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The things that people comment on about Harold are the extremes in his responses to things. On the one hand, the people who supported him in the attempted coup at his wedding are doing marvelously well. All are well placed, and growing more wealthy almost daily. Those who fought against him, and were fortunate enough to move quickly, were simply banished. Others were killed. When angered, he strikes like lightning. When pleased, he rewards with equal generosity. No one crosses him twice, and most people have learned of others mistakes not to cross him the first time.
Harold is a visionary. His plans and ideas run about 100 years ahead of the rest of the world. His is one of the truly stellar intellects of the Realm. Rather like Stephen Hawking of modern times, this is a man who can manipulate and simulate exceptionally large and complex problems -- typically several branches deep -- entirely in his head.
Psionically, he is not particularly strong. His talents are twofold He has telepathy. A low powered, fairly short range sort of telepathy, that gives him no more than a feel for the other person. Also, from the Stanley line, he is equipped with low grade Precognition. His precog is strictly unconscious -- a story hook and nothing more. The psi provides him not with a complete picture, but with just enough warning to use his other talents to maximum effectiveness.
Psionically she is extremely powerful. Her primary areas of power are telepathy (both send and receive). As someone once put it, "Judith walks through people's minds like most people walk through a rummage sale." Her power is in the "scans whole planets" range with skill levels to match. Now, you'd think that being a McKitrick and all that much power would be a very dangerous thing to have around. I suppose, in a strict sense it is. Judith, you see, grew up in what has to be the least normal family in all the realm. Her siblings were constantly trying to kill each other off -- usually rather violently. She lived in Rabban's shadow for years. Yet, she seems mostly unaffected by the strangeness that plagues the house of McKitrick. She is nice, pleasant, never hurts anyone if she can help it. If it is possible to be polite to a fault, she is. She is universally well liked.
That's the character version. The player version is, well, she's a McKitrick. If there is anything that needs to be known around her, she will find it out. People tend to forget things around her -- especially if the thought they are thinking has to do with her psi ability.
There is, of course, one exception to that rule: Harold. Harold and Judith were married in an arranged marriage. It was the politically correct thing to do. They both knew it. Yet, even before the wedding, these two share a closeness that is uncommon in such arrangements. It is a case where head and heart happen to want the same thing.
Judith makes no attempt to run the ship of state. She watches and learns what is going on. She will, when warranted, discuss such with Harold (who, by the way, is particularly interested in her insights).
The Curse of Lethbridge -- that all the family's children will be suspected of witchery -- runs strong in Richard. But, suspicions and fear run only in those who don't know the child. He is a beautiful child, a little cherub who speaks with the clarity of an adult. He seems to have his mother's talent for making friends; people just fall in love with him from the start.
Auschlander is an embittered old man. Sour, dour and just not a nice fellow. He was absolutely livid when Titus was appointed Cardinal of Lethbridge, passing him over. He was even more upset when McRoy was named as Titus' successor.
In game terms, Gilbert would have both Truthfulness and Honesty. His personal code borders on paladinic. Yet, he is neither pedantic nor stuffy about it. This is just the way things are, you can see differently -- so long as you are not under his command. The hint of impropriety in either his officers or enlisted men is cause for serious problems.
Militarily, Gilbert relies on the training given him by our old PC Mordekai. Hardly the orthodox, knightly style of combat. Guerrilla tactics is a better description for it. "Light, fast, hit them hard and keep on the move" are standing orders.
Gilbert is recognized as the most eligible bachelor in Lethbridge.
He is extremely superstitious, stubborn and jealous. More on him as needed. He is about 40.
After he found that he simply could not operate within the Church, he left and began what was to be a glorious career buying and selling merchandise in Trent. He is a wealthy merchant who had been operating in Trent since the port was reopened. Elwood is, by far, the most wealthy of the local merchants. He buys and sells literally anything that will make a profit -- anything. He was the first to sign an agreement to carry products from Delights in York, and lost a considerable amount of money when it burned to the ground.
So, why, you ask, would a person like this -- a fellow whose only reason for not selling used cars and magazine subscriptions is because they haven't been invented yet -- why would he wind up as a high noble in the capital province. Well, dear reader, you are not the first person to ask that question? The only answer that keeps coming up is that the Duchess likes him. After all the damage done to the town in the coup attempt, it was Elwood who starting paying out the cash needed to rebuild. He was called to an audience with the Duke during the time that Richard was still a pig. He was given the office soon thereafter.
Elwood is approximately 40 years old.
Needless to say, her popularity with the masses is the inverse of her popularity with the nobility.
I'm going to state, just for the record, that in YR 230, 20 people have been accepted to the Foundation. Sgacity, Kya, Arnold, Martin and 16 NPCs to be developed as we need them. (It would just be a shame not to forgo the possibility of a story hook there while I have the chance.)
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