Nathan III

Nathan III
Full name	Nathan Ludwig Elijah Waffel-Paine of Drak
AKA	The Horned Child, Luddy
Physical information
Species	Human-Satyr
Gender	Male
Hair color and style	n/a
Eye color	Brown
Skin color	White
Other	Horns on forehead, hooves
Biographical information
Father(s)	Nathan II
Mother(s)	None
Date of birth	1671
Place of birth	Anmutstadt, Natopia
Residence(s)	Anmutstadt
Nationality	Natopian
Allegiance(s)	Natopia
Occupation	Heir Apparant of Natopia

Nathan Ludwig Elijah Waffel-Paine of Drak is the first-born son of Nathan II, the Emperor of Natopia. He was born at Royal Memorial Hospital in Anmutstadt, Flaventia, on 25 Blumuar 1671. He is the presumed heir to the Natopian throne. He was conceived as a clone of his father, although genetic material from his father was altered to not result in an identical clone. This also allowed for his quadruplet siblings, Vadoma, Leonora, and John to not be born as identical quadruplets. His step-father is Ayreon IV of Shireroth.

Cloning Process

Luddy, as his family, nurses, and governesses affectionately refer to him as, acquired his distinctive horn and hooves as a result from "a quirk" in the cloning process. The process was developed by military scientists from Hergon, Athlon who required a way to replenish members of the Satyric Guard without introducing any more genetic material that could create unstable zygoats. The satyrs created by the Hergoni military scientists were a robust new race of goatmen, believed to be genetically stable for most of natural lifespan, but unable to procreate. The plan was to grow new satyrs in artificial wombs as existing satyrs died or grew too old. The cloned satyrs would be created from the satyr's stem cells and a goat's egg with all the goat DNA "scooped out."

Birth

The Natopian Emperor requested use of four artificial wombs to clone four children. The zygoat that would become Luddy was unintentionally contaminated with satyr DNA, resulting in the baby having horns and hooves, but otherwise being healthy and human. This additional satyr DNA perhaps contributed to the zygoat being more active and vibrant than his sisters and brother, which was the deciding factor in inducing his birth first and allowing him to become the presumed heir to Nathan II.

In Popular Culture

Ludwig immediately captured the fascination of the public. As a gift to the Imperial family the famed Andrino artist, Gianni Bornino, sculpted a loving tribute to the two brothers being cared for by a mother goat, an allegory of the Natopian Nation. As the future emperor, he is already referred to as Nathan III. The birth of Ludwig also gave the Satyric Guard a much-needed bump to their public perception, the satyr guardsmen, strong and robust, fearsome and intimidating were proud to hypothesize that the new infant would inherit the strength and fortitude of the satyr, which assuaged the fears of the public that the baby was a genetic freak and oddity. Public perception quickly shifted after hearing of trouble in Shirekeep, and the idea of a strong and intimidating future leader became appealing in these uncertain times. Initial confusion and distrust of the human-satyr infant gave way to adoration as the public saw over several weeks the love and devotion given to Luwdig by his fathers and other family members.

The Goat Natopia with Ludwig and John, Gianni Bornino, 1671

Full Titles

• 1671-present His Imperial Highness, Nathan Ludwig Elijah Waffel-Paine of Drak, Prince of Natopia, Prince of Shireroth, Duke of Demonsfall, Count of Trias, Scion of the Three Peoples, Vessel of Dual Natures, Progeny of the Once-Living God, Marquis of Lükanburg, Transcendence of the Dhury, Lord in Jorvik, Heir to the Line of Drak