John Stirling, also known as Sinuhe, is an Exekian male. The adopted son of Queen Laura Stirling, he was imprisoned after her death in Carthmere Castle by King Aldous Stirling.
Freed ten years later by King Richard, John becomes involved in politics preceding Logan's Rebellion.
Biography
John as a child.
John was born in 179 AYZ to unknown parents somewhere south of the border. He was the product of a particularly chaotic kluuda, and was abandoned not long after his birth. Kemet claimed to have discovered him at the base of a sycamore tree in the forests surrounding his cabin.
Kemet brought him home to his wife Sophia, intending to raise the child as their own. But it was not to be, as the house was visited by an Alucarsian knight.
The knight took John with him, returning to the military camp of King Aldous, who intended to vanquish the Exekians. Aldous had brought his pregnant wife Laura along. While it is typically believed she simply suffered a stillbirth, she behaved as if she had given birth to John herself. This had a profound effect on Aldous, who returned from a victorious battle to find his wife nursing an Exekian child. Aldous was known to be a superstitious man, and he genuinely believed the Exekians had cursed his offspring in retaliation for his invasion of their lands. The invasion was ultimately called off, and Laura became known as the "queen of peace" and "mother of mercy".
While he permitted John to live in his castle, King Aldous refused to accept John as his son. The boy's interactions with other children and adults were strictly controlled out of fear he would cause them harm. Nonetheless, he grew close to Prince Richard and Princess Eleanor, with whom he was raised as a brother. In one particular instance, John rescued Eleanor from drowning in the Sepa river by diving in after her.
Laura died when John was eleven years old. Aldous immediately began plotting to get rid of the child, and decided to imprison him in Castle Carthmere, where various political prisoners and troublesome relatives of the royal family were locked away. Most famously, it was the home of Princess Helen, Aldous' exiled sister.
John spent ten years in the tower, ruled over by Helen. During his exile, John and Richard communicated via letters, which were smuggled in by bribed guards. The letters became fewer and far between as time went on, and John began to believe that Richard was forgetting about him. Through these letters, John learned of Richard's relationship with Lady Karen Liu, which made him jealous and frustrated.
Shortly after John's twenty-first birthday, King Aldous died and Richard ascended to the throne. Richard used his newfound power to release John and Helen, and sent Sir Gorrister to retrieve them. Gorrister was meant to serve as John's permanent bodyguard, as many at Castle Vallon remained hostile to Exekians.
Helen warned John not to trust Richard, whom she believed intended to use John for political gain. Specifically, she claimed that Richard would give John the title of prince at the feast upon their return in order to place him ahead of Eleanor in the line of succession. John doubted this, but was still cautious.
John, escorted by Gorrister, attended the feast held in his and Helen's honor. He was warmly, if awkwardly, received by Richard and Eleanor. Others were not so welcoming; Karen was so stricken by fear of John that she asked to be excused, and a visiting lord, Logan Brynner, insulted him. John was attacked by a madman wielding a dagger, slashing his arm. The madman was reprimanded by Gorrister, and Richard apologized to John, but the damage had been done. The king then gave a speech, announcing that an Exekian ambassador was on their way to the castle, having been invited there by Richard.
Over the course of the next few months, John adapts to life at the castle. He receives combat training from Gorrister, and gradually learns to overcome his natural intolerance of iron. Tobias, the heir apparent and Richard's overlooked legitimate son, become attached to him, calling him "Uncle". And the Exekian ambassador, a beautiful female, eventually arrives. But all is not well. Logan Brynner, an ambitious Hiberian, becomes engaged to Eleanor, and by extension makes a gamble for the throne.
- John is tall and lean, with broad shoulders and a small waist. He has tousled straight black hair. His impish features haven't changed much since he was a child, with an upturned nose, a small mouth, and narrow, diamond-shaped black eyes. His face is angular in shape, and he has pointed ears. His voice is low and quiet, with the accent of a human noble.
- Though he rarely smiles and almost never laughs, he has a strong sense of humor and can be quite witty. He also has an arrogant streak, looking down on both humans and Exekians for their petty conflicts and violent natures. His long imprisonment in the white tower has affected his worldview and sociability.; he is somewhat awkward and aloof, having just been reintroduced to a world that has changed a great deal in his absence.
- Perhaps his greatest weakness is his love for his brother Richard, who is heavily dependent on him for companionship, protection, and advice. In return, Richard is John's best friend. If anything were to happen to Richard, John would never be the same.
- Losing his loved ones
- The passage of time
- Betrayal
- Accidentally causing harm
- Falling in love/emotional attachments in general
Personal Connections
- His adopted mother. John was very close to her. Laura sought to instill in her children a strong sense of morality and compassion for others. John and Laura were always honest with each other and he trusted her completely. Like Richard, his memory of her was somewhat unrealistic, but he is more willing to realize that she was human and flawed than his siblings. He is not particularly surprised to learn that she was deceptive and doesn't really blame her for lying to them.
- The king. Aldous never accepted John as his son and either bullied or ignored the child altogether. John in turn avoided him, afraid of his wrath. Once Laura died, there was nothing to keep John safe from him. Though it was within Aldous' power to have him killed, he opted instead to send John away to the tower and erase all sign he had ever dwelled at Castle Vallon. John is not as haunted as his siblings regarding the subject of Aldous, but the scars are still there.
Richard, his brother.
- John's adopted brother. John's earliest memory is of standing over Richard's cradle. As soon as he could walk, Richard followed John around. The two were inseparable as youngsters. When John was sent to the tower, Richard sent him letters whenever he could, and promised that he would free him when he became king. Upon Aldous' death, he fulfilled that promise, but his motives are no longer clear. Helen suggested that Richard freed John, whom he had not seen in ten years, for purely political reasons. Only time will tell.
Eleanor, his sister.
- John's adopted sister. Eleanor was never afraid of John, but didn't become devoted to him until he saved her from drowning. Losing him was particularly painful for her, as she was ashamed to admit she loved him. When he returned, she continued to hide her feelings, and as a result they grew into romantic love, impossible and tragic. John cares for her as his sister and discourages her stronger feelings. He is one of the few people who can get through to her.
Nesrine, the Exekian ambassador.
- All feelings of attraction he had toward the Exekian ambassador were dashed when she turned her nose up at him in disgust. Like most of her kind, Nesrine does not think highly of John, and she makes her opinions plain. Nonetheless, he can't help but admire her wit, which matches his own.
Eira, a friend.
- The long-suffering maidservant of Nesrine, Eira is warm and kind to John in spite of his situation. He finds in her a trustworthy confidant and a reliable friend.
Helen, his aunt.
- Helen's role in John's life is uncertain. She is considered obsolete at court, but it is plain that she really holds much more influence than she seems to. Her parasitic relationship with Vincent is worrying, as is her nosy nature; John does not approve of how Helen uses his ability for petty blackmail. He would like to ignore her, but he admittedly needs her knowledge of court intrigue if he is to survive at Castle Vallon. He is concerned she will try to manipulate him, however, and thus is always wary of her advice.
Vincent, the court minstrel.
- John feels a strange connection to Vincent. Since the minstrel was close to Laura, they have that much in common. But Vincent also has an air of mystery about him - just how far do his visions go, and how much does he know? Vincent asked him to "save his daughter", but frustratingly he would not reveal her identity or even where she is, giving him only the cryptic assurance "you will know soon enough". He feels more compelled to follow Vincent's advice than Helen's, but what exactly are the bard's motives?