[color=goldenrod][h3][u][b]Registration of Current Nobles[/b][/u][/h3]

[b][u]The Name of the Noble:[/u][/b][/color] Arceus Kallidus Kyros, Arch-Magus of Cathal and Lord of the city of Gor Ithios

[color=goldenrod][u][b]The House of which said noble belongs:[/b][/u][/color] House Kyros

[color=goldenrod][u][b]Current Age of said Noble:[/b][/u][/color] 24

[color=goldenrod][u][b]House History:[/b][/u][/color] House Kyros rose up four centuries ago to power with the province of Cathal, managing to break the constant dead-lock with power struggles between the Mage families and becoming nobles in their own right. They achieved this through a combination of pure sorcerous skill, careful bargains between those families that would submit, and even more careful marriage alliances. Ending a reign of Paper Kings and feuding Sorcerous Families.

Ever since, House Kyros has dominated Cathal with an iron grip befitting a House whose position is surrounded by roughly equivalently powerful opponents. But they pay the King's Tithes, respect his authority, and lend their domain's forces to his in exchange that they be left alone to govern the province as they see fit and deal with their own affairs. Which is mostly benevolent, if a bit tyrannical in regards to maintaining their control amongst the local nobility. The other families are kept on a short leash when it comes to trying to extend their own power to match that of House Kyros', but are allowed to govern their fiefs and properties as they wish just like their overlords.

The internal family succession can be particularly rough. For like any great House, Kyros has many children, and being of proud Mage-blood stock throughout their lineage, every last one of them has substantial magic potential. The family patriarch's position is decided by the merit of the sons, usually the eldest mature sons, by way of Sorcerer's Duels. Only the most powerful mage among them may ascend to the title of Arch-Magus of Cathal, and thus distribute the other Kyros-owned titles, properties, and lands among his siblings; as well as oversee disputes between and among the other Mage Families of the province who then swear fealty to their new Arch-Magus. The remaining sons are usually assigned to strategically marry the best Sorceresses to perpetuate better and better Mages within the Kyros Family, or to solidify alliances between them and houses outside the province.

This practice of succession, while seen as barbaric among some nobility of other provinces, is seen as necessary by House Kyros, and is a normal rite among the other Mage-nobility of Cathal. A Sorcerer's life is competition and power, and it is one which only the strong survive. It is only right that in a political setting where they dominate, that the Houses would only want the very best at their heads, and that the most powerful of all of them would be their Lord. Plus, with sorcery being such a dangerous occupation even at the best of times for those skilled in combat magic, it naturally leans towards weeding out the weak and incapable from the mighty and skilled, and all of the Houses of Cathal can attest to that whether they're Kyros or not.

The daughters on the other hand are prime prizes that any Mage Family that isn't of Kyros desires to have wed to one of their sons, and House Kyros knows this. To this end, the family has traditionally indulged their daughters to be as picky and particular as they desire with their potential husbands. Being highly capable Sorceresses themselves, they often don't care for potential husbands who cannot even best them in challenges or meet their demands. Duels are seen as socially unacceptable in Cathal for Ladies to participate in against suitors, but it is highly fashionable for them to set such tasks to suitors against other Sorcerers to prove to them how far they're willing to go for their love, and for the Lady to judge her suitors' performance. Cathal is joked of as being full of Sorceresses who cannot live up to a Daughter of Kyros' expectations. Such a system is ripe for underwritten manipulation as the women essentially use their positions to make families enter feuds over marriage proposals, all the while the potential orchestrator patriarchs all act innocuous of their relatives' actions.

In terms of recent history, House Kyros has begrudgingly offered more social mobility and freedom among the nobles within the province on the orders of King Merin whom showed his disproval with the House's stiff control over the province. The family viewed Merin as a kind-hearted and benevolent, but naive King who never fully understood how and why Sorcerers conducted politics and business in Cathal, but like all others they bent the knee to him and his wishes while he sat the throne of Handon. With his abdication, the latest newly ascended young Arch-Magus hopes to set things right again and further secure the interests of him and his House.

Banner:
A Pentacle on a Black Field of Brass-coloured stars, the circle being one of Gold while the star itself is Crimson Red. 

[color=goldenrod][u][b]Lands and Ownership:[/b][/u][/color]

-The Province of Cathal (Arch-Magus is the title associated with its ownership. A province of middling agricultural quality, a few mines and forests utilized for lumber but nothing to boast of compared to other provinces of Handon. Its main revenues come from taxation, the Sorcerer Academies tuition fees, the refinement and sale of goods for magical and alchemical means, and the sale of Sorcerers' services abroad.)

-City of Gor Ithios, capital of Cathal (Lordship, with all obtainable revenues, tariffs and taxes associated therein)

-Provosts of all Sorcerer Academies within Cathal's bounds (House Kyros divides the Provost seats amongst its sons, with the Arch-Magus usually being the Provost of the most prestigious Academy of the time. They are mostly advisory positions which conveniently offer access to the Faculty records which the House keeps up to date on after each year.)

