BCTheEntity

Itiner: Heroes of Ardenfeld

Dame Niala Evenhand

Dame Niala Evenhand, Human Paladin of Tyr

Who I Am

Niala's experiences and training have led her to become... aware of her strengths and weaknesses, as it were. On the one hand, she is generally polite, respectful, and driven to solve problems simply. On the other, she is loathe to make new friends after losing so many in her time, self-sacrificing, and hyperfocuses on her goals both short-term and long-term, at times resulting in unhealthy obsessions with them. If she were to be honest, she'd fully admit that her driving force right now is not her religious beliefs, but her will to see the bandits she lost her home and family to buried for their crimes - any distraction is taken poorly by her, and she reiterates this beratement upon those around her in turn.

My Story

Before the attack on Ardenfeld, Niala Berine was a sweet, if quiet child. Not too forward-thinking, but honest and true, and capable of lifting the logs her father would chop to fuel his forges over her head even at seven years old. Certainly, she'd make a good apprentice and successor to her father's work as a smith, something both parents encouraged her to be proud of.

Then came the bandits. Houses were burned, parents were killed, including Niala's own. Of course, Niala found herself scarred mentally by the attack, developing a phobia of fire to the extent that even a lit candle could rouse fear. When she did sleep, it was never restful: she'd relive the moment her parents died before her, and each morning she would awake - distressed, as many of her fellows were, but equally... enraged. Hateful that she could not do more. Hateful of those who had hurt her.

The exact sort of mindset the Temple of Tyr were seeking when they visited one day, not a year after the orphans had been taken in. The Landeil Family Orphanage was all but glad to be rid of mouths to feed, especially to such a prestigious group as the temples, and Niala was brought in under the lens of Priest Markos, blind in emulation of his god, who looked into the souls of his faithful to see their worth. Niala's very first words upon learning that were "How can he see if he's blind?", a most amusing statement to Markos - though he also explained that eyes would not see what truly mattered. And what, he then asked, mattered to Niala?

Nothing much, she realised. Everything she'd had was in Ardenfeld. All that remained was a promise of vengeance against those who had taken her previous life away.

What followed for her was years of strenuous training: combat prowess; how to move in armour without overheating; how to divine and then guide the intent of those who would do wrong; and of course a great deal of indoctrination into Tyr's faith, as well as education into the general tenets of various other faiths both good and evil, lawful and chaotic. She would not falter - she couldn't, not if she truly sought the payback, a fire that Markos stoked in her to ensure her most potent fury could be unleashed once the time came.

Fire within he stoked - and fire without he set as her final test, enflaming her room to force her to overcome the fear of fire she had held since that fateful day. If she could not overcome it, she would be no paladin of Tyr... but with faith in heart, and blade in hand, overcome it she did.

She was ready. On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she was blessed and knighted by the priests of Tyr, truly becoming one of his servants, and earning a new name to bring her into Tyr's eye: Niala Evenhand. With her knighting came freedom to pursue his will, and spread his message to the faithless... and as it happened, she had an appointment she still needed to uphold at The Lying Wolverine.

Going Forward

The fire that burns in Niala's heart is one of vengeance, and a desire to see the evils of the world cut out of it without mercy wherever they lie. The heart of this blaze is the event that cost her and her fellow orphans everything: the razing of Ardenfeld, and the bandits who performed such a heinous action. She cannot rest until they are dead... and whilst she was not unfond of her fellow orphans from Ardenfeld, she has been unable to contact them whilst in training. But, perhaps they too seek her goal?

Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

Drevilna-under-Vyapult, a.k.a. the Frostmark

Domain Name: The Grand Realm of Drevilna Under Ownership of the Great House of Vyapult, also known as Drevilna-under-Vyapult for most formal occasions, or Drevilna for more casual shorthand. The latter specifically is typically interchangeable with Frostmark, and is likely a direct translation; either way, most don't bother making the distinction.

Location: The Frostmark, most prominently its largest region to the West of the Great Bastion Mountains, bordered and protected by these mountains to the East, and to the Farwater River on the West.

Domain Summary: Drevilna-under-Vyapult is considered one of the larger territories in Adanion, with quite a wide horizontal range and perhaps the most vast vertical range of any realm, supported by a system of rivers flowing from the mountains and bordering the land on its East and West sides. At these bounds, the land is prime territory for farmland, well protected by both geography and military force; yet within are a variety of forest trees ranging from deciduous forests further down, indeed marking the realm's lower bound and supporting this idea with border fortresses stationed within the treelines, whilst further North the trees gradually transition to evergreens, then pines, before the cold grows too much even for these and the land turns to nigh-uninhabitable tundra - in theory under the control of House Vyapult, in practice under the control of none but nature itself, only ventured into for the sake of hunting certain animals.

