Post by Eloell on Jul 18, 2022 13:53:32 GMT -5
LORENDALE HISTORY
Lorendale, the kingdom at the center of Terra Nova, was originally a kingdom ruled by tradition. Since the abandonment of such rigidity by King Julius II, however, followed by the marriage to a foreign king by Queen Iliana Rainecourt, the kingdom has since become something of a melting pot. Of all the rulers of this kingdom, the greatest changes have happened during the rule of the last 5.
King Julius Rainecourt I is known for squashing the plague of magic users in the land, called gifteds, and weaponizing them, particularly the family called the Eldouirs. It was with collars at their throats that the kingdom was able to dominate against their foes.
King Julius Rainecourt II, the longest reigning monarch in Lorendale, saw more warfare with Coheed and Dresmond than ever, but also more financial prosperity than ever. The most unconventional, tradition-crushing change that King Julius II made during his rule had to do with the heir apparent. According to custom, the eldest child was to take the throne. Julius II, however, did not favor his firstborn, Julius III. He was threatened by his son's cunning, and at the peak of his pride he decided that his heir would not be the eldest, but instead whichever of his children he chose. Towards the end of his life, Julius II chose his youngest son, Leopold, as his heir and the next king of Lorendale. Tradition was rewritten to state that the heir to the throne could be any chosen offspring of the current king or queen. Prince Julius III retaliated by abandoning Lorendale, taking a significant portion of the kingdom's most accomplished military with him, and marching across Coheed, through the mountain wall, and into Neveremere. Lorendale suffered a great loss at the time of this rift, one their military arguably never recovered from.
King Leopold Rainecourt reigned for 20 years. Lorendale saw more peace than ever before. He was a gentle king who governed his people with forgiveness. During this time the Lorendale-Arynn Frey alliance thrived. In fact, Leopold was so invested in his relations with Arynn Frey that he never married (at least, that is the reason his loving citizens assumed). Towards the end of his reign he grew deathly ill and called upon his siblings to each present one of their children to be considered as his heir. His eldest brother, Julius III, sent his own heir from Nevermere to participate. After many months of vying to win the king's affection, Leopold seemed to turn a corner with his health and might have returned to the office, nullifying the efforts of the heirs, but the king was assassinated. The royal court deliberated on his behalf and selected Nya Rainecourt, daughter of Leopold's youngest sister.
Queen Nya Rainecourt only ruled for 3 months before Coheed declared war on Lorendale and she was killed in battle. Her eldest brother, Sigourney Rainecourt, took the throne, as Nya was young and had no offspring, but he was found dead the very same day of his coronation. His only child, Iliana Raincourt, became the queen of Lorendale, but because she was a child her mother, Marjolaine Teake, ruled as regent in her stead.
Regent Marjolaine Teake, a gifted, empowered those with magic in Lorendale. She set them in positions of authority, restructured the royal military, and even brought the Lord and Lady Marshals to heel the Commander, who was also gifted while she was in power. Less than a year in, however, she mysteriously disappeared. In her stead, Cassian Rainecourt, King of Nevermere, firstborn of Prince Julius III, became the regent. When Queen Iliana came of age, she took Cassian Rainecourt as her husband, once again breaking tradition by making him a ruling monarch in the kingdom rather than simply a consort.
Queen Iliana Rainecourt and King Cassian Rainecourt have been ruling Lorendale side by side since year 822.