The Serpent Kings
King Aldus I Vermitharr (10 ASK - 28 YSK)
Little is known about the early years of Aldus I. What is known that he was born some time in Aurel in the year 50 ASK near the mire. Later in life he never spoke about his family, but he said that by age ten, all of his family and small village had been taken by the mire or the harsh effects from living there. At that point, he set off with his mother's sword and began wandering the fields on his way to the east.
On his way he came to know the cheer and comfort of the many halfling villages hidden throughout the countryside, and earned his living working on their farms, in their ale and cider breweries, and occasionally he served constables. Among the smallfolk, he learned the finer points of commerce, philosophy, language (they taught him the tongues of halflings, elves, dwarves, and orcs), the arts, and history. At this time, Xarnath was still ruled by orcs, though their power on the rest of the country had been dwindling in the century since the death of Grondar the Terrible.
Much of written history had been lost during that time, but the tradition of storytelling among the halflings kept it alive enough for Aldus to be a well educated man by the time he reached Amblecrown. There he was welcomed by the Lord Cosmo Amblecrown and his court. He was eighteen at the time, and for five years it was there that he learned the finer points of governance and the responsibilities that come from being a head of a community.
When he was twenty-three years of age, he made his way to Xarnath, where he witnessed an otherwise beautiful city torn apart by hatred. The leftovers of Grondar's reign were little better than a group of thugs by the time Aldus reached the city, and the rebel forces in the city seemed to him more intent on sowing chaos and discord rather than solving the problems of misrule. He spent two years living in the slums of Gronton, seeing atrocities firsthand, often getting into melees with various brigands while defending the innocent.
The savagery of that city proved too much for Aldus to call it home, so he packed up his sword and headed north to Ardis. In the winter of 25 ASK, Aldus arrived in Ardis, a city that had thrived for centuries under the rule of the sorcerer-lords, though not without the existence of classism. It was there that Aldus met Manzarek, a ward of the Sorcerer-Lord Corlin Maluthess that had become renown as the first wizard. It had been nearly 300 years since Manzarek had left his post as the Majistrate of Ardis to form the Arcanus Conservatory, yet he always returned home for the winter.
It is said that on Festivas of 25 ASK, Aldus sat down to a feast at House Maluthess with Manzarek, Lord Cosmo, and their friends. Manzarek - who had been alive for over 700 years - took an immediate note of Aldus's character. Of all the schools of magic, Manzarek had paid the least attention to divination, but the presence of this young human caused him to peer into his destiny - and there he saw greatness. This young man would unite the realm into a single peaceful nation.
On the first day of 24 ASK, Aldus and Manzarek took a ship around the coast of Yondar. First, they went east around the northern shore to Gron's Pass. There, life wasn't near as barbaric as the rhetoric of Xarnathian natives would have had him believe. Though punishments for crime were harsh, there was a strong sense of community, and all of the able-bodied people made the education and care of children a priority, along with the care of those who were not able-bodied. The War Chieftains were quite hospitable and some of their second sons and daughters would accompany Aldus and Manzarek as they sailed south to Mongrad. They would stay with these two until they reached Arcanus, where they would study the arcane arts and bring them back to Gron's Pass. After three months in Gron's Pass, they set sail once more.
In Mongrad, the party was well received. They spent a month there learning of the fishing trade and crafting ships, and mingling with the salty people there. They gained extra deckhands for their ship and ventured further south to the port of Londor. Londor was the newest city in the realm, founded in 247 ASK by Jaared the Green - the first Demiurgic Pillar of Arcanus. Though a new city, it had grown rapidly thanks to the advanced magical infrastructure applied there. Aldus and Manzarek marveled at the splendors of this city on the edge of the desert. When word reached the districts that Manzarek himself was in the city, he and Aldus were given a manse in which to stay in the green district. For eight months, they indulged in the wonders of the city - the arts, the mystic district (where Manzarek was very much the celebrity), and listened to the heads of districts discuss their plans of an annual competition that would later become the Thieves' Gambit.
They made their way west from Londor to Darlok, arriving at the modest city-state on the first day of 23 ASK. Darlok was unlike the other cities in the realm as it operated under communists as opposed to any form of monarchy or mercantilism. Aldus marveled at this, and immediately began meeting with adjudicators of law there. Despite some protesting from Manzarek and the party, Aldus spent eight long years here, learning all that he could from the finest legal minds of that age. At long last, Manzarek and Aldus departed for Uller.
Uller was unlike any place in Yondar. Here necromancy was legal, and the Grey Delegation had two liches serving at the time. Uller had a hall of assassins that could be openly hired, blood sport was the most popular form of entertainment in the city, and criminals held high positions of influence. Perhaps most detestable of the conditions of this city was the existence of Rat Hollow. Rat Hollow was the run down slum that the Grey Delegation ignored. Aldus spent three years here trying to bring some relief to the smallfolk of Rat Hollow, but the Grey Delegation ignored the pleas of Aldus.
