Archduke Vice Shallows

Owned by Andalite

### Family

Archduke Tripp Shallows (brother), Archduke Zane Shallows (brother), Archduke Harvey Shallows (father, deceased), Archduchess Kira Shallows (mother, deceased)

### Appearance

Blue hair, rainbow eyes consisting of mostly blues and yellows, and a cold, merciless aura is the trademark of the Shallows family.  Vice is the picture of such an image, with pale blue hair, a cool, collected demeanor, and ruthless habits.  H o t.

### Personality

He's easily the most handsome of the three brothers, but he's not the nicest person ever, and while being with him would boost your status and image, angering him as his girlfriend is just as dangerous as angering him as a stranger.  He and his family have political immunity due to being close to the Winter and Autumn queens, Hallow, and some other cards up his sleeve.   Quick to anger and quicker to lash out, got a headcount ten pages long, rude and cold.

### History

The Shallows have been a hot topic for years, but it all started when Vice was thirteen...

Their father, Archduke Phobos Shallows, was known to be a friendly man, if a bit sad since the death of his wife, Archduchess Kira Shallows, who didn't survive the birth of their youngest son.  He wasn't known to be a strong man in any sense, nor as ambitious as most other nobles, and in his timidness, he was rumored to have been losing standing with the Winter Court.

His three young sons, Vice, Tripp and Zane, hadn't been too famous at the time, the family barely spoken of outside the Archduchy of Hailstone, but that all changed when Vice discovered a dark secret: his father had been committing multiple crimes behind everyone's back.

For the family's sake, very little information about what those crimes were had been released to anyone outside the King and Queen, but with all the evidence and documents provided, the man was sentenced with the death penalty and publicly killed within the week.  Many suspect treason against the crown was within the list of crimes, or perhaps murder, but no one knows for sure, simply that it was very bad.

For his honesty, Vice was rewarded.  The family name would have been tainted by their father's crimes, but Vice's actions were so shocking - and at age thirteen, so ruthless - that he caught most of the attention instead and the family became something of a legend.  Being the eldest son, he became head of the house, owning the estates, the wealth they had, the Archduchy and putting him officially as the face of the Shallows.

Then, a few months after the dust had settled, it happened again.  This time, Vice reported someone who didn't share their blood: a woman in the Winter Court called Crystal, who lived in Hailstone.  For a moment, the people held their breath.

Then the Court turned on her when one of the higher-ranking Court members learned from Vice's reports that her husband had been having an affair with Crystal behind her back.  This had the scorned woman fuming and more than happy to send Crystal to the least-forgiving judge in Winter, and for keeping the situation quiet and saving her public embarrassment, she put in some good words about Vice.

Crystal was executed. The story of the affair was leaked soon after by someone in the court, no one was certain who.

Now, Vice was quickly gaining fame.  This made many people very unhappy, namely Crystal's family.  Her brother confronted Vice, and many believe the boy was threatened or possibly injured by the meeting.

The man was arrested the next day for a books-worth of crimes including multiple counts of fraud, reading his sister's private legal documents, multiple acts of violence and more many don't care to read.

That's when people realized you don't mess with the Shallows.  If you vex them, you become their target.

Young Vice sat through every trial and every execution, never once shedding a tear or showing regret or pity.  His brothers sometimes showed up with him, but Vice was always there.

After a while of the pattern continuing, the Shallows moved to an island off of Summer and Autumn, gained by Tripp's findings in one of their father's old letters.  Despite being so far away, they still continued on with their form of justice, outing anyone they set their sights on, be they peasant, noble or anything in between. Soon enough, they began meeting with the royals.

Winter was first, naturally. North seemed to admire their sense of justice, while Sapphira admired the ruthless efficiency. After a few more cases, they came to a sort of understanding, and Sapphira began to give them permission to work outside of their territories, with her approval of course, but over the years they gained more freedom with their work.

Soon, they turned ro Summer, and after a few more arrests were made with their help, they became a sort of ally of the kingdom, and in turn, gained an immunity there with the help of Sapphira.

The same happened in Autumn, with them finding the moles, the traitors and the criminals and the crown thanking them wirh friendship and making them near untouchable. With each successful alliance, a portrait of the brothers was gifted to the royal family.

Spring is, to this day, still a work in progress, and with Rosebud missing, no doubt the meetings have been put on hold...for now.

The brothers, turning into young men, quickly began to attract the attention of female fans, and were noted to be some of the most eligible batchelors in the Valley, for their looks, growing wealth, power and mystery.

Zane is the social butterfly, a bit of a self-absorbed brat, but more friendly and more likely to write you back.

Tripp is the grimm reaper, the holder of all secrets and the sign that death will soon be apon those who he gathers info on.

And Vice is the leader, the master and deliverer of justice, twisted as that justice may be. Get with him and you are guaranteed fame and high status, if you can get past his icy demeanor, but be warned, his relationships don't last long, and many end with a hangman's noose or a mysterious disappearance...

### Story

After a private meeting with Sapphira, Vice was informed of her plans to attack the Festival of Lights, and was promised the title of royalty for his aid. He is to win over Diamond and marry her, before locking her up for claims of insanity and taking her power to aid Sapphira.

### Character Relationships

Archduke Zane Shallows

Vice seems a bit more lenient with Zane then Tripp, or anyone else for that matter. Though he shows no outright affection, he lets Zane do what he wants without fear or punishment, unlike Tripp, and will target anyone who upsets Zane to the point of digging into their pasts and bringing them to court for whatever he finds.

Archduke Tripp Shallows

Vice seems extra hard and almost cruel to Tripp in particular, acting controlling, overbearing and silencing him with a look alone. They are rarely separated, and even rarer does he let Tripp stop working.

Princess Diamond Midwinter

Vice seemed to get along well with her during the Snow Ball, as he was sent to win her over in preparation for Sapphira's plans.

Princess Candice Susurrate Russet Orla-Leafstorm

Candice has her eye on him, but Vice was preoccupied with Diamond and didn't give her a thought during the ball.

Lady Frost Northwind

Vice and Frost briefly dated, back before she met Hallow. It seemed to be more for her gain than any romance, and Vice showed no real interest, despite never being late to a date or meet up. He broke it off suddenly and without reason one day and gave no further explanation.

### Quotes

- "Zane is now in the market for a new 'best friend', i expect he'll find someone soon."

- (to Sapphira about Snowangel) "The loud, clumsy one?  You haven't disowned her yet?  I'm sure anyone would believe you if you said she wasn't your child."