Lineage: Epoch Edition Post 2

The Kingdom of Toparia

Founded Year 847

King Olaf the Wolf
b.852 d.888 - r.868-888

In the year 852, King Olaf, heir to the throne of Toparia, arrived with a howl that pierced the winter air. His reign was marked by his spirit, weaving a tapestry of steel and wit that would forever leave its mark on the kingdom.

King Olaf the Wolf

Vengeful, Stoic, or Blackmailed?

Historians talk about the ghosts that haunted Olaf's reign. Some see him as a vengeful wolf, forever scarred by the bloody legacy of his grandfather. Others paint him as a stoic strategist, navigating a perilous world with caution. However, a shadow lingered - whispers of blackmail cast by his mother, Samantra, upon his father, King Gundar. Did fear of another scandal influence Olaf's decisions?

Unfulfilled in the King's Embrace

During Olaf's reign, Illasandre waited patiently. Their long-standing partnership, which was never officially recognized, bore fruit in 884. However, joy was mixed with anxiety. Haunted by rumours of his mother's blackmail of his father, Olaf made a heartless decision. He sent Illasandre and their newborn son to a distant monastery to protect himself from potential whispers and consequences. He ordered Illasandre to leave the boy to become a monk and then to return to his side. Months of silence gnawed at him until a letter from the monastery confirmed that Illasandre had followed his instructions. In 885, Illasandre returned to Olaf's side without the illegitimate child. Their bond endured, defying suspicions and remaining a source of strength until Olaf's death.

Trials by War and Treaty:

Olaf's reign was a time of challenges. A nearby kingdom's attack led to a costly victory. The sound of battle was soon replaced by talk of a foreign alliance, which promised protection for Toparia but demanded trust. Olaf, cautious as ever, chose to stand alone, earning both admiration and trepidation for his self-reliance.

Plague and Cunning:

During the deadly plague outbreak in the neighbouring kingdom of Mancuya, Olaf faced a difficult decision. He had to balance his compassion for the afflicted kingdom with the safety of his own people. After much deliberation, he decided to dispatch monks from the Church of Light and Truth. Their healing skills and faith were deemed vital tools against the disease. These volunteers established hospitals in Mancuya and tended to the sick.

However, Olaf also fortified Toparia's borders. He implemented measures to prevent the spread of the plague, with archers standing vigilant to deter unauthorized crossings and remind people of the threat beyond. This approach of providing compassionate aid while maintaining stern isolation proved to be effective. Gradually, the plague weakened its grip on Mancuya until no new cases were reported.

Toparia was relieved and the surviving monks were welcomed back as heroes, exhausted but proud. Olaf used empathy and determination to stop the plague and build a lasting bond with Mancuya.

The Traveller and a King Transformed:

An unknown traveller arrived one day, telling stories of faraway lands that sparked Olaf's curiosity. Despite his responsibilities, he longed for a different path. Disregarding the court's surprise, he announced a journey beyond Toparia's borders to explore and rediscover himself. Months later, he returned a changed man, his experiences etched into his soul. The wolf within him still roared, but newfound wisdom tempered its bite.

Mystery and the Whispers of Death:

In 888, Olaf vanished without explanation, leaving behind an empty castle and a kingdom rife with uncertainty. Did he become the nomad traveller he seemed to yearn to be, or was he ambushed by bandits or an enemy on one of his solitary journeys? Some even harboured suspicions towards Illasandre, perhaps fueled by resentment over the loss of her son.

A Legacy Unveiled:

King Olaf the Wolf was a mysterious figure who left a legacy of both war and triumph. He used his cunning to quell threats and diplomacy to build alliances, defying expectations along the way. Although he vanished into the unknown, his kingdom still echoes with the howl of the Wolf.

King Olaf's empty tomb

Heirs to the Wolf's Legacy:

Prince Jacob, born in 860, is Olaf's younger brother. Jacob is set to inherit a kingdom that is both grateful and wary of its old king's cryptic decisions.

Long Live King Jacob! (U+1,D+1)

Lineage: Epoch Edition Post 1

The Kingdom of TopariaFounded Year 847

King Gundar the Mad
b.827 d.868 - r.847-868

King Gundar the Mad

Foundations of Toparia

In 827, Gundar was born into a tumultuous world. He did not inherit a kingdom, instead, he inherited the echoes of conquest. His father was a warrior who had carved Toparia from disparate lands, leaving behind a legacy that was both triumphant and blood-soaked. In 847, Gundar ascended the throne as the first ruler of this new realm, inheriting not just a crown but also the weight of conquest.

Visions of Crystal and Clockwork

Gundar's reign was legendary, departing from his father's earthly conquests. He wielded visions while others wielded swords, replacing castles with pronouncements of crystal towers piercing the clouds and clockwork beasts roaming cobbled streets. Some marveled at his imagination, while others branded him 'the Mad' and questioned his grip on reality. Amidst the courtly amusement, Gundar faced threats beyond the reach of clockwork fantasies.

Banditry's Bloody Ballad

In 852, bandit hordes ravaged the borders of the kingdom, emboldened by the king's fantastical pursuits. A swift military response was expected. However, Gundar countered in 854 with a decree as bold as it was unsettling: a huge bounty on any bandit leader's head. The gambit quelled the rebellion, but it left a ripple of unease amongst the populace. Who would check who these heads belonged to?

Queen of Ice and Whispers

During Gundar's reign, Queen Samantra was a prominent figure who often moved in the shadows. She was born in 833 into a noble family known for their greed. Samantra floated through the court like a ghostly figure, her beauty masking her strong ambition. In 851, she and Gundar were married, forming a political alliance as well as a romantic one. Some viewed her as a cunning strategist who guided Gundar's decisions with a hidden hand. Others whispered that the queen was trapped in a gilded cage, and that her true desires were overshadowed by her husband's eccentricities.

Grand Projects and Royal Intrigue

Years passed, each marked by Gundar's eccentricity. In 864, he began construction on the 'Heart of Gundar,' which rose high into the sky. Many grumbled that it was a symbol of his crumbling grip on sanity. These whimsical constructions strained the kingdom's coffers, fueling whispers of dissent and paranoia. In 862, a new decree caused another controversy. A brothel was built for noblewomen who were considered unfaithful. This brothel became a monument to Gundar's eccentric sense of justice or, as some whispered, a twisted reflection of Samantra's hidden desires. The court was rife with speculation, adding fuel to the fire of intrigue that was already consuming the queen.

Gundar's Decline

Gundar's health had visibly declined since 865, casting a long shadow over the court as the years passed. The burdens of his reign, whispers and doubts surrounding his fantastical projects, and responsibility for a young kingdom seemed to etch lines onto his face once radiant with youthful dreams. He grew quieter, retreating further into his own thoughts. The court speculated about the king's state of mind and the future of Toparia.

In 868, Gundar passed away. He was known as the 'Mad' by some and the 'Dreamer' by a few. His reign was filled with fantastical visions and unsettling shadows. It ended abruptly due to his death, not from fanciful clockwork assassins but from natural causes. His spirit succumbed to the burdens of his reign.

Heirs to the Mad King's Legacy

Prince Olaf (b. 852): Heir apparent, poised to inherit a kingdom both enthralled and wary of its eccentric past.
Princess Jondaryan (b. 855, d. 884): A vibrant spirit cut short by tragedy.
Prince Jacob (b. 859, d. 918): A calculating figure who navigated the court's treacherous waters with cunning.
Princess Fringilla (b. 863, d. 910): A free spirit whose unconventional ways mirrored her father's eccentricity.

Long Live King Olaf! (U+1)