sonder spring 1716

Guidebook

Important Characters

Rionnach NPCs

King Beltane


Beltane is freshly two years of age, just old enough to be considered an adult by normal conventions, and, apparently, just old enough to take the reins of a struggling nation. Beltane was raised by his mother to remember well the wartimes of recent history. Accordingly, he is well-educated in the geopolitical landscape of his people, but he is still unpolished and...a bit reckless. Despite Mhairi's ministrations, until her death, Beltane had a tendency to knock one too many back at the local pub, while his guards looked on in consternation. He was known to gamble a time or two, to sneak out in the middle of the night, and to maybe kiss one too many girls he shouldn't have. But it was all in good fun, and what was royalty without a little spice? A young man with rich brown fur and blue eyes. Unpolished, Intelligent, Opportunistic, Creative

Our story begins with this new king on the throne of Rionnach. The wilder stories of Beltane's youth were kept largely contained when Mhairi was alive, and now that the spotlight is shining on him, Beltane would prefer to keep it that way. Still, no one can miss the fact that he has had no real political experience to date, aside from being forced to attend state dinners at his mother's side, and his exemplary education. Thus, young Beltane has a lot to prove - the first of which being that he is fit enough in matters of state to make Rionnach look less...broken to their newfound neighbors in Ildhrune and Da'Ira.
Voice


A shadowy figure within this political quagmire. Though none know of her, she is adept at spreading her views via word of mouth. Most popular with teachers and nurses, Voice advocates for free speech and democracy. She preaches that all within Rionnach are sisters and brothers and that every voice is equal. Leaving politics up to blood—or chance as she calls it—is foolish when so many lives are at stake. Though few are willing to admit that they agree with her unorthodox ideas, it's starting to seep into the fabric of Rionnachian society and take root.

She appeared soon after the dust settled on Aileen's failed rebellion. Tales spread of how Aileen, while a good ruler, wasted precious life on a useless crown. Adamh's fitness was questioned, yet out of sympathy for the role forced upon him. Could we not be free of the crown? She asked this question and more. Leader of the Voxi party, Voice is advocating for change by starting with hearts and minds.

Many years have passed, but a Voice still exists. Most think that, by now, the mysterious, unknown figure who shepherded civilians from battle and urged townsfolk to protest the rebellion is gone. However, it is clear that Voice - or someone calling herself Voice - is still a political mouthpiece in Rionnach, holding to the same code that of her beloved predecessor.


Queen Mhairi (Deceased)


The only child born to Daphne and Adamh, Mhairi was cherished and loved since her very first breath - but it did not stop her from defecting from her father's lands to join Jacob during the rebellion. She was a union of opposites, finding a fine line between her head and her heart. She struggled with the violence in the world and with its perceived injustice. Above all things, she tried to right a wrong. When Saora was abolished, she rejoined her father in the Mainlands and hoped once again for peace. A young woman with coastal fur and blue eyes. Optimistic, Kind, Honest, Creative

Crowned in 1714 after Adamh's death. The new Queen Mhairi attempted to reunite the heart and souls of a nation gripped both by residual hatred from the civil war and from growing fear of the Fae.

Died in Spring 1716. Mhairi passed peacefully in her sleep, following her late husband, King Rupert, and leaving behind her only son, Beltane. The nation she left behind was in a better place than when she found it, but she knew, even then, that there was much work to be done.
King Adamh (Deceased)


A noble man, son of one of the officials in parliament, that sought to practice law. He grew up in the Mainland and attended private studies as do most aristocratic children. The thought of becoming king never occurred to him, much less under the pretenses upon which he suddenly found himself standing. Aileen's exile suddenly thrust succession on her unsuspecting sister, and Daphne had been the object of his fancy for little over a year at that point. His proposal had been accepted, their engagement announced, when his betrothed was thrust into the throne. He was accepted as the new king with little complaint. After all, most members of parliament thought he would be easily coerced and controlled. However, Adamh found himself a wartime king before he knew it. The Highlands were taken from him, and then he reunited them again. In all of this, he attempted to maintain control over his floundering nation, but found that he was not the young man he once was. He was tired, and he felt Rionnach sliding from his grasp. A coastal man with blue eyes. Kind, Lover of the arts and sciences, Impressionable

Killed in 1714 by an unknown assailant. Despite his attention and service to the nation, it is the nation who killed Adamh at last, in the dead of night in his bed. Many thought his assassin was a Highlander, bitter from the crumble of Saora, but it could never be proven.
Queen Daphne (Deceased)


Unlike her sister, Daphne was never fond of war or battle or grime or dirt. She much preferred to stay within the safety of home and watch the flowers grow. While she was not one to lift a hand to hurt another, she was not too terribly eager to help. Her ideal was a peaceful day in which nothing more exciting happens than a hummingbird's appearance in her garden. As such, Daphne had a habit of taking the side of least resistance. After the treaty, she went to live with her sister in Castle Stuart. It was too exhausting to field the glances of wary Mainlanders, so she changed her name and converted to their culture. She was against Aileen's divorce from the start, but of course her fiery sister would never listen. Then, Daphne became the Queen... though to be honest, she hated the role. Public speaking made her squeamish and she avoided most royal affairs. After the rebellion, when Adamh's exhaustion grew, Daphne's indifference skyrocketed. She found she had even less of an interest in royal affairs than before. However, no one could claim that it was not cruel when it was she who discovered her husband's bloodied body. She grew mad at the sight. A woman with rich brown fur and blue eyes. Materialistic, Opportunistic, Fanciful, Hopeless Romantic

Died in 1715. Driven to insanity by the view of Adamh's mutilated corpse, Daphne was clearly not fit to rule, and she presented no issue when Mhairi ascended the throne. She passed without incident in her sleep in 1715.


