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Background
Sir Jaren Cassomir is the current Viscount of Ironhold, and the Champion of the Rose Queen of Rivana, Alysande Tracano. He is famous throughout the Edge and widely regarded as the most skilled Knight alive and an exemplar of honor and chivalry. With the elevation of his house to a County from a Barony and his betrothal to the Queen of Rivana, Sir Jaren has led his house to the greatest degree of power and influence it has ever known, though it has certainly come at great cost to his family.
This Character is a Staff NPC.
Beginnings
Being the fourth son of the Baron Aric Cassomir and Baroness Mathilda Cassomir (nee Durante) of Ironhold, there was likely not any particular expectation of leaving ones' name prominently featured in the histories placed upon the young Jaren Cassomir. He arrived just a bit earlier than expected in the summer of 1832 IA, but otherwise provoked little fanfare or fuss beyond a minor celebration and announcement. His earliest years were spent in Ironhold Castle, where he came to be seen as "the quiet one" of his brothers, which might not have been too surprising, given that he was, for several years, the "bottom of the pile" with four extra brothers, which is not to say that they mistreated him any more so than the natural horseplay and pratfalls of brothers amongst themselves. While not a harsh upbringing, the household of Aric Cassomir was not often a place for overt parental affection, though their mother worked diligently to try to make up for that lack where she could, she was cognizant of not spoiling her children, and the siblings themselves made up the rest with close bonds of brotherhood. The Baron himself was often away to war, though he did make certain to spend time with his children when he was home, imparting important lessons of duty and leadership upon them and seeing that their education was properly guided towards the paths to which they were suited.
Jaren began serving as a page in his household around the age of 7, and even early on proved himself to have taken his father's lessons of duty to heart. He was rarely inclined towards mischief and most of that which he did find himself embroiled in was at the instigation of his elder brothers (particularly Matias). A new addition to the house was the young Lord Destrian Rosendal, who was fostered to the Cassomirs, and despite being very much a more outspoken and outwardly cheerful youth, became fast friends with Jaren, being the only boy around that was of an age with him (sadly, this also meant the two of them were that much more likely to get ensnared in Matias’ pranks and plots, as Destrian was often all-too-happy to be a partner in crime). Baron Cassomir judged the friendship a proper one and set the boys to paging alongside one another. When Jaren was 8 years old, his family welcomed their first daughter, Raelyn, whom all doted upon, but whom despite the gap in their ages, seemed to have a special bond with Jaren, as even as a toddler she seemed inclined to seek him out for company, and Jaren rarely shooed her away, instead simply making sure she didn’t get in the way or hurt herself in the process. Another brother, Devlin, came not long after. The final child of Aric and Mathilda was quite a surprise when the Baroness realized she was with child, though Emilia would not be born until after Jaren would leave Ironhold to squire.
Outside of his family, other figures loomed large in the Cassomir household, of which two in particular would end up playing very significant roles in Jaren's lives. The first was Lord Arturo Tracano, who counted Aric Cassomir his oldest and closest friend as they had squired together under Aric's father. The second was Jaren's maternal great-uncle, Sir Raymund Durante, a Royal Lancer who was accorded Rivana's most famous and skilled Knight. While Arturo remained a somewhat distant figure for Jaren's childhood (if a familiar presence), Sir Raymund seemed to take an interest in him from the start, often stopping in to watch his lessons and provide sage advice. Even as a young boy, Jaren could tell that the swordplay lessons that Sir Raymund imparted upon him were different from those that Ironhold's master-at-arms or his father taught. They somehow felt more…complete.
Squire to Knight
Already white-haired and given the moniker of "Old" Sir Ray when Jaren met him, Raymund had ceased taking squires some years prior, but he apparently saw potential in Aric's fourth son, and after a bit of final testing and interviewing, Sir Raymund took Jaren as his squire when he was 13 years old. Jaren departed Iron March in Septembre of 1845 IA, accompanying Sir Raymund to Sunsreach, and bidding an emotional (if temporary) farewell to Destrian (who would squire for Aric Cassomir) and Raelyn. Over the next five years, Raymund would relentlessly drill Jaren in swordplay, horsemanship, and the lance. He would drive the teenage Jaren to exhaustion and beyond and back again time and time again with his strict and strenuous training regimen. He imparted to Jaren the importance of absolute focus…of how to utilize ones' senses to their fullest in order to maintain awareness of their surroundings, even in the midst of battle. Not only were the arts of combat and awareness paramount, but he also taught Jaren what he would need to know of the Courtly arts, particularly dancing, which, in Raymund's words "was good for your footwork." As the squire of a Royal Lancer, Jaren had opportunity to spar against some of the most skilled Knights of Rivana, learning what he could from each of them at Raymund's behest. He also spent time among the Court of Rivana, though at the time King Lucas was a distant, somber figure and it was all a rather dissolute affair as the Thirty Years' War came to a close, but still his passive observation from the sidelines gave him valuable insight into proper behavior and even a bit of the atmosphere in the Kingdom (he picked up early that there was tension between Lord Anton and Lord Arturo, for example).
Not all of Jaren's time was spent in Sunsreach however. Raymund frequently traveled, and made Ironhold a frequent stop, allowing Jaren to resume his sibling's bond with Raelyn, as well as to form one with his even younger siblings Devlin and Emilia (though the latter was little more than an infant). It also proved a bit revelatory as to just how effective Raymund's training was, when the 15 year old Jaren began regularly besting full-grown knights of Ironhold on the sparring fields, and even occasionally winning rounds against his elder brothers Matias and Randall (though he never bested his eldest brother Darren). He also sparred frequently with Destrian, whose growing skill with spears made him an interesting challenge. The sojourns to Ironhold were some of Jaren's most pleasant memories of his squiredom, but they always seemed far too short, and there was always more work to be done, so Jaren dutifully followed his knight wherever he traveled.
Jaren did see a few skirmishes (or on occasion fending off ambush from very foolish bandits) alongside Sir Raymund in the last days of the Thirty Years' War…skirmishes that Raymund deliberately sought out that he could test whether Jaren's resolve or focus would waver when faced with real battle. It did not, and Jaren acquitted himself admirably, though he only scored wounds upon his opponents rather than any kills. Still, given that his job was to watch Raymund's back, and Raymund's back remain unscarred from those excursions, it was judged a success. In Marse of 1850, wearing his sister Raelyn's favor, Jaren competed as a squire in the Tourney at Ironhold, and not only won the melee, but made it to the final round of the Joust before being unhorsed by his elder brother Matias, who had been a Royal Lancer for over three years by that point. Jaren had a difficult time hiding his disappointment that his performance was not deemed enough to see him knighted, but little did he know that the fact he managed to hold his tongue about it helped Sir Raymund come to the conclusion that he should indeed bear that honor, and soon. In point of fact, it came upon his eighteenth birthday, celebrated in Ironhold, and Sir Raymund himself dubbed Jaren a Knight to the cheers of Jaren's family and their people. Legend would say that even the famously stonefaced Baron Aric Cassomir smiled (he didn't, but it's a nice story. He did gift Jaren with a fine sword and full plate armor, both of Cassomir Steel, however).
