The Entente

[Tyranny]

The Entente

Introduction
The Entente are the ruling elite of Daravin. While the military and faith of the Empire both hold immense power, unlike in Lorien, Daravin does not border on theocracy. Instead, power remains in the hands of the aristocratic class, and while they are renowned for many things, the Entente are not known for their mercy or decency or any semblance of humility in the face of greed. The Entente are paragons of decadence and exploitation. Unlike in other societies, this exploitation is not carried beyond a thin veil of platitudes and deceptions. Rather, the cruelty of the Entente is openly laid and bare, and is celebrated.

All that is revered in the Empire ultimately draws a common line through power, and power is certainly held by the Entente. So wide is the gap between them and their subjects that their rule is total; concessions are a whisper, revolt an impossibility, and all but strict adherence to their arbitration is a plea for death.

Influence
There are a few ways in which the Entente hold power. For one, the Entente hold the sole loyalty of the Valran, who tend to owe everything to the particular Lord they serve, viewing their liege with admiration verging on reverence. Considering the leadership ranks of the military are solely operated by Valran, this results in an armed force that is not only legally obligated to serve the Lord of their specific locale (which they are), but also one that is deeply loyal to said Lord.

The Halamire, then, despite being formed to serve in the interests of internal peace, border patrol and service during wars and national crises, becomes - and has become - a direct extension of the Entente's will. This military corruption is so deeply rooted within the Halamire that the supposedly Imperial military often wars with itself, due to loyalties to specific aristocrats who wish to expand their base of power. In fact, these internalized wars have become so common that it is largely a forgotten factoid that the Halamire are intended to act as a unified Daravinic force.

Of course, then there is the Entente's wealth. This also relates to the Valran, who act as middle-management for the Entente and their business operations. The truth is, the Entente are the true benefactors of all industries in the Empire, and the overwhelming majority of them are directly owned by them. The few businesses not owned by the Entente are instead owned by Valran, and with the Valran acting as the direct vassals of the Entente, there is scarcely a difference. Despite being less than half a percent of the Daravinic population, the Entente hold ninety-four percent of the Empire's wealth, with the Valran - a much larger group - holding four percent. The ninety or so percent of the population with limited or no magical ability hold less than two percent of all wealth, and much of the wealth that is "owned" by them is actually state property that can be seized at any time.

And there is another source of this imbalance of power: magic. The Entente, and their Valran, are not only mages... they are very powerful mages. In fact, they are not only powerful mages; the Entente tend to be the greatest mages in the world, surpassing magical talent from other nations without challenge. Considering the Entente are harrowed en masse throughout their youth, with the majority of them dying to initiation and arcane backlash, only the most innately skilled and dedicated among them survive to administer their family assets. What results is not a class of fragile Nobles unable to contend with a peasant's wroth. Instead, the Entente have been known to put down entire mobs of rioting peasants single-handedly, their class at large being viewed as the terrifying arms of a punishing God. And, considering that in Daravin magical power is considered a sign of divine providence...

With all of this being said, the Entente hold nearly all wealth and power in the Empire. All institutions are either arbitrated directly by them or are compelled by their influence. Considering Daravin's power itself is vast, due to their magic and militaristic culture, the greatest of the Entente act as quasi-Kings and are free to terrorize their neighbors or one another as they wish.

House Artifacts
There are five major artifacts in Daravin, known as Precepts, one belonging to each of the Treveyn and one to the royal family. These artifacts are ancient, most being developed at the apex of the Age of Man and two by the Ald’norai, dating back thousands of years. While their origins are often shrouded in mythology, it can be stated with fair certainty that each of these artifacts carry with them a celestial Providence: that in some way they have inherited Godliness either by blessing or mischief. Considering even the greatest World Mages of the current Age cannot seem to replicate artifacts of similar greatness, divine assistance seems the most logical conclusion.

To begin with is the royal artifact, the Sunstone. With the sun one of Daravin’s key national symbols, along with a moon crossed with a key and the shadow of a dragon, it is no surprise that the royal artifact closely correlates with this symbology. The Sunstone is seen as the symbol of royalty, the signifier of the legitimacy of the Imperial dynasty and the Precept that most uplifts Daravinic society. It is, without uncertainty, the most powerful of all Precepts due to its ability to subdue the rest. The Sunstone is a golden, mechanical looking orb with golden ridges run in a pattern across its circumference. It warmly reflects the sun’s glow and generates a dim and comforting light while in use, and appears in good condition despite being nearly four thousand years old.

The Sunstone’s power is the seemingly limitless amount of magic that it can absorb. While this magic cannot be recycled or repurposed by the mage wielding it, the ability to nullify nearby magic is an extremely potent ability, particularly in a magocracy. The Sunstone is mostly used by Emperant Justane to cleanse Daravin’s anti-magical corruption infrastructure, which helps to protect the Empire from post-Bleeding pollution. When the absorbing machines are overwhelmed with corrosive magical energy, the Emperant will come to them with a troupe of Halamire to cleanse the machinery so that it may continue to protect Daravinic crops and settlements. With few plotting militarily against the Emperant, it rarely otherwise sees use.

Following the Sunstone is an Unbroken made artifact, the Rathrouen Gravemail. A gauntlet crafted in the mid Age of Man, it has served synonymously as a badge of leadership over the Halamire, a role typically falling to the Treveyn of Verdiven or one of his or her constituents. An artifact of purely military purpose, the Gravemail can rapidly siphon vitality from those around it even merely by proximity, feeding it to the wielder. This range is limited to around ten feet, but makes battling the owner of the artifact incredibly dangerous, turning every close interaction into a timed encounter. Those with more strength and experience can possibly survive this effect persistently for over a minute, but the common foot soldier tends to last mere seconds before death. This effect even appears to work on automatons and non-living entities, specifically altered to fend off Hollow invasions by Lorien in the late Age of Ashes. In terms of appearance, the Gravemail is a clawed, bronze-colored gauntlet with ruby-like magical gems adorning the joints and edges like a trim.

After is the Riftwick, another Ald’norai artifact belonging to Brilan Ald, and historically the Treveyn of Couronne. A simple description would label it as an extremely powerful portal generator, capable of opening and shutting near instantaneously to vastly changeable proportions. More than this, the Riftwick can control speed, pressure and velocity in and around it, acting as a terminal slingshot or a vacuum; or even a font by which one may pretend to veer gravity. While it is limited in these senses, it is an extremely powerful tool, though it can only be properly harnessed by a mage already expert with portals.

The Riftwick appears as a key with a circular fixture around the top portion, and is silver in color. There are theories of what the key might unlock, and some of those theories are that it unlocks nothing.

The next of these artifacts is the Charlatan’s Guise, a masque belonging to the Treveyn of Ostigen. With a pearly white tone and texture, intricate and sharp contours along the edges of the mask and a colorful vibrancy through many well-cut gems inlaid, the Guise is the envy of many ball-goers. More than this it does not fall short of its legend; the Guise does well to serve the interests of a Mesmer, allowing near total control over the perceptions of those around it.

The Guise deepens illusory compulsions, making their only release the infliction of injury and physical pain. For this reason it is sometimes called the Bloodletter’s Masque, a terror for any mage and especially untrained to face. The significance of these illusions appears to be considerably heightened as well, playing all five senses into them in a smooth blend. Considering they are as seamless as reality itself, it is difficult to determine the extent of these illusions, as their victims even years after have difficulty differentiating them from reality. Thus, another infliction: the degradation of one’s sense of what is real.

The final of these artifacts belongs to the Treveyn of Indories, currently Uriel Valent. Uniquely gruesome in its acquisition, the Discordant Vessel is a dimly glowing blue coil carved into the flesh of its wielder, visible as a pulsating and alien-like hunger through the skin. It is uniquely attached to its owner in this way, and is passed on only upon the coronation of a new Treveyn. As a result, Indories has yet another stipulation embedded into its ruling family: even after ascending to its throne, they must survive the embedding of the Vessel, with many dying in the process.

What is gained from this artifact, however, is a great deal of power. It allows one to become an Ether Leech, a phenomena once reported in the Empire of old. Not only does the carved gain a great resistance to magical damage, but they become capable of physically materializing ether around them and feeding on it like prey. They bite, gnaw and chew upon the ether, drawing it into their chest and neutralizing it upon their palette. While it is not an end-all nullifier like the immensely powerful Sunstone, the Vessel allows its owner seemingly limitless arcane stamina in battle, and increased physical attributes as well. The brutal ferocity of Indories’ Treveyn is known to the Entente, and he is given these compulsions by the ether on which he feeds.

NOTE: These NPCs are all Story NPCs. All players have 0 Influence with them unless otherwise granted.

[Tyranny]

The Royals

Introduction
Royalty in Daravin is synonymous with House Blancéford, the dynasty that once united the Empire some four hundred years ago. While there are often schemes dancing around the Imperial dynasty, few would dare whisper of their removal, even the most ambitious of the Ententen. Perhaps a core aspect of this is the fact that Daravin's monarchy holds little of the power that it once did; the strength to make unilateral decisions has gone with the times, and Blancéford can no longer claim self-reliance. As such, 'royalty' has become the role of managing aristocratic lobbies, whisperers of a thousand different agendas that all weigh against one another and wage war through policies if not by war itself.

Still, the Royals of Daravin - the Imperial Estate - do hold power. Their symbolism offers them strength, and not only strength, but survival. While the houses of the Montese and Treveyn rise and fall, often dying bloodily to the politics of the Candor, Blancéford remains and retains its hold - particularly over the Empire's north.