Queen Aileen (Deceased)


Known for being both stern and fair, Aileen was a popular matriarch. Though a tad humorless, she always oversaw a forum of both nobles and commoners. A champion of the working class, she was a favorite of the peasants and soldiers. Unfortunately, this caused her to be seen as an anomaly at court. Nobles and merchants found her obstinate when faced with their interests and therefore conspired to turn the tides against her. When she sought her divorce, they leaped at the chance to oust her from her throne, an insult that Aileen will never forget. In Highlander tradition, she could seek a divorce. In Mainlander tradition, she could not. She used her power as Queen to seek an annulment of the marriage under Highlander tradition—which opened a loophole for powerful members of the parliament to accuse her of showing favoritism and negating the values of the treaty. After 1 year in exile, she gathered up an army from the Highlanders and Lowlanders. Their rebellion ended in flames. A russet woman with green eyes. Iron-handed, Bold, Borderline Arrogant, Fair

Died in prison in 1714. Aileen was restored of her power, briefly, when her son, Jacob, conquered the Highlands and renamed them Saora. However, Saora quickly crumbled, and Aileen found herself imprisoned in Adamh's jails. She wasted quickly under the weight of her son's death and her nation's demise. She died of unknown causes. Only Mhairi mourned her.
King Jacob (Deceased)


As a boy, Jacob was known for his strong spirit and seemingly blithe personality. Charming and athletic, he appeared to have all of the skills of a desirable crown prince. He took after his mother and was closer with her than his aging father, King Elijah. Though the boy was not keen on enduring all of his lessons, he was preciously attached to the title of "King" which was his birthright... until his mother sought a divorce and was accused of treason. One night he was playfighting with other noble sons, the next he was on the run and hurrying to foreign territory. He became a bitter boy, one prone to violence, and he grew into a bitter man. Jacob had a fiery temper and a merciless sense of justice. After 3 bitter years spent enduring failure, Jacob successfully freed the Highlands and instantiated the nation of Saora. A man of gold and cream fur with yellow eyes. Volatile disposition, rash but bold, strong motivational speaker

Died in the Fae Fog of 1711. In the fledging stages of Saora's birth, Jacob was found dead after the Fae Fog clears...under most mysterious circumstances. It was uncertain how he died. There were no visible marks on him. Regardless, with his death came the death, too, of Saora - and his hope for a new world.


Rook (Deceased)


Lord of the flies, prophet of the pillagers, royal of the local riffraff. He, or she, or they, served as the undisputed leader of the Thieves' Guild. Though few know of their identity, Rook's word was always enacted swiftly and without fault. Or, at least, those that err quickly tended to go missing. None knew of Rook's true motivations and few were ever likely to learn the truth. Did they support the king? A different ruler? A figurehead that is incapable of cracking down on the crime which Rook avidly orchestrated? It was hard to say, and those that speculated often misplaced their tongues. A shame really, Rook would be most interesting to have over for dinner. One thing was for certain though: whether a monstrous mob boss or a Puck-like imp, Rook was a little shit.

Killed in Spring, 1710 by Prince Jacob — Revealed to be Parliament member Cassian Rona. This leaves the Thieves' Guild without its shadowy leader, causing respective crime lords to gain more autonomy and less unity.

Ildhrune

The Polaris


Heaven's Voice, the Guiding Light of the Stars, the North Star of Ildhrune. One wolf rules the faithful, acting as both the governmental and spiritual leader of the nation. The Polaris is the defacto head of the Praetorian Guard, and enacts all policy and trade negotiations for the nation, interpreting the will of the gods and imposing the tenants of their holy ordinance. Each year, the Polaris is chosen through an ancient ritual known as the Rite of Ascension. On the sacred night of the Rite, a different god each year shines brightest in the sky, and the chosen candidate must adhere strictly to the tenets of such god, lest Ildhrune draw the ire of the stars. The same wolf cannot serve consecutive terms as the Polaris, as they must, by default, judge the Ascension the following year. Notably, pious citizens of Ildhrune are eligible to challenge for the position should the acting Polaris stray too far from their god's guidance, but such is only ever done under extreme circumstances.

Current Polaris: Kaladin

Da'Ira

The Cabinet


Being an egalitarian nation forged on the tenants of cooperation and equality, it should be no surprise that the three spokes of Da'Ira's ruling Cabinet are democratically elected positions. Members of the Cabinet are chosen through popular vote every year; there are no term limits, though historically most wolves serve only a year or two before being ousted. Each member of the Cabinet oversees a different aspect of the nation's governance - the better to distribute responsibility and ensure fair representation - and power is shared equally amongst them. The Hand sees to it that wolves are capable of defending themselves; the Heart ensures that wolves are healthy, and the Head evenly distributes whatever wealth Da'Ira claims amongst its populace. In years past, the Cabinet has run smoothly, like a well-oiled machine...but the Fae Fog and the revelation of Rionnach threatens to clog up the wheels.

Current Cabinet Members: Kismet (Head), Emerie Elsweyr (Heart), Aphelion Hardin (Hand)

Éireland

None currently.