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Background
Sir Devlin Cassomir is the younger brother and former squire of Viscount Jaren Cassomir. Despite standing in the shadow of his renowned brother, he has proven himself a loyal and highly skilled knight on both battlefields and tourney fields. He seems content to serve as the commander of Ironhold's conventional military forces, a task which he has shown great promise in, and is greatly beloved by the people of the County for riding to Ironhold's rescue during the Thorn Invasion of 1861 IA. He is generally considered to be the most easygoing and approachable of the Cassomir siblings.
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Born at the beginning of 1843 IA, to Baron Aric and Baroness Mathilda Cassomir, it seemed almost certain that Devlin, being the pair's six child, was to be their last. While they would be proven wrong a few years later when they were blessed with a second daughter, Devlin Cassomir did get to experience growing up the youngest brother of five. Of course, by the time he was born, most of his brothers were already near-adults, and by the time he was old enough to start forming lasting memories, even the next-oldest brother, Jaren, was squired off.
Which isn't to say that Devlin's life in Ironhold was lonely. Growing up in the latter years of the Thirty Years' War, Devlin found himself largely untouched by that conflict, only knowing that his father was often away. This left Devlin close to both his mother, and his third-eldest brother Randall, who among the sons of Aric Cassomir tended to stay near home. He was also close with his sisters, with Raelyn often serving as both playmate and "tormentor" (sneaking up and scaring your little brother out of his skin or setting up pranks is apparently good practice for a Huntress-to-be), and Emilia as a mostly-welcome tagalong when she was old enough to get around on her own. He also was an occasional playmate of the young Alysande Tracano as her father, Lord Arturo, was a frequent visitor to Ironhold, and the girl was roughly of an age with Devlin. Indeed, they shared the "traditional" relationship of little boys and little girls, with he claiming her "bossy", and she finding him "annoying" but ultimately friendly nonetheless (and Raelyn often served as a bit of a peacemaker in the interim).
Devlin paged at Ironhold, as the Thirty Years' War ended and the False Peace began. Even with his father home, Devlin found much of his instruction instead came from Randall, and through him Devlin developed a deep love of the lands of Ironhold and its' people, helped along by his relationship to Raelyn and her own mentor, their aunt Renee. He wasn't an overly "woodsy" sort, but that didn't lessen his appreciation for his family's lands. Still, Devlin got the chance to see more of Rivana, as he often accompanied his family members to watch them compete in the multitude of tournaments that were held in the years of the False Peace, and thus bearing witness as his elder brother Jaren's reputation began to burgeon further with a string of victories.
When the Succession War began, Ironhold effectively "locked down" and Devlin found that his opportunities to wander were largely stymied by necessity. In the typical Cassomir fashion, he accepted it and continued on with his duties, even starting to grow a bit closer to his father, who ever-so-slightly began to soften in his old age, even if he remained strict and carried high expectations. When he came of squiring age, Devlin hoped to squire with Randall or even his father, but Aric instead sent him to serve Jaren. While leaving home was a disappointment, it did give the trade-off of seeing Alysande again, and now of an age where precocious antagonism shifted towards more romantic notions…at least for his part. This was made abundantly clear after a clumsy romantic gesture went somewhat awry, and while Alysande took it in stride, Devlin was rather embarrassed. It would have been less difficult if the incident was not also witnessed by Quentyn Bazan, and while the older man didn't press Devlin on it too hard it remains something that Devlin generally refuses to talk about. Moreover, the incident revealed to Devlin what in hindsight he felt like he should've picked up on rather quickly: Aly's romantic feelings veered towards her protector, h is brother and knight, Sir Jaren. A spark of envy did make for a surly squire for some time, but largely due to the necessity of their perilous flight around Rivana, and the gentle prodding of both the Lancers in Alysande's service and Alysande herself, Devlin eventually (mostly) got over it and settled for being Aly's dear friend.
