Profile
Original Post
"I've got friends in high places and enough power to make laws of my own. Would you like to change your wording before I ruin your life?"
Kugel, known simply as 'Maddens', is flashy, famous, and has far too much money than one person could ever possibly need. The choices he makes are usually questionable, and his business practices are...morally ambiguous to say the least. He is a powerful individual and holds enough influence to directly affect the Council of Riverhead, the city in which he resides.
Maddens started out with little to no hope of rising through society, but there would be a chance that would allow him to climb to the top of the social ladder. As a young and inexperienced viscet who was talked out of his dreams of pursuing art and was also goaded into the industry by his father, Maddens was unqualified and clueless as to how it all worked. Running off of his little knowledge that he gleaned from growing up under his father's shadow, Maddens hesitantly entered the fray. Not too much later, he took a chance and invested in a small business, despite his peers and his father's telling him not to. Everyone insisted it was a stupid decision, believing that the one choice would end Madden's short-lived career. However, this all changes when the company unexpectedly gains traction and becomes one of the most popular product producers in a matter of months.
The surprising twist of fate sets Maddens up for life. He quickly rises to fame and becomes one of the richest individuals in the entire world, his net worth surpassed only by a few other monopolists and big figureheads. He welcomed the life that presented itself to him and has adjusted nicely. However, with all the good, there's also the bad. Power corrupts, and in Kugel's case, it gets him into trouble. His new status instantly made him popular among Riverhead's Council, and members instantly begin to clamor for his attention, knowing that his influence would be extremely valuable. Maddens could have chosen one side of the political battle or the other, and although both came with their advantages and disadvantages, he joined the side of one of his acquaintances, setting him up to be a direct rival of the city's dictator herself. Obviously, this is a dangerous position to be at odds with her, but there are other troubles.
As a businessman, he draws unwanted attention, especially from those in the lower quarters. The rebels see him as a threat and an obstacle in the way of their freedom from the Council's so-called tyranny. Maddens is often targeted by hitmen and is generally in danger of being attacked at any moment. However, he has learned to live despite it all and is currently working on a long overdue project. Old things and antiques have always fascinated him, and he has a collection of baubles and trinkets that he holds in extremely high value. He also has returned to his passion for art by creating his own personal gallery of works, either bought, traded, or bribed for. He keeps it very well-hidden from any of his associates or business partners because of the controversial nature of many of the pieces he owns. Most could be considered borderline illegal according to the dictator's statutes, and some are outright contraband. Maddens spends a lot of time and money covering for his secret and questionable dealings, but his biggest goal in life is to one day publically open his gallery. After he boots out the dictator and takes her place of course.
