Richard I, Duke of Nevaria
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Duke Richard Arden, also known as Richard "The Dog" (20th of the Deep Cold - 10th of the Suns Smile, 1669) of the House of Arden, ruled as Duke of Nevaria from 1666 until his death during the Siege of Ashwood in 1669, called The Dog by Aurelius I during the Staunton Uprising, for his refusal to bend the knee to the throne of Renatus Marna.
Contents
Biography
Early life
Richards early years was spent under the tutorage of the Norlandic peoples, having not been able to meet his father or his people, all he knew is he was of Stauntonite blood. He was educated in matters of state, and warcraft, becoming rather farmiliar with the art of warfare. Richards first test of true leadership was to slither his way into the Arbor ranks and befriend that of Avalon Silversteed and his council, this was very successful as he transported large sums of armor, swords, food, and other neccessitites to the reigning King of Norland Jory Ruric, he would continue to do this until the eventual duel of Jory Ruric and Avalon Silversteed, resulting in a victory of Jory. Richard was no longer needed to continue his work in Arbor, rather he continued his work for Norland by fighting in numerous raids against Curon and Marna, having been a major contributer in those battles slaying many himself, although, despite the success in the war, Richard grew depressed having known he had slain his kinsmen. After the abdication of Jory Ruric, went missing, rumored to have travelled the isle of Atlas.
Upon the dissolution of Norland, Richard returned to Ruriksgrad only to find it set in ruins, Richard was in great dispair having seen the littered bodies of the people whom had raised him from a young age. A hatred brewed in Richards heart for the Renatians, causing for him to search the countryside for the fleeing Norlanders, only coming in contact with a few hundred of the thousands that still remained. He took this force and began training in the swamps of Norland, ensuring himself and the others were up to par with swordfare. Upon a travelling march he came across the old Silversteed fortress known as Jornburg, seeing as it had been relinquished to ruin just like Ruriksgrad, he began the construction of the once benevolent fortress. Upon its completiton hundreds of Norlanders flocked to his banner, he took up the title Count of Jornburg. Now being settled, Richard set his eyes on numerous other abadoned Norlandic forts, aswell as outlying independant baronys to join his cause.
Marriage
Around the time of the beginning of the Atlas Coalition War, Richard came in contact with a beautiful woman in the outskirts of Atlas, spending a large majority of his time alongside her, they travelled together for many years eventually having a son called Kjartan, they, after a long while, decided to return back to Norland together. This is where they stumbled on the wreckage of Richard's old home, Ruriksgrad. Richard overrun with grief found light in what seemed to be never ending darkness by marrying Alexa a few days after stumbling on the wreckage.
Once establishing himself as Count of Jornburg, they all moved into the County capital, where Alexa would give birth to three more kids, Richard naming one after his wife. During the Staunton Uprising Alexa stayed in Jornburg for the majority whilst Richard went to Ashwood. Alexa recieved a message from Richard to move swiftly to Ashwood incase of a possible Renatian invasion, although Alexa would eventually be slain on the roads by bandits, managed to fend them off enough for the childern to escape to their father. This issue sparked a majority of Richard's incapability to lead, secluding himself from the court for many days and nights during this desperate time.
Reign
Richards overall reign is in a way successful, having marked the beginning of a new Stauntonite cadet house aswell as beginning the Ardenian dynasty. Although Richards reign, towards the end was deemed by scholars as horrid, having greatly neglected numerous tasks set out by his advisors and at times himself to attend to. His stubborness got the better of him leading to the death of himself and nearly his house.
Reign as Count of Jornburg
After successfully settling in Jornburg, Richard sent numerous diplomats to outlying settlements with the intention of vassalization, one of which was the Renatian vassal residing in Ashwood, belonging once to the Caunters, and now to the Lombardi's. After talks with the Baron, Richard swayed his opinion of the Renatians, informing them of the treachery they forced against the Norlanders. They signed a contract of vassalization, allowing for the Lombardi's to remain in control of Ashwood and its surrounding regions, whilst Richard maintained his status as Count in Jornburg. He later moved unto vassalizing another baron in the far snowy regions of Atlas, calling the fort Driftwood due to the amount of wood trapped within the frozen streams. Richard influence grew across the Norlandic hinterlands, eventually reaching the ears of the Renatian king Aurelius I Horen. Richard also attempted talks with the old High Keeper of Norland Galen, allowing him to continue his teachings of the red faith within the confinements of his realm, Galen opted to refuse not wishing to go under such a ruler as himself, Richard took a great deal of offense to this and began planning an invasion of the keep.
Reign as Duke of Nevaria
After establishing a great deal of support, Richard alongside his advisors knew Richard should move himself to a more prestigious status. After numerous talks between vassals and advisors, Richard raised himself as Duke of Nevaria, establishing himself in the Norlandic keep of Ashwood, proving to be a defendable fort for the time being. Richard wanting to expand his regions through conquest, looked upon an old Dwarven settlement of High Rock, resting just above the fortress of Ashwood He began making plans for its invasion, although proving all for naught as he came to the realization his army was not fit for that of a siege of a city of that magnitude, so he scrapped the idea. Richard began reconstruction of Ashwood, having it be rather run down, he established a bridge from one side of the river crossing to the other.
After completing his drills for the day, Richard recieved news from a Stauntonite diplomat that his brother uprised against the Renatians, Richard quickly declared his support for Tobias Staunton II, mustering up all his levy in the Keep of Ashwood, although due to delay of message, Nevarian troops did not start rallying under just after the Siege of White Peak. After recieving news that all other supporters had backed out from the war, Richard maintained firm to his promise and began making defenses around Ashwood for the inevitable Renatian siege. Aurelius sent a missive to Richard offering him vassalige as a Baron rather then his current status as a Duke, Richard being the stubborn man he was, declined such offer and was thusly known as the Dog for his stubborness. Richard did not prepare the siege defenses in time as his scouts misinformed him of the Renatians advance, leading to the slaughter of the Ardenin people and Richard himself during the Siege of Ashwood, bringing the end of the Duchy of Nevaria and nearly the House Arden.
Death
After the misinformation that his scouts had given Richard, the Renatians found a hardly defendable fortress. Richard looking upon the large Renatian horde and then unto his own, he ordered for his family to be escorted to the country side during the dead of night to ensure the Ardenin line countinued. Upon the early morning the Renatians advanced, bashing the sides of Ashwood with trebuchets. The Nevarian troops took to the walls firing down onto the oncoming Renatians, Richard looked to the group advancing awaiting for them to take to the walls, all seemed well until the men on the other side of the bridge was seen running and screaming from the battlements. Richard turned only to see thousands of Renatians storming the Keep, he knew all was lost and ordered for the remainder of his men to meet the Renatians on the bridge, where a rutheless battle ensued leading to nearly an entire wipe out of the Nevarian forces. Richard was slain during this combat to an unknown Renatian infantrymen, his body was found after by the remainder of his levy and he was carried about until his son reached age and travelled to Nordengrad, he was buried by his son just in his barony of Ardenhall.
Character and personality
Richard Arden is seen as honorable, stubborn, and prideful. Standing at the height of 5'11, Richard was of average weight for his height. His face was well rounded, carrying the traditonal traits of any Staunton, having black hair and blueish eyes. Richard's left leg is a few inches shorter than his right, causing for Richards right leg to give out from time to time.
Richard is prone to hunting, fishing, farming and relatively anything involving outdoors, he had taken a particular interest in swordfare. Being seen training in the outskirts of Jornburg alongside his marshal Caspian Lombardi.
Titles, Styles, and Honors
Titles and Styles
- 1664 - 1666: His Lordship The Count of Jornburg
- 1666 - 1669: His Grace The Duke of Nevaria
Full Title as Duke of Nevaria
The titles of Richard I changed throughout his reign. At the time of his death, his full title was: His Grace, Richard I of House Arden, Duke of Nevaria, Count of Jornburg and Ashwood, Baron of Ashton, Defender of the Ardenin peoples
Issue
Richard sired four childern (three sons, one daughter) with Alexa of Ashwood, later Alexa Arden before his death during the Siege of Ashwood in 1669. Kjartan, his first born son became a famed Marshal and Baron within Nordengrad offically marking the reform of House Arden. Stefan Arden, went onto become a powerful Duke in Rosenyr, taking up a large variety of land within the Principality.
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kjartan Arden | 19th of Malin's Welcome, 1657 | 11th of The Grand Harvest, 1688 | Unmarried | First son of Richard Arden, reigned as Baron of Ardenhall, died to unknown causes. |
| Stefan Arden | 1st of the Deep Cold, 1665 | Alive | Unmarried | Second son of Richard Arden, reigned as Count of Rosin. |
| Alexa Arden | 5th of Malin's Welcome, 1665 | Alive | Unmarried | First Daughter of Richard Arden, named after her mother Alexa. |
| Benedict Arden | 22nd of the Suns Smile, 1669 | Alive | Unmarried | Third son of Richard Arden, reigned as Baron of Ashfeld.
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