King Karl the Red

King Karl the Red was a minor character in The unnamed RPG.

## Backstory

Karl Pjokovic was born as the Crown Prince of Noh. During his youth, he discovered his passion for the colour red, especially dark red. His parents, seeing his obsession with the colour, requested that a sword with a ruby in its hilt would be forged for their son. On Karl's tenth birthday, he received the forged sword: **Rubyslicer**.

Tragedy struck when Karl's mother, the Queen Consort, was killed in an assassination. He was horrified to learn that he had been the true target, and that his mother had died to protect him. After this assassination attempt, his father assigned him a retainer: Samantha Goodvin, to protect him from future assassination attempts.

Karl and Samantha eventually fell in love, and were given permission to marry by Karl's father, with Samantha becoming a Princess of Noh. Karl and Samantha continued to grow closer, especially with the arrival of their sons: Brad and Chad.

Karl ascended to the throne when his father died after contracting a fatal disease. He informed his wife that he wishes to rule alone, but he will still need her support. Samantha willingly agreed as she knew her job was to protect and support Karl, gaining the title "Princess Consort".

Samantha was a key part of his long lasting negotiations with the neighbouring Kingdom of Ujabek over border disputes, especially over access to the River Alpha and the ownership of the Fort of Neutrality. But one day, Karl was informed by an advisor that Samantha had contracted a rare type of bone cancer and that she only had weeks left to live. Karl was very upset and he made sure Samantha got the best care possible throughout the final weeks of her life.

After Samantha's death, Karl was heartbroken. His advisors knew that he had to find another loving and supportive partner soon or he might die of a broken heart. His advisors presented a group of single women to him, among them were Fabia Brovic and Mira Andjaniva. As if by fate, Karl fell in love with both Fabia and Mira, and they both fell in love with him. Not wanting to hurt either of their feelings, he asked his advisors for advice. They told him about a law that his great grandfather had passed which allowed for a person to marry more than one partner at a time, as long as they had the full consent of each partner.

Hearing this, he summoned Fabia and Mira and asked them if they want to both be married to him in a polygynous arrangement. They agreed, knowing there was room in his heart for both of them. As such, Fabia and Mira became his second co-wives and Princess Consorts of Noh. Karl soon discovered that Fabia was also previously widowed, and had a daughter called Katherine from her previous marriage. Karl immediately accepted Katherine as a step-daughter, making her a Princess of Noh as well.

Soon, relations between Noh and Ujabek broke down and war broke out between them. The war was long and full of casualties, including Prince Brad and Prince Chad. With his forces losing ground on the battlefield and public opinion in Noh turning against him, Karl agreed to surrender the war and abdicate the throne, exiling himself, his two co-wives and his step-daughter to a small village to the northeast.

The Ujabekians demanded that he leave his beloved sword Rubyslicer behind, which he did as he was afraid harm would befall his co-wives or step-daughter if he refused. Whilst in exile, his co-wives helped him forge a new sword called **Dignified Rubycaller**. His step-daughter was given an opportunity to live a better life by a travelling mage, with Karl, Fabia and Mira allowing her to leave due to wanting the best for her.

During his final years, he had to be nursed by his co-wives, as nobody else in the village would treat him. He eventually died of an unnamed illness, surrounded by his two co-wives.

## Personality

King Karl the Red was a passionate and determined ruler with a deep love for the colour red. He was known for his distinctive red hair and always dressed in dark red robes, symbolizing his association with the monarchy. Despite his preference for the colour, Karl's love for red apples was a separate and long-standing aspect of his personality.

Karl was a compassionate and caring individual, deeply affected by the tragic loss of his mother, the Queen Consort. He valued the people close to him, and this was evident in his affectionate relationship with Samantha Goodvin, his loyal retainer turned wife, who became Princess Consort of Noh.

As a ruler, Karl was skilled in diplomacy and negotiation, valuing Samantha's contribution to the kingdom's relations with neighbouring territories. His desire to rule alone, with Samantha's support as Princess Consort, reflected his sense of responsibility and commitment to his duties.

Karl's love for his co-wives, Fabia Brovic and Mira Andjaniva, was genuine and unconditional. He was torn when he fell in love with both women and sought advice on how to navigate this complex situation. Upon learning about the law allowing polygamous (including polyandry and polygyny) arrangements, he carefully and respectfully included both Fabia and Mira in his life as his second co-wives and Princess Consorts.

Tragedy and loss shaped Karl's life, but he remained resilient, facing the challenges of war and exile with courage. His concern for his step-daughter Katherine, the daughter of Fabia, showed his capacity for acceptance and love within his extended family.

In his final years, Karl relied on the support of his co-wives, Fabia and Mira, who tirelessly cared for him in his illness. Despite his deep attachment to Katherine, he selflessly allowed her to take an opportunity for a better life, presented by a travelling mage. He knew it was in her best interest and wanted nothing but the best for her, even if it meant letting her go.

Despite his experiences, King Karl the Red remained a compassionate and devoted monarch, leaving a lasting impact on those close to him.