Royal Lancer
Once the celebration was done, however, Jaren found out another reason that Raymund had deemed it wise to knight him when he did: Almost as soon as they returned to Sunsreach, a Selection for a new crop of Royal Lancers began, and Raymund sponsored Jaren's entry. In all likelihood, the Selection probably would have seemed rather easy to Jaren after Raymund's lessons, but of course Raymund wasn't going to allow that. Raymund himself made sure Jaren's Selection was more difficult than anyone else, not only to allay any concerns of favoritism, but also to well and truly prove that Jaren was deserving of the honor. As it would turn out, Jaren seemed to flourish under the pressure, meeting the challenges laid before him boldly, and maintaining honor and dignity even in those challenges that were designed to insure failure from the start. While there was a small bit of grumbling that so young a Knight was the first candidate chosen to become a Lancer at the close of the Selection, most among the Lancers and the candidates themselves agreed that he had proven himself more than capable. And so Sir Jaren Cassomir became one of the youngest Royal Lancers in recent memory.
While there was plenty of celebration to be had, Jaren quickly fell into the duties of the Royal Lancers, though for the first month or so it largely consisted of…more training. Still, with Matias there to help him along and making fast friends with several of his fellows, including Sir Donnel Durante, Jaren seemed to be fitting in reasonably well, even if a few of the Lancers felt that he was a bit cocky thanks to his success in the Selection. Then in Novembre of 1850 he was chosen by Lord Arturo Tracano to serve as bodyguard to his eight-year-old daughter Alysande, and that decision would come to define Jaren's life forevermore.
The False Peace
Jaren bonded quickly with his bright and lively charge, and thanks to Arturo's close ties to the Cassomirs she also became an occasional playmate of Jaren's younger siblings Raelyn and Devlin, though Emilia, being significantly younger often seemed to keep her distance. For roughly two and a half years, Rivana seemed at peace, and spirits were high. Jaren became a comfortable and familiar part of Lord Arturo's household, and companion and confidant as well as bodyguard to the young Alysande. He also befriended Lord Arturo's squire, Thaddeus Greycen, who also happened to be the heir to House Greycen. Finally, in Decembre of 1851, actually at the suggestion of Lord Thaddeus, Jaren took his first squire, a young man from House Bazan by the name of Quentyn Bazan, whose father also served as a Royal Lancer. Quentyn would prove a capable student, if at times carrying a certain mischievous spirit.
Despite his position, Jaren was very much treated more as family to Arturo than simply a bodyguard, and in many ways found a certain paternal warmth from Arturo that he had not received from his own father. His position also gave him occasion to bear witness to Arturo at work, and marveled at the man's ability to foster friendships and inspire loyalty (to say nothing of his skills as a steward). He also came to see how much of Arturo's intelligence and charisma also resided in his young daughter, who often seemed wise beyond her years…often just before she threw a miniature tantrum over one childish thing or another. In truth though, Alysande was not a difficult charge: She minded her protectors when it mattered, was well-behaved in public, and while certainly she had a mischievous and willful side, she did not indulge it by trying to slip away from her bodyguards.
One fine example of Alysande’s stubbornness came when she effectively “ordered” him to ask her for her favor for an upcoming tournament, and in a manner that made it quite clear that she knew a Lady simply giving her favor to a knight was inappropriate behavior, but because she wasn’t actually giving it until he asked it was, to her mind, perfectly acceptable. Lord Arturo seemed quite bemused at the whole affair, but ultimately Jaren relented, and after scoring his first Tourney “sweep” in the subsequent competition, it suddenly seemed rather sensible that he continue wearing it for the tournaments to come, and while he did not win all of them, he won several, and generally established himself as a top competitor in a very short amount of time. Had it been reinstated sooner, Jaren may have had a solid chance at a Circuit Championship, but Rivana’s two years of false peace were about to come crashing down, starting when King Lucas Tracano died in Juilliet of 1853 IA.
The Succession War: Beginnings
If someone were to do the calculations and carefully determine the sequence of events on the fateful day that saw the start of the Rivanan Succession War, it is entirely possible that Jaren Cassomir drew first blood in that particular conflict. The three scant days following the funeral of King Lucas Tracano had been tense and uncomfortable in Sunsreach, as the factions squared off and endless arguments ensued as to who had the rightful claim. Juilliet 10, 1853 would mark the official start of the conflict that would dominate Rivana for the next decade, when Lord Anton Tracano finally decided that talking wasn’t going to get him what he wanted. While one group of Anton’s men attempted to ambush Arturo and his followers within Sunsreach Palace itself, Anton sent a smaller group, consisting of just three Royal Lancers, to the Manse that Arturo Tracano had lived in for years (the former Farrant Manse, actually, having been sold to him in the latter years of the Thirty Years’ War), with instructions to take Alysande into custody. Jaren was not ignorant as to the political tensions in the capital, and so when Sir Guillame Marwyn and Sir Zephram Farrant arrived, it immediately put him on edge, as both were known to be supporters of Anton. More surprising was the presence of Sir Theodric Miller, a Royal Lancer with whom Jaren had been friendly. When Sir Guillame all-but-demanded that Alysande come with them as she had been summoned by “His Royal Majesty King Anton Tracano” Jaren politely declined until such word came from Lord Arturo. When Sir Zephram angrily insisted that they be obeyed, Jaren squared off. With Sir Theodric more meekly tried to convince Jaren that Anton was the right choice for Rivana, it fell upon deaf ears…and when Theodric reached for Alysande and Guillame started to draw steel, instinct and years of training took over completely. It all happened so quickly Jaren would scarcely remember the particulars, but in the span of but a few moments, Sir Theodric and Sir Zephram were dead (Though young Alysande herself played a part in the former’s demise), and Sir Guillame had been sent running with a vicious slash across his face. The House guards barely had even begun to react, and it was already over, but Jaren quickly gathered those guards that were present at the Manse, and without hesitation started to depart for the Cassomir Manse instead, where the combined guard forces should be enough to provide ample protection. Along the way, however, they ran into Lord Arturo and his entourage, having clearly come from a scene of battle themselves. While shocked to find blood on Alysande’s dress (not her own), Arturo was grateful for Jaren’s vigilance.
Jaren himself, however, was considerably less composed. He had killed his first men, and they had been Royal Lancers. His brothers in arms. Oaths of brotherhood violated. The next two days passed in a blur, with Jaren barely managing to plod along as they were hurried out of Sunsreach, and not even Alysande being able to break through his confusion and melancholy. After Jaren’s father, Aric Cassomir had joined the group and formally declared his loyalty for Arturo, Jaren finally snapped out of it, only to offer to Arturo his resignation as a Royal Lancer for the violation of his oaths, the only “proper” path he could see at the time.
Remarkably enough, it was the infamously stoic Aric Cassomir that comforted Jaren in his despair, coupled with the assurance of Lord Arturo Romante that they would convene a tribunal of Lancers to determine Jaren’s fate…but only after the “current conflict” was over, and until then, he expected Jaren to continue to serve as Alysande’s protector. It would be a well-founded decision several times over by the war’s end.
