Jaden Arylon

Template:Main Jaden is the eldest of the four living sons of Mannix, and currently claims the standard of House Arylon. His brother, Fisc Arylon also claims the family's standard, not knowing that his brother Jaden is still alive. In his life, he has been many things, a knight, a trader, a hero, and now a lord. He has also spent time on three different continents, finally settling down in the realm of Fronen, in the region of Iaera.

Jaden Arylon
Status:	Alive
Continent:	Beluaterra
Realm:	Fronen
Titles Held:	Count of Ieara
Class:	Hero
Honor:	50
Prestige:	29
Age:	27
Height:	6'1"
Weight:	Roughly 195 lbs
Eyes:	Blue
Hair:	Black

Personality

Being the oldest child of Mannix, Jaden has grown up with the mindset of a pioneer. He has typically been very uncomfortable being confined into any one spot, always looking to explore - to see new things. This has lead to him wandering several of the worlds continents, and trying his hand in many professions.

Additionally, he always had a close bond with his father, Mannix. This gave him a very strong sense of honor, ethics and the warrior code. Jaden takes after his father in taking his life very seriously. He is very even tempered for the most part, in stark contrast with his brother Fisc.

Jaden considers himself to be a very typical warrior - following the warrior code militantly. He values nothing higher than honor, loyalty, truth and commitment. He possesses a serious mind, which has helped him gain respect and experience. His ability to focus has allowed him to overcome the fact that he is not as physically gifted as his brothers, and carve out a legacy of his own. He has often annoys those around him with how strictly he holds himself (and others) to codes of honor.

Probably the most studius of the four, Jaden loves to read. He has opened his mind to art, history, philosophy, literature and science - believing that understanding such concepts are key to truly finding enlightenment and meaning in such a violent world. Archeology is a particular interest of Jaden as well, finding great wonder and fascination in the subject.

Early History

Jaden’s father, Mannix Arylon fell in love with a common girl in the Nardil region of Cagilan Empire. As a result Mannix was stripped of his inheritance and titles, forcing him to move to the outskirts of the region and marry in secret. Shamed and outcast, the new couple had their first child, Jaden, only a year later.

As Jaden grew up, his father planned ways to re-establish his prominence. For nearly ten years he became consumed with proving his worth and regaining his nobility, and in that time Jaden saw the births of three brothers – Nexis, Fisc and Taran. Then, Mannix learned of a new continent’s discovery and colonies being founded. It was then that he began making plans to go to these new colonies, and begin anew in a new land.

Mannix set out in the spring, taking with him his wife and two eldest sons, Jaden and Nexis - leaving behind his seven year old twins Taran and Fisc to study at the Nardil Academy. The family came to the colonies before nations had even formed yet, and Mannix immediately began carving out territory for himself and his kin. Unfortunately, he failed to realize that his increasing influence would make him a major target.

Out of fear, eight nobles were gathered at the Council of Outer Tilog, a meeting instigated by Kaendall Istar, the cheif rival of Mannix in the region. They forged a temporary alliance for the purpose of driving Mannix back. After months of constant pressure applied to all fronts, his armies finally crumbled. Mannix and his family were all captured, and while he was hauled away to one of Istar's prisons, Jaden, his brother and his mother were taken to a platform and were fitted with nooses to hang with. This was the last time Mannix would see his wife or two eldest sons. Believing they had died, he made no attempt to find them once he secured his release from prison.

But none were actually killed. Istar himself rode by the hanging platform, and saw Mannix's wife. Immediately struck by her beauty, he decided to spare her, and also her sons to curry her favor. Istar then took them all back to the city of Giblot.

After the Capture

Both Jaden and Nexis were unwanted by Istar, they were only spared because of Genesis, their mother. Istar wished to take her as his mate, and was willing to do whatever was necessary to do so. Genesis had already lost her husband, and the prospect of losing her sons as well was too much for her to handle, so she agreed to become the consort of Istar if he were to pledge to keep the boys safe, educate them and allow them to leave on their 17th birthday. He agreed.

Jaden, however, had no desire to remain with Istar. He was ordered by his mother to obey Istar and not attempt to escape or cause any distractions, but as he grew up he began noting weaknesses in the guard structure, paths that could be exploited for escape, and the habits and personalities of palace guards. When he reached his mid-teens, Jaden felt that he was old enough to defend himself if he was discovered escaping and revealed his plan to Genesis and Nexis.

