Damien Stormcharger
Damien Stormcharger was the illegitimate son of Emperor Lanien Juliant I and eventual claimant to the throne of The Dawn Empire.
Damien Stormcharger was born not with his now famous surname, but instead none at all. He was the bastard son of the heir to the Empire, Lanien Juliant, and a serving woman within the Auburn Palace. Once the affair was discovered, Damien and his mother were kicked out of the palace to avoid scandal, but Lanien would go against his father's wishes and claim the boy as his own, acknowledging him as his child.
This was incredibly uncommon for the time and caused much discussion within the courts. Bastards, especially those of nobility were often quietly hidden away, potentially treated well, but always sent far away to avoid scandal and succession claims. Damien however was raised as a prince, never legitimised but given the training and education common of the son of an Emperor or their heir.
Damien was sent to The Imperial Institute, to Cosa, The Fifth, to Anhalo, The Second, and many other destinations to learn history, politics, war, and art. He would often travel with his half brother, the future Emperor Milaines Juliant II, the two boys close in age, growing up and bonding together.
Damien was a good man by all accounts, beloved by nobility for being a model prince, and beloved by the common folk for his mother's peasant blood. It is said Damien would often enjoy the company of the regular people, sneaking off to taverns and public houses within The Dawn Capital to play music and join the locals in drink and song.
Damien was knighted along with his half-brother at a large tourney in Milaines honour. It would be here the brothers feud would begin. Damien won the tourney, beating many knights in the melee and joust, unseating his half-brother in the finale. The pair would bow before their father in front of all the gathered lords, and be knighted by the legendary blade Stormcharger, a sign of Juliant honour, given to the heir to the throne upon their knighthood. Lanien however broke tradition, declaring in front of the entire gathered lords and Dukes, "I hereby name my son Milaines my sole legitimate child and heir, however I must acknowledge my first born and the victor of this tourney, and so dub thee Damien Stormcharger, holder of the legendary blade".
From this point on Damien's life became one of danger as many felt he would challenge his brother for the throne. Damien held no plans for secession, but as time went on he felt more and more isolated from the brother that he loved, he was no longer invited to court meetings, he would be sent to already peaceful duchies on diplomatic missions, and he was refused a marriage to his childhood love, the heir to the duchy of Anhalo, for fears of him getting more political power.
After Milaines ascended the throne, Damien was sent to oversee border disputes with the Kingdom of Galhill. It would be here that Damien married a Galhillian noblewoman and settled down. Many in the empire thought that this was the end of any issues of succession, Milaines on the throne and Damien in another country.
Two years into Milaines reign Damien led a coalition of Galhill and Maubrin forces into Waukan, The Eleventh with help from both Dalry, The Thirteenth and Ilsau, The Twelth. The combined armies fighting to place Damien on the throne. Many Counts and lesser lord threw in with Damien in the hopes of furthering their own wealth, fighting against their liege lords.
The rebellion lasted nearly year, with Empire forces pushing back the rebels and putting down revolts throughout the duchies. Damien was slain in battle, a great blow to the rebel forces, and his son was captured by the Empire.
Damien is remembered as a good man pushed to far by the nature of his society. Two more attempts were carried out in his name to put his family line on the throne, but none so far have succeeded.
Damien Stormcharger was born not with his now famous surname, but instead none at all. He was the bastard son of the heir to the Empire, Lanien Juliant, and a serving woman within the Auburn Palace. Once the affair was discovered, Damien and his mother were kicked out of the palace to avoid scandal, but Lanien would go against his father's wishes and claim the boy as his own, acknowledging him as his child.
This was incredibly uncommon for the time and caused much discussion within the courts. Bastards, especially those of nobility were often quietly hidden away, potentially treated well, but always sent far away to avoid scandal and succession claims. Damien however was raised as a prince, never legitimised but given the training and education common of the son of an Emperor or their heir.
Damien was sent to The Imperial Institute, to Cosa, The Fifth, to Anhalo, The Second, and many other destinations to learn history, politics, war, and art. He would often travel with his half brother, the future Emperor Milaines Juliant II, the two boys close in age, growing up and bonding together.
Damien was a good man by all accounts, beloved by nobility for being a model prince, and beloved by the common folk for his mother's peasant blood. It is said Damien would often enjoy the company of the regular people, sneaking off to taverns and public houses within The Dawn Capital to play music and join the locals in drink and song.
Damien was knighted along with his half-brother at a large tourney in Milaines honour. It would be here the brothers feud would begin. Damien won the tourney, beating many knights in the melee and joust, unseating his half-brother in the finale. The pair would bow before their father in front of all the gathered lords, and be knighted by the legendary blade Stormcharger, a sign of Juliant honour, given to the heir to the throne upon their knighthood. Lanien however broke tradition, declaring in front of the entire gathered lords and Dukes, "I hereby name my son Milaines my sole legitimate child and heir, however I must acknowledge my first born and the victor of this tourney, and so dub thee Damien Stormcharger, holder of the legendary blade".
From this point on Damien's life became one of danger as many felt he would challenge his brother for the throne. Damien held no plans for secession, but as time went on he felt more and more isolated from the brother that he loved, he was no longer invited to court meetings, he would be sent to already peaceful duchies on diplomatic missions, and he was refused a marriage to his childhood love, the heir to the duchy of Anhalo, for fears of him getting more political power.
After Milaines ascended the throne, Damien was sent to oversee border disputes with the Kingdom of Galhill. It would be here that Damien married a Galhillian noblewoman and settled down. Many in the empire thought that this was the end of any issues of succession, Milaines on the throne and Damien in another country.
Two years into Milaines reign Damien led a coalition of Galhill and Maubrin forces into Waukan, The Eleventh with help from both Dalry, The Thirteenth and Ilsau, The Twelth. The combined armies fighting to place Damien on the throne. Many Counts and lesser lord threw in with Damien in the hopes of furthering their own wealth, fighting against their liege lords.
The rebellion lasted nearly year, with Empire forces pushing back the rebels and putting down revolts throughout the duchies. Damien was slain in battle, a great blow to the rebel forces, and his son was captured by the Empire.
Damien is remembered as a good man pushed to far by the nature of his society. Two more attempts were carried out in his name to put his family line on the throne, but none so far have succeeded.
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