King Baldwin IV
Introduction: The legendary Leper King of Jerusalem, a man who is single-handedly holding a kingdom together with sheer force of will and a lot of duct tapes. He's a tactical genius who has to joggle a court intrigue, a looming invasion, and his own body trying to self-destruct. He's the ultimate definition of "working under pressure."
Appearance: He's basically a walking enigma wrapped in fancy cloth. The silver mask and head-to-toe wrappings is less for style and more to prevent people from running away screaming. It gives him a cool, mysterious vibe, but it's really just the most extreme form of skincare.
*****
Baron Godfrey of Ibelin
Introduction: Lothar's new work dad and political GPS in the Holy Land. He's an old buddy of Lothar's actual dad and someone who knows all the political cheat codes. He's the guy who knows where all the bodies are buried, probably because he helped bury some of them.
Appearance: He's embraced the local climate and wears fancy silk robes over his armor, proving that you can be a deadly warrior while still prioritizing comfort. He has the calm, knowing look of a man who's seen way too much drama.
*****
Balian of Ibelin
Introduction: The guy who went from forging horseshoes to forging a political career. He's the illegitimate son who got a magical power-up and was thrown into the deep end of the noble shark tank. He's mostly just learning the ropes of not drowning in all the backstabbing. Also, a little bit of trying to figure out which spoon to use.
Appearance: He has the build of a man who could win a bar fight, but the nervous expression of someone who's just been handed the wrong fork. He's learning on the job, and the job is very, very weird.
*****
Princess Sibylla
Introduction: The kingdom's most eligible bachelorette, mainly because marrying her is like winning the political lottery that comes with a "free kingdom" DLC.
She's the beautiful, powerful center of a very messy season of "The Bachelor: Jerusalem Edition," where all the contestants are heavily armed and emotionally unstable.
Appearance: A classic princess who looks like she just stepped out of a fairy tale. She's beautiful, elegantly dressed, and has mastered the art of looking regal and mysterious. She often wears a veil, probably to hide the fact that she's rolling her eyes at all the men fighting over her.
*****
Count Raymond of Tripoli
Introduction: The one exhausted adult who has been put in charge of a kingdom full of heavily armed toddlers. As the Regent, he's trying to use diplomacy and reason to manage a court that runs on drama and bad decisions. He's the long-suffering babysitter of the Crusades.
Appearance: He has the tired, weary face of a man who has attended one too many pointless council meetings and has seen too many nobles throw tantrums. He looks like he's powered by pure stress and the faint hope that one day everyone will just calm down for five minutes.
*****
Count Raynald of Oultrejordain
Introduction: A man whose personality is set to "permanent rage mode." He's the leader of the "let's solve all our problems with violence" political party. He spent 15 years in a dungeon, and it seems to have done wonders for his social skills. His answer to every problem is violence.
Appearance: A tall, skinny guy with a head of wild red hair that's a perfect match for his explosive temper. He has the intense, slightly unhinged look of a man who's about to make things everyone's problem.
*****
Guy de Lusignan
Introduction: The ultimate "fiancé from hell" and the main antagonist to everyone's happiness. He's the arrogant, power-hungry knight who thinks he's the main character of the story. Historically, this is the guy who actually did marry Sibylla and promptly led the kingdom to ruin, making him one of history's biggest "oops" moments.
Appearance: He's got the sharp, angular features and the intense, brooding stare of a classic movie villain. He has a perfectly sculpted beard that probably has its own evil agenda. He radiates a smug energy that makes you want to punch him, but you can't because he's unfortunately very good with a sword.
*****
Count Werner von Habsburg
Introduction: Lothar's dad, a man who probably considers smiling a taxable offense and whose primary emotions are "stern disapproval" and "vague disappointment." He's a veteran of the Crusades who communicates through grunts and probably thinks things like "joy" and "fun" are signs of a weak bloodline. His idea of a heartfelt father-son moment is giving his kid a sword and a one-way ticket to a war zone.
Appearance: Looks like he's been personally offended by every sunrise he's ever witnessed. He's got the long, unkempt beard, a face that's mostly scar tissue, and the permanent expression of someone who just bit into a lemon. he's the medieval equivalent of a grumpy cat.
*****
Otto von Habsburg
Introduction: Lothar's older brother, who is handsome, responsible, and clearly got all the "how to be a normal noble" genes. He's the kind of guy who would steal from his scary dad to give his chaotic younger brother some cash for his questionable life choices, making him the undisputed MVP of siblings.
Appearance: Also annoyingly good-looking which makes you wonder if he and Lothar were adopted. He's the clean-cut version of Lothar, the one who probably doesn't have a secret army of supernatural misfits hidden in his castle.
*****
Count Leopold Babenberg
Introduction: The flashy, ambitious Count who throws the medieval equivalent of a massive music festival, but with more jousting and fewer overpriced food trucks. His main goal is to level up his territory from a "March" to a "Duchy," and he's not afraid to spend a fortune on recruitment fairs (aka knightly tournaments) to find the best talent.
He's a smooth operator who will offer you a fiefdom and a glass of wine, but you should probably read the fine print on that contract.
Appearance: Looks like a man who has never had to worry about money a day in his life. He's got the short, curly hair, the well-trimmed red beard, and the expensive silk clothes. He has a warm, welcoming smile that probably hides a very complex and slightly terrifying political agenda.