History
House Blancéford unified the Empire in the year 4113, three years after the Conventions of Carine that saw the Omen truly founded. While the simplistic explanation of their acquisition of power is that they were formally endorsed by the Pontifex of that time, the steps that led to that endorsement and religious coronation were more nuanced and complex.

Before House Blancéford unified the Empire and declared it 'Daravin', its ancient Elven name, the region that makes up Daravin now was known as Ectahl-Prior. It was actually the third wealthiest province in the Unbroken Empire, behind Ectahl and Sil-Elaine; while Ectahl-Prior held a population of over a hundred million people before the Bleeding, the vast majority of its populace consisted of rural farmers and laborers, as well as recruits for the Unbroken war-machine. And so, while the province was in many ways the life-blood of the Empire, providing it food and manpower... it did not hold particular influence in Unbroken affairs and was generally managed by a provincial governor from Daigos Kaitel, disconnected from the uneducated populace he or she managed.

When the Bleeding occurred, the delegates chosen to lead Ectahl-Prior largely died from the initial blast, with many of them dying shortly afterwards to starvation, disease or mob outrage. The Daravinic Entente of today are largely those popular community leaders who capitalized on the carnage to acquire influence and prestige. Shortly after the fall of the previous system of Unbroken government, the Entente were declared; initially an alliance of quasi-revolutionaries, they quickly became formal Nobility who ruled the men they once led against the powers that were.

Insignificant among them was Blancéford, a House that did not hold the same level of millennia-long prestige like Valent, Challions or Verais. Blancéford was a house purely of revolutionary grit: obsessive, authentic ideology that spoke of the downfall of Unbroken globalism (a belief system that was dominant among Ectahl-Prior's elite even after the Bleeding), an end to the domineering of industrial trade companies, and the unity of the people of Ectahl-Prior. This movement, even including the Empire's Elven minority and speaking of a unified 'Daravin' at its end, inspired the masses to rally behind Blancéford and the Entente were quickly made to fall in line.

Ironically for Daravin, the Empire was unified not by war, but by belief. Hope in a future, idyllic view of what the nation could become. Blancéford was, in its time, a name attached to a notion of progress and unity and to some extent, the name retains its symbolism today.

*Note: None of these lists can be seen as all-encompassing rosters of the Nobility at any level. These lists often do not include ruling spouses, children, or extended family, or even many of the important Houses of Daravin that may hold Montese or prominent Veir. This list is merely meant to provide players with insight into some of the most prominent political figures of Daravin, while also offering a list of Nobles to be employed in plots and modded threads.

Emperant Justane Blancéford

Name: Justane Blancéford
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 16th of Glade, Year 4568
Title: Emperant of Daravin (Reigning Emperor)
Magics: Oath (Master), Brand (Expert), Resonance (Expert), Remnant (Apprentice)


Details: His Ascendancy, Your Eminence, The Unbroken Heir, Paramontien, Emperor, Emperant.

Justane has been labeled with these titles and many more across his time alive, though he has never been treated with such deference. The history of the Emperant is one of being used: of being exploited, vulnerable to the Candor, isolated from all but the most venomous of 'political advisers' with little interest in the well-being of the Empire or its named Lord. Justane was once a lone boy holding above him the last vestiges of House Blancéford, its final surviving member. So loved by the people who cherished him as the final remnant of a true Imperial legacy, even as a lone boy with no relatives Justane was able to remain alive. Rather than eliminating him, the Entente were determined to use him; to siphon from him via his good-will, to teach him of their own necessity to his life, to shepherd him towards compliance and obedience, always.

Justane's mother, father and all siblings died when he was only eight years old. The youngest child of Emperant Varian de Blancéford, Justane was incredibly sick during this time and remained in Genteven with both scientific and magical healers. His family, touring South Daravin in an attempt to curry favor with their vassals, was mysteriously culled between Indories and Couronne, within the borders of present-day Chalis. The mourning and suspicion that followed were of unprecedented degree: for years these murders were spoken of among the Entente, and looked to with sorrow and confusion by the common man. With Blancéford always being beloved, since the days of old, Justane received an incredible degree of support and the Pontifex came to Genteven at once to crown him Emperant of Daravin.

And what came with him was sycophants. First, with the Pontifex, came a variety of religious authorities intent on mentoring Justane on 'true' Ulendreaism, instructing him - of course - that the Emperor answers only to God, or Ulen, and that the Pontifex is the speaker of God's will. The religious subversion of the Emperor's role was quickly noted, and from it came a new league of advisers who sought to maintain the supremacy of the aristocracy, not content to allow Daravin to follow Lorien's path of religious domination. House Valent, Montese' of Dorín, quickly became involved and one of their members was named Justane's regent. During this time, Justane frequently visited Arlain, and House Valent frequently visited Genteven. The Emperant and the likely heir to Valent, Lord Uriel, quickly became endeared friends.

And this persisted through time. It quickly became the case that the Emperor, deprived of reliable friends, began to trust Uriel blindly; to entrust him in all matters of court and state, and perhaps to admire him beyond what he should have. Justane became intentionally negligent of his internal expansion, allowing Dorín's borders to expand widely enough that House Valent became the Lords of Indories in all but name. And then -- he named them Treveyn, effectively transforming Uriel into the de-facto ruler of much of the south, and enabling his expansionist activities within the nearby realms. These actions reduced the trust of the Montiens in their Emperant, finding their existence to be at risk. The traditional borders of the Empire quickly began to shift and internal wars increased in frequency, with fewer and fewer Entente lords monopolizing more and more power.

What Justane presided over, in his allowance of Uriel's growth, was the decreasing of Imperial centralization and the dissolution of what was the typical Imperial norm. The Treveyn became truly like Kings, and this only culminated in more disdain as Brilan Ald was named Treveyn of Couronne, by the Emperant's decree yet through Uriel's will.

As it is now, years later and with the Treveyn's ambitions unveiled and his own naivety made clear to himself, the Emperant no longer holds his old friend in such regard.

Instead, resentfully, he views both himself and his old allowances as the death of Imperial cohesion and the rot of Daravin's prestige. Once considered second only to the Imperium, the Empire's civil wars have forced it to regress considerably in the last few decades, and while the Emperant has increasingly attempted to expand once more upon his authorities... the Entente are no longer in a position where they must necessarily yield.

All of this descends from a fundamental truth of the Emperant's character: Justane is a soft man, kind-hearted and hopeful of the intention of others. He was taught to be this way, always, by the sycophants who coerced him into their palms through stories of what a 'good man' must be. Justane strives to be a 'good man', and this has led many to label him a 'weak man', one who has done nothing but enable greed and vice. Of late, however, he has begun to acquire more control and North Daravin has effectively been restored to its previous state: within it, his authority is nearly absolute, and he holds loyal vassals in Verdiven, Valtoria and Nevise, who have competently formed a sort of pact to return the Empire to its old prosperity. Justane, as wielder of the Sunstone, is also often regarded as the Empire's hope: the one who keeps the Bleeding's corruption at bay, who has allowed Daravin to survive. Though anyone could do so, the Emperant's dedication to ensuring Daravin recovers from the Bleeding is seen by many as admirable.

Emprise Florencia Antillia Blancéford

Name: Florencia Antillia Blancéford
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 90th of Ash, Year 4582
Title: Emprise of Daravin
Magics: Mentalism (Expert)


Details: Florencia, Emprise of Daravin, was not born 'Florencia Antillia' at all -- rather, she adopted this name upon moving to Daravin from the Grisic Empire. Originally, Florencia was known to the world as Catherine Reid, the second eldest child of the second wealthiest family in all of Grisic, an international dynasty commanding one of the world's most impressive merchant conglomerates. Her marriage to Emperant Justane was one of mutual benefit, pride and prestige: in exchange for the majesty of having a daughter at the helm of a foreign Empire, House Reid offered Blancéford nearly unlimited wealth, a necessary stream of revenue amidst what was then a period of economic peril. In exchange for trade arrangements, protection and a variety of other benefits, Reid continues to subsidize the Imperial family which is -- essentially -- an extension of itself.

Despite whatever initial intentions her family may have had for her, the Emprise has since fallen in love with the Empire and has found her identity in her role as the realm's ruler. She acts as the true adjudicator of most of Daravin's imperial policies, and holds a tight control over affairs from within the imperial court. Though she is far from an impressive mage, Florencia is an extremely skilled businesswoman, negotiator, orator and player of the Candor and was the one to have gripped Justane from his conditioning at the hands of sycophants, restoring the integrity of the Emperant's role. Florencia is also known to be a very good educator, and has taught all three of her still-living children a great many things; politics, history, the Candor, games, public speaking, debate, and a variety of other things.

The political back-bone of House Blancéford, Florencia is - despite her individual weakness in the arcane - more respected than the greatest of the Empire's magi.

Guenire Blancéford

Name: Guenire Blancéford
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 33rd of Frost, Year 4597
Title: Heir to the Daravinic Empire, Imperial Princess
Magics: Squall (Master), Baptism (Master), Resonance (Expert), Mentalism (Journeyman), Brand (Apprentice)


Details: Guenire is among the most important individuals in Daravin, both given her position as the heir of the Empire and as one of the highest ranking members of the Halamire. Despite her mother being of fairly unimpressive arcane talent, the woman appears to be one of the most potent of Imperial mages, displaying a level of raw aethereal affinity and power unequaled by many Emperors in the nation's past. But for Guenire, power is not projected only by the personal -- but by institutional might. She has worked since coming to maturity to empower the position of the Emperor, keen to refocus centralization on Genteven and increase the authority of her father, and eventually herself. Guenire has worked tirelessly to ensure the independence of the remaining Montiens, helping to broker alliances between them and providing them support from both the Halamire and the imperial coffers.