Devlin ultimately was an apt and dutiful pupil for Jaren, proving himself inclined towards the knightly arts better than most. While he did befriend Jaren's former squire Quentyn Bazan and admired the man's seemingly-carefree nature, he did not pick up his habits (much to Jaren's relief)…well, mostly, as he did every-so-often manage to get convinced into participating in small, harmless pranks against Jaren, which Jaren affectionately returned by pushing him harder in training. Even so, those years forged a strong bond between the brothers, as Devlin came to know Jaren, who had (outside of visits) been largely absent from his life since he was a child. He also received a superb education as a squire, given that not only Jaren was present, but the other Lancers that accompanied Alysande often took part in his training, including Quentyn Bazan and Donnel Durante.
Devlin spent his early-mid teens traveling with Alysande and Jaren throughout much of Rivana, mingling among the Common folk and staying one step ahead of the Thorn's searchers. These experiences made Devlin entirely comfortable (perhaps TOO comfortable in the minds of some) with common folk, and he found he could easily relate to them, which made passing among them far easier as well. Given that Alysande and her group saw little battle between the occasional skirmish with bandits or assassins sent for Arturo's heir, it all seemed like a storybook adventure at first. Then Arturo died…and along with him Darren and Matias. Devlin was not overly close with his oldest brothers, but the news still hit him hard. He scarcely registered that Alysande was now his Queen. He was still reeling from it all when the Battle of Giorgio's Redoubt occurred.
While little remembered in song and story, Devlin was among the handful of survivors from that battle, and it was at Giorgio's Redoubt that Devlin killed his first men. His training proved fruitful, and for much of the battle he watched his brother's back while he protected Alysande, unquestionably keeping him alive more than once. Still, when the final showdown came, Jaren ordered him to fall back and protect Alysande. While Devlin was aggrieved that he was in effect being asked to abandon Jaren to what seemed certain death, he obeyed the order. He feared the worst when he and the few other survivors emerged from their hiding place to survey the aftermath of Jaren's battle, but was soon deeply relieved to find that Jaren lived…even if barely. Devlin himself was virtually unharmed save for a few cuts and bruises, and most importantly, Alysande was unscathed.
Giorgio's Redoubt had a powerful effect on Devlin despite the fact that fame did not seem to fall upon his shoulders as a result. He became more cautious, for a time near to the point of paranoia. He took to sleeping with mail on (when he could sleep at all), and even as the extreme paranoia eventually passed (largely with the counsel of Alysande and later Jaren as he recovered) and Devlin's spirit proved resilient to the bloodshed he had witnessed and been a part of, he never really quite got over wearing some sort of armor whenever possible. Still, he came to terms with the deaths of his brothers and the Lancers who had been his friends and mentors, and soldiered on. At Jaren's request, Sir Royce Haldis temporarily took over Devlin's training while Jaren recovered from his injuries. When Devlin's combat skills proved to already be more than adequate, Royce decided to heavily focus on instructing Devlin in matters of tactics and strategy. While serving Royce Haldis, Devlin would ride into battle with him at the Battle of the Ascendant Rose, again performing well and witnessing some of the principles Royce had been imparting upon him firsthand. Those lessons would prove more valuable than anyone realized in months to come.
During a brief visit to Ironhold shortly after his 18th Birthday in 1861 IA, and at the recommendation of both Jaren and Royce Haldis, Devlin was knighted by none other than his father, Aric Cassomir. A modest celebration was held, somewhat muted by lingering grief over Darren and Matias' deaths, but Devlin was soon back on his way to rejoin Alysande and Jaren, now finding himself in command of the bulk of House Cassomir's military forces, having been sent by Aric to assist in the ongoing search for Anton Tracano and what was supposed to be the "mopping up" of Thorn forces. The latter would indeed occur, but under far more tragic circumstances than anyone would expect. Still, for the better part of two months, Devlin adjusted to being in command, and found that it suited him well. The soldiers under his command responded well to him, and he found he enjoyed the routines of military life. Veteran knights commented that he evidenced skill and wisdom beyond his years, particularly when it came to the training and discipline of his troops.
