Baron Edric Winslow

Baron Edric Winslow was a man who knew how to enjoy life. Born into a family of merchants, he had spent his youth learning the delicate art of negotiation, mastering the tides of trade, and forging alliances that spanned cities and provinces. By the time he inherited his father’s estate, he had already expanded his family’s wealth tenfold, securing his place as one of Virensha’s most influential landowners and traders.     His barony was a prosperous one, built on fertile land and thriving commerce. From textiles to grain, from rare spices to fine silks, there was little that did not pass through his hands. But unlike many merchants who hoarded their wealth, Edric was known for his generosity. He donated to public works, hosted lavish feasts, and personally ensured that no family in his lands went hungry during the harshest winters. His wealth was not just a privilege—it was a tool to uplift those around him, a philosophy that made him beloved by commoners and respected by nobles.     The invitation to Duke Greeve’s grand banquet was not just a formality; it was a recognition of his contributions to the empire’s economy. It was a chance to strengthen trade routes, negotiate tax policies, and celebrate a victory that, in many ways, had been funded by men like him.     A Merchant Prince in Noble Attire   Baron Edric Winslow had the look of a man well-acquainted with fine dining and comfortable living. In his fifties, he had grown rotund, though his frame still carried the presence of a man who had once been sturdier in his younger years. His thinning blond hair was always combed back neatly, though he often joked that no amount of wealth could buy back what time had taken from him. His cheeks were round and rosy, his complexion that of a man who never refused a good vintage or a rich meal.     Despite his girth, his movements were surprisingly nimble, his gestures grand and expressive, punctuating his frequent storytelling and booming laughter. There was always an air of joviality about him, a warmth that made him an easy companion at any table.     A Jovial Spirit with a Keen Mind   To the casual observer, Baron Edric was nothing more than a boisterous, good-natured noble—a man who loved feasts, fine wines, and grand company. But beneath the laughter and the indulgence lay a shrewd mind. He had built his wealth not just through fortune, but through intelligence. He knew when to invest, when to hold, when to speak, and when to let others reveal too much.     While others underestimated him as a mere merchant, those who had conducted business with him knew better. He was not ruthless, but he was not a fool either. His generosity was genuine, but it was also strategic. A merchant who gave was a merchant who was remembered, and a merchant who was remembered was a merchant whose name carried weight.     His love for life extended beyond business. He was a storyteller, a collector of rare books and artifacts, and a patron of traveling performers. His feasts were known across the region, not just for their extravagance, but for their inclusivity—he would as easily welcome a skilled bard or craftsman into his hall as he would a fellow noble.     Dressed in Wealth, Yet Never Gaudy   Baron Edric was a man who understood the importance of presentation. He did not merely dress well—he dressed to impress.     At the banquet, he wore a rich burgundy velvet doublet, its fine fabric shimmering in the candlelight, fastened with polished gold buttons. His cream-colored breeches contrasted elegantly, and a matching burgundy cloak draped over his shoulders, lined with fur for added refinement. A single gold ring adorned his hand—a heavy signet that marked both his noble standing and his merchant legacy. To complete his ensemble, he wore a feathered hat, a flamboyant touch that was as much a statement of his personality as it was of his wealth.     The Virensha Massacre: A Life Ended in Celebration   Baron Edric Winslow had attended the banquet in high spirits, as he always did. He had spoken of trade agreements, of new opportunities for expansion, of how the empire’s victory over the rebels would open new doors for prosperity. He had toasted to the future, to peace, to the strength of Virensha.     And then the massacre began.     When the assassins struck, the revelry turned to horror. Laughter was replaced by screams, wine spilled like blood across the floor, and the grand feast became a battlefield.     Despite his lack of combat training, Baron Edric did not cower. Witnesses would later recall that he had tried to shield a young noblewoman from an attacker, stepping between her and a blade. He had shouted for order, for guards, for reason—believing, perhaps, that diplomacy could still sway the attackers.     But the assassins had no interest in reason.     The details of his death were grim. Some said he was stabbed through the chest, his fine velvet doublet soaked in blood. Others claimed he was slain by one of the summoned horrors, torn apart before his body could be recovered. What is certain is that his life, so full of warmth and joy, was taken that night along with so many others.     Legacy: A Merchant’s Name That Will Not Fade   The death of Baron Edric Winslow was not just the loss of a nobleman; it was the loss of a pillar of Virensha’s economy and culture. His lands, his businesses, and his fortune remained, but they would now pass into the hands of those who had not built them.     For the people of Virensha, his name would not be forgotten. Stories of his kindness, his generosity, and his booming laughter would be told for years to come. His legacy would live on in the trade routes he established, the businesses he nurtured, and the countless lives he had touched.     But in the wake of his death, a question lingered: who would rise to fill the void left by the Merchant Baron? And would they carry his vision of prosperity—or exploit it for their own gain?