Character Sheet for Duncan Leonard Foldore III
Nickname(s)
King Dumb Can, King Full Whore, many more you would never want to say to his face.
Species
Eurasian Harvest Mouse(Micromys minutus)
Character Description
King Duncan Foldore III is the monarch of Southsward, a large coastal kingdom in southwestern Mossflower. It is one of the settings in the Redwall book, The Bellmaker. King Foldore, as he is known, is the third mouseking in the line of Foldore. He is known for his craftiness and the gradual expansion of his kingdom. Despite being openly traditionalist, he gained a reputation as being more tolerant than his predecessors by allowing and even facilitating the rise of a vermin noble class. Time revealed that not only were strings attached, but there was a much darker motivation behind this. Foldore's ambitions gradually came to light with the threat of the invading Siberians.
Foldore received word of the Long Patrol's defeat at the Battle of Langchex on September 16, 5644. He knew these 'Siberians' as they were called, were a serious threat to Mosslfower. And although Southsward is only mentioned in one Redwall book, its various rulers have always maintained an alliance with the abbey and the Long Patrol. Foldore sent an emissary to Redwall Abbey at once, pledging assistance. His emissary returned 6 weeks later with news that shook the traditionalist king to the core.
A quest for Mossflorian Unity had begun, expect the five questers' arrival in midwinter. Among them are Colonel Longstride of the Long Patrol, and Redwall Abbey's new heroine, a foreign female rat. Foldore needed to hear the news three times to process it. He fumed. A female vermin hero, sanctioned by the Long Patrol??? This was a serious threat to Mossflower's power balance. The questers arrived in February, 5645.
King Foldore kept his composure, but to him, Queen Guivderin was a thing of nightmares. She was vermin, but beautiful, refined, highly educated, a warrior, and every bit the ruler that he was. The tension in their sizing up of each other filled the room. But Guivderin dissolved that by quickly by switching to her 'bubbly princess' mode. To add insult to Foldore, the questers had already passed through neighboring Blaggot. An inspirational vermin figure was a serious threat. Foldore would have to involve himself in this fight as much as he could. The plan was for all armies to rendezvous at Redwall Abbey on June 21, 5645. After the questers left, Foldore started scheming.
He would send all of his mouse warriors(himself included), the elite guard remaining behind for defense. "We can send our vermin too, as a first wave" his general said.
"And have them return as heroes??!! NEVER!!" Foldore shouted.
"But you can't send only our goodbeats into battle, sire. That would cause an uproar." his general responded with, and he was right. Then it came to Foldore, "Bring me our vermin census." he said with a smile. The scheme was perfect. All vermin warriors would stay behind to guard Southsward. After all, they're nobles who don't want to lose their privileged lifestyles. Draft vermin of fighting age, one from each family. Give them basic training, and whatever happens, happens. If they likely die in battle, they can be martyrs to their privileged families, but no loss to Southsward. The summons were sent out in May 5645 for a June 1st departure. King Foldore arrived at Redwall Abbey on June 21, 5645 with an army of 4500, 510 of whom were conscripted vermin nobles mostly unfit for battle.
This would have gone unnoticed if it weren't for the keen eye of the new Long Patrol General. Cornelius Longstride noticed the stark contrast between Foldore's goodbeast and vermin fighters. Longstride knew Foldore had capable vermin warriors, but none were present. It couldn't have been more obvious his intention. This amounted to negligence and treason in the general's eye. He confronted Foldore directly in his royal tent, bringing his officer's sabre just in case. It went contentious, but peaceful. The Long Patrol would train Foldore's conscripted vermin. We see the mouseking above, just after that meeting. He's summoning his advisors to discuss future plans.
Personality
Ambitious, manipulative, and calculating. Foldore looks for all opportunities to maintain and advance his position of power. Brave, willing to take chances. Jealous and envious of those who have something he wants. But this only drives his ambition to acquire it.
Mostly amoral as opposed to cruel, but will use the cruel nature of others if it suits his needs. Not looking for friends, all acquaintances and relationships are based on purpose. Patient, good at playing the long game.
King Foldore does have a sense of humor. He enjoys the antics of his jesters or witty comments of his advisors. He may crack his own dark humored jokes when the moment is right. A pretty good host. Understands public relations and the need to put on a good front.
Likes/Dislikes
Power. It's not about the status, it's about the ability to control. The status will come with it. Intelligence, not the educated kind, the informational kind that is used to advance oneself. Wealth as a means to gain power, Foldore doesn't hoard wealth just to have a royal treasure.