That training and discipline would be put to the test in late Marse of 1861, when the largest remnant of Thorn forces, comprised largely of the surviving forces of House Thordet invaded the Barony of Ironhold, and through a terrible set of circumstances (which involved unwittingly unleashing a Banshee) nearly overwhelmed its' defenses. While Raelyn mustered a resistance movement from within, and Jaren swiftly traveled to Ironhold to discern the fate of his family, Devlin, at Jaren's behest requested reinforcements from Queen Alysande, which she provided in considerable measure, devoting a significant portion of her loyal Tracano forces, along with some of House Greycen, and joining them with Devlin's Cassomir troops to march and retake Ironhold. What Devlin had not expected was that Alysande granted him command of the assembled force. While it may have largely been for the symbolism of it all (a loyal son of House Cassomir traveling back to liberate his home), those veteran warriors that accompanied him (including his Uncle, Donal Cassomir, a famed Royal Lancer that had previously remained neutral) quickly realized Devlin's burgeoning leadership skills and did not challenge the appointment.
Devlin moved swiftly, and with Raelyn using a few trusted Huntresses as messengers while he neared Ironhold, they coordinated an envelopment and ambush of the Thorn forces that resulted in what effectively became a complete slaughter of the invaders (The Huntresses, led by a wrathful Raelyn, were not merciful in their pursuit of fleeing forces). While young Sir Devlin had cemented himself as a hero of Ironhold alongside his siblings, the victory was a hollow one, as Devlin soon learned of the fate of the rest of his family, particularly Randall whom he had been close with when younger. Ultimately, having learned to cope with great loss after Giorgio's Redoubt, Devlin bounced back relatively quickly, at least outwardly, but the events did galvanize his hatred towards the Thorns that remained loyal to Anton. Like many of Ironhold, those that served the Thorn and did not openly defect to the Rose at some point (such as the Haldis) would often find short shrift with him in years to come. Ultimately, Devlin grieved deeply for the loss of so many of his family, but soon came to realize that he needed to focus on helping what family he had left rather than dwelling upon what was lost.
It was that knowledge that prevented Devlin from accepting the offer to join the Royal Lancers of Rivana. While there was little doubt that he would make a fine Lancer, he felt that he would be better put to use closer to home in Ironhold. Jaren could not argue the logic of his decision, as given that he was dealing with suddenly becoming Baron as well as joining the Order of the Vigil, having someone near that he could entrust the military readiness of Ironhold to was exceedingly valuable. Devlin was stunned to learn of the truth behind the legends of the Widow of the Wood, and of the more secretive side of the Order of the Vigil, but while he agreed to keep their secrets, he focused his attentions on the more mundane threats that faced Ironhold. He also found himself distanced from his youngest sister, Emilia, for while he was deeply sorrowful for what she had endured, he could not conceive of how he might help her. While he did not shy away from her, and was always willing to help in what ways he could when asked, he found interactions with her…awkward, even after she began to seemingly recover from her ordeal.
Devlin remained in Ironhold for the remainder of the Succession War, rebuilding its' defenses after the Invasion. When the War came to a close, Devlin took part in the Coronation tourney of the Rose Queen, though was eliminated in the Melee and Joust alike by Duke Darren Haldis, not getting a chance to test himself against his brother. For a quiet couple of years, he remained as the commander of Ironhold's military forces, and one of Jaren's trusted aides in keeping Ironhold running smoothly. He continued to find that he had a strong knack for the training of forces, and reorganized Ironhold's militia forces, revamping their training and ultimately improving the Barony's overall state of readiness should anyone threaten again. In 1865, largely at Jaren's not-so-subtle urging, Devlin took part in the Circuit Tourneys of that particular year, and acquitted himself quite well, not only winning the Rivanan Championship, but ending up ranking highly in the overall Circuit standings for that year. Of course, he also had to adjust to Ironhold's promotion to County level, which meant further military reorganization…thankfully a challenge Devlin took to with relish, as those forces would be sorely-needed in that year.
