Monarch Shrike Cardinal

Tall, but not unusually so, slender but not bone-thin, walks like a king should. Light blonde hair cut in the usual style, light blue eyes, one Marked through the Pact.

The Spearhead-King, Third of His Name, Shrike Cardinal, is the current Reigning Monarch of Polaris and fulfiller of the Pact of the Pole-Star. He was born the third and youngest son of his father, the Blacksmith-King, Fourth of His Name, Albatross Cardinal, and Royal Consort Swan Cardinal. Named in the tradition of birds, Shrike was never meant to be the Monarch of Polaris. His older brothers Eagle and Robin were both trained thoroughly in the affairs of state when Shrike was still a toddler. However, the Hunter-Prince Eagle was killed by a radical assassin from the United Island Nation when Shrike was just eight years old. 

Following this tragedy, Shrike was quickly prepped to become Robin’s backup, undergoing a much harsher and dangerous regimen to possibly prepare him to take on the Pact of the Pole-Star. This traumatized the young Weaver-Prince, causing him to retreat into voluntary isolation in the Fine Stone Palace. When their father Albatross died of Fae Pestilence (a possible assassination that yet goes unsolved), Robin became king, but never Monarch, for he refused to perform the ritual. Shrike was unfortunately forced to bear witness to his brother’s death, staring on as Robin was pierced and bludgeoned by every metal object in the room, flying at speeds then unheard of. This further scarred the poor prince, only deepening his paranoia and hatred of the outside world.

Shrike became the Spearhead-King, Third of His Name, at sixteen years of age, only one year older than the minimum requirement to become Monarch. He successfully performed the ritual, returning from the Northern Frozen Aurora with not a sword that has naught but good qualities and something quite not square on the place that isn’t the middle. He has continued to run Polaris as the efficient machine his father the Blacksmith-King made it into, even as his family dies, goes mad, and plots against him.