Lt Earnest Briers - Toby W
Earnest Briers is a rising star in fiscal corporate circles who was appointed CIO (Chief Innovations Officer) of X-Trend Inc shortly after the opening of the Asgardian portal. He has recently been seconded to the UNITED project, although it is rumoured that X-Trend's political clout is the sole reason Earnest's application was successful. A smartly dressed man in his late 30s, he hails from London in the Euro-Rus Alliance and was educated at Yale.
Eternity
After working to take down Vaughan (See Midgard eternity), Briers turned to focus on X-Trend once more, continuing dealings with Jotunheim and settling the Vanaheim refugees that had made their way to the world of Danforth to Siberia. Briers set Jinx as a special constable of Extrapol to ensure that their justice is met in even the fiery realm of Muspellheim.
As the years went by X-Trend continued to grow, and continued to spread to the other worlds, being among the first major Midgardian companies to work in Tyr's holt, and it was Briers great goal to own land on all the major worlds, though the lower ones eluded him, yet he always claimed to technically have a part of Muspellheim. X-Trend similarly went to great lengths to employ people across the known worlds, becoming the largest multi world megacorporation, and they did much to help the spread of capitalism, banking and modern currencies to the worlds. Though X-Trend became I giant, it was not the only one. Some would say that Briers could have manouvered X-Trend far better to crush the opposition, however Brier's philosophy was against true monopolies, which he viewed as being against good business. So as the years went by X-Trend constantly found itself competing, striving to do better, become more economical, become greater as all businesses should.
Briers also dealt with the Crimson Duke of Niflheim, who had been banished from his realm for being too progressive. He gave the Duke access to a great deal of footage, for the Duke wished to watch events transpire across the worlds, he had grown bored of his long time in the icy wastes, and watched with great interest the various conflicts of the new worlds. In return he taught Briers of the magics of Niflheim, which Briers used to profit greatly, for the ability to allow something to weather the ravages of time, to become truly unchanging, had a great many uses and much demand in this age of immortals and aeons.
…
Straight back from his board meeting at Tyr's holt, Briers waited in the warehouse. The room seemed to become colder as another entered, though the thermostat remained constant. The figure, humanlike but with something distinctly off, wore a sharp suit that caught the eye, if only because it was exactly the same as the one he wore several thousand years ago. Immortal and unaging, the Crimson Duke spoke slowly, allowing each word to carry a monumental weight of ages.
“Good day my friend, I have come to collect.”
The Duke came out of his embassy once a year, and spoke to many. It was rumoured that he enjoyed the contact, though his seemingly expressionless face gave little away. Briers gestured as his workers lifted a large box of various media. Media of all sorts, though mostly news. All the news, no matter how trite the source. Someone had sniggered at some of the choices in one of the early weeks, and had been turned into a popsicle for quite some time.
“Very good, I shall now continue with your instruction”.
The process of learning with the Crimson Duke was quite agonising, and though it was never entirely whether this was due to his personal nature, or that of Niflheim itself. Briers emerged hours later, lightly frostbitten and bid a goodbye to the Duke. He straightened his suit and marched off to make his three o'clock meeting, a fire giant who had become interested in trade opportunities. After that a talk with the Dwarves of Danforth, and then finally a consultation with seers as to the future. Another day as usual, working for X-Trend.