His mother rejected his plan, believing it would lead to his death. If Istar felt the boys tried to escape, he would fear they would attempt to come back for their mother with a military unit - thus he would likely execute anyone who tried to escape. Jaden felt that his mother was refusing to act out of fear, and he resolved to escape anyway, forcing Genesis and Nexis to come with him. He told both of them exactly what he was planning on doing, and begged them to come behind him.

He left that night, expecting to see his kin follow behind him. They did not. Genesis refused to go, and Nexis felt that he would be abandoning his mother if he left. Nexis also grew very angry with Jaden for his escape, and to this day has never forgiven him.

When it became apparent that his family had not followed him out, Jaden decided that now that he was free, it was his duty to rescue his family, so he set off for the only place he believed could help him do this - Giblot.

Life in Giblot

When the alliance against Jaden's father was initiated, the people in the city of Giblot refused to take part in the assault. Jaden remembered this, and once he had escaped the clutches of Istar, he immediately set off for the city of Giblot.

By this time, Giblot had grown into more than just a city-state, it was an expansive realm in its own right. Jaden had up to that point grown up in an atypical way for a noble, yet at the same time given his education with Istar, coupled with his father's cavalier frontiersman lifestyle, he had assimilated a great deal of knowledge and skill in the military arts. Seeking to find a way to carve out a life for himself, Jaden used the knowledge of his father's name to claim nobility (though to most people, quite low-born). He recruited a small group of infantry soldiers and travelled to the Capital palace in Giblot, where Jaden pledged his sword to the realm.

Originally, Jaden had planned to use Giblot's conflict with Outer Tilog to personally exact revenge for his father's (presumed) death and defeat, and rescue his mother and brother who still remained prisoners of Istar. Unfortunately, this would not come to pass, as a peace accord was struck shortly after his arrival, and Giblot would not invade Outer Tilog again for many years. If Jaden broke the accord by marauding into Istar's lands on his own, he would make an enemy of the only allies he had, killing any chance of being successful. He decided to bide his time, and wait until hostilities broke out again. Unfortunately, by the time Jaden returned there several years later, Istar was dead, and his mother and brother were no longer there.

Dejected at his own inability to rescue his family and inability to take revenge on Istar, Jaden felt that it was a sign of his failure as a warrior. It was at that time that he decided to renounce his sword and start a new life, on a new continent, with a new profession.

Life in Thalmarkin as a Trader

Devestated at the loss of his family, Jaden felt that remaining on the island of the colonies would only remind him of his failure. He then boarded a ship, and set off for the continent of Beluaterra, joining the realm of Thalmarkin, abandoning his sword and becoming a trader. Jaden felt that helping feed peasants in starving lands, while also making a tidy profit would give him a sense of self worth again, hopefully providing him with some direction.

This was not the case however. While Jaden proved to be a very capable trader, he found the word to be empty. He learned of trade, exchange, region maintenance and a great deal about foreign relations - but he was not satisfied. He found that the call of the warrior was extremely strong in him, and despite the massive amounts of gold he was obtaining from trade, the blood in his veins was hot, and would not allow him to live a peaceful life.

Dedication to Fronen

In his travels as a trader, Jaden came across the lands of Fronen. He found himself coming through the north-eastern lands of Fronen often, even when it wasn't financially advisable to do so. He was awestruck by the beauty of the land, and the warmness of her people.

While still a trader, Jaden decided to officially pledge himself to Fronen. In his travels across both the Colonies and Beluaterra, he had never found a land that he considered "home" - but that had begun to change as he spent more time in Fronen. After much thought, he decided to leave trading behind him, and to once again become a knight, and fight for the glory of his new home.

The skills he had learned thus far in his life served him well. He proved himself a capable warrior, and a valued member of the realm. He settled into an estate in Marpii and began setting up roots, making a name for himself.

Elevation to Count of Ieara

In the hot summer months, the region of Ieara saw a vacancy of power. The region lord had gone missing, and the people of Ieara needed leadership. Having proven himself in battle, and given his experience managing food, trade, and other important things, Jaden was selected by the House of Lords to become the new lord of Ieara.

He accepted the position and immediately traveled to his new home to set up his estate and begin exerting his influence. He has manged the region effectively since, leaving it only to defend the lands of Fronen from the hordes from the netherworld.