Arundel Family/Alice

Queen Alice Arundel in her youth.

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Humble Beginnings

Alice Arundel was born in Poryatu, in Pian en Luries, at the Arundel Manor. She was raised there by her parents, Clavicus and Jemma Arundel, for the duration of her childhood. Her parents molded her personality after their own, instilling dedication, temperance, loyalty, and serenity from a young age onwards. Into her teenage years, she resisted recklessness and curiosity, remaining ever so diligently a good and well mannered lady. When she turned 16, she witnessed her cousin become Queen of Pian en Luries. The chaos that would ensue said event 15 days later would alter much of Alice's life.

Into the Dark

After Katerina Arundel's death fifteen days after her coronation, the Arundel family was forced into a dire situation. Solaria had overtaken Poryatu some time ago, but with the death of the family's most likely hope for salvation, many were forced to flee. While most traveled to other continents, Alice decided to flee nearby to Luria Vesperi. On her journey there, she claimed to have witnessed the brutalities of war. By her account, soldiers from Luria Nova and Solaria were butchering peasants and administrators alike, without mercy. This formed a hatred inside Alice, for her inaction at the time marred her loyalty to her people. She swore to take revenge upon those who responsible. After several long days and night of traveling through the war torn realm of Pian en Luries, Alice made it to Luria Vesperi unharmed. She began life anew as an independent high born noble.

Deeper Still

It seemed as though all would be well. Alice settled comfortably in her new estate in Thar Gortauth, and made herself known to the local nobility. Her lord, Hendrick Madigan, seemed like an honorable man. As time passed, she joined Aetheris Pyrism, and advocated its teachings when she could. Lord Hendrick soon began taking a liking to Alice. He tried making advances on her, over and over, until finally he got what he wanted. However, it came with a price. To the surprise of many, Lord Hendrick surrendered to insanity as a result of unsatisfied desires, both politically and personally. He found little fulfillment in his position as lord; even Alice, the suppose love of his life, was not enough. He began abusing, raping, torturing, and confining Alice in his manor, while setting in motion a hostile takever of Luria Vesperi. When the time came for his long awaited rebellion, Alice, now a battered fiancée, followed him blindly. In the end, they lost by a slim margin, and both were banned from the realm. They fled to Solaria, to start life anew.

New Beginnings

Arbiter Malus Solari was the last person Alice thought would be her liege, but there she was in Askileon Purlieus swearing fealty. When she fled her family manor a couple years ago, it was his troops she claimed to have seen slaughtering innocents. She was supposed to hate him, loathe him, and kill him. However, she soon became familiar with the man he was, and came to admire him over time. He appointed her Countess of Nid Tek, and then his Imperial Representative in the Lurian Empire. Alice was granted a form of independence that she was unfamiliar with: a life with power, titles, and responsibility. She was also able to visit her family in Poryatu, and reunite with her parents. However, her dependance on Lord Hendrick continued as she kept close ties with him.

The two of them performed the lover's ritual, a religious union, and vowed to remain together. Meanwhile, in the Church itself, Alice was rising in the hierarchy. She soon became a priestess, and began practicing her oratory skills. Soon after, Prophet Torpius caught on to Lord Hendrick's affliction. With Alice, he performed a right of purification, and tried ridding Hendrick of his insanity once and for all. It appeared to work, and Alice was overjoyed to have her old betrothed back.

Diplomatically, Luria fell back into civil war. Solaria and Luria Nova turned on Luria Vesperi for breaking the Imperial Charter they had all agreed to adhere. D'Hara joined Luria Vesperi's side to preserve the division of powers. Religiously, Prophet Torpius had gone into isolation deep in the Divides. Alice, being the only priestess, was chosen as his succesor, becoming the Vicar of Flames of Aetheris Pyrism. She relinquished her oath to Arbiter Malus, with his permission, and left to perform missionary work in the Grand Duchy of Fissoa.

A Test of Faith

Alice was elevated to leadership in Aetheris Pyrism because she was the only priestess. She didn't earn it through effort or participation, nor did she really achieve any significant gains for the church. From a different perspective, she wasn't at all ready, nor was she a long standing member relative to others. To compensate, Alice tried issuing a number of reforms. She also tried maintaining a strict atmosphere amongst her peers. She wasn't successful in either pursuit. She then tried to convert nobles in Fissoa. Still, she failed. After a while, a fear consumed her: she had no real piety. What used to be visions and prophecies were now fantasies. Were the gods even real? Was it all a lie? She decided to head north, back to Luria, hoping to regain some form of what she used to have.

And so she joined Luria Nova. At this point in time, Duke Malus had altered the allegiance of his duchy, which comprised most of his former realm (Solaria), to Luria Nova. His successor, Arbiter Sevastian Guile, could not maintain a healthy relationship with him, and so chaos ensued. Yet oddly enough, chaos did not sow the seeds of war. Instead, chaos turned into unity. Luria Nova and most of Solaria were united under one banner: north and south together. Twas a unity of regions unseen for decades. Though war continued with Luria Vesperi, victory was near.

For Alice, however, her struggle continued. She quickly fell to desperation, and in an irrational bid to "reconnect with the gods," she blinded herself as a result. The retelling of this specific story can be found here. The result of her actions was nothing. Nothing had happened. Alice finally opened her eyes to reality; she passed on leadership to another, and decided to focus on the world of politics again.

From Ashes to Glory

Within days, Alice was made Countess of Shinnen, and began reintroducing herself to the political scene. Forty days later, King Fulco D'Este stepped down as King of Luria Nova to yet again give the opportunity to another. He declared Duke Malus his favored successor, and the realm stood behind him. Yet it was not meant to be; Duke Malus suddenly became ill and confined to his bedchambers, unable to announce his candidacy. Alice, who personally thought herself Duke Malus' spiritual successor, took the opportunity to announce herself as a candidate. She rallied King Fulco and his supporters to her cause, and when the elections were over, Alice would become the first Queen of Luria Nova.

This was a lot for Alice to handle. A disgraced religious leader now turned queen of the very homeland she and her family loved dearly. She had a lot on her plate, and there was no time to spare. The first issue at hand was the war with Luria Vesperi. Within three weeks, they surrendered, and Luria Vesperi's crown passed unto Alice. A week after that, D'Hara signed a white peace with Luria Nova. Things were looking good for the realm of Luria Nova. But like wildfire, hate began to spread throughout Luria and D'Hara towards one another. Old claims, new grievances, insults all around. A new rivalry was born, made personal by Alice and Prime Minister Rynn.

Immediately, both parties went fighting over Fissoa. Fissoa wanted to invade the Falkirkian Freesate for quite a while, but lacked the support to do so. Now that two realms competed for their favor, Fissoa was free to go ahead with their plans. And so southern war began.

More to be written