Black, where they currently live. Gabriella moved back to the Grizzly Isles to fight with her family over a land war. She eventually was captured and enslaved, though Heath was told that she had died. During this time, Heath and Anyanka Durkhan reignited their old flame and slept together many times. Heath felt an overwhelming amount of guilt due to moving on so quickly after his wife had died. However, he justified his actions because of his love for Anyanka.

Gabriella freed herself from enslavement and arrived in the North Shore, much to Heath's surprise. He confessed to her about his affair with Anyanka and she was heartbroken. She confided in him that she missed their family and that she did not want him to leave her. Upon seeing how happy their children were to have their mother back, Heath decided to stay married to Gabriella. They reconciled and live permanently in the North Shore.

### Emma Grey

Emma Grey was the sister of Sir Grey, a knight under Heath in Feyshore. When Heath was 20 years of age, he got drunk after a night in the *Golden Fleece* tavern. He met Emma and they decided to go home together for a brief fling. They did not keep up communication afterwards.

Roughly a year later, after being imprisoned for the Mire genocide, Sir Grey came up to visit Heath with a baby girl in his arms. He presented the girl to Heath as his daughter, a result of his tryst with Emma. Heath held her for a few moments before asking Sir Grey to take her away. Shortly after, Sir Grey committed suicide and Heath never saw the baby girl ever again.

### Princess Gwendolyn Ramsalot

Princess Gwendolyn Ramsalot was a princess of Feyshore and one of King Cleburn's older daughters. She was absolutely, head-over-heels in love with Sir Heath. She did everything in her power to stalk him and spent all of her free time obsessing over him. She forced herself upon him on multiple occasions. Heath was never interested in her, nor did he humor her insanity.

She eventually died after proclaiming her undying love for Sir Heath and leaping headfirst off a tall tree. To Heath's delight, she broke her neck and was instantly dead.

### Queen Charlotte Ramsalot

When Sir Heath was first given his position as Head Knight of Feyshore, he promised himself that he would never do anything to jeopardize his standing. As a boy of just 17 years of age, he was the youngest Head Knight to have ever served House Ramsalot.

It was not long before the young knight caught Queen Charlotte Ramsalot's eye. Heath hesitated slightly, finding it in poor taste to sleep with the king's wife. However, he eventually relented and started an affair with the queen of Feyshore that lasted up until she tragically died.

King Cleburn reported that Queen Charlotte died by getting sucked off her balcony by a passing cyclone, though there are whisperers of foul play. On his worst nights, Heath wonders if Cleburn found out about their affair and murdered her for her infidelity. He remains incredibly guilty, as he and Cleburn became good friends during the years he served.

### Kirah

Kirah was a prisoner in Feyshore's Temper Mortis when Heath was 19 years of age. She was a beautiful woman who, in an act of predictable psychosis, set her house on fire. The knights called to the scene found Kirah laughing on her front lawn as her children burned to death inside the house. She was sentenced to death, awaiting execution in Temper Mortis.

Heath first met her while depositing a prisoner in the cell adjacent to hers. She taunted him from behind her bars every time she saw him. He grew to become quite fond of her.

On the eve of her death, she kissed Heath and he realized his true feelings for her. At dawn, he walked her to her pyre in front of an angry crowd. They shared one last kiss as she was tied to the stake and Heath set her alight, not looking away as she burned. He was haunted for some time by her image.

He often thinks back about her, occasionally believing that she was the only woman whom he ever truly loved.

### Meredith Davies

When Heath was just 14 years of age, he had his first affair with a maid at Romanov Manor. She was a woman of 35, significantly older than him. His mother, a woman who spent most of her days in a wine-induced hazed, never came close to finding out what was happening in her home. It wasn't until a year later that Lord Nicholas Romanov discovered the maid's relationship with his son. Unbeknownst to Heath, Lord Nicholas had Meredith hanged deep in the forest.

Heath would later realize that the string of broken affairs that consumed his adult life were due in part to Meredith taking advantage of him at such a young age.

## Appearance

Heath possesses the classic Romanov features of sandy locks, golden skin, and straight teeth. He has the unmistakeable air of a noble. He tends to wear his hair on the longer side, keeping it elegantly shaggy. He has a slightly crooked, devilish smile. His entire life, he has been lauded for being exceptionally handsome. He was lanky while growing up and had a lazy gait. With maturity, he became more poised. He towers over the average Feyorian, standing at 6'3''. Prior to his death, he tended to have an easy-going look to his face.

His body is battle-scarred, the most notable being the large, five-petaled flower on the middle of his chest.

### Post-Death

After his death, Heath Romanov came back with darkened eye-bags and a distinct tiredness. His eyes are shrouded with a permanent sadness. He lost a bit of his muscle-mass and his face is slightly more gaunt. He is rarely clean-shaven. He is still considered handsome in a darker way, though most agree that he is past the golden gleam of his youth.

## Notable Quotes

-*“Would it be in poor taste to light up a cigarette about now?” Sir Heath Romanov mumbled from the far back of the crowd.*

-*"I'm a married man, Cecilia... I only whored when I thought my wife was dead," he said, taking a swig from his mug. "Do you like the location I chose? I wanted to find a place where I was certain I wouldn't be recognized with the likes of you."*

-*"You'll chose the location over my fucking dead body. I'm sorry, but I would rather not catch up with you in the forest while you gorge yourself on a bear carcass. Never again," he muttered, trying with all his might not to relive the scene.*

-*"I hoped that you would have at least had some semblance of an afterlife," Heath lamented, swirling the remaining rum in its bottle. "I saw an infinite darkness. I didn't even get a good story out of my death. People tend to be very disappointed," he smiled wryly, almost finding it humorous.*

-*"I am a bit like I used to be, yes. I can't eat much now, I feel nauseous unless I'm drinking, I think I may be less funny... Though Ella claims I was never funny in the first place so that may not count. I get sadder, some days. I never used to get sad. However, that may just be a result of seeing the things I've seen. I suppose I can't blame death for all of my issues." He set the bottle down beside his chair and ran his hand over the stubble on his chin. He figured he should have given Mikhail some good news. "But, I still feel happiness. Quite often, in fact... “*

-*"The Romanovs are a licentious bunch, I'll admit to that, but we can proudly say that not one of us has ever had any desire to lie with a subhuman. We've never had to resort to that. It's our divine bloody right," Heath said with a good-natured scoff.*

-*"I fucking hate it here," Heath muttered.*