Prince Alexander Caius of Aaun

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Alexander Caius Barbanov-Bihar Alexander and his Sonlacher spaniel, c. 1970 Prince of Aaun Race: Heartlander Birth: 10 Snow's Maiden, 1959, Apostolic Kingdom of Aaun Death: Living House: Alstion Father: John I, King of Aaun Mother: Amelya of Middelan

Alexander Caius Barbanov-Bihar, naitre Alstion (10 Snow's Maiden, 1959 - Present), the fifth son and sixth child born to the union of John I, King of Aaun and his wife Amelya of Middelan, was a prince of the Apostolic Kingdom of Aaun leading up to and after its incorporation into the Heartlander Confederation.

Biography

Childhood

The dead of the Aaunish winter heralded the royal births of Alexander Caius and his sister, Calliope Analiese. Unlikely from birth to be pressed into the rulership of the realm, instead he was allowed to roam as he wished by his aging father, and though his mother oft attempted to press him into the tutelage of aged scholars, he took far better to her stories of knights and exotic adventures. Yet home was a boring place, where he was entrapped in an endless loop of prayer and study, and the recent end of the Aevos Coalition War had heralded the beginning of a realm-wide peace - so few chances of hoped-for glory seemed on the horizon.

That peace, however, gave ample time with his family - and as Aaun's finances prospered, so too did the once austere royal family's budgets balloon. Whereas his siblings grew up within the confines of the Hand of Horen, Alexander was given the chance to see the reborn world with his mother and sisters; frequent travels west through the Petran valleys and into Haense were oft taken, and where they were not the family took to its retreat on St. Andrik's Isle, hunting in its small royal preserve and playing with myriad pets. On one trip to Haense, his mother Queen Amelya gifted him a cloak embroidered with the scene of the Crowning of St. Godfrey, the first and greatest of the Holy Orenian Emperors. On another trek, he stumbled across the shards of a relic Triumph, the sword of that same St. Godfrey that the conqueror of yore had wielded in the unification of his vast empire, or so legend has it.

Squireship

On one such journey to the neighboring Commonwealth of the Petra, he caught the eye of their queen, Catherine I whilst swinging a wooden sword amongst the weeds. Taking a liking to him, she offered him a practice bout; and when, to the river court's surprise, he prevailed, she offered him squireship^[1] at her royal side. Thereafter far less of his childhood was spent with his family and their court of clergy and ministers, replaced instead by the lessons Catherine I would impart upon him whilst fishing and the poetry shared between the knights of the rapids.

Yet to be a squire is to invite danger, and oft such was the case in the Commonwealth, where brigands still roamed along the edges of what was once Veletz. So it was that, in the course of his squireship, he would fight dozens of brigands, and in turn grow embittered to battle like no tourney knight could know. Saving even the queen's daughter from a malefic beast in the north, he would build a certain reputation for skill at arms - yet this did not buy him the happiness he had been lulled to sleep with by his own mother, and so he for a time receded into the libraries and museums of the Temesch Crownlands.

Later Youth

When he emerged, Alexander was well-spoken and well-read, reassured of his talent but oft loathed in its use. Rather than demanding a duel with the raiders when they captured the Petran queen, he offered instead his very own princely circlet as ransom; and rather than begin a battle to save his sister, before this, he smuggled Josephine out with careful planning.

This did not make him immune to the search of glory, however, for in 1970 he began to travel abroad more frequently; present for the comet that shattered Valdev, the act of scavenging its shards sparked his inner flame once more; and so he began to integrate himself within the foreign court. Besting half its army in an impromptu tourney beside Belisar Ruthern won him the funds, with his mother's assistance, for a manor to be shared with his sister Calliope (whom had been warding in the Haeseni palace) in New Valdev. It was whilst settling there he met Her Royal Highness Stefaniya Edvarda, a patrilineal niece of the king; they bonded over their shared whims and fancies, in adventures and the pages of old stories alike.

As the two bonded, he found fondness for her. In that year he fashioned from his starlight shard a pair of matching circlets for her and her royal aunt, and a blade of soft light for her royal uncle. In such ways, a Heartlander may have had the right to court, but in the Haeseni realms more was demanded. Afore the high nobility of Hanseti-Ruska, Alexander faced off against - and bested - Ivan VIII of Haense in a duel, a ritualistic test of mettle to determine his worth as a man. His devotion to her family was soon tested, for the King's justice on the assassin of the past queen, called too light by some, had drawn the ire of the nobility. The foreign prince's blade quieted the voices at his behest, and soon after he was called to the palace, whereupon they met for a firm handshake, and the king offered his blessing with the fullness of his heart.

Adulthood

In all the tournaments that Alexander participated in, he wielded his blade, Abyssal Light—his signature weapon, which he claimed from the clutches of the underdepths. This sword, wrought of Argentum, a silver-sheened metal resembling a blend of Lunarite and Aurum, was forged in the deepest recesses of the earth, likely amidst the wars waged against the perilous Mori’quessir warlords in the Underdark. Known for his grace in combat, the radiance of the luminous blade lent the young man a stable sense of self. He went on to use this artifact of bygone times to carve a legacy as one of the Heartland’s greatest duelists, all in pursuit of bringing prestige to his venerable house.

The Prince of Alstion donning his familial plate, holding his signature weapon—Abyssal Light.

However, Alexander found that his time fighting in tournaments was wasted. It was rarely a contest, and even more rarely did anyone truly put their best foot forward against a prince. It was not true combat nor the pursuit of anything worthwhile that he craved. And so the prince was brought before the Templar of Malchaediel Sulcelia, and she initiated him as her student before all the Wood Elves of the Vale of Nevaeh'len. Anointed now with his life's mission, Alexander would pursue foes of a higher caliber to fight to satisfy his yearning for a challenge and his longing to be a part of a greater good. At this point, he had grown less concerned with the mundane affairs of humanity, still, he kept his house and his family close to heart. It was around this time that he began to officially court Her Royal Highness, Stefaniya Edvarda.

Betrothal

On the 13th of the Grand Harvest, Year 182 S.A., Prince Alexander Caius was formally invited to the Lesanov Palace in Haense for a Lok dinner by the King of Haense, Ivan VIII, and his wife, Queen Nataliya of Ghaestenwald. A custom that was intended to convey the Haeseni monarchy's officiation of Prince Alexander's betrothal to their niece Her Royal Highness, Stefaniya Edvarda, Princess of Hanseti-Ruska, Duchess of Baranya, the engagement dinner was characterized by the King of Haense's adamant approval of Prince Alexander Caius as Stefaniya's suitor. Oftentimes, the engagement dinner is a source of contention for many couples in Haense who endeavor to be wed, because harsh and penalizing negotiations must be actuated on the matters of dowry, familial agreements and ties, and dangers to prospective future lines of succession. However, no such strife characterized this civil rite. With uncommon peacefulness, the dinner carried on without much stress. Both families conversed unimpeded, with many figures such as Alexander's father, King John of Aaun, his brother Charles Alstion, and his wife, Hedwig of Warsovia, being in attendance as part of the ruling caste of Alstion in the Crownlands. Stefaniya doted over prospective wedding plans while Alexander struggled to make sense of the eating custom. However, he undertook the rote task of finishing the Lok meat despite his less-than-hidden discomfort with the taste. Talks of recent events consumed both families while Prince Alexander openly proclaimed his love for his bride-to-be as the family of Barbanov-Bihar welcomed him with seemingly open arms, including Stefaniya's father, for whom Alexander had brought a thoughtful gift.

Cardinal Villorik of the Church of the Canon was also in attendance and offered the young prince his blessing. Despite the dark tidings of a rumored Southern war between House Ruthern and its relatives in Balian, the heart and cheer of this event went on undisturbed, as now Prince Alexander has found a new home in the farthest reaches of the North with his newly-betrothed. Before the nuptials could be completed, the sovereigns and the lone representative of the church discussed the matter of the growing bandit population in the Kingdom of Ravenmire with all those who had gathered. Alexander mentioned an ongoing initiative that was already underway, and he was given orders to scout and defend himself as needed. Thus, Alexander and Belisar var Ruthern mounted their horses and rode northeast^[2].

Pending the completion of his engagement dinner, these enemies, who had taken refuge far from civilization, had been targeted by multiple crowned heads, both his parents and Stefaniya's, making their capture or elimination a priority of sorts. As they approached the town, they noted its quiet demeanor, despite the stout stone walls and lonely flapping banners.

Once inside Ravenmire, Alexander and Belisar quickly confirmed their targets' presence by spotting guards with Aurelian crosses on their mail. Belisar suggested visiting a tavern for information, leading them to discover that the town had become a haven for those defeated in the Covenant War. In the tavern, they encountered a Pertinaxi soldier who confirmed their suspicions but became confrontational when he felt insulted. Alexander, adhering to the customs of their homeland, challenged the soldier to a duel.

Alexander swiftly defeated the soldier, only for Belisar to kill him abruptly, sparking a confrontation with more Aurelian soldiers. Despite being outnumbered, Alexander and Belisar's combat prowess allowed them to emerge victorious, their armor stained with the blood of their enemies. This brutal clash served as a stark reminder of the perilous task they undertook to restore order and fulfill their sovereigns' commands. Their victory in Ravenmire was only the beginning of their mission, but it marked a significant step in ridding the region of its lawless elements.

In the aftermath of Alexander and Belisar’s decisive skirmish, the once-proud kingdom of Ravenmire found itself at a crossroads. The bloodshed and the undeniable power displayed by the Alstion prince and his companion reverberated through the town, leaving its leaders with no choice but to apparently reconsider their position. Recognizing the futility of resistance and the overwhelming mandate of the Church, they made a historic decision. With heavy hearts, they publicly renounced their titles^[3], relinquishing their station and agency as kings. This act of submission was accompanied by a formal apology^[4], issued to all the nations that had suffered from their defiance, including Alexander's own. They expressed deep remorse for the turmoil and conflict they had caused, pledging to abide by the Church’s wishes and seeking to restore peace and harmony. The renunciation marked the beginning of Ravenmire’s sovereignty anew, transforming it from a bastion of rebellion into a symbol of reconciliation and humility^[5].

Family Matters & Northern Taverns

It was only later when Prince Alexander Caius would meet his betrothed’s mother Franziska Elaine Barbanov-Bihar on the 17th of the Amber Cold, Year 182 S.A., chancing upon her while he was with Her Royal Highness, Stefaniya Edvarda, Princess of Hanseti-Ruska, Duchess of Baranya outside the Royal Palace. The soon-to-be son-in-law was ecstatic to at last meet the love of his life’s mother. Although, they did yet know it—the two shared an uncanny sense of mischief and camaraderie. Alexander is said to have quickly established a bond with Franziska, and he quickly adopted a respect for her as though she were his mother. Unaware until now that her daughter had been erstwhile engaged, it was not initially a welcome surprise for the aging mother. After brief introductions and hearty embraces, Stefaniya’s father arrived and suggested they go for a drink. It was at this point, that Stefaniya’s mother, saw fit to test the Heartlander’s stomach.

The three would convene in the tavern, The Tipsy Tarchar, shortly thereafter. A few drinks in, and many shared laughs eventually found Alexander favor with Franziska. They played a game of drinks, downing bottle after bottle. At some point, Stefaniya’s bountiful and risqué-in-nature love letters and poems were read aloud with clamorous laughter much to Stefaniya’s great dismay. It was at this point, that she too started to drink. Alexander got immensely drunk and puked on Emma Amador amidst his drunken stupor, the tavern was said to have descended into chaos as a result of him and his soon-to-be mother-in-law’s antics. Somehow, by the night’s end, the couple found themselves on a beach with a few of Stefaniya’s friends. Some Rutherns, and perhaps people of the river city. It was here, they found themselves in good company and went for a swim to sober up. Long afterward, once the furious bouts of partying and celebration had at last taken their toll, Alexander carried Stefaniya back into the city wrapped around him, and his cloak—soaked with ocean water wrapped around her. Later, after she went on to publish a letter to the Royal Duma^[6] regarding public displays of affection. It is unknown if these events are related.

John I's Final Court

On the 12th of Malin's Welcome, in the Year 183 S.A., the esteemed Alexander Caius found himself in the Royal Stands of House Alstion's grand gallery. From this elevated vantage point, he observed the bustling scene below, where Petrans and various other dignitaries had gathered. Seated next to him was his sister, Josephine Florentia. The siblings engaged in conversation and exchanged playful banter, enjoying a moment of familial camaraderie amid the formal proceedings.

