Squire Route Characters... as dogs! Part 2

Lord Demetriel Morven.

An idealist in a cynical world.

Demetriel is very cautious and wishes to avoid fighting altogether when possible even though he is training to be a warrior. But this is not due to cowardice or naivety. In fact, he is heroic by nature, and kind. Many find him very approachable and perceptive.

He uses a one-handed mace as his weapon of choice, and takes Master Feren's classes very seriously. His friends can always count on him. Currently, he has been ordered by his family to look for a wife, as he is now of age.

So what do I think of when I think of Demetriel?

St. Bernard

Demetriel is the only surviving child and heir of the Iron Duchess, a woman who many would point to as perhaps the most hawkish of your father's vassals. She's brutal, ruthless, and widely considered one of the greatest war leaders in Argent.

But the son is not like the mother.

Demetriel was brought up by his mother as a warrior; taken when young to see the aftermath of battles with the tribes, and witnessed the atrocities both sides committed against each other in the aftermath.

This deeply affected him.

In spite of this, he still believes that extermination is not the path forward for the north and instead wants the two people to reconcile. He is kind by nature, one who uses diplomacy first in attempt to break the cycle of violence he has seen.

The St. Bernard, which was breed as a Search and Rescue breed in the Alps since the late 1600's, is a classic gentle giant. Their history with SAR, plus their history of heroism, simply reminds me too much of Demetriel and what I attribute to him.

It's part of the reason why he and Charles Raymond are best friends and gravitate to one another. Both possess the same goals; they want to bring peace to the north without more bloodshed, as this generational conflict has taken so much from their families already.

If you need an ally that you KNOW won't commit warcrimes, choose Demetriel; he won't let you down!

Lord Charles Raymond.

Charles is the only son and heir of Duke Veldora. He is accompanied and protected by his great uncle, Sir Renfred Raymond.

As the only child of the duke, Charles was raised with high expectations from the day he could walk. From a young age, he was trained how to fight, how to lead, and how to behave.

He and his mother are distant, and his relationship with his father is one of professionalism. Thanks to this, he seems to wear a mask around them, and only reveals his true self when around friends. In which case he is playful and mischievous among peers.

He is usually the first to take initiative, often organizing games and events at court for the other young adults in court. His closest friend, and rumored lover in court, is Lady Mariel Ast'stead.

When not expected to act like the duke's son, Charles is bright, curious, and energetic. His tutors regard him as quick-witted, and many appreciate his humble nature and willingness to learn.

Though he trained as a squire and is now a knight by order of his father, Charles has had to come face to face with the uncomfortable reality that he is far more suited for governance than leading an army or fighting a duel.

Now, he is looking for a wife that could bring benefits to his duchy.

And what do I think of when I think of Charles? Y'all gonna hate me...

Labrador Retriever

Ahhh, poor Charles...

His great uncle is Renfred, a scary and intimidating man who through bloodshed and slaughter ripped the duchy back into his nephew's hands.

His father was 11 when he became the Duke of Veldora, and became one of the most powerful vassals in the kingdom. In fact, he's made Veldora Duchy into the strongest domain in the north at the expense of the local tribes.

These two exemplar men have placed extraordinary expectations on young Charles, and he feels every bit of it crushing down on him.

He's kind, friendly, playful, and mischievous at heart who enjoys a good laugh with those he treasures than anything else. He's charismatic, a natural leader who can make friends easily wherever he goes. Hell, he even organizes charities.

But what the north needs is a leader with iron in them, with the ability to be ruthless when needed. Charles doesn't believe he has that iron, and this weighs on him heavily.

This is something he shares in common with Demetriel Morven, another heir to an northern duchy, who is also his best friend. Due to this, the two have become rather close friends who see in the other a future ally of ducal rank.

I chose the Labrador Retriever for Charles as he's literally "Picture a Lab Retriever in this situation, awwww" lmfaoooo

Like Charles, Labrador Retrievers are clever, friendly, playful, and absolute joys to be around. The two share an aura that welcomes and soothes, not intimidates and frightens. But he recognizes that to create the future he wants, he may have to commit ruthless acts.

He dreads it.

Lord Cariel Zane.

The hope of a ducal house.

Duchess Siriel's only son and heir. He is handsome, athletic, and capable as a swordsman. But more than all of that, he is dutiful.

He is a knight in your father's retinue with plenty of training under his belt, and one of the first squires to be sent to your father's court in Blackwall years ago.

