Fiction:Polurad Terit

Polurad Terit is a Halifaxian merchant, explorer, and admiral who leads a privately-funded exploration fleet that is ostensibly under the flag of, but in reality competes directly with the officially-sanctioned First Great Armada, which is led by his old friend. Being part of the third generation in a wealthy family of burghers, Terit has a strong grasp of etiquette and a sort of outward charisma that comes naturally to a good businessman. However, this is more or less a facade, and Polurad was never quite happy with the family's merchantile practice, and he felt a sharp tinge of jealousy when hearing his old noble friend earned such a prestigious position almost without warning. From this point on, Terit desired more and real power for himself. This makes Polurad, privately, a man of great ambition, who is willing to gain influence for himself and his close followers regardless of if it endangers others-- or even his city of origin.

Early Life
Polurad was born to the wealthy burgher family of Terit, and lived the fairly regular childhood of a rich commoner- comfortable, and focused around education in literature, arithmetic, and business. The Terits had, for about three generations now, enriched themselves off of shrewd investment and trade. In this regard, Polurad was more than competent, amassing for himself a great personal fortune early in his adult life. This was not, however, an activity he felt satisfied in doing. As was and is a common sentiment in Halifaxia, there are many commoner families that possess great wealth, but no great power, with instead the aristocracy remaining powerful through the evocation of ancient rights and privileges. Unlike most embittered young burghers, however, Polurad was no upstart idealist radical. He understood well the avenues of power, and how to maneuver through them practically given is social standing in the interests of his own promotion. By the time he was thirty, Polurad had been able to retire from investments and banking altogether, had connections with several major elector families in the Halifaxian government, and was popular with many- including his good friend which he met in this formative period.

Great Armada
Polurad had heard of plans well ahead of time about the Great Armada that had been planned, and then pushed to completion, by the city's king. Upon hearing of this- and how sharply it divided the city- Terit held his tongue on the issue in public, but privately made moves to have himself placed as commander of the fleet once-finished, attracted by the sort of sheer power and influence such a fleet represented. Terit was surprised and privately outraged, however, when the wise-but-worldly King Haivar instead chose his friend to be admiral of the fleet, who was by this time popular with the citizenry, but of no real influence. Polurad had realised that, in all liklihood, the King had seen through Terit's plan, and had proven with his insistence on this armada project in the first place that he was unafraid of enraging a few courtiers- no matter how much Terit treated them with gifts and assurances. Terit realised that he was dangerous, in the king's eyes, and there was no going back now.

Personality and Traits
Polurad shows a confident, likable exterior, and possesses a talent for balancing the refined etiquette of the aristocracy and of his classical education and the crude, warm friendliness of his now-distant peasant roots. Polurad is a good businessman by the standards of a family of good businessmen, possessing an uncanny talent for making money however possible. Terit often remarks- only half-jokingly- that he retired from business so early and so rich because he found it so easy it was boring. What truly captivates Terit is the pursuit of real power, which long ago he had learnt does not always equal wealth. A vicious opportunist, Polurad exchanges political favours and promises in much the same way he once exchanged goods and stocks- quickly, at a profit, and with no personal consideration for the man on the other side of the table. While many of these traits put him in a similar league to his friend,, Terit lacks the genuine sense of patriotism that so defines and grounds his counterpart's moral compass. Polurad is a hard-boiled cynic, in this regard, with several years on his still-young friend and competitor.

Appearance and Equipment
Polurad, especially in preparation for his own voyage, has made a point of remaining in good shape. Exercising often, and never overindulging in rich food, he possesses a wiry, muscular physique common to Drodo males. While athletic, Polurad is only of average attractiveness, and many claim that he has a strange taste in facial hair (which many in the city lightheartedly tease the merchant for).