Matthias Rutledge
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An avid doctor, and a father of six, Matthias Othan Rutledge lived to help others. As a child, he ran errands for his mother. In his free time, the young man would read books, not books about fake adventures and mythical creatures, but rather books on medicine and the body. Under close mentorship, Matthias not only flourished medicine but eventually became a doctor as well. He then took after his late father's footsteps and joined the local Belvitz guard, quickly scaling ranks despite his young age. When Alfred Myre died, Matthias made a leap of faith and entered the race to become the next Serenity of Ves. After garnering eleven out of sixteen votes, the man, once known as the Rutledge Runt, became the next Prince of Ves. Matthias is denoted to have ruled ably from 1718 to 1720, as he offered his abdication before the Eternal Flame and before the people of Ves. This act was a wise decision due to the rapidly rising tensions caused by local dissidents. Matthias continued as a doctor and a father.
Contents
History
Atlas
Matthias Rutledge was the fourth and final child of Rivaini and Antanios Rutledge. Being a runt and an accident, it became common to be picked on by the other Raevir children of Belvitz, as well as some adults. Being clumsy, and underweight, he was often seen being led off by children holding his suspenders. This hazing caused him to stay home, and read books with his other siblings; Medhi, Moses, and Camilla. When his father, Antanios, died in 1694, Matthias had no idea where the man went. This curiosity led him to sneak out of Belvitz when the guards weren't watching, often taking adventures through backroads to places such as Carolustadt and Curon's Cyrilsburg. In Carolustadt, he met a doctor known as Zatanes Avern, who worked at a local clinic named The Shield's Burden. Under her close mentorship, Matthias became an apprentice and quickly took to medicine, and received more training under Alfius Elpyne, and Vexalia. It was there that he met his future fiance, Victoria Windsor, a striking young girl with ginger hair and green eyes. The two were friends for many years, often taking adventures and running amok as children do.
The young boy then continued on his search for his father, still unaware that Antanios was dead. His search brought him to Cyrilsburg, Curon, during the Summit at which Imperial officials were scheduled to attend. At King Wilhelm I of Curonia's musing, he decided that Matthias shall fill in for his late father's seat, and dismissed the fill-in Darius Ault. The young boy sat among the other officials, barely tall enough for his seat next to the others. It was afterward when all said officials left the city, that King Wilhelm and Matthias bonded, for Wilhelm was a close friend of Antanios. King Wilhelm I then gave him a chance; Matthias didn't want to do it, but at the barking of Wilhelm, and took that chance. Having bonded with the man, Matthias didn't want to let him down. The Rutledge Runt was granted to be King Wilhelm's squire, gaining the title as the Ursus Squire. He was given room and board, as well as advancement in his medical endeavors. After returning to Belvitz, it was Ser Pandir the Epic that emotionally revealed to Matthias that his brave and devoted father was poisoned.
Matthias continued about his business, training in medicine, and swordsmanship. He was often seen around Belvitz, handing out homemade First Aid kits to each citizen that would take one, leading them through the primary medical use of the bag. He continued his work until the Vaeyl took his home and forced Humanity off Atlas. Matthias spent his time exploring the vast frozen wasteland that Humanity fled to, reading the scattered books. He then succumbed to a cold and remained under close care in one of the abandoned houses. He remembered brief moments of waking up and looking around, seeing his siblings warm up, seeing his mother hug the urn of her husband's ashes while on the boat to Arcas.
Arcas
Upon arriving at Arcas, Matthias made a quick recovery when he smelled the fresh, sweet air of Ves. He worked endlessly to purchase and till the nation's wheat fields to feed the nation. He then set up the school, otherwise named the Basarab School of Philosophy and Art. It was there that Matthias strove to not only teach basic medicine to the students but to raise the literacy level of the town. He taught children and adults alike to read and write, lessons often taking place in the square rather than the school. The young man renovated the second floor of the school to be the Freedom Library, a public library that refused literary censorship by the Canonist Church. The school was renovated into an Owynist monastery far later on when Matthias left, and its library became heavily censored by the Canonist Church; however, that comes later. While Matthias was still striving for the survival of Ves, he eventually gained the title of Patriarch and was supposed to receive Baronet papers; however, due to the tensions that led to the War of the Two Emperors, Matthias has still not received his papers to this day. Upon becoming a Patrician, Matthias got straight to work on creating his house.
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The House of Rutledge is a mostly Southernos Patrician House originally sworn to the Kingdom of Kaedrin. The House, due to outrageous acts by Kaedreni guards, performed an exodus to settle in the Kingdom of Curonia. Matthias Rutledge then forbade any of his kin to ever settle in Kaedrin. The Coat of Arms depicts a Pelican in her Piety, vulning, on a background of red. This is because as a house, Matthias hoped that future Rutledges would inherit the characteristic of loyalty and self-sacrifice. The House really took off, starting with the marriage of Matthias Rutledge and Madallaine Dering in 1713. Together, the Southernos and Highlander couple flourished in Ves, bearing three children and eventually becoming the royal couple in 1718 when Matthias was the first Southernos to become the Prince of Ves. He took on the title of Serenity and ruled ably for the duration of his reign. Some say it takes a village to raise a child when it actually only took a tavern to do it. Lady Lithren of the Bird 'n Bard was considered the family's aunt and babysitter. Despite being part bird-demon, the children quite enjoyed her plush feathers. Matthias can recall almost having pry his own kid from Lithren's hands because she enjoyed babysitting them so much.
As the prince, Matthias pulled Ves out of the War of the Two Emperors with the 1719 Treaty of Ves, managing to gain Ves the independence that it yearned for. Then, in 1720, Prince Matthias garnered for the Pact of Green and Gold, which was a non-aggression trade pact with Curon. It was a gesture, the first step towards an alliance of the two independent nations; however, further steps would never come to happen.
It wasn't until 1721 that Matthias Rutledge and his family were forced to leave Ves out of fear. Shortly after abdicating from the throne, the guards were replaced. At first, Matthias was ecstatic at the idea that Ves would now have capable men to protect them. That idea was quickly squashed when Matthias was curb-stomped into the gravel and assaulted based on his skin color. His back still hurts in the same place where a guard's heel was driven into his spine. At that, Matthias walked off with what dignity he had left, gathering up his family and belongings as he led his family out of Ves. Thankfully, the Pact of Green and Gold improved the relations between Curon and Ves, and with Matthias' relationship to Curon as the Ursus Squire, it only made sense that his family settled there. In Curon, Madallaine managed to have a set of twins, promptly named Vivaca and Wilheim. The family was happy, enjoying many snow-fights in Curon's cold weather, sitting in Old Bear Park to gaze at the stars, but that all came to a halt when Madallaine died in 1728 from an unknown illness that could not be cured. Matthias continued his career as a doctor, gaining traction from his medical books, A Compilation of Medical Herbs I and A Compilation of Medical Herbs II. He took on a few students and taught them as much medicine as he could. It was later on that Matthias became one of Curon's first senators, remaining there until an injury from Mordsgrad forced him from the position in 1741. He retired to becoming Curon's Seneschal, and eventually, the Secretary of Homeland.
As Matthias was beginning to feel the effects of being in his fifties, he found himself waking up in an empty bed and a lonely home. Eventually, while leaving Helena, the aging father accidentally bumped into a lady. Kamilah Isra Anabsid was not much younger than Matthias, and with her being a Farfolk, Matthias didn't feel so alone in the world. He apologized and bought her a few cups of Green Tea, and a salad, to warm her up from Helena's relentlessly cold snow. The two hit it off, and after a year, they both decided, "What the hell. We're both lonely, and we're both old." And so they got married in Curon. Though the wedding could have gone better, the point is that now the two were married; and they weren't so lonely in the world anymore. Little did they know, that with Matt's research and Kamilah's motherly traits, that the two had another child, rather known as a miracle. The family continues to live on, trying to make the world a better place, and as Matthias continues to live on, his history will grow.
Artifacts & Relics
Evocational Fireblade ~ A gift given to Antanios Rutledge, from Caine Silverblade. The two were best buddies and fellow undead hunters. The blade was finely polished, its sheath wrapped in supple black leather which was engraved with the initials A.R. At the top center of the hilt was a red ruby. When tapped three times, the sword would slowly glow red before bursting into a hot blaze. The blade came with a book, which rests in the family library.
Belvitzian War Drum ~ A war drum, made for a young drummer boy. This drum was carried by twelve-year-old Matthias Rutledge, in The Gentleman's War between Curon and Adria. Its hide is worn down from all the rhythmic drumming, and the wooden sides contain knicks and scratches from accidents.
Interesting Facts
- Matthias was almost apprehended by Lady Kastrovat, mostly because he was a young child traveling alone in Carolustadt. If it weren't for Matthias' quick thinking, then the Lady would have informed Matt's mom about him sneaking out of Belvitz; however, after a little talk, it was Lady Kastrovat that jumpstarted Matthias' career into medicine. She gave him a few medical books, magic, and Dwarven engineering, which he took home and read over and over again with curiosity.
- Matthias is missing his right arm. It began when Mordsgrad kidnaped him and punished him for being on Curon's Council. His right hand was removed and cauterized; however, his captors let infection develop. The infection spread up his arm, which led to its removal after he was released. His right hand was originally removed because his captors believed it was his dominant hand. Matthias is left-handed.
- Matthias wears a leather and metal leg brace on his left leg. After refusing to join a local gang, Matthias was promptly jumped on his doorstep. The injury sustained was a meat cleaver to the back of the knee, thus removing Matthias' ability to move his knee on his own.
- Valerie's name came from Matthias' childhood friend, Valera Carrion. When Valera died, Matthias was so grieved by the loss of his friend. He decided to name his first daughter after her.
- Wilheim's name came from Matthias' relationship with King Wilhelm I. When Wilhelm died, Matthias lost a man that he considered his father-figure.
- Vivaca is the only child that has inherited Matt's brown eyes, and complete skin tone; however, she inherited the very fierce and stubborn personality of her grandma, Rivaini, which caused quite a troublesome and interesting childhood.
Immediate Descendents of Matthias
| Name | Portrait | Marriage(s) Issue |
Death | Coat of Arms | Birth Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valerie Valerie Adela Rutledge |
 |
Unmarried No Children |
Alive | 18th of The Amber Cold, 1715 | |
| Silas Silas Rutledge |
 |
Unmarried No Children |
Alive | 9th of the Snow's Maiden, 1717 | |
| Seth Seth Rutledge |
Seth, update your dang skin! | Unmarried No Children |
Alive | 9th of the Snow's Maiden, 1717 | |
| Vivica Vivaca Adhara Rutledge |
 |
Unmarried No Children |
Alive | 4th Amber Cold, 1722 | |
| Wilheim Wilheim Othan Elpyne Rutledge |
Unmarried No Children |
Alive | 4th Amber Cold, 1722 | ||
| Abiah Abiah Isra Rutledge |
Skin coming soon! | Unmarried No Children |
Alive | 14th Malin's Welcome, 1745 |