The machinations of Lucien Ramius and the Thorn Insurgency would certainly put Devlin back on the battlefield again. He served under Prince Martyn Tracano when he traveled to fight the Grey Company at Aurum Keep, acquitting himself well and befriending the Prince along the way. He and an ad-hoc unit of various knights from various houses (and even nations) banded together and fought Brodlunders outside the city of Pacitta during the Great Raid, as he had just departed to return to Ironhold when the Raid hit, and upon hearing word of events immediately turned around to go help with the city's liberation. He was caught-up in the chaos that gripped the "Battle for the Blade" in Venderos, but survived relatively unscathed. Devlin would go on to lead Cassomir forces (at least the non-Huntress Cassomir forces) at the Battle of Goldhollow and the Battle of Blackstone. At the latter battle, Devlin's long-simmering rage at the Thorns led him to recklessness, and he took injuries that prevented him from taking part in the Battle of Sunsreach, or in traveling North for the Battle of Three Crowns, so he remained behind in Rivana, working as an aide to Duke Darren Haldis to help finish securing and start rebuilding in Rivana after the Thorn Insurgency. Oddly, it was working with the Duke, coupled with the seemingly all-but-final defeat of the Thorns that finally allowed Devlin to put aside some of the long-held anger over the fate of his family. While he wasn't likely to be particularly friendly with those Thorns that had been pardoned by the Queen after the Succession War, he at least now managed not to be openly hostile.
Devlin, still recovering from his wounds, stayed behind in Ironhold and watched over it while most of his family traveled for the coronation of King Jean-Paul in Couviere, a task which he largely continued through much of 1866, as his family found itself spending a good deal of time outside of Ironhold as preparations for Jaren's wedding to Alysande got underway. When he finally did fully recover, he traveled to Pacitta in Septembre of 1866 to take part in the Circuit tourney there, and though he scored some points, definitely felt a bit rusty after his performance. Returning to Ironhold afterwards, Devlin prepared himself for more changes to come, as his brother would soon be King, his sister would soon be Viscountess (along with a soon-to-be brother-by-marriage becoming Viscount), and he would continue soldiering on, supporting his family and the people they ruled with the diligence and discipline his family was well-known for.
On the Grid
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Tall, lean, and retaining a touch of boyish handsomeness, Devlin Cassomir manages to somehow carry that appearance of youth with a certain degree of confidence that usually develops on those with more years written on their faces. Dark eyes look out from a clean-shaven and unlined face that carries the hint of the angular features he shares with his siblings, and is framed by a mane of brown hair that reaches to the base of his neck. He conducts himself with the discipline and athletic grace of a trained warrior, and above all seems comfortable in his own skin.
Devlin is most often found in armor (Brigandine usually), though he's no stranger to both noble finery and more common attire. On the rare occasions he's spotted out of his armor, he's often dressed for comfort rather than any need to impress (even if he cleans up quite nicely on those occasions that he must). His armor and most of his clothing very much reflects a "lived in" feel, and even though he could easily afford new clothing he has a tendency to have old clothing repaired over getting new clothes altogether, which is often reflected in most of his wardrobe being a couple or three years "out of fashion." As far as finery goes, he strongly favors the colors of his house (blue and red), and even when not clad outright in those colors always bears at least one device bearing the Cassomir crest upon it.
Devlin Cassomir is at heart a soldier first and foremost. He enjoys the discipline and routine of military life (much more so since the incident that cost him much of his family), and the clarity of the chain of command, whether he's sitting near the top of it or considerably further down. Not surprising given his family, he believes in conducting warfare as honorably as possible while recognizing that war itself is an ugly thing and sometimes unpleasantness cannot be avoided. He is loyal and reliable, and while circumstances have placed a bit of distance between himself and his siblings, it has little to do with the amount of affection and love he feels for them versus simply the confusion of coming to terms with the great changes and upheaval that have befallen his family (for good and for ill). In typical Cassomir fashion, he rather prefers to simply go about doing his duty with little fanfare or fuss, and is occasionally somewhat overwhelmed by the attention his family (and by extension himself) earns due to the fame of his elder brother and the House's recent rise in station and favor.