Major Holdings:
Farwater River, plus additional tributary streams and rivers - The river and associated tributaries bounding Drevilna to its West and South, its rapid growth from accumulation of meltwater is such that even shortly after the northernmost tributaries emerge from the lake, it becomes difficult to safely cross with more than perhaps a dozen individuals at a time. It also provides an easy source of fish to support the Frostmark's population, and less obviously helps transport minerals Southward from the lake, fertilising the land and, with substantial effort, rendering the regions along its coast somewhat better suited for farming extremely hardy crops and supporting a small number of livestock, though its primary provision remains fishing.
Supporting this hold, three bridge-keeps persist on it, providing easy passage across as well as heftily-guarded points in key locations: Severoreka, providing passage to the Mistlands at the point where the river tributaries merge before splitting into Splitstream and Farwater; Yugoreka, offering entrance into the Crownmark just before the Farwater River merges with the Great Bastion's tributaries at the Frostmark's Southernmost point; and Lesreka, relatively close to Yugoreka, but positioned between where the Great Bastion's tributaries merge and where this river then merges into the Farwater proper to grant access to the Arbormark.

D'yavoles Forest - The general name given to the boreal forest encompassing the lower portions of Drevilna. It has been said by some that it is cursed in one way or another, perhaps inhabited by the damned souls who perish within it; whilst it is certainly thick enough to get oneself lost within, it also provides a rich source of wood from various types of evergreen tree, as well as prime hunting grounds for very many animals and foraging material for many sorts of berries and fruits. It is not, however, exclusively owned by House Vyapult, and many other Houses in the Frostmark do draw their wood from this region.

Vyapult Wood - A forest that is House Vyapult's exclusive property. Taking credit from the Frozen Tears, House Vyapult (more specifically Duke Dzhek, brother to Varangyrian II) began to "farm" trees from D'yavoles Forest by planting saplings and branch cuttings and carefully managing their growth, an endeavour seen as laughable back at its point of origin. Nowadays, the region around the realm's capital city is rich with woodland under the exclusive ownership of House Vyapult, an asset far greater than many give it credit for, and much more difficult to replicate than other Houses may recognise, much to House Vyapult's ongoing amusement.

Kivhar City - The capital city of Drevilna-under-Vyapult, in that it generally hosts the Archduke of the Realm. It is a fairly-sized place toward the Northern edge of Vyapult Wood, combining local lumber with imported stone to produce a uniquely-blended structure of houses and culture. This surrounds the castle Dom-Vyapult, where the Archduke of House Vyapult takes residence and diplomats to his domain alike.
The main church of this city consequently stands out like a sore thumb - a blend of white marble and black basalt, The Church of Life and Death espouses amongst the Twin Faith's usual ideals the dual nature of the world as covering both the living and the dead, best represented by the way Vyapult Wood dies at the tundra's edge, perfectly presenting this balance. Not everyone in Kivhar is enthused by this choice of message, but it at least holds water for many.

Azkuzia - A city well to the South-West of the realm, effectively supporting and guarded by the Yugoreka bridge-fort leading toward the Crownmark, and the Lesreka bridge-fort into the Arbormark; if Kivhar City is the political capital, Azkuzia is certainly the mercantile capital, trading out to the rest of Adanion in both native resources and those gained from the Frozen Tears to the far North. To this end, it is a city that blends culture from many other realms, noticeable in how its general aesthetic merges traditional Drevilnan structures closer to the center with increasingly-esoteric designs further out. The local Guild Hall covers much trade for a system of guilds within this city, which ultimately controls every niche in the city.

Duchies:
The Frozen Tears - The Silver City and mountains of the Frozen Tears are beholden to House Vyapult, albeit only within the last century, and through a bizarre method with no specific ties to lineage. To wit, having sworn allegiance to House Vyapult, the leader of the region is to be considered the Duke or Duchess of their realm and head of one House Echo by virtue of their unusual natural resources, despite the semi-elected nature of such a position within the tribe. This renders Drevilna-under-Vyapult in the interesting position of being a technical suzerain, as the Frozen Tears' primary access to the rest of Adanion comes through House Vyapult, as does their political strength for want of proximity, though they are nonetheless a Noble House as a result.

Reputation: The Frostmark's primary reputation is tied to its extremely cold weather. Beyond the northernmost forested reaches, the land is cold and inhospitable, making it difficult to survive within; because of this, it also has a reputation for poverty, the House's wealth historically considered lesser than most others whether or not this holds true.

Wealth: Drevilna-under-Vyapult has some forests available to it, but nowhere near enough to sale to other nations regularly between growth cycles and structure building. Consequently, their economy is reliant in many ways on fur and pelt trading in Winter, and ice harvesting in Summer. Year-round saleable goods include hides suited for leathermaking and the like, river and lake fish preserved with ice, and high-quality lumber acquired from either D'yavoles Forest or Vyapult Wood. Despite their reputation, sales of these things combined with thrifty personal spending have allowed House Vyapult to build up quite reasonable coffers in the last two generations, giving them more wealth than other Houses might give them credit for, albeit not the ability to recover that wealth quickly should they be forced to expend much of it at once.

Strength: One might make the case that Drevilna-under-Vyapult's primary defense is its cold environment, which certainly holds true in its more Northern regions, but as both of its largest cities are more Southern, this cold is thus somewhat less of a barricade for those who simply want to claim the area without outright conquering everything. Its true defensive worth lies in its geography - surrounded by wide rivers whose key points of invasion are controlled by fortresses bridging the gaps, Drevilna-under-Vyapult is extremely difficult to invade simply because actually getting into the Frostmark region is an extreme challenge to begin with.
In terms of offensive force, whilst a significant proportion of the realm's defenses are focused at the bridge-forts, this is not to say they cannot make a push outward. A modestly-sized knightly order known as the Frostguard exists within Kivhar City, in theory acting as the last port of call to protect the Frostmark from its enemies, but in practice acting as elite soldiers within a potential army, should House Vyapult choose to expend its monetary resources in building up levies and mercenary forces alike as the bulk of troops.

High Lord Varan VII

Name: Velikynaz Varangyrian VII of House Vyapult, a.k.a. Archduke Varan VII
Titles: Velikynaz - A title that in context translates roughly to "Grand Prince", representing Varangyrian's nature as master of the Frostmark. In practice, he is for all intents and purposes an Archduke, and most national formalities utilise the latter title.
High Lord of Kivhar - The official title granted to him as Archduke of the Frostmark, specifically labelling Kivhar City the political capital of Drevilna.

Description: Well-groomed and handsome, the High Lord's 32 years have presented themselves quite well indeed. One understands from a gaze that he is focused, intelligent, and understanding of the way the world works, traits gained from a lifetime of education both under tutors and in the wider world.


Claimant: Sharles of Bremerant - Comparing Sharles' milder, all-but-tame insights to Anyamara's potential brutality, and her insistence of returning to a "status quo" which by his account has been recently gruesome and lately inept, Varan has thrown himself in with Sharles for the time being.

The Great House of Vyapult

"To forest and frost!"

Reputation: The Velikynaz of Drevilna-under-Vyapult is taken to be a fairly capable individual, no matter the generation. In an environment as varied in scope, and especially as broad-spanning as Drevilna and the Frostmark, one has to be capable to keep the area from falling to pieces. For Varangynian VII, this is no different at all: even in person, one can see his wit and experience at the fore, and it is quite clear to see that he has no trouble with running his realm whatsoever. Not to mention that he could be taken as objectively attractive, despite (or indeed supported by) the scar along one side of his face, though one wonders how he maintains a somewhat darker skin tone despite a relative lack of sunlight.
Indeed, one needs to be a smart person to try and negotiate terms with the native tribe up north - savage as they are, it is thus all the more impressive that he has been able to wring out as many resources from them as possible, all but taming them of their worship of false gods and devils! However, simple as those people are, many have asked why the Great House is so keen to retain these people as vassals, even this subservient position providing implication that they are in any way equal to the truly noble people of Adanion. What, in the end, stops this great man from eradicating them and taking their resources?

"When I ferst laid eyes on Varan, I thought he would be as slow as the rest of the Grand Houses. Yet, he has a curiosity about him that is good. He accepts the knowledge of the People and thatsa good start on our relationships. I do see him having benefits in the future relations with the other Houses. Perhaps the Varan in time can become more than someone who grants us presence in the Marble People Politics, but someone who takes us off the reigns and allows us our own autonomy." - Merta the Echo
The People of the Frozen Tears have a mixed opinion about the current High Lord. Their relationship with House Vyapult has been an odd one: while Vyapult has been kinder to them than, say, some of the other Great Houses, they are uncertain of this uneasy alliance.
But Mertavodah believes that he can ease that uncertainty- he believes that speaking with Varangyrian may lead to better future opportunities. If Varan respects the history their people share; the resources the Frozen Tears have given; the help navigating the terrain; insulating the Drevilnan's homes more effectively; what plants to eat; the uses of minerals and ores... then Varan should respect the alliance that they have. To say they feel uneasy hope from Varangyrian VII is the best way to put it.

Ambitions: Under normal circumstances, he might be content with simply ruling the Frostmark as his family has for over a century. With what he's learned of himself in mind, and especially the current royal situation, this is no longer so: Varangyrian VII is keen to avoid a potential repeat of his grandparents' execution under King Colyt II, the stress of which likely killed his mother in short order, and he will do about anything to ensure this does not come to pass for him too, although he is keen not to hurt those he considers important in the process.

Aptitudes:
General Logical Intellect - House Vyapult is keen to present its best self to the world, and prides intelligence greatly in this respect. Thus, it has widely been taken that of each generation of siblings and cousins, it is the most capable who will claim the seat of Velikynaz, somebody who can present themselves to Adanion and succeed through knowledge, strategy and wit, rather than brute force alone. Varangyrian VII proved the smartest of his siblings in that respect time and time again, and therefore took the title of High Lord upon the previous holder's passage.
Communication - It is not always easy to talk with the leaders of other Houses, especially when at least one bears a culture utterly unique to them, and nor is communicating one's will down to the common folk easily done. Varangyrian's efforts in life have been focused greatly on this in particular, for well-executed diplomacy can turn foe to friend just as surely as poor diplomacy can kill you in the house of an ally, and likewise ensuring one's communication reaches those who it needs to is a continual task; no truer is this than with House Echo, whose distance from the rest of Adanion demands firm lines of communication to maintain contact, and whose unusual customs continue to present Varan with something between thankful amusement and confused frustration when, for instance, a formal gathering is in place.
Forestry - One of House Vyapult's greatest skills, ever since the first tree of Vyapult Wood was planted, has been an affinity for the management of forests and trees. Woodcutting, tree farming, and dendrology are all long-instilled skills of the House's scions, a necessity to maintain not just Vyapult Wood, but many other forests in the Frostmarch. More than once has D'yavoles Forest or Vyapult Wood been saved from mass deforestation by the discovery of a tree-eating fungus, and the subsequent destruction of every tree and stump within fifty or one hundred paces to prevent its spread; and over-harvesting of the forests is a matter carefully prevented by highly particular policies on when given trees can or cannot be chopped down.

Vulnerabilities:
Ties of Emotion - Varan, for all of his political abilities and high position, feels intensely what others do, moreso than mere empathy should explain. Thus, the happiness of those he holds to be important, be they his family or the people he rules, is his own; and in turn, their loss, their frustration, and especially their pain, eats at him like cancer, potentially affecting his ability to lead when experiencing this high emotion, or even swaying him toward actions he'd otherwise not normally take.
Mixed Blood - It was Varangyrian IV, great-great-grandfather to the current High Lord, whose failed attempt to raid the Silver City led to the Frozen Tears' current status as Duchy. Yet within a few decades, his grandson Varangyrian VI had found love within that city, and from there bore children with a member of the Frozen Tears; in the end, the Mad King killed them and at least two of their children both most brutally for perceived blood treachery, being swayed not to strip House Vyapult of its status or slay the line outright by Prince Daymian alone.
For Varangyrian VII's part, this proves a conundrum on two parts: first, encouraging his investigations into their culture as an aspect of his bloodline; and second, given the Frozen Tears' reputation as savages, serving as a potentially-scandalous revelation among just about any other Great House were this to be discovered, whose aftereffects could range from eternal blackmail to being stripped of the status of High Lord or even nobility outright... or hardly a jot, depending on the outcome of events.
Ambivalence - Truthfully, Varangyrian is not convinced that either claimant is especially qualified for the throne. Anyamara is clearly the less pleasant option, for more reasons than one, but Sharles in his turn looks to be a rather weak king, with an inability to properly effect the radical changes he proposes without proper direction - and crucially, neither has a true claim to royalty.