His mother sent him there to show interest in developing closer relations with the royal family, and willingness to work together in the future.

Cariel knows how to be courteous and diplomatic. But he will defend his family and will fight back if offended.

As the oldest of the youngsters in the retinue, he acts as a mentor for the other younger squires and regularly gives advice or tips. Currently one of your guardians and protectors, something eye-raising as his family are of the Noble Faction.

This felt like an easy choice if I'm being honest, what I thought of for Cariel was the...

German Shepherd

Recently Awakened and now possessing House Zane's Blessing, Cariel is dignified, constantly alert, and visibly powerful. All traits one would also attribute to a German Shepherd Dog (GSD).

Athletic and widely considered handsome, Cariel is the hope of his family. It is a burden he carries well.

I chose the GSD for Cariel as they're notable protectors and particularly loyal, something Cariel will demonstrate in the Squire Route time after time again. The breed is also powerful and hardworking, traits I see in our new guardian.

Cariel is polite, and attempts to rein his emotions in as we'll see later on, but it remains somewhat difficult as he's sensitive and emotional, moreso thanks to the Blessing of his family.

Remember, his emotions are being heightened as are his senses. This is thanks to now being Awakened. He needs about another year to get used to this new state of being.

Basically, he's gonna be a lot of fun to write in this route!

Lord Armiel Ast'stead.

The Lone Sparrow.

One of your father's youngest knights. He sticks around after becoming an adult to "find a wife", though it's more of an excuse to have freedom to do as he wishes.

He's very introverted, and enjoys the quiet. As he spends most of his free time staying in his room to meditate, he has little opportunities to meet other ladies.

This does not bother him however, though his father's demands are becoming ever increasingly louder whenever they meet. This has led to him asking you for help to find him ladies who are willing to keep up appearances.

A handsome man who inherited almost nothing of looks from his father, he's a poet who sings with the harp on his side. Lord Armiel only wishes to be left alone to sing, write, and contemplate matters of philosophy and faith.

He does however, enjoy your company and insight.

I had lots of fun finding a dog that feels close to Armiel Jr's vibe, and I think I found it in the...

Dobermann

I feel like I have to explain a bit more indepth here so that this makes sense.

Dobermann are considered scary (Thanks to his father's reputation so is Armiel Jr), have an aura that demands respect (Armiel Jr is tall, incredibly handsome, and powerfully built. Think Chris Hemsworth in Ragnorak Love and Thunder when he is exposed thanks to Zeus), but in actuality the breed is one of the least aggressive dogs out there! (Armiel Jr is emotionally intelligent, always thinks twice before acting, and has an incredibly high tolerance before snapping)

The two fit perfectly as both the Dobermann and Armiel Jr have a bad reputation!

The Dobermann has been casted as a bite happy dog.

To clarify, the breed CAN cause massive damage to someone, of that there's no doubt. But so can the Saint Bernard... though you dont hear as many warnings surrounding that bigger breed.

In truth, the Dobermann is a wary and reserved dog that observes and then acts.

This is a behavior you'll see a lot from Armiel Jr! And just like the Dobermann, Armiel Jr is not someone you want to make furious because it'll mean 1) You deserved it and 2) Armiel Jr is his father's son.

It's just that his lack of whoring, drinking, flirting, and talking that put other people off. Which causes people to gossip. Armiel Jr though, would much rather stay in his room and compose poetry, songs, and think about his purpose in the world.

But uh, there'll be a running gag that'll be him showing red flags to the other squires and them just chalking it up to him being weird as always.

The red flags in question?

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"Do you think they saw their life flash before they died? Maybe they regret how they lived it. Maybe the Goddess is disappointed that's how they used the life She gave them."

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"I wonder, if rabbits and foxes suddenly switched places... would the rabbit tear into the flesh of the fox in revenge? Or would it be a base instinct to eat that makes them use their new claws? Would the now defenseless fox still walk up the now dangerous rabbit fearlessly? Or would it flee, sensing something has changed?"

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"Why do cattle accept their fate? Surely they've seen their sisters and brothers butchered once it was time, surely they know what the red-soaked barn is? Is it the food and safety we give them? But the end result is the same. We still eat them... Charles, what do you think?"

"Armiel. I swear to the saints above if you don't cut that shit out, I will kick you in the balls."

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A very philosophical lad indeed, who wishes to know how humans work and why they act the way they do. This war in the north may answer his questions, and you'll help him.