Shortly after letters for a barony were issued, a momentous announcement was made. Alexander was called forth by his father, the king, who declared that his son was to be knighted. The proclamation was met with a mixture of anticipation and pride. Josephine, brimming with joy, expressed her delight at this honor bestowed upon her brother. However, Alexander, maintaining his position in the stands, questioned the purpose of his summons. John I reiterated that it was for his knighthood. To the shock of all present, Alexander responded with unexpected defiance. He declared that he did not desire the title of knight, revealing that his squiring with Catherine had been a mere charade, and that any aspirations he had to pursue knighthood had died with her. In the wake of his revelation, a court jester abruptly entered the throne room. John, incensed by the intrusion, demanded the jester's removal and gestured threateningly with a sword. Before Alexander could intervene, Josephine, not one to be left idle, was already halfway out the door with the jester.

The Hunt

In the aftermath, Alexander sought to capitalize on his favor with the King of Haense, petitioning for a pathway to knighthood—to which, Ivan VIII obliged, opting to take Alexander under his wing and oversee his path to knighthood. Despite his endeavors, the tournament he attended was abruptly canceled. Upon his return to Valdev, he encountered a rogue hedge knight vying for the affections of his beloved Stefaniya. The audacious hedge knight issued a challenge for her favor, which Alexander accepted, emerging victorious in the duel. This triumph precipitated an impromptu tournament, wherein Alexander again showcased his prowess, albeit acquiring a black eye from one Rezalisa Kovachev.

Subsequently, Alexander received an invitation from the Queen of Haense to partake in a hunt alongside the royalty of Reinmar. Accompanied by his Stefaniya and Prince Marius, they hunted a young deer. It was ultimately Stefaniya's arrow that felled the creature, though an assassination attempt on the king abruptly curtailed her moment of triumph. A rogue bandit hurled a potion at the monarch, resulting in a chaotic skirmish that saw the brigand slain and the king, along with Milena vas Ruthern, gravely wounded.

Delivering the ailing king to Reinmar, Alexander, along with his companions Belisar and Josef, indulged in copious amounts of alcohol, subsequently seeking out enemies of the state in a drunken quest for conflict. Though they returned ostensibly victorious, the veracity of their foes' identities remained dubious. Alexander's blade, notably, remained unstained by blood, a testament to either his restraint or the peculiar nature of their inebriated exploits.

Marriage

Alexander would come to marry his betrothed Her Royal Highness, Stefaniya Edvarda, Princess of Hanseti-Ruska, Duchess of Baranya in the Year 533 E.S. ^[7] Their marriage would be a matrilineal one, so the young prince would shed the name Alstion and take upon himself the royal name of Barbanov-Bihar, the ruling house of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. It was a time of revelry and spontaneity, Alexander’s family, the House Alstion traveled to New Valdev from the Heartlands to celebrate the occasion. There was scant a face missing. King Charles, his brother, came alongside his wife Queen-Consort Hedwig of Warsovia, accompanied by such faces as John Valentinus and Josephine Florentia Alstion as well. The crowd that bore witness to the wedding was said to have been boisterous. People clamored as music played, and joy lingered in the air as the wedding games ensued. Alexander himself is said to have been spared no free moment during his wedding and endlessly fraternized with family and onlookers alike while drifting about. Celebrating with drinks alongside his good friend and companion Belisar Ruthern, Alexander partook readily in the merriment with refreshments.

A celebration of Prince Alexander and Princess Stefaniya’s burgeoning new life together as husband and wife, the wedding was teeming with seemingly uncountable throngs of Haeseni noblemen and merchants of renown. Despite the immense cost extracted from the royal coffers, King Ivan and Queen Natalya spared no expense on their niece’s wedding. Taking their vows before God in the Basilica of St. Joren and the Broken Chains, Cardinal Villorik of the Church of Canon would, at last, marry them before the endless crowd of partygoers. Upon Cardinal Villorik joining their hands in marriage, what has been called the Sacrosanct Union of the Dragon and the Crow, Alexander would become Duke-Consort of Baranya. Due to the circumstances of his marriage, Prince Alexander was conferred the title of 'His Royal Highness' upon marrying Her Royal Highness Stefaniya Edvarda. Haense granted the use of the style 'His Highness' or 'His Royal Highness' to Alexander Caius in recognition of his marriage to Stefaniya and his royal background.

It is spoken of this marriage that the bride, Stefaniya, could not bear to wait for Cardinal Villorik to finish the proceedings and that she fervently kissed Prince Alexander before the cardinal could give the go-ahead. In this particular instance, the light of the White Comet could not be outshined by the strength of the Princess' love, and despite her rebellious streak Villorik opted not to chide her or detract from the moment.

