Post by Greowulf on Oct 8, 2007 9:13:28 GMT -5
Since the first conqueror-king, Halfdáin the First, arrived from the Empire beyond the vast Great Sea, have the lands of Manzanare been ruled by his descendants - last of his bloodline being Halfast the Fourth, who died of natural causes, or so it is believed. After his untimely death - for Halfast the Fourth was only fifty years of age when he died - the Council of Dukes unanimously elected Grawluf, the husband of his only niece and his closest relative - to the position of Steward, which was originally ment to be only temporary.
But after meeting after another proved to be futile and the Council unable to find a heir for Halfast the Fourth - for the late king had never chosen a heir for himself, despite the councel of his closest advisors - the position of Steward seemed to become permanent instead of temporary, Grawluf continued to reign.
It is said that Grawluf managed to unite the people behind him only by swearing allegiance for the Holy Church - the Archbishop, it is said, adviced his priests to speak to the people about the importance of a firm ruler, which, indeed, Grawluf had proven to be. Thus, slowly, the people became accustomed to Grawluf and his rule - even if there were some who still opposed him and his rule.
After ruling ten years, Grawluf was assassinated by the group of people known as the Old Blood - it is said that their dissatisfaction against the Steward rose from the feud between the two religions, the Old Blood religion and the Holy Church, that had led into persecutions and executions of the Old Blood men and women - and after this, Greowulf, the only heir to Grawluf, would rise to the throne.
After the small group of the Old Blood had committed the assassination, the whole Holy Church turned against the Old Blood religion, sending numerous Witch Hunters against them, and soon many of those who were faithful to the Old Blood religion fled into one region - this being the Drakkius Forest.
Soon after Greowulf rose to power, the Old Blood made their claim - that they were led by one who was descendant to the House of Kings, a rightful ruler while Greowulf was the son of a false ruler who had, so they said, kept the knowledge about a true heir from his people.
- - - - - - - -
Will Greowulf manage to unite his people against the common threat, or will the Old Blood gather their ranks and make allegiances with the Duchies around them?
Nothing is decided.
But after meeting after another proved to be futile and the Council unable to find a heir for Halfast the Fourth - for the late king had never chosen a heir for himself, despite the councel of his closest advisors - the position of Steward seemed to become permanent instead of temporary, Grawluf continued to reign.
It is said that Grawluf managed to unite the people behind him only by swearing allegiance for the Holy Church - the Archbishop, it is said, adviced his priests to speak to the people about the importance of a firm ruler, which, indeed, Grawluf had proven to be. Thus, slowly, the people became accustomed to Grawluf and his rule - even if there were some who still opposed him and his rule.
After ruling ten years, Grawluf was assassinated by the group of people known as the Old Blood - it is said that their dissatisfaction against the Steward rose from the feud between the two religions, the Old Blood religion and the Holy Church, that had led into persecutions and executions of the Old Blood men and women - and after this, Greowulf, the only heir to Grawluf, would rise to the throne.
After the small group of the Old Blood had committed the assassination, the whole Holy Church turned against the Old Blood religion, sending numerous Witch Hunters against them, and soon many of those who were faithful to the Old Blood religion fled into one region - this being the Drakkius Forest.
Soon after Greowulf rose to power, the Old Blood made their claim - that they were led by one who was descendant to the House of Kings, a rightful ruler while Greowulf was the son of a false ruler who had, so they said, kept the knowledge about a true heir from his people.
- - - - - - - -
Will Greowulf manage to unite his people against the common threat, or will the Old Blood gather their ranks and make allegiances with the Duchies around them?
Nothing is decided.