Dorian Hackonson
King (606 - 660) Dorian Hackonson
Dorian Hackonson was the King of Enther from 606 ABA to 660 ABA, the first of the Hackonson Family to rule the Kingdom of Enther.
His father was renowned war hero and lord of Dorendale and alongside his father Dorian rose up with other noble families against Queen Evaline Bane whose reign had become one of distain in the eyes on many of the noble families.
At the climax of the "Woman's War" which the civil war was known as, Dorian Hackonson was one of the leading Lords opposing the Queen and her forces. The final blow was the occupation of the capital, where Queen Evaline surrendered. Dorian was pronounced King by vote of those who had rebelled, and upon his ascension condemned the former queen to death. He would reign for over 50 years.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Dorian was born as the third child and only living son of Lord Bartrand Hackonson and Lady Ava Perringway. Dorian's mother died while giving birth to a baby sister who also died during the labour
As a youth, Dorian was known as hot headed but good hearted. He had a number of friends who had similar characteristics and would often be found quarrelling with childhood rivals especially during his training.
At eighteen his impulsiveness peaked when he married a commoner in secret, a girl he had loved since his early childhood. She had fallen pregnant not two month prior. His father was initially enraged with the situation, threatening to have the girl executed however Dorian protested giving his father the ultimatum of either him continuing to be his heir or him renouncing his birthright. Lord Bartrand submitted to the ultimatum and once his grandson was born, he was delighted with the babe.
When Lord Bartrand joined forces with other lords to rebel against Queen Evaline, Dorian joined his father in his quest. However this would soon prove to be a deadly choice as many of the families of the lords who rose up against the queen were murdered, including Dorian's wife and child.
Social
Reign
Soon after assuming his title, King Dorian's principal rival, Sir Goodrick Bane of the Bane family (cousin of the old queen and commander), marched the remainder of the former Queen’s loyalists on the capital. Their two armies met outside of the city in a battle in which Dorian Hackonson prevailed, using wolves to scare the Bane horses on the battlefield. Despite this defeat, the Lord Bane’s was able to withdraw from the battlefield and returned to the north.
The following year in 607 ABA, King Dorian led his forces against the remaining lords loyal to the Bane cause, who had refused to appear in person to acknowledge him as King. This campaign failed due to harsh winter conditions which led to the loss of a large number of men.
In 609 ABA, King Dorian’s forces marched to reestablish his control over Enther. He had grown increasingly suspicious of the loyalties of the his Prime Minister, Alden Page. As a result, he took the Page's first born son with him. Once the royal army had left the city, Page had the remaining Royal officers arrested and sent word to his brother, a member of the King's army, that the city was now under his control. A mutiny ensued and King Dorian and several hundred loyal soldiers fled back to Montheus, taking Page’s son with them where they found the gates barred against them. Fearing reprisals against their families locked within the gates, most of Dorian’s men deserted him.
With only a handful of followers remaining, the unseated ruler then fled to Dorendale. Here, too, he encountered hostilities from his cousin, the new lord of Dorendale. His cousin, who had felt scorned since Dorian ascension pledged his loyalty at a cost, for his daughter to be bethrothed to Dorians heir once one was born. Dorian agreed as he no longer had a child to betroth, he saw no risk in the matter. The forces of Dorendale and the surrounding villages bolstered Dorian's forces, but they would still struggle to retake the capital. However with the help of the sympathetic former rival in Goodrick Bane, King Dorian managed to raise a small army made up of sympathetic and loyal locals.
Emboldened, King Dorian returned to Montheus, which Alden Page had handed to his second son, who he proclaimed the King of Enther. There King Dorian and his forces defeated an army led by Alden Page. Page’s forces, made up of mostly commoners met Dorian’s forces on the field. Once the gates opened to let Page’s forces out of the capital King Dorian gave the forces the chance to surrender, as his host was much larger and battle ready. The forces quickly surrendered. Alden realising his days were numbered killed himself on the field, and his brother and sons quickly followed suit before they could be captured.
Subsequently, Dorian returned to Montheus Castle and regained his seat. Goodrick Bane, his former rival turned comrade was made Knight Commander of Enther, restoring honour to the Bane family.