The Succession War: Wanderings
Indeed, it was only a few months before Jaren foiled the first attempt on Alysande’s life (or perhaps it was a kidnapping attempt, but regardless, it was foiled). By the time the third rolled around, Arturo took a new tack, and dispatched Jaren and a handful of other Royal Lancers (including Donnel Durante) to take Alysande into hiding…not among the fortresses of the Greycens or Cassomirs or loyal Tracanos and their vassals, but rather largely among the common folk of Rivana. They travelled from town to town, city-to-city, and while initially their disguises fooled few over time they improved significantly, as they watched and learned from the common folk they all too often found themselves all-but living among.
That didn’t entirely stop the attempts on Alysande’s life and person, and in 1856, Quentyn Bazan earned his Knighthood by carrying Alysande out of harm’s way after Jaren intercepted two crossbow bolts meant for Alysande with his own body (contrary to legend, it’s highly unlikely that Jaren can slice arrows and crossbow bolts out of the air without plenty of advance warning, a keen awareness of the attacker’s position, and plenty of intervening distance). Donnel Durante managed to get Jaren to safety, and thankfully a healer was among Alysande’s entourage, which meant Jaren lived to see another day. A few months later, Baron Aric Cassomir suggested Jaren take his younger brother Devlin as a squire, which he agreed to. Devlin would serve as Jaren’s squire for the remainder of the Succession War, and prove himself a worthy partner and knight.
However, another complication also sprang up during this time, as Alysande ran headlong into puberty, and seemingly overnight went from a cute young girl to a beautiful young lady A beautiful young lady who came predisposed towards romantic infatuation with her brave and reasonably handsome bodyguard. For the first couple years, Jaren had little difficulty still seeing her as the little girl he’d been protecting for years, and despite Alysande’s feelings, things remained platonic (well, platonic outside of Alysande’s occasionally blatant flirtations, which were a source of considerable amusement for the other Lancers about…at Jaren’s expense). Jaren simply chuckled along with them and went about his duties, often playing oblivious so as not to encourage her…which, for the stubborn Alysande may as well have been inviting her to try all that much harder, though she somehow managed to remain just on the correct side of propriety…if only barely at times.
In years to come, Jaren would be able to pinpoint the exact moment the nature of his own feelings towards Alysande changed, or at least the moment he became aware that they had. It was early summer in 1858, at a solstice celebration in a small village along the border between Tracano lands and Greycen lands. It seemed like it had been a lifetime since they’d experienced such revelry, and despite the little that the villagers had in the lean times of civil war, they made the most of it. At Sir Donnel and Sir Quentyn’s stubborn insistence, Jaren was all but forced “off duty” and into the revels, where he soon found himself spending much of the evening dancing with Alysande, and Alysande was not about to let him go when the tunes shifted between spritely tunes of general good cheer to those more suited to the earthy and quite frankly sensual styles of dance quite popular among Rivana’s peasants and not-so-secretly among a great many of her nobles, as well, given that Jaren had learned many of them long ago. It seemed someone had taught Alysande somewhere along the way as well, and before long they were quite a spectacle, much to the enjoyment of the crowd. So with the addition of some good strong ale and dancing near to the point of exhaustion, when “Lyssa” finally grabbed him and kissed him, he found himself returning the gesture before he could stop himself, and then realizing he didn’t particularly want to stop himself.
Still, the relationship, such as it was, did not progress beyond stolen kisses here and there. While Alysande was, by that point, likely the person he was closest to in the world, there was still a feeling of a professional line that should not be crossed, so long as he was assigned as her bodyguard. For Alysande’s part, barring a few moments of complaint from time-to-time, she accepted and understood Jaren’s reasoning. Their companions didn’t make things much easier for them, though, giving plenty of good-natured teasing over the whole matter. And so the group continued on their running and hiding throughout Rivana, often staying only a few steps ahead of the Butcher Alphard Haldis and those tracking them, but stay ahead they did. Then, in 1860 it all seemed to start falling apart.
The Succession War: Tragedies and Triumphs
It was Mai of 1860 when the War turned, and at the time, in the worst way imaginable, when Lord Arturo Romante was killed in battle against Anton. For Jaren personally, the battle cut even deeper, as his brother Matias perished fighting alongside Arturo, and his eldest brother Darren was taken as well, in his desperate attempt to recover the bodies of his Lord and his brother. It was a testament to the loyalty that Arturo had fostered by that time that those that had followed him immediately pledged their support to Alysande, and it was a testament to Alysande’s strength that even as her father’s body was being desecrated and paraded by Anton, she took the reins of leadership and carried on with no outward hesitation, and no loss of composure. Privately, they both grieved deeply, both separately and together. However, Alysande becoming the Queen-Claimant also changed their relationship. Their feelings changed little, if anything growing stronger, but the grim reality of the situation made their previous flirtations something they simply didn’t have the time or opportunity for.
That didn’t prevent Jaren from constantly being by Alysande’s side though, for all intents and purposes acting as her Captain of the Lances even when more experienced Lancers were about. Less than two months after Arturo’s death, Anton made an attempt on Alysande’s life at the fortress of Giorgio’s Redoubt, where a traitorous servant had sold their location to the Thorns. A massive group of assassins descended on the keep in the dead of night, and it was only due to the vigilance of Alysande’s Lancers that they were detected and a fierce battle ensued. The fight was a costly one…several of Alysande’s servants and Royal Lancers (including Jaren’s good friend Donnel Durante) were killed as they whittled down the encroaching assassins, to say nothing of the guardsmen that fought alongside them. Still, despite all their efforts, Alysande ended up cut off from escape, with seven armed and ready assassins between her party and freedom. Jaren bade his brother and squire Devlin to protect the Queen and barricade themselves into the room they’d retreated to…and then ended up stepping forward into legend.
By all rights, even a great swordsman should not be able to defeat seven trained men at once, and these were not untrained whelps, but hardened, stone-cold killers. At least one among them was a master of the blade he carried, but in the end, while he suffered grievous wounds and narrowly survived, Sir Jaren Cassomir slew seven men single-handedly. Within days news of the feat was already spreading across Rivana (often leaving out the “grievously wounded and almost died part”), providing a much-needed boost in morale for the Rose-loyal forces despite the losses incurred at Giorgio’s redoubt. More importantly, Alysande emerged unscathed, and many of the stronger-minded folk who had been among Anton’s camp would speak, in later years, of the day that news reached him as the day that he may well have lost what was left of his sanity altogether (though historians, even with only half the story, also note that Anton was already under pressure from the murder of Bryar Haldis and growing resentment against Alphard in Eastfield). Still, the war seemed a long way from over, but then an unlikely ally stepped in, introduced via an equally-surprising benefactor.
For most of the conflict between the Rose and the Thorn, the Church of the One Faith had been infuriatingly (to both sides) neutral in the conflict, choosing to support neither side. So when the Archbishop Sirrah Lancella requested a meeting with Alysande, it was met with great curiosity. Jaren, despite still being in recovery from his injuries at Giorgio’s Redoubt, traveled with her and there they met Darren Haldis, who recently had been forced into exile after being framed for the death of his father. While Jaren wasn’t sure what to make of his tale, it seemed clear that Darren was willing to fight for Alysande if it got him his birthright back and some measure of justice for his father. And fight Darren did…It was a gamble, but given the opportunity to bring the war to a swift end versus prolonging the slow whittling away of the Rose-loyal faction, Alysande chose to take the risk. She maneuvered her army into a seemingly vulnerable position, ready for Alphard and Anton to swoop in and finish them once and for all…and then Darren struck, and the rest, as they say, is history. While Jaren was unable to fight in that battle (again due to his injuries), he and Alysande shared much relief as the core of Anton’s power base crumbled between the Rose army and Darren Haldis’ forces. Sadly, the war was not quite over yet…it would be two long years before Anton himself was dealt with, and early on in that span, tragedy would again strike, this time much closer to home for Jaren.
The Succession War: Ironhold Invasion
On Marse 14th of 1861, the largest remaining remnant of Thorn forces invaded the Barony of Ironhold. Led by Lord Gerrol Thordet and consisting largely of remaining fighters of that short-lived house, news spread quickly that Ironhold had been overrun…a situation that seemed unfathomable to Jaren, as there were plentiful military forces there and his father was a strong tactician who had long been anticipating a serious strike against the Barony. Having finally recovered from his injuries, Jaren sought Alysande’s aid in defending Ironhold, and she ordered the newly-knighted Devlin Cassomir to muster a large force of Cassomir, Durante, and Tracano forces to ride to the relief of Ironhold. While Devlin set to work on that task, Jaren himself traveled to Ironhold. There he met briefly with his sister Raelyn, who had taken up leadership of a resistance movement against the invaders, rallying Huntresses and Iron Guardsmen alike to the Cassomir Banner. With Raelyn having had no word of what had transpired in Ironhold Castle, Jaren feared the worst, but accompanied by a handful of Iron Guard, he set to getting inside the castle.
What Jaren encountered there was a horror from out of Myth, as the Banshee that he had long assumed a myth, known as the “Widow of the Wood” had somehow broken into the castle and slaughtered it’s defenders as well as most of Jaren’s family, including his parents, last surviving elder brother Randall, and several nieces and nephews. Jaren soon happened upon the creature as it appeared to be “feeding” on his youngest sister, Emilia. When the Banshee turned its’ attention on Jaren and his companions, somehow Jaren’s shouted urgings broke through Emilia’s terror and she fled as bidden while Jaren and the Guardsmen attacked the creature. Jaren was never sure how he managed to overcome the sheer terror and madness of the Banshee’s wail himself (indeed, two of the Iron Guard dropped dead immediately from it), but overcome it he did, and rallied the last few Guard to attack. Sadly, the Iron Guard fell quickly, as none of the weapons they bore seemed capable of doing any harm to the creature. However in the midst of the very one-sided fighting, Jaren ended up snatching up Winterthorn, the ancestral Sidhe-Steel Longsword of House Cassomir, and when he swung it and struck the Banshee, it wailed in pain and fled. Realizing that the weapon at least caused the creature pain if not damage, Jaren started a very dangerous game of cat-and-mouse throughout Ironhold Castle.
For the next three days, and fueled in part by a small cache of alchemicals (primarily neversleep) that Jaren had remembered his father kept in his study, Jaren stalked the Banshee and was stalked in turn. Much of that time would remain a blur to him in years to come, as his mind constantly struggled against numbing terror. Ultimately though, he found himself rescued by a contingent of Knights of the Vigil led by Archbishop Sirrah Lancella, and with their aid, the Banshee was again bound, this time in the cellar of Ironhold Castle.
Perhaps if he had been less exhausted and shaken by his experience, he might have tried to discuss other options, but when Sirrah told him in no uncertain terms that the castle would need to be burned to help cover up the truth of the events that transpired there, he could only weakly acquiesce…and so his ancestral home became the funeral pyre for the better part of his immediate family. Jaren escaped the castle, and Sirrah reunited him with Raelyn, who by then had found the incoherent and half-starved Emilia. The Archbishop would explain to the siblings that a group of Vigilants had been sent some weeks prior to renew the old prison of the Widow, but they had ended up ambushed by Thorn scouts and killed, allowing the Widow to escape. She also explained the alternate purpose of the Order of the Vigil, but there was time for more discussion of that later, as Devlin soon arrived with his reinforcements, and together he and Raelyn slaughtered the Thorn forces that occupied their lands. Jaren himself took little part in that last battle, still recovering from his experience with the Banshee.
Still, when he finally did pull himself together, Sirrah offered that he should become a Knight of the Vigil himself. Encouraged in this by Sir Destrian Rosendal, who had in the intervening years become a Vigilant himself, Jaren agreed. Though it took a few more days before Jaren fully realized that he was now the Baron of Ironhold.
NOTE: The “official” IC story is that the main line Cassomirs were slaughtered by the Thorn forces (and indeed this bit of propaganda has been used to help galvanize further distaste for the Thorns. Even the scant remaining Thorn loyalists have little reason to disbelieve the official story. Obviously the TRUE tale remains a secret protected by the Order of the Vigil.
The Succession War: Dying Embers
For the remainder of 1861 and all of 1862, Jaren found himself adjusting to his new roles as Baron of Ironhold and a Knight of the Vigil in Rivana. Thankfully he was not alone in these tasks, as both Sirrah Lancella and Destrian Rosendal were close at hand to help him with the latter, while Alysande sent a capable steward to assist him with the former. Both sets of lessons he took to well, and he quickly caught on that Archbishop Lancella seemed to be grooming him for a greater role with the Vigil. Additionally, since she was already the de-facto Queen of Rivana by this point, Alysande began devoting resources to build the Cassomir a new family home…and with the “surprising” assistance of the Church of the One Faith, construction on what would come to be known as Roseguard Castle was soon underway, and it rapidly became clear that the new Castle would be the envy of many counties, much less baronies.
Perhaps the greatest adjustment, however, was not being near Alysande nearly as often, as the duties of running the Barony put a great deal on his plate, and by now she had other loyal protectors such as Quentyn Bazan and the other veteran Lancers to look after her (that, and with Anton’s economic and military power broken, he lacked the resources to send more assassins). Despite his firm belief that his ascension to the Barony had well and truly ended any hope whatsoever of a permanent romantic relationship between them, Jaren found himself missing her, and coupled with the burdens of so much lost family, and caring for Emilia as she slowly recovered (somewhat) from her ordeal, he fell, for a time, into a rather depressive state.
Still, the Succession War was not yet over, and Anton Tracano remained at large, even if on the run. So in the midst of all his new training and learning, Jaren would occasional lead or be part of excursions hunting for the wayward Thorn. During these incursions, he came to befriend Duke Darren Haldis, and despite some initial awkwardness came to realize that the Duke was, in fact a (mostly) decent man, though Jaren had held some inkling of this when he’d witnessed Darren’s early meetings with Alysande prior to the Battle of the Ascendant Rose.
In any case, on Marse 7, 1863 IA, A modestly-sized military force led by Duke Darren and accompanied by Jaren stumbled across Anton’s current hiding place in Azure Lake. With only a couple dozen men remaining near him, it would be a bit of an overstatement to claim that it was a “battle” though Jaren and Duke Haldis did take up arms and personally battle Anton’s remaining Lancers (and in a fateful twist, one of those last surviving Lancers was Sir Zephram Farrant, who had been among those Lancers that Jaren had faced in the very first battle of the Succession War) before Darren soundly defeated Anton himself. Anton was delivered to the Rose Queen almost immediately, and seven days later, Anton Tracano was executed. It was two years to the day since the Invasion of Ironhold. Jaren wondered if he should feel satisfaction at Anton’s death, but all he felt by then was pity, not just for Anton, but for all that had suffered because of his tainted ambition. Still, there was at least the beginnings of hope now that the long war was finally over.
The Rose Queen Ascendant
Roughly a month later, after some negotiation with the leadership of House Durante and House Gerrell to make certain there was no remaining contest to her claim, Alysande entered Sunsreach in triumph on Avril 12, 1863, and Jaren rode right alongside her. In the evening of the day of her coronation, however, Jaren found himself ordered to a particular chamber of Sunsreach Palace, and there he found a tribunal of Royal Lancers chaired by none other than Sir Raymund Durante, and found himself answering his self-imposed charges of having fought and slain fellow Lancers. Jaren offered the unvarnished truth, and in short order, the tribunal decreed that Jaren had acted in keeping with the standards of a Royal Lancer, and bore no dishonor for the act. Few would ever realize how heavily that burden had weighed upon him, and with it lifted, Jaren seemed to be…inspired.
The Tournament in celebration of the Queen’s Coronation started the next day, and while many had assumed that Jaren had likely lost a step or two with all that he had endured and particularly with having become Baron of Ironhold rather than an everyday Lancer, they were very swiftly disabused of that notion. Over the next several days, Jaren unleashed a display of skill so dominant that the folk of Sunsreach still speak of it to this day. Before an audience that included not only the newly-crowned Alysande but the King and Queen of Couviere, he all but annihilated every challenger before him, including several fellow Lancers. Only Duke Darren Haldis managed to provide him a serious challenge (and come in second in the Tournament because of it), but in the end, Jaren was undefeated and thoroughly victorious, and if he had already been famous for Giorgio’s Redoubt prior to the tournament, his showing in the Tourney seemed to cement his legend among the people of Rivana…and even beyond.
It’s all but certain that Jaren Cassomir would have been named the Queen’s Champion regardless of his showing in the Tourney, but his victory made it all the more appropriate, and thus Alysande bestowed that particular honor upon him, bringing even further prestige to his name. Later, after the Tourney Feast, Alysande also all-but-ordered him to share her bed for the first time, not that he was truly reluctant. Still, it was a bittersweet moment, as Alysande made clear the liaison they would share over the next few days would likely never happen again, and Jaren agreed, knowing that she would need to wed for the good of the Kingdom, not the desires of his (or her own) heart, and that Jaren himself was too honorable to knowingly cuckold Alysande’s theoretical future husband (though she did consider the notion before dismissing it…Alysande too had her own brand of honor). After a relatively blissful few days and nights, it was time for Jaren to return to Ironhold. He didn’t tell Alysande that he would always be there if she needed him. They both had no need to say it aloud.
Over roughly the next year and a half, construction on Roseguard Castle was completed, and Jaren and his remaining family occupied the spacious and heavily-fortified new home. Jaren divided his time between his baronial duties, the occasional “diplomatic mission” or ceremony on behalf of Queen Alysande, and his duties as a Knight of the Vigil, which only increased when Sirrah officially named him Knight-Commander of Rivana, after an incident in which he and Sir Destrian Rosendal with four other Vigilants hunted and killed a pair of Werewolves (Changelings) that had been preying on common folk on the fringes of the Barony (though it was certainly a harrowing battle, costing three of the other Vigilants their lives).
The Cardinal's Gambit: Failed Betrothal and the Great Raid
Jaren largely continued in his role(s) as normal until Mai of 1865, when Queen Alysande elevated Ironhold to the status of a County by adding some of the neighboring lands that surrounded it. There was an ulterior motive to this elevation beyond simply hard-won reward for their loyalty and service, however, as the elevation of Jaren to Viscount made him a viable candidate to marry at the royal level, helped along a great deal by his renown. And so Jaren was tasked by Queen Alysande to attempt to negotiate a marriage with one of the Princesses of Couviere, in what Alysande hoped would be a first step towards lasting peace between the two kingdoms. Accompanying Jaren on this diplomatic mission was the Archduchess Alyanna Gerrell. During a brief stopover in Pacitta, Jaren fought his way out of a clumsy assassination attempt, which set him somewhat on edge for the remainder of the trip. Thankfully that vigilance would prove well-founded.
Initially, matters seemed like they were progressing well, and over several days it started to seem more and more likely that the Rivanans would indeed secure a marriage contract for the Princess Aliza l'Valdan, the youngest of Maris and Cynthia's daughters. The initial meetings between Aliza and Jaren went well, and both were left with a favorable impression. Then another assassination attempt occurred, this time against Princess Aliza herself (though the Assassins seemed to think they were targeting one of the elder Princesses). Jaren and a handful of Blue Cavaliers handily foiled the attempt, and it seemed like the contract would be cemented, and then, suddenly, it wasn't. The Archduchess Alyanna Gerrell seemed to overplay her hand and made a serious faux pas in overly entreating the Couviere Princess, and suddenly what had seemed like a nearly-concluded negotiation now required "more time to consider" by the Couvieri royals. While they seemed to part on pleasant terms, Jaren had no way of knowing at the time that the Archduchess had deliberately foiled the negotiation, as she was secretly working with the Cardinal Lucien Ramius to destabilize the Edge. Jaren returned towards Rivana disappointed that he had not succeeded in his mission, but along the way stopped in Pacitta to attend the Tourney there.
Of course, immediately following the Tourney came the Great Raid of 1865 IA. Trapped within the city, Jaren and those warriors of Ironhold that accompanied him joined in its' defense, most notably spending a two days holding one of the major bridges across the Grand Canal against the Brodlund Invaders, providing a safe retreat beyond for the Pacittans that were fleeing the horde. After being relieved by a unit of Knights of the Balanced Scale, Jaren and his fighters withdrew to one of the secure keeps, getting a bit of food and rest before they became part of the final push-back against the Raiders. Jaren joined in that final counter-assault, generally watching Duke Darren Haldis' back as he led the charge, and managing to slay several raiders while nary receiving a scratch himself. Unprepared for a relatively organized combined assault from Couvieri, Rivanans, and Pacittans alike, and with their Chieftain gravely wounded, the Brodlunders retreated.
The Cardinal's Gambit: The Thorn Insurgency
Despite a couple of relatively quiet months, Jaren spent much of them at Alysande's side once more, as rising tensions in Rivana and rumors of Thorns rising again as the "Grey Company" began to spread. Aout of 1865, however, proved a very eventful month. It began with a rather unprovoked, blistering rebuke from the Couvieri King that effectively severed any hope of wedding the Princess Aliza. He didn't have overmuch time to dwell on it though, as he was soon dispatched to retrieve Prince Tristan Tracano from the care of the l'Saigners in Couviere.
The trip turned out to be far more eventful than one might have anticipated, as it led to Jaren leading a rescue party to safely retrieve Prince Tristan and Lady Alina l'Saigner from a creature known as a Child of Judgment (or Banshee-Spawn). These events led to Lord Lucas l'Saigner and Baron Artos t'Acuto being inducted into the secret side of the Order of the Vigil, while several others became Brethren of the Order. Ultimately, Jaren returned Tristan safely to Sunsreach, and soon at the Prince's suggestion, Queen Alysande then took it upon herself to enter (very brief) negotiations for Jaren's hand herself. While the betrothal was a surprise, and set to be a long one, it was hardly an unwelcome development, even if Jaren remained uncertain he was the best choice.
