Garland III Ainros - 15th Known Ruler of Revellia
Called the Grim
King Garland III Ainros
Reign: 837 RA - 844 RA
Wizards: Agathe the Elder, Agathe the Younger Like his half-brother Erick, Garland was born into a conflict he had wanted no part of. His mother Queen Skal'Izel and Erick's mother Queen Messenger began to oppose one another early on, each acquiring factions to support her son's claim to the throne. Garland II was a dangerously indecisive man, refusing to back one side over the other. Queen Skal'Izel died in a shipwreck fairly early in Young Garland's life, but his claim was soon championed by Dowager Queen Hwel'Ynwel. Hwel'Ynwel was grandmother to both princes, but Queen Skal'Izel had been her niece, and so she favored Young Garland. Despite this, Garland and Erick grew up as good friends, until they both came to fancy a speller named Ea. Each prince was already betrothed to another, and neither had any sincere designs on Ea, yet their affections became the subject of pointed jests by one another as well as many of their household. Chief Justicar Niil Conlaugh suggested they settle their rivalry by hollymock. By all reports, this was intended in fun. Hollymock is a battle of breaking shields, not a fight to the death, and indeed many had been fought with no lasting damage to either combatant. Still, many suspected foul play when Conlaugh made this suggestion to Prince Garland. Conlaugh was the leader of the Messenger Men, the faction that supported Queen Messenger in her bid to make Prince Erick the next king. Many imagined, and likewise assumed that Prince Garland imagined, that Chief Justicar Niil intended some tragic accident to befall Young Garland during the battle. Whatever that intention might have been, history does not record. Hollymock is fought until one of the combatants loses three shields. Prince Erick's second shield was faulty, and a blow from Prince Garland's ax severed his left arm off, just below the elbow. As furious as he was horrified, the normally congenial Prince Erick swung his sword for Garland's head several times, clearly intending to kill him. Consequently, though Erick had lost an arm, he was charged with an attempt on the life of the heir: Garland. Dowager Queen Hwel'Ynwel pressed this claim to King Garland II, yet in truth the king had never declared either Garland or Erick his heir. It was Young Garland who more frequently attended him at council, but he was largely regarded as grim and unable to win the love of the people. Erick had been warm, bold, friendly to all, though not as striking, and lacking the ruby-red hair of many of Clan Ainros. Still, the king had never favored one over the other in any overt way. By charging Erick, Hwel'Ynwel had forced the king to decide. This gambit failed, however. Declaring Young Garland the heir meant putting Erick to death for the attempt on his life. If he made Erick the heir, he reasoned, no one need die. So Prince Erick was declared the heir of Clan Ainros, despite having nothing of the king in his looks and, some said, nothing of kingship in his manner or ambitions. Many have said that the princes might have worked out their differences even then, but older and more cunning minds were molding them to their own purposes. In less than a year, Young Garland had fled the castle to raise an army, soon followed and assisted by Helena to Hand, the Wizard of Aerwoth. The First Brothers Rebellion ended shortly after Prince Erick was slain by Haunric Toll at the Battle of Wedge Coast. A peace was made by betrothing Garland's second daughter Fianna'al to Erick's first son, Allad. It was agreed that Allad would inherit after Garland II's death, yet the night of his death ten-year-old Allad was ushered out of bed for a quick coronation, only to find his Uncle Garland on the throne, crowned. King Garland III, called the Grim, arrested Erick's family. Allad gave up his direct claim to the throne, and in return his aunt, uncle, and sisters were released. His mother, Queen Messenger, was kept in the deepest dungeon until she died of the cold. The queen had been notoriously cruel to Young Garland in his youth, but many claimed he was punishing her for some cruelty exercised against the now dead Erick. Allad was named the heir, as Garland the Grim had only one child, a sickly girl named Carol whom many named simpleminded. Things changed when Garland's Queen Leyla died in a failed childbirth, however, and he was swiftly married to Princess Ellinor of Ethelbrand, a very young woman hailing from a fertile line. Prince Gwydion was born in the late Spring of 841 RA, and Allad fled to the Green Isle with his family immediately. The Second Brothers Rebellion would occupy the second half of Garland's reign. It would end not in the battlefield, but in the sickbed. Garland caught Springlight Fever in 844 RA, and summoned Prince Allad to make a peace. Allad agreed to serve as High Magus (what we would now call a regent) until Prince Gwydion came of age, in exchange for a full pardon for all the rebels, regardless of station. An agreement was made, and King Garland the Grim passed away the next day.