This shouldn't be taken to mean that Devlin is a gloomy stick-in-the-mud or martinet, however, for in truth he's quite the opposite. He is generally a warm, good-humored, and outgoing fellow that easily fosters camaraderie and friendship, in many ways far more easily than his more famed (or enigmatic) siblings. He has his moments of brooding, but generally has come to terms with the misfortunes that have befallen his family and knows he has to move on with his life. He has chosen to do so by supporting what remains of his family, and if that means less fame or fortune for him personally…he's quite all right with that. He'd be perfectly content guarding Ironhold proper for the rest of his days, if it came to that, but somehow he doesn't think he'll be quite that lucky.
One odd habit that Devlin has acquired is his tendency to be armed and armored at just about all times (barring those that social conventions would dictate it imprudent or rude). While he may not sleep in his armor (usually) he's almost never without at least a suit of mail in his waking hours…the twin surprises of Giorgio's Redoubt and the Invasion of Ironhold have given him a cautious edge in that regard, and he's determined not to be caught off-guard in similar circumstances again.
Quirks
Personality Quirks
Down-to-Earth - Devlin gets on well with noble and commoner alike, and tends to see people as individuals rather than categorizing them by their station in life. While perfectly capable of proper etiquette and protocol (and aware of when they should be observed), when given the chance he tends to dispense with all but the most necessary formalities and puts less stock in circumstances of birth than most.
Duty-Bound - Devlin tends to do what's right for his family and his kingdom over his own desires and wishes. He is very much a stereotypical Cassomir in this regard, and strictly keeps to his oaths and allegiances.
Outgoing - Devlin makes friends easily and is generally a "people person." This stands in contrast to the usual stoic stereotypes of his family.
Skill Quirks
Earthy - Devlin's time as a squire was often spent as much mingling among the common folk (in hiding) as learning the ways of discipline and battle. He tends to move easily and comfortably among commoners, both within Ironhold proper and further abroad, and can often pass for one of them with just a little effort (and some suitably shabby attire).
Gifted Instructor - While Devlin has shown considerable skill at the command of military forces, where he truly seems to shine is as a trainer. Perhaps a gift of his Durante heritage, he is quite talented at imparting skills, discipline, and knowledge to others on both the large and small scale, which has only helped Ironhold maintain its' reputation as having some of the best-trained soldiers around.
Social Quirks:
Local Hero - Outside of Ironhold Devlin is often barely more than a footnote (specifically a footnote about having been Jaren's squire during the Battle of Giorgio's Redoubt). He is often overlooked by those outside his house (save of course for those that know him personally), and sometimes people all-but-forget that he exists. Within Ironhold, however, Devlin is every bit as beloved as his more famous siblings Jaren and Raelyn, specifically for having led the relief force that helped drive the Thorn Invaders out of the old Barony in 1861.
Survivor - Devlin was one of the few survivors of the Battle of Giorgio's Redoubt, and while that fact has not attained him the same level of fame that it did his elder brother, it does still garner him a measure of respect from those loyal to the Rose Queen, even if they occasionally have to remind themselves of his part in matters there.
Well Equipped - Devlin has ready access to high-quality arms and armor thanks to the abundance of iron and steelsmithing skill that the fiefdom his family rules possesses.
Armor:
Devlin possesses a suit of full plate armor, and a back-up suit of Brigandine armor, as well as riding leathers. All are of excellent quality and well-maintained.
Weapons:
Devlin favors the use of a longsword and shield, and he owns several examples of both, all forged of good Cassomir Steel. He also usually carries a dirk as a last-ditch weapon and more-frequent tool, and also owns a hunting bow that he is moderately skilled with, though he usually only utilizes it for leisure hunting. He also has a couple of spears and lances available to him.
While Devlin is only a Brethren of the Order of the Vigil, he does know of the trove of Lightsilver weapons hidden beneath Roseguard, and could easily borrow one or more if needed.
