Princess Aedein Ainros
The second child of Prince Golbran Ainros, "The Ruby Prince." Aedein was a forthright child even in her earliest years, and oft engaged in shouting matches with her elder brother Gwynt, who would grow up to be King Gwynt the Ghastly. Aedein was often credited with shielding her younger brother Prince Sammis and especially her sister Princess Gilda from Gwynt's harsh words, and some whispered that she earned bruises for her petty heroism.
Princess Aedein learned spelling at a young age and was rumored to dabble in magics both northern and Aernigh. She refused all attempts to marry her to other lords, and in fact grew wroth when her cousin Princess Dienna became engaged to King Gwynt. She objected to the marriage for months, finally kidnapping Dienna and fleeing west with her.
Prince Sammis and his two sons Sammil and Aarthur pursued the pair into the West. Sammis investigated Dubraigh while his sons looked about Malbrand. When at last Sammis came to Malbrand to gather his sons, he found the cursed castle invested. Instead of Clan Marnock's bear, a new sigil was flying, a corruption of Ainros' own: a woman with a single antler, on black and blue. Aedein had somehow taken the castle and was calling herself the Queen of the West.
Aedein had captured both of her nephews, Sammil and Aarthur. She offered Aarthur back to Prince Sammis in exchange for a blood oath never to take up arms against her again. Sammis accepted the oath and his younger son, then immediately rode back to Aerwoth to raise new forces. He returned without Aarthur to invest the castle again. His son Sammil was sent out with a spell tied around his neck. They had no one with them to read the spell, but Sammil had been instructed to report that it read "Oathbreaker." That night, Sammil would suffer a seizure and choke to death on his own bile. Later, Prince Sammis would learn that his other son Aarthur died the same way, the same night. His forces would fail to take Malbrand, eventually scattering across the West.
There was turmoil in the East too, but eventually King Gwynt the Ghastly reached accord with the eastern lords, and forces marched west to destroy this queen. Aedein had grown powerful as well, having sent Sammis' forces fleeing into the Fiirwood, and she herself now marched east. The two armies met at Great Cross for the Last Battle of Great Cross (also called the Last Crossing). Queen Aedein faced Barammos of Clan Beth (later Prince Barammos), and most notably Anjiil Shadowmaster, a Wizard who had served Clan Ainros but defected to the Beths. Many strange stories surround this battle: tales of storms raging against each other in the sky, of dragons erupting from the earth, and comets flying through the air. What is known is that Aedein was struck down and her armies destroyed, though what became of her body remains unclear.
Princess Dienna, meanwhile, was never seen again.
Social
Family Ties
Relationships
Conditions
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Queen of the West,
The Witch Queen,
The Witch of Malbrand
The Witch Queen,
The Witch of Malbrand
Life
4882
4919
37 years old
Circumstances of Death
Died in the Last Battle of Great Cross
Birthplace
Aerwoth
Spouses
Siblings
Gilda Ainros
(Sister)
Sammis Ainros
(Brother)
Children
Eyes
Dark Blue
Hair
Red ("as rubies")
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Earthen
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations