Lich King Bedrich
King Bedrich (a.k.a. Lich King)
Son of King Iscalon the Fourth and Lady Anne, Lich King Bedrich became the king of Tumult in the year 1040. He is called a Lich because of the undead army that followed his beck and call when he took the throne, having taken the power from Dr. Caskajaro when he was imprisoned in that mad scientists castle. He used that necrotic power to build an army to march against the Dormant, fighting a futile war in the Western Fey Wilds for the following decade. He blamed his failure on the budding nation of the Sovereign Peoples of Neih, as they did much to hinder his mission. This culminated to an all-out war when he believed the SPN killed one of his nobles during a peace conference in Dakath. Unbeknownst to Bedrich, there were two plots working against him, one being Lady Mirabel and Jack Frost aim to destroy the Lantern of Sorrow, and the other from the hero Malvo aiming for the throne of Tumult. Malvo would be the ultimate victor in the whole affair, with Bedrich dying in the battle of 1052, and Malvo's fake persona of Lairus taking the throne.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Born to Lady Anne Grantham, who died in labour, King Bedrich was the only known son of Kind Iscalon the Fourth. Though his father loved him dearly (Bedrich being possibly the only one Iscalon loved) he spent most of his childhood under the care of nurses and distant family members. While his father was busy trying to garner the respect of his father, Bedrich grew up in Felicity galivanting as noble children are prone to do. Carrying the militant spirit of Tumult, he created an elite guard in his youth, and went on several adventures around Tumult with his group of bored elite. Politically, he was not much thought of, as his uncles were still alive at the time and it was not looking like he would be in line for the throne. The only connections of import he had was to Andujar Szereban, one of his best friends, and Lady Lida Van Hyden who everyone thought he would marry but he later executed for treason. He was simply a headstrong youth that people found handsome but not all that important.
When the king died and Bedrich's father took the throne, Bedrich became the crown prince and garnered quite a bit of attention. This stoked his ego, which proved more beneficial than detrimental. The possible responsibility of kingship pushed him to grow, which he did to the approval of the population. It was not only the Van Hydens now that were pushing their daughters at Bedrich. But, while he was romantic at heart, he did not fancy the political marriages being thrust upon him. Bored with the cliched nature of it all, he decided to do some diplomatic travelling for his father to see the world before he had to take the plunge into marriage. He then went to Val'ul, and met Lady Sofia Mirabel.
It was love at first sight for Bedrich. The Mirabel family were the diplomatic branch of the council of archmages of Val'ul, and they were known to take part in talks with foreign dignitaries. That is how the two met. Lady Mirabel paid not much heed to Bedrich, seeing him as the common nobleman of Tumult. The courtship that Bedrich started was completely one-sided for the first few months of the relationship. She kept it completely professional while he infused the romantic. Bedrich won the day with his passion though, and the collected and poised Lady soon gave her hand to marriage.
This relationship was perceived by the public as star-crossed lovers, as Val'ul was not so popular in Tumult, but that made it all the more romantic and thus popular. The main opposition to the connection were of the Van Hydens, who not only saw one of their own rejected, but hated Val'ul with a passion. They announced their engagement at the Felicity Ball of 1040, which is where they had their first major hiccup. The dignitaries they brought with them were assassinated. Thus, Lady Mirabel had to return to her home city to do damage control. This displeased Prince Bedrich much, and he convinced his father to let him follow her despite the problems happening in the city after the Dance Incident.
On his way south, Bedrich and his group of elite friends got caught up in the problems with Dr. Caskajaro. His sense of justice and nobility made it so that he could not ignore the plight of the people of Pinecone, so he did what heroes do. Unfortunately, he got captured, and all his friends were killed. He was held prisoner under Caskajaros castle for the next few months to stew in the whispers of the Drowned Lady, as there was a Lantern of Sorrow stored near his cell.
Prince Bedrich was not really in the Doctors plans, he kept him alive simply for ransom if need be. He was not expecting a rescue mission led by Kourend Salmonpuddle and his allies to infiltrate his castle and free the prince. But, when Bedrich was freed, he did seek to escape, but rather sought out the Lantern of Sorrow, giving himself to the Drowned Lady's necrotic influence. That is how he received his lich like powers. While his rescuers went off to defeat Caskajaro, Prince Bedrich was taking control of his undead army. After the fall of Caskajaro, Bedrich marched back north to claim the empty throne.
