Alistair Garrish of Fermount– Rhime
Close Ally to Rhime Battenborn, Alistair is the duke of the fertile lands amongst the branches of the Red River known as Fermount Grove. He is a practical man who values substance over style. He will go on to become the first Garrish King.
Count Alric Lysena– Rhime
Count Alric is the weary and pragmatic lord of House Lysena, burdened by debt and dwindling influence. Though he loves his daughter, Evaline, he reluctantly agrees to marry her off to Rhime of Eldenspire to preserve his standing and secure the future of his house. His decision haunts him, a quiet testament to the sacrifices demanded by nobility and survival. Alric is a man caught between paternal love and political necessity, and he carries the weight of that choice with somber dignity, but his choice will come to haunt him.
Cedric Anworth of Runemaul– Rhime
Cedric is the cunning and charismatic duke of Runemaul, a master of subtle manipulation and courtly gamesmanship. Though a tentative ally of Duke Rhime, his loyalty remains fluid, shaped by shifting opportunities and long-term ambitions. He uses regional unrest to his advantage, playing both sides to consolidate power. Behind his charm lies a calculating strategist whose ultimate aim is sovereignty—one he eventually achieves by becoming the first king of the Anworth Kingdom.
Dirk of Battenridge– AMS, Rhime
Bannerman to King Bartholomew and the lone survivor of the doomed quest to destroy Ljós Leggja, Dirk of Battenridge, was the first to bear the title Duke of Battenborne. Originally hailing from Battenridge, he was granted the fortress of Eldenspire by House Drageoir in recognition of his unwavering loyalty and valor during the expedition. His fame grew not only from his martial prowess but also from his steadfast devotion to his king, even as Bartholomew succumbed to madness in the wilds beyond the empire. Dirk’s legacy marked the founding of House Battenborne and a lineage of grim, resolute lords. But Dirk did not leave the wilds unscathed. It is rumored he was infected with a terrible curse, the Nathair an Doimhne (Serpent of the Depths).
Eldwin I Battenborne– Rhime
Eldwin is the younger brother of Rhime and the meticulous steward of House Battenborne’s wealth and affairs. Cool-headed and calculating, he thrives behind the scenes, managing the family’s vast resources and navigating the political currents of Lucardia with precision. Unlike Rhime’s dark intensity, Eldwin’s power lies in foresight, restraint, and ruthless efficiency. He speaks little but misses nothing, making him a trusted—but never underestimated—pillar of the Battenborne legacy.
Evaline Lysena- Rhime
Evaline is the second daughter of a minor noble house, married off to the enigmatic and feared Duke Rhime of Eldenspire to settle her father’s debts. Young, clever, and brave, she finds herself trapped in a cold, political marriage where love is not immediately evident and secrets abound. As she uncovers the truth about Rhime’s sorcery and the dark power he commands, Evaline must choose between survival and sacrifice. Her journey marks the beginning of a descent into the heart of Lucardia’s most treacherous ambitions at the fiery end of the Five Kingdoms period.
Lord Warden Gunthard Battenborne– Rhime
Gunthard Battenborne is the grizzled uncle of Rhime, Eldwin, and Ragnar, and the formidable Lord Warden of Eldenspire. As commander of the Battenborne forces and head of the city’s watch, he oversees the family’s security with ruthless efficiency and battlefield-tested discipline. Gunthard is a man of few words and hard truths, feared by the men under his command and respected by his kin. His loyalty to House Battenborne is absolute, and he stands as both shield and sword to the family’s legacy.
Horace Skelmour of the Zandore Cliffs– Rhime
Horace is the seasoned and formidable duke of the Zandore Cliffs, commanding the most powerful naval fleet in Westerly during the Five Kingdom Period. Known for his blunt demeanor and penetrating judgment, he values competence over courtesy and sees through pretense with ease. His control of vital maritime routes grants him significant leverage in both trade and war. Though not one for theatrics, Horace’s presence carries weight, and his loyalty, once earned, is unwavering. He shares a deep mutual respect with Duke Rhime, and their bond is one forged through years of hard truths and shared purpose. He will be the first Skelmour King.
Meron– Rhime
Meron is the loyal and long-serving head of household for the Battenborne family, a figure of quiet authority within the walls of Eldenspire. Though age has bowed his frame, his mind remains sharp and his devotion unshaken. Fiercely protective of the family’s reputation and legacy, he serves Duke Rhime with unwavering loyalty, viewing him not just as lord but as the embodiment of Battenborne’s future. Meron speaks little, but his presence commands respect, and his gaze misses nothing.
Ragnar Battenborne– Rhime
The youngest of the Battenborne brothers, Ragnar is bold, brash, and irresistibly charming—a stark contrast to his calculating siblings, Rhime and Eldwin. He serves as Rhime’s loyal enforcer, carrying out the tasks too bloody or unseemly for a duke’s hands. Though often found with a drink in one hand and a jest on his lips, Ragnar’s revelry masks a quiet sorrow that few ever glimpse. He is the smile before the blow, the laughter echoing down dark hallways, and the blade that strikes without hesitation.
Rhime Battenborne– Rhime
Rhime is the brooding and enigmatic head of the Battenborne family, feared for both his ruthless ambition and whispered command of sorcery. He rules from the towering fortress of Eldenspire, a place as ominous and unyielding as the man himself. Bound by duty and secrets, he marries Evaline of Lysena to settle a debt, dragging her into the shadowy depths of his rise to power. Rhime’s quiet intensity masks a dangerous intellect and a growing hunger for dominion, marking him as a key architect in Lucardia’s darkest transformations.
Rowan– Rhime
Rowan is a quiet, observant maid who has served within the walls of Eldenspire for as long as she can remember. The same age as Evaline, she has never stepped beyond the castle’s cold stone corridors, but she knows its secrets intimately—perhaps too intimately. Though born to servitude, Rowan moves with a quiet confidence born of familiarity and hidden knowledge. Her unlikely friendship with Evaline becomes a source of warmth and trust in a place otherwise ruled by shadows.
King Vaelric of House Drageoir– Rhime
King Vaelric is the final monarch of House Drageoir, the ruling dynasty of Westerly for over 550 years. He rose to power following the sudden death of his elder brother and quickly became known for his cruelty, paranoia, and iron-fisted rule. Though feared across the realm, Vaelric shared a complex and long-standing bond with Duke Rhime of Eldenspire, having been childhood friends before ambition and power darkened their paths. His court was one of opulence and menace, where loyalty was rewarded and defiance punished without mercy.