Horses:
Devlin owns a fully-trained warhorse of Haldis Charger stock, as well as an older warhorse that's been put out to pasture to breed. He also has a couple different riding horses that he prefers for travel.
Logs and Sundry
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(aidric alysande clara devlin jaren liam log quentyn social thaddeus tristan)
(adrienne aidric alaric alexandra alina amara antonia ariane artos clara clarke conrad corvin devlin dora elaida emilia esyld evelyn event gabriel james jonathan leander log lorelei lucas philippe quentyn raimond symon thaddeus the-last tiadora tristan vorian)
(alaina alina alivia amara ariane cesare clara dalmer darren dawn devlin dixon elaida elrick emilia esyld evelina event gabriel leander log manfred mina orion osric quentyn raelyn raimond reese thaddeus tristan vorian)
(alexandra alivia amara ariane cesare darren dawn devlin drusilla elrick emilia evelyn event gabriel joffrey jonathan leander lero log manfred michael odilia orion quentyn raelyn raimond thaddeus vorian)
(alexandra alina amara antonia darren devlin elrick emilia evelyn event gabriel gawain joffrey jonathan leander liam log manfred odilia quentyn raimond thaddeus tiadora vorian)
(alexandra amara clarke darren devlin elrick emilia evelyn event gabriel gawain joffrey jonathan leander liam log michael quentyn raelyn raimond thaddeus)
(alexandra alina alivia amara ariane cesare clarke cynthia darren dawn devlin drusilla elaida elrick emilia esyld evelyn event gabriel gastogne joffrey jonathan leander lero log manfred mina orion quentyn raelyn raimond samuel thaddeus tiadora tristan vorian)
(adrienne devlin emilia log lonar nia pella raelyn social stephen syrn)
(alexandra devlin dora eleanor emilia evelyn event jonathan leander log martyn raimond symon thaddeus tiadora)
(alexandra clarke devlin emilia evelyn event jonathan leander liam log martyn raelyn raimond symon thaddeus tiadora)
(adrienne aidric alexandra amara clara clarke devlin dora eleanor emilia evelyn event gastogne jasper jonathan leander log lucas malcolm martyn raelyn raimond samuel symon thaddeus tiadora)
(amara clara clarke devlin dora eleanor emilia evelyn event gastogne jasper log malcolm martyn odilia philippe raelyn raimond samuel symon thaddeus tiadora)
(adrienne aidric clara devlin emilia event log tiadora)
(aidric alysande devlin elaida event jaren johanna leander log martyn raimond thaddeus tiadora tristan)
(alexandra clara clarke darren devlin elrick emilia event jonathan log lucius michael raimond samuel thaddeus tiadora)
(alexandra amelia antonia clara darren devlin elrick emilia evelyn event jonathan leander log lydia michael raimond samuel thaddeus)
(alexandra alina antonia clara clarke darren devlin elrick emilia evelyn event gawain jonathan leander liam log michael raimond samuel thaddeus tiadora)
(alexandra antonia clara darren devlin emilia evelyn event ivan jonathan leander liam log michael quentyn raimond samuel thaddeus tiadora)
(alexandra alina bella darren devlin dora emilia event gabriel jasper jonathan liam log lucas lucius michael raimond symon thaddeus tiadora)
Relationships
Couviere
Rivana
- Cover
- House Cassomir
- House Tracano
- House Greycen
- House Haldis
- House Rosendal
- House Bazan
- House Durante
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Viscountess Raelyn Cassomir : Ah, my big sister. She used to give me hell when we were kids. Sometimes she still does, but I know it's only out of love. She's going to be Viscountess soon, and I certainly won't support her any less than I have Jaren. We work together really well, and even if it's sometimes a lot of work to get past all that "armor" she's built up since the invasion and the Widow, it's worth it to see those moments where she's more like the old days. |
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Count Stephen Cassomir (nee Greycen) : He's my brother by marriage. Seems like the quiet sort from what I've seen, but thoughtful-quiet, not shy-quiet. Raelyn seems taken with him, though. If he makes her happy, then that alone is enough for me to like him. I do kind of feel sorry for folks that might have to deal with him and Rae at court though, because they both have pretty great death-stares. |
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Lady Emilia Cassomir : My little sister. She's so…different now, and of all the changes my family has been through, that's been the hardest for me. I wish I knew how to help her, but I don't. I wish we were as close as we were when we were children and she'd follow me around in adventures in the woods, but we're not. I wish that bitch-thing that haunts the ruins had died a thousand years ago, but it didn't. I can wish for a lot of things, but they don't make any difference. All I can do is let her know she's loved, and be honest with her about it all. |
