King Maezwelled of Roxendale cuts an imposing figure despite his unremarkable physical stature. Born into the royal family of Roxendale in 1402, he inherited not just a crown but a legacy of prosperity and political intrigue. His most distinctive physical feature is his almost-bald head, with wispy dirty blonde hair that he maintains meticulously short, perhaps in defiance of the common practice among nobles to grow their hair long. His face bears the weight of his responsibilities in its sharp angles and calculating green eyes, though he's neither as corpulent as many of his fellow monarchs nor as gaunt as ascetic rulers.
The King's most peculiar habit is his obsessive need to count his steps while walking, a trait that his courtiers have learned to accommodate by maintaining precise distances during formal processions. He speaks with a slight stutter that becomes more pronounced when he's agitated, though he's developed a habit of speaking slowly and deliberately to mask this impediment.
Despite ruling over the prosperous Kingdom of Roxendale, Maezwelled's reign is marked by a singular obsession: the Kingdom of Walbak. This fixation manifests in his daily routines, from war council meetings to his personal study of maps and military histories. He maintains an extensive network of spies within Walbak, often spending hours in his private chambers reading their reports, even neglecting matters of state in pursuit of information about his rival kingdom.
In his personal quarters, Maezwelled surrounds himself with artifacts and maps of Walbak, suggesting a complex relationship with his enemy that borders on fascination. His knowledge of Walbak's customs and history often surpasses that of his own kingdom's traditions. This obsession stems from a childhood incident where his father was humiliated at a peace summit with Walbak's previous ruler, a slight that young Maezwelled never forgot.
The king's rule is characterized by a peculiar mix of prosperity and paranoia. While Roxendale flourishes under his administrative abilities, his court is rife with suspicion as he constantly seeks out Walbak sympathizers among his nobles. He's known for his elaborate testing of his courtiers' loyalty, often staging false opportunities for treason to identify potential traitors.
In his final years, Maezwelled's fixation on Walbak began to take on an almost prophetic quality. He became convinced that the future of both kingdoms was inexorably linked, leading him to seek diplomatic channels even while maintaining his militant stance. This dual approach created confusion among his allies and enemies alike, contributing to the political tension that marked his later reign.
His death in 1501, during a meeting with the leader of the Holy Kingdom of Lewton, came as he was attempting to forge an alliance against Walbak, a final move in his lifelong chess game against his perceived nemesis. The circumstances of his death remain a subject of speculation, with some suggesting that his obsession with Walbak finally led to his downfall, while others maintain it was merely the weight of his years catching up to him.