-The Tower of Obsidian/ The Obsidian Tower (Personal residence of House Kyros, and seat of their power located in Gor Ithios, built entirely out of imported Obsidian)

-Herne Alchemical Refinery (Family-owned Business in Gor Ithios specializing in Alchemy and Potions, founded over 200 years ago by Herne Valdius Kyros) 

-10,000 Acres of farmland estates (Roughly 20% of Cathal's capacity)

-The Scholam Arcanum (Public Library specifically catering to the Art of Arts, boasts of being one of the largest repositories of Magical Knowledge and Sorcerous Writings in the world with extensive material archives as well. Supported by the generous patronage of House Kyros, located in Gor Ithios)

-The Brass Citadel (Prison-Fortress located in Cathal, built to contain convicted Warlocks[Rogue Sorcerers] and other Magical beings or criminals, but also functions as the general prison of the Province. Owned and operated by House Kyros)

-Fort Ardyn (Main Military post for Cathal under the ownership of House Kyros, located within sight of Gor Ithios. It serves as a Training post as well as a Command Post for the Cathal Forces, hosting a private Military-based Sorcery Academy.)

[color=goldenrod][u][b]Autobiographical Knowledge:[/b][/u][/color] Arceus Kallidus Kyros was born the third son of Alain Damion Kyros and Lyra Severian Kyros. With seven brothers and eight sisters that survive to this day and a handful of other brothers which died, he was certainly not a lonely child within the Obsidian Tower growing up. All being powerful children of Sorcerers, their lust for competition and dominance began even at a young age, with the elder brothers and sisters usually bossing around their siblings behind the backs of their parents and relatives. House Kyros knew of such behaviour, naturally, but saw it as good practice for the reality of real life in Cathal when they grew up, and so long as they didn't seriously injure each other, the family saw no reason to stop such behaviour.

But Arceus didn't survive through his childhood and later tutorage under the older Sorcerers of his family through just pure might, as his elder brothers had done, but through cunning and guile befitting one who was not gifted with the natural luck of being born premiere among his siblings. From an early age, he routinely traded favours for favours with his various siblings and cousins his age, balancing out the arrogant ambitions of his older siblings with the more timid desires to be seen and active by the youngers. It was all over petty matters and grudges involving toys, snacks, personal items and clothes, embarrassing others in front of higher family members, nothing serious, but they taught Arceus valuable lessons in understanding Sorcerers.

And as his powers grew with age, his understanding only grew ever more as the scars from the pitiless Sorcerous training of his House began to pile on. He discovered how to play to one's personality, how to hide his full potential and appear helpless. For surviving as a sorcerer often fell not to who was the strongest, but who could outwit their opponent. And to hold one of the most powerful positions in the world, power and wits play equal parts regardless of whether or not one knew magic. 

He also understood why his family had so many kids, as many of them died or were crippled in the process of training in the Art of Arts. For while Cathal had spent centuries to devote itself to making the study of more combative magic a safer subject of study and training, there is only so much one can do to make it safer or easier. As he grew up, Arceus lost 5 brothers through various accidents and hazards of study, and many of his older relatives had lost limbs or suffered fatal injuries as time went on.

At the age of 22, four years after his ascension to the official rank of Sorcerer within his House, the family Patriarch, Alain, died of old age, being 83 years old, a venerable and mighty man. As had been the practice for over 400 years, the sons of the previous Arch-Magus gathered at the Obsidian Tower promptly to decide the next Arch-Magus. Five sons of Alain claimed rights to the Lordship of Gor Ithios and the title of Arch-Magus of Cathal, Arceus being among them with his eldest brother Eamon being nearly 34 and the youngest of the brothers, Gerion being merely 14. The duels were drawn by lot and observed by all members of House Kyros who could attend along with privileged members of the Cathal nobility, privileged Sorcerous peers from beyond the province, and representatives of the King, the widow Lyra herself was among them. The duels lasted all day, for tradition demanded that a successor be chosen by the dawn of the new day, and one by one, the brothers were disarmed and bested, the final showdown coming between Eamon and Arceus.

The old rivalry between the two siblings burned as hot as the magical energy they summoned in their duel. Flames danced throughout the black hall of the throne room, lightning arced in wild displays, bone-chilling winds frosted the floors, and summoned up weapons and beasts of pure energy assaulted each other as brother fought brother. Reality itself might have been ready to rend with how much power was being flung about but the combined might of the family and the ancient foundations of the tower had grown used to such feats. Hours passed, Arceus appearing to be on the ropes multiple times, but in reality he was holding back, drawing his brother's anger and energy out as his taunts only served to enrage the elder brother. Finally, sensing Eamon waning, Arceus delivered a flourish of power that stunned the room, ending a feat of endurance, power, and skill that surely had the ancestors of House Kyros looking on in pleasure. 

Thus, Arceus won his place as Arch-Magus of Cathal, heir ascendant of House Kyros, and Lord of Gor Ithios, one of the youngest to ever hold the title and still a bachelor to boot. His inauguration and birthday of 23 was followed months after by the old King Merin's abdication of the throne of Handon. Opening the way for fresh ambitions to extend his own newly expanded power and the prestige and state of his mighty House of Sorcerers. For with Sorcerers as much as Politicians, the competition for greater power is timeless, and Arceus bears the weight of his house's illustrious lineage as he makes his own moves. 

[color=goldenrod][u][b]Portrait:[/b][/u][/color] 
[img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/27/79/41/2779419c0ba3c8188003a49dff2ac9b8.jpg[/img]
A particularly imposing portrait of the Arch-Magus Arceus Kallidus Kyros, in his full regalia, and wielding his staff of office.

[img]http://img08.deviantart.net/ce47/i/2011/008/5/4/connor_with_scars_by_miho24-d36cud8.jpg[/img]
An artist's sketch of the Arch-Magus' face. His noble face disfigured by the scars of Sorcerous Duels, he wears the scars as a badge of pride, as most Sorcerers do with the scars upon their bodies. Though it obviously doesn't necessarily help with their appeal to ladies.