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Lord (Sir) Donal Cassomir : My Uncle, another Royal Lancer. He traveled with me to relieve Ironhold in the Invasion and did not challenge my command of those forces even though he likely could have. Instead he only offered (good) advice. If I had any ill will towards him for staying neutral in the Succession War, it was gone after that. He fought as fiercely as any in that fight, and wept as much as any when we realized what we had lost before our victory. |
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Lady (Sir) Alaina Cassomir : My cousin, who followed in her father's footsteps. She was so eager to see battle when we went to throw back the Thorn invaders, but I could tell she'd seen it for what it really is after the fighting was done. We spar sometimes when I'm in Sunsreach or she's in Ironhold, and I'm fond of her company, but she has her duties and I have mine, so it's mostly family get-togethers that we see each other. Still, I know she'd help me if I needed it, and she could ask the same. |
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Lord (Sir) Graham Cassomir : A cousin of mine. He's shaping up to be a great knight. I'll be glad to have him around in years to come. |
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Lady Adrienne Cassomir : A cousin and one of Rae's Huntresses (so closer to her than me). Seems a good sort, from all I've seen of her, but then again I'd have a hard time thinking of many Huntresses that weren't. |
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Baron (Sir) Aric Cassomir (Deceased) : You set a high standard, father, and I hope I've lived up to it. You were rarely a very warm or kind man, but you were fair and wise, and a good ruler and leader. I like to believe he'd be proud of all of us, in his own way. |
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Baroness Mathilda Cassomir (nee Durante, Deceased) : If father lacked for warmth and kindness, you certainly did your best to make up for it, Mother, though never quite to the point of spoiling or coddling us. I was a little closer to you than most of my siblings (save Emilia), the benefit of being one of the youngest, I guess. I miss you terribly. You and Father and all the rest of my lost family deserved better, but the world isn't always fair. |
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Queen Alysande Tracano : We've been friends since we were children, and probably always will be. If there's one thing that I might have been a tiny bit jealous of Jaren on, it's her, but I've long since made my peace with it. She loves him, he loves her, and that's the way it should be. We just won't talk about that one time that I made a complete fool of myself over her. Still, I may not be a Royal Lancer or a Queen's Champion, but I'll always be ready to protect and serve her if she needs it. |
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King (Sir) Jaren Tracano (nee Cassomir) : He's my big brother and my former Knight, so I'm doubly-inclined to look up to him (not that it's hard to do so!). He's always pushed me to be the best that I can be, but never placed pressure on me to have to live up to his reputation. For the rest of the world he's the hero of song and storybook (and now the King). To me he's family, though that doesn't make him any less worthy of love and respect (just the opposite, really). I'm grateful for the trust he places in me and won't let him down. Still, it'd be nice if he slowed down at least a little bit…I may not have to catch up, but making it impossible to catch up is a bit much, if you ask me! |
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Prince Martyn Tracano : I like Prince Martyn. He might not be the most eloquent man, but he's honest and he understands war better than most. If you get him talking about military matters and history he's as good a conversationalist as any. I also think we've got a bit in common: We're both soldiers that sometimes feel like we're in a little over our heads. |
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Princess Johanna Tracano (nee Greycen) : I'm glad Martyn has her, because I think he needs her. She's a good and strong woman (in spirit and in body), and a little more polished than Martyn is. Don't underestimate her, though, because she's still got plenty of iron in her spine. You can't survive being Eleanor Greycen's child and not. |
