[hider=Espadaja]
Name of the Province: The Duchy of Espadaja

Name of your liege: Duke Rodrigo III Jimenez

Position: The broad southern marches, at the frontier

Specialty: Espadaja is, first and foremost, an agrarian province. Its rich volcanic soil is perfect for wheat and other cereal crops, and much of the wine and grain consumed throughout Emperiat is produced there. Though perhaps less powerful militarily than some of the more central provinces, Espadajans are the heirs of a long and proud martial tradition, and the warriors among them well remember it.

History: Espadaja, as a single political entity, does not preexist its status as an Emperian province. For centuries it was split among half a dozen warring petty kingdoms and lordships, uniting only long enough to fight off incursions from the larger kingdoms to the north and south. About a century ago a lord named Jimeno married a princess of Emperiat, entering into league with her royal brother. The the power of Emperiat at his back, Jimeno brought the rest of the Espadajan lords under his thumb and, in order to safeguard his conquests, swore homage to the Emperian King.
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[hider=Sir Roland Vieuxome]

Name: Sir Roland “the Broken Blade” Vieuxome

Age: 48

Appearance: Roland is a broad man of middling height already entered into the autumn of his life. His shoulder-length tawny hair, however, is only here and there laced with gray. His face betrays yet the handsomeness of his youth, though it is marred by a diagonal scar running across his left cheek. His eyes are brown, and frequently wander in search of danger.

Known for: Participation in a number of noteworthy battles and victory in at least a dozen tournaments. His nickname refers to his presence at the Battle of Badajeux, whereat he broke his sword in half in personal combat with a rebellious count, whom he proceeded to slay (along with much of the man's personal guard) with what remained attached to the grip.

Dirty little secret: Once slept with the wife of his present overlord, Rodrigo Jimenez. This tryst led to the birth of Aurelio Jimenez, the present heir to the Duchy of Espadaja.

Skills: Roland has an excellent grasp of military strategy and tactics. Once a peerless swordsman, there are still few that would dare to face him in a fair fight. His bellicose personality leaves him ill suited to diplomacy, however, and he is largely out of his depth when dealing with courtly intrigue.

Motto: “Steel is surer than gold.”
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