Dislikes vermin. Find them morally and genetically inferior creatures. Holds to traditionalist values and feels threatened by anything that could raise their status. Holds a special place of hatred for the neighboring city of Blaggot. The Rat City is a threatening symbol of vermin success and a lure of vice for many young Southswardian goodbeasts.
Holds personal hostility toward the Long Patrol. He respects the hare warriors for their fighting skill, history, and what they symbolize. "We may be allies, but stay the fuck out of Southsward!" he stated in a letter to General Thunderfoot. Foldore sees the Long Patrol as a significant threat since they continue to build forts throughout Mossflower.
Background/History
Duncan Leonard Foldore was born December 21, 5594 in Southsward, Mossflower. He was the eldest son of King Duncan Foldore II and Queen Ariadnae. The healthy mouseling babe was quiet and easy to raise. He never misbehaved and always did what his elders asked of him. Young Duncan was very academic, punctual, and responsible. He also wasn't shy and enjoyed engaging in all manner of conversation with visiting nobility. Even as a dibbun, he had a knack for making others feel important and comfortable around him as a way of establishing trust and loyalty. Endearing at first, but his proud parents saw his potential as their heir at an early age.
Prince Duncan wanted to be the next king of Southsward, as was intended. He cared very little about playing with his siblings and preferred learning from his parents how to run a kingdom. Mossflower history was important and interesting, but politics was useful. He was already good at it, especially when it came to manipulating others and getting them to work for him. At 17, Prince Duncan entered an arranged marriage with 14 year old Princess Chelsea Lonicera of Loamhedge. It was a classic royal wedding in Southsward's beautiful Castle Floret, an alliance of power and wealth. At age 18, Prince Duncan was an acting member of his parents' royal council.
The Foldores were hard-line traditionalist mice, following the old idea of 'goodbeast' and 'vermin' species present in Mossflower for millennia. They resisted the gradual acceptance of vermin as equals that was appearing in certain circles. King Duncan II lay blame squarely on Redwall Abbey for this, even though Father Abbot Josiah was also a traditionalist. But 24-year-old Prince Duncan had a different idea. He understood perception of power. What about perception of acceptance? After all, the prince had been playing this game since he was a dibbun. The success of neighboring Blaggot was a thorn in Foldore's side. Instead of resisting it, poach the talent. "We already have a small loyal vermin noble class. Grow it gradually by pulling skill and talent from Blaggot. There are many vermin who would rather raise their dibbuns here anyway. There is no loyalty among them. But give them affluence, and they'll be loyal to you, Father." the prince explained. His father groaned a little.
"It's like swallowing your own vomit instead of puking on the feast, which is worse?" the prince added. The king exploded with laughter, spewing his wine all over himself.
"You've got a way with words, my boy. Your plan has my blessing." said the king. And for the next 25 years, Prince Duncan implemented his plan, gradually draining skill and talent from the neighboring Rat City. He even purchased six ships from the Blaggot ship builders to bolster his image of acceptance. Thus rose Southsward's larger vermin noble class, complete with their own section of the city, own schools, landowners, businesses, and grand estates. King Duncan II died March 7, 5642 of natural causes at age 76. By this time his son had already taken the throne as King Duncan Foldore III.
As a ruler, the new King Foldore brought noticeable prosperity to Southsward. He expanded the kingdom, creating more work and raising the living standard of many creatures, including vermin. It was a long process of gaining the trust of those he intended to betray, while maintaining trust of those who felt he was turning soft. Foldore's eventual plan was to absorb Blaggot into Southsward and purge or enslave all vermin.
A Future History
King Foldore had nothing to do with the assassination of Abbot Serney, but he provided a safe haven for all involved. This included the defected Long Patrol Major Rubus, who brought 400 loyal warriors with him. Foldore welcomed them into his army. He now had the means to enact his ambition. On November 4, 5661, the horror show known as the Vermin Purge of Southsward began, followed by the Sack of Blaggot, ultimately leading to Mossflower's civil war.
Relatives/Family
Mother: Queen Mother Ariadnae Foldore, age 79.
Wife: Queen Chelsea Lonicera Foldore, age 49.
Son: Prince Duncan Wendel Foldore IV, age 33.
Son: Prince Leonard Sedrick Foldore, age 31.
Daughter: Duchess Chelsea Foldore Maxium, age 29.
Cousin: General Saxus Franconius Hedera, age 55.
Considerable extended family in various positions of royalty and nobility throughout the Kingdom of Southsward.
World/Setting
Set on planet Earth approximately 50,000 years in the future. All of my Redwall OCs are depicted as they were in the year 5645(Year Zero was when time measurements switched from seasons to years.), the year of the Rendezvous of the Six Armies. Most of the anthro world is stone aged to medieval at this time, with some increasing industrialization. The most modern cities have technology equivalent to that of Ancient Rome. Worldwide ocean travel exists with celestial navigation as a risky undertaking.
King Foldore is from the Southsward, a seaside kingdom in Southwestern Mossflower nearly 400 miles from Redwall Abbey. It appears in the Redwall book The Bellmaker, which takes place only a century or so after Redwall Abbey was built. It was ruled by Gael Squirrelking, then conquered by a vermin horde led by Urgan Nagru, a fox from The Land of Snow and Ice. It was retaken during the Battle of Southsward by various Mossflorian armies and the Squirrelking's former guards. Southsward is not again mentioned in the Redwall books, but its subsequent rulers most certainly maintained some sort of alliance with Redwall Abbey and the Long Patrol over the centuries.
1300 years later, Mouse-King Duncan Foldore III is Southsward's current ruller . He and his sycophant family rule from the magnificent Castle Floret, a fairy tale castle if there ever was one. The city and kingdom itself are in a beautiful Mediterranean coastal setting. Hills, farms, and forest surround it with a shipyard on the coast. Southsward operates under a feudal system with some free market among the citizens. The citizenry are classified as 'goodbeasts' or 'vermin', each group has its commoners and nobles. Vermin occupy a smaller group and live in separate areas from goodbeasts, but intermingle in the market areas.
Directly west of Southsward is the rat city of Blaggot, the two cities are separated by South Stream. South Stream is spanned by two bridges connecting the cities. Blaggot is not part of the Kingdom of Southsward and the two populations distrust each other, but commerce between the two is stable. Many vermin residents of Blaggot work in Southsward and vice-versa.
Southsward is located near our current city of Huelva, Spain. It experiences the more familiar Mediterranean climate that allows a nearly year round growing season. Although the winters are cooler and wetter than in our current time. The creatures of Southsward speak Mossflorian with the same accent and dialect as the rest of Mossflower. Most, including vermin, are literate and well educated compared to the rest of Mossflower.
The Foldore line of mousekings have ruled Southsward for the last 120 years. They are staunch patriarchal traditionalists who believe goodbeasts and vermin must remain in their places. King Foldore III is very opportunistic in the sense that, despite his traditionalist views, he'd rather use his vermin population's talent to benefit his kingdom than lose them to neighboring Blaggot. In fact, most Southsward vermin are originally from Blaggot, but found affluence and safety in Southsward. Thus rose an affluent vermin class. This pleased progressive goodbeasts and was disliked but tolerated by traditionalists. As long as vermin knew their place, all was good.
Southsward is credited in Mossflower history as helping to defeat the Siberians in the Battle for New Europe. But everything turned sour shortly afterward. Southsward's traditionalist goodbeasts were not accepting of the new integrated Mossflower, animosity grew toward the now larger vermin population. Civil unrest and violence followed. Following Abbott Serney's assassination, 400 defected Long Patrol hares came to Southsward, pledging their loyalty to King Foldore. The king saw his opportunity and unleashed them on his vermin population. He gave a "kind" warning to those vermin working in Castle Floret. Many escaped with minutes to spare, leaving loved ones to die in the purge.
Body
Standard size, physique, and fur pattern for a Eurasian Harvest Mouse. Stands 5 feet 3 inches tall, moderate physical shape due to healthy diet and constant running around Castle Floret. White mustache, goatee, and eyebrows. Whitening fur elsewhere. Stands tall with good posture.
Clothing
Dresses royal. Always wears his purple royal robe unless physical activity necessitates otherwise. Silk pants that taper just above the ankles, common among royalty and nobility at the time. Badgerlord Paulvo the Savvy wears the same style of pants. Durable leather sandals for footwear. Footwear is a symbol of very high status in Mossflower at the time.
Accessories
The Crown of Southsward. Solid gold encrusted with various jewels all around. It has been passed down from various Southsward rulers throughout the centuries. Modern historians have traced the Crown of Southsward to the treasure of Ublaz Mad Eyes, the terrifying ruler of Sampetra. His story can be found in the Redwall book, Pearls of Lutra.
King Foldore's scepter was constructed for him personally. It is solid gold that was removed from various ornate trim throughout Castle Floret. It is topped with a large emerald that any Redwall historian could identify as part of Tsarmina Greeneye's treasure, likely a prominent display piece. She was the ruler of Kotir, a fortress that existed prior to Redwall Abbey. The abbey was built in its place following Tsarmina's defeat by Martin the Warrior. It remains unknown as to how these items found their way to Southsward or if King Foldore actually knew what he had.
Both items were recovered from Cascadia, North America and returned to Mossflower in 6605, nearly 1000 years later.
