Ruarc Ainros
Called the Crown Killer
Prince Ruarc Ainros
Prince Ruarc was the third son of Gwydion the Great. He was kept out of the Southern Rebellion, first by dint of being too young, then later because his left harm was greatly injured in a battle with his brother, Prince Geralt the Black Dog Ruarc was accused of committing adultery with Geralt's wife, Princess Ideina. Ideina was pregnant at the time with the child that would be Princess Dienna, but Geralt swore the couple had not shared a bed since the moon of their wedding. Their contempt for one another was well known, and Ruarc was seen as a kind and comforting presence for all, Princess Ideina included. The princes dueled each other, and the duel determined Ruarc's innocence. Nevertheless, Dienna's paternity would remain in question all her life.
Though he never fought on the front, Ruarc was blessed to squire briefly for the celebrated knight Sir Seaghad, earning his spurs before being called home. It is said Prince Ruarc introduced chivalry to the south.
In early 890 RA, Prince Ruarc was betrothed to Lady Illett of Clan Malfor in southern Yvruel, as part of a plan to turn the south of the canton against the north. Before the wedding could take place, however, Prince Geralt the Black Dog was slain in the Third Battle of the Pass. King Gwydion the Great decided to abandon the Rebellion, and Ruarc therefore refused to marry Princess Illett. The king and Ruarc fought bitterly over this, as the king saw a chance to prove their loyalty to the prevailing regime and protect themselves from retribution for their part in the war. Ruarc, however, was adamant.
In the Autumn of 891 RA, just after the Southern Rebellion officially ended, Ruarc and Princess Ideina eloped and were wed at Kelisfield in Ethel. They sent spells to Aerwoth, promising to return if the king would recognize their union and maintain their positions at court. The king allowed their return, but stripped all authority from Prince Ruarc. Chief Justicar Wiilak Oghnar took over all the duties that had, once upon a time, been shared by the three princes.
Ruarc's position changed dramatically with the death of King Gwydion in 893 RA. Chief Justicar Wiilak named Ruarc the Regent until Gwynt came of age. Gwynt was thirteen, but one of Ruarc's first acts was to raise the age of ascension from fourteen to eighteen. Gwynt was the son of Golbran the Ruby Prince, who was greatly beloved by the people, so most saw Ruarc as a power-hungry tyrant. Those closer to the throne, however, had already started to see worrying signs in their young king-in-waiting and were glad of Ruarc's actions.
Gwynt would try several times to seize his birthright before his eighteenth birthday, once going so far as to risk his life running in dead winter to Revelback to forge a secret marriage alliance with Clan Beth. Yet all his schemes failed. Gwynt took the crown on his eighteenth birthday before noon, and promptly had Ruarc and his family arrested and thrown into the Cold Moat.
"Family," in this case, meant Ruarc and his wife Princess Ideina, as well as her children Prince Garlad and Princess Dienna, along with Prince Ronart, the child Ruarc and Ideina had born since their marriage. Ruarc had showered attention on Garlad once becoming regent, leading some to wonder if even Garlad was actually his son, not Geralt's. Regardless, the entire family would spend several years in the frigid dungeon called Cold Moat. Garlad would die of a chill in the subterranean prison.
King Gwynt would awaken the ire of his vassal lords more than once. On two separate occasions, the chiefs of the great clans threatened the king and forced him to accept new terms of rule. On both these occasions, Ruarc was released from the dungeon to speak sense to young Gwynt. Both times he succeeded, but never did he win any respect from the young king.
Ruarc spent the Witches' War (also called the Second War of East and West) in the Cold Moat, and was only released to aid in forging the Second Compact. Ruarc supposedly fought or at least witnessed the Last Battle of Great Cross, but like all other survivors he rarely spoke of it.
The Prince was instrumental in bringing about the Trial of King Gwynt. When Gwynt's brother Sammis returned from the West in an attempt to depose the king on the charge of marrying their sister Gilda and murdering her dignity, Gwynt ordered Sammis' marriage dissolved and charged Ruarc to return Lady Bellana to Revelback from whence she came. Ruarc did so, but returned with a Revelback army. Gwynt was arrested, and Ruarc helped to initiate the trial, which would last three years.
In 923 RA, Clan Beth officially took over the rule of Revellia. Ruarc was offered lordship over Aerwoth, but he refused, taking his remaining family to Kelisfield in Ethel. They would eventually command a small manse in Cantef, where they did their utmost to stay out of the Stock Wars.
Ruarc reportedly died of his years in 931 RA. Ronart would change the Clan name to Ainrei. The family rose quickly in Cantef. Ruarc's descendent, Sammis, rules there today.
Social
Family Ties
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Prince of Revellia
Regent of Revellia
Lord Trial Master
Regent of Revellia
Lord Trial Master
Life
4865
4931
66 years old
Birthplace
Aerwoth
Children
Eyes
Blue
Hair
Red ("as rubies")
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Earthen
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations