“Numbers never lie. They don’t ask anything of you, or fly into a rage when you tell them “No.” Follow the numbers far enough, and you’ll always find what you’re looking for.” It takes an exacting mind to maintain the balance of the kingdom’s treasury. It takes a dedication bordering on obsession to manage the birth and marriage records for one of Arethane’s most ancient bloodlines. Fate blessed Leoric with both of these traits in abundance. With a mind like a scythe and a single-minded enthusiasm for keeping everything in perfect order, Leoric is one of the kingdom’s most valuable assets, and also one of the worst people to be seated across the banquet table from. Although most of the wealth in the kingdom passes through his office in one form or another, Leoric himself lives a relatively modest lifestyle, since it’s a point of pride (and a long-held tradition) that his House maintains no private lands or significant assets of their own, preferring to dedicate their lives in the service of the monarch. Of course, one benefit of this is that many of the members of House Caer’Thalarin have been appointed to high-ranking military or diplomatic offices, over the centuries. As a young man, Leoric was raised at the Royal court, learning the martial arts, social graces, and academic skills necessary for a nobleman. Despite his family’s position and influence, his blunt honesty didn’t make him many friends. His parents arranged his marriage to a distant cousin, who does her best to smooth things over and manage the family’s social life. They have three surviving children, two of which are still living in the capital. Leoric gladly does whatever it takes to keep the kingdom’s finances in order, and he can usually be found working long into the night. When he’s not in his office, he can be found in his family’s private chambers, going over genealogy records or keeping up with his correspondences. |