King Bedrich's coronation did not go smoothly. His change in behavior and power were not found appealing by many of the populace. Many downright rejected his claim, as rumors of another contender seemed better than the dark man he return as. That, and a kerfuffle between the military and his undead army, really put his reputation down the drain. He wanted to use this newfound power to fight the Dormant, as he learned during his time in jail of what they made his father do, and knew their threat to the kingdom, but his coronation left him with many fires to put out before he could go to war.
Thus began his project to get Tumult rolling again. He sent his confidante Kourend Salmonpuddle to deal with the Demon Troubles and Mineos Crusade up north so that they would not need to fight a war on two fronts, commissioned out a quest to find the body of the Prophet Frillith to appease the Neih Revival, financially incentivized repopulating the Pinecone, Dusk, Gilburrow and Third regions, and worked on acquiring powerful weapons for the upcoming war such as the Walking Glacier Fortress of the Frozen War and the bodies of powerful creatures such as Gloranna Briarfell, among others, to be raised to fill the undead ranks. All these things he did before his wedding in 1041 to Lady Sofia Mirabel, who returned to him after her city of Val'ul disappeared. After the ceremony, Lich King Bedrich marched to war.
The war would long and grueling. He would first reach Break and end the siege there, though his armies were not much needed with the mind control of the Dormant fading after their loss at Tel'ul. The only mark of achievement to Bedrich's credit in that battle was his killing the Dormant general, the Ragewalker. He would send his general Dormammu after the retreating forces, reeking havoc in Evermore though ultimately losing that legion. After "liberating" Draught, his armies marched after the last remaining general, the black dragon Ankou. Thus began the long years in the Western Fey Wilds where every mile was hard fought and every victory not worth the cost.
Bedrich also had his hands full with the Sovereign Peoples of Neih. Their claim of protection of Evermore and Sinfetter stopped any attempt to enter the Dormant Lands from other routes. They also led an underground railroad to rescue fuddled val'ulians from his army, weakening it. Added to this was the riling of Third secession and weapons smuggling to Fast and Seer's Sight, undermining Tumult's greatest ally Silihadron. Bedrich had had enough, and made his grievances known during a peace conference in Dakath.
He would get not much understanding from the SNP. There was no peace to be had, only the sword. He thought they killed one of his own nobles at the conference, and war was the only recourse. They would meet on the fields of Tel'ul.
Failures & Embarrassments
He could not enter the Dormant Lands and purge it of Fall's influence.
Mental Trauma
The echo of Spring destroyed his brain to the point where he could only think of his hatred for the Dormant and what they did to his father. Only his love for Mirabel could ever break through.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
The destruction of the Dormant Cult and the revival of the Tumult kingdom (maybe even empire).
Social
Reign
His reign lasted 11 years, and it was known for its militaristic and expansionist exploits. While the borders did not shift too much, the influence of Tumult spread throughout most of the western side of the Southern Farmlands.
Contacts & Relations
Ruler of all of Tumult.
Married to Lady Mirabel of Val'ul.
Gets his lichdom from a Lantern of Sorrow of the Drowned Lady, the Seraph of Spring.
Key generals in his new undead army are Dormmamu the Orc, Alziver the Golem Maker, Lupus the Werewolf chieftain, the chimera Gloranna. Key generals in his regular army are Artham Willowrush with the revived and reworked Walking Glacier Fortress, and Andujar Szereban.
Has also subjugated the new dream race, the Formicid echos.
Family Ties
Father was King Iscalon the Fourth, mother was Lady Anne.
Religious Views
Serves the Drowned Lady, though not particularly for proselytizing purposes.
Current Location
Species
Honorary & Occupational Titles
King
Age
35
Life
1016
1051
Birthplace
Felicity
Place of Death
The Fields of Tel'ul
Children
Current Residence
Felicity
Quotes & Catchphrases
Last speech: "So, the time has finally come. The heroes of Dusk, Evermore, Tumult, hell! this whole leaf, have arrived to defeat their next great nemesis. Or whatever lies you tell yourselves to justify your mischief. Know this, I would have never harmed your precious new nation. Your sovereignty was secured the day you defeated the Stillborn God. Yet you continued to pester and pester. I wonder what I did to deserve your animosity. Are you addicts to glory, willing to step on anyone for the fame? Or are you something different, hidden, Dormant? No matter. Victory will not come so easily this time around. The Drowned Lady’s voice echoes off the walls, her laments fill the air, calling your souls from this life. I’ll gladly hasten that interview. I have some champions prepared for this occasion. Kill them."
Last Words: "Where is my wife… It goes dark… I see my lady approach… why is she so quiet… avenge me… my son…"
Aligned Organization
Ruled Locations
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