The Royal Family of Nalrok
King Sardis Taroth
Age: 48
Nickname: The Ash King, Lord of the Deadlands, Wrath of Rheasa
Weapon:
Personality: Sardis is a fair but stern ruler. As military leader his duty to protect the kingdom is above all others. He hold very conservative ideals and is unlikely to welcome outsiders into the kingdom unless for special cause. He holds the old ways with high esteem for while he is wise enough to consider options other than war he will not hesitate to wage it if angered enough.
Bio: From birth it was known that Sardis would become a warrior. The boy had an interest in combat his elders described as, "The goddess put her rage in that boy". From young Sardis would train himself in multiple form of combat: sword, spear, bow, even with daggers a weapon considered to be the tool of cowards. Sardis was also a born leader making many friends during his childhood and being seen as their leader very early on.
At the age of eighteen Sardis took the trails and it was no surprise to anyone when he was determined to be best in the military. He served valiantly and quickly won renown amongst his fellow soldiers. During a civil war Sardis was promoted to the rank of Voltaris(equivalent to Captain) and he was charged with the overseeing of suppressing the rebellion. He succeeded and was awarded an estate and status in the noble class.
Sardis' service in the military was not over as a second rebellion arose. This time due to a member of the noble class named Larthoran claimed a right to the throne. The war raged on for sometime until The Seige of the Royal Palace. Larthoran made his way into the palace where Sardis had been stationed to defend the previous royal family. He failed to prevent the family's murder by Larthoran but he did avenge them that day. With no heir to the throne it was decided by the representatives to elect Sardis the new king and his wife, whom he met during the first civil war, queen. The two now rule as King and Queen of the Kingdom of Nalrok with their daughter, Princess Ariya.
More Info: King Sardis is currently dealing with a small insurrection group known as "The Scions of the Umbral Goddess" who wish to establish an independent faction within the northern mountains. They are a fanatically religious group who if allowed would create a fundamentalist theocracy.
Queen Niranyia Taroth
Age: 45
Nickname: The Ash Queen, High Priestess of Rheasa, The Oracle
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Personality: Niranyia is a compassionate soul who puts her people first, however she knows well the art of subterfuge and intrigue. Her love for her people and protective nature towards the realm is matched only by her willingness to do whatever is necessary to protect all she holds dear.
Bio: Niranyia was born in the commoner class and was the daughter of a representative. As such Niranyia had a desire to serve the people but not in the same fashion as her father. She would often venture out of the mountain and into the plainslands below in search of game to hunt, bringing them back and giving to the people for free anonymously. This earned her a reputation as "The Altruist" among the people. She kept up this persona until one day her father caught her sneaking out in the outfit of The Altruist. Her identity was revealed and her popularity among the commoners grew exponentially.
On her eighteenth birthday she took the trails but unlike her father who was a representative she was assigned to scouting. It was during the first civil war she met her future husband Sardis. The two often worked together as the scouts were required to retrieve enemy intelligence. The two married after the wars end and had a child then.
Princess Ariya
Age: 28
Nickname: Ari
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Personality: Ariya is a rebellious girl which is not normal amongst the Nalrokar. She does not care much for tradition, the trials, even the throne. Her main concern is for her people. She hopes to end their policy of isolationism but loathes the idea of ruling. She'd much rather prefer being out of the mountains and with the rest of the world.
Bio: Ariya was born before the second civil war. Growing up having to watch her father leave for long periods of time made her curious of the outside world. She began to feel caged within the mountains and yearned to see what was out there. She was not the only one however, a childhood friend of hers named Sehrai also felt this way. The two girls would often sneak out to the surface and explore the nearby forests. This did not sit well with her father who once king forbade her from continuing to do so. Her mother was more lenient about it and managed to convince Sardis to let her explore.
At eighteen she took the trails, despite being royalty(the royal family, specifically the children of the king and queen do not have to take the trials as it is expected of them to succeed their parents), and the results showed her capable of being a Insidiari, an Assassin in service to the crown. Her father as usual did not approve but allowed her to take on this profession until the time would come for her to take the throne.
Other: Ariya is not like the average Ash Elf. She was born with a rare mutation called "Rheasa's Blessing". Her eyes are,unlike most Ash Elves who have pure white eyes, black with bright blue pupils. These eyes are capable of seeing the finest details in anything be it tiny scribbles etched into a rockface or words on parchment that have long since been washed or written over.
The Nalrokar AKA The Ash Elves
Surface entrance to the capital city, Narasthia
Tribe description: The Nalrokar are a war loving people, one massive kingdom whose territory encompasses much of The Sentinel Mountains and smaller settlements in the nearby forests and plains.
Customs:
- Housing: A underground network within The Sentinel Mountains. All structures are made of stone with precious metals lining the walls of the palace. The capital city, Narasthia, is located within the highest mountain in the Sentinel Mountain Range. The entrance to Narasthia is a small outer city somewhere on the snowy face of the mountain. Within the actual city is an immense cavern with the city buildings carved out of the mountain. The streets are lit with glowstones and lava flows in the lower areas of the mountain.
- Food: There are no fauna within the mountains so the Ash Elves hunt, gather, and often pillage from the surrounding forests and plainslands. As for plant life, a large variety grow within the mountains. The Nalrokar are famous for their mastery of alchemy and their potions, poultices, and healing tonics are highly sought after. That is if they are willing to trade.
- Education: Children receive an education until the age of 18. At 18 they are given a series of tests to determine their place in society.
- Military: Those who pass the test and are determined as soldiers are the only ones serving in the military for combat roles. If the situation requires all members of the kingdoms can be recruited into service.
- Weaponry: Most common weapons are spears, swords, and bows.
- Society: Very war-loving and isolationist. Not always friendly to outsiders and often hostile.
- Politics: There are representatives of the people who present the problems of the commonfolk to the King and queen who decide on what course of action to take. The two combined share equal power over the legislature of the kingdom.
- Leadership: A Monarchy with a King and Queen holding equal power. The King controls the military. The Queen controls the spiritual aspect of the kingdom. There is a noble class but they are not nobility in the sense they are capable of taking the throne. These nobles are individuals who have served the kingdom well and are given privileged lives in society as a reward from the King and Queen. If the current king and queen die with no child to take the throne a noble is elected king or queen by the representatives.
- Diplomacy: Isolationist, outsiders not welcome in their territory unless given permission. Easily taking to war either for revenge or for conquest and plunder.
- Laws: Violent crimes(Murder, Assault, etc.) are settled with Arbitration. All others are settled by a judge.
- Punishment: When suspected of a violent crime the accused will fight to prove their innocence in "The Arbitration", their opponent is a warrior chosen by the people. Non violent crimes are given a punishment befitting the crime.
- Religion: The Mother Goddess Rheasa, overseer of life and death. Through the manipulation of the physical world creates life, through the manipulation of the living creates death. There are multiple minor spirits who are not worshiped but are revered.
- Religious Celebration: Festival of Life every spring, Festival of death every fall. Prayer services to the goddess every sunrise and sunset. Various other celebrations throughout the months.
Other:
- The Ash Elves originate from the island of Nalrana but migrated to the mainland. The reasons why were unclear in the history books
- Ash Elves Theme
- Kingdoms At War