Once they had all that they could stomach of Uller, Aldus and Manzarek made their way to the Hall of Ebrek. The hospitality of the dwarven lords was second to none. At this time, the predominantly dwarven city was ruled by the seven anvils of the temple of Ursus. Another year passed in the time that Aldus and Manzarek got to know life in the mountains. It was at the end of this time, at the beginning of 11 ASK that the two parted ways for a time. Manzarek returned to the Arcanus Conservatory atop Mt. Sledge, and Aldus returned to Amblecrown. There, he asked Lady Gwendolyn Amblecrown for her hand in marriage. She gladly accepted, and the two wed and returned to the mire to build a new home for themselves.
As a wedding present to the two, Manzarek commissioned the construction of Mirehold and a city around it. He convinced people (with large sums of money) from all around the realm to come live there, promising that one day this city would be the most important in the realm. In addition, Manzarek and Aldus called upon some of their friends across the realm to help form a government: from Mongrad came Gillian Saltwater - captain of five hundred voyages at sea, Gimble Baublegear - considered the most learned legislator of Darlok, Sir Lowell Barton, the Brown - Lord Commander of the Knights of Xarnath, Glorin Dorrim - Copper Anvil of the Temple of Ursus, Jaared of the green district of Londor - a genius of commerce and descendant of Jaared the Green, and Delegate Wakeman from Uller's Grey Delegation. There Manzarek laid out his vision for the realm.
All the cities and lands in the realm would be united under one common monarch: the king Aldus I of the house Vermitharr. The crown would construct roads connecting all the cities, collect taxes from them and provide for all citizens welfare, ensure religious freedom for all people, and keep peace for all. This utopia would not do for Delegate Wakeman, nor for Gimble Baublegear. Darlok would not abandon the will of the people for rule under a monarch, and Uller would not yield to a king. The others however, saw the wisdom in this. Sir Lowell was the first to pledge to King Aldus I Vermitharr, and he stated that the rest of the knights of Xarnath would follow, so long as the king helped them rid the city of their orcish invader overlords. Gillian Saltwater pledged Mongrad to Aldus, so long as he could be named Mayor. Glorin Dorrim gave Aldus his pledge, but could not make a unilateral decision, so he set off for the Hall of Ebrek to put it to the other anvils. Similarly, Jaared said he must present it to the leaders of the other districts.
The guests disbanded, and after three months, Aldus received word from the Hall of Ebrek that the dwarves would join the kingdom. Six months after that, word from Londor came that they too would join the serpent kingdom. This news came on the fourteenth of Apothemensis in the year 10 ASK, the same day that Gwendolyn gave birth to their first child, Prince Rexford. Three months later, on the first of Voxolûn, the knights of Xarnath, the district leaders of Londor, the anvils of the Hall of Ebrek, Mayor Gillian Saltwater, Lord Cosmo Amblecrown, Lord Fredrick Rickman, and Lord Roscoe Quimbar came to the large wooden cabins that House Vermitharr called home while their castle was incomplete. There, his guests swore fealty to King Aldus and House Vermitharr and they placed the platinum crown upon his head.
Aldus knew he had a long road ahead of him. The Hall of Ebrek and Londor were the first cities to officially declare for the new king, and as such, Aldus found it imperative to unite these two cities by road. He knew that this meant taking Uller and Darlok. He commanded an army from both cities. He would accompany Anvil Dorrim to Ebrek where they amassed a host of 10,000 dwarven soldiers. On the 7th of Equimensis in 9 ASK, the host marched south to Uller. Spies of the Grey Delegation knew of the marching host, and bolstered what defenses they could. The battle ensued over the course of five days, the court necromancers of Uller raising their fallen comrades to continue fighting and the council of Arcanus doing their best to shut them down, until finally the army breached the walls of the city. Two of the Grey delegates were willing to surrender, but Delegate Wakeman demanded single combat with Manzarek. Wakeman - a powerful lich - refused to acknowledge the power of the wizard, up until his dying breath as Manzarek disintegrated him from the inside out. Thus, Uller was won.
For the rest of the year, Aldus marshaled more forces - and had long debates with the Grey Delegation about the use of necromancy, ultimately allowing it within the city of Uller but forbidden throughout the rest of the kingdom, except as noted in the Religious Rights of Resurrection Act of 9 ASK, establishing the right of resurrection authorities to be registered through the crown via the Grand Scion. On the third of the new year of 8 ASK, with a host of 4,000 dwarves, 2,000 soldiers from Uller, and 300 necromancers, Aldus and Manzarek made their way to Darlok. Meanwhile, Jaared of Londor brought an army 15,000 strong to surround Darlok from the other side. For six long months, the army sieged Darlok, ultimately starving the city out. On the 25th of Equimensis, Darlok yielded to the serpent king. Gimble Baublegear was offered a place at court to help oversee the justness of laws throughout the realm, becoming the first Baron of Darlok.
For the next two years, Aldus and his army began restoring the health of Darlok and building the southron road from Londor through to the Hall of Ebrek. On the fifth of Fangorlûn in 5 ASK, Aldus took his army east to Xarnath, to finally make good on his promise to liberate Xarnath from orcish rule. This task was easier said than done. Xarnath is positioned between a major fork of the Yon River, and laying siege to it was a hard task for any army. It wasn't until Festivas at the end of 5 ASK that the orcs finally opened the gates to the city. By comparison, the siege was much simpler than what came next for this new king.