Additional Info:
Vyapult Line (starting from Varan I's designation as Archduke of the Frostmark)
1. Varangyrian Vyapult I x Duchess Mariya of D'yavoles
2. Varangyrian Vyapult II x Duchess Eleonora | Duke Dzhek, the Treefarmer x Lady Alison of Arbormark
3. Alekzandr Vyapult I x Duchess Ruthenia | Duchess Anastasia of Azkuzia
4. Varangyrian Vyapult III, the Cruel x Duchess Miriam of Stormlands
5. Erik the Hunter (formerly the Outcast) | Alekzandr Vyapult II x Duchess Arianne of Wildwood
6. Duke Garl't x Countess Alina | Varangyrian Vyapult IV, the Suzerain x Duchess Vyatik, the Wanderer | Duchess Aleksandryr, the Lawbinder
7. Count Varangyrian of Mirkuzi x Lady Dzhezika of Severoreka | Duke Varangyrian x Duchess Lilianna of the Crownmark | Varangyrian Vyapult V x Warden Markus of Westmarch
8. Varangyrian Vyapult VI (recently the Barbarian) x Dikynima | Duchess Novgoriz x Duke Izboryk
9. Duke Dyr of Bastion | Duke Dvini x Duchess Miriyam of D'yavoles | Duke Varangyrian of Eastfrost x Duchess Ayla of D'yavoles | Theophania Vyapult I x Warden Jacques
10. Varangyrian Vyapult VII | Duke Karl, the Guildmaster x Duchess Natalie of Mistlands

Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

Drevilna-under-Vyapult, a.k.a. the Frostmark

Domain Name: The Grand Realm of Drevilna Under Ownership of the Great House of Vyapult, also known as Drevilna-under-Vyapult for most formal occasions, or Drevilna for more casual shorthand. The latter specifically is typically interchangeable with Frostmark, and is likely a direct translation; either way, most don't bother making the distinction.

Location: The Frostmark, most prominently its largest region to the West of the Great Bastion Mountains, bordered and protected by these mountains to the East, and to the Farwater River on the West.

Domain Summary: Drevilna-under-Vyapult is considered one of the larger territories in Adanion, with quite a wide horizontal range and perhaps the most vast vertical range of any realm, supported by a system of rivers flowing from the mountains and bordering the land on its East and West sides. At these bounds, the land is prime territory for farmland, well protected by both geography and military force; yet within are a variety of forest trees ranging from deciduous forests further down, indeed marking the realm's lower bound and supporting this idea with border fortresses stationed within the treelines, whilst further North the trees gradually transition to evergreens, then pines, before the cold grows too much even for these and the land turns to nigh-uninhabitable tundra - in theory under the control of House Vyapult, in practice under the control of none but nature itself, only ventured into for the sake of hunting certain animals.

Major Holdings:
Farwater River, plus additional tributary streams and rivers - The river and associated tributaries bounding Drevilna to its West and South, its rapid growth from accumulation of meltwater is such that even shortly after the northernmost tributaries emerge from the lake, it becomes difficult to safely cross with more than perhaps a dozen individuals at a time. It also provides an easy source of fish to support the Frostmark's population, and less obviously helps transport minerals Southward from the lake, fertilising the land and, with substantial effort, rendering the regions along its coast somewhat better suited for farming extremely hardy crops and supporting a small number of livestock, though its primary provision remains fishing.
Supporting this hold, three bridge-keeps persist on it, providing easy passage across as well as heftily-guarded points in key locations: Severoreka, providing passage to the Mistlands at the point where the river tributaries merge before splitting into Splitstream and Farwater; Yugoreka, offering entrance into the Crownmark just before the Farwater River merges with the Great Bastion's tributaries at the Frostmark's Southernmost point; and Lesreka, relatively close to Yugoreka, but positioned between where the Great Bastion's tributaries merge and where this river then merges into the Farwater proper to grant access to the Arbormark.

D'yavoles Forest - The general name given to the boreal forest encompassing the lower portions of Drevilna. It has been said by some that it is cursed in one way or another, perhaps inhabited by the damned souls who perish within it; whilst it is certainly thick enough to get oneself lost within, it also provides a rich source of wood from various types of evergreen tree, as well as prime hunting grounds for very many animals and foraging material for many sorts of berries and fruits. It is not, however, exclusively owned by House Vyapult, and many other Houses in the Frostmark do draw their wood from this region.

Vyapult Wood - A forest that is House Vyapult's exclusive property. Taking credit from the Frozen Tears, House Vyapult (more specifically Duke Dzhek, brother to Varangyrian II) began to "farm" trees from D'yavoles Forest by planting saplings and branch cuttings and carefully managing their growth, an endeavour seen as laughable back at its point of origin. Nowadays, the region around the realm's capital city is rich with woodland under the exclusive ownership of House Vyapult, an asset far greater than many give it credit for, and much more difficult to replicate than other Houses may recognise, much to House Vyapult's ongoing amusement.

