Profile of Valther

Like an ember in reverse his coat is charred black on the surface, covering his head, shoulders and tail like a cloak. Earthy brown hues mark his muzzle and chest before bleeding into a flaming orange that flows down his long slender legs. He bears a pair of unremarkable brown eyes that blend into the dark hues of his features. One ear folds over in a puppyish fashion due to an injury in his early life before it had a chance to prick up and the other has a tear in it, though he can't remember when it happened.

A spider spinning a complex web of lies and deceit. The more he weaves them the tighter the threads tangle around him, trapping him like a helpless fly falling victim to his own arrogance. His humble birth has done little to temper his ambitions, spending his youth doing dirty jobs for all kinds of vile criminals have hardened his heart to the brutality of the world. Kind words and sweet smiles always come with a hidden price. He'll feed his victims honeyed words and charm them long enough for them to give him what he wants and if they're lucky they'll never hear from him again. If not they'll never be heard from again.

Born baptised in blood, the newly born child was beheld not with the adoring eyes of paternal love, but shoved aside by a stricken husband clinging to his dying wife. “Take care of him,” Lila whispered to Niven. It was her last words that spared her killer and out of duty he obeyed for a time. He named the boy Mutt and never failed to remind him of what he was. ”Why do you hate me, Dad?” It was the first time the child had dared to ask. Muddy brown eyes had glittered with tears, the last drops of innocence within him. "You're not my son. You're a bastard mutt who killed my wife,” Niven had growled, snapping his teeth at the boy until he drove him from his home and out into the streets.

It was his strong will to live that kept him from becoming another victim of hunger and cold. He learned quickly that kindness was weakness and the strong ruled the weak. Whether it was another child’s scraps or something he had caught himself he fought with everything he had to keep it. It wasn't long before the boy’s grit caught the eye of another. Mutt was drawn into the shadows by Odysseus, earning his keep by doing odd jobs for him. The more he worked the further the light retreated until he was completely surrounded by darkness with no way back. He never questioned it. Never had the privilege of morals to make his heart weary, only an emptiness that begged to be filled.

The older he got the more he craved. He wanted a castle and crown of his own, but in a kingdom with too many trying to sit on the same throne he settled for a noble title. The rich. They had everything. They were top of the social food chain while he was forced to climb the bottom rungs. An opportunity to right this wrong came after he was unwittingly pulled into tides of political unrest and violence spilled into the streets. Once the crowds were subdued the young Mutt was marched a judge and sentenced to community service. He was assigned to help an elderly retired politician named Cecil Calyx and given a room in the biggest house that he had ever seen. The perfect castle for a pauper in rags to become a prince with riches.

Mutt began to scheme and likewise Cecil was also plotting how he could use the stray to his advantage, offering Mutt a chance to become his son if he impressed him enough. The Cuckoo swayed his foster father, succeeding in earning himself a new name despite the protests of Eleanor, his real family. The new name, Valther, was taken from a servant. Cecil didn't care to spare a moment to think of something unique for his new son. It was an insult that Valther would not forget and once Eleanor was driven out he began planning his revenge.

The grinning fool who paraded himself like a peacock, receiving undeserved praise from his adoring guests for his good deeds had no idea that it would be the last time he would be seen in public until his funeral. With another life sacrificed Valther grasped his bloody crown and claimed his seat on the Calyx Throne.