Over a ten year period from 613 ABA to 623 ABA Montheus would expand further into the Hinterlands, as well as walls along the riverbanks surrounding the crownlands. These walls made the Golden Crossing and the Nethermore Crossing the only way into the Hinterlands. The walls became known as Dorian's Wall. Six fortified towers were built along the wall.
These towers were named for someone who the King had lost in his lifetime:
- The Stalwart Tower - named for his father.
- The Meadow Tower - named for his first wife.
- The Moon Tower - named for his first son.
- The Golden Tower - named for his second wife.
- The Sun Tower - named for his second son.
- The People's Tower - named for the people of the kingdom who had died for him.
Family Ties
In the peaceful spring of 610 ABA King Dorian was under pressure to marry and produce an heir. His council, including his cousin, were constantly presenting matches for him. Dorian, who had lost his family during the Women's War was not initially open to the idea, though he knew duty to the kingdom bound him. Pressures also mounted as the wars fought to reunite the kingdom after the civil war meant the treasury of Montheus was running concerningly low.
Finally in the following summer it was announced that King Dorian would marry the daughter of the Knight Commander Goodrick Bane, one of the wealthiest lords in the Kingdom and a blood relative of the old queen, ensuring the loyalty of those once loyal to the Banes. The daughter, Amelia Bane, was considered one of the most beautiful ladies in the kingdom. A month removed from the announcement, a spectacular wedding was thrown with a week of celebrations. Lords and ladies from across the kingdom attended, as well as royalty and notable figures from other Kingdoms. Their wedding raised the morale of the kingdom, and more importantly brought much venue into the capital to replenish its dwindling funds.
In the winter of 610 ABA it was announced Queen Amelia was pregnant. The country rejoiced at the prospect of a prince or princess. King Dorian doted on his pregnant wife day in and day out, tending to her every need till the birth. When the Queen went into labour the King shouted it through the halls of the castle, as giddy as a child. However his joy would soon turn to ash as Queen Amelia's birth was difficult. She died during the birth, with the son, weakened by the ordeal, dying not a week later. The death of his Queen and his child sent Dorian into a dark depression. Twice now his wife and child had been taken from him. Dorian began to question if he was cursed for usurping the crown, or for conceiving his first child out of wedlock.
For the next fifthteen years, Dorian would remain unwed and childless. His relationship with his cousin soured, with the sentiment that Dorian would not be able to keep his oath to his cousin. Dorian would turn his attention to refortification of Montheus.
In 625 ABA King Dorian's cousin gave Dorian and ultimatum. It had been sixteen years since Dorian had promised to wed his heir to a grandchild of his, but no promise had been upheld. The council made a proposition. King Dorian could marry one of Lord Hackonson's granddaughters and consider his oath fulfiled. King Dorian was not impressed with the proposal but he no longer wanted to marry for love. This time he would marry for duty.
On the first day of the new year of 626 ABA King Dorian married for the third time to Lady Elsbeth Hackonson. Though distantly related through a shared paternal ancestor, many felt the blood was enough removed to not consider the marriage to be of an incestuous nature. Lady Elsbeth was no beauty, she shared many of the Hackonson features. A large hooked nose, fair hair and blue eyes. She did however have a level of poise and elegance to her and she proved to be a worthy Queen consort.
In 630 ABA, after a string of miscarriages, Lady Elsbeth gave birth to eight children. Gave birth however would be considered a tame word to describe the bloodbath that ensued. When the queen discovered she was pregnant she was over joyed, though the king maintained a wary disposition due to his prior experiences. When the queen's stomach begun to swell, many noted that she would be producing a large strong son. However the swelling did not stop. She grew larger and larger, and the child insider her continued to sap all the energy from her body. Eventually the birthing mothers and suggested that something be done to kill the child inside to prevent the death of the queen. The queen however refused. On the day she gave birth, it is said that the eight children inside her split through her body, ripping her in half as they all clambered to get out. All eight of the babies survived but Queen Elsbeth did not.
The Octuplets would be named:
- Regina
- Anders
- Benard
- Bartrand
- Freya
- Sophia
- Alma
- Gunther
Previously Held Ranks & Titles
Life
584 ABA
660 ABA
76 years old
Circumstances of Death
Assasination - Poison
Comments