Aside from attending the wedding of Thaddeus Greycen and Ariane l'Valdan, the next few months were uneventful for Jaren save for one particular incident. Having once again heard word of Changeling activity in his lands, Jaren sent his sister Raelyn and several Huntresses to investigate, as a test to induct them as Knights of the Vigil. While a few of the Huntresses lost their lives, the expedition resulted in Jaren and his family making the acquaintance of the Elder Changeling known as Lon, who would become an ally to them…if an odd one that Jaren wasn't entirely sure how he felt about. His opinion would soften in the coming months when Lon began helping Emilia to deal with her own aftereffects of the Banshee's assault upon her.
It wasn't until late Novembre that the Thorn Insurgency fully came into focus, though smaller raids began to build in the intervening months. Jaren would send forces of House Cassomir to battle at Goldhollow, but would stay by Alysande's side himself, serving as bodyguard and confidant as the Insurgency played out, largely in the Duchy of Eastfield once Alphard Haldis made his presence known. Still, when the loyalists received information that Alphard Haldis was hiding out in Blackstone, Alysande tasked Jaren to lead a combined unit of Royal Lancers, as a show of force from the Crown. Thanks to some unexpected aid from Duke Symon Gerrell and Lord Eduard Farrant, the loyalists ended up with a great deal of intelligence on the Butcher's forces and position, and used that to launch a highly effective surprise attack. The Lancers fought well in the battle to come, with Jaren himself fending off several of Alphard's elite warriors while Duke Darren Haldis duelled the Butcher to his death. With the battle won, Duke Haldis and most (though not all) of his men agreed to stay behind and "clean up" while the remainder of the forces made their way back towards Sunsreach. Little did they realize that the Queen would be seized while they were on their way back.
The Cardinal's Gambit: Battle of Sunsreach
Warning came in the form of Jaren's mentor, Sir Raymund Durante, who despite being mortally wounded, had escaped Sunsreach and ridden to meet the returning loyalist forces. Sir Raymund warned the loyalists of the Gerrell treachery (which was only confirmed when secret messages from Symon Gerrell also arrived), and passed along the keys to the secret passages and armory of Sunsreach Palace, giving the loyalists a way to infiltrate the castle. Sir Raymund then passed, with his final words being ones of encouragement for the Knight that had once been his squire. Still, the loyalists had to deal with a body of tired and (with the rumor of the Queen's seizure already spreading) dispirited troops. Spurred by Raymund's words, Jaren finally accepted the mantle of presumptive King, and rallied the fighters, leading them in a nearly-impossibly swift march that brought them to the city of Sunsreach just before sunup. When the Gerrell and Grey Company defenders stirred with morning's light, they found Sunsreach Palace surrounded by an army.
Jaren, however, was not with that army. Using the keys Raymund provided, Jaren led a small group of Huntresses and a few others (including his former squire Quentyn Bazan and Prince Tristan Tracano) to infiltrate the Palace. The Huntresses moved on to secure the gates of the Palace while Quentyn and Tristan secured the armory (though the latter would soon set to wandering himself, eventually coming across the Duchess Alyanna Gerrell and capturing her), and Jaren himself went to retrieve Queen Alysande. Finding her battered and weary but whole, as well as freeing Princess Clara Tracano, Jaren was surprised when Alysande insisted they go to the armory rather than make their escape. Still, he followed her orders, and after Alysande was armed and armored, the pair set out in search of the Grey Prince, Victor Tracano. They came upon him injured from an attack by Jaren's sister Emilia, whom he had been trying to seduce to his side. A fierce duel ensued, and in the end, with the aid of Alysande herself, Jaren defeated and killed the monstrous Grey Prince. He soon found Emilia, bruised but alive, and took a few brief moments to try to comfort her after she admitted that the more monstrous portions of her soul had been briefly unleashed on Victor. When Jaren and Alysande made their presence known to the battle going on in the main Courtyard of the palace, and presented the body of Victor Tracano, it was the final nail in the coffin of the Thorn Insurgents, as Duke Ranulf Gerrell had been slain by Lord Thaddeus Greycen but moments before, in a final (and nearly successful) counterattack.
With the entirety of their leadership dead or captured, the Thorn Insurgents crumbled, and what few survivors their were after Blackstone and Sunsreach attempted to scurry back to the shadows, though over the next few months would find themselves relentlessly hunted.
The Cardinal's Gambit: Battle of Three Crowns
Jaren and the loyalists didn't have much time to rest on their laurels, as the call for aid from Couviere against the Tirian hordes arrived literally just hours after Sunsreach was secured. After a flurry of intense negotiation, Alysande agreed to send her forces northward, and once again Jaren would accompany them, as the nominal leader of the Tracano forces. However, halfway through their trip, they were intercepted by the Archbishop Sirrah Lancella, along with several of the Couvieri vigilants, including Baron Artos t'Acuto and Lord Lucas l'Saigner. Sirrah had information about the source of Tiria's Berserkers, and at her direction, Jaren took a mixed party of Couvieri and Rivanan (and one Tirian) Vigilants deep into the northern wastes to a well-hidden temple, where they faced a small group of berserkers before making the horrifying discovery that the temple itself was alive…an Abomination. Thanks to the timely application of Leonore's Fire, though, the temple was destroyed, and the Tirians lost (at least for a time) their ability to become Berserkers. Despite many of them being wounded (Jaren himself had a broken left arm), the group managed to return to the secret Faegate they had used to reach their destination, and after recovering from Gatesickness, again rode north, just in time to bear witness to the close of the Battle of Three Crowns and the final Tirian retreat.
Welcomed to Couviere by Jean-Paul l'Valdan, Jaren would remain as an honored guest for a few weeks, through the coronation of King Jean-Paul and the Tourney that followed, but at its' conclusion, again returned to Sunsreach, where he would once soon take up his preparations for his wedding. With the prospect of peace with Couviere looming, Jaren would find himself looking forward to at least the chance for some quiet and uneventful time…even if his gut told him he was unlikely to be that lucky.
On the Grid
The Champion and his Queen
Portrait by Enife
Jaren Cassomir is a tall, lean, dark-haired man with an intense gaze and a precise, disciplined manner. He stands a few inches beyond six feet, and his thick, wavy brown hair reaches to the base of his neck in length. His eyes are a deeply dark brown, nearly black, and his gaze is quite intense, often seeming to look right through those he regards. Jaren's features are chiseled and somewhat sharp, albeit not in an unpleasant manner. Indeed he would likely be regarded as quite handsome by many. A neatly-groomed beard and moustache covers his jaw and upper lip, softening those stony features just a bit. Jaren moves with precision and athletic grace, displaying the effects of a lifetime of war and military discipline, and wasting very little motion. When at rest, he does not fidget in the least, with often only his eyes moving to study his surroundings in that almost eerily-intent manner.