Kivhar City - The capital city of Drevilna-under-Vyapult, in that it generally hosts the Archduke of the Realm. It is a fairly-sized place toward the Northern edge of Vyapult Wood, combining local lumber with imported stone to produce a uniquely-blended structure of houses and culture. This surrounds the castle Dom-Vyapult, where the Archduke of House Vyapult takes residence and diplomats to his domain alike.
The main church of this city consequently stands out like a sore thumb - a blend of white marble and black basalt, The Church of Life and Death espouses amongst the Twin Faith's usual ideals the dual nature of the world as covering both the living and the dead, best represented by the way Vyapult Wood dies at the tundra's edge, perfectly presenting this balance. Not everyone in Kivhar is enthused by this choice of message, but it at least holds water for many.

Azkuzia - A city well to the South-West of the realm, effectively supporting and guarded by the Yugoreka bridge-fort leading toward the Crownmark, and the Lesreka bridge-fort into the Arbormark; if Kivhar City is the political capital, Azkuzia is certainly the mercantile capital, trading out to the rest of Adanion in both native resources and those gained from the Frozen Tears to the far North. To this end, it is a city that blends culture from many other realms, noticeable in how its general aesthetic merges traditional Drevilnan structures closer to the center with increasingly-esoteric designs further out. The local Guild Hall covers much trade for a system of guilds within this city, which ultimately controls every niche in the city.

The Frozen Tears - Interestingly, the Silver City and mountains of the Frozen Tears are at present a functional vassal state under House Vyapult, moreso than would be typical in normal circumstances. More precisely, the leader of the region is to be considered the Duke or Duchess of their realm and head of one Great House Echo by virtue of their unusual natural resources, having sworn fealty to the crown through the Archdukes in charge of Drevilna-under-Vyapult.
This renders Drevilna-under-Vyapult in the interesting position of being a technical suzerain, as the Frozen Tears' primary access to the rest of Adanion comes through House Vyapult, but also confers the status entitled to ownership of a Duchy upon House Echo for this. Granted, actual political power is another matter, as due to their isolated position, the Frozen Tears' political strength is effectively that of House Vyapult.

Reputation: The Frostmark's primary reputation is tied to its extremely cold weather. Beyond the northernmost forested reaches, the land is cold and inhospitable, making it difficult to survive within; because of this, it also has a reputation for poverty, the House's wealth historically considered lesser than most others whether or not this holds true.

Wealth: Drevilna-under-Vyapult has some forests available to it, but nowhere near enough to sale to other nations regularly between growth cycles and structure building. Consequently, their economy is reliant in many ways on fur and pelt trading in Winter, and ice harvesting in Summer. Year-round saleable goods include hides suited for leathermaking and the like, river and lake fish preserved with ice, and high-quality lumber acquired from either D'yavoles Forest or Vyapult Wood. Despite their reputation, sales of these things combined with thrifty personal spending have allowed House Vyapult to build up quite reasonable coffers in the last two generations, giving them more economic power than other Houses might give them credit for.

Strength: One might make the case that Drevilna-under-Vyapult's primary defense is its cold environment, which certainly holds true in its more Northern regions, but as both of its largest cities are more Southern, this cold is thus somewhat less of a barricade for those who simply want to claim the area without outright conquering everything. Its true defensive worth lies in its geography - surrounded by wide rivers whose key points of invasion are controlled by fortresses bridging the gaps, Drevilna-under-Vyapult is extremely difficult to invade simply because actually getting into the Frostmark region is an extreme challenge to begin with.
In terms of offensive force, whilst a significant proportion of the realm's defenses are focused at the bridge-forts, this is not to say they cannot make a push outward. A modestly-sized knightly order known as the Frostguard exists within Kivhar City, in theory acting as the last port of call to protect the Frostmark from its enemies, but in practice acting as elite soldiers within a potential army, should House Vyapult choose to expend its monetary resources in building up levies and mercenary forces alike as the bulk of troops.

High Lord Varan VII

Name: Velikynaz Varangyrian VII of House Vyapult, a.k.a. Archduke Varan VII
Titles: Velikynaz - A title that in context translates roughly to "Grand Prince", representing Varangyrian's nature as master of the Frostmark. In practice, he is for all intents and purposes an Archduke, and most national formalities utilise the latter title.
High Lord of Kivhar - The official title granted to him as Archduke of the Frostmark, specifically labelling Kivhar City the political capital of Drevilna.

Description: Well-groomed and handsome, the High Lord's 32 years have presented themselves quite well indeed. One understands from a gaze that he is focused, intelligent, and understanding of the way the world works, traits gained from a lifetime of education both under tutors and in the wider world.


Claimant: Sharles of Bremerant - Comparing Sharles' milder, all-but-tame insights to Anyamara's potential brutality, and her insistence of returning to a "status quo" which by his account has been recently gruesome and lately inept, Varan has thrown himself in with Sharles for the time being.

The Great House of Vyapult

"To forest and frost!"