She is desperately ambitious, seeking to broaden her power beyond all else, though for what she believes to be the common good of the people. Despite this apparently noble goal, she is known for her lack of empathy and her callous disregard for individual human lives. Guenire is essentially a believer in the final result -- the outcome of every action. She weighs considerations in her mind constantly, though ultimately she is keen to press whichever possibility leads to the expansion of her reach. Of course, being the heir to the Empire, Guenire is sought by suitors from across Atharen. She has, despite this, never entertained an offer long enough to even seat herself before a man or woman regardless of their possible value.

Rumors within the Entente tell of how she resists physical contact because she is terribly disfigured when disrobed, with some sort of affliction affecting her in intimacy. Considering the sorrow-mixed-indifference she has displayed towards the possibility of any romance, even those driven by her own desires, insecurity driven by such a malediction does not seem outside of the realm of possibility.

Ghislaine Blancéford

Name: Ghislaine Blancéford
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 19th of Glade, Year 4599
Title: Imperial Princess
Magics: Bane (Expert), Oath (Journeyman), Mentalism (Journeyman)


Details: Ghislaine Blancéford has effectively been exiled from the royal family, and has not resided in Genteven in nearly three years. Instead, she lives in Carine at the side of the Pontifex, one of his greatest assets for the imperial legitimacy she offers him and his agenda. Though not publicly known by the Empire's peasantry, Ghislaine and the remainder of her family carry with them a truly untenable rift, one that is utterly existential: she believes that the royal family should not exist at all. That Daravin should be a theocracy, that the Pontifex should rule but only in anticipation of Ulen, who she believes will soon come. Ghislaine, who appears to suffer from some form of personality disorder, was led to believe at a young age that her role in the world was to transition Daravin to the land it must be in order for Ulen to return. She is deeply religious and worships at the foot of Carine's cathedral for hours each day, and some members of the Omen have allegedly witnessed her brutally self-flagellating, with blood from her scarred back running across the floor of the church.

The woman is known to have poor relations with her mother and father, though she supposedly loves her brother dearly and writes to him often. In some Entente circles, alleged manuscripts of these letters have become unveiled and are frequently the subject of extreme and rancorous mockery.

Ginoscha Blancéford

Name: Ginoscha Blancéford
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 68th of Ash, Year 4602
Title: Imperial Prince
Magics: Remnant (Expert), Resonance (Expert), Malformity (Journeyman), Oath (Apprentice)


Details: Ginoscha is the youngest child of the Emprise and Emperant, and is the frequent recipient to a most unwanted compliment: that he is just like his father, Justane. Ginoscha is a soft-hearted boy; empathetic to others, often believing in their better intentions, and sticking by those who have slighted him. He acts as a mediator within his family and frequently seeks to resolve their disputes, political or personal, and in many ways he is incredibly effective. Ginoscha's downfall is ultimately his empathy; in a land ruled by the Candor, he is House Blancéford's weak link, trusting others despite their intentions and even continuing to do so as he watches those same intentions unfold.

He is beloved by his family, however, and by the people of the Empire. He is often seen publicly fraternizing with peasants -- though with a Valran guard -- and often makes enormous donations to charitable industries within the Empire. In fact, Ginoscha seeks to manage them directly, often pushing for core policies of humanitarianism from the Entente to the peasants they so often disenfranchise. Surprisingly, while Ginoscha is a liability in many ways, he has ultimately been deemed an immense boon to the favorability of the royal family to the common man and has overall resulted in a swell of approval for royalty among North Daravin's populace.

Ginoscha is very close to his eldest sister, Guenire, and the woman frequently attempts to tutor him in the ways of the Candor. Their lessons together are said to have made him less trusting, and more cynical . . . though considering his actions, his intentions appear to remain far from the jaded avarice of the majority of the Empire's aristocrats.

[Tyranny]

The Treveyn

Introduction
While the obvious parallel to the Treveyn would be to compare them to Dukes, like those of Lorien, many believe that through their sheer influence and autonomy, the title of Treveyn bears closer resemblance to King or Queen. So defining are these Entente that they make and unmake society around them — shifting laws to their whims, plunging their border lands into anarchy for their ambitions, and seeking after their hubristic aims without recourse. The Treveyn of Daravin tend to be some of the most powerful mages in Atharen, forced to compete bloodily alongside their peers. They are the defining point of reference for Daravin’s most compelling cultural myth: the idea of meritocracy, even among the Nobility. For this reason, they must be greater than simple men, redefining what magic can accomplish upon the easel of flesh.

Members
There are four great Houses of the Treveyn, though this number has fluctuated before and even recently, with House Ald joining their ranks to the tune of extreme controversy. The remaining three are Valent, Challions and Verais, all three of these Houses existing from the early Age of Man as powerful families in Daravin’s south, influential to the political and business landscape. Valent, the oldest of these Houses, has held a business monopoly over Indories and the city of Arlain since the fall of Silor and has maintained an extremely prominent position in Daravain affairs for nearly fifteen hundred years. House Challions is similarly old, and has managed Daradan's trade for a millennia. Verais is renowned for its generals of past eras, having participated in the brutal subjugation of countless peasant and slave revolts during the Age of Man, and - on the inverse - allegedly being a contributing force to the downfall of Silor. Verais now rules Verdiven, the Trenorant of Rathrouen, the House closely attached to the ruling House Blanceford.

With all of these ancient families, House Ald is an outlier in more than its Sil'norai heritage. Ruling the wealthy and prestigious city of Amoren, it is disgusting to some that a Silver Elf would command the Trenorant most defining of Daravinic culture, yet in this way the idea of Daravinic meritocracy is most perfectly displayed: Brilan Ald is one of the greatest mages in documented history, reminding her resentful peasantry of the Elven power of old.

Uriel Valent

Name: Uriel Valent
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 47th of Frost, Year 4570
Title: Treveyn of Indoríes
Magics: Brand (Ascendant: Templar), Mentalism (Master), Squall (Expert), Oath (Journeyman), Resonance (Journeyman)


Details: It is beyond dispute that Uriel, Lord of House Valent and Treveyn of Indories - the greatest of the Empire's holdings - was born into immense privilege. Born the son of the Montese of Dorín, Uriel's older siblings all died either from initiations or threshold sickness, either before he was born or during his early youth. With a trail of dead bodies lain out before him and no option but to follow his family's will, Uriel was given the greatest possible education imaginable in order to ensure his success, and he was provided an immense level of focus and care in the progression of his arcane skills. It was clear to his father that if Uriel died, House Valent would die with him, and so his survival and excellence were honed beyond anything that could have been envisioned. Uriel was taught how to play the Candor just as early; he had sabotaged and murdered his dearest friend before escaping pre-pubescence, all at the advice of his father who wished to hone him to the ruthless parley engaged in by his peers.

And Uriel internalized all of this. Perhaps too much; he began to view every relationship and interaction as a method of acquiring power, and every act as a chess-like movement in a game of eternal dominance. Uriel befriended the Emperant early on in their lives, and what began as friendship evolved into the illusion of something more. Uriel wielded the facade of deep emotional attachment, pulling on desires he knew to be real with implications he thought might placate them. Of course, Uriel never did become what Justane wanted him to be, but through the lengthy span of months and years the Emperant's painful, unrequited love offered Uriel the fruits of desperation. He was allowed to do as he pleased; he was not chastised, nor intervened with, nor even cautioned. Uriel, consolidating his power during his and the Emperor's games, became Daravin's first Treveyn in over a hundred years.

But within the shell of a man always seeking domination, was a repressed secondary self - perhaps a true self - filled with deep and inconceivable longing. Beyond his manipulations and aspirations for power was a simple desire for profound human connection, the admiration of another who would admire him in return. Not for power, and not because of power, but for the bare necessities of his naked mind. Uriel believed he found this in a shy, elegant woman supposedly from Tyrclaid's east... Brilan Ela'Rhovanion, now known to the world as Brilan Ald.

And to her, Uriel offered everything. She feigned not wanting these gifts, but would always accept them, even if at first she danced with reluctance and humility. These gifts were not only monetary; often they were secrets, often they were magical in nature such as artifacts, and before long they became castles and titles and the offer of a child... a way to ground herself as the Lady of Indoríes, the first Sil'norai woman to sit in that chair since the death of Riala Elaine.

But this subservient position as the wife-of-a-powerful-man was not enough for Brilan, who sought more than Uriel ever did, and had defeated him at his own game. The game that Uriel played with Emperant Justane in their youths -- the game of unattainable, yet perfect love -- was one he had now fallen prey to, and like Justane he had given his beloved all in seeking that final prize. Uriel aided Brilan in achieving true institutional power, encouraging the Emperant to offer her the role of Treveyn. But a web of plots had formed around Uriel during this time, as he chased after the interests of his wife. With his primary interests in Couronne settled with Brilan's ascension, the Treveyn returned his focus to home, where he could seek to penetrate the plots that had mired Arlain and where he could potentially discover their source.