Jaren is clad as one might expect of a Knight, in a suit of well-maintained full plate armor that covers him nearly from head-to-toe. The design is clearly that of the Royal Lancers of Rivana…enameled black in color, with the Golden Dragon of House Tracano emblazoned upon the chest. While the suit is clearly worn enough to be comfortable, it has apparently been quite well-maintained, though the sharpest eye could note signs of repairs done at some point in the past. A heavy shield is often strapped to his left arm, with a long sword hanging from hip of that same side in a black leather scabbard reinforced with metal. A dirk rests in a sheathe on his opposite hip, and when not being worn, a visored helmet is often carried under one arm. The only other adornment he bears is a dark green cloak edged with dark, nearly black fur, and then only should the weather make it necessary. While his equipment is definitely not new, it does all appear to be of excellent quality and very well cared-for.
Personality
Quiet, stoic, and honorable would tend to sum up Jaren rather succinctly. Having spent many years as a bodyguard to a member of Rivana's royal family, he has grown quite accustomed to remaining silent and unobtrusive, as well as holding back outward displays of emotion. That having been said, when he speaks he tends to make an impression, and he has a considerable air of quiet dignity and solemnity that adds weight to his words. He is generally quite "well-behaved" by society's standards, and while he has on occasion enjoyed the company of courtesans and the lure of strong drink or the thrill of a little gambling, he tends to be more temperate than most, though he never begrudges others their vices nor seems to think himself in any way morally superior because of it. Also like most Cassomirs are known for, he can be quite jovial and exuberant during "proper" festivals and the like.
Unsurprisingly for a Cassomir, honor is central to Jaren's existence. He does the things he says he's going to do. He generally tries to remain as honest as he can while maintaining his other oaths. He believes strongly in the professed ideals of Knighthood, and very much wants to do right by both his family and the people they rule over. While he is not in any way naive or overly trusting, he is unfailingly loyal to those who earn his friendship and carry themselves with at least a certain degree of honor (even if it's a personal code they live by). Honor comes in many forms, after all. He is also aware of the responsibilities of his position, and works diligently to secure a prosperous future for his House.
The trials of the past few years have weighed on Jaren, and at times the burden of the secrets he now carries is a heavy one. Many of those close to him have marked the change in him, noticing he's not as quick to smile and laugh as he once was, and that he seems to find the prospect of fighting a duty rather than an enjoyable challenge as he once did. With the loss of so much of his family in so short a time, that which remains has become far more precious to him, and he has a considerable protective streak towards them despite the fact that for the most part they are quite capable of protecting themselves!
Quirks
Personality Quirks
Duty Bound - "Duty is its' own reward" could practically be the Cassomir house words. They tend to do what is required of them by those in authority over them, no matter the pain, inconvenience, or even sacrifice to themselves. Jaren has lived by these tenets his whole life, and shows little to no sign of stopping anytime soon.
Stoic - Cassomirs are usually fairly reserved folk, often muting displays of strong emotion in public and carrying a sense of humor that runs towards the deadpan variety. While they certainly cut loose occasionally, most folks tend to kind of see most of them as sticks-in-the-mud. Jaren is not particularly an exception to this rule. He tends to be reserved in manner and while not lacking in humor is not given to exuberant displays of emotion, particularly in public…except perhaps on certain special occasions.
Strong Willed - Cassomirs are usually courageous and forthright. While it may manifest in many different ways, they almost all share a certain strength of character and sense of self that allows them to endure through trying times. In Jaren's case, this particular trait applies even more so than most (see "Unbreakable" below).
Skill Quirks
Perceptive - Jaren's senses are sharp and well-honed after several years as a bodyguard to the future Queen. He has a tendency to notice fine details that others might not pick up on, and seems to have a keen judgement of character and motive, as befits a skilled protector.
Unbreakable - Jaren has not only kept himself fighting when other men would likely have succumbed to their wounds (and ultimately lived), but he has also faced horrors that few living mortal men have seen and survived with his sanity intact. He has a strong sense of self and practically embodies the boundless determination that his family line is rather well-known for possessing. Pain and discomfort (whether physical or emotional) are transitory things, and one must often work past them to win the day. Even more so than most of his line, Jaren's courage and determination is as much a part of his legend as his skill at arms.
Social Quirks
Renowned - Jaren is quite well-known throughout the Edge for his skill at arms and determination. His battle to save the Rose Queen from seven assassins is already legendary, and add to that a multitude of tournament victories, the battles of Blackstone and Sunsreach, and even taking part in the Battle of Three Crowns, and he becomes a figure that has played a large role in many of the pivotal events of recent times. He is regarded by many (even many in Couviere) as the finest knight in Creation's Edge, and possibly even the world. His name carries a level of recognition usually reserved for Kings and Queens and he is well-loved by the common folk and well-respected by most of the nobility (particularly in Rivana, but there is a more begrudged variety in Couviere).
Jaren's renown effectively encompasses a combination of the Good Reputation, Popular, and Survivor quirks.
True Love: Alysande Tracano - Jaren has a deep and abiding bond with Queen Alysande Tracano, that has developed over the years from a (surrogate) familial relationship to a romantic one. While he loves the family of his birth dearly, there is little question in anyone's mind as to who the most important person in the world is to him, and for whom he would sacrifice nearly anything, if it would keep her safe. Even before they were able to admit and freely express their feelings for one another (a rather recent development), bards were singing tales of the two of them. This time, it seems, the bards got it right, but they often tend to gloss over the fact that his relationship with Alysande has nearly gotten him killed (or at least placed him in life-threatening situations) more times than most would care to recall.
Well-Equipped - Between the hereditary weapon of his family, the iron mines and steel production of Ironhold, a small mountain of tourney prizes, and gifts and rewards bestowed upon Jaren for excelling at his duty throughout his career, Jaren is an exceptionally well-equipped knight. He has a multitude of weapons, suits of armor, and warhorses available to him if needed.
Well-Connected - Jaren Cassomir is the betrothed lover of the Rose Queen of Rivana, and considered by many to be the greatest Knight of the Edge, if not the world. He counts among his close personal friends at least one Duke and one Ducal heir, two Princes and a Princess in Rivana, a high-ranking Archbishop of the One Faith, a multitude of Knights and warriors (and particularly Royal Lancers of Rivana), and has even fostered the beginnings of a friendship with the King and Queen of Couviere. In short…he has a lot of not just powerful acquaintances, but powerful friends.
Weapons
Winterthorn - Winterthorn is the sidhe-steel blade wielded by the heads of House Cassomir. Gifted to Javier Cassomir by Travian Tracano after Sir Daved's heroic stand, the blade has been wielded in countless battles since then, and always served its' wielder well. "Winterthorn" is a new name for the blade, though, as it is an ancient weapon, and it was redubbed when it was gifted to the Cassomir family to reflect Daved's battle against the raiders of Brodlund. Its' original name, if any, has been lost to the mists of time long before it ever fell into the hands of the Tracano family.
Winterthorn is known to be a bit of an odd weapon. It is slightly longer than a traditional longsword but not quite so long as a true bastard sword, and the few scholars of such things that have seen the blade have suggested it may have been designed for use by a Sidhe or Bane Sidhe warrior. The weapon is almost as famous as the Cassomir family itself. Like most sidhe-steel weapons, it is perfectly balanced, never needs sharpening, and never tarnishes or rusts.
(Note: Contrary to some corrupted retellings of the tale, Sir Jaren Cassomir was NOT wielding Winterthorn when he battled the assassins sent to kill Alysande.)
Lightsilver Trove - Jaren has a moderately-sized arsenal of lightsilver weaponry provided to him via a combination of his own Tournament prizes and the support of the Archbishop Sirrah Cantire to assist him in activities for the Order of the Vigil. Jaren himself has a favored lightsilver longsword, as well as a lightsilver dirk that he will often carry with him when expecting those particular varieties of trouble (in fact he often carries the lightsilver dirk as part of his normal weaponry). Among his tournament prizes are a pair of lightsilver gauntlets and a lightsilver axe. The armory includes a wide array of other weapons, though often they are instead assigned or lent to other Vigilants on an as-needed basis. Suffice to say he can get his hands on just about any type of weapon in lightsilver form (barring exotic weapons like Hand-Cannons and the like).
Armor
The Champion's Armor - The Armor of the Queen's Champion is a suit of full-plate armor gifted to Jaren by Queen Alysande Tracano upon being named her champion. It follows the basic design of the Royal Lancer armor, but is considerably more ornate, with a good bit of gilding and etching to make it quite spectacular in appearance. While Jaren normally wears the Champion's Armor for parades and ceremonies where such things are appropriate, it is a fully-functional suit of plate mail, if a very distinctive and "pretty" one.
Royal Lancer Armor - Jaren also owns a second suit of full plate armor, which is what he more commonly wears when expecting trouble. It follows the usual black-lacquered design of normal Royal Lancer armor, with the Tracano Dragon gilded on the breastplate. Aside from being of the utmost quality, it is otherwise unremarkable compared to other suits of full plate. The suit has an alternative helmet and additional plates and padding that can be added to it to turn it into a suit fit for jousting with maximum protection.
Brigandine Armor - Most often worn while traveling, Jaren owns a suit of Ironhold-forged brigandine armor. Unlike the Royal Lancer armor this suit appears much like a standard suit of brigandine and he is often found wearing the colors of House Cassomir along with this particular suit. The suit can be stripped down to a standard suit of full mail for either lighter weight or for competing in tournament events.
Riding Leathers - You can't be in your armor ALL the time, even when traveling. When out of doors or away from home, Jaren often has at least a suit of riding leathers on to offer some degree of protection
Alchemicals
Jaren has access to alchemicals through the Order of the Vigil. While it takes time to replenish the trove if need be, he usually has access to all but a few alchemical products, to include sensory or physical enhancers, though he often eschews the latter. Additionally, he rarely carries any on his person save perhaps a couple vials of Neversleep and an "emergency" vial of Fleshknit. More often, the alchemicals he has access to are granted to other Vigilants for use in their work, though if he takes an active role in a hunt he is likely to make the exception and carry more with him himself.
Horses
Warhorses - Jaren has no less than three fully trained warhorses. Two of them are black Haldis Chargers and the third is of a lesser (but still quite serviceable) warhorse breed. One of the Haldis Chargers (Carrotbane) is his preferred horse for battle, and the second (Rumbler) is his preferred steed for jousting. The third (Horace) is a slightly older Warhorse that tends to be more of a breeding stud than a warrior now, but is still trained and maintained in fighting trim should Jaren's other horses be indisposed.
Riding Horses - Roseguard Castle has a variety of riding horses in its' stables, though Jaren does have a couple of favorites. Still, they are unremarkable as riding horses go.
Logs and Sundry
This can be a cover, lyrics or anything that encompasses your character.
(aidric alysande clara devlin jaren liam log quentyn social thaddeus tristan)
(aidric alysande devlin elaida event jaren johanna leander log martyn raimond thaddeus tiadora tristan)
(adrienne aidric alysande clara elaida emilia event jaren johanna log martyn raelyn stephen thaddeus tiadora tristan)
(aidric alpin alysande ania clara dalmer darren dawn elaida eleanor event ghazi hashim jaren kabede leander liam log malcolm raelyn raimond randall rashad rosana stephen symon thaddeus tiadora tristan)
(aidric alina alysande clara darren devlin emilia evelyn event gabriel jaren joffrey jordan log michael raelyn thaddeus tiadora tristan)
(adrienne aidric clara clarke corvin elaida emilia event jaren kabede log lydia raelyn rashad tiadora tristan)
(aidric alina alysande bella broderick clara elaida elrick emilia evelyn event gabriel hashim jaren log michael nadine philippe raelyn samuel stephen thaddeus tiadora tristan)
(aidric alina alysande broderick clara darren devlin elrick emilia evelyn event gabriel jaren joffrey jordan justin leander log michael nadine quentyn raelyn raimond samuel thaddeus tiadora tristan)
(adrienne alysande antonia broderick clara clarke dawn devlin elrick emilia evelyn event gabriel jaren joffrey jordan leander lillian log michael nadine quentyn raelyn raimond rashad rosana samuel stephen thaddeus)
(adrienne aidric alysande antonia broderick clarke dawn devlin eduard elrick evelyn event gabriel gwendolyn jaren joffrey jordan justin leander log michael quentyn raelyn raimond samuel thaddeus tiadora)
(aidric alysande corvin elaida emilia esyld evelyn event jaren jordan lillian log martyn raelyn stephen thaddeus tiadora tristan zarine)
(aidric alysande broderick clara elrick emilia eva evelyn event gabriel gawain jaren joffrey justin leander lillian log michael nadine raimond rashad rosana thaddeus tiadora tristan)
(adrienne aidric alina alysande antonia broderick clara clarke corvin darren elaida elrick emilia esyld event gawain jaren joffrey leander log michael raimond thaddeus tristan)
(adrienne aidric alina alysande ania artos bartolo bella broderick clara darman dawn destrian elaida elrick emilia eva event gabriel gawain ghazi giorgio graham gwendolyn hashim jaren jean-paul joffrey johanna jordan kabede leander log louisa marcel martyn michael quentyn raelyn raimond rashad rosana samuel samwell stephen thaddeus tristan)
- 1867-04-13: Unprecedented
- 1867-02-02: Royal Considerations
- 1866-11-18: The Wedding of Raelyn Cassomir and Stephen Greycen
- 1866-11-14: Queen Takes Knight - Wedded
- 1866-11-14: Queen Takes Knight - The Parade
- 1866-11-08: Unfinished Business
- 1866-09-21: A Letter to Sunsreach
- 1866-07-23: Thoroughly Decent Proposal
- 1866-06-06: The Coronation of Jean-Paul
- 1866-05-10: The Belly of the Beast
- 1850-11-09: Introduced
- 1850-11-08: Selected
On Novembre 14, 1866 IA, Jaren finally wed Queen Alysande Tracano, and was crowned King Jaren Tracano.
Relationships
Couviere
Rivana
- Cover
- House Cassomir
- House Tracano
- House Greycen
- House Haldis
- House Gerrell
- House Rosendal
- House Bazan
- House Durante
- House Carling
Lady Raelyn Cassomir : Relationship |
Lord (Sir) Devlin Cassomir : Relationship |
Lady Emilia Cassomir : Relationship |
Full Name : Relationship |
Full Name : Relationship |
Queen Alysande Tracano : Relationship |
Prince Martyn Tracano : Relationship |
Princess Johanna Tracano (nee Greycen) : Relationship |
Prince Tristan Tracano : Relationship |
Princess Clara Tracano : Relationship |
Lord (Sir) Arturo Tracano (Deceased) : Relationship |