Asen Meili, youngest daughter of the Great Sovereign of the Empire, is looking for a husband. And she has some romantic ideas about how one will be found. Which is something she can have, since her father is willing to oblige his favorite child anything. Or so he says.
She's not looking for Prince Charming. She's looking for Mister Right. And how is she going to know who is Mister Right? Well.. she's going to be setting up some challenges.
What are those challenges?
There will be one challenge of wisdom. One challenge of courage. One challenge of power. And one secret challenge.
Don't worry about getting your character to the Empire. That will be arranged for him. Don't worry about wealth, title and nobility. If your character wins, that will also be arranged for him. If your character doesn't win, but he survives, then he may also find himself much wealthier than he was before.
If.
Brass tacks: Neither Meili nor her parents want anyone to die. That would both sour the festivities at the end and lead to feelings of guilt. For the princess, not her parents. They don't feel guilt. BUT, these challenges being what they may be, death is a possibility. Just as an example, your contestant may be expected to fight a dragon. An actual dragon. If Meili was in charge of this, that would definitely be on the list.
But she's not. She's just responsible for it happening. So, here's a list of some potential challenges. Without mentioning which one is assigned to which task.
A) A large dragon is raiding farms. Discourage further attacks. Ideally, without being eaten by the dragon.
B) There is a golden treasure down a trapped hallway. Can you reach the end without injury?
C) A Swordmaster from Jeok, whom Meili has previously rejected, has turned up and is insulting you. How will you end this confrontation?
D) Meili has expressed an interest in a certain flower which only grows in a certain part of the Empire at a certain time of year. It is not that time of year. There is a perfectly preserved specimen in a jar. You will all have a chance at obtaining it. Which one of you will have the honor of presenting it to the princess?
E) The Princess has been locked up. Just... get to her. Without causing massive property damage. Or being killed by the guards.
So, here are the requirements:
1) Your character must be between 18 and 30 years of age and unmarried.
2) The preference is strongly weighted towards interesting characters who are, for want of a better word, 'normal'. If Meili wanted to marry a prince or the like, she'd let her dad choose her husband. Princes are allowed, but they shouldn't expect their title to carry anything. Her father is also going to give a hard no to any applicant who is genetically engineered or some sort of supersoldier.
3) Your character must be male.