It is known among the Entente, now, that the origin point of these plots was Brilan... though not what she wished to accomplish at their end. With her whispers, Justane fell away from the influence of Uriel, who was left endangered and alone; surrounded by enemies, bereft of allies and betrayed by the one purpose he had managed to acquire. Since this betrayal by Lady Ald, Uriel has focused on nothing beyond the maintenance of his position, and the cold war that has brewed between him and his former, estranged love.

Brilan Ald

Name: Brilan Ald, "Lady Ash"
Race: Sil'norai
Date of Birth: 62nd of Searing, Year 4508
Title: Treveyn of Couronne
Magics: Resonance (Ascendant: Symphony), Nightfall (Ascendant: Stygian), Necromancy (Master), Artifice (Master), Mentalism (Master), Summoning (Master, Intermediary - Elven Gods)


Details: There are no figures in Daravin spoken of with the same embittering fury as Brilan Ald, Lady of Couronne and Margravess of the western borderlands. While widely despised by her peasant class due to, essentially, racist conspiracy theories - she is a true signifier of the class divide of Daravin, as she is almost religiously revered by the Halamire and Valran. The extreme loyalty of those who actually hold power is all she finds necessary, and she has found herself capable of centralizing her power to an almost stranglehold. Under Lady Ash, as she is often called, Couronne and its crown jewel has become something of an espionage-mired police state, with the Elven mistress having an ominous grip on the court and secrecy of the Entente, all of their plots finding their way to her ears through the regal events she too often hosts.

Brilan’s ambitions are largely unknown to others, and her ability to maintain secrecy of her goals and vices has been key in the acquisition of her power. Little of her past is known, though most famously she is known for having seduced and married Uriel Valent some time ago, with Lord Phillip her firstborn son. Uriel and Brilan have since become estranged rivals, and Brilan has repeatedly schemed to turn Phillip against his father, seeking influence over the mighty city of Arlain.

Brilan acquired Couronne by means of one of Daravin’s most infamous plots, the Exposition of Graces, a series of court maneuvers in which she saw publicly unveiled the domestic sex crimes and morbid violence of the last Entente house to rule the Trenorant. Still aligned with Uriel at the time, the young Treveyn helped to escalate her to the former ruling family’s seat, believing it would secure an alliance capable of domineering the Empire. However, not long after the two found their passions dissolve in a flicker, for reasons not entirely known, but supposedly influenced by the woman's acts of betrayal. Brilan has since ruled alone, never again marrying but with enough heirs to supposedly secure her name.

Inigo Verais

Name: Inigo Verais
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 79th of Glade, Year 4594
Title: Treveyn of Verdiven
Magics: Remnant (Master), Mentalism (Expert), Oath (Expert), Resonance (Journeyman), Brand (Journeyman)

Details: Inigo Verais is well known throughout Daravin as the beloved Treveyn of Verdiven, an apparently kind Lord whose father was a hero who died fighting for his country. He's commonly regarded to be as fair and benevolent to his subjects as he is deadly to his foes, an invaluable asset in the front lines of the war against Lorien. He appears to have a charming, light approach to the Candor: his gatherings are legendary despite his young age, and his cordiality has earned him solid alliances with powerful members of the Entente, Emperant Justane included. Inigo has very few detractors, with the majority of the Entente content to allow him to keep his position, the Treveyn viewed as a benign and symbiotic member of the aristocracy. His marginal dissenters often claim the Treveyn to be withholding truths from the Emperor, acting in his interests alone. Whenever he learns of these accusations second-hand, Inigo jovially disregards such claims, making clear that he is only interested in maintaining his father's legacy and securing the Empire's north.

Inigo was born the first son to Lord Anton and Lady Valeria Verais, and was raised in Rathrouen, with all the love and possessions his parents could give him. He was first initiated in Remnant by his mother and easily survived, his father's runes bestowed upon him afterwards. When he grew up, he quickly proved to have a high magical aptitude and a very creative mind. Proven his worth, his parents focused his education on preparing him to inherit the Treveyn when the time came, both in political and magical subjects. Inigo was sent to Nardothis when he was old enough, where he held a high reputation as both heir to the Trenorant and a very capable sorcerer with an uncanny ability to think outside the box, even surprising his professors. He made strange choices in friendships, most prominent being the Druskai Zhirath Qieryn, who years later would become Montese of Valtoria. During his stay at Nardothis, however, Montese Anton died a hero in the war against Lorien, and Valeria assumed regency of the Trenorant until Inigo came of age.

The young heir lost no time after mourning his father; he finished his studies as soon as he was able to and headed south, ignoring his mother's wishes to welcome him back home. He asked for an audience with the Emperant on behalf of his father, bringing Zhirath with him to introduce him to the court as a trusted friend and a contact inside. Ensuring the Emperant's support, he returned to Rathrouen after considerable time from it and claimed his right to rule as Treveyn, abiding his mother to step down from regency. He has promised to honor his father's rule ever since, his legions of mages warring against Lorien and being occasionally joined by their Treveyn as he still fairly administers his domains, appointing trusted people as his Veir.

Henrietta Challions

Name: Henrietta Challions
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 90th of Searing, Year 4572
Title: Treveyn of Ostigen
Magics: Brand (Master), Mentalism (Expert), Remnant (Expert), Summoning (Journeyman), Necromancy (Apprentice)


Details: There is a famous quote regarding Henrietta that has circled through the Entente for years: "If there is any one attribute with which Lady Challions can possibly be described, it is a bare exemption from attributions at all. Henrietta is a human woman, dominated by human instincts; paranoia, spite, envy and sorrow; these things consume her. They make her. And from her looming reflection, they make Daradan, and they make Ostigen, and they make for the conditions of needless suffering; consuming us all. From the grim ailments of these vices, their results, bloom only more consequences from which she will grow enraged. And at their end, it is the common man who suffers her wroth, as if we were responsible for it at all."

The man who wrote that - within the confines of a cold prison cell - has since been executed for treason, but his letter of denouncement is often wielded as a tool of political humiliation within the Candor. The Nobility, who do not experience Henrietta's vices in an existential way, laugh of her horrendous traits and her utterly inhuman personality. They regard such revolutionary novels as entertaining screeds, and while they may acknowledge their truth, all is merely used as a humorous device. But the words spoken of in that quote do describe Henrietta well, and sorrowfully for the many people of Ostigen, these traits continue to worsen.

Henrietta was born at sea. Her father and mother held inconsolable differences with one another, and an ultimatum was issued: Henrietta's mother would give birth to her along the coastal edges of the Empire, near the central flux of the Straits of Adena, and the newborn girl would be initiated immediately after birth. If she survived the initiation, the ship would be allowed to dock and her mother could return home. If not, they would all be shelled by magical artillery and left to rot within the grueling sea.

Needless to say, Henrietta survived, but her father and mother's games of humiliation and punishment did not end. Rather, she endured them for a lifetime, desperately seeking magical affinity if only so that she could silence their maddening screams. Henrietta learned to navigate minds and emotions, to wield and play on them, and to distort reality to her will. She became a rarity in the Candor in that she directly led to the downfall of her parents, forcing them into exile by cornering them both to where they would need to publicly reveal their vicious deeds. As a result, the woman achieved her wish and gained her own form of social distance, given the regalia of a crown with little family to speak of. The ones that remained were now her subordinates, and she held vast power.

But for a woman born to conflict, who thrived in it and orbited around it all her life, Henrietta did not stop seeking things to be enraged about upon succeeding her father. The woman grew attached to the conspiracy theories of her sycophants, and to the hostile manifestos written of other members of the Entente. She grew deeply distasteful towards Elves, who often entered her lands from Sil-Elaine tattered, filthy and bruised, supposed contaminants due to their genetic corruption. Persecution followed the woman's fears. All number of minorities, religious and racial, were tormented by her Halamire and the peasantry quickly joined them. Henrietta has presided over countless epidemics of mob violence, encouraging the brutality of men as a flail for her vicious appetite.

Perhaps for this reason - the woman's brutal signifiers to her human, peasant base, just as vested in conspiratorial beliefs as she - Henrietta is wildly popular among her subjects. With an alliance with Treveyn Uriel of House Valent, the woman solidly retains her position... though it is often said that she is troubled by her eastern border; by the Elves within.

[Tyranny]

The Montese

Introduction
The Montese are often called the 'Princes of Daravin' in other nations, due to their autonomous nature and their domains that roughly equivocate to principalities. In fact, it is not uncommon for Montese' to be called 'Princes' at home, as a sort of self-aggrandizing formality, one that has risen as a result of Daravin's increasingly lower centralization. While the Montese were once the core of the Empire, with no Treveyn at all to speak of, they have become increasingly low in number and have been pushed to the outer fringes of the ever-enlarging unified Trenorant. The Montiens they rule have also begun to consolidate, with more powerful Montiens dividing their smaller neighbors between them. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Ciseperant, which was once divided by four different Montese.

Despite their much more powerful neighbors, the Empire's Montese maintain a great degree of influence and authority, and in the last decade vast shifts in the Imperial borders have begun to decrease. This is a result of coalitions formed by the Montese in order to maintain their independence; there are several of these large coalitions across the Empire, each named and holding considerable influence within the Candor. These coalitions are as follows:

The Vouer-Roche, located to the east of Indories and the southeastern corner of Ardon. The Montese' of Ardinoe, Ulendris (the Pontifex), Valtoria and Nevise are all in a defensive pact to retain their independence. In the case of Valtoria and Nevise's rulers, the purpose of the pact is to avoid the growth of Indories, an endeavor directly subsidized by the Emperant.

