Martineius, High King - II

[Original Publication by Historian Mathicus Flon]

(Continued from "Martineius, High King - I")

Two other factors undoubtedly proved an aid to him; his charismatic and agile tongue, as well as his indisputable prowess in arms, two things which even his detractors would be hard-pressed to dispute. More than a few potential conflicts were defused through his golden tongue alone, and more than a few paladins, and almost all healers, were dissuaded from fighting him through it. His prowess in arms knew no equal during his time as well; few were those who bested him even but once, and none, in known history, bested him twice, and with five hundred captures and more to his credit on the roll call, he was a more than capable enforcer, as well as creator, of the laws. Despite his prowess, however, he himself was the first to judge his abilities in war to be of little import, famously declaring that 'even a child could destroy and kill; it is building and constructing which is difficult.'

Which isn't to say that he was without flaw. There were many voices of dissent, although he quashed many as well. More than a few felt that he was strengthening the Tribunal and his own rule too much at the cost of the citizenry, and even a dissident newspaper was created, by a bardess named Meridia Marlen. No less than four separate major uprisings by the Watchers occurred, although all of them were quashed by him in time. The manner of his departure, as well, leaves questions regarding his morality in doubt, as he then expressed a degree of contempt towards the entire world, which he all but ruled by then.

So what have we to learn from this first Profile in Leadership? Very little of the secretive, mysterious man; aside from the fact that he was a vampire, we know nothing of his goals, of his aims. There are rumors in the darkness regarding a personal vendetta with Chayesh, God of Unlife and ostensibly the patron deity of all vampires, but of what we do not know, we dare not speak. All we can say is that, without a doubt, the unique blend of charisma, brilliance, eloquence, and iron-handed ruthlessness was what let and enabled him to be an almost universally acclaimed ruler of the greatest cities of the world, and let him even draw, while he ruled, the Heraldry into the fold of the Tribunal, and will most likely become a model for any aspiring politicians in the future.