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Prince Tristan Tracano : Prince Tristan is clever and fun at parties. I know there's more to him than meets the eye, given how close Aly keeps him, and if she trusts him, then suppose I do too. We've had a few good laughs and shared a few good drinks at parties from time-to-time, but we don't know each other well. |
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Princess Clara Tracano : Well she's certainly a surprise. A cousin Aly didn't know about (or I guess anyone, really)? I don't really know her at all, but I think I definitely would like to. I'm not blushing am I? Tell me I'm not blushing. Though I think I feel a little sad that her story (what I've heard of it) doesn't even rate in the top 5 strangest things I've heard about nowadays. I do know she's friends with Emilia, though…which definitely inclines me towards a favorable opinion. Still, I should probably leave well enough alone…I haven't forgotten the last time I fell for a Tracano (and Quentyn will make sure I never do, if nothing else). |
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Lord Arturo Tracano (Deceased) : I remember him visiting Ironhold when I was young, and meeting him a few times while I was squiring for Jaren. He was always warm and generous, and fatherly, and it always seemed like no matter how bad things were, he wouldn't let himself even consider defeat. I don't ever recall seeing him angry, or afraid. I'm sure he had to feel those things at times, but he never let it show to most of us. He treated everyone with respect, from the highest nobles to common farmers. It's easy to see why so many people loved him. I don't know if I hold with the idea that he'd have been a better King than Aly is a Queen, but I know he'd have been a good one. |
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Lord (Sir) Thaddeus Greycen : He's one of Jaren's best friends, and the Lord Marshal of Rivana. We've known each other since the Succession War, and we're friendly with each other, but not terribly close. |
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Duke (Sir) Darren Haldis : He's the second-best fighter I've ever seen, after Jaren, and seemed like a good enough sort when we were working together after the Battle of Sunsreach. He loves his troops and his troops love him, that's for certain. It's hard to imagine him ever serving the Thorns, especially now, but he did help me understand how such a thing could happen while we were both recovering from our wounds after Blackstone. |
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Lord (Sir) Destrian Rosendal : He's pretty much another big brother, even if he's not a Cassomir by blood. He's a little eccentric, but a good and honorable man and a deadly fighter with that spear of his. Of course, now I know a bit of that "eccentricity" may just be because he's seen a lot of strange things. Anyway, he's a friend, and one of the people I and my family trusts. |
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Lord (Sir) Quentyn Bazan : Quentyn's been a friend ever since he was Jaren's squire. He tells some great stories of that time, as well. I almost wish I could've seen Jaren trying to deal with him, because by his own admission he was quite a handful. In his own way, he's kind of like having another brother, and it's always a good time when he visits Ironhold. Still, his duties often keep him closer to Sunsreach, so we don't see each other too often these days. |
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Lord (Sir) Raymund Durante (Deceased) : I only really knew him as a small child, and he was, in his own way, almost more forbidding than my father. Jaren always spoke highly of him though, and his reputation spoke for itself. He must've been a hell of a teacher, given how Jaren turned out (and how hard he pushed me in my own training). I suppose it's safe to say I'm proud to be part of his legacy, in my own small way. People tell me I'm a good teacher too. Maybe I get that from the Durante side of my blood. |
Others
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Archbishop Sirrah Lancella : She's spent a great deal more time with Jaren and Emilia (and Raelyn of late) than me, but she's still been kind to me, and I know she's helped, or tried to help my family after what happened with the Widow. I'll always be grateful to her for that, and am glad to see her as an ally if not a friend. |
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Lon : I don't know much about this fellow besides the fact that Raelyn seems to trust him and he's supposedly helping Emi somehow. Jaren seems to condone it, so I won't argue with it. When they need me to know what's going on, they'll tell me. Still, if he's helping Emilia…that alone tells me there's something odd…or maybe special…about him. |