"Shield of the people and protector of the lands"

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Warden Erik Krast

^{Warden of the West, Archduke of Westmarch}

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Erik is the very definition of a man from Westmarch being tall, athletic, and handsome. Erik is a young man with short military-cut hair and a face absent of any scars or blemishes betraying his years of service and combat. Unlike many lords and nobles of Adanion, Erik is of mixed blood. As with most citizens of Westmarch, Erik is able to trace his family line back to the first tribes, the newcomers of Loyst, and even the nomadic tribes of the steppe. Not one to wear formal attire often, Erik prefers to wear his armor, or some variation thereof.

Anyamara- Erik has publicly stated his support of the princess and her right to the throne over her competitor. Though she may show signs of brutality, Erik believes that it is strength and power that are required to lead the people and to protect them.

Erik is a proud and headstrong warrior at heart who holds his honor and duty in high regard. Being raised in a marital territory has tempered Erik to the art of war and honed him into a deadly warrior and a brilliant tactician. For all his ability and skill as a warrior and a general, Erik lacks a greater understanding of political intrigue and politicking. Though Erik understands the basic concepts of spying and the game of courts, he views many of these actions to be both cowardly and dishonorable. Erik prefers to place trust in one's own strength and that of steel to defend not only himself but the citizens he has sworn to protect. With this Erik takes his oath to be the warden of the west very seriously and believes it is the duty of those born into power to lead, rule, and defend those below.

Erik is not an ambitious man by normal standards. He does not seek power or wealth beyond that of which he has earned or is required for the defense of the country. This also applies to his support of the princess in her claim to the throne over her competitor. Erik does not much care for the politics of the eastern counties and would much rather keep to himself and focus on defending his people and prevent the nomads from entering from the steppe. This should not be confused with inaction however, Erik believes that should power be placed to the wrong person, the crown will not last another generation.

• Martial Prowess - Being born to a noble of Westmarch means that martial skill is not a privilege but a duty. Erik took that teaching to heart and has since birth trained his body and honed his skills into the perfect soldier.
• Brilliant Tactician - Though Erik is not the wisest of lords when it comes to the sciences, arts, or math, what his brain is made for his warfare. Not simply the strategies of a one on one fight, but the knowledge of army formations, tactics, strengths, and weaknesses of armies, and the supply lines used to fuel them. Though he doesn't read much, Erik has spent hours and hours reading over the journals and tomes left by his forefathers on the art of war practiced bypassed wardens.
• Horsemanship -Like many of the highborn of Westmarch, Erik was drilled in the art of horseback riding. Though not as graceful as the nomads, Erik has learned the best methods for his heavy armor and how to best use the strengths of his horse's heavier armor. Outside of combat, Erik will usually ride his horse for travel as both a status of his position and due to his disdain for carriages.

• Politically Naive -Erik for the most part is unable to fully understand the concept of backroom backstabbing and underhanded deals. He understands that they play a role in the courts of the capital and most holds, but he himself holds no skill for the “art”. Erik believes such tactics to be dishonorable, cowardly, and an insult to one's pride. This is exemplified in his belief that those most suited for a position should be placed in the role, not those who married into it.
• Holier than thou -The lords of Westmarch are often seen as kind and selfless for their devout practice of protecting the common peasant. This selflessness is not simply done purely out of generosity, however. The lords and Knights of Westmarch see themselves as above the common folk, believing it is the duty of the lower classes to serve the higher classes or those able to work themselves into the upper echelon. To balance this, however, the lords of Westmarch see it as their duty as higher borns to protect the lesser classes who serve them.
• Brutal -Through his reign, as Warden has been short Erik has already earned himself a reputation as a brutal military leader. Erik believes firmly in crushing one's opponents into complete submission even if that goal requires less than savory tactics. As Erik sees it the laws of Westmarch are simple, Traders and merchants are welcome to pass but any army or hostile will be met with the full force of Westmarch. And though torture is not explicitly legal within Westmarch, executions of prisoners are a common occurrence.

A type of vodka brewed in the Mistlands using their hearty roots and using the waters of the cliffside waterfalls. The highest quality labels use water condensed from the omnipresent fog and mist while aging their mash on the highest steps believing it enhances the final product. It is known for being extremely strong with outsiders who are not used to it being told not to drink more than a few shots unless they want to wake up half naked in someone else's bed with someone else's horse as even the cheapest brews have a high alcohol content than more expensive spirits found elsewhere in Adandion

Also known as Rider's Ale or (less affectionately) "Ass Ale", this is a type of beer found most commonly in the Western Marches. It has its roots in the practices of some nomadic tribes who lacking a place to properly age the alcohol they sometimes plunder or trade, simply tie it to a horse, mule, donkey or other beast and have it age on their back. Known for its pungent smell and earthy, almost nutty taste, its popular among with the soldiers in the many garrisons and soldiers on the frontier, so much so that every supply caravan has at least a few dedicated animals carrying the barrels.

Made of wild berries found in the Frostmark, Winter Gin is a popular drink known for a fruity, slightly bitter but strong taste that warms the belly like no other. Many stories have told of men who have survived being stuck outside during a snowstorm by virtue of drinking so much of the gin that their bodies refused to freeze. While most of the berries are gathered from the southern part of the region, many of the distilleries are located in the north by the Cradlespring Lake as its believed that the best Winter Gin with made with the purest, coldest waters of the lake.

A deep red sour wine from the Arbormark, its name comes from the now-extinct House Epolion who once owned the vineyards where the grapes are grown and the wine is aged. Its tartness and slight acidity has found it on the tables of many a feast, perfect for cutting through rich fatty meats and thick stews. While the vineyard has changed hands, its secrets remain a closely guarded secrets with people claiming many wild stories behind its creation from the use of fairy blood to get the color to making the barrels exclusively out of the driftwood from ships made of Wildwood timber that drowned at sea for at least 4 years.

A traditional drink from the Wildwoods made up of unbloomed flowers, purple roots, special tree bark and the sap and beans of select trees. It is an intensely complex spirit that evolves greatly in the drinker's mouth and whose taste can change between sips. Although it is definitely more of an "acquired taste", those who do enjoy can easily find themselves drinking far more than they can actually handle, often to devastating and regrettable hang overs the next morning so intense that its sometimes called a Saurorrak Divorce because it "hits as hard as an ex-wife".