Reputation: The Velikynaz of Drevilna-under-Vyapult is taken to be a fairly capable individual, no matter the generation. In an environment as varied in scope, and especially as broad-spanning as Drevilna and the Frostmark, one has to be capable to keep the area from falling to pieces. For Varangynian VII, this is no different at all: even in person, one can see his wit and experience at the fore, and it is quite clear to see that he has no trouble with running his realm whatsoever. Not to mention that he could be taken as objectively attractive, despite (or indeed supported by) the scar along one side of his face, though one wonders how he maintains a somewhat darker skin tone despite a relative lack of sunlight.
Indeed, one needs to be a smart person to try and negotiate terms with the native tribe up north - savage as they are, it is thus all the more impressive that he has been able to wring out as many resources from them as possible, all but taming them of their worship of false gods and devils! However, simple as those people are, many have asked why the Great House is so keen to retain these people as vassals, even this subservient position providing implication that they are in any way equal to the truly noble people of Adanion. What, in the end, stops this great man from eradicating them and taking their resources?

"When I ferst laid eyes on Varan, I thought he would be as slow as the rest of the Grand Houses. Yet, he has a curiosity about him that is good. He accepts the knowledge of the People and thatsa good start on our relationships. I do see him having benefits in the future relations with the other Houses. Perhaps the Varan in time can become more than someone who grants us presence in the Marble People Politics, but someone who takes us off the reigns and allows us our own autonomy." - Merta the Echo
The People of the Frozen Tears have a mixed opinion about the current High Lord. Their relationship with House Vyapult has been an odd one: while Vyapult has been kinder to them than, say, some of the other Great Houses, they are uncertain of this uneasy alliance.
But Mertavodah believes that he can ease that uncertainty- he believes that speaking with Varangyrian may lead to better future opportunities. If Varan respects the history their people share; the resources the Frozen Tears have given; the help navigating the terrain; insulating the Drevilnan's homes more effectively; what plants to eat; the uses of minerals and ores... then Varan should respect the alliance that they have. To say they feel uneasy hope from Varangyrian VII is the best way to put it.

Ambitions: Under normal circumstances, he might be content with simply ruling the Frostmark as his family has for over a century. With what he's learned of himself in mind, and especially the current royal situation, this is no longer so: Varangyrian VII is keen to avoid a potential repeat of his grandparents' execution under King Colyt II, the stress of which likely killed his mother in short order, and he will do about anything to ensure this does not come to pass for him too, although he is keen not to hurt those he considers important in the process.

Aptitudes:
General Logical Intellect - House Vyapult is keen to present its best self to the world, and prides intelligence greatly in this respect. Thus, it has widely been taken that of each generation of siblings and cousins, it is the most capable who will claim the seat of Velikynaz, somebody who can present themselves to Adanion and succeed through knowledge, strategy and wit, rather than brute force alone. Varangyrian VII proved the smartest of his siblings in that respect time and time again, and therefore took the title of High Lord upon the previous holder's passage.
Communication - It is not always easy to talk with the leaders of other Houses, especially when at least one bears a culture utterly unique to them, and nor is communicating one's will down to the common folk easily done. Varangyrian's efforts in life have been focused greatly on this in particular, for well-executed diplomacy can turn foe to friend just as surely as poor diplomacy can kill you in the house of an ally, and likewise ensuring one's communication reaches those who it needs to is a continual task; no truer is this than with House Echo, whose distance from the rest of Adanion demands firm lines of communication to maintain contact, and whose unusual customs continue to present Varan with something between thankful amusement and confused frustration when, for instance, a formal gathering is in place.
Forestry - One of House Vyapult's greatest skills, ever since the first tree of Vyapult Wood was planted, has been an affinity for the management of forests and trees. Woodcutting, tree farming, and dendrology are all long-instilled skills of the House's scions, a necessity to maintain not just Vyapult Wood, but many other forests in the Frostmarch. More than once has D'yavoles Forest or Vyapult Wood been saved from mass deforestation by the discovery of a tree-eating fungus, and the subsequent destruction of every tree and stump within fifty or one hundred paces to prevent its spread; and over-harvesting of the forests is a matter carefully prevented by highly particular policies on when given trees can or cannot be chopped down.