Xarnath was torn apart by racial hate between the orcs and the humans. The humans wanted all the orcs executed or exiled, yet there were several communities of orcs and half-orcs living there. For the next five years, Aldus struggled to establish meaningful rule in Xarnath. Ultimately, he allowed the orcs to stay in the realm, however, several of them took sums of gold to return east to Gron's Pass.
Finally, at the beginning of 1 YSK, Xarnath was stable enough that Aldus could prepare to take Ardis. With an army of 30,000, on the first of Alrazanna, Aldus and Manzarek marched north to Ardis. There, for over a month, Aldus and Manzarek sat down with the Sorcerer-Lords of the fourteen families of Ardis. One the 27th of Auleon, they finally relented and joined the Serpent Kingdom.
From there, Aldus returned home to Mirehold to resume the construction of his castle. In 7 YSK, the castle was finally finished, and a major city had sprung up around it. The swamp that the young boy had once left was now the capital city of the kingdom. For the next 21 years, Aldus I reigned with peace and united the rest of the realm with roads (with the exception of the lands east of the Ebonwood). King Aldus and Queen Gwendolyn ended up having two more children, a daughter, Savra in 8 YSK, and Jarus in 12 YSK.
On the eighteenth of Menursus in 28 YSK, King Aldus I Vermitharr died in his sleep, leaving behind a kingdom to his eldest son Rexford.
King Rexford I Vermitharr (28 - 46 YSK)
King Rexford I was born on the 14th of Apothemensis in 10 ASK amid the new construction of Mirehold. Rexford spent the first half of his childhood hardly seeing his father. Queen Gwendolyn saw to it that Rexford would be prepared to fill his father's shoes when the time came. From the time he could walk, he was being taught to read and write in common, elven, dwarven, orc, halfling, giant, gnomish, goblin, and draconic, matters of the faith, history, diplomacy, martial arts, commerce, philosophy, and commerce. The queen made it her job to instill great wisdom into this boy, for as she explained to him, while his father may unite the kingdom, it would be Rexford's job to hold them together.
When Rexford was eighteen, he went on a tour of the kingdom, holding court in his father's name in the cities. He began with Uller, the most querulous city in his father's kingdom. There - against all pleas from the retinue of advisors he brought with him - he entered in the lists at the Grey Pit. Using his favored weapon, the halberd, Rexford completed all thirteen rounds of the pit, something that had never been done before. The city fell in love with him, and the cheers could be heard for miles when he hoisted the serpent banner in victory. The Grey Delegation - who many suspected were looking for the first possible sign of weakness to secede from the crown - were now powerless to move against the crown, as Rexford had won the city's heart.
Next he went to Darlok, where Baron Baublegear had constructed himself a lavish tower in the center of the city, befitting his station. This had drawn the ire of much of the citizens, as their historical practice of communism frowned upon such vulgar displays of wealth. Rexford took an interesting approach to heal these wounds. He made a decree that the barony was not a position granted in perpetuity, but rather a position that would be elected by the people every seven years. The baron would act as a deciding voice in the event of a tie in the city's parliament, and would secure the funds for the city as well as taxes owed to the crown. The baron would be permitted to live in the tower and enjoy all its comforts, yet they would draw no salary, beyond the basic income provided to all citizens of Darlok. Additionally, no person may be elected to the barony more than once in all lifetimes. This move was wildly popular with the people and Rexford won many hearts to the crown that day.
Following Darlok came Londor, which was perhaps the most loyal city to the crown at that time. There Rexford became enamored with the arts district and all that it had to offer. Here he made another decree, that every year the crown would fund a production of the red district's choosing that would tour all the cities in the realm, ending in Mirehold for the crown's pleasure. This became a grand tradition that lasted for centuries after, eventually becoming known as the Rexford Production.
After an extended stay in the wondrous desert city, he made way to Mongrad via the port of Londor. Gillian Saltwater, a long time ally of the crown and the newly appointed Mayor of Mongrad hosted the young Rexford. Saltwater cautioned the prince about the security of the realm without naval power. Rexford took these words to heart, and declared that Mongrad would function as a royal port and produce the crown thirteen warships a year. Taking a smaller ship from Mongrad, Rexford's party went to Stigg's Farm, where they met with the halflings that ran the community. Rexford was in awe at the bounty of these farmlands, and delighted by the simple nature of life here. The people were warm, friendly, knowledgeable of song and history, and content to enjoy quiet lives with their families and neighbors in the country. The young prince asked that in exchange for any form of monetary tax, that instead they reserve a portion of their harvests to be sent to the crown for emergency use throughout the realm.
Rexford bade farewell to the charming farmlands and made his way north to Xarnath. In the years since his father's absence in the city, much of the orcish reform had been undone. Gronton had become a slum, and the orcish population seemed to be systematically prevented from positions of prominence. Rexford again used the power of his royal decrees to attempt to right this wrong.