Character Profile: Acreas

Today’s character profile is about a relatively new character to the series. His name is Acreas.  He is the illegitimate first born son of Lord Mandrean, who has no legitimate heirs.  Acreas stands approximately 6 foot 3 inches tall and is a well-trained athlete.  His mother is a cunning concubine who knew the buttons to push with Mandrean to always get the best for their son.  The result was that Acreas had the finest tutors for his schooling including military and combat training.  It is because of these gifts that the young man of 21 feels he is superior to his father and deserves to be recognized as heir.  Mandrean’s firm rebukes of the idea infuriate the ambitious Acreas.  By recognizing him, Mandrean fears for his life.  He does not realize that withholding the title brings death closer as Acreas has become Commander of the Imperial Guard.  The Elite cavalry unit controls the army and thereby the empire.  The captains below Acreas are loyal to him and would support his ascendency to the throne provided Mandrean died and not by any device of Acreas’.  Their loyalty to Acreas will not supersede their oath to protect the life of Mandrean.  They would not support someone who broke that oath.  Acreas has hit a wall.  His best hope now is for Linvin Grithinshield to kill his father for him so the throne will be open.  The solution is not so simple.  Acreas hates Linvin with an immature, boyhood passion.  Years ago, when Linvin first came to Marinhalk he encountered Acreas on the stairs of the jailhouse.  Without even using a weapon, Linvin bested him leaving the bastard prince with a sprained ankle and a scar above his eye.  Now every time he looks in the mirror he is reminded of his humiliation at Linvin’s hands and wants to kill the half- elf.  He gathers every piece of information the empire has on Linvin from every victory as a general to how he likes his food.  It is an obsession with him and he finds himself in a personal conflict.