Augustine Vincendius

## Overview

**Augustine Vincendius** is the employer and supposed friend of Justice Serpineheit and Lord of Turlock, hometown of Dimitri Montaine. He is an ambitious Nornish Lord with considerable political power and authority, particularly over affairs of Nornish Law. After his confrontation with Justice in Irode, it became clear that this authority was achieved and maintained through manipulation, morally questionable deeds, and sacrifice. However, just *how* much Augustine is willing to sacrifice for his goals remains to be seen.

## Description

### Appearance

Augustine is a tall imposing tiefling-elvish man with pale ashy white skin and somewhat greasy loose burgundy hair. He has pointed elvish ears, pointed teeth, and thick horns extending upwards from his forehead, decorated with extravagant red and gold jewelry. The tips of his horns are red. He is typically depicted wearing a purple long sleeved shirt over white lace, and a flourishing jabot. However, as a Nornish noble, he wears different sets of lavish clothing every day, as per high society tradition. He also a black and red cape with golden shoulder-sets that he wears when he walks outside. He wears ankle boots with flat heels.

### Personality

Augustine is a very solitary and methodical man. He is cautious, borderline paranoid, and keeps even his closest allies at a distance. This behaviour likely arose from a background/his experience in Nornish political intrigue.

He seems to have a passion and 'vision' for the Nornish Empire, which he shares with Justice. He likes to collect magical artifacts and many arcane knick knacks can be found on display in his office cabinets. He can often be seen enjoying a fine glass of wine, and has a particular preference for wine from the southern villages of the empire, a niche luxury. He has a flair for the dramatic and a good sense of fashion, something one needs to be affluent in nornish noble society. The halls of his office are gothic-architecture.

### Notable Items

* His pink crystal ball, suspected to be his arcane focus
* A note from Justice, describing his children and asking his help in discovering their fate

## Relationships

### Justice Serpineheit

> “I am truly glad to see you safe. You know, I was worried about you. Can you believe that?”
>
> “My friend of 12 years, concerned for me? No, I don’t think I can.”
>
>

### Z

> "Ah... Zassime. I should have slit her throat, not her tongue."
>
>

He appears to feel antagonism towards his sister. She certainly hates him in turn, but whether this mutual dislike/hatred originated from their childhood, or more recently, is unknown. Yet, their last meeting clearly had a lasting effect on him, enhancing his paranoia and distrust, as well as likely pushing him further down the deep end. He seemed extremely bothered by her (likely wordless) pity, perhaps because it cast doubt on his methods and bared him as pathetic in her eyes.

## Trivia

* He was designed with upwards horns because it was easier for his designer to draw

## Quotes

* "When have I ever lied to you Justice?"
* "I was going to dig into the dragon knight, but he has a surprisingly well protected mind." - To Justice
* "It could be a figure just manipulating you. Showing you what you wanted to see. Who were these people that you lost? *Friends*?" - To Justice
* ".........Ah.. Zassime," \**bitter laugh\** "I should have cut her throat, not her tongue." - To Justice
* "It was for your own good. I wouldn't want to take away that hope of yours." - To Justice
* "...I didn't know you had children, Justice."
* "Do you know what the council is like? What it's *really* like?" - To Justice
* "Ah yes. I'd heard about this. It was said a beast had broken into the bakery, savaged a girl, and eaten a boy. The girl's father was quite upset she was killed and wanted the boy's parents hung from the gallows, but I intervened and said one child lost for another child - it's a morbid equality." - To Dimitri
* "He knew so much. I do not know how. I hoped to deal with it without the council knowing, but the council always finds out. They always know. When I voted yes, I thought they would simply kill him. I did not know they would kill his children, his wife, the district. If I had known, I... would have still said yes. But if I had known that it would hurt you, maybe I would have reconsidered." - To Justice
* ""You know my sister. She'd come by. I heard she'd been ousted from the echoes for knowing too much. She was there, that night, in my office, looking through my things. She looked at me with such pity. Such *pity*." - To Justice
* "Why would anyone want that kind of power? For control. If you don't have a voice, to gain power, you just take the voice of someone else. The power to decide, to put words in someone's mouth, to control everything. What else?" - To Justice, regarding the Helm of Domination
* “Yes. I… I should have told you more, Justice. You’re the most trustworthy person I know."
* "Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to get what you want." - To Justice
* "He does what is best for the Empire, which is coincidentally what is best for him." - To Justice, regarding Portsin
* "There were times I wished I'd let you keep it too." - To Justice
* "Just give me the bottle, Serpineheit."
* “Augustine is fine. Lord Vincendius is too formal. Lord Augustine if we are in the presence of other lords.” - To Dimitri
* “I-I’ve done a terrible thing… I-I shouldn’t have… I should’ve thought more… Too stupid, too foolish… I should’ve considered the options…” - To Justice, removed from Justice's memory

* "In my darkest hours, Justice, you were there for me. And how did I repay you? I'm with you Justice, I just want you to know that. When the rest of them come, just know that no matter what I say; what happens; that I stand with you. And I'll do my best to get you out of here. You just have to stay strong." - To an imprisoned Justice