Knighthood

Upon entering the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska years before, it was Queen Nataliya who had greeted him with some undeserved respect and good will. In this time, Alexander served king and country with deep-seated devotion and and challenged enemies of Haense within and outside its borders to prove himself. This devotion would culminate in trials provided by King Ivan VIII and Queen Nataliya, who had come to take a liking for her nephew-in-law due to his good heart.

As King Ivan VIII's squire, Alexander would go on to best many foes throughout the realm and sought nothing more than to actualize his deceased father's dream. Alexander would often tell King Ivan of his desire to attain knighthood, not for his ambition but for the cause of honoring that dream. Grimly, bereft of smiles, the young prince prayed for his father to look down upon him from the Seven Skies fondly with a smile of his own.

The duels he fought were battles not only of physical prowess but of inner turmoil. The clashes with various hedge knights and brigands, were only duels fought under a sky bleeding into dusk, pain and determination. Every strike, every parry, was a step closer to an unspoken reconciliation with his father’s ghost.

The ceremonial duel with King Ivan VIII was the pinnacle of his journey, a moment fraught with tension and unshed tears. When he emerged victorious, it was with the weight of an unseen burden lifted, if only slightly. His courtship of Stefaniya Edvarda was a union that carried with it the silent blessing of a father’s spirit.

His journey was a series of trials, each more grueling than the last, culminating in simple pursuit of a dragon’s scale. Alexander would be knighted on the 10th of the Amber Cold, Year 186 of the Second Age. Queen Nataliya knighted Ser Alexander herself and proclaimed that, alongside his wartime companion Belisar, the knight had yet to have been defeated in combat in the Northern Realm, nor had he been in the Heartlands.

As one of Haense’s preeminent warriors, it was only fitting that he join the Marian Retinue ^[8] , and none dared publicly object to his assent, as the veracity of his noble deeds conveyed the strength of his convictions and his mastery of arms. Upon being knighted, there was thunderous applause, an affirmation of the young man's apparent worth. His face was plain then, in the wake of a great ceremony, but it was his belief as well as his hope that his father smiled in tandem with the crowd from the skies.

The Following Night

His accomplishment brought him relief at first. But to Prince Alexander, it was also tragic that his father King John would never be there to bear witness to the chiefest of all his successes. In his short life, all that Prince Alexander had ever desired was to bring honor to his venerable house, and King John of Aaun was more than just his father – he was the symbol of their house’s legitimacy, resiliency, and the face of their country for over forty years. Secretly, shame dwelled within the young man’s heart, a shame that he could not make these accomplishments faster. Alexander would be forever haunted at night by the face of his father who he aspired to make proud. What would he say?

Titles, Styles and Honors

• 1959 - Present: His Apostolic and Royal Highness, Prince of the Apostolic Kingdom of Aaun, Alexander Caius Barbanov-Bihar, Duke-Consort of Baranya

Miscellaneous

Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Marriage	Notes

Ancestry

Ancestors of Prince Alexander Caius of Aaun

16. Leopold John, Prince of Alstion               8. Charles I, King of Aaun                       17. Victoria Elisabeth de Ravensburg               4. James I, King of Aaun                             18. Philip Michael, Viscount of Provins               9. Eleanor of Provins                       19. Claude Élisabeth Ashford de Savoie               2. John I, King of Aaun                                   20. Ulrich Lothar, Prince of Merryweather               10. Vanhart Reinolf von Alstreim                       21. Nikita Avreliya Tuyvic               5. Edith of Reinmar                             22. St. John of Reinmar               11. Johanna Klaudia, Duchess of Reinmar                       23. Georgina Sofiya Baruch               1. Alexander Caius Alstion                                         24. Willem van Aert               12. Valentin van Aert, Duke of Blackvale                       25. Heidi de Vilain               6. Johanes I, Captain-General of Veletz                             26. Joseph Amadeus Vasile               13. Emmalina Vasile                       27. Johanna Elizabeth von Alstreim               3. Amelya of Middelan                                   28. Karl III, King of Haense               14. Georg I, King of Haense                       29. Amadea of Susa               7. Mariya Karenina, Duchess of Schattenburg                             30. Nikolay Mikhail Kortrevich               15. Esfir of Jerovitz                       31. Esmée di Oxenstierna