A direct descendant of the Holy King Carlos and no mean magic user, tactician, or Machiavellian operator himself, Nicklaus is an exceptional man with an exceptional vision for his Dukedom although, for the time being, he has been forced to play the part of a loyal son for the Emperor and the other nobility of the Empire, who will always regard his territory’s recent membership with some suspicion. Nicklaus is no stranger to the harsh facts of politics and has chosen to bend the knee for the sake of his people.

Nicklaus spent much of his early life observing his father, the previous Duke of Lasir, struggle against unfair treaties imposed by the Empire, constant attacks by nearby pirates to which the Empire gave little assistance, and the impossible burdens of tribute and taxation that crushed his people underfoot. Nicklaus wisely joined the very Imperial Guard he so despised for the sake of his kingdom and his father’s prospects, thereby hoping to soften the Imperial administrators’ harsh policies towards his kingdom.

Nicklaus succeeded far beyond his modest aspirations, winning a string of victories at the head of his small command and impressing generals and the emperor himself with the breadth of his vision and charismatic leadership. The emperor magnanimously offered Nicklaus his daughter’s hand in marriage both to demonstrate his growing acceptance of Lasir as a valued contributor to the Empire and to hopefully limit the potential danger of this up-and-coming charismatic duke. Unbeknownst to the Emperor, Nicklaus was already in love and eager to wed a mage with the Halo of Dawn, Calienne, whom he had met on campaign. Utterly smitten, Nicklaus initially refused The Emperor’s incredible offer of his daughter in marriage but was ultimately forced to accept the match out of concerns for his father’s safety and his kingdom upon a refusal. Who was to know this lost love would spark an even greater tragedy many years later?