Adrian Mede

Adrian Mede is the eldest son of Emperor Titus Mede II. He is the heir to the Ruby Throne.

Previously...
Origins & Upbringing Titus II and the Leyawiinese noblewoman Raisa were married when Titus was only a prince.

In 4E 168, Titus II ascended the throne, and she became his Empress.

4E 184: Adrian was the second child of Titus II Mede and his wife Raisa. Their previous son, Iratian, had been born while Raisa was in Skyrim and while Titus was fighting in the Battle of the Red Ring. With the Great War at an end, Titus II and his wife Raisa were able to try again for more heirs. Adrian, unlike his brother, was born in the royal palace in Nibennium.

A legitimate son, he was happy living under his brother's shadow, though he was ambitious to inspire change. His father and mother always spared time for him, despite their busy lives. He and his brother–and eventually sister–were the light of their lives.

4E 186: Acantha Mede was born. He grew quite envious of the attention she received. There would always be a bit of rivalry between himself and Acantha, following that.

Adrian has spent much of his early life in Cyrodiil. He had several friends, namely the children of various nobles. He has known nothing other than a life of luxury, except for when he was on the road. He has always enjoyed horseback riding and hunting.

As Imperial prince, he had the best training money could buy. He was educated in history, politics, finances, rhetoric, writing and reading, and religion. He was also trained in combat as well as instructed in military tactics. His mentor, Ilarwe, taught him magic, and from an early age, she had him meditate his mind, so that when he was ready, he could access the Dreamsleeve. To him, knowledge was equivalent to power, and that was why he spent countless hours in study. Someday, he would serve as his brother's right hand, and he would not be a footnote. Ilarwe in private taught him of the Blades and of Talos. Adrian grew up admiring and venerating the Emperor-turned-diety, but always in quiet. This was secretly endorsed by his father. Adrian was resentful of the Thalmor and their influence in the Empire. He kept his stony face when around them, however.

4E 190: Iratian Mede died of sickness at the age of 16. At the time, he was off in Skyrim. A six-year-old Adrian was named heir to the throne.

4E 193: His mother died giving birth to his youngest sister, Lucretia.

Clueless in the ways of romance, he has had several women advance on him–especially now given his status as Heir Apparent. Some are pushed away with his lack of flirtatious nature, or because they annoy him. He found love as useless, especially in recent years. Marriage is a contract meant to forge alliances.

4E 201: Civil war in Skyrim. Dragon crisis.

Description
Adrian approaches reality as he would a game, always seeking a strategy that has a high payoff, and always developing contingency plans in case of error or chance.

Adrian is a natural leader, though he doesn't consider himself one. The Prince exudes an aura of self-confidence. Sometimes, this is mistaken for arrogance. He may carry his confidence too far, and may seem both arrogant and insensitive. He is prone to being judgmental of those he considers illogical. His cool demeanor is a shield intended to hide any of the 'weak' feelings he may have. He is often less confident than he might appear to be, his feelings inside as strong as any emotion.

He is a perfectionist. He knows what he is capable of, and what he is not, and when he is lacking, he seeks to improve. He does not tolerate failure. He values innovation and effectiveness more than any other quality, and will cast aside hierarchy, protocol, and even his own believes if presented with a necessity for change.

An unusual independence of mind, freeing him from constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment. He hides, however, behind a degree of surface conformism. He promotes freedom and flexibility in the workplace. He loathes highly structured environments. He is uncomfortable around ceremony and ritual, though he does understand the necessity for it. He regards his subordinates as equals, but this means that they must earn their place. This freedom isn't granted–it's required. Those who require direction will have a hard time meeting his standards. Small-talk is not the way to Adrian's respect–cold, hard results are.

Adrian detests weakness in all of its forms. People must work hard to earn their place, or fall to the wayside. He may offer assistance, but he expects it returned tenfold. He has a great deal of respect for those who can rise above. He especially detests superiors who may appear weak. Anyone considering to be 'slacking', including superiors, will lose his respect, and will generally be made aware of this. He may even take it upon himself to implement critical decisions without consulting his superiors or subjects. He stays receptive to new ideas, even if they may prove his conceptions wrong. His open-mindedness allows him to consider other lifestyles, cultures, and religions.

He believes that where there is a will, there is a way, and will analyze and analyze until he comes up with a solution to the desired outcome. Even being so idealistic, he may be ironically cynical as well. He is extremely passionate and determined about his ideas, yet he is not crushed when he is wrong. He will put in long hours and effort to see an idea through. Knowledge is a part of his pride. He wants to know everything, because knowledge gives him power over others.

Everything with him is on a need-to-know basis. He would rather not reveal his cards just yet. In fact, he prefers to have others reveal theirs first–or he might reveal false ones. He lacks a natural empathy, but his intuition helps him to read people and thus manipulate them. Never forgets his debts. Scrupulous and even-handed about recognising the individual contributions that have gone into a project.

He has little interest in gossip, small-talk, and frivolous partying. He is also clueless when it comes to flirtation and romance. To him, marriage is simply a tool for politics and the creation of heirs. He keeps his distance, whether from the 'hard calls' of his own orders, or from other people. He has lost so much that he is almost numb to it. Do you have any mannerisms or quirks?

Not out of anxiety, but Adrian is prone to fiddling with things. He cannot keep his hands still. Whether it's drumming his fingers on the edge of his throne, nibbling at his nails, or fiddling with the clasp on his tunic, he is prone to doing it–especially when thinking or listening. He has a tendency to clear his throat often.

Trivia

 * The Aldmeri derogatorily refer to him as 'boy'.