Name: Risteard Gallochbar
Personality:
Risteard can come off as a typical noble from first appearances. However he has an unmatched diligence and tends to put the consideration for the overall good rather than personal gain. Not to say he completely selfless, he doubts any fae is, but he at least can see it's better to share a burden than to shoulder it alone. He tends to be one that likes to tease but knows that because of his position and demeanor...normal folks do not know what to do with him. The generals on the other hand tend to know he is either joking or provoking.
Background:
One of Balmoral's generals and the Vizier to the Crown. He is the voice that speaks to the king's ear...though he feels many times it goes unheard. He keeps an eye on trends of the people and a hand on the pulse of the citadel. But it is said that if Mhoirbheinn is the one that disposes of any physical threats, Risteard is the one that will rid of any other threats.
Risteard feels he had a chip on his shoulder for a very long time. This is because of his inherent risk as an existence. He was the child to a noble house in both the Unseelie and Seelie. It should have been near impossible to happen but this occurred during a stint of 'peace' between the two. And it led to a horribly bloody custody battle that he has never quite made peace with.
He was initially raised in the Seelie as his mother was a Seelie gentry. However in his childhood started a back and forth of stealing away. While this should have been a matter kept between the parents, it eventually escalated to assassinations and forced outside deliberation. It became a risk with the courts due to one side literally breaking into the other court to either attempt to murder the other parent or steal the child. A child, which is a commodity to fae to begin with and even more so to a noble.
And for Risteard...he wanted this end. For him, it was witnessing senseless violence time and time again. He had lost caregivers and friends that had been unlucky to be with him whenever his parents thought it time to 'bring him home.' He had grown discontent and sought a way. This led him to getting his parents to come to a middle ground--the mortal plane--to settle the matter. He would choose the house he would represent. But before he did asked for their promise to accept the outcome. Both parents were confident on him choosing them and thus agreed over a toast.
...only for the parents to have fallen dead within each other's embrace. Yes, Risteard orchestrated their deaths in order to end further bloodshed. He had also painted it as guilt on both of the parents. As for where he ended up, his Seelie parentage did not believe that it was lover's suicide and would not take him. His Unseelie parentage didn't truly believe it either but would not be deprived of an heir regardless. So with that, the ceaseless murder did stop.
But then came the other issue of being a child of two court: the question of his loyalty. There was always the thought of 'what if he's a spy' and Risteard sought to change their perception of him. And thought he could do so by proving himself. But he had done so over and over and over only for that question to plague him still. It made him resentful and hopeless in his situation. The former leading him to his rivalry with Balmoral.
He had been serving in the court when Balmoral had started ingratiating himself to the nobility. He knew that any non-noble would only be looking for boost somewhere. And expected the novelty to wear off but it never did. And then Risteard was worried that upstart like Balmoral was going to cause trouble. So he sought to take him down a peg where he could. So he would bring up something and sometimes it would throw the fae for a loop. However Balmoral would always return better than their last encounter and usually to force Risteard to cede.
How Balmoral convinced Risteard is considered another mystery amongst his generals. Especially since Risteard appears to be contrary to the king in most respects and vice versa. However neither ever considered it much of anything. Risteard was someone that challenged Balmoral constantly and held an understanding of the land and the people that he needed. And Risteard, if allowed to explain it his way, simply didn't want to be on the business end of Balmoral's sword. But if known truly, it was because Risteard had discovered how the kingdom was already in that fae's grasp and Risteard was willing to take the chance on a place where he could be free shackles that came with his name and have earned his place, his loyalty.
Miscellaneous:
Risteard is a master poisoner. He can understand most poisons presented to him. He also provides Solanine with the poisons she uses.
Yes, he and Bal are actually friends despite how it seems. They just act more like vitriolic best buds.
He and Bal actually have tea together where they...mutually have poison within it. It's to help give resistance and it's kinda a morbid joke between them.
He is actually quite disdainful of Mhoirbheinn because he's too unpredictable of a character for Balmoral's reign.
Ironically, they are considered other side of the coin for the other in some respects
Risteard does handle interrogations
He is something of a tutor to some of the generals as he is the technical most learned.