Wizards: Agathe the Elder, Agathe the Younger Like his half-brother Erick, Garland was born into a conflict he had wanted no part of. His mother Queen Skal'Izel and Erick's mother Queen Messenger began to oppose one another early on, each acquiring factions to support her son's claim to the throne. Garland II was a dangerously indecisive man, refusing to back one side over the other. Queen Skal'Izel died in a shipwreck fairly early in Young Garland's life, but his claim was soon championed by Dowager Queen Hwel'Ynwel. Hwel'Ynwel was grandmother to both princes, but Queen Skal'Izel had been her niece, and so she favored Young Garland. Despite this, Garland and Erick grew up as good friends, until they both came to fancy a speller named Ea. Each prince was already betrothed to another, and neither had any sincere designs on Ea, yet their affections became the subject of pointed jests by one another as well as many of their household. Chief Justicar Niil Conlaugh suggested they settle their rivalry by hollymock. By all reports, this was intended in fun. Hollymock is a battle of breaking shields, not a fight to the death, and indeed many had been fought with no lasting damage to either combatant. Still, many suspected foul play when Conlaugh made this suggestion to Prince Garland. Conlaugh was the leader of the Messenger Men, the faction that supported Queen Messenger in her bid to make Prince Erick the next king. Many imagined, and likewise assumed that Prince Garland imagined, that Chief Justicar Niil intended some tragic accident to befall Young Garland during the battle. Whatever that intention might have been, history does not record. Hollymock is fought until one of the combatants loses three shields. Prince Erick's second shield was faulty, and a blow from Prince Garland's ax severed his left arm off, just below the elbow. As furious as he was horrified, the normally congenial Prince Erick swung his sword for Garland's head several times, clearly intending to kill him. Consequently, though Erick had lost an arm, he was charged with an attempt on the life of the heir: Garland. Dowager Queen Hwel'Ynwel pressed this claim to King Garland II, yet in truth the king had never declared either Garland or Erick his heir. It was Young Garland who more frequently attended him at council, but he was largely regarded as grim and unable to win the love of the people. Erick had been warm, bold, friendly to all, though not as striking, and lacking the ruby-red hair of many of Clan Ainros. Still, the king had never favored one over the other in any overt way. By charging Erick, Hwel'Ynwel had forced the king to decide. This gambit failed, however. Declaring Young Garland the heir meant putting Erick to death for the attempt on his life. If he made Erick the heir, he reasoned, no one need die. So Prince Erick was declared the heir of Clan Ainros, despite having nothing of the king in his looks and, some said, nothing of kingship in his manner or ambitions. Many have said that the princes might have worked out their differences even then, but older and more cunning minds were molding them to their own purposes. In less than a year, Young Garland had fled the castle to raise an army, soon followed and assisted by Helena to Hand, the Wizard of Aerwoth. The First Brothers Rebellion ended shortly after Prince Erick was slain by Haunric Toll at the Battle of Wedge Coast. A peace was made by betrothing Garland's second daughter Fianna'al to Erick's first son, Allad. It was agreed that Allad would inherit after Garland II's death, yet the night of his death ten-year-old Allad was ushered out of bed for a quick coronation, only to find his Uncle Garland on the throne, crowned. King Garland III, called the Grim, arrested Erick's family. Allad gave up his direct claim to the throne, and in return his aunt, uncle, and sisters were released. His mother, Queen Messenger, was kept in the deepest dungeon until she died of the cold. The queen had been notoriously cruel to Young Garland in his youth, but many claimed he was punishing her for some cruelty exercised against the now dead Erick. Allad was named the heir, as Garland the Grim had only one child, a sickly girl named Carol whom many named simpleminded. Things changed when Garland's Queen Leyla died in a failed childbirth, however, and he was swiftly married to Princess Ellinor of Ethelbrand, a very young woman hailing from a fertile line. Prince Gwydion was born in the late Spring of 841 RA, and Allad fled to the Green Isle with his family immediately. The Second Brothers Rebellion would occupy the second half of Garland's reign. It would end not in the battlefield, but in the sickbed. Garland caught Springlight Fever in 844 RA, and summoned Prince Allad to make a peace. Allad agreed to serve as High Magus (what we would now call a regent) until Prince Gwydion came of age, in exchange for a full pardon for all the rebels, regardless of station. An agreement was made, and King Garland the Grim passed away the next day.
Was Garland So Grim?
When we see and hear the histories of this time, we are given a foreboding Garland that looms over our heroes: charming Prince Erick, noble Prince Allad, the mysterious Wynid Wild, pining Princess Fianna'al and the fallen Niil Conlaugh. Garland is described as disciplined but cold, friendless. And of course, history records him as ruthlessly practical, seizing his nephew's throne on the night of his own father's death, after failing to steal it from his own brother years earlier. But is Garland so simple a man? His Wizard, Agathe the Elder, names him valiant and courteous on several occasions, and comments on the great passion that both his first and second wife felt for him. She even mentions a spell that was chanted in the taverns that tells of Garland weeping over Queen Leyla's death, something seemingly at odds with his rapid remarrying (a remarriage that Agathe herself, along with her apprentice Agathe the Younger, aided in securing). This might seem like propaganda meant to soften the King's image, but if so, why not dwell on it more, rather than making a passing mention of a spell heard in taverns? Garland's sharply practical mind did not necessarily mean he was without feeling. He had allies, even in youth, despite his half-brother's legendary charm. Helena to Hand is widely regarded as the genius behind the Loyalists and the First Brothers Rebellion, yet what reason did she have to support him. Despite Agathe the Elder's praise, Garland was noted for his lack of reliance on her. Why would these three Wizards so adamantly support him over his half-brother or especially his nephew Allad, who famously relied on Wynid Wild for his victories? Garland if oft remembered as a villain, yet half the canton felt he was the rightful king, and they must have had reason to believe this.
Social
Family Ties
Conditions
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Life
4805
4844
39 years old
Circumstances of Birth
Born to Garland II's first wife, but after the king's second wife had already born him a son.
Circumstances of Death
Died of Springlight Fever at thirty-nine years, ending the Second Brothers Rebellion.
Birthplace
Aerwoth
Family
Eyes
Blue
Hair
Ruby
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Earthen