The Vernegarde, comprised of the four Montiens bordering Indories and Northern Couronne; Lyonesse, Adienne, Ciseperant and Chalis. This is largely a defensive alliance against Indories, as well, as Couronne seems disinterested in the conquest of any of these Montiens, despite their riches and large populations. Ciseperant's ruler acts as the de facto speaker of this coalition, advocating for their interests in court.

The final coalition is Cardovarranca, built from the three Montiens between Ostigen and Couronne: Railon, Verant and Lethon. Indories appears to fund Railon and Verant, defending them against Couronne's expansionist forces. However, among all of the coalitions, Cardovarranca is the most fragile as their internal strife has led to armed conflict and winnowing embargoes in the past.

All of these coalitions frequently still enter conflict with one another, both in the Candor and on the field of battle. While they often maintain enough of their strength to form together in defense against larger Imperial Lords, the coalitions have - in many ways - begun to submerge into the spheres of influence of those same powers, relying upon one Treveyn neighbor to protect themselves against another. It has, then, become a negotiation: the Treveyn more merciful and more willing to compromise essentially holds authority over the fate of the Montien they defend.

As a note, Raillén men, specifically, take on the title of 'Montér' rather than Montese if succeeding the mantle.

Members
The Montese are as changeable as their borders; they rotate out frequently, with few families lasting longer than a hundred years, and just as few lasting even half as long as that. Due to the vicious nature of the Candor, houses are often felled by scandal, and many Lords die in conflict with other Imperial States. Few can be said of the Montese' members other than this, though as a common trend they tend to come from the business class of the old Unbroken Empire, despite the Empire's initial founding principles. Many are also born of powerful mages throughout the Empire's history, being suspended to international renown by a particularly skilled ancestor. One such living example is that of Lieril, of House Lorraine.

Lierel Lorraine

Name: Lieril Lorraine, "Lady Lorraine"
Race: Sil'norai
Date of Birth: 12th of Ash, Year 4486
Title: Montese of Ciseperant
Magics: Bane (Master), Remnant (Master), Malformity (Expert), Sigilic Pyromancy (Expert), Summoning (Journeyman), Resonance (Journeyman)


Details: Lieril was the first Sil'norai Montese in Daravin's history, beginning her political career in Daravin as a Valran after arriving in the country as a tarnished refugee, fleeing from Sil-Elaine. Lieril is among the only of the Empire's prominent Sil'norai to have fled from the Dranoch regime, and she often states to others just how clearly this shaped her. Lieril was, as a Valran, always known for her lack of fear; for her willingness to perform tasks thought unthinkable, pursuing dangers far above the grade of the other Valran. Among the most famous of her feats was the eradication of a powerful raider-hub forming at the northwestern edge of the Badlands, right by Ciseperant's borders, called Rustbrigade. Alone.

And the stories continued. Some of them believable -- some of them so unimaginable that even their propagators believed them to be fiction; the story of how Lieril slew an adult dragon on her own, the tale of a decisive victory against Vendigad solely by her intervention. Always, Lieril was a hero, a maiden of legend like in old Hyr'norai tales. And perhaps because of this heroic depiction, whispers spread within the Empire... whispers of what some would almost call progress. Words shared by common man and elite; of how the Sil'norai should be allowed to join the Entente, of how they should be able to rule, so long as they were just and mighty like the humans that surrounded them. Lieril was the progenitor of Sil'norai intrusion into the Entente's affairs -- so commanding of public perception, was she.

But then... she became a Montese, usurping the mantle from a weak house on the verge of total decay. And it did not remain so simple. Those initially tolerant voices, many of them, became silent and the woman was met by a chorus of defamation and paranoid fear. Overt, hateful racism was lodged constantly as a critique, with the Montese facing the prospect of betrayal from each of her many opportunistic courtiers. Lieril managed these fears well, and navigated the situation commendably, finding endorsements from other Daravinic elite and even the Emprise herself, Justane's grandmother, who ruled at the time.

Lieril is known to have paved the way for non-humans to seek power in the Empire, broadening the enclosed nation to one capable -- even if momentarily -- of opening up to a wider world. Since acquiring power so long ago, she has become a permanent fixture in the Empire, and has expanded Ciseperant's borders considerably. For all intents and purposes, she projects much of the power of a Treveyn, and is feared and admired by all adjacent to her elegant plots, most perfectly executed.

Zhirath Qieryn

Name: Zhirath Qieryn
Race: Druskai (Vethcairn)
Date of Birth: 63rd of Frost, Year 4595
Title: Montese of Valtoria
Magics: Squall (Master), Mentalism (Expert), Brand (Expert), Necromancy (Journeyman), Summoning (Journeyman)


Details: The name of Zhirath Qieryn is a controversial one in Northern Daravin. A Montese for a few years now, his early ascension to power and dubious means have made rumors about him strange and often contradictory, and he's never made any effort to either confirm or refute them. He is a known public figure in his native Alistian, and some details about his life are known there.

Zhirath was born to an Alduyr family in Alistian; his parents, both Tempests (Squall mages), initiated him in the magic at a very young age. He quickly became a prodigy at the art, even breaking traditional boundaries and exploring the many possibilities other elements provided. The former Montese of Alistian noticed his talent and had him sent to the North, to study at Nardothis, in Verdiven. Allegedly, that was where he met became very close to the current Treveyn of Verdiven, Inigo Verais. He was out of Nardothis at a young age: already a prodigy when he got in, he finished his studies fairly fast. As soon as he was out, the young Treveyn introduced him to the court of the Emperant. Whether through the Candor or sheer compatibility, rumors ensued of a thriving connection between Zhirath and Emperant Justane, with the nature of this relationship allegedly romantic. Whatever the case, the Emperant's favor was secured and soon after the prior Montese of Valtoria was dead. Zhirath returned triumphantly to Alistian, named its Montese by decree of the Emperor, further solidifying rumors of their amorous affair. Under Justane's wing he founded House Qieryn, becoming a prominent member of the Entente despite deriving from no noble blood.

Now as Montese of Valtoria, Zhirath is known to be a cunning, charming man. Highly intelligent, he has somehow increased Alistian's wealth in the few years under his rule and has formed strong alliances with strong Daravinic leaders, including both the Emperant and Trenorant Verais. His ambitions are still largely unknown, but many fear what he could try to do after spending his first years securing his position within the Entente. Zhirath's actions have earned him the envy of others, and enemies, but the innate talent and sheer strength often displayed by him in the magical domains has led many of the Entente to shy from invoking his ire.

Phillip Valent

Name: Phillip Valent
Race: Half-Human, Half-Sil'norai
Date of Birth: 26th of Searing, Year 4593
Title: Montese of Lyonesse
Magics: Brand (Master), Resonance (Master), Mentalism (Journeyman), Oath (Apprentice)


Details: Phillip Valent is the son and heir of two of the most powerful people in the Empire, Uriel Valent and Brilan Ald. Merely by his existence, the Montese is an unprecedented threat to the balance of power within the realm, capable of vastly diminishing if not outright reshaping the role of the Emperor to one obsolete. As such, one would expect that his continued survival would be the result of skillful political maneuvering, or even the ability to evade public spaces long enough so as to safeguard himself against scandal. As it is, this is not the case: Phillip, though the most desirable bachelor in the Empire, has largely been suspended by the fear threat of retaliation from one or both of his parents towards any who would spread 'slander' or scandal against him. Alleged slander.

Phillip is known for his arrogance; his vanity, his petulant behaviors and childlike reactions. And, ironically, not acting nearly as strongly or firmly as he should, affording others a degree of empathy found fairly uncommonly among the Entente. He is, by all estimations, cocky and irrational and a fairly average diplomat and administrator. The Valent is known to be skilled at forging attack campaigns and lethal coalitions against other Entente, his role in the Candor seemingly one of 'truth-telling' and the destruction of others' integrity that follows.

It is known that the man is troubled, and has been for a long time. As a result of the stale war between his mother and father, and their catastrophic fall-out at a fairly young age for him, he has largely been wrestled between the two political giants for most of his life and has elected to live separately from both influences. His endorsement has been given to neither his father nor his mother, and though he may occasionally be found conversing with either or both of the Treveyn among the flourish of the Candor, his conversations appear to remain surface level.

Elias Narvaez

Name: Elias Narvaez
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 80th of Ash, Year 4582
Title: Montér of Railón
Magics: Squall (Master), Summoning (Expert), Artifice (Journeyman), Remnant (Apprentice)


Details: Elias is a divisive man in Daravinic politics, particularly considering his public interest in a thing no other Entente claims to desire: the redrawing of the Trenorant's borders, facilitating for the creation of a Raillén homeland. It is by drawing on this nationalist sentiment, as well as fanning the flames of racial tension in Couronne, that he has managed to remain independent from Brilan Ald - largely due to the civil unrest that a war with him might invoke. But Elias is not a particularly intelligent man. He is not extremely well-worded, tending to blather and run in circles. Many of his points are far from coherent, and he often speaks of things he knows little about. He is often ridiculed by the other Entente for his brash and uncouth behaviors, seen as a man who only knows foul.

Yet, to many this is an appealing characteristic. Elias is undoubtedly popular among the people of Railón, as well as their ethnic brothers that run across the borders of Ostigen and Couronne. The majority of the people south of Indoríes are Raillén, yet the realms they reside within are scarcely represented by those of their own culture and heritage. When Brilan Ald was chosen as the successor to Couronne, the fact that an Elf was crowned Treveyn before a Raillén only fanned the flames of nationalism. Since then, Elias has been the face of Raillén separatism. He has also been the face of anti-Elven xenophobia in South Daravin, only preceded by Treveyn Challions in that regard. He is favored for his simplicity, the forwardness with which he speaks, and the enemies he chooses of his own accord. He draws wide strokes across the Empire of those he would see dethroned, and often this projection of strength casts a wider shadow from him than is truly deserved.

Of course, Elias does have many enemies. The cousin he wishes to marry, to reunite Raillén lands and acquire her wealth. The foreign banks to whom he owes hundreds of millions of dranari farthings; Brilan Ald, even Henrietta Challions. Many believe that his days as Montér are numbered, but the ethnic tensions he has stoked threatened to bleed into a civil war not motivated by conquest and the right of 'title' or name, but of something far greater. As such, he is generally left alone, where he pushes his Montien further and further into debt.

Namira Valriese

Name: Namira Valriese, "Lady Valriese"
Race: Half-Human, Half-Sil'norai
Date of Birth: 47th of Frost, Year 4590
Title: Montese of Chalis
Magics: Artifice (Master), Necromancy (Master), Remnant (Expert), Resonance (Expert), Oath (Journeyman), Mentalism (Journeyman)


Details: Namira is a stranger on the stage of Daravin -- her rise to power is lamented as a mysterious woe, a wound upon the Entente. Namira was legitimized as the bastard daughter of a human man, Montese Florian du Valriese, on his death bed and subsequently made heir. Though she claims to have always been residing in Daravin beforehand, the oddness of her ascent was noted by all; Namira appeared that very night with unknown origins, spent the man's remaining few hours with him, and stared coldly over his corpse after he passed on. She became Montese thereafter, and exiled all of his servants and advisers from Chalis, largely barring any but Artificed golems from her estate. Namira's advisers are all Awoken, and she allows no courtiers to interact with her. She does not participate in the Candor, either, regretfully absent from any soiree at Ardenserat.

Of course, rumors circulate around the woman constantly. Endless tales of countless, unproven conspiracies, stoking fears enough to incur revolt. It is known, however, that those who speak ill of her for too long or with too many words often disappear, and so she has gripped Chalis with a reign of quiet, but subversive terror.

Despite this, Namira is known to be a good leader. She is a proper administrator who works most often on the most objective information, has no toleration for corruption and allows for the adequate distribution of wealth to the peasant class. The people of Chalis are, under her, healthier and better fed than they have ever been... and for most, this is enough. Though one would not describe the Montese as popular, a common perception regarding the illusive ruler is simply that she has no time for the antics of the other flowery Entente, and that she spends her time ruling with informed wisdom.

Jaime Lusignan

Name: Jaime Lusignan
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 52nd of Glade, Year 4567
Title: Montese of Adienne
Magics: Bane (Master), Mentalism (Expert), Remnant (Apprentice), Oath (Apprentice)


Details: Jaime is seen as a fairly traditional, pragmatic player within the Candor of the Entente, but he is known for his severe and unjustifiable cruelty to his subjects and his peers. Jaime is very publicly known to be grim and punitive, with his wife and children often arriving to galas so shaken and bruised that their wounds show even through the near perfect concealment of Entente garbs. Like many of the surviving Montese, Jaime retains his position through beneficial alliances with his neighbors, forming a tight coalition in defense of his realm. Despite this, the Lord du Lusignan is a constant source of aggravation to other Entente, reneging on and poorly following deals agreed to. He profits from the necessity of his Halamire for the continued freedom of Daravin's northwestern Montiens, frequently engaging in double-dealing and the proliferation of his 'allies' information.

Unfortunately for his peers, Jaime appears to have an impenetrable reputation with little to undermine him with. A human man who has derived from an old Daravinic family, his only vice appears to be cruelty -- a strangely neutral concept to the people of the Empire, who often admire brutality.

Alina du Saliet

Name: Alina du Saliet
Race: Human (Strigoi)
Date of Birth: 81st of Searing, Year 4538
Title: Montese of Nevise
Magics: Mentalism (Master), Alchemistry (Master), Artifice (Expert), Bane (Expert), Necromancy (Journeyman)


Details: If one were to extricate themselves from all influences, visual or audible, and focus only on the conception of the purest and most corrupt Entente: the undiluted visage of corroded nobility, wherein a Lord seeks to utilize their position solely for self-benefit and for the satisfaction of megalomaniacal tendencies, an individual may perfectly conceive of the Montese Alina du Saliet. Made a Strigoi by a skilled, long-dead Necromancer, the woman has been alive for a considerable length of time and has ruled Nevise with a cult-like grip for as long as any can remember. Alina is keen on forming division within her own realm, exacerbating tensions between the historic Druskai population and the human majority, as well as allowing her Veir and other courtiers to exploit the populace to an inhumane degree only to occasionally reprimand them to temporarily placate her people. She is essentially viewed by many as a woman whose hands are tied, surrounded by corruption, though in truth Alina is among the sole perpetrators of the decline in Nevise' living conditions.

Of course, the woman also largely benefits from the consistent and brutal Vethcairn and Viddashan raids upon her shores, and even the occasional conflict with the Elven God Lotheric. As, essentially, a war-hero whose Valran sustain the very existence of her subdued commoners, even those wise or educated enough to note her evils may see her as a largely necessary force. As a result, she has kept power and remains in the Emperor's favor.

Alina is a frequent player in the Candor, so much so that she has - with her riches - built her own portal to connect to Arlain's 'Hallway', allowing her constant access to Couronne and the palace of Ardenserat. Alina's own palace is a frequent place of gathering, hosting many galas and exquisite balls for the Entente each year, the woman known to be an incredible host. As she is very old, the woman has built a considerable and intimidating reputation within elite circles, and most Entente do not enjoy the risk of what may come with wronging her. This does not stop her from finding weaknesses in their profile or behavior, however, and even as the ruler of a fairly weakened Montien she has been known to contend with much more powerful Montese. Currently, Alina has been embroiled in a long rivalry with the Montese Zhirath of Valtoria, seeking to expand her realm into his dominion.

Merona Rafíen

Name: Merona Rafíen
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 23rd of Ash, Year 4577
Title: Montese of Verant
Magics: Summoning (Master, Intermediary - Choir of Fog), Alchemistry (Master), Necromancy (Expert), Brand (Expert), Mentalism (Journeyman)


Details: Merona was born second daughter to her father, the Montese of Verant and her mother, a powerful noble summoner. She never led a happy life; she lived in the shadow of her brother, Davron, firstborn and the one her father gave all his attention to. Her mother stopped taking care of her at an early age, as she contracted a terminal disease that had her bedridden for the last years of her life. An avid reader and a solitary child, her only solace were books; spending most of her time unbothered in the large library in her palace, she learned about very different fields of knowledge. Self taught in most of her knowledge, as her father and brother only cared for each other, she grew to be an exceptionally educated woman and a powerful mage; in the meanwhile, her brother disregarded his father's politics lessons and spent their family's riches in a new plaything every week, spoiled in every possible way. She resented her family for abandoning her, for focusing on her idiot of a brother, and she particularly resented her mother for becoming so weak when she had to raise her. She grew distant, learning to avoid relatives and only caring about herself.

She grew up to become an exceptional mage; free from the duties of nobility as her father practically hid her from the world, she was free to dress up as she pleased and go where she desired. Now an accomplished summoner, the Choir of Fog helped her achieve her nebulous goals. Her mother finally passed when she was twenty; the length of her agony had prepared Merona for the moment, and she barely mourned her death. Three years later, her arrogant brother departed on a hunting trip and returned in a coffin; he had insisted on taking on a beast himself and the beast had torn his guts open. This shook Merona's world. She was the heir now, and she was finally able to lead the life she had wanted for herself for so long: the power to lead her Montien and help Verant regain the position it deserved, to prove the world that she had been the right choice from the very beginning. Her father, torn apart by his firstborn's death, ended up indulged in an ever less responsible lifestyle and died a year later, leading a suicidal attack against Lotheric's monstrous Archetypes. Before she was 25, Merona was Montese, and she quickly proved to be an efficient one.

These days, she's a respected player of the Candor in the southern political landscape. She has managed to fill her coffers with money derived from strongly taxing the luxury industry her Montien is known for; the growth of South Daravin has ensured large margins of profit and willing labor for her realm. A jack of all trades thanks to her unorthodox upbringing, he uses her direct and bold persona to play hidden mind games with anyone requesting an audience with her. She lives by her own rules, and makes her power well known to mantain her own status quo. She has refused every single suitor since becoming Montese, the most well-known being her cousin, Elias Narvaez, Montese of Railón. However, she keeps him close, and the number of favors owed to her by him continues to rise.

Clyde de Royen

Name: Clyde de Royen
Race: Half-Human, Half-Sil'norai
Date of Birth: 78th of Frost, Year 4587
Title: Montese of Lethon
Magics: Oath (Master), Brand (Expert), Mentalism (Expert), Malformity (Journeyman)

Details: Clyde is the current head of House de Royen, an ancient lineage that can be traced back to the earlier days of the Unbroken Empire, having been a minor Gentevarese family. After the foundation of the Daravinic Empire, the first Blancéford Emperor relocated the house to Zirean, and it is one of the few houses that have ruled unchallenged to present days.

Well, almost unchallenged. Clyde de Royen was born the fourth son in his family. However, two of his older siblings died in their first initiations. The second son, Clyde's elder brother, was made heir; and while his father personally provided a wonderful education to both brothers, his mother's heart couldn't afford to lose any other child; having been a powerful Veir, she instructed Clyde in all forms of defense she knew, so he could protect his brother if he ever had to. A calm, quiet child, Clyde grew up and remained close to his older brother deep into their adulthood; he had grown into an amazing battlemage with an unbreakable defense, a true Master of Negation and other arts. His father had also provided him with extensive scientific and political education, as he did not wish to unfairly favor one of his successors at the expense of another.

Not long after his twenty second birthday, his life changed overnight. Clyde's father called him and his brother in for a common discussion, already trusting them with several administrative affairs to have them get used to the knacks of ruling. This time, he could feel something amiss, and he tapped into the Mark of Brand search of difference. What he found was incoming destruction; Clyde reacted in the last moment, shielding himself from the blast using his negation, but when he opened his eyes, unscathed, his father and brother laid dead.

They were... partially melded against the walls of the room, their skin and flesh severely burnt. The assassin spotted him and revealed herself; it was meant to present as some sort of accident; an alchemical reaction with fatal consequences that killed all three. But the job was clearly not done. Shocked, Clyde dueled her. The assailant failed to touch him a single time, her attacks all repelled. The assassin, in desperation, severely overstepped and died, her body bursting into flames and consuming itself. Clyde was named Montese in less than a week, though his mother was heartbroken and fell into a profound depression.

More than ten years later, Clyde rules the Montien alone. Though there are rumors that he is involved with a mistress who he extends some authority to, it is well known that the Montese acts on his own accord, making decisions on his determinations alone. The Montese is unapologetically independent; he can rarely be found participating in the Candor, and amidst those rare occasions, he is straightforward and direct. The dirty games of court cost his family their lives, and it's no secret that he despises them. In spite of that, he remains an exceptionally powerful duelist, though he does not enjoy nor partake in outward aggression. Clyde's defense is considered absolute and he hasn't ever been bested in a duel, as a result. He is considered a fair ruler, and has kept many of his father's policies, finding them to be effective. The de Royen has decided to honor his heritage, but also live life at his own pace.

[Tyranny]

The Veir

Introduction
Veiren (the plural of Veir) are the Empire's common strain of Nobility, often regarded as 'lesser Nobles' though many of them still hold considerable wealth and power. They generally work in the courts of Montese or greater Entente, manage their own large business enterprises and hold the loyalties of a select few Valran. Many Veiren are also in the Empire's military, and it is from their military endeavors that they often gain greater prestige and public position. In general, the Veir are managers, running estates, plots of land, Noble affairs for their liege...

The Veir participate in the Candor just as often as the greater Entente, particularly due to their nature as climbers and the intense social pressure laid on them to perform well in social gatherings. Interestingly, Veir often avoid flaunting their wealth and privilege in public spaces, as they tend to come from more experienced wealthy families seeking to avoid the envy or ire of the peasant class. It is in soirees and on the field of battle that their true eminence emerges, and certainly within the lavish interiors of their fine estates, though they may be hidden behind a thick wall of forestry and brush.

The Veir are capable of achieving a higher position than the one they were born to. They are, however, also capable of being exiled from the Entente; often as a result of failing their liege Lord in the Candor, resulting in their humiliation or embarrassment. In general, it is Veir who tend to be chosen to marry more powerful Entente, as Lords of more equal station tend to conspire against one another almost as a default.

Members
The Veir, like the Montese, tend to come from Ectahl-Prior's old business class though many of them have also become Entente through time. Many Veir families were specifically given their Nobility by House Blanceford, as a reward for their service in uniting the Empire. Many others acquired their Nobility as a result of one particularly powerful mage-ancestor; in general, the same trends as with the Montese are followed.

The Veir make up the vast majority of the Entente. While some of them are relatives to reigning Montese and Treveyn, the vast majority of them are independent of any major dynasty. However, they all have 'Houses', those Houses all have a Coat of Arms, and they generally all hold businesses as well as lands held by them through hereditary titles. While Veir may not equate to 'Counts' in Lorien, for example, they often do dwell in large estates - and even castles - and preside over tracts of land in a way similar to Barons. Of course, not every Veir can hold such prominence; most do not.

Though, most do hold some degree of influence, often deeply rooted in the locale in which they live... or even in institutions that affect the Empire as a whole.

Xavier Attano de Reis

Name: Xavier Attano de Reis
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 45th of Frost, Year 4595
Magics: Artifice (Master), Oath (Expert), Brand (Journeyman), Mentalism (Journeyman), Remnant (Apprentice)


Details: Xavier is the Lord-Regnant or 'leader' of House de Reis, an ancient family that once ruled one of Ectahl's ducal principalities, before the Bleeding. The leaders of de Reis, conspiring against Valen, were engaged in a meeting with other Lords in Amoren when the Bleeding occurred. Thus, while they lost their realm, they remained alive and retained their status as Imperial Lords. The history of House de Reis is one that many find quite compelling: originally members of the Lorien Monarchy, House Reizend, they were wed to Imperial royals long before the Bleeding in order to temporarily aide in maintaining regional peace. De Reis is seen as a large reason for the prevention of full-scale war between Lorien and the Unbroken Empire, with much of their conflict taking the form of border disputes similar to the ones between Daravin and Lorien now.

What this means, however, is that in some incredibly distant way... Xavier has an old claim on the throne of Lorien, while still exuding jingoist furor for Daravin, an orator for nationalism and magocratic supremacy. He has recently been given administrative oversight over Marjoline, effectively a Montien of Verdiven, though his power derives directly from Treveyn Verais. This appointment was undoubtedly influenced by personal affinity: the two have been close companions from their early youths, and there is very public speculation that they are likely to marry as a means for Treveyn Verais to declare full-scale war against Lorien, seeking to place his spouse upon the Northern throne.

Xavier is often regarded as a well-meaning man, though he maintains a distant aloofness from the majority of Entente affairs and does not often participate in the Candor. When he does, he is largely seen as naive and tends to defer to the Treveyn. He is typically viewed as a fair and impartial Lord, one quick to confront issues and unlikely to employ unnecessary violence or cruelty. While little stock is held on family name outside of the likes of Blanceford and the Treveyn, Xavier descends from one of the more admired families of Daravin, and perhaps as a result of this enjoys a considerable degree of popularity among his subjects.

Xavier, not desiring power for the sake of power, is reticent to involve himself with many of the activities of the other Entente and generally refrains from interacting with Lords outside of Verdiven. He is said to be an idealist, with many lofty if unattainable goals for how the country might change.

Caelowen mir Ainslaich

Name: Caelowen mir Ainslaich
Race: Human
Date of Birth: 76 of Ash, Year 4593
Magics: Remnant (Expert), Resonance (Journeyman) Mentalism (Journeyman), Malformity (Journeyman)

Details: Caelowen is one of the most fascinating creatures among the ranks of the Entente; though his last name reveals his Tyrclaidian origin, he has climbed his way to the rank of Veir and enjoys the confidence of Lord Philip Valent, working directly for him. Infamous for his appearance, Caelowen indulges in cosmetics and feminine clothing and displays a feminine appearance and unnatural beauty (enhanced by her magic) at all times. He is called a 'cross-dresser' by some, though this term does not properly illuminate the depth and artistry of his craft. He does nothing to hide the fact that he is truthfully male, his boyish body noticeable under his luxurious gowns and garments. On occasion, the people unaware of that fact typically end up treating Caelowen as they would a noble woman. He seems to enjoy this, displaying his amusement; content to be addressed as Lord, Lady or Veir, as long as he gets what he wants.

Caelowen was born in Tyrclaid to a poor peasant family. He was the black sheep, a little boy that hated the exhausting work of the farm and sneaked into his sisters' rooms to put on the few pretty dresses they owned. He was six when his father discovered his habits; a bad harvest was a proper excuse to kick that useless abomination of a son out of his walls. Hungry and scared, Caelowen resorted to stealing food and sneaking into public buildings to sleep. Over time his skill and ambition grew, and one day he saw a beautiful dress and tried to steal it for himself. Of course, he was caught, but a noble woman intervened, empathetic to the curious desires of the street urchin. She paid for his freedom and offered Caelowen countless more garments and accessories; when he accepted, the noble woman gave him the rune of Masquerade as a parting gift. Self taught, Caelowen overcame the initiation and learned to give himself an effeminate, 'pretty' look and conceal his robberies using his new illusions.

His life quickly took a turn. A wandering slaver arrived to Caelowen's town, intending to make profit on orphans and other people that nobody would miss. A brutal warrior, Caelowen managed to evade him for a long time, until he overstepped from overusing his illusions: even amidst a pursuit, the young boy refused to set aside his guise, preferring to keep his glamour. The slaver abducted him and several other children and took them all the way to Daravin; Caelowen was a mage that he could make good money for, so he was sold to a Veir in Lyonesse: a brutal man who owned dozens of slaves and treated them subhumanly. The Veir immediately took an interest in Caelowen and his stealth skills, and decided to ignore his cross-dressing as long as he would obey. Caelowen despised his new life as a slave, and loathed slavery altogether.

However, under the Veir's ownership, he learned what life in Daravin was like: the opulence, the decadence, the secrets and the subdued violence. Disgusted by as he was allured by the possibilities, he dedicated himself to being the best, learning all he had to learn and then some as he grew up. And when he discovered that his master had some dirty secrets of his own, he acted. He assassinated the Veir, setting free his fellow slaves, and sneaked into Philip Valent's palace with his head and some documents. He was discovered by the Montese, but he handed both with a smile, the documents proving that the Veir had conspired against him. Phillip was amused, both by the slave's attitude and his unlikely appearance. He recognized his strength, and the talent he may have had in the Candor, besting his master despite their gap in station. The Montese freed him from slavery and offered the title of Veir at the same time, employing Caelowen as his spymaster.

[Tyranny]

The Candor

Introduction
The Candor is very broad in how it is applied. Generally, members of the Entente have their own way of participating in the Candor. This is typically called 'Performing', with a display of skill in a soiree often called a 'Performance.' In general, the rules of the Candor are:

1. Do not reveal information without a price. This can even be small information; anything that may lead to the improvement of a rival's position, or dangerous speculation. If one asks, at a soiree, for one's plans for the evening, it is unwise to inform even a friend that you intend to meet with an ally or a potential suitor. It is unwise to reveal one's plans or goals, or their next move, or even their opinion on a friend or enemy. Soirees in Daravin are often privately mocked for their shallowness; they scarcely involve little more than small talk and pleasantries. Any information that is mistakenly revealed, whether by actions or words, quickly consumes the ball as the participants involved will gossip ruthlessly in some way that may favor them.

2. Appearance matters. The Entente are meant to convey some level of divinity within them, as their magical gifts are supposedly directly from Ulen. As such, not only does attractiveness matter more than among the nobility of other nations, but individual details of one's presentation are often focused on and criticized. One must always show up to a soiree with a complete look; no button can have its string frayed, no blouse can be marred by a stroke of ink. Tailors working for the Entente are seen as some of the greatest of their trade in Atharen, coming from all over the world to acquire vast sums of wealth from their discerning, demanding clientele. Similarly, magical surgeons - Necromancers - who work on the Entente are artists, tending to focus on refining certain characteristics perfectly, while retaining a natural look that does not alter or take away from the Ententer's heritage.

3. Get to know one's rivals. The more that is known, the more that can be exploited; to be an Entente is to form an intricate weave of knowledge on one's peers, their relationships, their weaknesses, their actions... their magical strength, their family history, their relatives. Their lovers, friendships, all inter-woven and between one and hundreds of other individuals. This can be done personally or indirectly, through others. Either way, to master the Candor one must manage a network of information, often stored within one's own mind so as to avoid the compromising of knowledge and secrets.

4. Choose alliances well. Alliances in the Entente often begin sweetly, with mutual favors done for one another, but those who do not keep in mind the motivations and interests of their ally are often betrayed. Entente rarely coordinate with their allies over-much, tending to keep something of an arm's length, particularly given that they will likely be competing with them for the scraps once a mutual foe has been destroyed.

5. Be valuable; in some way, be necessary. Have something that others want -- if there is nothing for others to gain from you, then you will not be allowed to play. Others will avoid you, or shirk conversation with you. While the Montese and their family are the centerpieces of every gala, nameless Veir are often ignored. To gain from the Candor, one must have something of worth, and it is unwise to play one's cards early. Prestige and recognition are important; the best players are recognized, and they are often the ones who gain the most, though to do so they must also risk loss. Losing that value is destructive, often resulting in the loss of all wealth and recognition gained, and perhaps one's life by a stroke of betrayal.

6. Do not break the taboos; to do so is to invite long-term damage, or even ruin.

Taboos
Taboos are the actions never to be performed by members of the Entente, particularly those who wish to be successful at the Candor. This is a list of the most common and integral of taboos, though political mistakes of many other kinds exist and may be exploited.

Contra-Jingoism: Perhaps the greatest taboo in Daravin is the admonishment of war, and by extension, making clear a desire for peace. Any and all treaties made between the Empire and external nations are spoken of as surrender, with the other nation supposedly offering the Empire great riches and a bent knee. Strength matters above all in Daravin, and this strength must not only be projected by the people, but the Empire itself. Patriotism is drawn from this strength, and this patriotism is used to enforce the cultural norms of the Empire. Aside from this, there is also a religious aspect to war that is undeniable: in order for Ulen to return, Daravin must conquer the entire world. Calling for peace, if premature, is essentially a form of heresy that goes against the will of the Returning King.

An Ententer who speaks against war, and calls for peace, is one whose days are numbered. Even within the Entente, for all the taboos they break behind closed doors, speaking of peace within a soiree is viewed as wrongful and leaves one ripe for blackmail. Perhaps the one exception is in wars between members of the Entente, but even these conflicts are typically resolved only by the involved leaders, without calls for peace within their court or across the realm. Peace treaties may be extensively negotiated, but no Montese would ever accept the word 'surrender'; it is always a renegotiation of the current circumstances. Peace and weakness are synonyms - the Empire must always be at war.

Class Betrayal: While the greatest public taboo may be Contra-Jingoism, Class Betrayal is likely the most lethal taboo to a member of the Entente. It is the act of selling out, diminishing, questioning, or criticizing the Entente as a class, or Daravinic class dynamics. To call out the Entente as a whole as being wicked, exploitative, or vile is to invite ruin. To vie for the rights of the lower classes, and certainly of slaves, is in a similar vein of indignity. Further, Entente are expected to protect class even in the case of their rivals. While it may be fine to encourage the death of a Montese as a result of a scandal, to do so by feeding into revolutionary sentiment or other trends destructive to the Daravinic power structure is likely to result in death or at least violent reprimand.

Fraternizing with non-magical peasants to a considerable degree is also a part of this taboo. An Ententer cannot marry a non-mage. It is common for young and rebellious members of the Entente to initiate their lovers, only to grieve at their untimely death amidst the initiation. To be caught extensively fraternizing with any non-mage is to be viewed as an act of extreme weakness and moral fragility, likely to reduce the legitimacy of the Entente in question, perhaps even diminishing their likelihood of inheriting power and wealth.

Finally, to put others of one's class at risk by revealing the details of private engagements is to invite death. For example, one may wish to damage their political rival by outing their participation in a gruesome sexual engagement. If this activity is commonplace among the Entente, it casts a shadow over the Entente as a whole, and ruins the confidentiality of the Entente and their ability to safely engage in hedonism. The Entente enjoy their debauched hobbies, and all members of the noble class essentially agree to allow one another to engage in these acts behind closed doors. To even out one member of the Entente for such actions is to put into question the safety of hundreds of other nobles, and can often result in the accusing member of the Entente being framed for far worse. Revealing others for violent or gruesome misconduct, sexual or otherwise, has a place -- but only particularly gruesome, and particularly against other members of their own class.

Immodesty: Modesty, in public spaces, is necessary due to the tenets of the Oaths of Carine. This is taken to the extreme in Daravin, particularly for those with class. While peasants and slaves can practically wear nothing if they wish, the elite of Daravinic society are expected to act as pillars of the God they claim to represent. This means that barely any skin can be revealed publicly; even in closed soirees, an Ententer dare not reveal more than their face, and perhaps ankles or wrists. In fact, many Entente go further and wear extremely impractical attire, embellished to reveal not only their wealth but their devotion. Massive, padded dresses and suits layered over with coats and other attire are commonplace in the gatherings of the truly rich. Those known to have publicly been immodest can be humiliated publicly, and may even be forced to strip down and reveal their unholy forms before a crowd, before being brutally flogged. Even the highest of the Entente are vulnerable to this outcome.

Imperial Irreverence: Displaying any level of criticism towards the Empire as an institution, even behind closed doors, is extremely precarious and likely to invite blackmail or decimation in court. This even includes criticizing the Emperor, and to some extent his or her family. Such actions are seen as undermining the Empire and its unity, as well as directly assaulting Ulen and the Pontifex for crowning Daravin and its royal family. This action can result in smaller consequences - particularly if levied against a lesser royal - but can result in harsh, fatal consequences if performed irresponsibly.

Heresy: An obvious taboo, heresy is not accepted in Daravin. While many peasants believe in the Living Gods, this belief is actively being uprooted and the Entente are expected to partake in this action. Worse is the worship of the Elven Gods, who are essentially at war with the Empire and have been actively viewed as enemies since the fall of Silor. All Entente are expected to swear loyalty to the faith of the Omen, and to worship Ulen. Any examples of heresy, even in the form of small idols, can result in death for the heretic. Even Summoning has been raised as a potential act of heresy in the past, particularly in the case of Intermediaries, who are strongly connected to either the Choir of Fog or the Elven Gods. The Omen has ruled that such actions are viable, as they are a sign of Ulen's true dominion over the heretical faiths, with Summoners supposedly dominating outside spirits to their will. The debate, however, continues -- largely initiated by Entente who wish to use anti-Summoning paranoia for their own benefit.

Ulendric Blasphemy: Another obvious taboo is blasphemy against Ulen, and the faith of the Omen. This also extends to criticizing the Pontifex, who is - like the Emperor - insulated from accountability and critique. Even pointing out objective facts such as the fact that the Achra are mythological beings inspired by the Living Gods of another religion is viewed as high blasphemy - the more factual the critique, the more deadly for the one criticizing the faith. Penalties for Ulendric Blasphemy are traditionally harsh.