Saen is the eldest son of the king of Athulia (think like France in essence). Due to his country's tradition, as the eldest son, he is destined to be the future leader of the country's armies, and he embraces his role. He has been at battleschool since he was seven(?), only coming home for his coming of age ceremony at sixteen. As the future battlemaster, he enjoys a position of prominence in the battleschool, and is the highest in the students' pecking order. He has less than a year before he graduates, after which he will spend a short amount of time with his family at court before returning to live with and assist the current battlemaster. Saen is a good leader, strategist, and fighter. Those who know him will tell you that he his good natured and congenial and often teases, until you cross him, at which time you feel his quick temper.

Saen has always been a reckless person. As a child new at battleschool, this led to friction between him and Ryrdaen, who was then at the top of the hierarchy. In spite of being a prince and the future battlemaster, the young Saen had to submit to a lower place in the student hierarchy, and fag for Ryrdaen. He was often punished by Ryrdaen for his rash and stupid actions, especially when they jeopardized team drills. His attitude toward Ryrdaen (who is now graduated and gone from battleschool) is one of bitterness.

Saen's relationship with his family is careless, at best. Having left for battleschool at such a young age, he has learned to meet his own emotional needs or to rely on trusted friends. There is considerable friction between himself and his brother (see Corithazon's interview), but he wishes it were not the case. His attitude toward his youngest sister (Sylve) is one of amusement, but he truly loves his other sister (Nenith).

(Pardon me as I switch to lists now; I think better in lists)

Character traits:
- Energetic; always on the go
- Bold, dominant
- A leader; wants own way
- Competitive
- Fickle, changeable
- Needs excitement
- Enjoys the spotlight
- Demanding and hard
- Fearful of weakness
- Hides any impotence
- Ambitious; needs to win
- Responds to trouble with aggression
Strengths:
- Generally good-natured
- Brave
- Willing to help
- Generally protects those who are weaker
- Extrovert
- Doesn't give up easily (if at all)
- Loyal
Weaknesses:
- Overcompetitive and overambitious
- Poor temper
- Too quick to fight
- Ham
- Afraid to show that he is weak
- Somewhat selfish
- Changeable moods

See also: essence map, picture

Please direct your questions to Saen himself. I'm going to try to get this to do double duty and help me develop his voice...

Have you tried to repair the relationship between you and your brother?

Are you planning any sort of revenge on Ryrdaen? Do you understand why he treated you as he did?

*gives you an odd look* No. There's a difference between wishing and doing, you know. The only thing that would mend our relationship from my end would be some sort of admission that I'm doing something wrong, and I'll never do that. It's not my fault that Cor is so uptight. He can fix what he started.



*eyebrows lower and come together* I'm not the child I was back then. I'm strong, and no one gets the better of me, ever. My time will come, and I will have my revenge, yes. *short bark of a laugh* He humiliated me because he could. He was at the top of the hierarchy, you know. Who wouldn't want to monopolize on having a prince under them, hmm?

Who is your best friend? Can you imagine anything happening at any point in the future that might cause you to become angry with him and possibly cause harm to him?

And, hypothetically speaking, what would be your reaction if a stranger told you that she admires you, but thinks the nation might be in some danger from your changeableness and temper when you become battlemaster?

Do you have an interest in pursuing a romantic relationship with a female at any point in the near future?

Where is the place you would least like to spend a considerable length of time?

Do you respect your father?

Ooh, goodie! I was hoping you'd come along.



Alaen's my best friend. It was kind of natural, you know. He was the only one at battleschool that I could approach on the same level. I'd never tell him this now, but when we first met, I was also drawn to him because it seemed like he wouldn't be much of a threat. He turned out to be the kind of person that grows on you. *snorts and smirks a little* I get a little angry at him at least every other week. You don't see him walking around beat up, do you? Like I said, I don't perceive him as a threat. He'd never do anything against me or my family.

Me: *smirks knowingly at Juliet*



*squints at you* Hypothetically, hmm? I've never known a question that was purely hypothetical. I'd be flattered by her admiration and think it was lucky she was a female. Most men who criticize me like that soon regret it. What people don't seem to understand is that my changeableness is a good thing. I can be having fun with someone one minute and entirely serious the next, see. Do you really think I'd let anything, even one of my own typical characteristics, jeopardize a real, dangerous situation?



*shadow passes briefly across his face* Yes, but no. I've heard tell of a certain young lady I'd go courting if I could, but I can't. Battlemasters can't marry, you see. Having a child would disrupt the line of battlemaster succession and encourage the battlemaster to stage a coup, or so reasoned the king who made the law.



*runs a hand through his slightly messy hair* An Entlaunian prison, I suppose. So help me if our southern neighbours ever get their hands on me.



I suppose so. He's a good king, I guess. I'm Uncle's heir, not his, so we've never been close.

Have you ever wished you and your brother could switch places? How do you foresee your relationship working when you both come into your positions?

Who has had the greatest impact on your life, the way you think and what you value? Do you ever think about the way you want to impact others?

Never. I could never be happy just sitting on a throne and making decisions, you see. I'm most comfortable with a sword in hand. There'll be even more lecturing and babysitting on his part, It'd imagine. He'll see in the first battle that I mean business, though.



My uncle, the current battlemaster, I think. He's taught me all I know about being a leader. I want to have an impact on other countries by defeating them, of course. *laughs* I want to be a leader men will look up to and follow to the death. The kind of leader they'll tell awe-filled stories to their grandchildren about, you know.