Family History

Ms. Orythia

Lived in Era 14 and got 1 heir(s) (Taran).
Born in the midst of a forest, under starlit skies, Orythia was the daughter of a mercenary and his woman: no home, no family name, no family honour, no heritage. Her mother lived only to name her before, exhausted by her efforts, leaving this world for the next.

Orythia lived and grew strong on the road with her father, travelling from city to city as he offered his services as a warrior to the feuding lords and kings. She learned how to live off the land, how to fight and defend herself in battle, how to command an army. The heritage she knew was that of the mercenary and the honour that of a warrior. By the time she reached her mid-teens, she could often be seen leading into battle a group of the warriors her father had gathered to him during their travels.

For the most part, those warriors were faithful and loyal allies, bound to Orythia and her father by virtue of blood debts and age old friendships. Some, however, cared more for money than for honour and it was this that became the downfall of the group.

In the midst of a particularly lucrative contract for one of the more important lords, a small group of the warrior band broke away and switched sides: immediately breaking the code of honour of the mercenary. They had been approached by the rival lord and offered vast amounts of gold if they could bring down the leader of the band: Orythia's father.

The betrayal was absolute. In the very heat of battle, as the false men surrounded their leader, they turned coat, striking him down from behind, where he thought to be protected by them. From the back of her horse, nearby, Orythia saw her father fall and marked the hand that slew him. The renegades had done their job, but not one lived to collect his reward.

Following the death of their leader, many men lost heart and died in that battle, but others saw that their leader's spirit lived on in his daughter and turned their aliegance towards her. From that day on, a small, much diminished band of loyal warriors followed Orythia in the only life she knew. Their aim the same as that of her father's: to one day gather enough gold to build their own homes, their own farms, their own city; and to protect it and their families for themselves and for their lord: the Lady Orythia.

Mr. Taran

Lived in Era 14, got 1 heir(s) (Medusa) and was a member of Peacekeepers
Orythia's small band of followers finally found a home to settle in and built their city, Dale, in the shadow of a mountain. As queen of her city, Orythia thought it time to take a husband and chose from among her many suitors the most loyal of them all. Soon Orythia found herself to be with child. The couple's joy was shortlived, however, when an army of orcs attacked the peaceful cty of Dale, killing Orythia's husband and followers and forcing her to flee into the mountains, where she gave birth to her son, Taran.

Taran's mother, like her mother before her, lived only long enough to name her son and see him safely into the arms of an isolated peasant family, to be raised with no knowledge of his true heritage.

Taran grew up a farmer and a forester. He loved his life in the mountains, but soon grew restless and uneasy. He felt that there was more to the world than his lonely mountain and, when his foster parents had both left this world, he packed up his things and left the mountain in search of his fortune.

A born leader, Taran soon found himself a following of friends in the nearby towns and villages. When the childless lord of the land found his health declining, he set a challenge to his people, saying that they must choose who should lead them after his death. A ballot was held and Taran's name was called out as the winner. The lord took Taran to his home and began training him in the art of running a small, farming country.

Soon the old man died, leaving Taran in charge. With his new found power and loyal followers, Taran began managing his realm and increasing the size and strength of his few cities. The kingdom was weak: its strength being ploughed into agricultue and forestry. Taran used his knowledge of these to improve efficiency so that men could be taken from the forests and fields and trained as guards for the cities, or as part of a standing army.

It was too little, too late, however, as hoardes of orcs descended on Taran's lands, pillaging and burning his cities to the ground until only a few remained. Taran turned his eye to the best use of his troops and hoped to save his remaining cities, but still the invading orc army marched onward.