Alamar Albanus Aldus Amicus Anat Arius Avena
Lord of Talamanthus. Leyna's uncle. Balthasar's father. Husband of Lady Merita of Groth.
Alamar is the only son of Lord Mallemar of Talamanthus, the jewel of Bendigroth. Alamar's mother died when he was young, and his father never remarried, despite the urgings of his counselors. Mallemar himself died ten years ago, killed by a blue dragon that came down from the mountains around Harrans.
Alamar is a peaceable man, used to living in a precarius balance between Viridia and Rostilla. He loves books and dreams of one day building a library in Talamanthus that will match the collections in Viridia and Rostilla. When Leyna arrived on one of her all-too-infrequent visits to Talamanthus, Alamar and Merita doted on her, piling her high with dolls and dresses and candies. Alamar, unfortunately, is a rather conservative man and did not approve of the way her father "neglected" her womanly training.
Description: middling height, short brown hair beginning to be peppered with spots of grey. Rather plain to look at, but he has a rich, deep voice that is a joy to listen to.
King of Rostilla. Son of King Errans of Rostilla and Pontifex Paria, priestess of Crescens.
Albanus, the only legitimate child of King Errans, inherited the throne of Rostilla in February when his father died in the night. He is only twenty (and was, in fact, born on the same day as Titus and Corvina). Rostilla's young king is famous for his boredom -- and for the extravagent parties he throws to relieve this boredom. Anything new, interesting, titilating, and/or exotic is welcome in court. The king is reputed to have dozens of mistresses; Magistra Surilla and (now) Matina Harrans are said to be among them.
Albanus hasn't had a chance yet to demonstrate what kind of a king he'll be, however conservatives are not hopeful. Now that his father no longer restrains his spending, counselors fear that Albanus may bankrupt the kingdom in his quest for pleasure. They also worry about his dealings with Viridia. Albanus blames Viridian assassins for Errans' death and says he will not pay tribute until Empress Mara Gentillia Augusta admits culpability and pays his father's honor price. Wiser heads worry that this "rebellion" will induce Viridia to invade.
Description: By nature, Albanus is a handsome man; tall and willowy, with long black hair and delicate bones. Unfortunately his constant revelry has left him somewhat puffy and sallow. He still considers himself the height of virility, however, and is enraged by any suggestions that his appearance might be improved.
Pontifex stationed at High Hold pass.
A competant but unhappy man, Aldus continually regales people with tales of life's unfairness. He's a decent priest... a good priest... no, a great priest. And he here he is, stuck in this frozen hell-hole of a mountain pass, tending ignorant soldiers who have no appreciation of the fine points of theology. Or of the gross points, either -- most of them would worship a woodchuck if they thought it'd grant them blessings. Why? Because he doesn't come from an influential family, doesn't have the pull and sway you need to drag a decent post out of the churches these days.
Aldus is not a particularly popular man. Most people respect his abilities but avoid him as much as possible.
Description: medium height, gaunt; thin, sandy-red hair and a long nose which runs continually, despite frequent prayers for relief from disease.
Person mentioned in the letters from the Temple of Lil. Believed to be Theodosius, last Grand Master of the Order of St. Cavallius.
What you know: 1) His name is masculine. 2) He is interested in the progress of Discipulus and wants him tested to see if he is ready to be inducted into the Sancti. 3) He is interested in purchasing dragon eggs or young dragons, and is willing and able to pay large amounts of money for these creatures. 4) He is connected to the Sancti, either as a member or as their leader.
Drow ambassador to Viridistan. Currently living in the College of Mages.
Count of Surrexus. Father of Titus, Corvina, Severus, Cassius and Marius. Dead.
Arius ascended sixteen years ago, when his parents and first wife were drowned while crossing the Rogatus River in midwinter. Having many small children, he quickly remarried. His second wife was Matina Harrans, the young and vivacious daughter of Count Tempus Harrans.
Rostillans, like the Romans, have a very different meaning for the word "pious". A pious man is one who fulfills his duties -- and by that definition, Arius was an extremely pious man. He defended his county from the horrors that crept out of the Fallen Lands and was quick to lend his sword to neighboring lords when they were menaced. He gave generously to the churches and sent two of his sons (Marius and Titus) into religious orders. He sheltered his peasants and traders, and the county prospered under his hand. He raised his children to be dutiful and pious adults.
Well, he tried. With mixed results. Children were Arius' one weak spot. He was never an effusive or overly-affectionate father, but he loved his family deeply and could be a bit "indulgent" in private. Any public foolishness was punished swiftly and harshly; appearances must be maintained, after all! But in private he sometimes let his children get away with more than their nurse thought was wise.
Description: Tall and solidly built, black hair, brilliant blue eyes, a lined and weathered face. Arius was rather plain, physically. Yet he had a confidence and surety that made his men follow him into combat without hesitation. Several scars on his chest and legs, tokens of the creatures he'd killed.
Arch-Magister of the Tower of Magi in Rostilla. Teacher of Surilla.
Avena is rarely seen by any except mages. The head of the Tower, she has no time for the petty foolishness and idiocy that plagues the Rostillan court. Parties, wine, dancing, dalliances... these are the trivialities that suck away a person's life, leaving them nothing except vapid memories of long-gone pleasures. Magistra Avena is beyond such paltry pleasures. Far beyond them.
She is an incomparable summoner and binder of demons. To those who complain, Avena maintains that it is the worship of demons -- not their use -- which is nefas. It is permissible to bind a demon, as long as you neither venerate it, nor bargain with it. You must crush it and force it to serve your will.
Much to her irritation, Avena has found that she makes people nervous. King Errans insisted that she submit to the supervision of Pontifex Phinias and the other high priests of Rostilla -- lest her studies taint her and draw her into error. This enraged the arch-magister, for she's a passionate atheist. Oh, she admits the Gods exist. But they don't deserve our worship. Some courtiers whisper that she's gone so far as to say that the Gods are just demons we like. Jealous demons, who are unwilling to share "their" worship with others of their kind. King Errans stood firm, despite Avena's displeasure. And over the last twenty years, she's found that working with the temples of Rostilla isn't as unpleasant as she'd feared...
Description: A tall, thin woman. Harsh, angular face, drawn up in a continual demi-frown. Pinched, narrow lips. Long black hair (nearly floor length), generously sprinkled with white and grey, bound in trailing braids.