Vulnerabilities:
Ties of Emotion - Varan, for all of his political abilities and high position, feels intensely what others do, moreso than mere empathy should explain. Thus, the happiness of those he holds to be important, be they his family or the people he rules, is his own; and in turn, their loss, their frustration, and especially their pain, eats at him like cancer, potentially affecting his ability to lead when experiencing this high emotion, or even swaying him toward actions he'd otherwise not normally take.
Mixed Blood - It was Varangyrian IV, great-great-grandfather to the current High Lord, whose failed attempt to raid the Silver City led to the Frozen Tears' current status as Duchy. Yet within a few decades, his grandson Varangyrian VI had found love within that city, and from there bore children with a member of the Frozen Tears; in the end, the Mad King killed them and at least two of their children both most brutally for perceived blood treachery, being swayed not to strip House Vyapult of its status or slay the line outright by Prince Daymian alone.
For Varangyrian VII's part, this proves a conundrum on two parts: first, encouraging his investigations into their culture as an aspect of his bloodline; and second, given the Frozen Tears' reputation as savages, serving as a potentially-scandalous revelation among just about any other Great House were this to be discovered, whose aftereffects could range from eternal blackmail to being stripped of the status of High Lord or even nobility outright... or hardly a jot, depending on the outcome of events.
Ambivalence - Truthfully, Varangyrian is not convinced that either claimant is especially qualified for the throne. Anyamara is clearly the less pleasant option, for more reasons than one, but Sharles in his turn looks to be a rather weak king, with an inability to properly effect the radical changes he proposes - and crucially, neither has a true claim to royalty.

Additional Info:
Vyapult Line (starting from Varan I's designation as High Lord of the Frostmark)
1. Varangyrian Vyapult I x Duchess Mariya of D'yavoles
2. Varangyrian Vyapult II x Duchess Eleonora | Duke Dzhek, the Treefarmer x Lady Alison of Arbormark
3. Alekzandr Vyapult I x Duchess Ruthenia | Duchess Anastasia of Azkuzia
4. Varangyrian Vyapult III, the Cruel x Duchess Miriam of Stormlands
5. Erik the Hunter (formerly the Outcast) | Alekzandr Vyapult II x Duchess Arianne of Wildwood
6. Duke Garl't x Countess Alina | Varangyrian Vyapult IV, the Suzerain x Duchess Vyatik, the Wanderer | Duchess Aleksandryr, the Lawbinder
7. Count Varangyrian of Mirkuzi x Lady Dzhezika of Severoreka | Duke Varangyrian x Duchess Lilianna of the Crownmark | Varangyrian Vyapult V x Warden Markus of Westmarch
8. Varangyrian Vyapult VI (recently the Barbarian) x Dikynima | Duchess Novgoriz x Duke Izboryk
9. Duke Dyr of Bastion | Duke Dvini x Duchess Miriyam of D'yavoles | Duke Varangyrian of Eastfrost x Duchess Ayla of D'yavoles | Theophania Vyapult I x Warden Jacques
10. Varangyrian Vyapult VII | Duke Karl, the Guildmaster x Duchess Natalie of Mistlands

Thornwood Asylum For The Criminal Insane- A Villain Roleplay. (Closed Indefinitely)

I've been lurking here for a bit. I fully admit, I don't know if I'll be signing up, but I did have a character idea. Basically, imagine a living singularity, either mostly trapped in a body made of rock or otherwise confined to semi-humanoid form through esoteric means.

Kingmakers - The Throne Alone (GoT/ASOIF-like) (Noble Politics)

@POOHEAD189 Makes sense. High Lord of whichever region you like, we shall see just how well they interact after all!

Kingmakers - The Throne Alone (GoT/ASOIF-like) (Noble Politics)

@POOHEAD189 A Duke or Archduke within the Frostmark under House Vyapult wouldn't be remiss, if you're so inclined toward it. I can certainly modify Varangyrian's sibling to match whatever you're interested in running with.

Kingmakers - The Throne Alone (GoT/ASOIF-like) (Noble Politics)

@ClocktowerEchos This gives me an idea, if @TheRedWatcher is okay with it. It could have been a Mistlands House that tried to invade the Frozen Tears originally, but for concern about persistence amongst other things, they went to House Vyapult for essentially protection. Would that work out?

Kingmakers - The Throne Alone (GoT/ASOIF-like) (Noble Politics)

@ClocktowerEchos Ta very much. The spacing has been added at your behest, and I'm glad you like him.

Kingmakers - The Throne Alone (GoT/ASOIF-like) (Noble Politics)

Alright, Velikynaz Varangyrian Vyapult VII's sheet is effectively completed, as is the sheet for Drevilna-under-Vyapult. Anyone who wants to take a look, most pertinently @ClocktowerEchos, feel free to do so.

Kingmakers - The Throne Alone (GoT/ASOIF-like) (Noble Politics)

@ClocktowerEchos That sounds like a brilliant idea, and I thank you greatly for it.